Boxing News Thread

[heyzel]

Jermain Taylor Congratulates Arthur Abraham on The Win

BERLIN - On Sunday, October 18th Jermain Taylor was released from the Hospital in Berlin, Germany, having been given clearance by a team of Doctors to continue with a planned vacation in Europe. Taylor was admitted as a precautionary measure after suffering from concussion-like symptoms following his fight with Arthur Abraham on Saturday night.

"I want thank all my fans and those concerned and let everyone know I'm doing just fine and feeling good,” said Taylor. “I want to congratulate Arthur Abraham on his victory and wish him well in the tournament. Right now my plans are to relax and enjoy my vacation in Europe with my wife, Erica.”

Team Taylor is equally thankful for the outpouring of support shown by fans around the globe, and promises their number one goal is making sure their charge is fit and healthy.

"All of us at DiBella Entertainment are grateful that Jermain is feeling better after fighting his heart out on Saturday night,” said Lou DiBella, promoter of Taylor. “Jermain showed his warrior spirit after working tirelessly to approach the fight in the finest shape of his career. Happily, with the doctor’s blessing, he has been released from the Hospital and is presently relaxing in Europe. This is the best news we could’ve received

 

[heyzel]

Tyson Fury Mocks Audley, Jean Pascal Eyes Froch Rematch

By Terence Dooley

WBC light heavyweight champion Jean Pascal was an interested spectator at the Froch-Dirrell fight. Pascal waged war with Froch for the WBC super-middleweight title at this very venue, the Trent FM Arena, in December of last year. The man from Quebec, Canada gained a lot of British fans that night; he told BoxingScene.com that he had come back to the UK in order to support Carl and meet-and-greet the British fans.

Indeed, Pascal spent nearly thirty-minutes posing for photographs and signing autographs, a large number of the Nottingham faithful even went as far as apologising to Pascal for booing him during the war with Froch. Pascal, 26, said that the acclaim from the fans and his friendship with Froch had taken him by surprise. “I think England is a beautiful country and I love the English fans,” he beamed.

“Carl is a friend of mine and I came to support him in this tough fight. At the beginning the way the fans came up to me was kind of weird and it is weird that Carl became my good friend but he is a tough guy and a brilliant boxer so I am happy with our surprise friendship.”

Pascal won the WBC 175lb belt by waging another pitched battle, this time with the then-undefeated Romanian Adrian Diaconu. Pascal now has his own division to conquer. Still, he will be keeping an eye on Froch; Pascal believes that Carl has a good chance of winning the Super Six tournament.

“I am with Carl all the way,” declared Pascal. “I’ve put my money on him in the Super Six. It was also a dream come true for me to win my own world title but now I must keep that dream alive over the next decade by staying champion. Working hard will be the key. I will have a rematch with Adrian Diaconu in December – then I will try to take over the world. I have spoken to Carl about a rematch at 175lb or catchweight in Montreal at the end of 2011 or 2012.”

Carl should be done with the Super Six by this point. A rematch with Pascal, plus the possibility of the 175lb title, will give Carl something to push for during the Super Six process. Pascal himself has many irons in the fire at the moment; he takes on Diaconu on December the 11th at the Bell Centre, Quebec. A Pascal-Froch rematch may be on ice for the moment but it is a tantalising possibility for 2011.

Tyson Fury was also on-hand to support Froch. Tyson, 21, has been a pro for less than a year but is making waves in the domestic heavyweight division. The 6’ 7’’ boxer believes that Carl, who is his promotional stablemate, needs to take a ‘one fight at a time’ approach if he is to win the Super Six.

“I’m backing Carl all the way,” said Fury. “He will come on strong. It is going to be a hard tournament for any of them and I wouldn’t like to pick anyone of them to win as you have to take it one fight at a time - especially at this level.”

Tyson was embroiled in his own ‘robbery’ controversy last month when relieving Darren McDermott of the English title courtesy of a ridiculous 98-92 scorecard from referee Terry O’Connor. Fury was in action again two-weeks after that fight; however, he looked lethargic in a six-threes contest with Tomas Mrazek over in Ireland. Tyson told me that a hand injury has been hampering him; he wants to put it right before rematching McDermott.

“I’m hoping to get over my hand injury and get out soon as possible,” revealed Fury. “A rematch with McDermott is definitely on the cards, it is just a case of when and where. Going the ten-rounds did me a world of good. I’d only gone four-rounds before so it was a massive difference. It has been ten-months and I’ve already had nine fights. I’m looking forward to the future. I’m hoping to go for the British title soon.”

Fury was quick to dismiss Audley Harrison, who won the Prizefighter tournament at the start of this month. Tyson believes that Harrison’s tournament win means nothing in the greater scheme of things. “Audley Harrison is the three-round king, with his Olympic gold medal and all of that, and he will always be the three-round king,” thundered Fury.

“Audley hasn’t got anything that I want – don’t forget that he hasn’t got a real title. Unless he gets something I want he won’t be on my radar. I will concentrate on producing a knockout performance when I rematch McDermott. I’ll get him out of there this time and will do it within six-rounds.”

 

[heyzel]

Super Six Starts Slowly: A Ringside Report and Analysis

By Terence Dooley

A weekend in Nottingham gave me an opportunity to take in the Carl Froch versus Andre Dirrell Super Six contest, as well as the UK Bodybuilding finals, which took place over the course of Saturday and Sunday. The relaxed pace of Sunday’s bodybuilding contest also gave me plenty of time to mull over the split-decision win handed to Carl Froch the previous night.

As the bronzed behemoths went through their poses memories of Carl’s poor performance, and Dirrell’s negative one, caused me to wonder if the much-touted Super Six World Boxing Classic was going to produce any memorable matches. Indeed, the UKBFF finals have interesting parallels with the Super Six tournament. Regional qualifiers give the bodybuilders a chance to travel up-and-down the country building up a fan base as they do so and, hopefully, getting the regional wins needed to send the competitors through to the finals.

It is a good format; the fans can pick out guys at a regional show and then cheer them on at the finals themselves. This is not dissimilar to the Super Six tournament set-up. The fighters have home and away contests, giving them the chance to impress away fans as well as building momentum and support.

It is not just that. Zack Khan electrified the crowd at last year’s bodybuilding finals only to place fourth and lose to the well-conditioned Alvin Small, who won the contest. Khan went away and built up the bulk and, more importantly, conditioning needed to take this year’s crown. Similarly, the Super Six boxers are engaging in high-quality match-ups, flaws shown in one fight can be highlighted and corrected in time for the next engagement - with the boxing fans, in theory, the overall winners.

Handled correctly, the Super Six is capable of reenergizing the sport of boxing, which was pronounced dead the moment it came into being and has been getting the last rites ever since. Boxing, like bodybuilding, lives on the fringes; anything that galvanises the fans, and contestants, should be welcomed with open arms.

However, the Super Six started off badly on Saturday night, especially in Nottingham, where Carl Froch and Andre Dirrell showed the fans exactly what they do not want to see during the course of this competition. Let’s get one thing straight: Froch fought badly, he was terrible at times, not to mention rough. Dirrell, though, did not even fight - boxing very negatively for the majority of the contest.

As a taster for the competition Froch-Dirrell failed on almost every level. Froch is currently being pelted for being one-dimensional, pedestrian and KO hungry – qualities that people used to love him for. On the other hand we have Dirrell. People will pay handsomely not to watch Andre box next time out; they should stick him on Primetime.

