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heyzel

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Jul 24, 2005
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Victor Ortiz vs. Vivian Harris on Saturday

By Jason Kim: In one of the more interesting fights on this Saturday’s Shane Mosley vs. Sergio Mora card at the Staples Center, in Los Angeles, top light welterweight contender Victor Ortiz (27-2-1, 21 KO’s) will be facing former World Boxing Association (WBA) light welterweight champion Vivian Harris (29-4-1, 19 KO’s) in a fight that is scheduled for 10 rounds. Harris was beaten in his last fight by a 4th round stoppage to Argentinian slugger Lucas Martin Matthysse in February of this year. The stoppage was controversial, but what isn’t controversial is that Harris was getting hit a lot at the time of the stoppage and was covering up and waiting way too long for the kinds of shots he was getting with.


Harris was stopped in the 7th round three years ago by Junior Witter. He had problems with Witter’s speed and power in that fight. The bad news for Harris on Saturday is that Ortiz is an even bigger puncher than both Witter and Matthysse, meaning that if Harris wants to win this fight, then he’s going to have to take some big shots from Ortiz to get the win.

The fight probably won’t make it that far unless the 32-year-old Harris’ chin is really good, because the 23-year-old Ortiz is one of the biggest punchers in the light welterweight division and has grown up a lot since his 6th round stoppage loss a year ago to Marcos Maidana. Ortiz is older now, and has won his last three fights against Antonio Diaz, Hector Alatorre and former lightweight champion Nate Campbell. Ortiz is ranked number #1 by the WBA, WBO and number #3 by the IBF. Ortiz is difiniately going to be getting a crack at one of the light welterweight champions, and whoever it is, they’re going to be facing some big power.

At this point, I’m not sure if Ortiz can beat WBO light welterweight champion Timothy Bradley, because he’s fighting very well right now and looks to be the best fighter in the division. However, I’d give Ortiz an excellent chance of beating WBA light welterweight champion Amir Khan and IBF/WBO champion Devon Alexander. Both of those fighters appear flawed and would likely have problems with Ortiz’s power and speed.

As for this Saturday’s fight, look for Ortiz to roll over Harris with power shots. Harris is a good fighter, but he’s going to have big problems with Ortiz’s power. Ortiz hits too hard and he’s going to hurt Harris very early in this fight and likely get him out of there by the 4th or 5th rounds unless Harris runs.
 
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heyzel

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Maidana is beatable, but Khan might not have the chin to do it

By Jason Kim: In some ways, the December 11th match-up between World Boxing Association light welterweight champion Amir Khan (23-1, 17 KO’s) and WBA light welterweight interim champion Marcos Maidana (29-1, 27 KO’s) reminds me of the classic fight between Muhammad Ali and a young and powerful George Foreman. In that fight, which took place in 1974, Ali was able to take Foreman’s biggest shots and wear him down and stop him in the 8th round. However, Ali was able to take a number of huge shots from Foreman in that fight without going down like many of Foreman’s previous opponents had done when hit hard by him.


The question with Khan is whether he can any of Maidana’s shots and wear him down and take him out. Khan can punch pretty well himself. He may not hit as hard as the powerful Maidana, but he is dangerous when he’s loading up on his punches. If Khan does load up on his shots against Maidana, he’s going to be taking a huge risk because Maidana is going to be on top of Khan every second of this fight. I don’t that Khan win this fight by moving and just boxing Maidana. I don’t think that’s possible.

I’ve seen enough of Maidana’s fights to know that he cuts off the ring against fighters that run and Khan is going to get trapped along the ropes at some point in every round of the fight. It’s unavoidable. Freddie Roach, Khan’s trainer, is going to tell Khan to grab Maidana when he’s trapped. But Maidana punches really well when he’s being held or when he’s close to fighter. What this fight may come down is whether Khan has the chin to take Maidana’s huge shots and return fire enough to get him out of there. I don’t think Khan can last 12 rounds against Maidana.

