Boxing News Thread

[heyzel]

Carl Froch Believes David Haye Can KO Nikolai Valuev

By Terence Dooley

Carl Froch has leapt to the defence of compatriot David Haye, who is scheduled to challenge Nikolai Valuev for the WBA heavyweight title. Fight insiders have scoffed at Haye’s chances in this fight; however, WBC super-middleweight boss Froch, 32, believes that Valuev is in for a shock come November the 7th.

“There'll definitely be a decent reading on the Richter scale when he hits the deck,” Froch told The Sun. “Haye's got to be careful and watch what's coming back at him. But I'm sure he'll be able to see what's coming in slow motion because Valuev is a big lump. He'll have no problem with him. At worst, Haye will outbox him and it'll look like a really a good display. But I think he'll knock him out if he catches Valuev, he really will.”

Froch knows a thing or two about KO’s, he scored his biggest win to date when knocking out American Jermain Taylor in the twelfth round earlier this year. Carl knows Haye from their amateur days; he feels that The Hayemaker will be well prepared for Valuev.

“I'm sure he'll get some big heavy lumps in to spar with him, put it on him and get him on the back foot,” said Froch. “Haye's got speed, agility and skill — and don't forget he can punch hard himself. I used to spar with him in the England squad and he's hard to tag. He throws punches from awkward angles, like myself, and I think he'll do well.”

 

[heyzel]

Judah-Hatton Weight Dispute May Cancel The Bout

By Terence Dooley

Ricky Hatton has labeled Zab Judah’s team a bunch of ‘amateurs’ after they tried to force his brother Matthew - slated to fight Judah in September - to move down to light-welterweight for the proposed contest, this after having made the fight for the welterweight limit of 147lb.

Hatton told The Manchester Evening News that the fight now hangs in the balance. “They are trying to move the goal posts because they know Matthew is a welterweight. They are being a little amateurish,” blasted Hatton.

“And maybe he isn't as confident as he sounds” he continued. “Judah has even been saying he wants to knock me out when he's not even fought Matthew. The fight was postponed the first time through no fault of their own. But now they have offered the same fight and the same deal but at a different weight.”

Ricky hinted that Matthew, 28, has other options, an IBO title fight against Lovemore N’Dou has been in the offing for months now, and there is also a route opening up within the WBA rankings.

“We are not going to wait around forever. There are plenty of other options for Matthew,” claimed Hatton. “There's a possible IBO fight against Lovemore N'Dou or a WBA welterweight chance. We have accepted the fight with Judah and Matthew is willing to go to Vegas a second time. But not at light welterweight.”

Matthew has bounced back strongly from his 2008 Commonwealth title defeat to Craig Watson, notching up wins over Ben Tackie, Ted Bami, and Ernesto Zepeda, the younger Hatton has waited patiently for the big fights to come along, he may now have to wait a little bit longer.

 

[heyzel]

Mayweather Sr: “Cotto Can Take Pacquiao’s Head Off

By Rick Reeno

I’ll admit, I’m one of the few scribes to pick Miguel Cotto to beat Manny Pacquiao on November 14. Most of my colleagues believe Pacquiao’s speed and overall movement will overwhelm Cotto. I spoke in detail with trainer Floyd Mayweather Sr. and he agrees with my belief that Cotto has enough power to end the fight with a single shot.

“I think Cotto has a very a good shot to win. He’s got a good puncher’s chance. If Cotto hits him to the head or the body, he is going to take his ass out. Cotto did not look good against Clottey and I think Clottey beat him. That was a bad cut [suffered by Cotto during the Clottey fight]. I think a cut like that would affect anybody. A cut like that can keep you out of the game,” Mayweather Sr. told BoxingScene.com

If Mayweather was training Cotto, he would advise him to keep a tight defense and protect the left eye as a precautionary measure to prevent the cut, suffered during the Clottey fight, from re-opening.

“A cut like that can open up again at any time and turn the fight around,” Mayweather Sr. said.

He gets the impression that Freddie Roach [Pacquiao’s trainer] is overlooking the high level of danger that Cotto represents. Mayweather doesn’t see Pacquiao being able to withstand a flush Cotto power shot, whether it be to the head or body.

