Boxing News Thread

[heyzel]

Haye vs. Harrison fight is not killing boxing- its enhancing the sport

By Joe Neale: I am sick of hearing hardcore haters still moaning about the David Haye vs. Audley Harrison fight which was officially announced today. People sayings its killing boxing well it isn’t. It will be the biggest British fight in over a decade and will attract thousands of new viewers to boxing and will be on mainstream news making the headlines.


As a hardcore fan myself I completely understand the view of the fight itself, but the only other fight for Haye is the Klitschkos and guess what it’s not happening for now and however much of a mismatch you think it is, it is the biggest fight out there to make money, new fans and possibly create a buzz around boxing again despite being a mismatch.

I watched the full press conference and how could you not like what you saw; it was trash talking at its finest and was funny. You need to remember boxing is almost 50% showbiz you need strong personalities to get people interested. Haye and Harrison are the best in Britain at trash talking.

Keep hating and being negative on this fight all it is doing is making you unhappy. It won’t make any difference, this fight is happening. I am looking forward to what Harrison and Haye have to say next and will no doubt it will get the British public behind them doing all the media stuff.

This fight is gonna be exciting while it lasts and I think Haye will stop Harrison within 3 rounds 11/4 great odds. Good or bad interest this will be the biggest heavyweight fight for a while. Wladimir Klitschko is fighting Sam Peter this week and not many people are bothered about that fight, at least there is excited and controversy before a mismatch fight cause Klitschko vs. Peter now is a mismatch.

I expect hater article saying the fights a farce and guess what you’re promoting the fight by writing your opinion good or bad.

 

[heyzel]

Berto could be facing Aydin on Marquez vs. Katsidis undercard on 11/27

By Jason Kim: Unbeaten WBC welterweight champion Andre Berto (26-0, 20 KO’s) could be facing undefeated Turkish knockout artist Selcuk Aydin (20-0, 15 KO’s) on the undercard of the lightweight title fight between Juan Maniel marquez and Michael Katsidis on November 27th, at the MGM Arena, in Las Vegas, Nevada.


According to boxing news from the Los Angeles Times, the Berto vs. Aydin fight would wind up on the undercard as the co-main event. Lou Dibella, Berto’s promoter, says the fight “Should be done this week if it’s going to happen.”

Hopefully, it does because it would be interesting to see Berto fight another light welterweight. Aydin isn’t the fight that Berto and Dibella wanted, however. They wanted Andriy Kotelnik, a former WBA light welterweight. He’s better known than Aydin, but he’s yet another light welterweight.

Berto looks great against small guys but it would be nice if he stuck to fighting opponents from his own weight class. I’d like to see Berto face unbeaten welterweight contender Mike Jones. Do I see that happening? No, not in a million years.

HBO isn’t interested in the Aydin-Berto fight, because Aydin is pretty much unknown. However, Berto doesn’t have much choice in fighting Aydin unless he wants to give up his WBC title and Berto probably won’t be doing that. Berto should be able to beat Aydin unless he gets hit with some of Aydin’s hard shots.

This could be a lot tougher fight than Berto’s bouts against Juan Urango, Luis Collazo, Steve Forbes and Carlos Quintana, because Aydin has a good chin and he loads up on everything he throws.

Given that Berto’s defense is pretty poor, he could end up taking a lot of punishment in this fight. Aydin fights really well in close and is somewhat similar to Marcos Maidana with his fighting style. Berto likes to use a lot of clinching in his fights nowadays.

If he does this with Aydin, he could get hit a lot because Aydin is good at landing powerful shots when fighting head to head with his opponents. Berto will have to come up with a completely different style of fighting if he wants to avoid getting hurt by Aydin.

 

[heyzel]

When Mayweather is gone who will fill his shoes as the new “cash cow”?

By Marquise Bullock: Over the years a torch has been passed to a “choosing one”. Iron Mike Tyson was the biggest cash cow in boxing, until Mexican American Oscar De La Hoya came along and took that title away from him. Roy Jones was a physical specimen in his prime, but never really a cash cow. Even when Sugar Shane Mosley beat De La Hoya twice , he still wasn’t the man you fought for a check, Oscar was. But then this charismatic kid from Grand Rapids Michigan, fought and beat the reigning cash cow and dethroned him from that title. Every fighter besides Oscar and Mosley pretty much got their biggest check fighting Floyd. The new cash cow.


