Boxing News Thread
- Thread starter heyzel
- Start date
damn, pavlik is sinking real low cant believe he's saying this kind of stuff about Boom Boom like that smdh...
KELLY PAVLIK: "FAKE MANCINI! FAKE YOUNGSTOWNER! RAY NEEDS TO WATCH HIS MOUTH!"
"Right now, my biggest problem isn't between Top Rank or anybody else; it's Ray Mancini. He went to my local paper, The Vindicator, and said all this stuff. It's like who are you? I mean, Ray, if you really want me to start bringing out your personal demons and everything that happened in your life, I can. That's why he moved from Florida to California. So Ray needs to watch his mouth, that's first of all...what has he done with his career? He lost every big fight. He got toyed around with by Arguello. Arguello knocked him out in 14 rounds. He got knocked out by Greg Haugen. He got his ass beat by Livingstone Bramble, twice. He got beat by Camacho. What big name did Mancini ever beat in his life? Nobody...He talks about Youngstown, but he wants nothing to do with Youngstown at all. That's why he moved away. And Ray's had a lot of problems in his life, a lot of big time problems that nobody knows about, worse than me; worse than Kelly Pavlik. Kelly Pavlik going to the Betty Ford Clinic and rehab would be a great story of Ray's life. Ray has a lot of demons, but I'm going to be a respectable man enough for Ray to realize the fact that if he wants me to open my mouth, I'm going to and when I do open my mouth, the public is going to know about Ray and his demons and everything else that happened in his life. So Ray should probably take one step at a time, you know. Don't bite off more than you can chew," stated former middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik as he shared his thoughts on recent comments made by Ray "Boom Boom" Mancini regarding his decision not to fight this weekend. You don't want to miss what else he had to say.
KELLY PAVLIK: "FAKE MANCINI! FAKE YOUNGSTOWNER! RAY NEEDS TO WATCH HIS MOUTH!"
"Right now, my biggest problem isn't between Top Rank or anybody else; it's Ray Mancini. He went to my local paper, The Vindicator, and said all this stuff. It's like who are you? I mean, Ray, if you really want me to start bringing out your personal demons and everything that happened in your life, I can. That's why he moved from Florida to California. So Ray needs to watch his mouth, that's first of all...what has he done with his career? He lost every big fight. He got toyed around with by Arguello. Arguello knocked him out in 14 rounds. He got knocked out by Greg Haugen. He got his ass beat by Livingstone Bramble, twice. He got beat by Camacho. What big name did Mancini ever beat in his life? Nobody...He talks about Youngstown, but he wants nothing to do with Youngstown at all. That's why he moved away. And Ray's had a lot of problems in his life, a lot of big time problems that nobody knows about, worse than me; worse than Kelly Pavlik. Kelly Pavlik going to the Betty Ford Clinic and rehab would be a great story of Ray's life. Ray has a lot of demons, but I'm going to be a respectable man enough for Ray to realize the fact that if he wants me to open my mouth, I'm going to and when I do open my mouth, the public is going to know about Ray and his demons and everything else that happened in his life. So Ray should probably take one step at a time, you know. Don't bite off more than you can chew," stated former middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik as he shared his thoughts on recent comments made by Ray "Boom Boom" Mancini regarding his decision not to fight this weekend. You don't want to miss what else he had to say.
Abner Mares: “It’s only right that the winner of Agbeko and myself is called the best
by Geoffrey Ciani (Exclusive Interview by Jenna J & Geoffrey Ciani) - This week’s 136th edition of On the Ropes Boxing Radio (brought to you by CWH Promotions) featured an exclusive interview with undefeated bantamweight contender Abner Mares (21-0-1, 13 KOs) who is scheduled to face IBF Champion King Kong Agbeko (28-2, 22 KOs) in the Bantamweight Tournament Final on August 13. Mares spoke about his upcoming mega fight against Agbeko, and also shared his views on other aspects of the current bantamweight landscape. Here is a complete transcript of that interview:
JENNA J: We’re joined by undefeated bantamweight contender, Abner Mares. How’s everything going, Abner?
ABNER MARES: I’m doing great. Thank you. I’m doing really good. It’s hot out in L.A. right now.
JENNA: Alright well you are less than two weeks away from your big matchup with Joseph Agbeko. What are you expecting?
MARES: I’m expecting a great fight. I can’t wait I’m really excited for this. We’re talking about a world title, winning my first world title fight and I’m really excited. To top it off it’s in Vegas, so I’m really looking forward to it.