The Showtime executives must be scratching their heads. Super Six was designed as a showcase yet if a fighter, or fight, stinks how can they convince people to tune in for the next instalment? No, the contest in Nottingham, and the Arthur Abraham-Jermain Taylor fight over in Berlin, served to knock a little bit of lustre off the tournament. Mick Hennessy fulfilled his part of the deal by showing the Taylor contest on big screen TVs. However, as the Berlin opener played out at Nottingham’s cold Trent FM Arena you could feel the enthusiasm of the fans starting to wane.

By round twelve the only realistic hope was that Jermain would win a moral victory by actually going the distance – as he did in 2008 when coming back from the first Kelly Pavlik reverse. A huge right hand from Abraham destroyed those hopes, and Jermain Taylor, at 2:54 of the final round. The once-touted American went down heavily and scarily. Retirement is, surely, the only option for Jermain at this point. One fight in and he is, at best, the tournament’s whipping boy. A high-class whipping boy certainly but there can no longer be any hint of expectation surrounding Jermain’s chances.

So, strike Taylor out of the Super Six equation. They may decide to draft in Allan Green should Jermain retire. Green is a solid enough fighter but we have to bear in mind that he has frozen in his biggest tests. The trash talking Tulsa native has dined out on the Jaidon Codrington KO for years. Allan’s last big KO win, a two-round destruction of Carlos De Leon Junior back in April, was impressive but how can we be sure that Allan will not revert to type in a fight with, say, Mikkel Kessler? We cannot be sure; therefore, we cannot get too excited over Allan’s possible inclusion. Leaving us, again, with Jermain, the man who has put the stupor into Super Six.

Still, the tepid nature of the fight aside, Taylor’s tussle with Abraham was punctuated by a devastating KO finish. The expectant Nottingham crowd managed to keep itself bubbling despite having to wait a ridiculously long time for the Froch-Dirrell match – still; they warmed themselves by thinking about the pre-fight war of words waged by Dirrell, now 18-1 (13) and Froch, who rises to 26-0 (20 early).

Any expectations were killed stone dead during the course of the ensuing snoozefest. People were left wondering if the boxers were sleepwalking in there – or sleep running in the case of Dirrell. Andre, 26, had talked long and hard about what he was going to lay on Froch. He opted, instead, to punish those in attendance by boxing negatively for large periods.

Fittingly, the fight took place in an ice skating arena, which could account for the fact that Dirrell (167½ lb) froze during this big opportunity. The man known as ‘The Matrix’ lived up to his name; he produced a boring fight in which he put out some glossy stuff on occasion but failed excite overall – similar to The Matrix film series.

Carl Froch, 32, boxed like Carl Froch in that he opted to spend an entire fight looking for the boot-smoking punches that had done for Eamon Magee and Jermain Taylor. Dirrell is no Robin Reid, and he is sturdier than Taylor, also. Carl, in following one unsuccessful plan for the entire fight, made himself a less-than-attractive option to the casual boxing fan.

Froch (167½ lb) cannot improve, he is what he is; Dirrell, though, can improve but he will always be cautious. Andre was negative for large portions of this fight. What kind of spectacle will his next fight, versus Arthur Abraham, turn out to be?

As for the decision itself, it was a close one, a point or two either way; BoxingScene scored it 115-112 for Froch. There is no real need to claim that Dirrell was Robin Hooded out of the WBC crown. In fact, the most remarkable facet of the fight is that it set a record for the world’s biggest orgy – as thousands of people slept together on Saturday night/Sunday morning.

Those who claim that Froch is merely a limited roughhouser need to look at Dirrell’s previous contests. He has defeated limited boxers before, so why not Froch? Carl may not be quite as limited it seems or, alternatively, Dirrell is not quite as good as people had previously thought.

Granted, things started well for Dirrell, and the fans, when the man from Flint, Michigan came out in the orthodox posture – his punchers stance. It was Froch, though, who landed the first decent shots of the contest, straight right hands to the body that put Dirrell on the back foot, where he switched to southpaw in a bid to keep his distance. The right hands to the body had an effect on Dirrell’s style; consequently, the work of Froch had impacted on Dirrell’s approach. We generally give a fighter credit for this.

Dirrell stayed on the back foot during rounds two and three. In the third session he started to find some range, a left hand counter caught Froch cleanly. Froch, though, stormed back with an amateurish right hand swipe to the head of Dirrell, who had followed his breakthrough shot with some nice back-pedalling.

This is another case in point. Dirrell landed a shot then chose to move backwards, ceding his advantage; Froch used Dirrell’s backwards movement to trundle forward and land his own shot. In a fight where nothing much happens little moments like this can be scored one way or the other; however, most experienced judges will reward Froch in this instance as Dirrell failed to capitalise on his opening and was punished for this reticence by Froch. This incident summed up the fight. Dirrell would score with a shot then immediately look to back away, handing Froch the opportunity to move in with his own agricultural swings. In short: Dirrell did not try to press his advances; Froch, in his way, worked his advances well.

Dirrell woke up to the task in the later stanzas – he drilled Carl with left hands in the seventh and eighth rounds. Carl, though, landed a rare, strong left hook in the eighth. This set-up a decent ninth, arguably Carl’s best round of the fight. Dirrell’s corner were starting to look, and sound, worried, they told their man that he had to box rather than hold.

Dirrell’s case was further hindered in the tenth round when the referee, Hector Afu, penalised Dirrell for pulling Carl in, although it initially looked to me that the ref had punished Andre for a fairly innocuous head gesture. Afu should have punished Froch at some point, also, as Carl kept broke pretty much every rule in the manual during this fight. Dirrell responded to the deduction with another strong left hand – this one stiffened Froch’s legs and the hometown fighter was forced to wing back after being hit with yet another left. Dirrell had his best round but, ironically, it was destined to go down as a even round due to the –1 in Dirrell’s deductions column.

Those who believe that Dirrell was in the clear going into the final round should pay attention his cornermen, and uncle, Leon Lawson Junior. The counsel from Andre’s corner makes for interesting listening, Andre was told to put Carl away; fears of a hometown shafting, perhaps, or a sign that they knew that Dirrell had not done enough to catch the eyes of the judges. Whatever, Dirrell landed the left freely in the final round only for Froch to respond with a solid right uppercut; the fight had finally caught fire.

The fight was an ordeal, rather the showcase that many had expected. When the score of 113-114 and two lots of 115-112 were turned in there was not a single murmur of complaint from those at ringside. Indeed, Dirrell himself looked forlorn at the post-fight presser, allowing his promoter Gary Shaw to do most of the talking. Shaw did not rage against the so-called ‘robbery’ perpetrated by the three neutral judges.

“Andre has learned that when you come away to the champions country you have to win convincingly and Andre didn’t do that tonight - not in the eyes of two of the three judges,” said Shaw. “I felt that he won a close fight. I am very proud of my fighter. If he would have unloaded early – we had told him to box – we might have had more success as he traded late on and had success.”

Shaw continued: “I thought it was a close fight, personally. I thought we might have won it by a round. It wasn’t three or four rounds either way and we give our full respect to Carl and his camp. Andre’s style may not have been pleasing to the judges but that was the gameplan.

“People talk about fighting but this sport is boxing. Andre Dirrell is a superior boxer and should get credit for that. You don’t have to stand in front of someone and get your head punched in. It may not be pleasing for Carl, who wants to punch your lights out, but Andre is not going to stand there for that – he was boxing.”