But when Floyd is gone who can fill that void of being the new cash cow? Pacquiao is an excellent draw, but I don’t quiet think he draws more money than Floyd. Also he’s at the peek of his career just like Floyd. So who’s the fighting sensation that can draw the big bucks? Because the American fighters now days couldn’t draw flies to a horses bottom. Paul Williams, Tim Bradley, Andre Dirrell, Chad Dawson, and Andre Berto are great fighters but why can’t they draw crowds? Over seas fighters are almost filling up stadiums and the fighters I’ve just mentioned can’t fill up a school gym. You can’t bring in big bucks that way. The way I see it, is Andre Ward is going to be the cash cow of the new era of fighters. If he can win in the super six, beat the super talented Dirrell, and get some juicy fights on HBO, expect to see every fighter from 147 to 175 get a fight with him.

Ward is very skilled no doubt, but there’s still also Jean Pascal and Lucian Bute that ward has to prove him self against. And not to sound bias the Americans want a American on top of the game. If an over seas fighters puts on great performances he will be appreciated in the states, but it’s nothing like a fighter raising the USA flag in the states to the average fan. But with that being said, it seems like it’s going to be a long time we see another major cash cow in the sport of boxing. Especially when you have four different champions in each division, promoters protecting their fighters, and unnecessary PPV matches that people don’t even bother to pay for. Share and enjoy.

 

[heyzel]

James Toney get his redemption against UFC fighter Vitor Belfort?

By Leo Kapakos: Here we go again? Current UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Vitor Belfort wants to fight James Toney in a boxing match. In a twitter message to UFC President Dana White, Belfort tweets “Dana let me fight James Tony on 6 round boxe Mach I think I can catch him with my speed.” “Dana will be the 1 boxing match in Ufc I promise he will feel my power and we will show the world the a Ufc fighter can do better.” Toney’s response to the challenge, Tell Vitor Belfort let’s make it happen. I like that because he ain’t no scared little bitch. He wants to come to my world and I’m more than willing to welcome him to my world.


While Toney hopes to save face after a humiliating loss to Randy Coture there are a number of reasons why this fight in all likelihood will never happen. Belfort is under contract with UFC and President Dana White commented after UFC 118 that he’s through with the Boxer vs. MMA matches. Moreover, White is hardly going to let one of his belt holders potentially get hurt in the ring and in the process embarrass the UFC. Above all, there is no cash in it for Dana and Zuffa, and they have shown no interest in ever cross-promoting an event let alone a boxing event. It’s too bad though, this fight would have more interesting then the Coture fight. Belfort is probably one of the best boxers in the UFC and known for his quick hands and power. That said however, the ring is Toney’s home and he’s been hit by bigger, faster, and stronger fighters throughout his career- the likes of Holyfield, Rahman, Peters, Jirov. So I’d have to make James Toney the heavy favorite in a fight that is probably never going to happen. Too bad- would have liked to have seen that one.

 

[heyzel]

Shay Day: Margarito's License; Mayweather-Berto; More

By Ishe Smith

It’s been awhile ladies and gents. The Shack was starting to get a little dusty so I came back to do a little quick summer cleaning. The first order of business has to be Antonio Magarito receiving his license to box in Texas. Who am I to say that a guy shouldn’t be given a second chance? Hell I think Pete Rose should be given a second chance as well. Rose is guy is arguably one of the purest hitters to ever grace a baseball field...the crime doesn’t fit the punishment.

Supposedlym Antonio Margarito was found with a plaster-like substance in his hand wraps. Nazim Richardson discovered it, Margarito served his time, and I think its time to move on. Margarito deserves a chance like anyone who has went to jail, served his time, and came out to get their life on track. What makes him any worse? I hope he puts on a good fight and I am glad he got a second chance to make a living.

