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May 13, 2002
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yeah I heard rumors that Abraham's US debut will be against Miranda. I hope that's true, there first fight Miranda punished abraham something fierce. He may not have got the W but he's also not the one that was laying in the hospital bed and needed titanium plates to fix his jaw!!






 
Jul 24, 2005
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Yuriorkis Gamboa To Face Darling Jimenez

a few days after WBO #2 rated Marcos Ramirez (25-0-0, 16KOs) pulled out of his fight against hot Cuban prospect Yuriorkis Gamboa (9-0-0, 8KOs) on May 17th featured on HBO’s “Boxing After Dark” joining promoters Ahmet Öner (ARENA Box-Promotion) and Gary Shaw (Gary Shaw Productions) present Gamboa’s new foe: Darling Jimenez from Puerto Rico.

28-year-old Jimenez won 23 of his 27 pro-fights including 14 stoppages. He comes from six straight KO-wins, the last one against “The Powerful” Mike Anchondo (27-2-0, 19KOs) back in April 2007.

Gamboa: “I don’t care who I’m fighting. I will knock out everybody who crosses my way to the world championship.”

Promoter Ahmet Öner agrees: “Gamboa has to face strong opposition to develop and improve. Although he’s already competing at a level not many fighters ever reach in their careers. He’s nothing but a phenomenon – and he will prove that against Jimenez.”

To show that he really is on the fast track Gamboa just bought himself a brand new Bentley to cruise to the streets of Miami as fast as he’s rushing through the ratings. The 2004 Olympic gold medallist and reigning NABF junior lightweight champion is already rated on #5 by the WBA and #8 by the WBC.
 
Jul 24, 2005
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Kristjansen: "I'm Not Impressed With Khan

Martin Kristjansen says Amir Khan is in for a nasty surprise this Saturday night when they meet at the Bolton Arena in their WBO World Lightweight title eliminator.

Confident Khan reckons he will blow away the tough Dane, who has never been stopped in 23 fights, but Kristjansen is determined to dash the world title ambitions of the young star.

The 30-year-old from Slagelse said: "Khan is saying that this will be the easiest fight of his career and if he is believes that then he is going to be in for a big surprise on the night,"

"I've watched his last three fights and I'm not impressed with him. He is strong and fast but is still young and does not have the experience that I have and I will expose him, "

"He might think that he can stop me inside three rounds and I will let him carry on thinking that but I've trained for a long hard fight so he had better be prepared,"

"Khan is the big star in Britain and wants to fight for the world title but he won't be getting past me."
 
Apr 25, 2002
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Boxing is good for reconciliation

Boxing is good for reconciliation
Mar 27th 2008 | BAGHDAD
From The Economist print edition

Breaking down sectarian barriers by letting youngsters biff each other


WHEN the fighting resumes it will be a welcome return to normality for a bunch of muscular young men in Baghdad's recently beleaguered Sunni enclave of Adamiya. They have managed, for five years, to avoid bullets and bombs. Now they will be ducking and weaving in a boxing ring where generations of Iraqi champions were reared in times of peace. For the Adamiya Boxing Club, one of the capital's oldest and most respected sporting institutions, is poised to open its doors again. And the punchers will, it is hoped, come from both Shia and Sunni districts.

Until recently the club, at a strategic crossroads in the heart of Adamiya, had been used as a barracks by the Iraqi army. Its famous ring had been chopped up for firewood by soldiers trying to keep warm. Now the club echoes to the sound of hammers and drills. Volunteers are up ladders, rewiring and repainting. Some 300 aspiring pugilists ranging in age from eight to 50 are dusting off their gloves.

A deal arranged with the Iraqi army by American commanders in the area has seen the club handed back to the community. “Life is far from perfect but it's a sign it can begin again,” says the club's jovial boss, Farouq Shamsoon, a boxing legend who fought for Iraq in two Olympic games. He insists that there will be no sectarian animosity. “Our club has always been for everyone.”