“He whooped on Oscar De La Hoya who was dehydrated and had no liquids in him. Ricky Hatton was suspect before the fight. Cotto is a puncher. If Cotto is in good shape and he hits him to the body or the head, he can take him out, my mark my words. [Roach] made a mistake by thinking Cotto ain’t that good. If Cotto hits him right, he take his head off, remember I told you that. Cotto is going to be ready for this fight, believe me. If Cotto hits him to the head or the body, he is gone - Rick, remember I told you,” Mayweather Sr. said.

Mayweather Sr. had trained Hatton for the May fight with Pacquiao. He told BoxingScene that miscommunication during training camp was a big factor in Pacquiao’s ability to blow Hatton out in two rounds. Mayweather would not advise Hatton to fight again. During the training camp for Pacquiao, Mayweather saw rookies giving Hatton a lot of trouble during sparring sessions.

“He wouldn’t do what I told him. He kept listening to Lee Beard [assistant trainer]. He was suspect before the fight anyway. We had lesser fighters, four round pros, shaking him up in the gym. The way my son knocked him out, he was bound to get knocked out again and again. That’s how it happens sometimes. My son knocked him out bad and then Pacquiao knocked him all the way out. And mark my words, if he fights again, and I don’t care who it’s against, he will get knocked out again,” Mayweather said

 

[2-0-Sixx]

oh shit, Guzman vs Funeka on the mayweather undercard?? The card is pretty stacked if that goes through. Guzman by UD in awkward ass fight!

 

[heyzel]

that's should be an wild ass fight joan by 6th rd ko

 

[naner12]

Guzman ain't stopping Funeka. He hasn't stopped anyone for about 3 weight classes. I got Funeka staying on the outside long enough to win enough rounds for a decision.

 

[2-0-Sixx]

^^you dont think funeka will be going forward chasing guzman? That's how I see it in my head and I see guzman making him look silly most of the time.

 

[MOREBASS]

Funeka is a freak of nature. Are his bones hollow ?

 

[naner12]

^^you dont think funeka will be going forward chasing guzman? That's how I see it in my head and I see guzman making him look silly most of the time.

I guess it depends on how committed Funeka is to winning and not trying to make it a fight. He can still chase and stay on the outside as long as he doesn't get reckless. The only thing is that against Campbell he let him get inside a few and got dropped in the process. I don't think Guzman has the pop Campbell has but I think he'd be better at getting in range to punch than Campbell is.

It's an interesting fight though ..

 

[2-0-Sixx]

I think guzman has enough pop to earn his respect, but probably not drop him. Campbell looked pretty old against Funeka in my eyes, I mean great win and all but if it wasn't for those knockdowns he pretty much lost nearly every round.

Guzman is much more skilled than campbell and has the ability to make people miss....a lot. I think in the end he'll be too slick for ali, too elusive. The only way I can see Guzman losing to a guy like funeka is if he's not 100% in the ring, meaning he fucks off his training or if he starts losing some of his natural abilities due to age.

We'll see it's a crazy match up.

 

[heyzel]

Timothy Bradley - "We're Supposed To Be Warriors In This Game!"

Exclusive Interview by James Slater - Fresh off his 3rd-round TKO win over Nate Campbell this past Saturday, WBO light-welterweight champion Timothy Bradley is looking ahead to his next fight. The 25-year-old who improved to 25-0(12) says he was just getting going when the fight was stopped due to a cut suffered by Campbell - a cut Campbell claims came from a butt (and is appealing the result).

The fighter known as "Desert Storm" says he'd fight Campbell again, but that he'd easily defeat him a second time. Very kindly taking time out to speak with me about the Campbell fight and other things, Tim gave me the following answers over the phone today.

James Slater: It's a pleasure to speak with you, Champ, as always. First of all, were you happy with your performance against Nate Campbell? You sure were on top in a big way

Timothy Bradley: Absolutely. It was a great performance. I prepared well, but I wasn't really focusing on Nate, I was concentrating more on what I was doing.. Watching tapes, I was trying to correct my mistakes. I wanted to make sure I sharpened my game, and I kept both my hands up, I straightened my jab. I used my head a lot more in this fight, I wasn't just charging in. I learnt a whole lot from the Kendall Holt fight. I watched the video of that fight and I saw what I did wrong and I fixed my mistakes.

J.S: Were you surprised at how easily you handled Campbell?