What else is on the agenda in the Shack? Well I must admit Floyd Mayweather Jr. is by far the best person to follow on twitter. Mayweather never lets me down when it comes to twitter updates or tweets as we call them. Speaking of Mayweather, now that a fight with Manny Pacquiao seems to be out the window for 2010, I would love to see him and Andre Berto mix it up. Berto hasn’t found a suitable dance partner and Floyd has to stay busy. Why not have the two of them get together and make something happen? Wishful thinking, but I would love to see how Berto does against an elite opponent. Berto has called out some of the best in the sport, and his team has tried to make fights with some of the best fighters in the world. I honestly think he has tried, but nothing has happened. Keep plugging away, something will give.

Paging Alfredo Angulo. Just when we had all forgotten the fact that you turned down $750,000 for Sergio Martinez, you go and call out Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. after doing so. That was probably dumber than you turning down the 750k in the first place. I honestly don’t even know what to say to that kind of stupidity. The only thing I can think of is you really felt you were going to lose and wanted to maximize as much money as possible. Either way you definitely get the bad move award for 2010.

Kendall Holt told me he may be fighting in October. Kendall at his best will still give a lot of junior welterweights trouble. Lets hope he comes back soon. They offered him a fight with Zab Judah, but he wanted a tune-up first, but they wouldn’t give it to him...so Kendall said thanks but no thanks.

Joey Gilbert is fighting Kassim Ouma for the NABA Middleweight title. I'll put it to you like this - Ouma will not beat Gilbert. It's a bad match up for him and in all honesty Joey is not that bad and I can see him winning this fight. He’s bigger and stronger than Ouma, not to mention he is a very hard worker.

Speaking of my Contender alums, I am predicting that Sergio Mora will beat Shane Mosley. Sergio is too awkward and too big for Mosley. Jesse Brinkley probably won’t see the 8th round in his fight against Lucian Bute. Peter Manfredo is looking to make a fresh start by signing on with promoter Lou Dibella...congrats to him and his team. Tarick Salmaci was seen not to long ago on tmz.com...that’s my boy right there. Hard work and perseverance pays off as K9 was able to cash in on the junior middleweight championship of the world - congrats to him and his beautiful family.

When will Sergei Dzinziruk fight anyone with a pulse? It's hard to call out people when you haven’t fought anyone and all but one fight has been overseas. My little guy recently lost, Ivan Calderon, who doesn’t get a lot of notoriety. He doesn’t blaze the headlines like Mayweather or Manny, but Calderon is one of the best boxers in the world and has been for a very long time. Calderon is a victim of being in a weight class that nobody cares about and that really sucks because the guy can straight up fight. Congrats is in order for Giovanni Segura though for dethroning one of the best in the sport.

I heard through the grapevine that other fighters would like to start writing. That would be pretty cool to get boxer insights on the sport and what’s going on. I have been writing on and off for about seven years now. Good to know that I am one of the first to get it going and hope that more boxers follow.

Rumor has it that Omar Henry got his ass spanked in sparring by Brandon Gonzalez here in Las Vegas. I will get the full report from Jeff Mayweather in the coming days. I will say one thing about Mr. Henry, there is nobody more annoying or delusional than him in the sport. Paging anyone with a pulse that is willing to fight him. If you let him tell it, he has already won 10 championships in 5 different weight classes. He irks the hell out of me, and I am not the only one he does that to. I heard that he wants a piece of Shawn Porter. Very interesting fight in my eyes. Henry is so limited that I will have to go with Porter.

Staying on the topic of Porter, he just happens to be one of the classiest guys in the sport of boxing. Never talking too much, just going out there and doing his job. Guys like him the sport needs more of, and I wish him the best.

Closing thoughts: I don’t use the Shack to talk solely about my career. It’s like going on a date and never letting the woman talk and blabbering about yourself all night. I like writing and expressing my feelings on the sport of boxing and boxingscene.com has given me an opportunity to do so. Thanks to Rick Reeno for allowing me the privilege to come on here and write.

