Boxing News Thread
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De La Hoya: Chavez Jr, Saul Alvarez The Future of Mexico
By Jhonny Gonzalez
Golden Boy Promotions president Oscar De La Hoya has praised the growing popularity of middleweight Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. and junior middleweight Saul "Canelo" Alvarez among the Mexican fans. De La Hoya said in a few years, Chavez Jr. and Alvarez will be the the only two fighters capable of filling Azteca Stadium in the same as Julio Cesar Chavez Sr. The older Chavez brought over 132,000 fans to watch him beat Greg Haugen in 1993.
"There are two boxers who can fill Azteca Stadium in the same way as Julius Caesar Chavez, and they are 'Canelo' Alvarez and Chavez Jr., but in a years and not necessarily fighting each other," said De La Hoya.
De La Hoya watched Chavez Jr. batter John Duddy last month. He said he didn't really see much of a change in the style of Chavez Jr. and said it will take a few months to see the little things his trainer Freddie Roach is teaching him. He said Alvarez has what it takes to crossover with the American fans.
"In think after a few months we are going to see the changes, and hopefully he adapts well and uses those changes to become the champion of the world. I wish him all the luck in the world," De La Hoya said. "Alvarez is a good fighter. We are going to promote him in the United States and Mexico. He still continues to fight in Mexico because we need stars in the Mexican community."
De La Hoya promotes Alvarez. He plans to use him on a show to celebrate Mexican Independence Day on September 18 in Los Angeles. The main event will feature Shane Mosley vs. Sergio Mora in a junior middleweight fight.
"There will be festivities all week, with music. As a Mexican race, this is a very important date for us," De La Hoya said.
By Jhonny Gonzalez
Golden Boy Promotions president Oscar De La Hoya has praised the growing popularity of middleweight Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. and junior middleweight Saul "Canelo" Alvarez among the Mexican fans. De La Hoya said in a few years, Chavez Jr. and Alvarez will be the the only two fighters capable of filling Azteca Stadium in the same as Julio Cesar Chavez Sr. The older Chavez brought over 132,000 fans to watch him beat Greg Haugen in 1993.
"There are two boxers who can fill Azteca Stadium in the same way as Julius Caesar Chavez, and they are 'Canelo' Alvarez and Chavez Jr., but in a years and not necessarily fighting each other," said De La Hoya.
De La Hoya watched Chavez Jr. batter John Duddy last month. He said he didn't really see much of a change in the style of Chavez Jr. and said it will take a few months to see the little things his trainer Freddie Roach is teaching him. He said Alvarez has what it takes to crossover with the American fans.
"In think after a few months we are going to see the changes, and hopefully he adapts well and uses those changes to become the champion of the world. I wish him all the luck in the world," De La Hoya said. "Alvarez is a good fighter. We are going to promote him in the United States and Mexico. He still continues to fight in Mexico because we need stars in the Mexican community."
De La Hoya promotes Alvarez. He plans to use him on a show to celebrate Mexican Independence Day on September 18 in Los Angeles. The main event will feature Shane Mosley vs. Sergio Mora in a junior middleweight fight.
"There will be festivities all week, with music. As a Mexican race, this is a very important date for us," De La Hoya said.
Gilberto Sanchez-Leon Suspended Nine Months By NSAC
By Jake Donovan
Fringe featherweight contender Gilberto Sanchez-Leon was given a nine-month suspension for testing positive for steroids prior to his May 1 fight with Eloy Perez.
The suspension is backdated from the night of the fight, which means he will not be eligible to re-apply for a license anywhere in the United States until on or after February 1, 2011. He also received a fine equivalent to 35% of his purse from the fight.
A pre-fight urinalysis provided by Sanchez-Leon (29-7-2, 9KO) showed anabolic agent Nandrolone Metabolite in his system. The result surfaced after his fight, in which he lost a majority decision to Perez on the non-televised portion of the Floyd Mayweather-Shane Mosley pay-per-view telecast.
The explanation offered was that he claims to have felt ill prior to the fight, and received a shot. Sanchez-Leon believes that whatever was in the shot was the reason he tested positive.
“I’ve never had any problems with any drugs. I’ve fought many fights in the United States, and never tested positive. The shot I took in the pharmacy must’ve contained the drug found in my system, but I am prepared for whatever action you feel is necessary.”
A letter was submitted to the Nevada State Athletic Commission on May 10 by Sanchez-Leon.