JENNA: Well the fight was originally supposed to happen back in April and it was very close to that fight when it got called off. Do you have any fears that something like that could happen again?
MARES: You know what? Yes. I was talking about that with my friend Monica. She was like oh it’s so exciting! We’re getting close to the fight! I just told her I don’t want to get too happy because last fight at around this same time is when things got really bad. I mean I try not to think about it. I know everything is going work out smoothly. God willing let’s just hope it does for the sake of myself and the fans.
JENNA: I talked to Joseph Agbeko before and he said he doesn’t feel that there is going to be any adverse effects from the back injury. Do you think that will be the case, that he will be as good as he was before?
MARES: I hope he is and I hope he does. I don’t know. I have no experience with what he had. I know some people that had it and they told me that it comes and goes. So I really don’t know. I’m not going to think about it because I just want to think that he’s ready 100% as a normal athlete and fighter. I expect a tough fight and I just don’t think about his problems.
JENNA: Okay well there is a lot of debate among boxing fans deciding whether or not this fight here should really be for the bantamweight title, the Ring Magazine title, and a legitimate claim to the bantamweight championship. Do you think the winner of this tournament deserves that recognition or do you think the winner would actually have to fight Nonito Donaire who has two belts?
MARES: It would be great. It would be good to fight, either of us. God willing myself, I come out victorious or him, however it works out. It’s only right to fight Nonito or any other top bantamweight out there because we’re blessed to have a jam-packed division with great fighters. Like you named Nonito, he’s one of the pound-for-pound best. So who wouldn’t like to fight him because he carries that torch, that belt as a pound-for-pound. Meaning if you beat this guy you’re the best in that weight class, but we entered this tournament. This tournament is called the best bantamweight out there. I mean all of these guys were invited. They couldn’t join for I have no idea what reasons. I don’t blame them. It’s only right that the winner of Agbeko and myself is called the best bantamweight out there. If not, let’s make a fight with whoever’s the best out there. This is just for the fans. I mean the fights are for the fans, so whoever it is either Joseph or myself is ready for it.
JENNA: Okay! Well Abner we’re also on the line with my Co-Host Geoff Ciani.
GEOFFREY CIANI: Hi Abner. It’s a pleasure to have you on the show.
MARES: How are you doing? Thanks, it’s great to be on.
CIANI: Thank you. I’m just curious, when you first were approached about entering this tournament before it started, what were your initial thoughts when you heard about it?
MARES: Well right off the bat I was like wow, I’m the youngest and least experienced fighter, because some of the names of the fighters that were mentioned were Montiel, Donaire, Anselmo Moreno, Agbeko, and Darchinyan and myself. So that’s six, and from those five I was the least experienced and the youngest one. So right off the bat I was like whoa, these are elite fighters who I dreamed about fighting all my life. So it was exciting and I said yes right there and then.
CIANI: Now in the first round fight in your matchup with Vic Darchinyan, you were dropped early in the fight and you were also deducted a point and things seemed to be going against you. How were you able to pull it together and rally to come back and win that fight?
MARES: Just mentally with the desire, I had to win that fight and not lose. The first thing that happened that I remembered was the head-butt. I got cut. That blood was going into my eyes. Going back to my corner I was thinking okay this is nothing. It’s just blood! If anything it made me want to go out there and exchange a little bit more. So right after that was when I got knocked down. (laughs) I got up and thank God I wasn’t hurt. It was just a flash knockdown. I got up and the first thing that came to my mind was when Juan Manuel Marquez fought Manny Pacquiao and he got knocked down three times and he still got a draw. So I said to myself I got knocked down. This is the second or third round. It’s only the beginning. This is not the end. Let’s keep going! You can do this Abner! So I was just basically talking to myself inside of me and got me to keep going. This is not over, and luckily that worked and with the great corner I had, thank God. He gave me the strength to pull it off.
CIANI: Now when you look at King Kong Agbeko, you two obviously have two recent common opponents in Darchinyan and Yohnny Perez. What do you take out of the fights that you’ve had with those guys and the fights that King Kong Agbeko has had with them?
MARES: You know what, we can’t really compare them. Well I don’t, because we’re two different styles. Agbeko fought Darchinyan a different way, well in a kind of similar way because he did push him back a lot and he pressed and gave him a lot of pressure. But with Yohnny the first and second fight were different. He brawled against him in the first fight and in the second fight he just boxed him beautifully. So I try not to compare myself because there are in similarities between Agbeko and myself. We know how to fight both of these fighters, but now going in the ring with Agbeko it’s a matter of who figures who out first. You got to be smart in there because Agbeko’s a smart fighter.
