Boxing News Thread

[heyzel]

Omar Sheika is Furious as Muriqi Withdraws

By Mark Vester

Omar Sheika (27-8, 18 KOs) was set to fight Elvir Muriqi (35-4, 22 KOs) in a ten-round light heavyweight bout on May 9 in Atlantic City, but the fight has been officially called off after Muriqi withdrew with a back injury. The fight scheduled for the main event slot on ESPN's "Friday Night Fights."

MaxBoxing/BoxingScene.com's Keith Idec reports in the Herald News that Mike Borao of Hirsch Borao Promotions, who promote Sheika, filed a complaint against Muriqi with New Jersey's State Athletic Control Board on Thursday afternoon. They don't feel Muriqi is injured and believe the fighter wanted more than the agreed upon $10,000 for the fight.

"Omar is furious," Borao told Idec. "I think (Muriqi) is just scared to fight him. You don't sign the bout agreement and then pull out of the fight the way that he did it. If the guy is injured, that's one thing. If not, he should be suspended indefinitely. The whole thing is just (messed) up."

 

[heyzel]

Pacquiao To Benefit from Nevada Glove Ruling

By Ronnie Nathanielsz

Filipino ring idol Manny Pacquiao will benefit from the Nevada State Athletic Commission’s decision to amend its rules covering the size of gloves fighters from lightweight to welterweight had to wear.

Well-known boxing writer Steve Kim of MaxBoxing.com reported that under a provisional rule that had been used in Nevada for the past couple of years, boxers who weighed over 135 pounds had to wear 10-ounce gloves instead of the customary 8-ounce gloves.

There was some concern that Pacquiao’s vaunted punching power would be diminished if he had to wear 10 ounce gloves as he moves up from super featherweight to battle WBC lightweight champion David Diaz in a title fight at the Mandalay Bay Resort Hotel & Casino on June 28.

The amendment to the rule was approved by a 4-0 vote by four of the five commissioners present.

Executive Director Keith Kizer informed Viva Sports/Manila Standard Today that the claim the amendment was made in order to lure the much-anticipated July 26 battle between Miguel Cotto and Antonio Margarito was “incorrect.”

Kizer disclosed that the Commission instituted a glove weight study on September 1, 2006 and the April 24, 2008 meeting was to “review the results of that study and make changes to the glove weight policy based on the study’s results.”

He said promoter Bob Arum attended the meeting and argued that the Cotto-Margarito bout could happen in Nevada if the boxers could use 8-ounce gloves. Arum also argued that “every state requires 8-ounce gloves for welterweights." But Kizer made it clear that “neither of those arguments were the basis of the Commission decision.”

“Rather” said Kizer “the study did not conclude that either size gloves, 8 oz or 10 oz were less safe for boxers between 135 plus and 147 pounds.”

Kizer added “consequently the Commission decided to give boxers the choice on which size gloves to wear at those bouts, just as the Commission has given fighters the choice between water and electrolyte drinks during bouts in Nevada.”

In conclusion Kizer told us “at the end of the day it seems best to give boxers more control over their careers when appropriate.”

Kim reported that without the use of 8 ounce gloves which Cotto and Margarito wanted, Arum was looking at staging the fight in New York’s Madison Square Garden or Atlantic City and had “pursued a meeting with the Nevada Commission to talk it over.”

 

[MOREBASS]

I'd really like to see Winky fight Calzaghe, but he's not over 40 yet, so Joe probably won't let that happen.

 

[2-0-Sixx]

haha, well Glen Johnson is turning 40 in a few months so I'm sure Joe will quickly sign a deal with him after Jones.

 

[heyzel]

David Haye confronts Klitschko at shopping mall:

haye told nothing but the truth to wlad

 

[2-0-Sixx]

Yep. You know, honestly I'm startin to like Haye more and more. He's kind of a breath of fresh air in the heavyweight division. Not sure if he cant beat any of the elite's, but still, I like his attitude.