T.B: No. Not at all. I knew he'd be slow. I knew he'd be flatfooted. He's used to fighting in a different weight class, too. He wouldn't have had to have worked as hard to get down to 140. He'll have trained hard, of course, but not as hard as he would have done to have made 135 in the past. I knew he'd be flat on his feet, and I knew their whole game-plan would be to break me down to the body. But we trained to box on the outside and to fight on the inside. I was not just going to run all night. No way.

J.S: Did Nate ever hurt you at all?

T.B: No. They say he has power, but please! (laughs). Kendall Holt, he has wrecking power. Even when he hit my gloves I felt a little electricity. Nate, he has heavy hands, but I saw all his punches coming. He has heavy hands, but he has no snap on his shots.

J.S: Were you surprised when Nate quit? Did he in fact quit in your opinion?

T.B: Just look at Miguel Cotto's fight and then ask me if Nate quit? Cotto had two cut eyes [against Joshua Clottey] but he kept on fighting. Look at Juan Diaz [when he fought Campbell] he continued to fight with bad cuts as well - even though it may have jeopardised his career. He carried on. Nate didn't do that. So it looked and sounded like he quit to me. The cut wasn't even on the eyelid, it was above the eye. But he didn't want to fight. He came back to the corner screaming, "Stop the fight. Stop the fight! I can't see. I can't see." We're supposed to be warriors in this game. I know I'd have carried on if I was cut. Even if, even if, I couldn't see - I'd still fight on. I mean, the damage has been done. You could be having your last fight [in that situation]. If you have suffered a detached retina you might have to hang up the gloves. So why not fight? I would in that situation because I'd know that this could be my last chance to fight. But that's just me. I'm gonna fight to the end and give it everything I've got. I was just getting started in that 3rd-round.

J.S: What do you think of Nate's plan to appeal the result and try to get it overturned? And would you fight him again?

T.B: It would be the same outcome if we fought again. In fact, it would probably be worse for him. He's too slow. Even if he changed his game-plan, I'm always in great shape. I'd maybe go right to him if we fought again. I don't really see any point in fighting him again, but we'll see. If it makes sense, money-wise. That's what it's all about. But I don't know. If he wants to be a jerk about it and continue saying things - being disrespectful. He doesn't really want to fight.

J.S: Are you worried that the win may be overturned to a No-decision, though?

T.B: Absolutely not. Absolutely not. I'm not worried. It won't be changed. I won the fight. Look at the video. He came into MY head! The referee saw what happened in just a split second. It was a punch. We did clash heads - we were butting all night. But Nate never gave the ref the time to see the cut. Instead he went back to his corner screaming blue murder - screaming that he couldn't see and screaming "Stop the fight. Stop the fight."

J.S: Moving on, as you are - will it be Lamont Peterson next for you?

T.B: It's going down. That fight's going down. I haven't spoken to my promoter yet, but Lamont is my mandatory and so I have to fight him next to keep my belt. So I can't see why it won't be him next.

J.S: You are always in terrific shape as you say, and you could probably fight again this week! But when do you think you will fight again?

T.B: Let's see, we're in August now. I'd say October. October or November. That would be perfect for me. I didn't expend much energy in this fight, I'm not sore. So I'd be able to fight in a month or two. I'm sure Lamont's getting ready now. I'm sure he's already in camp getting ready for me now. That's a good fight. That's one of the best in the division. Me and Lamont, me and Devon Alexander - we are the cream of the division. I came up in the amateurs with those guys and I'm sure we'll all clash one day.

J.S: You're a fighter who always wants to fight the best and who wants the biggest opponents. Do you think you are any closer to a fight with Manny Pacquiao?

T.B: It will never happen. It will never happen. By the time I reach where he is, stature-wise, he'll probably be retired. And I don't blame him for not fighting me. He's in a position where he can choose who he wants to fight and earn millions in big mega-fights. I'd do the same thing in his position. I've had just five years in the [pro] game, and my stature isn't up there with his yet - and by the time it is, he'll be retired probably. Boxing's a business after all. I'm starting to understand the business side of boxing. It's not always about the best fighting the best. And if Pacquiao were to fight me, he'd want me to bring the draw, he'd need me to bring him millions of dollars in a pay day. But by the time I'm at that level, it will be too late [for a fight with Manny].