CIANI: Changing things up a tiny bit here Abner, you mentioned Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez. Those guys are actually having a third fight later this year, and I was curious what you thought of that fight and whether you think Marquez actually has a chance this time around?
MARES: You know I’m going to be honest, being that me and Marquez, I train with him and we’re great friends and I’m leaning towards him. I do believe he has a chance. Do I think Pacquiao’s going to win? Yes, because he has the most experience and he’s faced bigger guys. I just think Pacquiao’s at a different level right now. Marquez, you can never bet against him because it’s hard. This guy is such a smart fighter that you can’t count him out, so I definitely give Marquez a chance. I think he somehow, some way has figured Pacquiao not totally, but he figured him out a little bit. He knows how to fight him, but let’s just hope he knows how to fight him to the extent of beating him.
JENNA: Alright Abner, well I just have a few more things that I’d like to ask you before I let you off the line. This is not your first shot at a title belt. Back in May 2010 you had a chance against Yohnny Perez in a fight many contend that you should have got the call in. Do you think the fact that you didn’t get the decision in that fight has made you just a little hungrier and that you will be a little more ready to assume the mantle of a champion?
MARES: You know what, yes. I feel ready mentally and basically everything in every sense. When I fought Yohnny it was my first title attempt. I was facing an elite fighter in his prime in his first title defense. So it was really good. A lot of people thought I could have easily gotten the win, which I didn’t. I got a draw but I learned from it. I learned from it and it made me a better fighter. The next fight after that was Darchinyan. I won that fight God willing. It made me a better fighter, so with these two fighters mentioned you could easily have said that I already became a world champion. With Yohnny I got a draw, which a lot of people thought I won. With Darchinyan I beat him and I don’t remember what belt he had, but it was a title we didn’t want to fight for. It was the IBO. He had the IBO, and he was currently world champion at super flyweight I think. So I just took these fights and I learned from all of them. We’re going against another tougher fighter. He has the full package Agbeko. It only excited me because I’m getting to fight all these great fighters and it’s being televised. I’m getting exposure. So I’m happy. I just want to go in there and do my job and please the crowd, which are all the guys that paid for the tickets and wanted to see a great show. So that’s what I trained for and that’s what I’m ready for.
JENNA: Now do you think the winner of the bantamweight tournament, if he can’t get a fight with Nonito Donaire, should actually look towards Vic Darchinyan because he looked so impressive in his last fight against Yohnny Perez?
MARES: I mean like I said, there is not only Nonito. Nonito, yeah, because he’s pound-for-pound and he has a great win over Montiel. But there are other fighters. Like you mentioned there is possible a rematch against Darchinyan, there’s Anselmo Moreno, there is Montiel. So I mean I’m blessed that we have a great weight division right now because there are all of these great fighters and we can do all these great fights for the fans. I just got this fight in front of me that I have to take care of first before I can even be mentioning or thinking about these fights yet.
JENNA: Alright well you mentioned the fight that’s in front of you. Let’s talk keys to victory. What do you think you need to do to beat King Kong Agbeko?
MARES: Just go in there and explore my plan, which obviously I’m not going to say. (laughs) We’re ready! We’ll figure him out and just go in there and do my thing, and God willing come out victorious.
JENNA: Well I have one final question. Is there anything you want to say to all the fans who are going to come out to the Hard Rock Hotel and see you do your thing?
MARES: Yes, I just want to thank you guys for the great support that you have shown me and given me throughout my whole career and my short career. Thank you guys. I appreciate it. I fight for you guys. I’m ready for this! Thanks to the media for covering even us in the smaller weight classes and giving us the exposure. I appreciate that and thank you all. Viva la Mexico!
JENNA: Thank you Abner for your time. This is going to be a heck of a fight and I myself as a boxing fan can’t wait to see it!
MARES: Thank you so much. I appreciate that.
CIANI: Thank you Abner. Best of luck!
MARES: Thank you so much! You have a great day!
by Geoffrey Ciani (Exclusive Interview by Jenna J & Geoffrey Ciani) - This week’s 136th edition of On the Ropes Boxing Radio (brought to you by CWH Promotions) featured an exclusive interview with undefeated bantamweight contender Abner Mares (21-0-1, 13 KOs) who is scheduled to face IBF Champion King Kong Agbeko (28-2, 22 KOs) in the Bantamweight Tournament Final on August 13. Mares spoke about his upcoming mega fight against Agbeko, and also shared his views on other aspects of the current bantamweight landscape. Here is a complete transcript of that interview:
JENNA J: We’re joined by undefeated bantamweight contender, Abner Mares. How’s everything going, Abner?
