Boxing News Thread
- Thread starter heyzel
- Start date
Arthur Abraham Vacates IBF Title For Tourney Leap
King Arthur Abraham has arrived in New York to return his IBF Middleweight belt. After making ten successful – and spectacular – title defences, the undefeated 29-year-old will move up to super-middleweight. He will meet with IBF President Marian Muhammad during Saturday´s clash between IBF Cruiserweight Champion Tomasz Adamek and Bobby Gunn to personally inform her about his decision and bring back the belt.
“It is about time for a new challenge,” King Arthur (30-0, 24 KOs) said. “It was a lot of fun to fight at middleweight but since neither Felix Sturm nor Kelly Pavlik wanted to get in the ring with me I had to move on. Now I want to become the best boxer in the super-middleweight division and I really look forward to making even bigger fights in the future
King Arthur Abraham has arrived in New York to return his IBF Middleweight belt. After making ten successful – and spectacular – title defences, the undefeated 29-year-old will move up to super-middleweight. He will meet with IBF President Marian Muhammad during Saturday´s clash between IBF Cruiserweight Champion Tomasz Adamek and Bobby Gunn to personally inform her about his decision and bring back the belt.
“It is about time for a new challenge,” King Arthur (30-0, 24 KOs) said. “It was a lot of fun to fight at middleweight but since neither Felix Sturm nor Kelly Pavlik wanted to get in the ring with me I had to move on. Now I want to become the best boxer in the super-middleweight division and I really look forward to making even bigger fights in the future
Shane Mosley Focuses His Attention On Andre Berto, Welterweight Unification In The Wo
by James Slater - Now that it's clear his efforts at landing a mega-fight with reigning pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao have led to nought (for now at least), WBA welterweight ruler and future Hall of Famer "Sugar" Shane Mosley is looking like facing his WBC counterpart in a currently star studded 147-pound division, Andre Berto.
Not having fought since his sensational stoppage of the teak-tough Antonio Margarito back in January (a win some have said is the best and most ruthless performance of "Sugar's" entire welterweight career), Mosley needs to get a fight on quickly if he's to avoid going off the boil.. And though a fight with the Filipino superstar would have been great for all concerned, the paying fans especially, a Mosley-Berto partial unification of the welterweight titles isn't too bad at all as a plan-B.
According to Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer, in talking to Ring magazine's web site, the fight is being worked on right now, with HBO interested in showing the contest.
"We'll be crunching the numbers and presenting them to Shane in the coming days," Schaefer told Ring on line. "Shane is the type of fighter who wants to meet the biggest fighters out there. That's what really gets him motivated, the mega-event. That's what he lives for. I'm not saying Berto isn't a big event; it absolutely is. It's a title-unification fight. We just want to make the right decision, to make sure the money is right."
So far, no working date or venue has been put out, but Las Vegas and Los Angeles look favourites to play host to the interesting fight.
Berto, much younger than Mosley at age 25 (26 in September) to "Sugar's" 37 (38 in September - the two men actually share the same birthday of Sept. 7th), is also unbeaten at 25-0(19). However, this aside, Mosley will surely be the favourite to win in the eyes of most. Berto, who has good wins to his name over guys like Luis Collazo and Juan Urango, has never faced anyone remotely like the gifted Mosley.
A good boxer with excellent speed, the WBC boss will, for the first time, be in with a fighter who is faster than him AND who can hit harder than him. So how can Berto possibly win? It is possible Mosley, who struggled with Ricardo Mayorga up at 154-pounds before going on to smash "The Tijuana Tornado" back down at 147, could begin to age at any given time; why not against Berto?
Hugely ambitious and almost certainly relishing the idea of being tested to the limit by as formidable a Mosley as possible, Berto just might wind up getting lucky if his ageing rival's well does turn out to have dried some come fight night. This is the risk Mosley takes every time he fights on at the age of 38; as great as he is he cannot beat Father Time forever.
But then, Shane Mosley has always been willing to take risks. That's what makes him such a popular fighter. Mosley-Berto is definitely one to look forward to.
by James Slater - Now that it's clear his efforts at landing a mega-fight with reigning pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao have led to nought (for now at least), WBA welterweight ruler and future Hall of Famer "Sugar" Shane Mosley is looking like facing his WBC counterpart in a currently star studded 147-pound division, Andre Berto.
Not having fought since his sensational stoppage of the teak-tough Antonio Margarito back in January (a win some have said is the best and most ruthless performance of "Sugar's" entire welterweight career), Mosley needs to get a fight on quickly if he's to avoid going off the boil.. And though a fight with the Filipino superstar would have been great for all concerned, the paying fans especially, a Mosley-Berto partial unification of the welterweight titles isn't too bad at all as a plan-B.
According to Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer, in talking to Ring magazine's web site, the fight is being worked on right now, with HBO interested in showing the contest.
"We'll be crunching the numbers and presenting them to Shane in the coming days," Schaefer told Ring on line. "Shane is the type of fighter who wants to meet the biggest fighters out there. That's what really gets him motivated, the mega-event. That's what he lives for. I'm not saying Berto isn't a big event; it absolutely is. It's a title-unification fight. We just want to make the right decision, to make sure the money is right."
So far, no working date or venue has been put out, but Las Vegas and Los Angeles look favourites to play host to the interesting fight.
Berto, much younger than Mosley at age 25 (26 in September) to "Sugar's" 37 (38 in September - the two men actually share the same birthday of Sept. 7th), is also unbeaten at 25-0(19). However, this aside, Mosley will surely be the favourite to win in the eyes of most. Berto, who has good wins to his name over guys like Luis Collazo and Juan Urango, has never faced anyone remotely like the gifted Mosley.
A good boxer with excellent speed, the WBC boss will, for the first time, be in with a fighter who is faster than him AND who can hit harder than him. So how can Berto possibly win? It is possible Mosley, who struggled with Ricardo Mayorga up at 154-pounds before going on to smash "The Tijuana Tornado" back down at 147, could begin to age at any given time; why not against Berto?
Hugely ambitious and almost certainly relishing the idea of being tested to the limit by as formidable a Mosley as possible, Berto just might wind up getting lucky if his ageing rival's well does turn out to have dried some come fight night. This is the risk Mosley takes every time he fights on at the age of 38; as great as he is he cannot beat Father Time forever.
But then, Shane Mosley has always been willing to take risks. That's what makes him such a popular fighter. Mosley-Berto is definitely one to look forward to.
Ring Legend Thomas Hearns - "I'm Going To Get One More World Title
by James Slater - It seems as though ring legend Thomas "The Hitman" Hearns is adamant about fighting again. As recently as this year, it had been reported in Detroit that the former multi-weight world champion (welter, light-middle, middle, super-middle and light-heavy, in case anyone's forgotten) has spoken of fighting again at the age of 50. And now, as has been revealed in The Detroit News, Hearns has again been talking about coming back "to get one more [world title]."
Hearns, who will turn 51 in October, has not fought since his last comeback in 2006, but he has never stopped training and the reason why is because Tommy wants to be ready should an opportunity arise.. According to The Detroit News, the all-time great works out a few days a week with his son, Ronald Hearns (who is currently preparing to return to the ring after suffering his first loss as a pro).
Tommy says his health is fine and that people are wrong to call him old.
"I keep myself in fair condition so I can give myself an opportunity," Hearns said. "A lot of people think that because I'm older, I should stop. I'll stop when I'm ready. If you feel old, then you think you're old and you are old. I've got the heart and the mind to go for one more title."
Reportedly, Tommy wants to challenge for a version of the light-heavyweight title, feeling he would stand a realistic chance against a Jean Pascal or a Zsolt Erdei or one of the other reigning alphabet champs at 175-pounds. Hearns could doubtless make the weight okay, but no way would any organisation sanction him unless he won a meaningful bout first - if even then. But Tommy says his past achievements more than make it okay for him to go straight into a title fight without proving himself worthy.
"I'm going to get one more [world title] and show that I can do what I want to do," he continued. "It's just a matter of getting the right opponent......just time. It's not like I've got to go out and prove myself."
Tommy must have forgotten how faded he looked in his two most recent wins - over John Long in 2005 and then Shannon Landberg in 2006. Though Hearns won both bouts inside the distance he had little power compared to his heyday and he was easier to hit than ever before. Hearns is right when he says he has nothing to prove to anyone; but as far as his past glories making it credible for him to challenge a world champion approx half his age, he is way off mark.
A pro since way back in 1977, a world champion in five different weight classes and the first man in history to win titles in four divisions, one would think Tommy had done more than enough to be able to feel content. Apparently not.
by James Slater - It seems as though ring legend Thomas "The Hitman" Hearns is adamant about fighting again. As recently as this year, it had been reported in Detroit that the former multi-weight world champion (welter, light-middle, middle, super-middle and light-heavy, in case anyone's forgotten) has spoken of fighting again at the age of 50. And now, as has been revealed in The Detroit News, Hearns has again been talking about coming back "to get one more [world title]."
Hearns, who will turn 51 in October, has not fought since his last comeback in 2006, but he has never stopped training and the reason why is because Tommy wants to be ready should an opportunity arise.. According to The Detroit News, the all-time great works out a few days a week with his son, Ronald Hearns (who is currently preparing to return to the ring after suffering his first loss as a pro).
Tommy says his health is fine and that people are wrong to call him old.
"I keep myself in fair condition so I can give myself an opportunity," Hearns said. "A lot of people think that because I'm older, I should stop. I'll stop when I'm ready. If you feel old, then you think you're old and you are old. I've got the heart and the mind to go for one more title."