If you want to know about my career, follow me on twitter or join my facebook page. I will say this before I depart, I am hoping to get one more fight before the end of the year. Hopefully DBE will deliver that for me. We have one more fight together and everything has been great thus far, so my team is quite optimistic. Wouldn’t mind going to the UK either. Ryan Rhodes is there. We will just have to wait and see. From 147 to 168-pounds - I will get down with anyone and it doesn’t matter who it is.

The shack is cleaned up a bit. I'll see you guys in a few days when I break down the fight between Mora and Mosley

 

[2-0-Sixx]

anyone care about David Haye vs Harrison? Quite the step down from facing a Klitschko. I'm starting to think Haye is made from the same cloth as Mayweather. Sad too because I was really starting to become a fan of Haye.

David Haye, the World Boxing Association champion, essentially pulled a Mayweather. He talked a good game, but when it came time to fight, he went into hiding. At least to Haye’s credit, he hasn’t taken to his webcam and insulted large groups of people. - Yahoo boxing

 

[Rumpelstiltskin]

He probably just realized he couldn't beat either Klitschko.

Not really interested in his next fight. I'd watch it though...

 

[bigface]

I view Haye's as a ducker, but then again why fight them right away when you can make money and build your name up more. We are in an age that if you lose a fight you're a bum in the fans eyes, so i understand he has to get his money 1st. Hatton has only 2 losses to the top 2 P4P guys and most fans consider him a bum. Haye's talked a lot of shit I want to see him back it up too. But it's a business and one defeat can loss you millions.

 

[2-0-Sixx]

I view Haye's as a ducker, but then again why fight them right away when you can make money and build your name up more.

The fight has been building for over 2 years. The time was now.

We are in an age that if you lose a fight you're a bum in the fans eyes, so i understand he has to get his money 1st.

And how does it makes sense fighting Harrison, who does have some power and everyone knows Haye has a shaky chin? Makes no sense. Watch him lose this fight then see what happens.

Hatton has only 2 losses to the top 2 P4P guys and most fans consider him a bum.

Some people might consider him a bum NOW after getting knocked out twice pretty badly. The pac KO was pretty much a career ender. Prior to that though no one called him a bum. It isn't that Ricky lost twice it's how he lost and hasn't fought since getting KTFO by Pac. Pacquiao has 3 losses no one says he's done. Hopkins had a couple losses on his resume for years and years no one thought that. Etc.

Haye's talked a lot of shit I want to see him back it up too. But it's a business and one defeat can loss you millions.

This doesn't make sense. He can make his biggest paycheck of his life against klistchko, lose and retire and be wealthy for good. Or he can make some decent money against Harrison and possibly lose and never fight a Klitschko (and if he does it wouldn't be worth as much money).

It's a bad strategy (if money is what it's about).

On top of that, Wlad Klitschko is fighting Sam Peter now. What happens if Wlad gets knocked out? Haye vs Peter isn't no where as much money.

Further, what about legacy? No one cares about that anymore? Most people not named Mayweather & Haye do (see bernard hopkins, manny pacquioao, shane mosley, oscar de la hoya etc etc etc for examples).

 

[bigface]

In the prefect world 2-0-Sixx all the good fighters would fight each other like it was in the old days. But now it's about money 1st and legacy 2nd. We the fans suffer by not getting the best fighters fighting each other. But we bash a fighter in media when they do step up and lose. So it's a catch 22 for a fighter nowadays.

 

[heyzel]

Haye Causes Outrage in England Over "Gang Rape" Jab

By Michael Marley

Floyd Mayweather acts like a complete and utter boor and then, under pressure from his superiors, issues a half-baked apology.

Compare and contrast with UK boor and heavyweight pretender David “Hayemaker” Haye who evidently has a single digit IQ to go along with his paper-mache jaw.

Haye shocked England by warning Audley Harrison, who he fights Nov. 13, by warning that he will be “violated.”

Then, crassly updating Mike Tyson's promise to make Razor Ruddock his “girlfriend,” Haye said his legally permitted and sanctioned assault on the 38 year old mocked as “Fraudley” to “a gang rape.”

The hue and cry from women's groups was as immediate as it was predictable.

Viv Hayes, boss of the Women's Resource Centre, said: "I'm horrified that anybody could say something which trivialises such an extremely serious crime.