A dejected Dirrell echoed the sentiments of his promoter. “I feel that I did my job,” sighed the beaten challenger. “I could have did more but I guess I wasn’t ready for the dirty tactics that Carl Froch brought to the table. I’ll have to come back stronger next time.”

“I do believe that I could have did more but I feel that I won the fight,” revealed Dirrell. “I feel it was a close fight but I pulled it off. I’m a fighter. I believe I will be champion and will take this as a learning experience. Carl just made it a rough fight in there and the decision is what it is – it will make me work harder.”

Froch was not happy with his own performance, either; the man from Nottingham cut a deflated figure during the presser. “I was a little bit disappointed by the general performance,” claimed Carl.

“I’m not injured or hurt, no knocks or bangs. This wasn’t the type of fight that I had with Jean Pascal – you don’t need too many of those types of wars in your career. In terms of longevity this won’t give me any trouble at all. I wasn’t hurt or banged about in any way. It was dissatisfying as a warrior not to have that trade-off. Mikkel Kessler will give me that and give the fans and TV what they want.

“Andre is fast, skilful, he is an awkward southpaw and he is tall. Couple all that with the negativity he brought tonight and it makes for a difficult night’s work. I’m still champion and I’ve beaten a top American fighter – British boxers don’t usually take on guys like this.”

Carl continued: “I watched Arthur [Abraham] take three points tonight so it is starting to get interesting. I’ll look forward to seeing Mikkel Kessler against Andre Ward. My confidence is high. Andre needs to dust himself off and work hard to beat his next opponent. People who think I’m an Arturo Gatti-style warmonger need to look at how I’ve just out-boxed the best that America has to offer. I know it was a split-decision but I deserved to win the fight.”

Froch bridled when asked if he had been worried when the split decision was announced. “Why would I have been worried,” he replied. “I was shocked when it was a split decision but I was one-hundred percent that it would go in my favour. He was ducking low so I was hitting what was there and taking what I could. The referee has got to sort it out and he did a fantastic job.

“If you want to be a world champion you’ve got to take risks and engage. You can’t just pot shot. This is not amateur boxing it is professional boxing. He did feel very weak in close and I felt that I could have picked him up and snapped him in half. I was rag-dolling him in-close and he could feel it whenever I clipped him, that is why he was running.”

It seemed that there was little or nothing more to say about the contest. It had been dire and should been consigned to the dustbin of fights that have failed to match the hype. Conversely, the fight has become one of those odd Internet furores, with fans throwing around the word ‘robbery’ in relation to the contest. This is nonsense, clearly; Shaw and Dirrell are not crying foul so maybe, just maybe, it was a close fight that had a point or two in it.

Unfortunately, we live in an age where storms in a virtual teacup are commonplace. Popular TV pundit Steve Bunce loses his job and the fans launch a website, kick-off a petition and they also, inadvertently, stir up a political storm over the signatures that they have gathered for that petition. Then the big man gets a plum role anchoring the British telecast and guess what? He says that Froch won a close one and becomes an instant pariah. The Internet eh? Bloody Nora.

No, the Froch-Dirrell rumpus is an argument over a close fight, with some arguing strongly for one guy, some going all-out to for defend the other guy, and a small band of rational types trying to argue that it was a close two-pointer that also featured a point deduction. Hardly the crime of the century is it? Ah well, in a few days we’ll have another furore, a fresh bunch of threads, a petition or two and a new email address to inundate with complaints. This fight is truly forgettable; it should be consigned to the record books.

Any debate should focus on the main issue, specifically the fact that the Super Six is off to a terrible start and has, in Taylor and Dirrell, two fighters who are simply not capable of producing classic fights and/or performances. We also have Froch, who has plateaued as a fighter; on Saturday’s evidence he will be lucky to win a handful of rounds against Mikkel Kessler.

As for Kessler, layoff or no layoff the Dane must be licking his lips in anticipation. He takes on Andre Ward next, the same Ward who was negative when defeating Edison Miranda back in May. A dominant win for Kessler will be a death blow to this contest. It would leave Kessler and Abraham as the two clear front runners, with the likes of Dirrell and Ward adding a bit of filler and Froch a dash of thriller, given the right circumstances

 

[heyzel]

Glen Johnson Says "Andre Dirrell Beat Carl Froch"

By Ryan Burton

Light Heavyweight contender Glen "Road Warrior" Johnson speaks to BoxingScene.com about his upcoming fight with Bad Chad Dawson on November 7th. Johnson (49-12) speaks about the keys to victory, getting a fair shake in Connecticut and the possibility of a trilogy with Dawson in this exclusive interview.

BoxingScene.com: How is training going for the your upcoming rematch with Chad Dawson?

Glen Johnson: Training camp is beautiful man. We are having a great camp. We are about where we want to be. We are feeling good right now and we are excited about the fight coming up.

BoxingScene.com: Being that you have fought Dawson before have you made any adjustments to your training camp?

Glen Johnson: Yeah we have done a few things different but we have also done a lot of things the same way. We won the first fight so we know we just need to tweak what we did in the first fight a little bit and make a few adjustments and go out there and execute.

BoxingScene.com: Like you said a lot of people thought you won the first fight. Being that the second fight is in his backyard do you feel you have to win even more convincingly to come out with a decision victory?

Glen Johnson: My game is always trying to win convincingly. I am not going to concern myself too much about the judges and how poorly they can judge a fight. My job is to win the fight in the ring and hopefully we will have quality judges who know what they are looking at. Boxing is supposed to be judged by clean and effective punches and also effective aggression and ring generalship. Those are the things that the judges are supposed to look for. If these guys dont't know what they are looking for or know what they should look for but don't want to look for it there is nothing I can do about it. I can only win the fight in the ring.

BoxingScene.com: Speaking of what judges are or aren't looking for, what did you think of the Dirrell vs. Froch fight?

Glen Johnson: I thought Dirrell won the fight. I was surprised to see the scores. That is just something that happens in boxing until somebody bigger than boxing steps up and does something about it, like one of these politicians or somebody making a law where we have a commissioner like the NFL or NBA. We need someone that oversees the sport of boxing and holds the judges accountable. We need to rally and put something like that into place then boxing can be a little bit more respected and everybody is held accountable for what they do.

BoxingScene.com: I also thought Dirrell won but that being said Dawson is the young champion with the HBO contract who obviously is the one that the executives want to win. Does that put more pressure on you to look for the knockout?

Glen Johnson: I know that I need to look for a knockout. That is my goal but at the same time I don't want to make my whole game plan about getting a knockout. I am sure I will be looking for a knockout though.

BoxingScene.com: Have you thought about the adjustments Dawson will make for this fight?

Glen Johnson: I know he will make some adjustments but I feel like I have seen everything in boxing. I have seen any kind of gameplan they can put together. I'm not really worried about it. I am just concentrating on my gameplan and what I need to do. I can always react and make adjustments off of whatever they are doing.

BoxingScene.com: Assuming you come out with the victory does that mean we will probably see a trilogy?

Glen Johnson: Well sure. If HBO wants us to fight I am excited about it. They are the ones who pay the bills so they write the checks and I do what they say.

BoxingScene.com: Do you have a message for the fans?