Sanchez-Leon claims to have received two shots, but the letter provided to the commission suggests that medicine was orally taken.
The ruling was handed down immediately after Sanchez-Leon was given the opportunity to plead his case through means of an interpreter.
A 12-year veteran, Sanchez-Leon has fought 14 times in the United States. All seven of his career losses have taken place in the states.
By Jake Donovan
Fringe featherweight contender Gilberto Sanchez-Leon was given a nine-month suspension for testing positive for steroids prior to his May 1 fight with Eloy Perez.
The suspension is backdated from the night of the fight, which means he will not be eligible to re-apply for a license anywhere in the United States until on or after February 1, 2011. He also received a fine equivalent to 35% of his purse from the fight.
A pre-fight urinalysis provided by Sanchez-Leon (29-7-2, 9KO) showed anabolic agent Nandrolone Metabolite in his system. The result surfaced after his fight, in which he lost a majority decision to Perez on the non-televised portion of the Floyd Mayweather-Shane Mosley pay-per-view telecast.
The explanation offered was that he claims to have felt ill prior to the fight, and received a shot. Sanchez-Leon believes that whatever was in the shot was the reason he tested positive.
“I’ve never had any problems with any drugs. I’ve fought many fights in the United States, and never tested positive. The shot I took in the pharmacy must’ve contained the drug found in my system, but I am prepared for whatever action you feel is necessary.”
A letter was submitted to the Nevada State Athletic Commission on May 10 by Sanchez-Leon.
Sanchez-Leon claims to have received two shots, but the letter provided to the commission suggests that medicine was orally taken.
The ruling was handed down immediately after Sanchez-Leon was given the opportunity to plead his case through means of an interpreter.
A 12-year veteran, Sanchez-Leon has fought 14 times in the United States. All seven of his career losses have taken place in the states.
MARGARITO DENIED IN VEGAS
lol, damn. Looks like Margarito will be fighting in Mexico from here on out...
NSAC Tables Margarito's Application For Reinstatement
By Jake Donovan
A lengthy hearing held Friday morning to determine whether or not former two-time welterweight titlist Antonio Margarito should have his license reinstated in the state of Nevada ended with the decision to table his application until the fighter first re-appears in front of the California State Athletic Commission.
The motion to table the application means that Margarito will once again be given a chance to apply for reinstatement in Nevada, but not before the CSAC makes a ruling. The decision is not a denial of his license, which would have effectively resulted in an additional one-year suspension from Nevada, but does prevent him from fighting or negotiating for a fight in the state of Nevada until he is reinstated.
Margarito has not fought in the United States since his knockout loss to Shane Mosley in Los Angeles, California on January 24, 2009. In his dressing room prior to the fight, it was discovered that Margarito’s hand wraps were loaded with a hardened, illegal substance, which ultimately resulted in receiving a one-year suspension from the CSAC.
The ruling prevented him from fighting anywhere in the United States in accordance with the rules of the Association of Boxing Commissions. Though his suspension ended earlier this year, Margarito has yet to be reinstated for a license in the U.S. His lone fight since that controversial evening took place in Mexico this past May, scoring a 10-round decision over Roberto Garcia.
Full report to come...
lol, damn. Looks like Margarito will be fighting in Mexico from here on out...
NSAC Tables Margarito's Application For Reinstatement
By Jake Donovan
A lengthy hearing held Friday morning to determine whether or not former two-time welterweight titlist Antonio Margarito should have his license reinstated in the state of Nevada ended with the decision to table his application until the fighter first re-appears in front of the California State Athletic Commission.
The motion to table the application means that Margarito will once again be given a chance to apply for reinstatement in Nevada, but not before the CSAC makes a ruling. The decision is not a denial of his license, which would have effectively resulted in an additional one-year suspension from Nevada, but does prevent him from fighting or negotiating for a fight in the state of Nevada until he is reinstated.
Margarito has not fought in the United States since his knockout loss to Shane Mosley in Los Angeles, California on January 24, 2009. In his dressing room prior to the fight, it was discovered that Margarito’s hand wraps were loaded with a hardened, illegal substance, which ultimately resulted in receiving a one-year suspension from the CSAC.
The ruling prevented him from fighting anywhere in the United States in accordance with the rules of the Association of Boxing Commissions. Though his suspension ended earlier this year, Margarito has yet to be reinstated for a license in the U.S. His lone fight since that controversial evening took place in Mexico this past May, scoring a 10-round decision over Roberto Garcia.