J.S: It's a shame, because I think you and he would be a great fight - your speed versus his speed. Anyway, it's been great speaking with you, Champ. You've had four great wins now since winning the WBC title - Witter, Cherry, Holt and Campbell. You must feel you are getting better and better in each fight?

T.B: We're trying to get better, man. I want to fight the best in the world. I don't want to take the safe route, I want to take the hard route. And people know that about me. Everything I have in my career I've earned. I've never had a silver spoon in my mouth. I've always had things hard.

J.S: Well, I hope you get the big money you deserve in future fights. Thanks for talking to me.

T.B: Okay, talk to you

 

[heyzel]

One governing body to control all of boxing worldwide (Could it ever happen?)

By Andrew Walker - As I typed out that headline I thought that sounds a bit totalitarian? It sounds like the sort of headline the monopolies commission would be interested in. But it is actually a very positive thing if it were to ever happen to the sport of boxing. Whilst followers of boxing will debate who's who and what's what in the sport ad nauseam most if not all would agree that the current situation of a multitude of governing bodies fighting for prominence is a large factor in what has gone wrong with boxing today..

I'm sure the majority of you can name five or more world boxing councils, organisations, federations or unions etcetera but I remember a few years ago stumbling across a website that listed over twenty seven different boxing governing bodies! I'm sure a lot of them never progress further than a website and purchasing a few belts but some of them worm their way into prominence if not prestige amongst the boxing public.

What we have now is the IBF, WBA, WBC and WBO all recognised for the most part as legitimate world titles. The IBO is also now starting to gain prominence amongst some boxing aficionados who respect the organisations ranking system and they do have a few legitimate world champions wearing their belts also. Not strictly a world title but the Ring magazine belts are not handed out lightly and some followers of boxing see the holders of these belts as the true champion of their respective division.

Now if you follow the sport closely you are aware of this bizarre situation and can follow (just about) who is who in their respective weight classes. But for Joe Public who sees a poster in his town centre proclaiming “world championship boxing, Willie Limond vs. Ryan Barrett for the vacant World Boxing Union lightweight title” he is not aware that what he is really paying to see is one former Commonwealth belt holder vs. a domestic level journeyman. Neither boxer of a standard to compete for a “real” world title (although Limond fans might argue otherwise).

So if there was just one world title per weight class instead of the four or more we have now you would no longer need to be an expert to follow the sport.

But how would the sport even begin to go about dismantling the various organisations? Would it even be legal to try to do so?

Maybe one of them could buy out all of the other organisations with support from the industry. But if this were to happen what is to stop them from just starting up again under a new name or anyone else from doing similar and creating a new body. Say the WBC did this and purchased all of the other organisations of note. They would have to defend their position as the sole governing body ferociously but with support from the governments, promoters, boxers and the media blocking any attempts of a rival organisation this could be achieved.

The benefits of this to boxing are not to be underestimated. The best would have to fight the best if they wanted to become a world champion. No more title holders racking up meaningless defences. Fighters would have to put it on the line to become world champion as a loss in a title fight would see them go to the back of the queue of worthy challengers.

The governing body could also vet and monitor promoters and managers and make sure fighters were not tied up in unfair contracts for long periods of their careers. Having just one controlling body to deal with rather than two or more as has been the case in some unification bouts would dramatically simplify negotiations all round and could even lead to reduced costs from the top all the way down to the price the fan pays for his entry at the venue or for his PPV. It could help bring boxing back to the free to air terrestrial channels also?

Most other professional sports are run/controlled by one governing body so how has boxing operated all these years with the mess it currently finds itself in today? The practice of promoters also acting as boxer's managers is ludicrous in a business sense. The role of a promoter is to earn as much revenue as possible for his promotion. Equally the roll of a boxer's manager is to earn as much money as possible for his fighter. Straight away there is a conflict of interest there and regardless of which “hat” the promoter/manager has on he will inevitably make as much money for himself first and foremost.

Perhaps a brand new body would need to be created from scratch so that all of the old bad blood or shady connections some promoters are perceived to have with certain governing bodies is wiped clean. It would necessitate each country to agree that they will only recognise the newly created governing body and over time the old guard will slip from prominence as they are forced out of civilised countries and off of the publics TV screens. The fallout from this may create unlicensed boxing tournaments but that practice has been a fixture in most countries for centuries.