Since the sectarian bloodbath after the bombing of the Shias' Samarra mosque in early 2006, Baghdad has become a labyrinth of concrete blast-walls behind which sectarian tensions have been contained but not eliminated. Adamiya has been walled off. Once a stronghold of support for Saddam Hussein, it then, during America's occupation, became a haunt of various Sunni insurgent groups, including al-Qaeda. Perched on the tip of the mainly Shia east bank of the Tigris river, it is hemmed in by predominantly Shia districts. Its inhabitants were terrorised, after the Samarra bombing, by Shia militias.

Then the Americans put up a “great wall” of concrete, several metres high, several miles long. They also encouraged the setting up of neighbourhood security groups known as “Sons of Iraq”. Many locals say they hate the wall and are suspicious of the armed young men manning local checkpoints alongside it, but the violence has dropped dramatically. Mr Shamsoon says his club will also pull down mental barriers. “Our youths have seen the futility of street violence,” he says. “We will channel their energies to something more positive.”
 
Jul 24, 2005
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Yan Barthelemy Added To Tarver-Woods Card

TAMPA, FLA - Undefeated bantamweight phenomenon YAN BARTHELEMY, Cuba’s 2004 Olympic gold medallist, will be back in action on Saturday, April 12, against the rugged veteran Pedro Rincon Miranda (30-16, 25 KOs), from Colombia in a six-round bout. Promoted by ARENA Box- Promotion, Barthelemy, 28, is looking to score his sixth win in as many professional fights. The Barthelemy-Miranda bout will be featured on the undercard of the light heavyweight world championship doubleheader headlined by the Antonio Tarver-Clinton Woods IBO-IBF title unification fight and Chad Dawson’s WBC title defence against former world champion Glen Johnson at the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa, Florida.

“This is a good test for Yan,” said Ahmet Öner, CEO of ARENA. “Miranda is the most experienced opponent he has had to face so far. I’m sure that Yan will beat him, as Yan is one of the most promising prospects in his weight class
 
Jul 24, 2005
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Povetkin Protests Klitschko-Thompson Bout

By Per Ake Persson

IBF and WBO heavyweight champ Wladimir Klitschko have according to German paper Bild Zeitung received an offer of five-million euro from Sauerland Event to face Alexander Povetkin, the IBF mandatory challenger - and turned it down. Wladimir insists on fighting WBO mandatory Tony Thompson in July, but the matter is complicated. Sauerland, ob behalf of Povetkin, have protested the matter to the IBF and a decision is expected soon.

WBA heavyweight champ Ruslan Chagaev´s defence of the title against Nikolai Valuev will go ahead May 31 at the Koenig Pilsener Arena in Oberhausen. It seems as if WBA bantamweight titleholder Wladimir Sidorenko will defend the title against Panamanian challenger Anselmo Moreno in the chief support.

The undercard to Sturm-Pittman on April 5 in Duesseldorf feature several interesting matchups. Of note is the pro debut of heavyweight Markus Tomala and the comeback of Manuel Charr. Charr was previously with Sauerland Event but landed behind bars after being accused of stabbing a man in a gang related feud. The case is still not closed but for now Charr is trained by Fritz Sdunek and fights for Universum. Russian heavy Vladimir Tereshkin face Adnan Serin in his first test as pro. Jurgen Brahmer test the waters at light heavy in his fight against Karim Bennama and touted middleweight Gennadyi Golovkin squares off against Canadian Ian Gardner.

Heavyweight veteran David Tua headlines a World Sporting Promotion on July 12 in Odessa, Ukraine, with Israeli heavyweight Roman Greenberg in a supporting bout. The show will feature heavyweights only.

The EBU have named Italian Mouhamed Ali Ndiaye official challenger for EU super middleweight champ Lolenga Mock. Mock beat Ndiaye on a close call in Odense on March 14 but to this reporter and many other ringsiders it looked as if Ndiaye had nicked it. His promoter, Davide Buccioni, was to put it mildly very upset.

The "Grand Tornoi" in France continues April 17 at Cirque d´Hiver in Paris with Denis Saioni vs. Sylvain Gomis, and Woilid Guarras-Alain Sebire, both fights are scheduled for six and made at middleweight. In the main event French welterweight champ Franck Harroche Horta defends against Nicolas Guisset.

Polish cruiserweight Krzysztof Wlodarczyk, the former IBF champ, keeps busy with a fight against George Sabuni on April 5 in Warka. Veteran journeyman Dariusz Snarski face Hungarian Istvan Nagy in a WBF I/C lightweight match.