Glen Johnson: Of course I do. It is a very exciting fight. Tune in November 7th on HBO. The fight is in Hartford, Connecticut at the Excel Center. Come out to it if you can make it. Don't miss it and I thank all of my fans for supporting me through out the years in the good times and bad. They are the best fans in the world

 

[heyzel]

Abraham-Taylor Draws Big Ratings; Jermain Doing Well

Team Sauerland and King Arthur Abraham were relieved to hear that Jermain Taylor was able to leave the hospital on Sunday. He departed Berlin as originally scheduled and is now vacationing in Europe. “We are relieved to hear that Jermain is feeling better and that he could leave the hospital on Sunday,” Team Sauerland General Manager Chris Meyer said. “The health is more important than a win or a loss. Jermain is a great fighter and a great champion.”

And King Arthur Abraham added: “I was very sorry when I heard about him spending the night in hospital. I want to defeat my opponents in the ring but I do not want to harm them. The health is the most important thing and I am very happy that Jermain is doing fine. It was an honour to fight him.” Abraham will now start a brief vacation himself. “I hope I get some time off from coach Ulli Wegner. Now that I know that Jermain is okay, I can start to celebrate my success – but only for a couple of days before I begin my preparation for Dirrell.”

The opening Super Six clash drew huge TV ratings in Germany. Public free-to-air TV giant ARD recorded a peak market share of almost 40 percent on late Saturday evening. “That is phenomenal,” Kalle Sauerland said. “It shows how great the fan interest in the Super Six World Boxing Classic is. We could not have hoped for a better start.” In Denmark, the fight drew a peak commercial market share of 37,4 percent on TV2. A sell-out crowd over 14.200 fans watched the clash at the famed o2 World in Berlin.

All reigning Sauerland world champions were ringside on Saturday night – WBA Heavyweight Champion Nikolai Valuev, WBO Cruiserweight Champion Marco Huck, IBF Middleweight Champion Sebastian Sylvester and WBA Super-Middleweight Champion Mikkel Kessler, whose November 21 clash with Andre Ward will wrap up the first group stage of the Super Six World Boxing Classic. “It was a great fight and a great victory for Arthur,” Kessler said. “He really landed a powerful punch. The atmosphere in the
o2 World was fantastic. Now I look forward to getting into the ring on November 21.”

 

[heyzel]

Frank Warren Says David Haye's Antics Are Pathetic

By Mark Vester

Promoter Frank Warren was offended by the recent press conference antics from David Haye and his manager/trainer Adam Booth. At the recent UK press conference to discuss the November 7 clash with WBA heavyweight champion David Haye, the British fighter blasted Valuev with a high volume of insults. He called Valuev ugly and often questioned the champion's body odor. He made a request for a boxing official to hose Valuev down before the fight.

"Haye fights Nikolay Valuev in Germany next month, and promoted the show with a media event in London which took a bizarre twist. With Valuev declining to attend because of training commitments, an actor appeared in a seven-foot rubber suit and a mask depicting the face of the giant Russian. Haye promptly got involved in the most ridiculous stunt, pushing and shoving the actor, and punched the head off a cardboard cut out," Warren said.

"His manager Adam Booth appeared wearing a pair of outsized boots he must have borrowed from Joe Calzaghe, given the way he’s been dancing. It was all a bit a ridiculous, and utterly unnecessary – the fight will sell well in the UK without Haye's stupidity. He has constantly ridiculed Valuev – he has called him ugly and smelly – it's pathetic and doesn't need bad taste publicity stunts like this

 

[heyzel]

Allan Green Not Interested in a Edison Miranda Box-Off

By Rick Reeno

During the course of the weekend, I spoke with promoter Dan Goossen to get his thoughts on the first two fights of the Super Six World Classic Classic. The obvious question on my mind was to get his opinion on whether or not Jermain Taylor should continue with the remainder of the Super Six round-robin tournament. Arthur Abraham knocked Taylor out in brutal fashion in the twelfth round of their fight on Saturday in Berlin.

Andre Ward, who is promoted by Goossen, is the next scheduled opponent for Taylor in the second stage of the Super Six. Taylor suffered a bad concussion and spent the night in a local hospital. It was the second consecutive knockout loss for Taylor and his fourth defeat in his last five fights.

There are many people out there, media and fans, pleading with Taylor to retire. I won't go that far but I'm not confident about his chances against Ward. Taylor, if matched the right way, can still be a force. I remember back in 2001/2002, Oleg Maskaev suffered three very bad knockouts to Cory "T-Rex" Sanders, Lance Whitaker and Kirk Johnson. He was out cold in all three defeats. Everyone, including his own management and trainer, called him a shot fighter and begged him to retire. He didn't listen. He simply continued to march forward. He won his next eleven fights, knocked out Hasim Rahman to win the WBC heavyweight title and made a few million along the way.

I thought Taylor had some serious problems a few years ago with a fast slickster by the name of Cory Spinks. There were a lot of people I respect who scored the fight for Spinks. Ward is much bigger and stronger but just as good, if not better, of a slickster in the ring. Goossen thought Taylor put forth an honest effort against Abraham and made the fight competitive. He doesn't think Taylor displayed the characteristics of a shot fighter.

"Up until the final ten seconds or so, it was a competitive fight. A lot of fighters have suffered losses like this and came back," Goossen said.

Goossen believes it is a bit premature to discuss a replacement for Taylor. If Taylor decides to step away from the tournament, Goossen had an idea for a box-off to determine the replacement. He would like to see a box-off between Allan Green and Edison Miranda, who is now co-promoted by Goossen and Warriors Boxing. Miranda handed Green the only loss of his career, by decision, in 2007.

I spoke to Green on Sunday night. For obvious reasons, he doesn't have any interest in a box-off with Miranda. I can't blame him in this particular situation. Green claims Showtime has already promised him the first crack at replacing one of the Super Six participants. I have to agree that his last performance against Tarvis Simms was not exactly a fight of the year candidate. At the same time, Green did secure his slot in the Super Six. So why take a chance against a dangerous puncher like Miranda?

If Green does replace Taylor, there is already a bit of history with Ward. The two sides exchanged some heated comments on this very website a few months ago. Ward's team was upset over a comment Green made to BoxingScene with respect to Andre's punching power.

"I'm not doing any box-off. They already said I was the guy if something happened. Why is everybody in my business? This tournament was built on America vs. Europe and Miranda is not American. Who did Ward beat to get in this tournament? Taylor got knocked out in his last fight and got in the tournament. He made the tournament off a knockout loss. Who did Dirrell beat to get in there? Victor Oganov? It doesnt make any sense so people shouldn't say I have to do anything. When it comes to Allan Green, I always have to jump through hoops. When it comes to me it's always something. Trust me, Goossen does not want to see me in there with Ward," Green told BoxingScene.com.

 

[heyzel]

Froch-Kessler Clash, Hennessy Wants it in Britain

By Mark Vester

Mick Hennessy, promoter of WBC super middleweight champion Carl Froch, wants to bring his fighter's next clash, with WBA champion Mikkel Kessler, to a venue in Britain. Froch won a close split decision over Andre Dirrell last Saturday in Nottingham. Kessler faces Andre Ward on November 21 in the challenger's backyard of Oakland. Kessler's bout with Froch is more than likely heading to Denmark, where Kessler is a mega-star.

Hennessy has already started negotiations for Froch-Kessler, attempting to move the fight from Denmark to Britain.

"It will be a blockbuster and could attract a crowd of 30,000," said Hennessy. "The fight will go to the venue that makes the most financial sense. And what's more, Carl will win it."