Reportedly, Tommy wants to challenge for a version of the light-heavyweight title, feeling he would stand a realistic chance against a Jean Pascal or a Zsolt Erdei or one of the other reigning alphabet champs at 175-pounds. Hearns could doubtless make the weight okay, but no way would any organisation sanction him unless he won a meaningful bout first - if even then. But Tommy says his past achievements more than make it okay for him to go straight into a title fight without proving himself worthy.
"I'm going to get one more [world title] and show that I can do what I want to do," he continued. "It's just a matter of getting the right opponent......just time. It's not like I've got to go out and prove myself."
Tommy must have forgotten how faded he looked in his two most recent wins - over John Long in 2005 and then Shannon Landberg in 2006. Though Hearns won both bouts inside the distance he had little power compared to his heyday and he was easier to hit than ever before. Hearns is right when he says he has nothing to prove to anyone; but as far as his past glories making it credible for him to challenge a world champion approx half his age, he is way off mark.
A pro since way back in 1977, a world champion in five different weight classes and the first man in history to win titles in four divisions, one would think Tommy had done more than enough to be able to feel content. Apparently not.
Showtime Super Middleweight Tourney Format and Rules
FORMAT - All bouts will be contested under the unified rules of boxing; All bouts scheduled for 12 rounds; Both the World Boxing Council (WBC) and the World Boxing Association (WBA) titles will be on the line at the outset of tournament competition; Each boxer will fight three bouts against different opponents in the Group Stage— round-robin, points-based competition.
ENTRANTS
Arthur Abraham Berlin, Germany (30-0, 24 KOs)
Andre Dirrell Flint, Mich. (18-0, 13 KOs)
Carl Froch Nottingham, England (25-0, 20 KOs) WBC 168-lbs Champion
Mikkel Kessler Copenhagen, Denmark (41-1, 31 KOs) WBA 168-lbs Champion
Jermain Taylor Little Rock, Ark. (28-3-1, 17 KOs)
Andre Ward Oakland, Calif. (19-0, 12 KOs)
Points will be awarded after each bout. Scoring is as follows:
Win – 2 points (with a 1-point KO/TKO bonus)
Draw – 1 point
Loss – 0 points
Following the Group Stage, the top four point scorers qualify for the Semi-Finals with the bottom two eliminated (In the event of a tie on points, a tie-break mechanism is in place);
Semi-Finals will match the point leader against the fourth place fighter and the second versus the third in single-elimination bouts (In the event of a draw in the Semi-Final bouts, a tie-break mechanism is in place);
The winners of the Semi-Final bouts advance to the Final.
DATES and VENUES
Fights will be contested on both American and European continents. Dates and venues will be announced in the coming weeks.
GROUP STAGE MATCHUPS
GROUP STAGE 1
CARL FROCH vs. ANDRE DIRRELL (for WBC World Championship)
JERMAIN TAYLOR vs. ARTHUR ABRAHAM
MIKKEL KESSLER vs. ANDRE WARD (for WBA World Championship)
Matchups in Group Stages 2 and 3 will be announced in the coming weeks.
FORMAT - All bouts will be contested under the unified rules of boxing; All bouts scheduled for 12 rounds; Both the World Boxing Council (WBC) and the World Boxing Association (WBA) titles will be on the line at the outset of tournament competition; Each boxer will fight three bouts against different opponents in the Group Stage— round-robin, points-based competition.
ENTRANTS
Arthur Abraham Berlin, Germany (30-0, 24 KOs)
Andre Dirrell Flint, Mich. (18-0, 13 KOs)
Carl Froch Nottingham, England (25-0, 20 KOs) WBC 168-lbs Champion
Mikkel Kessler Copenhagen, Denmark (41-1, 31 KOs) WBA 168-lbs Champion
Jermain Taylor Little Rock, Ark. (28-3-1, 17 KOs)
Andre Ward Oakland, Calif. (19-0, 12 KOs)
Points will be awarded after each bout. Scoring is as follows:
Win – 2 points (with a 1-point KO/TKO bonus)
Draw – 1 point
Loss – 0 points
Following the Group Stage, the top four point scorers qualify for the Semi-Finals with the bottom two eliminated (In the event of a tie on points, a tie-break mechanism is in place);
Semi-Finals will match the point leader against the fourth place fighter and the second versus the third in single-elimination bouts (In the event of a draw in the Semi-Final bouts, a tie-break mechanism is in place);
The winners of the Semi-Final bouts advance to the Final.
DATES and VENUES
Fights will be contested on both American and European continents. Dates and venues will be announced in the coming weeks.
GROUP STAGE MATCHUPS
GROUP STAGE 1
CARL FROCH vs. ANDRE DIRRELL (for WBC World Championship)
JERMAIN TAYLOR vs. ARTHUR ABRAHAM
MIKKEL KESSLER vs. ANDRE WARD (for WBA World Championship)
Matchups in Group Stages 2 and 3 will be announced in the coming weeks.
Felix Sturm-Winky Wright Fight In The Works, Wright Also Interested In Fight With Pav
by James Slater - After he was widely out-pointed and beaten by Paul "The Punisher" Williams back in April of this year, Winky Wright attributed his long layoff and William's almost freakish advantage in reach as big factors in his defeat. And though he'd suffered the most comprehensive loss of his fine career, the 37-year-old said he was not done, and that he would make sure he kept himself active in the future so as to avoid further setbacks..
Wright has yet to fight since the Williams loss, but he has been keeping his eye out for a big fight at middleweight. According to Ring on line, Wright may have found such a big fight. The Bible of Boxing's web site reports how Golden Boy Promotions is in talks with the handlers of WBA middleweight champion Felix Sturm with regards to a fight with Wright. The plan is for Sturm and Wright to meet in Germany, either this year or early next.
"Winky made it clear he'd go to Germany," Richard Schaefer told Ring on line. "I've already had conversations with Universum and we're scheduled to have further discussions this week. We'll see if we can pull it off. Winky reminded me that he fought many times in Europe. He has a well-known name internationally as well as in the US."
As badly as he was beaten by Williams last time out, Wright would have to be given a good chance against 30-year-old Sturm; especially when we consider how less than impressive the German looked this past Saturday night in controversially out-scoring Khoren Gevor in a fight many people felt the challenger won.
Despite being the older man by seven years and winless in his last two outings, Wright could well put on a clinic against Sturm; crafty veteran that he is. Still, the WBA boss wouldn't be expected to go quietly, and he has successfully defended his title seven times in his second reign. A fight against Wright, though, would surely be an entirely different proposition for Sturm than his fights with the likes of Randy Griffin, Sebastian Sylvester, Koji Sato and Gevor were.
However, as interesting as a possible Sturm-Wright fight is, the other fight Winky is also looking at is even more so. According to Schaefer - again talking to Ring on line - Wright has also spoken to him about the possibility of a fight against world middleweight king Kelly Pavlik.
"Winky made it clear to me he's interested as well in fighting Pavlik," Schaefer said. "His first choice is Sturm, though."
Though both fights are intriguing, most fans would list Wright against the murderous-punching "Ghost" as their first choice from the two possibilities.
by James Slater - After he was widely out-pointed and beaten by Paul "The Punisher" Williams back in April of this year, Winky Wright attributed his long layoff and William's almost freakish advantage in reach as big factors in his defeat. And though he'd suffered the most comprehensive loss of his fine career, the 37-year-old said he was not done, and that he would make sure he kept himself active in the future so as to avoid further setbacks..
Wright has yet to fight since the Williams loss, but he has been keeping his eye out for a big fight at middleweight. According to Ring on line, Wright may have found such a big fight. The Bible of Boxing's web site reports how Golden Boy Promotions is in talks with the handlers of WBA middleweight champion Felix Sturm with regards to a fight with Wright. The plan is for Sturm and Wright to meet in Germany, either this year or early next.
"Winky made it clear he'd go to Germany," Richard Schaefer told Ring on line. "I've already had conversations with Universum and we're scheduled to have further discussions this week. We'll see if we can pull it off. Winky reminded me that he fought many times in Europe. He has a well-known name internationally as well as in the US."
As badly as he was beaten by Williams last time out, Wright would have to be given a good chance against 30-year-old Sturm; especially when we consider how less than impressive the German looked this past Saturday night in controversially out-scoring Khoren Gevor in a fight many people felt the challenger won.
Despite being the older man by seven years and winless in his last two outings, Wright could well put on a clinic against Sturm; crafty veteran that he is. Still, the WBA boss wouldn't be expected to go quietly, and he has successfully defended his title seven times in his second reign. A fight against Wright, though, would surely be an entirely different proposition for Sturm than his fights with the likes of Randy Griffin, Sebastian Sylvester, Koji Sato and Gevor were.
However, as interesting as a possible Sturm-Wright fight is, the other fight Winky is also looking at is even more so. According to Schaefer - again talking to Ring on line - Wright has also spoken to him about the possibility of a fight against world middleweight king Kelly Pavlik.
"Winky made it clear to me he's interested as well in fighting Pavlik," Schaefer said. "His first choice is Sturm, though."
Though both fights are intriguing, most fans would list Wright against the murderous-punching "Ghost" as their first choice from the two possibilities.
Tourney Notebook: Kessler, Froch, Ward and News
By Rick Reeno
During the New York press conference to announce Showtime’s super middleweight tournament, promoter Gary Shaw told media members that Jose Sulaiman, president of the WBC, sent him an email that fully supported Froch’s campaign in the tournament. The WBC will not force Froch to make any mandatory obligations during his run in the super middleweight tournament. The two top contenders, Andre Ward and Andre Dirrell, are part of the tournament and I’m sure that helped with Sulaiman’s decision.