Former Italian welterweight champ Adriano Offreda was tragically killed in a car accident recently. Offreda went 14-1-2 as a pro and split two fights with Alessandro Duran.

Spanish welterweights Javi Vega and Daniel Perez Salido clash for the national title on April 4 in Madrid.

WBC Youth jr. welterweight champ Ali Chebah defends against Thai Saengsakda Charoenkasem on April 17 in Bejaia, Algeria.

Danish promoter Robert Larsen promotes in Fredrikssund April 19 with welterweight Christian Bladt, jr. light Robert Osiobe and lightweight Kasper Bruun confirmed for the show.
 
Jul 24, 2005
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Khan Wants Nate Campbell, Joel Casamayor

By Mark Vester

Unbeaten British lightweight champ Amir Khan is targeting the two of the major players in the lightweight division.

During a recent interview with PA Sport, Khan called for fights with Nate Campbell, who recently beat Juan Diaz to capture the WBO/IBF/WBA lightweight belts and Joel Casamayor, the WBO-interim champion who recently stopped undefeated Michael Katsidis. Khan feels the division is wide open after the upsets of Diaz and Katsidis.

"It's up for grabs now. I want to clean up the lightweight division and I have no doubts I will be world champion by the end of this year. It is there for whoever is able to take the chance and I am the man to do it," Khan said. "I think with my pace and speed I would wear them down. My hand speed and my power has won fights so far but going the 12-round distance last time has given me a lot of confidence."

Promoter Frank Warren would love to match Khan against either Campbell or Casamayor by the end of the year.

"A win will give him a fantastic opportunity to fight for a world title sooner rather than later," said Warren. "We're looking at Campbell and with a bit of luck we will get there by the end of the year
 
Jul 24, 2005
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De La Hoya-Pacquiao: Manny Wants Big Bucks

By Mark Vester

For months, there have been rumors of a possible dream fight between Oscar De La Hoya and Manny Pacquiao. Pacquiao, who is planning a jump in weight to 135-pounds, would have to meet De La Hoya at 147, which is seven-pounds below his present weight class of 154.

Despite the big difference in weight, there is also a big difference in physical size. De La Hoya meets Steve Forbes on May 3 at a catch-weight of 150-pounds. Pacquiao returns on June 28 against WBC lightweight champion David Diaz. De La Hoya, should he get by Forbes, is scheduled for a rematch with Floyd Mayweather Jr. in September.

During a recent interview with Nick Giongco of the Manila Bulletin, Pacquiao's trainer, Freddie Roach, said that Golden Boy Promotions was having problems with obtaining Mayweather's signature on the contract for the September rematch. Roach told the paper that if Mayweather falls through, Pacquiao may step in.

"I have been told that they (Golden Boy Promotions) are having a tough time getting (Floyd) Mayweather to sign for the rematch," Roach said. "Oscar wants Manny. Manny was about 145, 146 lbs the night he fought (Juan Manuel) Marquez."

While on a recent cruise yacht cruise in the Philippines, Pacquiao told Salven Lagumbay of the Philippine Daily Inquirer that he would ask for a number between $30 to $40 million for such a fight, and he would be willing to make it at the welterweight limit of 147.

“It will be a major task for me to fight De La Hoya. If we fight, I’ll ask between $30 million to $40 million for myself. I would look pitiful if Oscar bowls me over. I weigh around 146 when I am training hard and still eating. I can fight De La Hoya even at 147-pounds," Pacquiao said.
 
Aug 12, 2002
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Found on another site...

Floyd Mayweather Vs Ricky Hatton (arrgg)
http://www.veoh.com/videos/v6398923Mzpq8CFf

Mickey Ward v Arturo Gatti 1,2,3
http://www.veoh.com/videos/v6254474Bh7kx48J
http://www.veoh.com/videos/v6266452hEh7zbKh?confirmed=1
http://www.veoh.com/videos/v6266523c2Tk8C3g?confirmed=1