ABNER MARES: I’m doing great. Thank you. I’m doing really good. It’s hot out in L.A. right now.
JENNA: Alright well you are less than two weeks away from your big matchup with Joseph Agbeko. What are you expecting?
MARES: I’m expecting a great fight. I can’t wait I’m really excited for this. We’re talking about a world title, winning my first world title fight and I’m really excited. To top it off it’s in Vegas, so I’m really looking forward to it.
JENNA: Well the fight was originally supposed to happen back in April and it was very close to that fight when it got called off. Do you have any fears that something like that could happen again?
MARES: You know what? Yes. I was talking about that with my friend Monica. She was like oh it’s so exciting! We’re getting close to the fight! I just told her I don’t want to get too happy because last fight at around this same time is when things got really bad. I mean I try not to think about it. I know everything is going work out smoothly. God willing let’s just hope it does for the sake of myself and the fans.
JENNA: I talked to Joseph Agbeko before and he said he doesn’t feel that there is going to be any adverse effects from the back injury. Do you think that will be the case, that he will be as good as he was before?
MARES: I hope he is and I hope he does. I don’t know. I have no experience with what he had. I know some people that had it and they told me that it comes and goes. So I really don’t know. I’m not going to think about it because I just want to think that he’s ready 100% as a normal athlete and fighter. I expect a tough fight and I just don’t think about his problems.
JENNA: Okay well there is a lot of debate among boxing fans deciding whether or not this fight here should really be for the bantamweight title, the Ring Magazine title, and a legitimate claim to the bantamweight championship. Do you think the winner of this tournament deserves that recognition or do you think the winner would actually have to fight Nonito Donaire who has two belts?
MARES: It would be great. It would be good to fight, either of us. God willing myself, I come out victorious or him, however it works out. It’s only right to fight Nonito or any other top bantamweight out there because we’re blessed to have a jam-packed division with great fighters. Like you named Nonito, he’s one of the pound-for-pound best. So who wouldn’t like to fight him because he carries that torch, that belt as a pound-for-pound. Meaning if you beat this guy you’re the best in that weight class, but we entered this tournament. This tournament is called the best bantamweight out there. I mean all of these guys were invited. They couldn’t join for I have no idea what reasons. I don’t blame them. It’s only right that the winner of Agbeko and myself is called the best bantamweight out there. If not, let’s make a fight with whoever’s the best out there. This is just for the fans. I mean the fights are for the fans, so whoever it is either Joseph or myself is ready for it.
JENNA: Okay! Well Abner we’re also on the line with my Co-Host Geoff Ciani.
GEOFFREY CIANI: Hi Abner. It’s a pleasure to have you on the show.
MARES: How are you doing? Thanks, it’s great to be on.
CIANI: Thank you. I’m just curious, when you first were approached about entering this tournament before it started, what were your initial thoughts when you heard about it?
MARES: Well right off the bat I was like wow, I’m the youngest and least experienced fighter, because some of the names of the fighters that were mentioned were Montiel, Donaire, Anselmo Moreno, Agbeko, and Darchinyan and myself. So that’s six, and from those five I was the least experienced and the youngest one. So right off the bat I was like whoa, these are elite fighters who I dreamed about fighting all my life. So it was exciting and I said yes right there and then.
CIANI: Now in the first round fight in your matchup with Vic Darchinyan, you were dropped early in the fight and you were also deducted a point and things seemed to be going against you. How were you able to pull it together and rally to come back and win that fight?
MARES: Just mentally with the desire, I had to win that fight and not lose. The first thing that happened that I remembered was the head-butt. I got cut. That blood was going into my eyes. Going back to my corner I was thinking okay this is nothing. It’s just blood! If anything it made me want to go out there and exchange a little bit more. So right after that was when I got knocked down. (laughs) I got up and thank God I wasn’t hurt. It was just a flash knockdown. I got up and the first thing that came to my mind was when Juan Manuel Marquez fought Manny Pacquiao and he got knocked down three times and he still got a draw. So I said to myself I got knocked down. This is the second or third round. It’s only the beginning. This is not the end. Let’s keep going! You can do this Abner! So I was just basically talking to myself inside of me and got me to keep going. This is not over, and luckily that worked and with the great corner I had, thank God. He gave me the strength to pull it off.
CIANI: Now when you look at King Kong Agbeko, you two obviously have two recent common opponents in Darchinyan and Yohnny Perez. What do you take out of the fights that you’ve had with those guys and the fights that King Kong Agbeko has had with them?