"We know only too well the effects of rape and gang rape on women and their families.

"I really would like David Haye to find out some actual information about rape and then perhaps make a donation to one of the many struggling rape crisis centres in the UK."

If I was Ms. Hayes, I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for a donation or an apology from Haye. Haye said already on his Twitter page that there are not enough hours in the day for “me to apologize for all the stupid things I say.”

I mean, talk about keeping it real.

I find Haye's refusal to make with the “I'm sorry” routine, dare I say it, almost refreshing compared to all the mea culpas we usually hear flowing from public figures after they have committed a verbal outrage.

Truth be told, Haye is not sorry. His aim was to plaster himself, his words and the upcoming fight on the front page of the national UK tabloids.

Mission unsavory, perhaps, but mission accomplished.

Is there now a man, woman or child living in the country who does now not now Haye will cross gloves with Harrison on the same night that Antonio Margarito fights Manny Pacquiao?

I don't think Haye is a complete dummy, he knew that his harsh threat would make for controversy briefly but for long enough to launch the promotion.

Haye wanted to sell arena tickets and hype the telecast for his recital with Audley.

He wanted to spark the promotion.

Bingo!

By refusing to bow in apology, Haye's message is also crystal clear.

He is saying, “I said it and I'll say it again.”

Haye may be boxing's new Bum of the Week but he's a consistent one

 

[heyzel]

Panama Lewis Will Attempt To Get a License in Texas

By Michael Marley

Twenty seven years and counting but the punishment, the banishment of controversial boxing trainer Carlos “Panama” Lewis goes on.

Younger people may not be aware but on June 16, 1983, the night of the infamous Luis Resto-Irish Billy Collins bout at Madison Square Garden, the blinged to the max trainer was only 36 and riding high.

Lewis, having studied under the masterful Chickie Ferrara, seemed to be his generation's equivalent of Angelo Dundee or what Coach Freddie Roach is these days, a strategist and ring technician who had an incredible personal rapport with fighters of all descriptions.

Lewis was the mastermind in the corner of budding superstar Aaron "Hawk" Pryor before Pryor tumbled into despair through crack addiction.

Then came the revelation that the light hitting Resto's gloves had been tampered with, that some of the horse hair padding in the Everlasts had been removed, turning Resto into a power puncher who bruised and discolored the unbeaten Collins so badly that the lumps on his face had lumps.

Two weeks after the bout, New York revoked the licenses of the boxer and the trainer. The pair went to trial, were convicted and, ironically, both served time in an upstate prison named after a man named Collins.

Resto never boxed again and now, 27, years later, Lewis remains in a professional purgatory, permitted to tutor boxers in gymnasiums but unable to be in their dressing rooms or corners.

Only Pennsylvania and Florida have given Lewis a second chance and those licenses were not renewed. Florida claimed bureaucratic error in licensing Lewis and the gutsy commissioner in Pennsylvania (if memory serves it was Howard McCall) wound up getting sacked.

So purgatory is where Lewis' career resides.

But now, I've learned, the 64 year old trainer is preparing to move to Texas, where the Athletic Commission has been liberal enough to license boxers Antonio Margarito, Edwin Valero and Evander Holyfield when other jurisdictions either refused them or restricted their licenses.

If the Texas boxing board thinks the Margarito matter was a hot potato, wait until it gets Lewis' application for licensing.

(It's long been my personal view that some commission should grant Lewis a probationary license and then after review as to his conduct, either renew or deny it. I believe that three decades of banishment is sufficient punishment for his misdeed.)

Will the Lone Star State show some compassion after almost three decades of punishment for a boxing crime which Lewis steadfastly denies committing?

“I cannot refute a dead man (co-trainer Artie Curley),” Lewis said recently.

“It was Curley who wrapped both of Resto's hands. It was Curley who put on both of his gloves that night.

“Even Resto has said that. When Curley died, I became the fall guy. Dead men tell no tales.

“This put me in jail, this ruined my life. I have been banned for life, really, but under what grounds?”

Even in his limited sphere, fighters such as Mike Tyson, Francois Botha, Arturo Gatti and Zab Judah have hired Lewis to train them within the confines of a gym.