 

[heyzel]

Carl Froch Says "Jermain Taylor Must Be Jinxed"

By Mark Vester

WBC super middleweight champion Carl Froch expected Arthur Abraham to beat Jermain Taylor on Saturday night in Germany, but even he was shocked at the way it went down. Abraham knocked Taylor out cold in the twelfth and final round of their fight. The KO came down with only seconds left before the final bell. Taylor was already coming off a April knockout loss, to Carl Froch, and that also went down in the twelfth round with only seconds to go in the fight.

“Jermain Taylor got knocked out again in the last round against Arthur Abraham so Taylor must be jinxed because it was exactly the same time in the same round that I knocked him out. I expected Abraham to beat him and obviously I expected to beat Dirrell so it’s all gone as I thought it would so far,” Froch told The Telegraph.

Taylor suffered a bad concussion from the knockout. He was taken to local hospital in Germany and won't return to the United States for several days. The doctors want to keep under observation for a few days. After two bad knockouts in back to back fashion, fans are asking Taylor to forget about the rest of the Super Six tournament and walk away. If Taylor continues with the Super Six, he will face Andre Ward in the first quarter of 2010. Ward challenges WBA champion Mikkel Kessler on November 21

 

[heyzel]

Fernando Vargas Says Pacquiao is Too Much For Cotto

By Mark Vester

Former champion Fernando Vargas doesn’t see WBO welterweight champion Miguel Cotto being able to deal with the physical gifts of Manny Pacquiao on November 14 in Las Vegas. Vargas, now a promoter and running show on the West Coast, is the co-promoter of the November 6 card at the Palms Resort and Casino in Las Vegas that features Zab Judah, Joel Casamayor and Salvador Sanchez Jr. He views Pacquiao as the best fighter in the game.

“I really think Pacquiao right now is the man to beat,” Vargas said to the Visalia Times-Delta. “He’s been beating top-notch fighters. I don’t think Cotto will be able to deal with him. Pacquiao is the best pound-for-pound fighter in the game. It should be a good fight, but Pacquiao will win.”

Vargas has been wrong in the past. He picked Juan Manuel Marquez to upset Floyd Mayweather Jr. on September 19. Mayweather won a dominating decision over twelve rounds. The fight wasn’t even close. He now says the win didn’t surprise him and he picked Marquez based on his Mexican roots.

“I wasn’t surprised Mayweather won because I know he’s an intelligent fighter,” Vargas said. “He wasn’t going to get in there and trade punches. You can’t take anything away from the guy. I was pushing 100 percent for Marquez because he’s Mexican.”

 

[heyzel]

Steve Cunningham To Face Matt Godfrey For Vacant IBF Cruiserweight Crown?

Former Cruiserweight King Steve ‘USS’ Cunningham’s dreams of regaining the IBF Cruiserweight belt from the man that took his coveted title, by close split decision, following their epic ‘Fight Of The Year’ nominated battle back last December, were shattered on Monday when Main Event’s boss Kathy Duva announced that Tomasz ‘Goral’ Adamek had relinquished the crown. The IBF reacted quickly to Adamek’s resignation by announcing that Matt ‘Too Smooth’ Godfrey would be the next available for the vacant title and ordered negotiations to start for the fight with ‘USS’ Cunningham..

‘USS’ Cunningham, once described as the by Bad Left Hook’s Steve Christ as the “World’s nicest man” due to his never having a bad word to say about his fellow boxers or the would be opponents that have avoided him, took a typically philosophical stance on hearing the news by saying, "Once again, I've got my marching orders, my mission is to be two time world champion, and with Adamek vacating the title, my sights are set on beating Matt Godfrey, I honestly thought it was going to go this way since July so he's been on my radar.

It's kinda bittersweet, I've wanted the rematch since December, I thought I did enough to win the fight then and I wanted to take my belt back from Adamek, but if the rematch can't be made, this is the next best thing. I've been saying since December I'll be 2 time in '09, and I still want that. I'm ready, willing and able to fight anyone for the IBF World Title, I've been in the gym steady, like I always am and I am ready to fight."

It is expected that an announcement of the date and location of Steve ‘USS’ Cunningham vs. Matt ‘Too Smooth’ Godfrey for the IBF Cruiserweight World Championship will be made shortly

 

[heyzel]

Can Yuriorkis Gamboa Become The First Man To Stop Bernabe Concepcion?

by James Slater - Fresh off his impressive and relatively easy night's work against Whyber Garcia, who he KO'd in the 4th-round of his Madison Square Garden debut back on October 10th, WBA featherweight champion Yuriorkis Gamboa is now preparing to meet Bernabe Concepcion, the 21-year-old from The Philippines.

Set to once again appear in a double-header with scheduled future opponent Juan Manuel Lopez, the exciting Cuban will be going up against a man who has never once been stopped as a pro. Can 27-year-old Gamboa make a statement by becoming the first fighter to KO Concepcion?

The double-header (with Lopez still down as meeting an as yet TBA opponent) is designed to drum up more hype with regards to the eventual Gamboa Vs. Lopez showdown, which will almost certainly happen next year. And as long as Gamboa and "Juanma" keep winning and keep providing the fans with the kind of excitement they gave us when they had their double-header debut earlier this month, the clash of unbeaten 126-pounders (Lopez is almost sure to move up to 126 after his way tougher than expected war with Rogers Mtagwa last time out; his near loss being blamed primarily on having struggled to make 122) will be one of 2010's real highlights.

We don't yet know who the Puerto Rican sensation will face in the two explosive fighters' next shared card, set for Lopez' home country on January 23rd - so we can't predict whether or not he'll keep the O at the end of his record (there is, however, a rumour he may make his move up to 126 and challenge WBO featherweight champ Steve Luevano). But we can make a prediction as to how Gamboa will get on on January 23rd, when he faces Concepcion - Concepcion, ironically being the last man Luevano faced.

A pro since the age of 16, the 21-year-old with the 27-3-1(15) record was disqualified in his last fight, the one with Luevano, for hitting after the bell at the end of the 7th-round. The challenger was doing pretty well in the fight held in Las Vegas back in August, with the fight being close on all judges score cards before the DQ occurred. A good fighter, with decent power and a good chin, Concepcion has also been very active since turning pro down at 110-pounds back in 2004. Young, hungry and dangerous, the man from The Philippines will likely give Gamboa a harder fight than Garcia did earlier this month.

Having said that, it's tough to see the Cuban defector losing his perfect record, his title and his big money fight with Lopez. Possessing blurring hand speed and lethal one-punch KO power, the 16-0(14) champion will have too much for the younger man. The fight, which will see both men having their Puerto Rican debuts, should be interesting and fan-friendly while it lasts - and, as will seemingly always be the case when Gamboa fights, his lapses in defence could allow Concepcion to get lucky - but the champion has to be a big favourite to win.

Will Gamboa, the taller man by and inch-and-a-half, become the first man to stop Concepcion? I think so, somewhere in the later rounds

 

[heyzel]

Eddie Chambers - "I Want To Fight Wladimir Klitschko For The Real Title"

Exclusive Interview by James Slater - 27-year-old "Fast" Eddie Chambers, 35-1(18) is currently "playing the waiting game" with regards to his earned shot at Ring magazine, WBO and IBF heavyweight king Wladimir Klitschko. Coming off his fine win over the huge Alexander Dimitrenko back on July 4th, Philly's Chambers is hoping to face "Dr. Steel Hammer" soon. But, as fans may have read, there is the possibility Chambers may be offered a rematch with Russia's Alexander Povetkin, who will reportedly be fighting soon for an interim version of Klitschko's IBF belt.