MARES: You know what, we can’t really compare them. Well I don’t, because we’re two different styles. Agbeko fought Darchinyan a different way, well in a kind of similar way because he did push him back a lot and he pressed and gave him a lot of pressure. But with Yohnny the first and second fight were different. He brawled against him in the first fight and in the second fight he just boxed him beautifully. So I try not to compare myself because there are in similarities between Agbeko and myself. We know how to fight both of these fighters, but now going in the ring with Agbeko it’s a matter of who figures who out first. You got to be smart in there because Agbeko’s a smart fighter.
CIANI: Changing things up a tiny bit here Abner, you mentioned Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez. Those guys are actually having a third fight later this year, and I was curious what you thought of that fight and whether you think Marquez actually has a chance this time around?
MARES: You know I’m going to be honest, being that me and Marquez, I train with him and we’re great friends and I’m leaning towards him. I do believe he has a chance. Do I think Pacquiao’s going to win? Yes, because he has the most experience and he’s faced bigger guys. I just think Pacquiao’s at a different level right now. Marquez, you can never bet against him because it’s hard. This guy is such a smart fighter that you can’t count him out, so I definitely give Marquez a chance. I think he somehow, some way has figured Pacquiao not totally, but he figured him out a little bit. He knows how to fight him, but let’s just hope he knows how to fight him to the extent of beating him.
JENNA: Alright Abner, well I just have a few more things that I’d like to ask you before I let you off the line. This is not your first shot at a title belt. Back in May 2010 you had a chance against Yohnny Perez in a fight many contend that you should have got the call in. Do you think the fact that you didn’t get the decision in that fight has made you just a little hungrier and that you will be a little more ready to assume the mantle of a champion?
MARES: You know what, yes. I feel ready mentally and basically everything in every sense. When I fought Yohnny it was my first title attempt. I was facing an elite fighter in his prime in his first title defense. So it was really good. A lot of people thought I could have easily gotten the win, which I didn’t. I got a draw but I learned from it. I learned from it and it made me a better fighter. The next fight after that was Darchinyan. I won that fight God willing. It made me a better fighter, so with these two fighters mentioned you could easily have said that I already became a world champion. With Yohnny I got a draw, which a lot of people thought I won. With Darchinyan I beat him and I don’t remember what belt he had, but it was a title we didn’t want to fight for. It was the IBO. He had the IBO, and he was currently world champion at super flyweight I think. So I just took these fights and I learned from all of them. We’re going against another tougher fighter. He has the full package Agbeko. It only excited me because I’m getting to fight all these great fighters and it’s being televised. I’m getting exposure. So I’m happy. I just want to go in there and do my job and please the crowd, which are all the guys that paid for the tickets and wanted to see a great show. So that’s what I trained for and that’s what I’m ready for.
JENNA: Now do you think the winner of the bantamweight tournament, if he can’t get a fight with Nonito Donaire, should actually look towards Vic Darchinyan because he looked so impressive in his last fight against Yohnny Perez?
MARES: I mean like I said, there is not only Nonito. Nonito, yeah, because he’s pound-for-pound and he has a great win over Montiel. But there are other fighters. Like you mentioned there is possible a rematch against Darchinyan, there’s Anselmo Moreno, there is Montiel. So I mean I’m blessed that we have a great weight division right now because there are all of these great fighters and we can do all these great fights for the fans. I just got this fight in front of me that I have to take care of first before I can even be mentioning or thinking about these fights yet.
JENNA: Alright well you mentioned the fight that’s in front of you. Let’s talk keys to victory. What do you think you need to do to beat King Kong Agbeko?
MARES: Just go in there and explore my plan, which obviously I’m not going to say. (laughs) We’re ready! We’ll figure him out and just go in there and do my thing, and God willing come out victorious.
JENNA: Well I have one final question. Is there anything you want to say to all the fans who are going to come out to the Hard Rock Hotel and see you do your thing?
MARES: Yes, I just want to thank you guys for the great support that you have shown me and given me throughout my whole career and my short career. Thank you guys. I appreciate it. I fight for you guys. I’m ready for this! Thanks to the media for covering even us in the smaller weight classes and giving us the exposure. I appreciate that and thank you all. Viva la Mexico!
JENNA: Thank you Abner for your time. This is going to be a heck of a fight and I myself as a boxing fan can’t wait to see it!
MARES: Thank you so much. I appreciate that.
CIANI: Thank you Abner. Best of luck!
MARES: Thank you so much! You have a great day!