Hmm, come to think of it, Haye is probably the first UK fighter I don't hate. lol

Off the top of my head:

Calzaghe - Gay
Hatton - Gay
Nigel Benn - Gay
Naseem Hamed - Ultra Gay
Chris Eubank - Gay
Lennox Lewis - DEFINITELY Gay

 

[heyzel]

I gotta to disagree with on prince Naseem Hamed that was my favorite boxer back in the day

 

[2-0-Sixx]

lmao, he did some funny shit when he came out like flying on the carpet, I'll give him that he was creative, but dude seriously thought he was the tightest human ever to exist
and his face just pissed me off. Plus, listening to the British talk is like getting root canals done.

In addition, he was on of the goofiest, uncoordinated boxers I've ever seen!

Check out this anti-highlight video, COMEDY. In fact, this is probably the best highlight video I've ever seen in my life, lol. EDIT: This video is sig worthy

 

[2-0-Sixx]

The Ring Welter Ratings For Period Ended April 21, 2008

Champ: Floyd Mayweather
1. Miguel Cotto
2. Shane Mosley
3. Carlos Quintana
4. Paul Williams
5. Antonio Margarito
6. Zab Judah
7. Joshue Clottey
8. Luis Collazo
9. Kermit Cintron
10. Jackson Bonsu

Interesting to note that Cotto (#1) has wins over Mosley (#2), Carlos Quintana(#3), Zab Judah (#6) and is scheduled to fight Antonio Margarito(#5).

Mayweather has only fought one top ten welter, Zab Judah (#6)

 

[m.w.merlino]

Its nice to see the actual list, 2-0.

That should be enough proof that they are protecting mayweather...which is fine. If he ever fights cotto, hes really only letting cotto become a better boxer.

 

[2-0-Sixx]

well to be fair to floyd he was at 140 and after he moved up he beat Baldomir at 147 (after Judah) thats when he became the true welterweight (147) champion, and rightfully so. Unfortunately he then faced ODH (who's not in the division), Ricky Hatton (who's also not in the division) and now unless some miracle, ODH again. He currently has the WBC belt (and the Ring belt) and I'm quite sure the winner of Cotto/Margarito will be named his mandatory opponent. If he refuses he will be stripped of his titles.

I had no problem with him fighting ODH and Ricky Hatton, both obviously huge names in the sport. But he has got to face someone in the division after that or else fuck him. He's not that stupid though.

 

[2-0-Sixx]

here are the other best divisions, imo.

Rankings according to the Ring Magazine:

LIGHTWEIGHTS 135 pounds

Champ: JOEL CASAMAYOR
1. NATE CAMPBELL
2. DAVID DIAZ (scheduled to fight Pacquiao 06-28)
3. JUAN DIAZ
4. JOSE SANTA CRUZ
5. JULIO DIAZ
6. MICHAEL KATSIDIS
7. AMIR KHAN
8. YURI ROMANOV
9. ZAHIR RAHEEM
10. ANTHONY PETERSON

JR. LIGHTWEIGHTS 130 pounds
Champ: MANNY PACQUIAO
1. JUAN MANUEL MARQUEZ
2. JOAN GUZMAN
3. EDWIN VALERO
4. HUMBERTO SOTO
5. JORGE BARRIOS
6. ALEX ARTHUR
7. YODSANAN NANTHACHAI
8. CASSIUS BALOYI
9. MZONKE FANA
10. ROCKY JUAREZ

 

[heyzel]

Cotto vs. Margarito is NOT official yet, Guess who didn't sign?

By Scoop Malinowski, Boxinginsider.com: While most everyone thinks it's a foregone conclusion that Miguel Cotto and Antonio Margarito will meet in a major IBF/WBA Welterweight unification showdown in July, an unexpected delay has arisen which may jeopardize the much anticipated Super Fight. Margarito's manager Sergio Diaz explains....

Boxinginsider: I was wondering if the Cotto-Margarito fight was signed yet? I know you guys signed but Bob Arum said it was not a done deal.

Sergio Diaz: "We're still waiting on Cotto."

Boxinginsider: With your history of seeing marquee names like Winky Wright, Sugar Shane Mosley and Floyd Mayweather not sign to fight Antonio Margarito, are you starting to feel concern that maybe Cotto will skip a fight with Tony too?