Lewis' health is questionable, his having had a heart attack in a boxing arena five years ago.

Lewis told me he plans to open up a gym in Houston and will live in that city.

Fireworks to follow.

He won't give up his fight but you have to wonder if Lewis is destined to go to his grave living in the shadows of shame.

How much punishment is enough for Panama?

Why is there a different standard for Margarito?

old panama just won't give up lol

 

[heyzel]

Maidana Complains To The WBA, Says Khan Won't Fight

By Jhonny Gonzalez

BoxingScene has stated all week long, that neither Amir Khan or Marcos Maidana had signed for their planned junior welterweight clash on December 11. Multiple inaccurate reports spread misinformation about the fight being signed.

Maidana is fed up and tired of the dragging negotiations. Several papers in Argentina report that Maidana sent a letter on Wednesday to the WBA, complaining that Khan, the full champion at 140-pounds, is trying to get out of their fight.

In the letter, sent to WBA President Gilberto Mendoza, Maidana made a request for the WBA to get involved by forcing Khan to accept his mandatgory obligation.

"I am making this request based on Mr. Khan systematically refusing to fight me for the last 10 months, even though he was well aware of his obligation of having to fight the interim champion. And now, he is apparently questioning this obligation, so I would like the WBA to remind him," Maidana wrote.

 

[heyzel]

Khan: “He [Maidana] seems scared”

By Dan Ambrose: WBA light welterweight champion Amir Khan (23-1, 17 KO’s) said that he thinks World Boxing Association light welterweight champion Marcos Maidana (29-1, 27 KO’s) is afraid to fight him. Speaking on his Twitter page, the 23-year-old Khan says “Looking good guys for December 11th fight in the UK. Maidana sent out an article saying I shouldn’t care about his purse. Well, I should I’m co-promoting the fight. He seems scared. Come on, Maidana, let’s get it on!”


Khan does have a point. However, Maidana is worried that Khan is using the excuse of saying that Maidana is pricing himself out of the fight as a reason not to have to fight him. Maidana makes a good point. I don’t think Maidana is scared of fighting Khan for one second. I think he’s worried that Khan may slither away with the excuse about him wanting too much money and continue to fight weaker punchers. Maidana can really make a name for himself if he dusts off Khan in one or two rounds.

Khan hasn’t fought any big sluggers since being knocked out in the 1st round two years ago by Breidis Prescott, and Khan hasn’t looked eager to take on Maidana during the past year. Although Khan has had the chance to fight Maidana, he instead chose to go after the non-threatening Paulie Malignaggi in his last fight in May.

After that fight, Khan said he was going to take on the top fighters in the light welterweight division, including Maidana. However, up until recently, Khan had been trying to fight lightweight Juan Manuel Marquez instead of Maidana. That changed when Marquez said that he wouldn’t be moving up to the light welterweight division and would instead stay at lightweight to defend his WBA/WBO lightweight titles against WBO lightweight interim champion Michael Katsidis.

Maidana, in the meantime, is concerned that Khan is trying to weasel out of fighting him by complaining that Maidana wants too much money. Khan has a reputation as a fighter that has amazing boxing skills but is flawed with a weak chin. He won’t be able to prove his doubters wrong if he keeps taking on light hitting fighters instead of big punchers like Maidana. And at some point, Khan will have to fight Maidana because the WBA will almost surely have to strip Khan of his title unless he does finally fight him.

The only way Khan wouldn’t have to fight Maidana is if he can wait him out long enough for someone else to come along and beat him. Khan never fought a rematch with Prescott, and now that he’s been beaten twice by other fighters, Khan says there’s no reason to fight him. Could the same thing happen with Maidana if Khan waits long enough?

 

[Tragedy]

By Michael Marley

Twenty seven years and counting but the punishment, the banishment of controversial boxing trainer Carlos “Panama” Lewis goes on.

Younger people may not be aware but on June 16, 1983, the night of the infamous Luis Resto-Irish Billy Collins bout at Madison Square Garden, the blinged to the max trainer was only 36 and riding high.