Concerns like that although valid should not prevent those concerned with seeking a solution to the fractured mess the sport is in as of now. Failure to do so will lead to even more bodies chancing their hand at creating a “title” and seeing if they can infiltrate the already saturated market. As well as the bodies already mentioned there are a raft of others lurking around waiting for a faded former champion to endorse their belt in the hope of eeking out their career a little further once the glory days have passed them by.

For this to happen though will take some doing. Is it all too late to be realistically possible

 

[heyzel]

By Andrew Walker - As I typed out that headline I thought that sounds a bit totalitar

Team Sauerland Statement regarding Palle claims: It was with great surprise that Team Sauerland found out about Mogens Palle´s latest remarks in the U.S. press. Contrary to what Palle claimed in an open letter, neither Team Sauerland nor Mikkel Kessler or SHOWTIME have violated any rights. The Viking Warrior has been in Court with Palle in Denmark for quite a while, and Team Sauerland has reviewed his attorney's contentions and concluded that no valid contract exists between Palle and Kessler. "Mogens Palle can sue whomever he wants," Team Sauerland General Manager Chris Meyer said. "But it does not give him any options or any rights over Mikkel Kessler at all. He simply does not have a valid contract with Kessler."


Mogens Palle Lashes Out At Kessler, Sauerland and Showtime

By Mogens Palle: Mikkel Kessler is a great boxer, no doubt. I have promoted the sport in tiny Denmark for 52 years and Kessler may be the greatest Danish born fighter I have ever had. But what kind of a man is Kessler? Is he all attitude and no gratitude? Is he a world class athlete who makes contractual deals and lives up to them? Or is the so called “Viking Warrior” a man to whom a legal contract means nothing?

I’ve been biting my tongue for too long and now I want to set the record straight about Kessler, about the pirate promoter Sauerland Event and the pirate cable TV network Showtime. I am sueing or will sue Kessler, Sauerland and Showtime.. I will pursue my breach of contract and other legal claims against all of these parties and some others who have interfered with my existing and ongoing exclusive promotional contact with the WBA super middleweight champion.

Showtime’s Ken Hershman never called me about putting Kessler into the Super Six tournament that Showtime and other networks are financing.

Clearly, Hershman and Showtime purposely and knowingly interfered with my promotional contract when Sauerland got together with them.

It was only a couple of years ago that Hershman and Showtime CEO Matt Blank came to Denmark to sit down with me to discuss Kessler fighting on Showtime on a regular basis.

Let me explain the background here.

Kessler obligated himself to a three fight option agreement with my company, International Entertainment, ApS.

It is all written down in the contract that I have the exclusive right to promote three more Kessler bouts. Obviously those rights are extremely valuable.

But I am going to fight Kessler, Sauerland, Showtime and any others involved in such contractual interference in every court and in every country I need to.

It’s not only about money, it’s also about principle.

It’s about the sanctity of honoring contracts and fulfilling them to the letter.

With Sauerland, no promoter is safe from their plundering.

Imagine the howling and the lawsuits that would ensue if I or any other promoter seduced King Arthur Abraham or Nickolay Valuev, two world champions under contract to Sauerland?

Imagine the controversy, the furor and the massive lawsuits if someone interfered with Bob Arum’s contract with popular champion Manny Pacquiao. You don’t have to imagine that because rival Golden Boy did that and Arum and Top Rank sued them immediately.

I promoted Kessler for 10 years.

In that time, he has become a multimillionaire who is so incredibly wealthy that he abandoned Denmark to make Monaco his legal residence.

Kessler may be a Danish sports hero but he does not pay taxes in his homeland.

How rich is Kessler, who has held the WBA title twice and once also had the WBC belt?

It took me parts of four years to negotiate the deal with a tough promoter named Frank Warren but Kessler earned five million US dollars in one night and one fight against Joe Calzaghe.

Though he lost in a stirring contest, that remains the high point of Kessler’s career.

I hammered out that deal with promoter Warren and I arranged for HBO, a much bigger and more popular US network than is Showtime, to televise it. American fight experts were astounded that HBO would show a title bout between a Welshman and a Dane but they did so.

But Kessler did not get to the big international stage overnight.

Where was Sauerland when I was putting Kessler on in four round bouts?