Interview With Glen Johnson - “The Lucian Bute Fight Is Definitely On My Wish List”
By James Slater - Now that IBF super-middleweight king Lucian Bute is in the hunt for a new November challenger thanks to Kelly Pavlik’s decision to pull out of the planned fight, there are a few names being suggested as the unbeaten southpaw’s next foe. Top of this list seems to be ageless “Road Warrior” and recent Super-Six participant Glen Johnson. The amazing 42-year-old dropped a close decision to Carl Froch back in June, but he is now ready and willing to face Bute. Very kindly taking the time to speak with me yesterday evening, the always-friendly warrior with the 51-15-2(35) record had the following answers to my questions:
James Slater: It’s always a great pleasure to be able to speak with you, Champ. Your name has been coming up quite a lot regarding a fight between you and Lucian Bute in November now that Kelly Pavlik has apparently pulled out. Have you heard anything, and is this a fight you’d like?
Glen Johnson: Oh, yes, that’s a fight that is on my wish list. I’ve heard that my people have touched base with his people, but no documents have come my way yet. So I think it’s just rumours right now, but as I say that fight is definitely on my wish list..
J.S: And with you being The Road Warrior, you’d have no problem going to Montreal, Canada for the fight?
G.J: Oh, sure. I’ve been everywhere else and I’ve fought everyone else, it wouldn’t make any difference going to Canada to fight.
J.S: I read that you and Bute have sparred in the past?
G.J: We sparred, yes. He was getting ready for rematch with the Mexican guy he had a close fight with the first time (Librado Andrade) and I was getting ready for a rematch also, with [Chad] Dawson. He [Bute] was successful in his, but I wasn’t in my fight. So, yes, we have worked together.
J.S: Do you think, as some others do, that Bute is the best of the current champions at 168 today?
G.J: Well, I have big respect for Bute; I rate him highly. But I’ve sparred him and I know him a little, whereas I’ve not been in with any of the other champions apart from the guy from England, Carl Froch. I’d say those two are on a similar level. I can’t say Bute is the best, but at the worst he is as good as the others.
J.S: You’ve fought everyone, we know - will you change anything if you fight Bute? He’s a southpaw and a wicked body puncher.
G.J: I don’t see the point in really changing anything. He’s a good fighter on the inside as well as on the outside. It would be a good, exciting fight. This is a fight the fans deserve. I am the best fighter on his list of potential opponents.
J.S: You’d obviously be motivated for this one, even after all the big fights you’ve had?
G.J: Oh, yes. Fighting is what I do. I never back down and I always give the people what they pay for. You know, you win some you lose some, and I always want to win. I never want to be in a bad fight either at the end of the day. When I fight, the fans never lose.
J.S: There’s no doubt about that. The Froch fight was another great fight. Looking back now, was the loss you were given fair?
G.J: Well, it was close - and I never win the close fights. It wasn’t a robbery like some of my other fights where I can see I was clearly robbed. This was a close, tough one. It all depends on what you like: whether you liked Froch’s work and gave him credit for it, or if you liked my work and gave me credit. I don’t really have any argument with the loss, but I was disappointed with myself. I believe I can do better. That’s one fight where I wish I could have it back so I could make corrections.
J.S: Are you back in the gym now, Glen?
G.J: Yeah, I’m back in the gym. I’m trying to shake off some rust and I’m just waiting to see if the paper work comes through for this fight in Canada. If it does it will definitely be a blessing and this fight will give the fans what they want.
J.S: Best wishes in getting the fight, Glen. And thanks so much for taking the time to speak with me.
G.J: Okay, bye.
By James Slater - Now that IBF super-middleweight king Lucian Bute is in the hunt for a new November challenger thanks to Kelly Pavlik’s decision to pull out of the planned fight, there are a few names being suggested as the unbeaten southpaw’s next foe. Top of this list seems to be ageless “Road Warrior” and recent Super-Six participant Glen Johnson. The amazing 42-year-old dropped a close decision to Carl Froch back in June, but he is now ready and willing to face Bute. Very kindly taking the time to speak with me yesterday evening, the always-friendly warrior with the 51-15-2(35) record had the following answers to my questions:
James Slater: It’s always a great pleasure to be able to speak with you, Champ. Your name has been coming up quite a lot regarding a fight between you and Lucian Bute in November now that Kelly Pavlik has apparently pulled out. Have you heard anything, and is this a fight you’d like?
Glen Johnson: Oh, yes, that’s a fight that is on my wish list. I’ve heard that my people have touched base with his people, but no documents have come my way yet. So I think it’s just rumours right now, but as I say that fight is definitely on my wish list..