Sergio Diaz: It's always a concern, but Bob wants this fight to happen. If Cotto turns this fight down, it will not only be disappointing for us, Bob will be especially disappointed. Cotto and Top Rank meet tomorrow (Tuesday).

 

[heyzel]

Andre Ward Returns To The Ring On June 20

Following up on his impressive knockout of former World title challenger Rubin Williams this past March, 2004 Olympic Gold Medalist Andre Ward looks to take that next big step towards a World Championship when Goossen Tutor Promotions in association with the Cayman Islands Department of Tourism presents “Cayman Knockout: Championship Boxing” from the wonderful Caribbean. The event on Friday night, June 20, 2008 will be televised on SHOWTIME (“ShoBox: The New Generation”)..

Originating from the beautiful outdoor Truman Bodden Sports Complex in the capital George Town on Grand Cayman, the ShoBox telecast will feature a 12-round NABO Super Middleweight Championship Bout between undefeated Andre “S.O.G.” Ward (15-0, 10 KOs) and former Olympian Jerson Ravelo (18-2, 12 KOs); and in another featured bout, World ranked heavyweight Eddie Chambers (30-1, 16 KO) takes on hard-hitting 6’4,” 260 pound knockout artist, Raphael Butler (30-4, 23 KOs) in a 12-round USBA Heavyweight Championship Bout.

“This is a groundbreaking event for the Cayman Islands,” Minister of Tourism, Environment, Investment & Commerce Charles Clifford proclaimed. “We believe that with a professional boxing event of this magnitude, along with the sophisticated elegant charm of our country and residents, we will showcase to the worldwide television audience what we’re so proud of; and what better way to do this than by bringing Championship Boxing to the Cayman Islands. We are very excited to be hosting this momentous event and we look forward to working with Goossen Tutor Promotions and SHOWTIME on this historic occasion.”

The Cayman Islands – comprised of Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman -- is located in the center of the Caribbean, situated south of Cuba and west of Jamaica. A British Overseas Territory, English is the official language for the population of 50,000 representing more than 100 nationalities. Come the week of the event, elite World-class boxers will share the spotlight with the pure white sands and sky-blue waters of the Cayman Islands, inspiring each boxer to have his hand raised in victory in this beautiful country!

Ward, America’s sole Gold Medalist in the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Greece, brings a string of five consecutive knockout victories into his matchup against Ravelo. The 24-year old Oakland, California native is coming off a seventh-round stoppage against the rugged veteran Ruben Williams last month. Prior to that bout, he stopped then-unbeaten rising star Roger Cantrell.

Ravelo is a 30-year old from the Dominican Republic and a former participant in the highly successful “The Contender” boxing series, and currently resides and fights out of Newark, New Jersey. He earned an impressive, unanimous decision win over undefeated Paul Buchanan in the UK in his most recent bout, following on the heels of a highly competitive loss to highly-regarded and World ranked contender Allan Green. At 6’2,” Ravelo stands to be the 6’1” Ward’s first taller and toughest

 

[heyzel]

Joshua Clottey-Andre Berto For IBF Title?

By Mark Vester

Speaking with Accra publication "Graphic Sports," welterweight contender Joshua Clottey said that he expects to fight for the IBF welterweight title by August of this year and the opponent will possibly be undefeated Andre Berto.

Antonio Margarito is expected to vacate his IBF title in order to fight Miguel Cotto for the WBA title on July 26. Once vacated, the IBF will order a bout for the vacant title between Clottey and Berto, the two highest ranked contenders to the title. Clottey appears to be confident that Berto will accept the fight. Berto returns to action on HBO on June 21 against Miguel Angel Rodriguez.

“This is my time and I can’t wait for it. My destiny lies in my hands again,” Clottey said. “I have been ready for whoever is available and I don’t know what will change my focus for the title. We are in a boxing game. I respect all boxers but I know what stuff I am made of. My prime focus is to win my fights and that’s what I enter the ring to do

 

[2-0-Sixx]

^^Ooooooohhhhhh that would be a dope fight. I got Clottey

By Scoop Malinowski, Boxinginsider.com: While most everyone thinks it's a foregone conclusion that Miguel Cotto and Antonio Margarito will meet in a major IBF/WBA Welterweight unification showdown in July, an unexpected delay has arisen which may jeopardize the much anticipated Super Fight. Margarito's manager Sergio Diaz explains....