Where was Sauerland, and for that matter interloper Showtime, when I was paying Kessler’s medical bills and other expenses in the many years in which his fights were not lucrative, when they were only a financial drain carried by my company?

Where was Sauerland when I surprised another tough promoter, Don King, by suggesting that Kessler substitute against WBA champion Manny Siaca Jr. when20another one of my boxers, Dane Mads Larsen, had to pull out due to injury?

King knew nothing about Kessler and thought it was an easy payday in Denmark for he and Siaca.

I knew that Kessler, having been groomed expertly and having his buildup matches made against the right opponents at the right times, would take the world crown from the Puerto Rican boxer. And Kessler did that, fighting magnificently.

I then had to fight with Sauerland to make a title unification bout for Kessler against Marcus Beyer. Sauerland wanted that fight to be on theirs and Beyer’s turf, in Germany.

To make it more favorable and more comfortable for Kessler, I took some heavy financial losses, huge losses, to bring the fight to Copenhagen.

Again, Kessler fought magnificently but I did the fighting before the fight, the negotiating and went deep into my pockets to make the unification bout a reality.

I am not looking for thanks from Kessler for superbly building his career and making him a multimillionaire who can’t afford to live in high tax Denmark.

But I will vigorously and aggressively enforce my legal rights.

In boxing, the referee tells fighters to “protect themselves at all times.”

When Sauerland and the interfering TV network Showtime work together, all boxing promoters and managers are advised to do the same, to protect their contractual rights.

I am just doing what Showtime would do i f someone interfered with and ran off with one of their popular television shows, with any program they have legal rights to.

I wish Kessler continued success in the ring.

But, in a court of law in Denmark and in the United States, the contract that Kessler intelligent and freely signed and agreed to, will prevail.

MOGENS PALLE

 

[heyzel]

Abraham vs Taylor Undercard; Kessler vs. Perdomo Card

By Per Ake Persson

French cruiserweight Zakaria Azzaoui faces Italian Michele De Meo on August 25 in Hyeres with the WBC Mediterranean title at stake. The undercard features Newfel Ouatah, who represented Algeria in the 08 Olympics and turned pro earlier this summer. Ouatah have a famous cousin: Karim Benzema who just joined Real Madrid (that is a football team for those who spend too much time with boxing).

The heavyweight clash between Robert Helenius and Rene Dettweiler that was set for the undercard to Kessler vs Perdomo on September 12 in Herning will now go ahead October 17 in Berlin on the Arthur Abraham vs Jermain Taylor show. Although Sauerland Event haven´t confirmed it, the press in Norway have written that Cecilia Braekhus will defend the WBA and WBC female welterweight titles in Herning. Also on the bill is Vinni Skovgaard. Sauerland´s matchmaker Hagen Doering tells knock-out.dk they are in touch with more Danish fighters to be added to the bill.

Former French jr middleweight champ and EBU challenger Jacques Chinon has a book out on his life. Chinon hails from French Guyana and fought professionally for eight years. After his retirement he became a trainer and handled among others EBU jr light champ Jacobin Yoma, his son Claude and other decent pros.

P4P Box Promotion in Aachen, headed by ex German champ Mario Guedes, has plugged away steadily in the last few years. The big star is Jessica Balougun who holds a female world title in welterweight. Next show, and next defense by Balougun, is set for September 5 in Aachen-Merzbruck.

monokli.com writes that WBO light heavyweight champ Zsolt Erdei won´t defend the title until November 28 or December 19, Erdei, 30-0, defended the title in January against Yuri Barashian and was then set for big fight against stablemate Jurgen Brahmer in September.

Heavyweight Alexander Ustinov is featured in the chief support to K 2 East´s show in Grozny August 15 billed as "the Champ Comes Home". As previously reported Grozny native Zaurbek Baysangurov headlines.

"Ingo the Champ" - the memorial show for Ingemar Johansson September 4 in Karlstad will now feature the first clash in modern time between two Swedish heavies as Michael Lindblad, 24-6, returns after two years out to fight Andreas Gustavsson, 2-0.

 

[heyzel]

Zab Judah Not Bothered By Hatton's Refusal, Parties

By T.K. Stewart

With recent reports of a dispute over the weight at which the proposed Zab Judah vs. Matthew Hatton fight is to take place (140 or 147) on the undercard of the Sept. 19th Mayweather vs. Marquez show, little of that seems to be bothering Judah.