Kalle Sauerland of Sauerland Event advised BoxingScene.com that Mikkel Kessler will likely make his mandatory defense against Gusmyl Perdomo at the end of September, and then the tournament bout with Andre Ward will take place in November. Ward’s hometown of Oakland, California is the leading location to host the fight.
Ward was the only fighter not present at the presser. He caught the flu during a family trip in Mexico. He may appear at the remaining media tour dates.
If one of the tournament participants is injured for an extended amount of time, Ken Hershman, Senior VP and General Manager of Sports and Event Programming for Showtime, told BoxingScene that other fighters will be considered to take their place.
Hershman set the record straight and said IBF champion Lucian Bute was never invited to enter the tournament. The exact details were never disclosed.
I found out an interesting fact about Arthur Abraham. He can fluently speak in Russian. Arthur told BoxingScene that he learned how to fluently speak Russian during his schooling in Armenia. I really got caught by surprise when Kalle brought me to Arthur and the unbeaten fighter began to speak in Russian.
America vs. Europe was the background theme of the press conference – three American Olympians vs. Three European Champions.
I played a cruel joke on Froch [with some assistance from his promoter Mick Hennessey]. I approached Froch in my interview mode and told him that Calzaghe said “I can’t believe they let a wanker like Froch represent British boxing in this tournament.” I then made a few more “Calzaghe said this about you” comments. They were so bad that I can’t even print them here. By end of the interview, Hennessey and some of his staff were falling all over the place from laughter. Froch on the other hand was steaming mad and yelling that he was going to “kick Calzaghe’s arse.” All in good fun. Froch promised to turn the tables on me in the future.
By Rick Reeno
During the New York press conference to announce Showtime’s super middleweight tournament, promoter Gary Shaw told media members that Jose Sulaiman, president of the WBC, sent him an email that fully supported Froch’s campaign in the tournament. The WBC will not force Froch to make any mandatory obligations during his run in the super middleweight tournament. The two top contenders, Andre Ward and Andre Dirrell, are part of the tournament and I’m sure that helped with Sulaiman’s decision.
Kalle Sauerland of Sauerland Event advised BoxingScene.com that Mikkel Kessler will likely make his mandatory defense against Gusmyl Perdomo at the end of September, and then the tournament bout with Andre Ward will take place in November. Ward’s hometown of Oakland, California is the leading location to host the fight.
Ward was the only fighter not present at the presser. He caught the flu during a family trip in Mexico. He may appear at the remaining media tour dates.
If one of the tournament participants is injured for an extended amount of time, Ken Hershman, Senior VP and General Manager of Sports and Event Programming for Showtime, told BoxingScene that other fighters will be considered to take their place.
Hershman set the record straight and said IBF champion Lucian Bute was never invited to enter the tournament. The exact details were never disclosed.
I found out an interesting fact about Arthur Abraham. He can fluently speak in Russian. Arthur told BoxingScene that he learned how to fluently speak Russian during his schooling in Armenia. I really got caught by surprise when Kalle brought me to Arthur and the unbeaten fighter began to speak in Russian.
America vs. Europe was the background theme of the press conference – three American Olympians vs. Three European Champions.
I played a cruel joke on Froch [with some assistance from his promoter Mick Hennessey]. I approached Froch in my interview mode and told him that Calzaghe said “I can’t believe they let a wanker like Froch represent British boxing in this tournament.” I then made a few more “Calzaghe said this about you” comments. They were so bad that I can’t even print them here. By end of the interview, Hennessey and some of his staff were falling all over the place from laughter. Froch on the other hand was steaming mad and yelling that he was going to “kick Calzaghe’s arse.” All in good fun. Froch promised to turn the tables on me in the future.
Mayweather Jr: "Pacquiao Fight Won't Happen At 50-50"
Mark Vester
Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao finally agree on something - their fight will never get made under a 50-50 split. Pacquiao will demand a higher percentage of the money, and it seems that Mayweather will also demand more money. Mayweather returns on September 19 to face Juan Manuel Marquez at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. HBO PPV will televise. According to NY Newsday, Mayweather said Top Rank's Bob Arum is greedy for even thinking about a 50-50 split.
Mayweather still believes that he is a much better fighter than Pacquiao. He doesn't think Pacquiao has accomplished enough to take over the pound-for-pound throne.
"I feel Manny Pacquiao is a good fighter, he does his job to the best of his ability. Many people forget that Manny Pacquiao got beat by Erik Morales. I am still at the top of my game and I have never been beat. He hasn't done anything that I haven't done," Mayweather said.
"I don't really have anything bad to say about Pacquaio. He never called me out. Everyone knows it's not hard to find me."
Mark Vester
Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao finally agree on something - their fight will never get made under a 50-50 split. Pacquiao will demand a higher percentage of the money, and it seems that Mayweather will also demand more money. Mayweather returns on September 19 to face Juan Manuel Marquez at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. HBO PPV will televise. According to NY Newsday, Mayweather said Top Rank's Bob Arum is greedy for even thinking about a 50-50 split.
Mayweather still believes that he is a much better fighter than Pacquiao. He doesn't think Pacquiao has accomplished enough to take over the pound-for-pound throne.
"I feel Manny Pacquiao is a good fighter, he does his job to the best of his ability. Many people forget that Manny Pacquiao got beat by Erik Morales. I am still at the top of my game and I have never been beat. He hasn't done anything that I haven't done," Mayweather said.
"I don't really have anything bad to say about Pacquaio. He never called me out. Everyone knows it's not hard to find me."
The Super Six: How the Tourney Plays With the Titles
By Cliff Rold
With some amusement, the following could be read in today’s wrap piece from the Super Middleweight tournament kick-off press conference. BoxingScene editor Rick Reeno (at http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&id=20998) noted:
Jose Sulaiman, president of the WBC, sent him an email that fully supported Froch’s campaign in the tournament. The WBC will not force Froch to make any mandatory obligations during his run in the super middleweight tournament. The two top contenders, Andre Ward and Andre Dirrell, are part of the tournament and I’m sure that helped with Sulaiman’s decision.
Undoubtedly.
There has been some discussion of how the contracts for tournament participants are structured. They are alleged to have language which does not allow an out for mandatories to be made in lieu of tournament fights. For those frustrated by sanctioning body politics and stripped titles, this would seem a breath of fresh air. To illuminate it as a point of the tournament furthers the idea of the purist aesthetic unfolding. Fights versus the best and damn the silliness!
Right?
There is a little bit of sleight of hand here. It’s not a negative in this case, and it won’t affect the marketing, but it is there. Whether by chance or more likely by design, the titles which will regularly be at stake in the tournament should be well protected. Mandatory challengers should be a non-issue for the duration of the tournament. With a pair of belts in play and the number of excellent fighters, there are questions of whether or not the tournament will crown a true World champion by its end.
It bears closer examination beginning with potential alphabelt scenarios.
The tournament features two of the four most recognized titleholders at 168 lbs. in WBA titlist Mikkel Kessler (41-1, 31 KO) and WBC titlist Carl Froch (25-0, 20 KO).
As noted above, Ward (19-0, 12 KO) and Dirrell (18-0, 13 KO) occupy the top two slots of the WBC ratings. Not noted is the man currently in the WBC’s number three slot: tournament participant and former World Middleweight champion Jermain Taylor (28-3-1, 17 KO). Froch draws Dirrell in October’s first round of ‘tournament play’ and, given other matches made, Dirrell assumes the role of mandatory. Even without Sulaiman’s early blessing, this belt appears to be well protected.
On the WBA side, Kessler’s present mandatory is Gusmyl Perdomo (16-2, 10 KO). All indications point to Kessler, who has nearly a year of ring rust on him after contract problems, fighting Perdomo only weeks before the tournament begins. Perdomo is probably considered a walkover by most and yet is the biggest threat to the tournament coming off without a hitch. He’s better than some would think having been seldom seen, a gangly and fluid Venezuelan whose only two losses (Mario Veit and Dimitri Sartison) came far from home, and narrowly on the cards, in Germany.
He shouldn’t beat Kessler but he’s not entirely incapable. It’s a fun drama point in the build to the tournament. It’s more fun for now to assume a Kessler win and an eliminated mandatory obligation.
Kessler’s first round foe is Ward while Taylor faces longtime IBF Middleweight titlist Arthur Abraham (30-0, 24 KO). An Abraham win would allow him an easy justification to slide into the top WBC spot after the first round as Ward and Dirrell will either be champions or move down.
When the first round concludes, title considerations get very interesting. For the sake of avoiding migraine, everything from here assumes the tournament coming off entirely as planned. Here are the possibilities based on the tentative matches for the second round.
Abraham-Dirrell
o If Dirrell wins in the first round, this will be for the WBC title.
Kessler-Froch
o If Kessler and Froch win in the first round, this will be a unification fight.
o If Kessler wins and Froch loses, it will be for the WBA belt.
o If the opposite occurs, the WBC belt will be on the line.
Ward-Taylor
o If Ward wins in the first round, this will be for the WBA belt.
Based on these scenarios, it is possible the second round could end with a unified champion, barring a draw of course. While easily mocked, the WBA utilizes a “Super Champion” policy whereby unified WBA titlists are allowed much more flexibility, and time, in putting off often less than marketable mandatories while other men fight for ‘regular’ champion status. Should the second round end with a unified titlist, Kessler’s WBA belt likely joins the WBC belt as safe into the intended end dates for the 12-fight tournament in 2011.
And if there is no unified titlist at the end of two rounds?