Nigel Benn v Gerald McClellan
http://www.veoh.com/videos/v6254521ysG5GRnA

Holyfield vs Tyson 1
http://www.veoh.com/videos/v62607893tAFrAsC

Holyfield vs Tyson 2
http://www.veoh.com/videos/v6260828ffRzfxgK

Kostya Tszyu v Zab Judah
http://www.veoh.com/videos/v6265934wngMaeE8

Oscar DeLaHoya vs Bernard Hopkins
http://www.veoh.com/videos/v6266238KTCdZRdY?confirmed=1

Floyd Mayweather Jr vs. Oscar DeLaHoya
http://www.veoh.com/videos/v6266375ByrmWqZR?confirmed=1

Floyd Mayweather Jr vs. Diego Corrales
http://www.veoh.com/videos/v6266334acrXwpeR?confirmed=1

Jose Luis Castillo vs Diego Corrales 1
http://www.veoh.com/videos/v6266401yDAxTQqH?confirmed=1

Miranda Vs Pavlik
http://www.veoh.com/videos/v6254152ckNeRHaS?confirmed=1

Hatton Vs Castillo
http://www.veoh.com/videos/v62541559BBMyC9Q?confirmed=1

Roberto Duran vs Sugar Ray Leonard 2,3 (still looking for #1)
http://www.veoh.com/videos/v6266802XdDhCbGa?confirmed=1
http://www.veoh.com/videos/v6266859s4hDE6ND?confirmed=1

Marvelous Marvin Hagler vs Sugar Ray Leonard
http://www.veoh.com/videos/v6260964n7KnYWXx?confirmed=1

Naseem Hamed vs Kevin Kelley ( I cant stand Hamed)
http://www.veoh.com/videos/v414142K5mmMtA5

Floyd Mayweather Jr vs. Carlos Baldomir
http://www.veoh.com/videos/v1593065zWsaQxmX

Pacquiao vs Barrera 1
http://www.veoh.com/videos/v290937tWta3bht

Marvelous Marvin Hagler v Thomas Hearns
http://www.veoh.com/videos/v6254570AG7cPZTM?confirmed=1
 
Dec 9, 2005
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I understand that De La Hoya is the biggest draw in boxing, but when are people going to realize that he sucks now ?


Boxing needs to move on and find a new hero. I won't be paying for another De La Hoya fight, ever...especially after that lackluster overhyped 'superfight'
 
May 13, 2002
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people also forget de la hoya is naturally much bigger then mayweather. Not only is his frame bigger, but on fight night Floyd weighed 148 whereas Oscar weighed around 160 or more.

So of course, naturally, he wants to fight an even smaller guy, Manny Pacquiao! Someone who started his career at 106 and is currently fighting at 130 and moving up to 135. What a joke! That Tranny needs to hang 'em up. It would be funny as fuck if Steve Forbes whoops his ass
 
May 13, 2002
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Chavez Jr. To Face Unbeaten Loriga - 4/26


Queretaro, Mexico - Young, dynamic Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. of Culiacan, Mexico goes into his biggest fight when he takes on Tobias Giuseppe Loriga of Italy on Top Rank's "Latin Fury' PPV championship card on Saturday, April 26.

Loriga replaces Michel Orlando also of Italy, who pulled out of the fight for medical reasons.

"This will be a big fight for Julio Jr., as he take on an undefeated fighter in Loriga who has a different kind of style and for me personally this is a very intriguing match-up," said Bob Arum of Top Rank.

Chavez Jr., 35-0-1 with 28 knockouts, had to dig in and fight hard in his last two Latin Fury main events, defeating first Ray Sanchez in his hometown of Albuquerque, N.M. followed by a three-knockdown win over Jose Celaya. Both Sanchez and Celaya battled bravely in front of large crowds.

"The last couple fights have been very tough, but I have found a way to win them and that's the most important thing. I plan on having a big year and this second fight of 2008 will show that I'am ready to take bigger challenges", said Chavez Jr.

Loriga, 24-0-1 with 6 knockouts, is the current Italian champion at junior middleweight and also holds the IBF International jr. Middleweight belt.

Chavez Jr is enormously popular in Mexico and is a big gate attraction in the USA. His last fight against Celaya was a 6,500-seat sellout in Leon, Mexico.

"Fighting in Mexico is always very special for me. The people are great and I always try to give the fans my best", said Chavez Jr., who captured the WBC Continental Super welterweight Championship with his win over Celaya.