J.S: And with you being The Road Warrior, you’d have no problem going to Montreal, Canada for the fight?
G.J: Oh, sure. I’ve been everywhere else and I’ve fought everyone else, it wouldn’t make any difference going to Canada to fight.
J.S: I read that you and Bute have sparred in the past?
G.J: We sparred, yes. He was getting ready for rematch with the Mexican guy he had a close fight with the first time (Librado Andrade) and I was getting ready for a rematch also, with [Chad] Dawson. He [Bute] was successful in his, but I wasn’t in my fight. So, yes, we have worked together.
J.S: Do you think, as some others do, that Bute is the best of the current champions at 168 today?
G.J: Well, I have big respect for Bute; I rate him highly. But I’ve sparred him and I know him a little, whereas I’ve not been in with any of the other champions apart from the guy from England, Carl Froch. I’d say those two are on a similar level. I can’t say Bute is the best, but at the worst he is as good as the others.
J.S: You’ve fought everyone, we know - will you change anything if you fight Bute? He’s a southpaw and a wicked body puncher.
G.J: I don’t see the point in really changing anything. He’s a good fighter on the inside as well as on the outside. It would be a good, exciting fight. This is a fight the fans deserve. I am the best fighter on his list of potential opponents.
J.S: You’d obviously be motivated for this one, even after all the big fights you’ve had?
G.J: Oh, yes. Fighting is what I do. I never back down and I always give the people what they pay for. You know, you win some you lose some, and I always want to win. I never want to be in a bad fight either at the end of the day. When I fight, the fans never lose.
J.S: There’s no doubt about that. The Froch fight was another great fight. Looking back now, was the loss you were given fair?
G.J: Well, it was close - and I never win the close fights. It wasn’t a robbery like some of my other fights where I can see I was clearly robbed. This was a close, tough one. It all depends on what you like: whether you liked Froch’s work and gave him credit for it, or if you liked my work and gave me credit. I don’t really have any argument with the loss, but I was disappointed with myself. I believe I can do better. That’s one fight where I wish I could have it back so I could make corrections.
J.S: Are you back in the gym now, Glen?
G.J: Yeah, I’m back in the gym. I’m trying to shake off some rust and I’m just waiting to see if the paper work comes through for this fight in Canada. If it does it will definitely be a blessing and this fight will give the fans what they want.
J.S: Best wishes in getting the fight, Glen. And thanks so much for taking the time to speak with me.
G.J: Okay, bye.
Donaire still looking for next opponent, Moreno not interested
By Jason Kim: Bob Arum, the promoter for WBC/WBO bantamweight champion Nonito Donaire (26-1, 18 KO’s), is still looking for an opponent for Donaire’s next fight after WBA bantamweight champion Anselmo Moreno reportedly turned down the invitation to fight Donaire in November. This was a fight that Donaire and Arum wanted, as it would have given Donaire a third belt at bantamweight to go along with his other two.
Now Arum has to look in another direction. Arum wants to place Donaire on the undercard of the December 3rd fight card headlined by WBA junior middleweight champion Miguel Cotto vs. Antonio Margarito. However, Arum might not be able to find an interesting opponent by then to match against Donaire.
He doesn’t want to just match Donaire up against anyone, because Donaire has already missed out on a lot of big fights in the past four years and he needs to be matched against opponents that boxing fans actually care about. I’m not sure that fans would have given a thought to Donaire taking on Moreno, but at least it would have added the WBA belt to Donaire’s collection.
That’s something that would sound good when it’s mentioned but in reality might not have much meaning to casual boxing fans. Arum is talking about wanting to match Donaire up against the winner of the October 1st clash between WBC super bantamweight champion Toshiaki Nishioka and Rafael Marquez for a fight that would be taking place in early 2012. However, that’s a fight for the future. Donaire can’t afford to be hanging around waiting another six to eight months for that fight to happen. He needs an opponent now.
By Jason Kim: Bob Arum, the promoter for WBC/WBO bantamweight champion Nonito Donaire (26-1, 18 KO’s), is still looking for an opponent for Donaire’s next fight after WBA bantamweight champion Anselmo Moreno reportedly turned down the invitation to fight Donaire in November. This was a fight that Donaire and Arum wanted, as it would have given Donaire a third belt at bantamweight to go along with his other two.
Now Arum has to look in another direction. Arum wants to place Donaire on the undercard of the December 3rd fight card headlined by WBA junior middleweight champion Miguel Cotto vs. Antonio Margarito. However, Arum might not be able to find an interesting opponent by then to match against Donaire.