I called the always friendly Chambers up yesterday, and asked him about his thoughts on facing Povetkin in a rematch, his chances against Wladimir Klitschko, and other things. A delight to talk with as always, here is what "Fast" Eddie had to say in response to my questions:

James Slater: Thank you for your time, Eddie. It's always a pleasure to speak with you, one of the gentlemen of the sport who is very popular.

Eddie Chambers: I hope so (laughs).

J.S: Oh, absolutely, especially after your last fight, a great win I'll get to later if that's okay. Firstly, what's the latest on you? We hear Alexander Povetkin will be fighting for the interim version of the IBF heavyweight title - either against you or Sam Peter. What's your take on that?

E.C: Well, we're not one hundred percent sure right now. I'd be extremely confident if I did take that fight though. But I'm the number-one contender [for Wladimir Klitschko] right now and I don't see what else I have to do to get a shot at Klitschko, I don't think I have to do any more. So we're kind of playing the waiting game now, for the next couple of months..

J.S: Of course, you are the WBO mandatory for Wladimir, so you have earned the fight with him already, so why earn it again, right? Would you much rather fight for the "real" title, so to speak?

E.C: Right, there is that. Plus there's the possibility of picking up an injury [in a fight with Povetkin]. I wouldn't want to go over there [to Germany] and pick up a hand injury or a cut - I wouldn't want to take that chance. Really, I'd rather fight for the real title against Wladimir Klitschko. Don't get me wrong, it's [a fight with Povetkin] a really big opportunity, but I'd rather fight for the real title. It's not that I think I'd lose [to Povetkin], I don't think I'll lose whoever I fight.

J.S: A concern some people have is, what if you stay idle - although I know you'll be in the gym - will you, a heavyweight who relies on his sharpness and reflexes more than most, lose that sharpness if you stay out of the ring for months. Is that a concern for you, Eddie?

E.C: If I have to wait a real long time, like a year or something, I will obviously take a stay-busy type of fight - or I will look at taking this fight [with Povetkin]. I will stay in the gym, no question. I won't sit idle, I know I have to stay busy. As I say, I'm not sure yet; we'll see what happens with the Povetkin situation.

J.S: Just going back to your last fight, the great win over Alexander Dimitrenko. I thought you really put out all your best stuff in that fight - a fight many people said you'd lose. Was that your best performance as a pro do you think?

E.C: Looking at the fight as a whole, and the importance of the fight - being as how Dimitrenko is the same height, a little taller actually, than the Klitschko brothers - the win proved I can contend with those guys. It was my best win and the most important win of my career.

J.S: For a guy some critics say can't punch that hard, you sure hurt Dimitrenko - to the body and to the head. But one judge somehow had the fight a draw. Were you nervous while waiting for the announcement of the scores in Germany?

E.C: When I heard the numbers, that one judge had it a draw, I sat there and thought, "Oh, my God, this is the kind of thing that happens!" I had that fear going in. But thankfully the two other judges got it right, or nearly right. So it was a great day for me. But I do think about what will happen when I have to go over there again. You know, will the judges do the same thing [as the one who scored the Dimitrenko fight a draw]? I'm sceptical. What if the judges go further and go against me this time? I know I have to go and handle business, and it's so much better to stop a guy if you can.

J.S: As great as you looked against Dimitrenko, a huge guy, can you do the same thing against the very good, or maybe even great Wladimir Klitschko? Is that a real possibility in your mind?

E.C: No doubt about it. Everyone looks at size, as though that gives me the disadvantage. But as tall as Wladimir is, he has disadvantages fighting on the inside. Plus I have the faster hands and my punches will get there quicker than his - with his longer arms, I will land my shots first, you know what I'm saying? So I will have advantages as well. You know, if I keep hitting his chin, even if it takes a hundred-and-fifty times, or just one time, I don't care who he is, he will eventually fall.

J.S: Most, if not all people now see you as the best U.S heavyweight, and the most likely American to bring one or more of the belts back home. Does that put added pressure on you?

E.C: That's a funny question, and people have asked me that. But no, not really. If you don't have pressure you're not doing the right thing with your career. You need that pressure. If I had a "I'm just going in to compete" attitude, I'd never get to the level I'm aiming at. So I welcome that extra pressure on my back. And I'm in peoples' mouths; whether they think I'll win or lose, people are talking about me. So that means I'm doing something right. I must be doing good at this! People know about me when I fight. And I feel that when I do get the world title, when I do get all the accolades, I will have earned it.

J.S: Can I just ask you, a student of the sport, how do you see Kevin Johnson doing against Vitali Klitschko? The fight was officially announced today. Do you know much about "King Pin?"

E.C: Absolutely. I've seen Kevin fight several times. I saw Vitali's last fight, with Chris Arreola, and that kind of proved my reasoning - Kevin has more of a chance because he has that great jab. But will he [Johnson] come forward? If he comes forward and uses that jab, Vitali's offence will be kept at a minimum and Kevin's offence will be at maximum. I do think Johnson can give Vitali trouble.

J.S: Who knows, maybe you and Johnson will meet one day in a fight for the unified titles?

E.C: Wouldn't that be nice? I believe we [US heavyweights] are the best in the world, and I think we can get back and bring the titles back home. Things are kind of upside down right now, but I still think we are the best. But anyway, whatever happens next for me, it's great to have all you guys' support, with the interviews and everything. I really appreciate the support.

J.S: It's been great speaking with you once again, Eddie. We look forward to your next fight, and hopefully it will be for the world title.

E.C: Okay, take it easy, man.

 

[heyzel]

Open letter to Carl Froch

By Andrew Walker - Congratulations on your win over Andre Dirrell this past weekend Carl. I’m sure you are very pleased to be keeping both your WBC title and your undefeated record and are now looking ahead to your upcoming unification fight with Mikkell Kessler. But come on old chap at best you just earned a very debatable ( I have yet to see a thread on any boxing forum that is pro Carl Froch that doesn’t get swamped by those who believe Dirrell won) decision due in part to the seemingly biased referee. At worst you lost that fight by a few rounds as you were completely outboxed by the less experienced younger man.

Personally I had the fight even once Dirrell had been docked the point but either way you looked lost out there Carl. Why don’t you have at the very least a plan B? At this level you cannot expect to win all of your fights on chin and heart alone.. The tactic you employed in that fight for round after round was to walk forward and try to blast Dirrell out with one punch. That tactic may work against lower level opposition or a fellow brawler but against a boxer (a slick, fast one at that) you were made to look stupid and clumsy at times during that fight. I really feel that if you met Dirrell again he would make an easy nights work of you now he has the experience.

Up next you will be facing a fellow champion who can both box and trade and I really cannot see how you can win this fight (unless you get another gift decision) using your current style and tactics. You don’t have the speed or reflexes to box with your hands down and you are too reliant on knowing you have a great chin. I don’t think Kessler will stop you but he is going to hurt you and outbox you. You really do have no defence at all (unless you count your face blocking the punches) and this is the key area you will need to address before you get into the ring with the number one man in the super middleweight division.

Robert McCracken gives you good advice but he spends half his time trying to get you to listen to him and you still ignore him and go back out and repeat the same old mistakes. The shame is had you not spent much of your career bad mouthing and pointlessly calling out Joe Calzaghe and thus alienating him, you could have called on Joe and Enzo to help assist you in preparing for Mikkell Kessler. You would have learned a lot from the Calzaghe’s but instead your cheap shots and big mouth have prevented this from ever happening and in the long run it is you who will lose out because of it. Despite what you think even you most ardent fans now know that had you ever fought Calzaghe he would have stood you on your head with ease. It’s not even up for debate.