Here are the title possibilities based on the tentative matches for the third round.
Dirrell-Ward
o If both are still undefeated, unification happens here.
o If Ward is still unbeaten and Dirrell is not, it’s a WBA defense.
o If the opposite, it’s a WBC defense.
Abraham-Froch
o If Froch is still undefeated, and Kessler beats Ward, this is a unified defense.
o If Froch is still undefeated but Ward beats Kessler, this is WBC defense.
o If Froch loses to Dirrell, Kessler beats Ward, and Froch beat Kessler, it’s a WBA defense.
o If Dirrell beats Froch, Abraham beats Dirrell, and Froch beats a still reigning Kessler, this is a unification bout.
Kessler-Taylor
o If Kessler is unbeaten in the tournament, it’s a title defense regardless with the caveats being:
If Froch beats Dirrell, it’s a unified defense.
If not, it is WBA only.
o If Ward beats Kessler and Taylor beats Ward, Kessler can attempt to reclaim the WBA belt.
Altogether, this leaves three fights (Kessler-Froch, Ward-Dirrell, and Abraham-Froch) as potential unification matches. If no unification occurs, then the WBA belt could be threatened with a mandatory from the outside, leaving the WBC belt the only one in play. However, by the end of round three, interest should be such that the best available sanctioning fees will come from the elimination rounds making a WBA ‘interim’ title designation for outsiders as a viable option.
Those are some alphabelt scenarios. There is also the notion of a new lineal champion at 168 lbs., something the division has lacked since Joe Calzaghe’s Super Middleweight exit. Lineage could be as tricky as the alphabelts here. While not the sole determinant in establishing a new lineage, Ring Magazine’s belts are often looked to in that regard making their current divisional ratings a factor.
As of this writing, four of the six participants are rated at 168 lbs. by Ring with the champion’s spot rightfully vacant. Kessler is at #1, Froch #3, Taylor #8, and Ward #9. Excluded from the tournament is IBF titlist Lucian Bute (24-0, 19 KO), Ring’s #2 man. Dirrell is unrated and Abraham has long been the Ring’s #1 contender at Middleweight.
Obviously, Bute could have a lot to say about how locked in the tournament winner will be in calling themselves the ‘real’ Super Middleweight champion.
Bute is scheduled to face #4 Librado Andrade (28-2, 21 KO) in the fall, a rematch of their controversial first fight won by Bute. Should Bute lose, an Andrade rubber match is likely and the road is probably clear for the Showtime tournament to crown the new outright world champion, particularly if Kessler and Froch is a unification match.
Kessler holds a decisive, as in won every round, victory over Andrade. Even if Andrade were elevated to #2 off of a Bute win, Ring recognizes showdowns between #1 and #3 for their belts circumstantially. It would be surprising if this scenario didn’t produce such a circumstance.
Assuming Bute wins and stays at Super Middleweight, the following current Ring rated contenders will be available at least in the sense of their not being in the tournament:
#5 Sakio Bika (27-3-2, 17 KO)
#6 Allan Green (27-1, 19 KO)
#7 WBO titlist Karoly Balzsay (20-0, 14 KO)
#10 Denis Inkin (34-1, 24 KO)
Of these men, Bute already holds a lopsided win over the Contender Season Three winner Bika with a Bika rematch looming as a potential mandatory after Andrade. Talk of Bute-Green has sounded before and could again. If Bute were to take and win the latter two fights after an Andrade win, it would be very difficult to argue he hasn’t maintained his number two position. Depending on tournament results, he could even slip into Ring’s #1 slot.
There is also the x-factor of reigning World Middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik (35-1, 31 KO). 2011 is a long way away. Pavlik could keep winning and yet find 160 lbs. too hard to make over time. Bute, an impressive draw in Canada, and Pavlik, an impressive draw in the eastern U.S., could find each other as the best financial option while the tournament continues. Should both not lose in the run to such a fight, the winner would have a hell of a case as best at 168 without a tournament fight between them.
As noted last week in a separate analysis of this remarkable turn of events (http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&id=20879), the outsider who performs best over the next year to two years will be in a hell of a position. In title terms, they will either be the obstacle to crowning a new lineal champion or the absolute must contender for the tournament winner and a major pay-per-view option.
It is certain some of the possibilities have been lost here while others not considered have yet to emerge. It’s part of what makes this is all so worthy of our anticipation. The quality of the fights will matter more at the end of the day then who has what strapped around their waists but titles, now as ever, matter.
More than titles, we seek champions. At Super Middleweight, we can’t help but get one before this is done
By Cliff Rold
With some amusement, the following could be read in today’s wrap piece from the Super Middleweight tournament kick-off press conference. BoxingScene editor Rick Reeno (at http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&id=20998) noted:
Jose Sulaiman, president of the WBC, sent him an email that fully supported Froch’s campaign in the tournament. The WBC will not force Froch to make any mandatory obligations during his run in the super middleweight tournament. The two top contenders, Andre Ward and Andre Dirrell, are part of the tournament and I’m sure that helped with Sulaiman’s decision.
Undoubtedly.
There has been some discussion of how the contracts for tournament participants are structured. They are alleged to have language which does not allow an out for mandatories to be made in lieu of tournament fights. For those frustrated by sanctioning body politics and stripped titles, this would seem a breath of fresh air. To illuminate it as a point of the tournament furthers the idea of the purist aesthetic unfolding. Fights versus the best and damn the silliness!
Right?
There is a little bit of sleight of hand here. It’s not a negative in this case, and it won’t affect the marketing, but it is there. Whether by chance or more likely by design, the titles which will regularly be at stake in the tournament should be well protected. Mandatory challengers should be a non-issue for the duration of the tournament. With a pair of belts in play and the number of excellent fighters, there are questions of whether or not the tournament will crown a true World champion by its end.
It bears closer examination beginning with potential alphabelt scenarios.
The tournament features two of the four most recognized titleholders at 168 lbs. in WBA titlist Mikkel Kessler (41-1, 31 KO) and WBC titlist Carl Froch (25-0, 20 KO).
As noted above, Ward (19-0, 12 KO) and Dirrell (18-0, 13 KO) occupy the top two slots of the WBC ratings. Not noted is the man currently in the WBC’s number three slot: tournament participant and former World Middleweight champion Jermain Taylor (28-3-1, 17 KO). Froch draws Dirrell in October’s first round of ‘tournament play’ and, given other matches made, Dirrell assumes the role of mandatory. Even without Sulaiman’s early blessing, this belt appears to be well protected.
On the WBA side, Kessler’s present mandatory is Gusmyl Perdomo (16-2, 10 KO). All indications point to Kessler, who has nearly a year of ring rust on him after contract problems, fighting Perdomo only weeks before the tournament begins. Perdomo is probably considered a walkover by most and yet is the biggest threat to the tournament coming off without a hitch. He’s better than some would think having been seldom seen, a gangly and fluid Venezuelan whose only two losses (Mario Veit and Dimitri Sartison) came far from home, and narrowly on the cards, in Germany.
He shouldn’t beat Kessler but he’s not entirely incapable. It’s a fun drama point in the build to the tournament. It’s more fun for now to assume a Kessler win and an eliminated mandatory obligation.
Kessler’s first round foe is Ward while Taylor faces longtime IBF Middleweight titlist Arthur Abraham (30-0, 24 KO). An Abraham win would allow him an easy justification to slide into the top WBC spot after the first round as Ward and Dirrell will either be champions or move down.
When the first round concludes, title considerations get very interesting. For the sake of avoiding migraine, everything from here assumes the tournament coming off entirely as planned. Here are the possibilities based on the tentative matches for the second round.
Abraham-Dirrell
o If Dirrell wins in the first round, this will be for the WBC title.
Kessler-Froch
o If Kessler and Froch win in the first round, this will be a unification fight.
o If Kessler wins and Froch loses, it will be for the WBA belt.
o If the opposite occurs, the WBC belt will be on the line.
Ward-Taylor
o If Ward wins in the first round, this will be for the WBA belt.
Based on these scenarios, it is possible the second round could end with a unified champion, barring a draw of course. While easily mocked, the WBA utilizes a “Super Champion” policy whereby unified WBA titlists are allowed much more flexibility, and time, in putting off often less than marketable mandatories while other men fight for ‘regular’ champion status. Should the second round end with a unified titlist, Kessler’s WBA belt likely joins the WBC belt as safe into the intended end dates for the 12-fight tournament in 2011.
And if there is no unified titlist at the end of two rounds?
Here are the title possibilities based on the tentative matches for the third round.
Dirrell-Ward
o If both are still undefeated, unification happens here.
o If Ward is still unbeaten and Dirrell is not, it’s a WBA defense.
o If the opposite, it’s a WBC defense.
Abraham-Froch
o If Froch is still undefeated, and Kessler beats Ward, this is a unified defense.
o If Froch is still undefeated but Ward beats Kessler, this is WBC defense.
o If Froch loses to Dirrell, Kessler beats Ward, and Froch beat Kessler, it’s a WBA defense.
o If Dirrell beats Froch, Abraham beats Dirrell, and Froch beats a still reigning Kessler, this is a unification bout.
Kessler-Taylor
o If Kessler is unbeaten in the tournament, it’s a title defense regardless with the caveats being:
If Froch beats Dirrell, it’s a unified defense.
If not, it is WBA only.
o If Ward beats Kessler and Taylor beats Ward, Kessler can attempt to reclaim the WBA belt.