Zab, who relocated to Las Vegas a couple of years ago, is reportedly partying like it's 1999. Sources in Las Vegas tell BoxingScene.com that Judah is burning the candle at both ends and is a frequent visitor to the Moon/Playboy Club at The Palms and is also seen at the Pure Nightclub in Caesars Palace.

“Zab is one of the last ones out of The Palms,” says the source. “He closes the place and Zab likes to enjoy himself. He's here at three o'clock in the morning but he's just having fun. He's a lot of fun to be around and people enjoy his company.”

Judah told the source that, “I want to fight Manny Pacquiao, right f------ now! Man I'd love to get that fight!”

A match against Pacquiao would seem a tall order for Judah, 31, who hasn't defeated a ranked contender in four years and has lost four of his last eight fights. He has not fought at all in 2009 and the former 140 and 147-pound champion, who has a record of 37-6, 25 KOs is rumored to be fighting Matthew Hatton or perhaps Antonio Diaz next.

“I can tell you that Zab isn't exactly living the life of a boxer,” said the source. “He's staying up all night, going home when the sun comes up and that he sleeps most of the day. He goes to the gym in the late afternoon before hitting the town again. Zab lives life. His brother Joe was out here with him a while ago and I don't they slept for a whole day.”

 

[heyzel]

Freddie Roach Talks Mayweather Jr, Pacquiao vs Cotto

By T.K. Stewart

BoxingScene.com spoke with trainer Freddie Roach on a variety of subjects. Roach is still smarting over the fact that Floyd Mayweather, Jr. opted to fight Juan Manuel Marquez before Pacquiao.

“I don't get it, all he had to do was wait one more day [after the Hatton fight] and he could have had Manny,” says Roach. “I would have loved to have gotten to Floyd before Marquez, but that's that.”

In the meantime, Roach says he has begun studying tapes of Miguel Cotto and that, “I have his last six fights on tape, but I'm paying particular attention his fight against Shane Mosley because that's the one where he was able to take away Shane's speed to beat him.” Roach claims that he hasn't settled on the exact plan of attack for Cotto but he's getting close and should have something together in the next couple of weeks.

Freddie also mentioned that Pacquiao's handlers would like to hold the first month of his training camp for the Cotto fight in the Philippines. Roach is averse to that idea, "Because there's way too many distractions over there for Manny. Bob [Arum] is working on something over here, something closer."

Roach also says that no matter where he goes, the only fight everybody is talking about and the one that everybody asks him about is Manny vs. Floyd.

“When I was in the U.K. with Amir last month that was all anyone wanted to ask me about,” said Roach. “That's the fight that has to be made. Bob and Al Haymon will have to put their differences aside to make that fight because it would be good for the entire sport. It's a fight that has to happen. People talk about making big fights, but to me, that's about as big as they come. I think it will happen.”

 

[heyzel]

Caballero: “I'll Break Juanma's Mouth in Puerto Rico”

By Mark Vester

WBA/IBF super bantamweight champion Celestino Caballero continues to bait WBO champ Juan Manuel Lopez. Caballero has called Juanma every name in the book and now he is willing to face the Puerto Rican fighter on his own ground. He says Juanma is being protected by his handlers from real challenges.

"I am going to break his mouth but I want it to be in Puerto Rico so the people there can be convinced that he is a not a champion, a fraud to the crown, only fights in his country and he is protected," Caballero told ESPN Deportes.

Caballero has no fear of facing Juan in Puerto Rico. He loves to take big fights in hostile territory.

"The call me the champion traveler. I took a unification fight in Canada and beat a Canadian. I went to the house of the number one fighter in Thailand and I also had a great knockout. If Janma wants it, I'll break his mouth before his fans in Puerto Rico," Caballero said.

 

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Vassiliy Jirov Returns to Cruiserweight on September 17

Former Cruiserweight Champion and 1996 Olympic Gold Medalist Vassiliy "The Tiger" Jirov (37-3-1, 31 KOs) is returning to boxing with the intention of regaining his cruiserweight world championship. The popular former champion is currently in training for a proposed September 17 bout at the Woodland Marriott in Woodland Hills, California.