Chavez will put his WBC Continental Super welterweight Championship on the line against Loriga,

Chavez Jr. is the oldest son of the legendary “El Gran Campeon” - three-time world champion Julio Cesar Chavez. The father always takes the ring walk with young Julio on fight night and when they reach the ring steps Julio Sr. gives final instructions.

"I am very happy about the boxing career of my son," Chavez said. "He is very serious about his career and he is always 100 per cent prepared."

The Big “Latin Fury” Pay Per View card includes an IBF featherweight elimination bout between Hector Velazquez of Tijuana and Elio Rojas of the Dominican Republic and a defense of his NABF bantamweight crown by Bernabe Concepcion of the Philippines who take on Torrance Daniels.
 
May 13, 2002
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Man, this is fuckin bullshit!! Miranda cant get a decent match lined up!

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Lorenzo Roadblocks Abraham-Miranda Rematch


By Mark Vester

After a potential May clash between Mikkel Kessler and Edison Miranda fell apart due to Kessler's withdrawal, the promoters left behind, and Showtime, tried to put together a rematch between Miranda and IBF middleweight champion Arthur Abraham for June 21.

Steve Kim of MaxBoxing reports that Pat English, attorney for New Jersey-based promotional firm Main Events, has intervened on behalf of undefeated Giovanni Lorenzo, who is due a shot at Abraham's title. Lorenzo is the highest ranked challenger according to the IBF rankings. Sebastian Sylvester is the only fighter ranked above him, but he is taking on Javier Castillejo in a WBA final eliminator on April 12, which eliminates him from the IBF equation.

According to Kim’s report, there was talk of step aside money and possible placing Lorenzo on the undercard against Raul Marquez, but the two sides were not able to come to an agreement on either.

I was under the impression that Abraham-Miranda would be fought at a catch-weight, thus making it a non-title fight. There could be a time deadline for Abraham-Lorenzo to take place and that’s probably where Lorenzo’s argument comes into play.

________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
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Kessler Avoids Miranda For Mundine Shot


By Mark Vester

It appears Mikkel Kessler is not taking the path of moving up to the light heavyweight division to compete for the soon to be vacant WBA light heavyweight title. Instead, Kessler will stay at 168-pounds to pursue a rematch with Anthony Mundine, the WBA's champion at 168.

Kessler appeared to be heading for a clash with Edison Miranda on May 24, with Showtime televising the fight in America. Last week, Kessler's team withdrew him from the fight and said that a title opportunity had come up. This past Tuesday, the WBA announced that Kessler was the mandatory to Mundine.

Several issues stick out in my mind with respect to the fight.

1. Kessler is not even fighting for the real WBA title. Joe Calzaghe is the real WBA super middleweight champion. Mundine is the "regular" champion. Once a fighter holding a WBA belt moves on to unify the title with another major sanctioning title, the WBA recognizes that fighter as their "super" champion and makes the "regular" title vacant. Mundine beat Sam Soliman for the vacant title last March.

2. Mundine is unknown to American fans. There is no buzz among insiders or huge demand for a Mundine-Kessler rematch. It's safe to say that HBO will not pick this fight up and Showtime, after what they went through with the Kessler-Miranda fight falling apart, will also pass.

3. According to Australian media sources, Mundine is set to face Soliman in a trilogy bout on May 28 at the Vodafone Arena in Melbourne, Australia. Kessler's date with Miranda was on May 24. He could have still made the fight with Miranda without conflict, made $600,000 and received some much needed exposure on American television. Also, with Mundine facing Soliman in May, does that mean Kessler will sit out until August or September?

4. Will Kessler, now a WBA mandatory, receive more than $600K (400ER) for a reamtch with Mundine? Mundine has a healthy ego and his team could easily let the fight head to a purse bid where the champ would get the much larger portion of the money. Most experts had Kessler as solid favorite to beat Miranda. But, Kessler has never faced such a strong, agressive fighter like Miranda. Maybe the Kessler camp knows something we don't?
 
May 13, 2002
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Be careful what you wish for Kelly!

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Pavlik: "I'd Love To Smack Winky Around"


By Mark Vester

For the last few months, nobody has been pushing harder for a fight with Kelly Pavlik than former champion Winky Wright. Pavlik told The Vindicator that he called Wright out many times in the past and was ignored.