Lewis, having studied under the masterful Chickie Ferrara, seemed to be his generation's equivalent of Angelo Dundee or what Coach Freddie Roach is these days, a strategist and ring technician who had an incredible personal rapport with fighters of all descriptions.

Lewis was the mastermind in the corner of budding superstar Aaron "Hawk" Pryor before Pryor tumbled into despair through crack addiction.

Then came the revelation that the light hitting Resto's gloves had been tampered with, that some of the horse hair padding in the Everlasts had been removed, turning Resto into a power puncher who bruised and discolored the unbeaten Collins so badly that the lumps on his face had lumps.

Two weeks after the bout, New York revoked the licenses of the boxer and the trainer. The pair went to trial, were convicted and, ironically, both served time in an upstate prison named after a man named Collins.

Resto never boxed again and now, 27, years later, Lewis remains in a professional purgatory, permitted to tutor boxers in gymnasiums but unable to be in their dressing rooms or corners.

Only Pennsylvania and Florida have given Lewis a second chance and those licenses were not renewed. Florida claimed bureaucratic error in licensing Lewis and the gutsy commissioner in Pennsylvania (if memory serves it was Howard McCall) wound up getting sacked.

So purgatory is where Lewis' career resides.

But now, I've learned, the 64 year old trainer is preparing to move to Texas, where the Athletic Commission has been liberal enough to license boxers Antonio Margarito, Edwin Valero and Evander Holyfield when other jurisdictions either refused them or restricted their licenses.

If the Texas boxing board thinks the Margarito matter was a hot potato, wait until it gets Lewis' application for licensing.

(It's long been my personal view that some commission should grant Lewis a probationary license and then after review as to his conduct, either renew or deny it. I believe that three decades of banishment is sufficient punishment for his misdeed.)

Will the Lone Star State show some compassion after almost three decades of punishment for a boxing crime which Lewis steadfastly denies committing?

“I cannot refute a dead man (co-trainer Artie Curley),” Lewis said recently.

“It was Curley who wrapped both of Resto's hands. It was Curley who put on both of his gloves that night.

“Even Resto has said that. When Curley died, I became the fall guy. Dead men tell no tales.

“This put me in jail, this ruined my life. I have been banned for life, really, but under what grounds?”

Even in his limited sphere, fighters such as Mike Tyson, Francois Botha, Arturo Gatti and Zab Judah have hired Lewis to train them within the confines of a gym.

Lewis' health is questionable, his having had a heart attack in a boxing arena five years ago.

Lewis told me he plans to open up a gym in Houston and will live in that city.

Fireworks to follow.

He won't give up his fight but you have to wonder if Lewis is destined to go to his grave living in the shadows of shame.

How much punishment is enough for Panama?

Why is there a different standard for Margarito?

old panama just won't give up lol

i seen a documentary on panama lewis and resto. that shit was a trip. resto confronted panama after years of personal turmoil and that dude straight up denied ever doing anything wrong and promised to take care of him if he ever comes up. resto was like "fuck you!"

shady ass mutherfucker.

 

[heyzel]

agreed panama shady but if Margarito can get his License why not him

 

[Tragedy]

probably because resto's opponent died. resto told the story in the doc and never admitted to anything until they dug it out of him and it put his soul to rest. he's been carrying that burden for years..he took the blame and also put part of it on panama lewis. panama denies everything till this day.

resto visited his opponents grave and cried his heart out. he even wanted to visit his immediate family and they dogged him.

then he visited his parents and they forgave him.

so in the end he went up to panama and gave him the fuck you in person and thats basically how the doc ended. it was pretty crazy.

 

[2-0-Sixx]

agreed panama shady but if Margarito can get his License why not him

The resto case was far worse.

For one, it wasn't just plaster, the padding in the glove was actually removed completely.

Second, resto actually got in the ring and beat the shit out of the guy. Margarito never stepped foot in the ring with loaded gloves.

 

[2-0-Sixx]

In the prefect world 2-0-Sixx all the good fighters would fight each other like it was in the old days. But now it's about money 1st and legacy 2nd.