Full report to come...
Paul Williams Targets Manny Pacquiao: Martinez Can Wait
By Rick Reeno
As previously reported on BoxingScene.com, Ross Greenburg, president of HBO Sports, is pushing to stage an October rematch between Paul Williams and WBC middleweight champion Sergio Martinez. They both put in a fight-of-the-year effort last December. Williams walked away with the win by way of a close majority decision.
Sampson Lewkowicz, the agent for Martinez, told BoxingScene a few days ago that his fighter was ready to sign a contract to fight Williams on the HBO target date of October 2. But, Lewkowicz also made it known that Williams' promoter, Dan Goossen, was preoccupied with chasing a "fantasy fight" with WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao.
Goossen reached out to BoxingScene to respond, and he doesn't deny it - he is 100% focused on making a fight between Pacquiao and Williams - and he says it's no fantasy.
A rematch with Martinez will have to wait. Goossen, like everyone else in the sport, is waiting to see if Floyd Mayweather Jr. will accept a proposal to fight Manny Pacquiao on November 13. Mayweather has to accept the deal by a mid-July deadline. If Mayweather passes, the two frontrunners to face Pacquiao are his promotional stablemates, Miguel Cotto and Antonio Margarito. Goossen believes his chances to make a Pacquiao-Williams fight are greater than ever, if Mayweather passes.
Mayweather's removal is not the only factor in Goossen's logic. Margarito is still banned from being able to box in the United States. On Friday the Nevada State Athletic Commission refused to grant Margarito's application to obtain a license to box in the state, which also prevents him from being able to fight in Las Vegas.
Goossen doesn't view a Pacquiao-Cotto rematch as an attractive substitute, because Cotto is only one-fight removed from taking a serious beating at the hands of Pacquiao. The Puerto Rican champion was stopped by Pacquiao last November in the twelfth round. According to Goossen, the only alternative to a Pacquiao-Mayweather fight - is a Pacquiao-Williams fight.
"Right now my concentration is Pacquiao and Williams. It's been no secret that we planned to go back down to 147, Paul's natural weight. We were looking to fight one of the champions, one of the big names...no secret there. Paul Williams wants to show that he's best in that division, or that he's just one of the tough guys in that division. We've got the best 147-pounder in the world in Paul Williams. The door is open. Knowing how these champions, these great ones think, that to be great - there is risk involved...a lot of it," Goossen told BoxingScene.com.
"Paul Williams has displayed it. How did he display it? He fought everyone at 147-pounds who would fight him. Then he goes up and gives away poundage, to fighters who have been regulars at 154-pounds and 160-pounds in their careers. Giving away that edge to make the fights that the fans want to see. This is a perfect example of Manny Pacquiao making that same type of decision of giving up something, and in this case - size. Not weight. Just a taller fighter. Paul gave up weight to these super welterweights and middleweights, but these great ones do that."
"If Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao isn't made next, then the best fight for our sport, the biggest fight for our sport, is Pacquiao against Williams. If you can't get Floyd, there is no one else that's better than Paul Williams. I don't want to see Cotto, one-fight removed from a lopsided fight, where he eventually got stopped. I don't want to see that again. He is one-fight removed from it. As far as I'm concerned, if they don't get Mayweather, then there is only one man there, and that's Paul Williams. And your readers will attest to that."
Williams is 6'3, which is a few inches taller than Yuri Foreman, who Pacquiao rejected as a March opponent because he saw Foreman as being "too tall." Goossen doesn't anticipate that same problem because the Foreman fight was going to take place at 154-pounds.
"This is a little bit different. He's facing a natural 147-pounder claiming he's the best. And either Manny Pacquiao is the best at 147, or not. So he's not going out of the weight division where he's considered the pound for pound best. If Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather doesn't get made, then Paul Williams should be that fighter to fight Pacquiao," Goossen said.
"And the excuse of 'he's too tall' is like Paul saying 'he's too heavy.' I know [Top Rank CEO] Bob [Arum] would like to keep it in-house, but the fans have to be considered here. This is what's going to draw our sport to the heights that we had before," Goossen said.