“We called out Winky Wright a couple hundred times and now that he can’t get the big fights and his career’s petering out, he wants to fight me all of the sudden. There’s a guy I’d love to smack around a little bit,” Pavlik said.

Pavlik will defend the WBC/WBO middleweight titles against Gary Lockett on June 7 in Atlantic City. He plans to stay at middleweight until he has a reason to move up. If possible, he would love to fight undisputed super middleweight champion Joe Calzaghe.

“I’d love to fight Joe Calzaghe, if it ever happens. He has a big fight [April 19] with Bernard Hopkins, so that will have some bearing on the possibility if he wins,” Pavlik said.
 
Jul 24, 2005
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Manny Pacquiao-David Diaz Being Finalized

By Mark Vester

The Manila Bulletin reports that the June 28 clash between Manny Pacquiao and WBC lightweight champion David Diaz is being finalized in the next few days. The paper notes that Pacquiao's attorney, Franklin Gacal, will soon hold a meeting with Top Rank, who promote both fighters, to go over the terms.

"Atty. (Franklin) Gacal is going there to finalize everything," said Wakee Salud, a close friend of Pacquiao. "It’s (David) Diaz for Manny on June 28

Salud also tells the paper that Pacquiao is not taking Diaz lightly and plans to follow the same training schedule that was used for his rematch with Juan Manuel Marquez. He will once again head to trainer Freddie Roach's Wild Card Gym in California to prepare
 
Jul 24, 2005
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UFC Star To Make Boxing Debut - 4/11

UFC Star Terry Martin will make his professional boxing debut on Friday, April 11th at THE ODEUM RUMBLE, an evening of world class professional boxing at the Odeum Sports and Expo Center in Villa Park, presented by Dominic Pesoli’s 8 Count Productions, HOME OF THE BEST IN CHICAGO BOXING.

The Chicago born and raised 27 year old Martin, having established himself in mixed martial arts over the last five years with a record of 18-4 with ten knockouts and five submissions, will face Ricardo Upchurch of Mansfield, Ohio in a four round cruiserweight bout.

With a resemblance facially and in build to Mike Tyson, Martin has been able to not only build a successful mixed martial arts career but also is working towards his Doctorate at the Adler School of Professional Psychology. Previously Martin earned a BA in psychology from Northern Illinois University followed by the completion of his Masters degree at Concordia University.

The seven bout event is headlined by a terrific junior middleweight clash between Chicago based veterans Luciano Perez and Carlos Molina. The crosstown showdown between the Mexican natives is scheduled for eight rounds.

The full bout card for THE ODEUM RUMBLE is

Luciano Perez vs. Carlos Molina, eight rounds, junior middleweights

Yusef Mack vs. TBA, eight rounds, light heavyweights

David Torres vs. TBA, eight rounds, lightweights

Andrzej Fonfara vs. Manny Castillo, six rounds, middleweights

Ivan Popoca vs. TBA, five rounds, welterweights

Terry Martin vs. Ricardo Upchurch, four rounds, cruiserweights,

Ikem Orji vs. Juan Gonzalez, four rounds, lightweights

Along with 8 Count Productions, THE ODEUM RUMBLE is presented by Miller Lite, TCF Bank and AeroMexico, the premier travel source in Mexico.
 
Jul 24, 2005
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Kostya Tsyzu - Death In Gloves; Part 1

By Bradley Yeh

An exceptional mix of unique characteristics made Kostya Tzsyu a ruthless and amazingly brilliant light welterweight boxer of the modern era.

In many ways he was the perfect pugilistic package, and from 1992 onwards for approximately a decade, aside from a few aberrations, Konstantin “Kostya” Tszyu reigned supreme amongst the light welterweight divisions of the world with a genuine killer instinct and the cool detachment of a professional fighter with stupendous power.

Upon reflection both before and after he clinically dispatched with Julio Ceaser Chavez over 6 rounds back in Phoenix, Arizona in 2000; in many senses Kostya Tszyu was the heir to all great expectations the Mexican legend Julio Ceaser Chavez had set within the minds of those that passionately studied the light welterweight divisions during Chavez’s incredible reign.