Most guys in boxing aren't ducking opponents though. Really you got Haye and Floyd Mayweather. Of course there are a few other names that could be mentioned but more often then not it's about the promoters, money and various other possible reasons.

 

[heyzel]

Boxing politics: Not what the fans want

By Jordan Sargent: There was a time where boxing fans got what they wanted. Fans wanted Ali v Frazier so they got it. The fans wanted Tyson v Spinks and guess what, they got it! So what has changed? In this article I want to question why the two biggest fights in boxing cannot be made. The fights I am talking about is of course P4P kings Floyd Mayweather Jr (41-0-0, KO 25) and Manny Pacquiao (51-3-2, KO 38) , and secondly World Boxing Association heavyweight champ David Haye (24-1-0, KO 22) versus one of the Klitschko brothers.


From a fans point of view it is confusing as to why these fights cannot be made with so much money being on the table. With millions of dollars, pounds and euros being thrown at the fighters you would think they couldn’t wait to get their hands on each other. This being especially apparent in the Mayweather and Pacquiao fight where the finances have been made so public. Us boxing fans are mainly from working class and middle class backgrounds, and would relish even a fraction of an elite boxer’s payday.

The question has to be asked ‘where does a boxer’s money come from?’ The answer is quite simple… the fans! The fans are the ones who buy the tickets and PPV fights and even more importantly, the fans are the ones who watch the fights. In other words, without you and I these elite fighters could not make the living they are now. So when we decide to shell out our hard earned cash especially through a time of economic hardship we ask only one simple thing. ‘Please… make it worth it!’ In other words ‘give us the fights we want with no excuses!’ That’s not much too ask… is it? Apparently it is…

One of the things I love about boxing fans apart from being passionate is that they are honest, they know what they want and when they want it. Every fan knows which fighters they like and have a list as long as their arm of potential opponents. So I see no reason why these paying fans cannot get their wishes. Every fan wants Mayweather and Pacquiao to fight and will pay to see it, that should be enough. Yet we see excuse after excuse!

It doesn’t matter to the paying public if Manny denies blood testing (which he accepted in the end) or if Floyd wants few more million to throw on the pile, all we care about is the fight! This fight will be the biggest PPV boxing event of all time and generate a huge amount of cash for the promoters, TV stations and fighters involved. However, what we see is Mayweather inactive and Pacquiao matched against former WBA welterweight champ Antonio Margarito for the WBC 154lb belt. Fellow Top Rank fighter Margarito is returning from suspension and will unlikely use plaster this time round.

In similar fashion, after Haye V Vitali/ Vladimir Klitschko fell through each fighter has gone their own way. Instead of probably the biggest heavyweight fight since Tyson V Lewis we will witness fights which will not reignite the heavyweight scene. WBA champion Haye will face former Olympic gold medallist Audley Harrison (27-4-0, KO 20) who at 38 has never stepped above domestic level. We will see WBC champ Vitali Klitschko (40-2-0, KO 38) against a past best Shannon Briggs (51-5-1, KO 45) and IBF/WBO holder Vladimir Klitchsko (54-3-0, KO 48) taking on a declining Samuel Peter (34-3-0, KO 27). For all three of these fights I have just one question from an honest fans point of view…Why? Again, it doesn’t matter to the paying public who deserves more and where it is held (unless you want to travel to see the fight) all the fans want is the fight! If it is one division that is craving a much needed boost, it is without doubt the heavyweight division and a Haye V Klitschko fight would do just that.

So when examining both of the potential mega fights, it is clear that many parties will benefit. Firstly the fans will get what they want, secondly the fighters get a massive payday and lastly the sport gets a needed boost. Where’s the problem? It’s got to be either ego or greed …hasn’t it?

So what can be done? Should the fans boycott fights they don’t want? This only harms the sport they love further by lowering PPV figures and with rivals UFC growing quickly, is this good for boxing? Should the media do more? The media have built up and talked about Mayweather V Pacquiao for a while now and all it has achieved is rumour, speculation and unanswered questions. The answer lies with the fighters and their promotional teams. All involved should communicate efficiently and will have to make concessions to their demands. Only then will these fights happen, and the fighters will satisfy the people who make them a fortune… the fans.