So after the Kessler fight you could be sitting on your first defeat. Nothing to be ashamed of as pretty much everyone has Mikkell Kessler as the division number one since Joe retired. But then after that you have to face Arthur Abraham. For me this will be a very exciting fight for the fans to watch as your styles will match up well I believe. But Abraham has all the attributes in equal measure at the very least to you (chin, heart and power) but he also has something that you don’t. He has a good defence. If you try and march down Abraham he will put you to sleep. The best way to defeat Abraham is to outbox him which I just don’t see you being able to do. So after that fight you’re potentially sitting on two losses and out of the tournament as well?

Now in the fickle world of boxing these days a fighter with two losses on his career stats gets called a “bum” and the ignorant masses start calling for him to hang up his gloves. That sort of rationale always astounds me but you watch the boxing forums light up with those very words if you lose your next two fights. You will be called a paper champion who lost to the first “prime” world class fighters he faced. The fact that Kessler and Abraham are two of the very best fighters in the division will go largely ignored as the bile pours your way. Just ask Ricky. And remember Hatton was/is a far more popular and loved fighter than any other British boxer since Frank Bruno. If they treated him in that way think how they will maul you.

So why not avoid this potential scenario and get back in the gym and add another string to your bow. You have a world class chin with the power to match. You are confident and have a good engine for the twelve rounds if needed. Now if you add some decent defence and movement to that you will be a match for anyone in the division. In fact I would even say a Carl Froch with those attributes could be the new super middleweight king. I applaud the way you have thus far stepped up and taken no easy fights since you became champion. Calzaghe never did what you are doing now until the end of his career and you should be respected and praised for that.

I guess though we will find out when you face Mikkell Kessler if you have made the necessary changes or not. I really hope for British boxing you do.

 

[heyzel]

Haye's Insults Finally Get To Valuev, The WBA Heavyweight Champ Says He'll KO His Cha

by James Slater - WBA heavyweight champion Nikolai Valuev of Russia has had to listen to a lot of taunting and boasting from David Haye, and now the 7'2" giant has returned some fire, predicting to his promoter that he will be the man scoring the KO on November 7th, not Haye.

A quiet and dignified person, 36-year-old Valuev has patiently and even politely listened to what "The Hayemaker" has had to say about him in the run up to the intriguing fight that will take place in Nuremberg, Germany. But yesterday, as has been reported by Sky Sports, the TV channel that will show the fight on box office in the UK, Valuev has spoken to his promoter Kalle Sauerland about Haye, and he gave him the distinct impression that he has lost his patience with his challenger..

First it was Haye who predicted a sensational KO, now Valuev has returned the favour and promised that he will win the fight a by knock out. Apparently, it was one of Haye's more recent stunts that angered Valuev - the one where Haye knocked the head off a cardboard imitation of the WBA ruler.

"Niko has laughed at what Haye has been saying but he didn't like the image of Haye punching his head off a cardboard cut-out of himself," Kalle Sauerland said. "He promised me that he's going to knock Haye out, which he doesn't normally say about opponents. I think Haye has got to him a little bit. I don't think he appreciates being called some of the things Haye has said."

For the record, Haye has called Valuev, amongst other things: "a big hairy freak," "a circus act" and he has also said that the champion "stinks." Nobody likes being insulted in such a way, obviously. But even in the now common tradition of trash-talk before a boxing match, has Haye gone too far? And will he pay the price come November 7th?

Sauerland and the fighter he promotes believe so, and Kalle listed the impressive credentials Valuev has that will allow him to win the fight and silence Haye.

"He [Valuev] has lost just once in 51 fights and fought everyone out there available," Sauerland said. "So if he is a circus act like Haye says he is, I want to go to the circus."

It remains to be seen whether or not Valuev fights better when he's angry. Sure enough he looked distinctly average last time out when he barely out-pointed an ancient Evander Holyfield. However, Valuev is known to respect and admire "The Real Deal." Some fans have even gone as far as to suggest Valuev "carried" Holyfield so as not to embarrass or hurt the legend. Who knows?

If Valuev can up his game while fighting under a red mist of anger brought on by his opponent, Haye might well live to regret having said some of the things he's come out with!

 

[SC_408]

lol @ hayes clowning on valuev...that dude really looks like he smells like shit though

 

[2-0-Sixx]

^^I'm somewhat excited for that fight. I want to see if Haye can actually hurt the big oaf.

 

[Rumpelstiltskin]

Margarito planning his comeback fight against Baldomir.
I hope they can keep it in the US and get it televised!

 

[heyzel]

Lucian Bute Not Missing Being Part of Super Six

By T.K. Stewart

While the rest of the boxing world is somewhat enthralled with Showtime's Super Six World Boxing Classic super middleweight tournament, IBF 168-pound titlist Lucian Bute is content to be on the outside looking in.

Bute would have been a natural to be included in the tournament with other big name European stars such as Mikkel Kessler, Carl Froch and Arthur Abraham.

But Bute is the one glaring omission from the tourney and the Montreal-based Romanian is fine with his career choice to refrain from the tournament and he is instead looking forward to a Nov. 28 rematch with Librado Andrade.

The World Boxing Classic was the brainchild of Sr. Vice President of Showtime Sports, Ken Hershman, who has said in the past that Bute was "not invited to participate" in tournament without elaborating as to why.

Bute, undefeated at 24-0, 19 KOs is the biggest draw in Canadian professional boxing. His bouts have sold out the Bell Centre in Montreal which holds over 20,000 for boxing. His rematch against Andrade will likely sell out the Pepsi Coliseum in Quebec City on a card to be televised by HBO. Bute was ringside in Connecticut for Froch's big win over Jermain Taylor and the first fight between Bute and Andrade was televised by Showtime. Hershman appeared to have been grooming Bute for a long future with his network before the fighter's 11th hour defection to HBO.

Some have made the claim that Bute and his promoters are simply trying to avoid the toughest competition while continuing to collect big paydays in Canada. Whatever the case, Stephan Larouche, Director of Operations for Interbox, Bute's promoter, says that aside from hockey – Bute and the sport of boxing in Montreal is the hottest ticket in town - which could be one reason they are reluctant to leave Quebec.

“There are two big things in Montreal right now,” says Larouche. “Montreal Canadiens hockey and boxing and I'll tell you that boxing and Lucian Bute are not far behind hockey.”

Trying to find out why Bute was left out of the Super Six has been more challenging that trying to find the Lost Ark of the Covenant. It appears as though Golden Boy Promotions and HBO stepped in with some money to woo Bute away from the Showtime route to instead match him against their man, Andrade.

When the Bute vs. Andrade rematch was officially announced in August, Interbox CEO Jean Bedard was positively beaming. His praise of HBO was a clear shot across the bow at the Showtime network.

“It’s an honor for us to welcome HBO to Canada for the first time in over 30 years,” he said. “We look forward to collaborating with one of the greatest U.S. television networks. This will be a great opportunity for Lucian to get the highest visibility possible in his sport and to showcase all his skills to prove he’s a world class champion.”

Interbox took another dig at the Showtime tournament when they released the following statement: “...with the rematch scheduled, each [Bute and Andrade] hopes to leave everything in the ring on November 28th to settle fans curiosity over who is the true champion.”

Meanwhile, Larouche says that all the efforts they are putting behind Bute are paying off.