But whilst both Chavez and Tszyu’s accomplishments are comparable in these esoteric contexts, and perhaps even others more obvious; differences of method and approach also set the two widely apart.

Differences that were obvious but sometimes overlooked.

Chavez, with a his signature left hook to the liver punch was a traditionally brutal Mexican stamina fighter with minimal special effects and impeccable punch resistance, that at times would mercilessly carry opponents a few more rounds than necessary just to bludgeon them, ensuring the defeat choked their heart as it echoed within their minds for an eternity beyond the fight.

By the time Tszyu got to Chavez he was in many ways a man at the ultimate centre of true boxing power. Tszyu appeared to most as an accomplished traditional orthodox boxer mostly due to his stance. In reality though, he was quite a sophisticated and unorthodox package.

With his left hand, either slung low, or extended outward and horizontal, exposing his midsection, on first inspection Kostya Tszyu must have visually presented to those considering the prospect of being a contestant against him as a lean boxer-puncher with easily exploitable vulnerabilities - vulnerabilities such as a predicable penchant for throwing big right hands equaled only by his apparent vulnerability to them.

Still as contestants crafted their approach and watched, Tszyu ascended and accumulated power for his own needs of pugilistic domination and assassination on his way to becoming an outstanding champion.

And Vernon Forrest discovered just how steep the gradient of that ascension was even before Tszyu was a professional fighter; when Kostya Tzyu gave what would probably be one of the most scintillating displays of boxing skills of any Olympic or professional world class boxing contest, when he easily outclassed Forrest during the world amateur titles in 1991.

Even back then Tszyu was a genuine wolf in sheep’s clothing, eradicating those that opposed him with vicious game plans underpinned by effective tactics and powerful momentums that almost always brought home sinister consequences for anyone believing they had what it took.

Underneath Tszyu’s smooth appearance, that itself appeared almost as if it were calculated not to antagonize, was a reality symbolizing Tszyu as a genuine boxing mastermind in possession of sensational vision, accuracy and balance.

For those that knew him on the amateur circuit, the symbol was an imposing monument to the Russian program; an outstandingly strong and multidimensional competitor, who was at times capable of almost any technical boxing maneuver with unparalleled economy of motion.

Whilst modest in describing the true extent of the gap between Tszyu’s and Forrest’s abilities, the scores for that bout with Forrest were 32-9 in favor of Tszyu.

Anyone in disbelief of the claims thus far made about how one of Tszyu’s amateur accomplishments rationally translates to an audience usually measuring fighter’s potentials over 10 rounds or more within the professional fighting arena, need only visit youtube.com and examine Tzsyu’s confidence, speed, footwork, and his placement of punches used to defeat Forrest.

In that fight for the world amateur title’s gold medal, Tszyu cleverly disentangled all Forrest’s theoretical advantages until they became the symptom of all things second and silver.

It was a new experience for Vernon who years later became a world champion, but in with Kostya Tszyu, Forrest’s genes built him too tall and with too much reach.

Forrest’s familiarity with opponents being at the end of his arms combined with Tszyu’s ability to comfortably be elsewhere and still attack, created confusion for Forrest and perhaps more importantly a cornucopia of options for Tszyu that he creatively cashed in on to stomp home with the light welterweight gold for the Soviet Union in Sydney 1991.

The performance sensationally rippled through Australia and caught the ears and eyes of a trainer and promoter that knew a thing or two about the fight game.

It wasn’t as if Kostya Tszyu had just happened to peak at that stage of his amateur career. As an amateur Kotsya Tszyu fought 270 times and competed at the 1998 Seoul Olympic Games, and also at several world championship events.

As an amateur he won 259 fights and lost only 11. Most losses were early in his career and were later avenged, such as the loss to Andreas Zulow who Tszyu lost to at the Seoul Olympics, but then a year later returned the favor and beat him at the European Championships in Greece.

Kostya Tszyu still knew all the same tricks and skills he used to defeat Forrest, and probably more, when he was a professional; but such were his options that he opted to develop into a vicious power hitting KO artist rather than safety first pretty boy technician.

Should he have wished to, he could have done both.

Wonderful to have choices isn’t it?