If he can’t take him out, then Maidana will eventually hurt Khan and knock him out. I don’t think Khan, with his fragile chin, can last 12 rounds with Maidana loading up on every shot and trying to take Khan’s head off. Maidana is going to be punching even harder in this fight, knowing that Khan has a weak chin. If you don’t think that Maidana is going to be hitting Khan harder than he’s hit his other opponents in the past, you’re kidding yourself.

Maidana knows that he can a lot more money if he knocks Khan out and he’s not going to want to blow his big chance. The fight is going to take place at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, in Las Vegas, Nevada. This means that Maidana won’t have to face a huge pro-Khan audience at the fight. Indeed, Maidana may end up having more fans cheering for him in this fight than Khan. That, in turn, is going to energize Maidana even more.

He seems to fight even better when fans are screaming. Khan is going to have to figure out what he’s going to do to keep from getting knocked out. He can’t play a rope-a-dope like Ali, because that would require that Khan take a certain amount of punishment from Maidana. At the same time, Maidana is a better inside fighter than Foreman was. He’s pretty dangerous in close and if he can get that close to Khan, chances are high that he’ll knock him out.
 
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heyzel

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Khan says he gave up home advantage to fight Maidana in the U.S

By Scott Gilfoid: WBA light welterweight champion Amir Khan (23-1, 17 KO’s) will finally be fighting WBA light welterweight interim champion Marcos Maidana (29-1, 27 KO’s) after a year of fighting other opponents. Khan, 23, will be fighting Maidana on December 11th, at the Mandalay Bay Resort, in Las Vegas, Nevada. In an article at Thesun.co.uk, “I wanted to fight Maidana so badly I have given up my home advantage, even though I am the champion and not him. My team tried very hard to get this fight to the UK, but because of Maidana’s demands, the figures just wouldn’t add up.” That’s funny, I thought they ended up fighting Maidana in Las Vegas because they didn’t want to pay Maidana extra to fight him in the UK.


Maidana said he would fight Khan in the UK if they gave him more money, but they didn’t want to do that. It came down to money. Anyway, why is Khan so hell bent on wanting to fight in the UK? I thought the whole idea behind getting an American promoter like Golden Boy Promotions was for Khan to become a star in the United States. How is Khan going to become a star in the U.S. if he keeps trying to fight in the UK? What good is it to fight all the best guys over there and then only fight less popular fighters in the United States?

I don’t understand him and I think he’d better off getting a promoter in the UK, so he can focus on fighting there all then time. It probably won’t matter where Khan fights if Maidana knocks him cold. It will be a hard sell for him to be shown on HBO if Khan gets flattened by Maidana, that’s for sure. He can then go back and continue fighting in the UK as much as he pleases and I doubt he’ll get too many complaints about it.

Khan says “I can assure fans that my team will be doing whatever they can to stage my next world title fight in the UK.” I’m good with that as long as Khan fights the number #1 WBA light welterweight contender Victor Ortiz next. But somehow, I can see Khan fighting number #8 ranked Erik Morales next, and he looked totally shot in his recent win over Willie Limond. A fight against Morales would go together really well with Khan’s win last year against an old 35-year-old Marco Antonio Barrera.

I hope Khan doesn’t fight Morales next, but I bet that’s who he fights. If not him, then it’s probably going to be someone ranked low in the top 15, like Vivian Harris. Zab Judah would be perfect, since he’s ranked #6, but I can’t see him getting picked. Anyway, this is neither here nor there, because I don’t think Khan is going to get by Maidana, so he needs to not worry too much about his next fight. You can’t look ahead very far when your next opponent has an excellent chance of knocking your head into the 3rd row. What Khan needs to be worrying about is trying to not to get blown out by Maidana.
 
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heyzel

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Jul 24, 2005
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Wladimir Klitschko: I Want The Winner of Haye vs Harrison

By Mark Vester

WBO/IBO/IBF heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko is ready to fight anyone, but his main target is the winner of David Haye vs. Audley Harrison, who clash for the WBA heavyweight title on November 13 in Manchester. Haye's WBA title is the last remaining belt not owned by the Klitschko family. Older brother Vitali Klitschko has the WBC heavyweight title.