“Our goal is simple for Lucian; that's to bring a major television channel to Canada every time he fights. Our hope is that he will develop into the same attraction here that Ricky Hatton became in England

 

[heyzel]

Kelly Pavlik: Time to Step Aside, Vacate The Crown?

By Cliff Rold

Be careful of wishes which come true.

Heading into his 2007 defense against Kelly Pavlik, then-World Middleweight champion Jermain Taylor was taking his lumps. He’d captured and kept the title from modern legend Bernard Hopkins in controversial fashion. Following Hopkins, he defended against a Winky Wright who had won eleven straight and unified the Jr. Middleweight division. The result was a draw with arguments on both sides about the result.

Taylor followed with what passed for soft touches. A defense against former Jr. Middleweight titlist Kasim Ouma and former undisputed World Welterweight champion Cory Spinks produced wins but nothing aesthetically pleasing. In none of these fights, from Hopkins to Spinks, did Taylor look the part of gilded star he’d been built, largely on HBO, to play. The critics were howling and the fans were losing patience. It was time for Taylor to be THE champ or be pushed aside.

In stepped Kelly Pavlik. Hot off a pair of electrifying knockouts over contenders Jose Luis Zertuche and Edison Miranda, Pavlik emerged as the quality contender to make or break Taylor’s reign. Surviving a trip to the floor in round two, Pavlik broke it in round seven.

Inside the Atlantic City Boardwalk Hall on September 29, 2007, it was bedlam. Fans had been treated to a minor classic and what appeared to be the birth of a star. A rematch with Taylor or potential war with the best Middleweight only the hardcore fans were really clued in on, Arthur Abraham, loomed.

Following the Taylor knockout, Team Pavlik sounded all the right notes. They said they’d face the Abraham’s, the Felix Sturm’s. They talked about getting Pavlik’s blue collar, big punching, Youngstown, Ohio story to the masses.

A push for network TV.

High activity.

The Middleweight king the world asked for.

On October 21, 2009, 27-year old Kelly Pavlik’s team announced the latest of what have been multiple postponements and cancellations this year. A nasty staph infection in his left hand has taken a highly anticipated defense against Paul Williams off the table for the second time this year.

The pictures from their kick-off press conference back up the medical dilemma. Something is clearly wrong with Pavlik’s hand. However, something went wrong before this latest setback.

So wrong that it makes the title reign of Taylor qualify as the good ol’ days.

In over two years, Pavlik has defended the title only twice and against opposition which makes Spinks look like Godzilla. Part of the issue has been fights outside the division.

Fans got the Taylor rematch of course in February 2008; not a bad start. It was a catchweight fight above 160 lbs., but that was a contract issue and Pavlik won an entertaining decision. However, the fight was on pay-per-view and did a pedestrian buy rate, doing no good for the building of a star. His other catchweight bout, similarly pedestrian in terms of buys, came in October of last year. Thinking former champion then-43 year old Bernard Hopkins an aging name, coming off a loss to Joe Calzaghe, Pavlik was put in position to finish a legend.

He lost every round.

The shine was off the rising star and, making matters worse, more people heard about it then saw it. He could take condolences in still being the Middlewight champ.

Not much worth noting has happened in that role, before or after Hopkins. Gary Lockett and Marco Antonio Rubio aren’t names which roll off the tongue but they were mandatory contenders, for what that’s worth a lot of the time. They are Pavlik’s lone defenses, the latter on a pay show which made Taylor II and Hopkins look massive. The planned follow-up to Rubio, former Jr. Middleweight titlist and Contender Season One winner Sergio Mora, was no more tantalizing. Mora would have challenged coming off a lopsided loss to the late Vernon Forrest which exposed massive limitations.

The fight never came off, the first cancellation/postponement due to Pavlik’s hand problems. With no one besides Mora really interested in a Pavlik-Mora fight anyways, the talk turned to Pavlik-Paul Williams (37-1, 27 KO). It was supposed to happen over the summer 0f 2009. Then it was scheduled for December 5.

Now it isn’t scheduled at all.

It is probably the case that no one, save Williams, is more frustrated right now than Pavlik. While aspersions will be cast, while claims of ‘fright’ and ‘duck’ will roar, a slow healing infection is what it is. If the Pavlik camp has sinned, it is in continuing to schedule fights before they know, rather than just hope, they’re good to go.

There is a question to consider while the healing continues.

Pavlik is the champion at 160 lbs. He beat the man who beat the man to claim the lineage of the crown. Ring Magazine issued a new belt for further recognition. And, hey, there really isn’t anyone to dispute the claim in a class which isn’t at an uptick right now.

That doesn’t mean there are not others who would not like to make a case. Williams plays between 154 and 160 lbs. while Sturm (33-2-1, 14 KO) currently holds the WBA belt and a win over IBF titlist Sebastian Sylvester (32-3, 15 KO). Of course Sturm, who is going through major promotional issues right now, probably should have lost in his last defense against Khoren Gevor (30-4, 16 KO), another fighter who’d like a say.

Should Pavlik (35-1, 31 KO), who cannot be sure when he will be healthy enough to fight again, step aside and let these men sort it out?

Should Pavlik vacate the Middleweight crown?

It’s a tricky question of course. Fighters have vacated Ring belts to symbolically release the lineage in the past but Pavlik also reigns as the WBC and WBO titlist. Inactivity could eventually force those belts vacant without his say or at least force interim title situations.

Pavlik hasn’t been out of the ring a whole year yet, so the question is hasty. If he is healthy and ready to go at the New Year (his people floated a rejected January 23, 2010 rescheduling with Williams), Pavlik can right the ship. If he can’t, if he can’t be sure he can, then the right thing to do is step down until certainty rules.

This isn’t just any weight class. Middleweight is a key piece of the legacy of the sport, the land of Monzon, Greb, Hagler. It has lived with parity before in the absence of a king. While he has stated in the past that he’d like all the belts to feel secure in the spot, history labels Pavlik with the top spot. It’s his to lose in the ring or give up voluntarily.

It would be insane to wish Pavlik anything less than a full recovery, return to action, and a chance to fulfill the potential he showed in 2007.

There’s nothing wrong with needing to get healthy when one is not, particularly in a savage field like boxing.

But there is something wrong with holding up the show.

No decision need be made now, but the time could be approaching.

The Weekly Ledger

But wait, there’s more…

Top 25 Lightweights Pt. 2: http://www.boxingscene.com/index.php?m=show&id=22968
Super Six Wrap: http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&id=22925

Picks of the Week: http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&id=22942

Cliff’s Notes…

All Super Six here…Count me among those who saw the Froch-Dirrell fight for Froch, if only by a single point. Dirrell’s split decision loss to one of the top three in class wasn’t enough to get him rated by Ring with the rationale that Dirrell lacks a top ten win and they don’t rate on “potential.” It’s an interesting argument until one looks at the #6 slot at 168 and finds Allan Green. Green, if he eventually replaces Jermain Taylor in the Super Six, will enter like Dirrell and Ward: in search of a top ten win…Nothing against Green who would be a welcome addition to the field if Jermain Taylor does not continue. While he looked blah his last time out, Green would bring a power dimension sorely lacking among the Americans right now…Promoter Dan Goosen’s idea of Green having a ‘box-in’ against Edison Miranda should be pushed aside. Let’s say Miranda won and, presumably, stepped in for Taylor. We’d all be treated to Miranda-Andre Ward II. Super Six? No, that would super suck…This all presumes a Taylor exit and the former Middleweight champ has earned the right to determine his own fate here