Boxinginsider: I was wondering if the Cotto-Margarito fight was signed yet? I know you guys signed but Bob Arum said it was not a done deal.

Sergio Diaz: "We're still waiting on Cotto."

Boxinginsider: With your history of seeing marquee names like Winky Wright, Sugar Shane Mosley and Floyd Mayweather not sign to fight Antonio Margarito, are you starting to feel concern that maybe Cotto will skip a fight with Tony too?

Sergio Diaz: It's always a concern, but Bob wants this fight to happen. If Cotto turns this fight down, it will not only be disappointing for us, Bob will be especially disappointed. Cotto and Top Rank meet tomorrow (Tuesday).

I think it will happen. Bob Arum promotes both Margarito and Cotto, so I mean the whole point of them fighting on the same card recently was to promote the two fighters for the eventual showdown in July. It'll happen.

 

[heyzel]

Junior Witter Shows Respect To Bradley

Junior Witter is looking forward to impressing a big TV audience in the next defence of his WBC light-welterweight title at the Trent FM Arena Nottingham on Saturday, 10th May.

Witter (Bradford, England) is aiming to end the undefeated record of mandatory challenger Timothy Bradley (Palm Springs, USA) in the third defence of his prestigious world title on a Hennessy Sports in association with GoldenPalace show that also features WBC Super Middleweight mandatory challenger Carl Froch.

After knocking out former world champion Vivian Harris (Guyana/USA) in his last fight in September, Witter is looking to produce another brilliant performance in front of the ITV1 (UK) and ShoBox Special (USA) cameras for a watching television audience on both sides of the Atlantic.

He said: "It’s a great chance for me to show a wider audience what I can do, and I intend to grab that opportunity and show the world I’m the best light-welterweight in boxing right now.”

"Some people who will have perhaps heard of me but not seen me box will get the chance to see me in action for the first time and they won’t be disappointed.”

"Bradley is a top opponent and the better opponent the better I perform… just ask Vivian Harris. Bradley has got a great knockout ratio as his record suggests, so I expect him to be aggressive and he will come to fight, which is just how I like them.”

"After seeing me box in front of a massive TV audience both in the UK and the States, once I do a job on Bradley even more people will be asking: why won’t Ricky Hatton fight Junior Witter?"

 

[naner12]

That is a dope fight. Hopefully Clottey comes ready .. he's seem to have been doing just enough to win rounds against guys he should've been shit kicking.

 

[heyzel]

I will have to go with Clottey myself I'm just not sold on berto yet,

 

[heyzel]

Odlanier Solis remains busy

Heavyweight sensation Odlanier Solis will not have much time to celebrate his smashing second round k.o.-victory over previously unbeaten Georgian Mamuka Jikurashvili last Saturday in Trabzon, Turkey. The 2004 Olympic gold medallist and three-time world amateur champion starts directly preparing for his next tough tests.

Solis is scheduled to give his US-debut on the "Night of the Rising Stars" undercard on May 17th in Primm, Nevada featuring his co-defector Yuriorkis Gamboa in one of three thrilling main events. On May 30th Solis will be in action yet again in Istanbul, Turkey.

"Everybody is crazy about Solis", states promoter Ahmet Öner. "The whole world wants to see his extraordinary skills.. He was one of the biggest attractions at our show in Trabzon though we had two local heroes in two title fights. Now people from the US keep on calling me, asking when they will have the chance to see our heavyweight diamond. I hope I can present him on May 17th but his US visa hasn't been approved yet. In case he doesn't get his visa in time he will take his time to prepare for a big match against a strong and experienced opponent in Istanbul."

Solis will do most of his preparation in Cologne where he has the chance to do special strength and conditioning training at an institute that strictly works according to the latest scientific research. "We will do all it takes to get Solis in the best possible shape for his way to the top", states Öner. "Everybody knows that he is an exceptional talent and got the technical and tactical abilities to become undisputed champion of the world. The only thing we can still improve is his conditioning. And we take this task seriously