Klitschko is slated to return on December 11, more than likely in Germany, and several names are being rumored for his next fight. The winner of Haye-Harrison would be too soon for a December date, but a deal against one of the Brits could push his return to 2011. Klitschko doesn't care if it's Haye or Harrison, he wants the fighter with the WBA title around his waist.

"I'm interested in getting the final title that we don't have in the family, in the Klitschko family. That's the WBA title, which is currently held by David Haye. If David Haye will lose, then I'll fight the [new] champion. I just hope that in time that I can unify all the titles," Klitschko told BoxingScene.com/Bokser.org.

"I'm ready to fight anyone. The most difficult part is the contractual side with opponents. If it's not mandatory, then it's a little easier, but otherwise it's a little bit difficult. I don't care who is my next opponent. I'll adjust myself to the strategy and tactic for the fighter."
 
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heyzel

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Jul 24, 2005
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Alexander's Manager: If Not Bradley, Give Us Victor Ortiz

By Ryan Burton

BoxingScene.com spoke to Kevin Cunningham about the possible fallout of the proposed unification bout between his fighter IBF/WBC junior welterweight champion Devon Alexander and WBO champion Timothy Bradley. Cunningham told BoxingScene, "We have been asking for a fight with Bradley for a long time and he is still at the top of our list."

Cunningham has read the reports on BoxingScene and other internet outlets that have outlined the friction between Team Bradley and his promoter Gary Shaw.

"Again I want to stress Bradley is our first priority but it seems that Team Bradley and his promoter are in a lot of turmoil and who knows what will happen with that soap opera," Cunningham said.

The 140 pound division is arguably boxing's deepest. WBA full champion Amir Khan and WBA interm champion Marcos Maidana are set to square off on December 11th in Las Vegas. Team Alexander are aiming to keep the date of January 29th that HBO has set aside for the Alexander-Bradley fight. Because the winner of the Khan-Maidana will not be ready to turn around and fight again that soon, Team Alexander have set their sights on one of Saturdays combatants.

"We have to keep our options open and we will be watching Victor Ortiz's fight with Vivian Harris very closely. If Ortiz wins he would have plenty of time to get ready to fight Devon. A fight between Devon and Ortiz would be perfect for January 29th in Las Vegas."

After finishing up with Cunningham my next call was to Victor Ortiz's manager Rolando Arrellano who was getting ready to go to the weigh-in for HBO's pay per view card that includes Ortiz's fight with Vivian Harris. Arrellano wanted to stress that all of Team Ortiz's focus is on Saturday's fight with former champion Vivian Harris.

"Would we entertain fighting Devon Alexander? Absolutely. We are focused on Harris and after we get through this fight we will sit down and decide what to do next. Alexander, Tim Bradley and the Khan-Maidana winner will all be at the top of our list," Arrellano told BoxingScene.

Arrellano thinks it may be tough to make a fight with Alexander because of the unified champion's promoter, Don King. He feels it will be tough to strike a deal with legendary promoter.

"Don King is a shrewd businessman and will do what is in the best interest of his business. At the same time I have to look out for Victor's best interests and under no circumstances will we give King options on Victor."

Arrellano went on to say that it has been tough to get fights with any of the champions of the division.

"Its kind of funny that now some of these champions are willing to fight Victor. Victor is a dangerous opponent. I can see why they were avoiding him before. If I managed some of these other fighters I would have avoided them too. Tell Team Alexander to watch the fight. We just might call them out after the fight
 
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heyzel

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Mayweather Sr. Discusses Floyd's Recent Legal Problems

By Chris Robinson

The drama surrounding Floyd Mayweather Jr. continues to build as it was revealed late last night that the superstar fighter is facing even more charges in relation to his September 10th altercation with the mother of three of his children, Josie Harris at one of her homes in Las Vegas, Nevada. Mayweather reportedly assaulted Harris in front of his own children while also offering up death threats to the 31-year old and her companion which resulted in charges of assault and larceny after he also reportedly took off with her iPhone.