Altogether, this leaves three fights (Kessler-Froch, Ward-Dirrell, and Abraham-Froch) as potential unification matches. If no unification occurs, then the WBA belt could be threatened with a mandatory from the outside, leaving the WBC belt the only one in play. However, by the end of round three, interest should be such that the best available sanctioning fees will come from the elimination rounds making a WBA ‘interim’ title designation for outsiders as a viable option.
Those are some alphabelt scenarios. There is also the notion of a new lineal champion at 168 lbs., something the division has lacked since Joe Calzaghe’s Super Middleweight exit. Lineage could be as tricky as the alphabelts here. While not the sole determinant in establishing a new lineage, Ring Magazine’s belts are often looked to in that regard making their current divisional ratings a factor.
As of this writing, four of the six participants are rated at 168 lbs. by Ring with the champion’s spot rightfully vacant. Kessler is at #1, Froch #3, Taylor #8, and Ward #9. Excluded from the tournament is IBF titlist Lucian Bute (24-0, 19 KO), Ring’s #2 man. Dirrell is unrated and Abraham has long been the Ring’s #1 contender at Middleweight.
Obviously, Bute could have a lot to say about how locked in the tournament winner will be in calling themselves the ‘real’ Super Middleweight champion.
Bute is scheduled to face #4 Librado Andrade (28-2, 21 KO) in the fall, a rematch of their controversial first fight won by Bute. Should Bute lose, an Andrade rubber match is likely and the road is probably clear for the Showtime tournament to crown the new outright world champion, particularly if Kessler and Froch is a unification match.
Kessler holds a decisive, as in won every round, victory over Andrade. Even if Andrade were elevated to #2 off of a Bute win, Ring recognizes showdowns between #1 and #3 for their belts circumstantially. It would be surprising if this scenario didn’t produce such a circumstance.
Assuming Bute wins and stays at Super Middleweight, the following current Ring rated contenders will be available at least in the sense of their not being in the tournament:
#5 Sakio Bika (27-3-2, 17 KO)
#6 Allan Green (27-1, 19 KO)
#7 WBO titlist Karoly Balzsay (20-0, 14 KO)
#10 Denis Inkin (34-1, 24 KO)
Of these men, Bute already holds a lopsided win over the Contender Season Three winner Bika with a Bika rematch looming as a potential mandatory after Andrade. Talk of Bute-Green has sounded before and could again. If Bute were to take and win the latter two fights after an Andrade win, it would be very difficult to argue he hasn’t maintained his number two position. Depending on tournament results, he could even slip into Ring’s #1 slot.
There is also the x-factor of reigning World Middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik (35-1, 31 KO). 2011 is a long way away. Pavlik could keep winning and yet find 160 lbs. too hard to make over time. Bute, an impressive draw in Canada, and Pavlik, an impressive draw in the eastern U.S., could find each other as the best financial option while the tournament continues. Should both not lose in the run to such a fight, the winner would have a hell of a case as best at 168 without a tournament fight between them.
As noted last week in a separate analysis of this remarkable turn of events (http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&id=20879), the outsider who performs best over the next year to two years will be in a hell of a position. In title terms, they will either be the obstacle to crowning a new lineal champion or the absolute must contender for the tournament winner and a major pay-per-view option.
It is certain some of the possibilities have been lost here while others not considered have yet to emerge. It’s part of what makes this is all so worthy of our anticipation. The quality of the fights will matter more at the end of the day then who has what strapped around their waists but titles, now as ever, matter.
More than titles, we seek champions. At Super Middleweight, we can’t help but get one before this is done
Kelly Pavlik - Suddenly A Middleweight Champion Without A Worthy Rival
by James Slater - One man who looks like he's going to lose out due to the Showtime Super-middleweight tournament that gets underway in October, is middleweight world champion Kelly Pavlik. Not only has Pavlik refused or been refused entry into the tourney, but with the creation of the six-fighter series he has lost his biggest and most financially rewarding foe at 160-pounds - "King" Arthur Abraham.
Abraham, in agreeing to take part in the tournament along with Carl Froch, Jermain Taylor, Andre Dirrell, Mikkel Kessler and Andre Ward, gave up his IBF middleweight title and said goodbye to both his former weight class and a unification battle with "The Ghost.." As a result, and pretty much all of a sudden, the exciting puncher from Youngstown is left with no marquee name to get it on with at his current weight. And after the bad loss he suffered against Bernard Hopkins back in October of last year, Pavlik really needs a top named and highly respected foe on which to beat up on so as to restore his reputation as one of the sport's very best.
Who is there that Pavlik could beat now where the win would make the fans forget his points loss to "The Executioner?" Sure, a win over WBA middleweight ruler Felix Sturm, particularly an impressive KO win, would do Pavlik some good. But the German aside, who else's name looks attractive next to the 27-year-old's? Take a look down the middleweight rankings, and you will quickly see that there is no-one of any real note for the middleweight king to fight - Sturm aside, and let's face it, the WBA champion, though a decent fighter, is no star.
No, to get the mega-fights his career needs in order for it to regain the lustre it had back when he was KO'ing Edison Miranda and Jermain Taylor, Pavlik must move up or wait around for a new star/worthy prospect to come along and challenge him at 160 - and the latter option could take time. Also adding to the champ's problems is the fact that after the catch-weight loss to B-Hop, Kelly said he would only fight at his natural weight of middleweight from now on; so that option looks out. And in any case, even if Pavlik were to change his mind and look to go up a weight class, with all the top names at 168 busy in the Showtime thing - barring Lucian Bute, who will next likely face Librado Andrade in a rematch - who could he get himself a fight with at 168 this year anyway?
A Pavlik-Abraham unification bout at middleweight would have been huge. This fight is now lost and Pavlik must find himself another major name - but the clock is ticking. A very good fighter who still has it in him to become a great fighter, Pavlik is in danger of going off the boil (just one fight so far this year, remember). Talks have reportedly been in place for the middleweight boss to face current WBC light-middleweight champion Sergio Martinez next. Will this fight get the fans in any way excited? Fat chance, and no disrespect is aimed at the man who was controversially held to a draw by Kermit Cintron either.
It's not Pavlik's fault that he is now the sole star in an otherwise pretty barren weight division. But unless he either - A: moves up in weight (which he said he doesn't want to do) and somehow gets himself a big fight at 168, or B: gets a fight deal with the man who has expressed interest in facing him before, in Paul Williams - Pavlik is in real danger of becoming almost a forgotten man. This very notion would have sounded utterly ridiculous last year, when Kelly was rightfully being called one of the most exciting fighters in all of boxing.
But you need top-class and or dangerous opposition to bring out the best in you, and at present there are no such fighters in Kelly Pavlik's immediate - or maybe even long term - future.
by James Slater - One man who looks like he's going to lose out due to the Showtime Super-middleweight tournament that gets underway in October, is middleweight world champion Kelly Pavlik. Not only has Pavlik refused or been refused entry into the tourney, but with the creation of the six-fighter series he has lost his biggest and most financially rewarding foe at 160-pounds - "King" Arthur Abraham.
Abraham, in agreeing to take part in the tournament along with Carl Froch, Jermain Taylor, Andre Dirrell, Mikkel Kessler and Andre Ward, gave up his IBF middleweight title and said goodbye to both his former weight class and a unification battle with "The Ghost.." As a result, and pretty much all of a sudden, the exciting puncher from Youngstown is left with no marquee name to get it on with at his current weight. And after the bad loss he suffered against Bernard Hopkins back in October of last year, Pavlik really needs a top named and highly respected foe on which to beat up on so as to restore his reputation as one of the sport's very best.
Who is there that Pavlik could beat now where the win would make the fans forget his points loss to "The Executioner?" Sure, a win over WBA middleweight ruler Felix Sturm, particularly an impressive KO win, would do Pavlik some good. But the German aside, who else's name looks attractive next to the 27-year-old's? Take a look down the middleweight rankings, and you will quickly see that there is no-one of any real note for the middleweight king to fight - Sturm aside, and let's face it, the WBA champion, though a decent fighter, is no star.
No, to get the mega-fights his career needs in order for it to regain the lustre it had back when he was KO'ing Edison Miranda and Jermain Taylor, Pavlik must move up or wait around for a new star/worthy prospect to come along and challenge him at 160 - and the latter option could take time. Also adding to the champ's problems is the fact that after the catch-weight loss to B-Hop, Kelly said he would only fight at his natural weight of middleweight from now on; so that option looks out. And in any case, even if Pavlik were to change his mind and look to go up a weight class, with all the top names at 168 busy in the Showtime thing - barring Lucian Bute, who will next likely face Librado Andrade in a rematch - who could he get himself a fight with at 168 this year anyway?
A Pavlik-Abraham unification bout at middleweight would have been huge. This fight is now lost and Pavlik must find himself another major name - but the clock is ticking. A very good fighter who still has it in him to become a great fighter, Pavlik is in danger of going off the boil (just one fight so far this year, remember). Talks have reportedly been in place for the middleweight boss to face current WBC light-middleweight champion Sergio Martinez next. Will this fight get the fans in any way excited? Fat chance, and no disrespect is aimed at the man who was controversially held to a draw by Kermit Cintron either.
It's not Pavlik's fault that he is now the sole star in an otherwise pretty barren weight division. But unless he either - A: moves up in weight (which he said he doesn't want to do) and somehow gets himself a big fight at 168, or B: gets a fight deal with the man who has expressed interest in facing him before, in Paul Williams - Pavlik is in real danger of becoming almost a forgotten man. This very notion would have sounded utterly ridiculous last year, when Kelly was rightfully being called one of the most exciting fighters in all of boxing.
But you need top-class and or dangerous opposition to bring out the best in you, and at present there are no such fighters in Kelly Pavlik's immediate - or maybe even long term - future.