A fan favorite worldwide for his relentless come-forward attack and intense body punching ability, Jirov first made history when he defeated American team captain Antonio Tarver to win the Olympic light heavyweight gold medal in Atlanta in 1996. He also received the prestigious Val Barker Cup for being the best fighter of the games.

It was there that he signed with American powerhouse promoter Top Rank and united with manager Ivaylo Gotzev.

Guided by Gotzev and Top Rank, "The Tiger" Jirov tore through his opposition on his way to taking his first world title in 1999 by stopping "King" Arthur Williams in the seventh round.

The fight, broadcast live on HBO, allowed Jirov to captivate audiences around the world and garnered him high praise.

Over the next five years, Jirov successfully defended four times, and brought credibility to a division that had been largely ignored for many years. After losing his title in an upset decision to James Toney (later voted the 2003 Fight of the Year), Jirov moved up to the heavyweight division where, despite not winning a major title, he clearly left a mark. No one will forget the battle he waged with then number-one contender "Baby" Joe Mesi.

After a few years of stop-and-go activity Jirov has now reunited with Gotzev (they parted ways just prior to the James Toney fight). The pair's record together stands at 32-0 with 27 knockouts.

"I am delighted to be working with Vassiliy again. His exciting, aggressive style is definitely missed in boxing," said Gotzev. "And pending California State Athletic Commission approval, you can see him back in action September 17 at the Woodland Marriott."


The plan, according to Gotzev, is to take some tune-up fights before making an attempt to regain his cruiserweight title. "There is no doubt in my mind that Vassiliy will be unified cruiserweight champion of the world."

The cruiserweight division is currently experiencing an upswing, hosting the likes of Tomas Adamek, David Haye, Ola Afolabi, and many up-and-coming European contenders.

Jirov is training at the 360 Fitness center in Reseda, California with Shadeed Suluki (who trains Gotzev's young fighters including sensational light heavyweight Ismayl Sillakh and middleweight David Tabatadze, both undefeated. "We are going to bring excitement to every fight and there are some great fights to be made at that weight. The Tiger is back!"

His opponent is currently TBA.

 

[heyzel]

Cotto Does Not Agree With The WBO's Weight Stance

By Mark Vester

According to WBO welterweight champion Miguel Cotto, and his father Miguel Cotto Sr, WBO president Francisco "Paco" Valcarcel has become too involved in the title controversy with the November 14 bout with Manny Pacquiao. Notwithstanding a recent published report by one careless hack who erroneously attributed the comments to Pacquiao in an effort to instigate a legal situation, it was "Paco" Valcarcel who said the Pacquiao-Cotto bout was a welterweight contest because it was taking place at 145-pounds.

"If the fight is at 147-pounds, that is the limit. If he weights more than that, then you are at junior middleweight. But with one or two pounds less, you are still inside the limit," Paco told El Nuevo Dia. "We (the WBO) have the responsibility... that if a fight is going to be inside the welterweight limit, then it has to be for the title."

The Cotto clan does agree with Paco’s position. They view Paco as a good businessman who is trying to grab a sanctioning fee of $150,000. Since Paco was not involved in the negotiations, Cotto says the WBO president should not involve himself in the dispute.

"If he requires me to, I will gladly give him a letter of resignation. I do not have any problems with that. But in the rough draft of the contracts, the fight was not for the title. That was what we agreed on,” said Cotto to El Nuevo Dia. "For my previous fight. I weighed 146 pounds, but the contract stipulated 147 pounds and the fight was for the WBO title. For this fight the [contract] said 145 pounds and the title was not on the line.”

Top Rank president Bob Arum has already gone on the record and said that he would personally cover the sanctioning fee for both parties out of his own pocket. Arum has told several reporters that Pacquiao-Cotto will have the WBO title at stake.

 

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Dawson Grabs Home Field Advantage on Glen Johnson

By Mark Vester

Promoter Gary Shaw has informed BoxingScene.com that WBC light heavyweight champion Chad Dawson (28-0, 17KOs) will have the home field advantage when he faces Glen Johnson (49-12-2, 33KOs) in their anticipated rematch on November 7. The fight will happen at the XL Center in Hartford, Connecticut and HBO will televise the fight. Last April, Dawson fought Johnson on his home turf at the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa, Florida. Dawson won a controversial twelve round decision. Both fighters want to set the record straight