A fight with Pacquiao is very unlikely to happen because Williams is not viewed by Top Rank as a very "lucrative" possibility, but Goossen believes otherwise. He is willing to make certain guarantees to Bob Arum, Top Rank's CEO, to prove a Pacquiao-Williams fight will generate a higher pay-per-view buyrate figure than a fight with Joshua Clottey [700K buys in March] or a possible rematch with Cotto. However, Goossen is not confident about his ability to convince Arum - but that won't discourage him from pursuing the fight.
"Am I confident that Bob Arum will take up that challenge? No. On the other hand, Manny Pacquiao is a respected fighter and he may have something to say about that. Why would he want to fight Miguel Cotto, who he manhandled, for his next big fight? I think he would rather go and fight someone where people will say he's nuts to fight. I think everyone wants to see it, except for Bob," Goossen said.
"Like I said, I'm not confident but I'm certainly not going to stop trying to get it. Bob can put it under any excuse he wants to. I guarantee the pay-per-view dollars that Clottey generated and what Cotto could generate [for the rematch] would be far less than what Paul Williams and Pacquiao would generate. And I would be willing to work with [Arum], to stand by what I just said."
By Rick Reeno
As previously reported on BoxingScene.com, Ross Greenburg, president of HBO Sports, is pushing to stage an October rematch between Paul Williams and WBC middleweight champion Sergio Martinez. They both put in a fight-of-the-year effort last December. Williams walked away with the win by way of a close majority decision.
Sampson Lewkowicz, the agent for Martinez, told BoxingScene a few days ago that his fighter was ready to sign a contract to fight Williams on the HBO target date of October 2. But, Lewkowicz also made it known that Williams' promoter, Dan Goossen, was preoccupied with chasing a "fantasy fight" with WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao.
Goossen reached out to BoxingScene to respond, and he doesn't deny it - he is 100% focused on making a fight between Pacquiao and Williams - and he says it's no fantasy.
A rematch with Martinez will have to wait. Goossen, like everyone else in the sport, is waiting to see if Floyd Mayweather Jr. will accept a proposal to fight Manny Pacquiao on November 13. Mayweather has to accept the deal by a mid-July deadline. If Mayweather passes, the two frontrunners to face Pacquiao are his promotional stablemates, Miguel Cotto and Antonio Margarito. Goossen believes his chances to make a Pacquiao-Williams fight are greater than ever, if Mayweather passes.
Mayweather's removal is not the only factor in Goossen's logic. Margarito is still banned from being able to box in the United States. On Friday the Nevada State Athletic Commission refused to grant Margarito's application to obtain a license to box in the state, which also prevents him from being able to fight in Las Vegas.
Goossen doesn't view a Pacquiao-Cotto rematch as an attractive substitute, because Cotto is only one-fight removed from taking a serious beating at the hands of Pacquiao. The Puerto Rican champion was stopped by Pacquiao last November in the twelfth round. According to Goossen, the only alternative to a Pacquiao-Mayweather fight - is a Pacquiao-Williams fight.
"Right now my concentration is Pacquiao and Williams. It's been no secret that we planned to go back down to 147, Paul's natural weight. We were looking to fight one of the champions, one of the big names...no secret there. Paul Williams wants to show that he's best in that division, or that he's just one of the tough guys in that division. We've got the best 147-pounder in the world in Paul Williams. The door is open. Knowing how these champions, these great ones think, that to be great - there is risk involved...a lot of it," Goossen told BoxingScene.com.
"Paul Williams has displayed it. How did he display it? He fought everyone at 147-pounds who would fight him. Then he goes up and gives away poundage, to fighters who have been regulars at 154-pounds and 160-pounds in their careers. Giving away that edge to make the fights that the fans want to see. This is a perfect example of Manny Pacquiao making that same type of decision of giving up something, and in this case - size. Not weight. Just a taller fighter. Paul gave up weight to these super welterweights and middleweights, but these great ones do that."
"If Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao isn't made next, then the best fight for our sport, the biggest fight for our sport, is Pacquiao against Williams. If you can't get Floyd, there is no one else that's better than Paul Williams. I don't want to see Cotto, one-fight removed from a lopsided fight, where he eventually got stopped. I don't want to see that again. He is one-fight removed from it. As far as I'm concerned, if they don't get Mayweather, then there is only one man there, and that's Paul Williams. And your readers will attest to that."
Williams is 6'3, which is a few inches taller than Yuri Foreman, who Pacquiao rejected as a March opponent because he saw Foreman as being "too tall." Goossen doesn't anticipate that same problem because the Foreman fight was going to take place at 154-pounds.