Chris Arreola-Oleg Maskaev Being Discussed
by James Slater - Now that David Haye is in as Vitali Klitschko's next challenger (September 12th in Germany) unbeaten Mexican/American contender Chris "The Nightmare" Arreola must find another fight to keep him busy as he waits for his eventual shot at either Vitali or his younger brother Wladimir. The 28-year-old is coming off a good stoppage win over former four-time heavyweight title challenger Jameel "Big Time" McCline, and word is Arreola will fight again in the fall..
According to RingTV.com, his next opponent could well be former WBC heavyweight ruler Oleg Maskaev. Now that Maskaev is also out of the Vitali Klitschko picture - probably permanently now that the reigning WBC champ has won his case and is no longer under any obligation to defend against the former champ - "The Big O" must also look elsewhere for his next fight. And, according to promoters Dan Goossen (Arreola) and Dennis Rappaport (Maskaev) preliminary talks have begun for Arreola Vs. Maskaev.
Should this fight take place, the much younger and very hungry Arreola will no doubt be made a big favourite going in. Indeed, some fans may groan upon hearing about this potential match-up. No-one, in truth, was too interested in seeing Maskakev challenge "Dr Iron Fist" because the fight did not appear to be a competitive match. This same feeling may be felt by the majority with regards to this talked of bout.
Maskaev, who has won two comeback victories since losing his WBC strap to Samuel Peter, enters every fight he has with something of a puncher's chance due to his powerful right hand. But with his recent injury problems, his lack if activity (only three fights fought in sixteen months) and due to his age (40) Maskaev would really be causing a tremendous upset if he were to derail Arreola.
It is possible to go as far as to wonder if Arreola would be able to get himself sufficiently motivated for this fight. Really, it must annoy Team-Arreola that David Haye, who has had a mere two fights at heavyweight, has got himself a shot at the WBC crown so quickly. Still, the 28-year-old from Riverside can bide his time, keep active and his time will come.
The fight with Maskaev is far from a done deal, and other match-ups are being explored by both heavyweights, but if it is the ageing Russian who the peaking American/Mexican winds up meeting in September or October, a quick win for Arreola looks a good bet from here. It could be explosive while it lasts - after all, Maskaev's very career would be on the line in the fight and that could make him dangerous - but Arreola would likely win inside a half-dozen rounds at the most.
But would even a 1st-round a win over Maskaev earn Arreola any rave reviews by the critics?
by James Slater - Now that David Haye is in as Vitali Klitschko's next challenger (September 12th in Germany) unbeaten Mexican/American contender Chris "The Nightmare" Arreola must find another fight to keep him busy as he waits for his eventual shot at either Vitali or his younger brother Wladimir. The 28-year-old is coming off a good stoppage win over former four-time heavyweight title challenger Jameel "Big Time" McCline, and word is Arreola will fight again in the fall..
According to RingTV.com, his next opponent could well be former WBC heavyweight ruler Oleg Maskaev. Now that Maskaev is also out of the Vitali Klitschko picture - probably permanently now that the reigning WBC champ has won his case and is no longer under any obligation to defend against the former champ - "The Big O" must also look elsewhere for his next fight. And, according to promoters Dan Goossen (Arreola) and Dennis Rappaport (Maskaev) preliminary talks have begun for Arreola Vs. Maskaev.
Should this fight take place, the much younger and very hungry Arreola will no doubt be made a big favourite going in. Indeed, some fans may groan upon hearing about this potential match-up. No-one, in truth, was too interested in seeing Maskakev challenge "Dr Iron Fist" because the fight did not appear to be a competitive match. This same feeling may be felt by the majority with regards to this talked of bout.
Maskaev, who has won two comeback victories since losing his WBC strap to Samuel Peter, enters every fight he has with something of a puncher's chance due to his powerful right hand. But with his recent injury problems, his lack if activity (only three fights fought in sixteen months) and due to his age (40) Maskaev would really be causing a tremendous upset if he were to derail Arreola.
It is possible to go as far as to wonder if Arreola would be able to get himself sufficiently motivated for this fight. Really, it must annoy Team-Arreola that David Haye, who has had a mere two fights at heavyweight, has got himself a shot at the WBC crown so quickly. Still, the 28-year-old from Riverside can bide his time, keep active and his time will come.
The fight with Maskaev is far from a done deal, and other match-ups are being explored by both heavyweights, but if it is the ageing Russian who the peaking American/Mexican winds up meeting in September or October, a quick win for Arreola looks a good bet from here. It could be explosive while it lasts - after all, Maskaev's very career would be on the line in the fight and that could make him dangerous - but Arreola would likely win inside a half-dozen rounds at the most.
But would even a 1st-round a win over Maskaev earn Arreola any rave reviews by the critics?
damn, floyd wants manny now, he doens't want cotto vs pac.
Floyd Jr: "If Manny Wants it, I'll Pay Juan To Step Aside"
By Mark Vester
If Manny Pacquiao wants a showdown with Floyd Mayweather Jr, all he has to do is ask. At least that's what Floyd told The Grand Rapids Press. Mayweather returns for the first time since December 2007 when he takes on Juan Manuel Marquez on September 19 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. If Pacquiao requests the fight, Mayweather says that he will pay Marquez to step aside so the fight can happen. Pacquiao is slated to face WBO welterweight champion Miguel Cotto on November 14.
"If Manny Pacquiao really wanted the fight with me, all he's got to do is say it," Mayweather said. "We could pay Marquez some step-aside money. Pay him a million dollars, that's nothing. Step aside. Then, my man, me and you can make seven figures. Is you ready? Let me know."
Of course Mayweather once again stood by his position that he is not willing to give Pacquiao an equal slice of the money. He points to selling more pay-per-view buys with Oscar De La Hoya and Ricky Hatton than Pacquiao did with the same two fighters. He says Pacquiao would have to take less money.
"Everybody knows Pacquiao is not going to get 50-50 with Floyd Mayweather," Mayweather said. "Look at what Pacquiao made his last two fights and look at what I made my last two fights. It's still a business, even though it's a sport."
Floyd Jr: "If Manny Wants it, I'll Pay Juan To Step Aside"
By Mark Vester
If Manny Pacquiao wants a showdown with Floyd Mayweather Jr, all he has to do is ask. At least that's what Floyd told The Grand Rapids Press. Mayweather returns for the first time since December 2007 when he takes on Juan Manuel Marquez on September 19 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. If Pacquiao requests the fight, Mayweather says that he will pay Marquez to step aside so the fight can happen. Pacquiao is slated to face WBO welterweight champion Miguel Cotto on November 14.
"If Manny Pacquiao really wanted the fight with me, all he's got to do is say it," Mayweather said. "We could pay Marquez some step-aside money. Pay him a million dollars, that's nothing. Step aside. Then, my man, me and you can make seven figures. Is you ready? Let me know."
Of course Mayweather once again stood by his position that he is not willing to give Pacquiao an equal slice of the money. He points to selling more pay-per-view buys with Oscar De La Hoya and Ricky Hatton than Pacquiao did with the same two fighters. He says Pacquiao would have to take less money.
"Everybody knows Pacquiao is not going to get 50-50 with Floyd Mayweather," Mayweather said. "Look at what Pacquiao made his last two fights and look at what I made my last two fights. It's still a business, even though it's a sport."
Back for a minute.
Ortiz was a big disappointment; can't believe he looked so bad.
Abraham is a fucking bum. No class. I'd love to see someone knock his jaw through the back of his fucking mouth again.
Hope to see Winky in the ring again, soon. Also looking forward to Margarito back in the ring; hopefully he can get back to the top again.
Not looking forward to seeing Erik Morales fight again...one of my favorite fighters of all time, but I think he's shot. And wow...can't believe he's only, what...32? Seems like he's older than that.
Hope Marquez breaks Floyd's ribs.
That tournament is looking dope as fuck...wish we'd see something like that a little more often.
Mosley and Berto. Wow. I can't wait. I'll take Shane.
Last, but not least, I won't argue the point with anyone (it's been done over and over already), but after wasting $50. on a pathetic UFC card, I apologize, boxing, for even wasting my time. I love you, boxing, and will never leave you. Boxing, you are my true love. And fuck Dana White; I like saying that. Again, I love you, boxing.
Ortiz was a big disappointment; can't believe he looked so bad.
Abraham is a fucking bum. No class. I'd love to see someone knock his jaw through the back of his fucking mouth again.
Hope to see Winky in the ring again, soon. Also looking forward to Margarito back in the ring; hopefully he can get back to the top again.
Not looking forward to seeing Erik Morales fight again...one of my favorite fighters of all time, but I think he's shot. And wow...can't believe he's only, what...32? Seems like he's older than that.
Hope Marquez breaks Floyd's ribs.
That tournament is looking dope as fuck...wish we'd see something like that a little more often.
Mosley and Berto. Wow. I can't wait. I'll take Shane.
Last, but not least, I won't argue the point with anyone (it's been done over and over already), but after wasting $50. on a pathetic UFC card, I apologize, boxing, for even wasting my time. I love you, boxing, and will never leave you. Boxing, you are my true love. And fuck Dana White; I like saying that. Again, I love you, boxing.
Kelly Pavlik Blasts The Super Middleweight Tourney
By Mark Vester
Most boxing fans in the United States, Germany, Denmark, Britian and other parts of the world are very excited about Showtime's Super Six tournament, that features six of the best super middleweights in the world, including Mikkel Kessler, Carl Froch, Andre Dirrell, Jermain Taylor, Andre Ward and Arthur Abraham - all facing off under round robin rules.