Still despite performances like these Tszyu’s full suite of advantages over fighters he met without headgear were usually only observable by their final result; in the early stages of his professional career there were those that saw the apparent vulnerabilities and believed Tszyu would not win if he couldn’t land his right hand and continued to hang low with the left.

They believed Tszyu relied too heavily on unforced errors on the part of his opponents to win fights and as a result what happened was Tszyu’s peripheral fighting skills became underappreciated, and not easily interpreted or planned for. Not even by fighters with elite pedigrees and previously effective styles.

It seems ludicrous now that we know the true extent of Kostya Tszyu’s boxing prowess, but it said a lot about the state of the then current boxing strategists, who were at the time enjoying employment in a team considering the likelihood of being a genuine contender soon.

On the outer edges of extreme boxing, and heavily laden with talent not easily categorized Kostya Tzsyu simply had all the skills that mattered should one wish to make professional prizefighting look relatively easy. He had the stamina of an elite championship fighter, a telepathic ability to anticipate play, and a feline sense of balance that almost always ensured he was in a position to seriously unload and inflict.

Relocated to Sydney, Australia from Russia, he exploded onto the professional boxing scene in 1992 with 3 spectacular early-round knockouts, followed up immediately by defeating the seasoned Juan La Porte over 10 rounds.

The La Porte fight was only Tzyu’s fourth professional contest, and all four fights took place in 1992.

It was a sensational 12 month introduction into what Kostya Tszyu was about to become, and what Australian boxing history was about to inherit.

Kotsya Tszyu had the luxury of arriving just at the right time and place for Australian boxing; the sun had began to sink into the sea on the dawn of a whirlwind career of a raw edged fighter that had not only captured the hearts and minds of most Australian sporting fans for the previous 10 years; but one that had also been largely responsible for a boxing renaissance in the land down under; Jeff “the Marrickville Mauler” Fenech.

As the years of sustained hysteria associated with Jeff Fenech’s great career finally marked out its downward slope, Kostya Tszyu’s breathtaking performances were delivered with perfect timing for Australian prizefighting history. They mapped a nuclear ascent tracing out a perfect conjugate to the path now defined by Fenech’s graceful downward decent; with the common denominators being the trainer Johnny Lewis and the late and great boxing promoter Bill Mordey, who had both developed interest in Tszyu through being the grateful recipients of Kostya Tszyu’s chilling domination of Vernon Forrest in 1991, Sydney.

Together Mordey, Lewis and Tszyu sensationally shell shocked fight fan followers feeling a deep personal loss in the search for a pugilistic proxy to Jeff Fenech as his career slowly closed down.

Fans became magnetically attracted to the short haired Russian dynamo with a pig tail that could seriously fight instantly upon their introduction to him; Kostya Tszyu. And on the same day that Jeff Fenech lost to Azumah Nelson, marking the moment that his time as a young free spirited controversial prizefighter closed out, they received their first taste of what was to come as Tzsyu marched through Darren Hiles so aggressively, instructing him in matters of pain and loss.

At that moment Kostya Tszyu made enormous power attractive to those who feared and desired it the most; fans and opponents.

It was just the beginning.
 
Jul 24, 2005
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Kristjansen: "I Will Avenge Mikkel Kessler

Martin Kristjansen has promised a performance worthy of a Viking warrior when he tackles Amir Khan in Bolton on Saturday night.

The fight will be screened live on ITV1 at 9.15 - and Kristjansen says he will become a star by defeating his 21-year-old opponent in front of a prime time audience.
The fight is a WBO world title eliminator, with both Khan and Kristjansen ranked in the governing body's top five.

The WBO Intercontinental Lightweight Title will be on the line at the Bolton Arena.

"Believe me, the Vikings are coming," said the Dane during a media workout today, during which he looked sharp and focussed. "My friend Mikkel Kessler lost to Joe Calzaghe in November, but I'll be making up for that when I defeat Khan.

"Amir Khan is the golden boy of British boxing but I'm going to put a dent in his world title hopes on Saturday night. I'm fighting for the whole of my country and I believe I'll expose Khan. I've never felt so confident ahead of a fight. Training has gone really well, and I'm in great shape.

"I'm desperate to become a world champion, and I'm going to take a massive step towards that on Saturday