"This is a little bit different. He's facing a natural 147-pounder claiming he's the best. And either Manny Pacquiao is the best at 147, or not. So he's not going out of the weight division where he's considered the pound for pound best. If Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather doesn't get made, then Paul Williams should be that fighter to fight Pacquiao," Goossen said.
"And the excuse of 'he's too tall' is like Paul saying 'he's too heavy.' I know [Top Rank CEO] Bob [Arum] would like to keep it in-house, but the fans have to be considered here. This is what's going to draw our sport to the heights that we had before," Goossen said.
A fight with Pacquiao is very unlikely to happen because Williams is not viewed by Top Rank as a very "lucrative" possibility, but Goossen believes otherwise. He is willing to make certain guarantees to Bob Arum, Top Rank's CEO, to prove a Pacquiao-Williams fight will generate a higher pay-per-view buyrate figure than a fight with Joshua Clottey [700K buys in March] or a possible rematch with Cotto. However, Goossen is not confident about his ability to convince Arum - but that won't discourage him from pursuing the fight.
"Am I confident that Bob Arum will take up that challenge? No. On the other hand, Manny Pacquiao is a respected fighter and he may have something to say about that. Why would he want to fight Miguel Cotto, who he manhandled, for his next big fight? I think he would rather go and fight someone where people will say he's nuts to fight. I think everyone wants to see it, except for Bob," Goossen said.
"Like I said, I'm not confident but I'm certainly not going to stop trying to get it. Bob can put it under any excuse he wants to. I guarantee the pay-per-view dollars that Clottey generated and what Cotto could generate [for the rematch] would be far less than what Paul Williams and Pacquiao would generate. And I would be willing to work with [Arum], to stand by what I just said."
Yeah, Paul Williams is not going to get a Pacquiao fight. Where does Goosen get the idea that Paul is some kind of draw now? LOL. I like Paul, but most people don't even know who he is.
Again, the JuanMa-Rafa fight is awesome.
I think putting Nonito on the undercard would be a great way for him to get more exposure.
Again, the JuanMa-Rafa fight is awesome.
I think putting Nonito on the undercard would be a great way for him to get more exposure.
Paul Williams would beat the breaks off Pacquiao (Along with the rest of the top Welterweights). Financial draw or not, there is not one area where Pacquiao has an advantage so taking that fight would be idiotic. I think that's what Morebass meant to say. Knocking the man for not being a draw wasn't an issue when Pac Man fought Clottey so don't let that be the reason now. Just admit it's a bad fight for Manny, and he cannot beat a 6'3" Williams and leave it at that. No one will knock Manny for avoiding that fight. Shit, no one will knock any fighter at 147 for avoiding Paul Williams.
it's a bad fight for manny because Paul Williams IS NOT A WELTERWEIGHT and Pac himself is pushing himself at 147 he really should be a 140 pound fighter.
What Williams needs to do is rematch Martinez at 160 pounds for the WBC and The Ring belts.
I think the reason Williams wants to go to 147 is that he was getting his clock cleaned against Martinez, his legs buckled after taking a shot by Kermit Cintron and there are a lot of bangers at 154.
In other words, Williams is avoiding guys closer to his own size and want to fight guys that he will tower over and have insane reach advantage over.
Williams chin is starting to crack, I guarantee this guy is getting knocked out soon if he stays at 160/154.
What Williams needs to do is rematch Martinez at 160 pounds for the WBC and The Ring belts.
I think the reason Williams wants to go to 147 is that he was getting his clock cleaned against Martinez, his legs buckled after taking a shot by Kermit Cintron and there are a lot of bangers at 154.
In other words, Williams is avoiding guys closer to his own size and want to fight guys that he will tower over and have insane reach advantage over.
Williams chin is starting to crack, I guarantee this guy is getting knocked out soon if he stays at 160/154.
Williams hasn't fought at 147 in what like 2 years? Don't feel like looking it up .. but he's made himself a NON factor at that weight class. No one at 147 needs to fight him or would be blamed for not fighting him because he's not fighting at that division. Williams isn't being ducked and reportedly HBO is putting a decent amount of change on the line to set up a Martinez rematch at either of the 2 weight classes that Martinez' is campaigning at.
It's not avoiding a fight if the guy isn't even in your division ..
It's not avoiding a fight if the guy isn't even in your division ..