One man who is not exactly excited by the tournament is WBC/WBO middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik. He told Youngstown scribe Joe Scalzo that he never wanted to be a part of the tournament and the money is not worth it. He also took a shot at Showtime when he told Scalzo that nobody watches the network and all of the big-time fighters are on HBO. He says the winner will jump over to HBO.
“Why would I be in that tournament when I’m a middleweight?” Pavlik said. “They never asked me and I never wanted to join. Let them beat each other up. Let them ruin their careers for peanuts."
"Those guys are fighting for peanuts. They’re going to burn their whole career and for what? Nobody watches Showtime. Trust me, when the winner of that tournament fights his next fight, it’ll be on HBO. I like HBO. I will fight for HBO. All the big-time fighters like Floyd Mayweather, [Manny] Pacquiao, [Miguel] Cotto, Shane Mosley, the Klitschkos — they all fight on HBO.”
Whoever ends up being the tournament winner, Pavlik told Scalzo that he would be more than happy to move up to fight them.
“Whoever the winner is,” Pavlik said, “I’ll kick his [
By Mark Vester
Most boxing fans in the United States, Germany, Denmark, Britian and other parts of the world are very excited about Showtime's Super Six tournament, that features six of the best super middleweights in the world, including Mikkel Kessler, Carl Froch, Andre Dirrell, Jermain Taylor, Andre Ward and Arthur Abraham - all facing off under round robin rules.
One man who is not exactly excited by the tournament is WBC/WBO middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik. He told Youngstown scribe Joe Scalzo that he never wanted to be a part of the tournament and the money is not worth it. He also took a shot at Showtime when he told Scalzo that nobody watches the network and all of the big-time fighters are on HBO. He says the winner will jump over to HBO.
“Why would I be in that tournament when I’m a middleweight?” Pavlik said. “They never asked me and I never wanted to join. Let them beat each other up. Let them ruin their careers for peanuts."
"Those guys are fighting for peanuts. They’re going to burn their whole career and for what? Nobody watches Showtime. Trust me, when the winner of that tournament fights his next fight, it’ll be on HBO. I like HBO. I will fight for HBO. All the big-time fighters like Floyd Mayweather, [Manny] Pacquiao, [Miguel] Cotto, Shane Mosley, the Klitschkos — they all fight on HBO.”
Whoever ends up being the tournament winner, Pavlik told Scalzo that he would be more than happy to move up to fight them.
“Whoever the winner is,” Pavlik said, “I’ll kick his [
Gatti’s Untimely Death Breathes Life Into HBO’s Schedule
By Jake Donovan
With death comes new life.
It was going to be a very long summer for those whose main source of boxing intake comes from HBO. The self-proclaimed Network of Champions was staring at the bottom of an empty well in the form of their summer boxing schedule, which featured nothing from June 28 through August 21.
The schedule didn’t come by design. It was in fact supposed be to a summer heat wave of boxing action from June 13 through August 1, coming up for air only on Independence Day weekend during that stretch.
Then came failed negotiations.
And untimely arrests.
And of course the sport’s greatest Achilles heel, training camp injuries.
All told, eight HBO fights and a four-fight PPV show along with its 24/7 series and exclusive HBO replay was reduced to just two fights fought on separate Saturdays in June. Nothing for the month of July, as well as the first 21 days of August.
But now, through one man’s untimely death, comes new life into the gaping hole that was the network’s boxing coverage.
Just 10 days after attempting to pick up the pieces of our lives following the reported suicide of Hall of Fame boxer Alexis Arguello, the boxing world was dealt another massive blow upon hearing the grisly details surrounding the untimely death of Arturo Gatti.
A staple of HBO’s World Championship Boxing and Boxing After Dark series in the late 1990’s and early 2000’s, Gatti was found dead in a hotel room in Brazil on Saturday, just shy of two years following his final in-ring performance.
Having appeared on the network more times than any other fighter NOT guaranteed a spot in the International Boxing Hall of Fame, the right thing to do for HBO would be to honor him with some sort of tribute for the years of thrills he provided for the network’s viewing audience.
Main Events, the promoter of record for Gatti’s entire, offered a highlight-reel package during their in-house pay-per-view webcast on Saturday evening, live from the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, not very far from Jersey City, to where Gatti relocated from Montreal in 1991.
Showtime ignored the long-running rivalry with HBO and offered the murdered ex-fighter a ceremonial 10-count prior to the start of their telecast.
Had any portion of HBO’s once-loaded schedule held up, surely there would’ve been a significant portion of any given telecast dedicated in his honor.
Rather than wait until August 22, the date of their next live boxing telecast, HBO instead opted to think outside of the box, coming up with an idea that had to be on the mind of every boxing fan: airing one of the most entertaining boxing trilogies in recent boxing history,
On the heels of ESPN Classic running a series of Gatti’s greatest moments, HBO has announced that enough time will be set aside this weekend to air all three of his fights with rival-turned-close friend Micky Ward, which spanned a 13-month period from May 2002 through June 2003.
There are only three occasions in which HBO airs full replays of any given fight: the week following one of its pay-per-view events, in which the main event runs on its main network; the week preceding a major pay-per-view event, in which HBO will opt to air one significant fight (previously aired on HBO or its PPV arm) from each fighter’s career; and the final week of the calendar year, when the network selects its five most memorable/significant fights from the preceding 51 weeks.
Thankfully, HBO broke tradition in coming up with the idea to run the three-fight Gatti-Ward series, which will air on HBO2 this Friday, July 17 (9PM ET/PT), and the following morning on their main network (Saturday, HBO, 10:15AM ET/PT).
While there is rarely if ever a significant fight on HBO not scheduled for 12 rounds (with or without a title on the line), the three-fight set between Gatti and Ward is a reminder that a great fight is just that, regardless of what’s at stake or for how long the bout is scheduled.
All three fights were scheduled for 10 rounds. There were no titles at stake, nor were any of the bouts fought with the promise of a future title shot to the winner.
Instead, they were just fights.
Such is lost in today’s scheduling, where even when networks try to buy into a return to “one champion per division,” they’re all too willing to allow some meatball title at stake, which in turn means a 10-round fight now scheduled for 12 and yet another “champion” produced by night’s end.
Of the 20 fights to have aired on HBO’s flagship station this year, only three were scheduled for ten rounds or less. Percentage-wise, it’s an improvement on the three out of 40 fights to appear on HBO in 2008, a year in which the term catchweight became the theme.
The fact that superstars were fighting wasn’t enough of an enticement to market an event. Former champions, as well as those participating in a non-title bout, still needed the full ambiance of a championship event, thus the scheduled 12-round distance, which meant distance fights like Roy Jones-Felix Trinidad, Oscar de la Hoya-Steve Forbes and Kelly Pavlik’s catchweight bouts with Jermain Taylor (rematch) and Bernard Hopkins all lasting two rounds longer than necessary.
In fact, all three of the bouts not scheduled for 12-rounds in 2008 took place on the same show, when Gary Shaw presented “Night of the Rising Stars,” featuring Yuriorkis Gamboa, James Kirkland and Alfredo Angulo in separate ten-round bouts.
Both Gatti and Ward were much further along in their respective careers than were the aforementioned trio of prospects-turned-contenders. Yet they were perfectly content with beating the crap out of each other for ten rounds at a time, with nothing more than bragging rights and the fans’ undying approval at stake.
The trilogy has been surpassed, in terms of the combination of skill level and significance, by that produced between Mexican rivals Marco Antonio Barrera and Erik Morales, and most recently by the three epic battles offered between Israel Vazquez and Rafael Marquez.
Each of the three fights between Barrera and Morales took place at separate weight classes, all with at least one title at stake. All three Vazquez-Marquez wars were fought with the lineal super bantamweight title at stake, changing hands twice.
The three fights between Gatti and Ward were just fights. Without a 12-round limit or a title at stake, they were still deemed worthy of airtime on HBO, as well as close to $7 million in paydays the two warriors collectively earned over the course of their three battles.
Boxing fans clearly couldn’t care less about a title being on the line. The Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, CT hosted the first fight with the 10,000-seat arena filled to nearly 70% capacity. Both the rematch and rubber match took place in front of sold out crowds at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City.
All three fights ended with the crowds on hand giving both fighters a rousing standing ovation. The decibel levels were shattered in their June 2003 rubber match, well before the division was announced and without either fighter hoisting a trinket over their head.
In the end, the trilogy produced 2002’s Fight of the Year (their first fight) and Round of the Year (the unforgettable ninth round of their first fight), along with several more candidates in the latter category and a rubber match that realistically ranked in most experts’ top five best fights of 2003. Also included in the series: three knockdowns, a punctured ear drum, busted hands and what became routine post-fight trips to the hospital for both fighters.
For a 13-month stretch earlier in the decade, boxing was provided a lifetime of memories.
Through Arturo Gatti’s untimely death, boxing is once again given the opportunity to relive the journey, which sadly couldn’t come at a better time for HBO or the sport.
WHAT ALSO COULD’VE FILLED THE VOID
July 18 was supposed to play host to a pay-per-view event headlined by the return of Floyd Mayweather Jr, who was slated to face Juan Manuel Marquez in a catchweight bout. That was before Mayweather suffered a rib injury in training camp, pushing back his return to the now rescheduled date of July 19.
Come this weekend, HBO will have been given at least a month to come up with a contingency plan. They instead decided to put the money back into their budget, content with going dark until Gatti’s death prompted them to air his thrillogy with Micky Ward.