Now it looks like Floyd is facing eight charges in total, including three felony counts of grand larceny, robbery and coercion. Floyd also has four misdemeanors which include battery and three counts of harassment, says the local DA. If found guilty Mayweather’s career would likely be over as he could be looking at up to 28 years in Nevada prison.

One man who has seemed to be visibly saddened by the news is the fighter’s father Floyd Mayweather Sr. who has had his share of separation from the 33-year old over the past ten years. While Floyd Sr. has always been one in the past to talk with extreme vigor, his candor changed completely when discussing the bumpy road that awaits his boy.

“I’m not telling any stories about my son,” Floyd Sr. stated candidly. “What he did was bad but I’m pretty sure that he is sorry for whatever he did though. But that doesn’t make it right that he did it. I would have to believe that there is more to it than we have heard.”

While one could be forgiven for taking the elder Mayweather’s words with a grain of salt due to his obvious attachment to his son, Floyd Sr. went on to state that he saw first hand where Lil’ Floyd’s frustration may have came from. Father and son crossed paths this past Sunday at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino during an amateur show and Senior revealed that Floyd opened up to him more so than in years past.

“There was a lot of things that he showed me that could have ticked him off and it would have ticked me off too,” Mayweather said. “Most people think it was just about another guy but it was a lot of text messages that she was texting him saying that she wanted money, money, money. My understanding was that she has spent quite a bit of money. I really can’t say exactly what it is but I would have to say it was more than just a guy. I’m just saying from what was on his screen on the telephone that there was definitely more than meets the eye.”

Just a few months prior I spoke to Floyd Sr. about his estranged relationship with Lil’ Floyd and he didn’t hold back any feelings in a raw and uncut thirty-five minute tirade, calling into question Floyd’s lifestyle and choices he has made in life. But with such a serious issue now hovering over his head the 57-year old’s true feelings have come to the surface.

“I don’t wish him bad,” Senior claimed. “That’s my son. At the end of the day whether he does right or wrong that’s still my son. Of course I don’t want to see him in this kind of trouble. It doesn’t look good. I hope he gets out of it and pulls himself together and walks the straight path and do the right thing. I definitely don't believe all that was said but I can’t really say because I don’t really know. He showed me enough things to let me know that if I were him I would be mad as hell myself.”

In recent times Floyd Sr. only made headlines if he was boasting of his own abilities or verbally chastising Filipino icon Manny Pacquiao, who is the one man people have wanted to see Mayweather fight most. All of that talk is now in the background as something far more serious has risen to the surface and you can tell from the tone in his voice that Mayweather Sr. is concerned.

“I don’t care who you are. When things like this come into play it humbles you. It makes you think. It makes you realize a whole lot of things. I’m just saying that I’ve been through that road he is going on and I’ve been in prison. Going to prison is not a good thing. Even though you are who you are in the world, they don’t give a damn about you up in there. Because when you go there you are just a prisoner. They used to call me champ up in prison but you know what? I was just a prisoner like they were.”
 
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heyzel

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Jul 24, 2005
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Holyfield: Mike Tyson Turned Down $35 Million To Fight Me

By Ruslan Chikov

In a recent Golzka report, Evander Holyfield was quoted as saying that former undisputed heavyweight champion Mike Tyson turned down the opportunity to have a third fight in the ring. Holyfield denied ongoing rumors of a third meeting with Tyson. He claims promoter Don King spoke with Tyson and tried to persuade him to return with an offer of $35 million dollars, but Tyson turned it down.

Holyfield, who knocked out Tyson in 1996 and beat him by disqualification in the 1997 rematch, says a third fight will never happen because Tyson has zero interest in fighting again.

"Don [King] thinks he can persuade Mike on this, but Mike will not return to the ring just for the sake of money. His heart no longer belongs to boxing, and it requires a lot of courage to give up $35 million. They were talking about another fight, and said that each of us can make up to $35 million. It takes a lot of courage and character to refuse an offer like that. I will always respect him for that," Holyfield said.
 
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