He doesn’t want to just match Donaire up against anyone, because Donaire has already missed out on a lot of big fights in the past four years and he needs to be matched against opponents that boxing fans actually care about. I’m not sure that fans would have given a thought to Donaire taking on Moreno, but at least it would have added the WBA belt to Donaire’s collection.
That’s something that would sound good when it’s mentioned but in reality might not have much meaning to casual boxing fans. Arum is talking about wanting to match Donaire up against the winner of the October 1st clash between WBC super bantamweight champion Toshiaki Nishioka and Rafael Marquez for a fight that would be taking place in early 2012. However, that’s a fight for the future. Donaire can’t afford to be hanging around waiting another six to eight months for that fight to happen. He needs an opponent now.
Khan says he and Mayweather would fill 85,000 seat Wembley Stadium
By John F. McKenna (McJack): WBA/IBF Junior Welterweight Champion Amir Khan (26-1, 18 KO’s) is sure that a showdown with Floyd Mayweather Jr (41-0, 25 KO’s) would fill the giant Wembley Stadium which holds 85,000 people.
Khan will have one more fight as a light welterweight before moving up to the welterweight division. Amir has been getting noticeably bigger in his recent fights and is finding it difficult to get down to the 140 pound limit as well as finding suitable opponents at that level.
Amir will likely next face the winner of the matchup between Erik Morales and Lucas Matthysse, who will be battling it out for the vacant World Boxing Council (WBC) title on September 17.
Khan was quoted in an interview with “Sky Sports News” as saying “I will take one more fight, then I will move up to the 147 pound division where there are more challenges. I’m now No. 1 at 147 pounds so I am moving in the right direction. I have Freddie Roach advising me and I have my team around me advising me on the right things.
“I just want to stay busy and active. Every young fighter wants to fight the best and Floyd is the best. There is also Manny Pacquiao, but I can’t fight him because I train with him and we are very good friends.
“But Floyd is a possibility. In the next twelve months that could happen and what a huge fight that would be if we bring it to the UK. Floyd has said he would like to fight at Wembley Stadium and I’m sure with two fighters, like Foyd and myself it would be a sellout.”
“King” Khan as he is known to his fans put on an impressive display of speed and power last month at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas when he stopped the overmatched Zab Judah in five rounds. Amir picked up Judah’s IBF Welterweight title in the process.
Khan made believers of some who thought that Judah was going to give him a tough fight and possibly defeat him. Instead Judah was never really in the fight and appeared to be looking for a way out when he went to the canvas after receiving a blow on the beltline. Zab made no effort to get up claiming he was hit with a low blow and that that he thought the referee was giving him an eight count to give him time to recover.
By John F. McKenna (McJack): WBA/IBF Junior Welterweight Champion Amir Khan (26-1, 18 KO’s) is sure that a showdown with Floyd Mayweather Jr (41-0, 25 KO’s) would fill the giant Wembley Stadium which holds 85,000 people.
Khan will have one more fight as a light welterweight before moving up to the welterweight division. Amir has been getting noticeably bigger in his recent fights and is finding it difficult to get down to the 140 pound limit as well as finding suitable opponents at that level.
Amir will likely next face the winner of the matchup between Erik Morales and Lucas Matthysse, who will be battling it out for the vacant World Boxing Council (WBC) title on September 17.
Khan was quoted in an interview with “Sky Sports News” as saying “I will take one more fight, then I will move up to the 147 pound division where there are more challenges. I’m now No. 1 at 147 pounds so I am moving in the right direction. I have Freddie Roach advising me and I have my team around me advising me on the right things.
“I just want to stay busy and active. Every young fighter wants to fight the best and Floyd is the best. There is also Manny Pacquiao, but I can’t fight him because I train with him and we are very good friends.
“But Floyd is a possibility. In the next twelve months that could happen and what a huge fight that would be if we bring it to the UK. Floyd has said he would like to fight at Wembley Stadium and I’m sure with two fighters, like Foyd and myself it would be a sellout.”
“King” Khan as he is known to his fans put on an impressive display of speed and power last month at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas when he stopped the overmatched Zab Judah in five rounds. Amir picked up Judah’s IBF Welterweight title in the process.
Khan made believers of some who thought that Judah was going to give him a tough fight and possibly defeat him. Instead Judah was never really in the fight and appeared to be looking for a way out when he went to the canvas after receiving a blow on the beltline. Zab made no effort to get up claiming he was hit with a low blow and that that he thought the referee was giving him an eight count to give him time to recover.