Sitting out there all along has been the junior welterweight alphabet title fight between Andreas Kotelnik and 2004 Olympic silver medalist Amir Khan. For the moment, the bout goes unclaimed by any American network, not even the offer to air via afternoon overseas pay-per-view feed.
It’s worth disclosing that Kotelnik was the originally slated opponent for Victor Ortiz last month. The transplanted Ukrainian abruptly pulled out of the fight once a formal contract was presented, instead agreeing to a more lucrative showdown with Khan.
HBO can’t be held solely responsible for the tasty matchup failing to garner stateside airtime, but what has to come into question is their decision to pass on the fight, thus their becoming the only boxing-related network to have not aired a single live telecast for the month of July.
By Jake Donovan
With death comes new life.
It was going to be a very long summer for those whose main source of boxing intake comes from HBO. The self-proclaimed Network of Champions was staring at the bottom of an empty well in the form of their summer boxing schedule, which featured nothing from June 28 through August 21.
The schedule didn’t come by design. It was in fact supposed be to a summer heat wave of boxing action from June 13 through August 1, coming up for air only on Independence Day weekend during that stretch.
Then came failed negotiations.
And untimely arrests.
And of course the sport’s greatest Achilles heel, training camp injuries.
All told, eight HBO fights and a four-fight PPV show along with its 24/7 series and exclusive HBO replay was reduced to just two fights fought on separate Saturdays in June. Nothing for the month of July, as well as the first 21 days of August.
But now, through one man’s untimely death, comes new life into the gaping hole that was the network’s boxing coverage.
Just 10 days after attempting to pick up the pieces of our lives following the reported suicide of Hall of Fame boxer Alexis Arguello, the boxing world was dealt another massive blow upon hearing the grisly details surrounding the untimely death of Arturo Gatti.
A staple of HBO’s World Championship Boxing and Boxing After Dark series in the late 1990’s and early 2000’s, Gatti was found dead in a hotel room in Brazil on Saturday, just shy of two years following his final in-ring performance.
Having appeared on the network more times than any other fighter NOT guaranteed a spot in the International Boxing Hall of Fame, the right thing to do for HBO would be to honor him with some sort of tribute for the years of thrills he provided for the network’s viewing audience.
Main Events, the promoter of record for Gatti’s entire, offered a highlight-reel package during their in-house pay-per-view webcast on Saturday evening, live from the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, not very far from Jersey City, to where Gatti relocated from Montreal in 1991.
Showtime ignored the long-running rivalry with HBO and offered the murdered ex-fighter a ceremonial 10-count prior to the start of their telecast.
Had any portion of HBO’s once-loaded schedule held up, surely there would’ve been a significant portion of any given telecast dedicated in his honor.
Rather than wait until August 22, the date of their next live boxing telecast, HBO instead opted to think outside of the box, coming up with an idea that had to be on the mind of every boxing fan: airing one of the most entertaining boxing trilogies in recent boxing history,
On the heels of ESPN Classic running a series of Gatti’s greatest moments, HBO has announced that enough time will be set aside this weekend to air all three of his fights with rival-turned-close friend Micky Ward, which spanned a 13-month period from May 2002 through June 2003.
There are only three occasions in which HBO airs full replays of any given fight: the week following one of its pay-per-view events, in which the main event runs on its main network; the week preceding a major pay-per-view event, in which HBO will opt to air one significant fight (previously aired on HBO or its PPV arm) from each fighter’s career; and the final week of the calendar year, when the network selects its five most memorable/significant fights from the preceding 51 weeks.
Thankfully, HBO broke tradition in coming up with the idea to run the three-fight Gatti-Ward series, which will air on HBO2 this Friday, July 17 (9PM ET/PT), and the following morning on their main network (Saturday, HBO, 10:15AM ET/PT).
While there is rarely if ever a significant fight on HBO not scheduled for 12 rounds (with or without a title on the line), the three-fight set between Gatti and Ward is a reminder that a great fight is just that, regardless of what’s at stake or for how long the bout is scheduled.
All three fights were scheduled for 10 rounds. There were no titles at stake, nor were any of the bouts fought with the promise of a future title shot to the winner.
Instead, they were just fights.
Such is lost in today’s scheduling, where even when networks try to buy into a return to “one champion per division,” they’re all too willing to allow some meatball title at stake, which in turn means a 10-round fight now scheduled for 12 and yet another “champion” produced by night’s end.
Of the 20 fights to have aired on HBO’s flagship station this year, only three were scheduled for ten rounds or less. Percentage-wise, it’s an improvement on the three out of 40 fights to appear on HBO in 2008, a year in which the term catchweight became the theme.
The fact that superstars were fighting wasn’t enough of an enticement to market an event. Former champions, as well as those participating in a non-title bout, still needed the full ambiance of a championship event, thus the scheduled 12-round distance, which meant distance fights like Roy Jones-Felix Trinidad, Oscar de la Hoya-Steve Forbes and Kelly Pavlik’s catchweight bouts with Jermain Taylor (rematch) and Bernard Hopkins all lasting two rounds longer than necessary.
In fact, all three of the bouts not scheduled for 12-rounds in 2008 took place on the same show, when Gary Shaw presented “Night of the Rising Stars,” featuring Yuriorkis Gamboa, James Kirkland and Alfredo Angulo in separate ten-round bouts.
Both Gatti and Ward were much further along in their respective careers than were the aforementioned trio of prospects-turned-contenders. Yet they were perfectly content with beating the crap out of each other for ten rounds at a time, with nothing more than bragging rights and the fans’ undying approval at stake.
The trilogy has been surpassed, in terms of the combination of skill level and significance, by that produced between Mexican rivals Marco Antonio Barrera and Erik Morales, and most recently by the three epic battles offered between Israel Vazquez and Rafael Marquez.
Each of the three fights between Barrera and Morales took place at separate weight classes, all with at least one title at stake. All three Vazquez-Marquez wars were fought with the lineal super bantamweight title at stake, changing hands twice.
The three fights between Gatti and Ward were just fights. Without a 12-round limit or a title at stake, they were still deemed worthy of airtime on HBO, as well as close to $7 million in paydays the two warriors collectively earned over the course of their three battles.
Boxing fans clearly couldn’t care less about a title being on the line. The Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, CT hosted the first fight with the 10,000-seat arena filled to nearly 70% capacity. Both the rematch and rubber match took place in front of sold out crowds at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City.
All three fights ended with the crowds on hand giving both fighters a rousing standing ovation. The decibel levels were shattered in their June 2003 rubber match, well before the division was announced and without either fighter hoisting a trinket over their head.
In the end, the trilogy produced 2002’s Fight of the Year (their first fight) and Round of the Year (the unforgettable ninth round of their first fight), along with several more candidates in the latter category and a rubber match that realistically ranked in most experts’ top five best fights of 2003. Also included in the series: three knockdowns, a punctured ear drum, busted hands and what became routine post-fight trips to the hospital for both fighters.
For a 13-month stretch earlier in the decade, boxing was provided a lifetime of memories.
Through Arturo Gatti’s untimely death, boxing is once again given the opportunity to relive the journey, which sadly couldn’t come at a better time for HBO or the sport.
WHAT ALSO COULD’VE FILLED THE VOID
July 18 was supposed to play host to a pay-per-view event headlined by the return of Floyd Mayweather Jr, who was slated to face Juan Manuel Marquez in a catchweight bout. That was before Mayweather suffered a rib injury in training camp, pushing back his return to the now rescheduled date of July 19.
Come this weekend, HBO will have been given at least a month to come up with a contingency plan. They instead decided to put the money back into their budget, content with going dark until Gatti’s death prompted them to air his thrillogy with Micky Ward.
Sitting out there all along has been the junior welterweight alphabet title fight between Andreas Kotelnik and 2004 Olympic silver medalist Amir Khan. For the moment, the bout goes unclaimed by any American network, not even the offer to air via afternoon overseas pay-per-view feed.
It’s worth disclosing that Kotelnik was the originally slated opponent for Victor Ortiz last month. The transplanted Ukrainian abruptly pulled out of the fight once a formal contract was presented, instead agreeing to a more lucrative showdown with Khan.
HBO can’t be held solely responsible for the tasty matchup failing to garner stateside airtime, but what has to come into question is their decision to pass on the fight, thus their becoming the only boxing-related network to have not aired a single live telecast for the month of July.
Hmm...
UFC always has more quality fights on their cards than boxing, and it makes sense why. They pay their fighters a lot less, and can afford to have more high caliber fighters on the same card.
Boxing promotions usually save the lion's share of the profit for the main event fighters, which is why you'll see Johnny Green fight Joe Willis on the undercard, though, boxing cards have improved drastically in 2009 as a whole.
UFC always has more quality fights on their cards than boxing, and it makes sense why. They pay their fighters a lot less, and can afford to have more high caliber fighters on the same card.
Boxing promotions usually save the lion's share of the profit for the main event fighters, which is why you'll see Johnny Green fight Joe Willis on the undercard, though, boxing cards have improved drastically in 2009 as a whole.
Yeah I feel you. I didn't really start appreciating ground game until I started training, and before that, I thought that shit was boring as fuck.
But I guess, I mean like in terms of quality fighters fighting against quality fighters, the UFC is doing more right now, but I just love that boxing promoters are taking notice, and finally giving us paying customers our money's worth!
Either way, we as fans win ! I've been saying this the whole time !
But I guess, I mean like in terms of quality fighters fighting against quality fighters, the UFC is doing more right now, but I just love that boxing promoters are taking notice, and finally giving us paying customers our money's worth!
Either way, we as fans win ! I've been saying this the whole time !