Boxing News Thread
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RIP Rico. It was fun while it lasted.
Ramos vs Rigondeaux Agreement Has Been Reached
By Jhonny Gonzalez
The WBA has advised BoxingScene.com that an agreement was reached by the representatives of interim-champion Guillermo Rigondeaux (8-0), and the full super bantamweight champion, Rico Ramos (20-0, 11KOs). A purse bid, scheduled for Monday in Panama, has been canceled. No information was provided on when the fight could be scheduled, but further details should be disclosed in the near future.
Ramos vs Rigondeaux Agreement Has Been Reached
By Jhonny Gonzalez
The WBA has advised BoxingScene.com that an agreement was reached by the representatives of interim-champion Guillermo Rigondeaux (8-0), and the full super bantamweight champion, Rico Ramos (20-0, 11KOs). A purse bid, scheduled for Monday in Panama, has been canceled. No information was provided on when the fight could be scheduled, but further details should be disclosed in the near future.
Very Candid and Open: Floyd Joy Mayweather Sr. Opens Up About Televised Fight
By Quenton Marselles: Everybody has been talking about the big fight between Mayweather Jr. and Mayweather Sr. that was aired live on HBO’s 24/7 and later streamed on YouTube. No one knows the truth behind what took place other than those who were there. I ran into Floyd “Joy” Mayweather Sr. at the world famous Johnny Tocco’s boxing gym after the incident to get his side of the story.
Approaching the situation and conversation there was never any hesitation or aggression from the champion trainer Floyd Joy. I came right out and asked him why did he curse his son out on national television, and he said, “I didn’t curse him out! He started with me. He told me I need to mind my own business. It started over a talk about our girl fighters who fought about a week ago. He started talking to me. Then he started calling me sissy and faggot and punk in front of a group of people on national tv. Anybody that’s grown is gonna respond to that! What he did was against the cardinal rule and he’s gonna have to answer to someone else for that.”
He went on to tell me, “then he told me to get out the gym and yes I told him ‘fuck’ his gym, he even told me that he have a hit out on me! He kicked me out his house before so I don’t care about him tryna kick me out his gym too. You call me dad I aint no Jr.” I asked him why he thinks his son is so upset with him and he said, “I don’t know why. I don’t know what I did to him. He always got these other guys around him geeking him up talking about, his girl whopped my girl. And that’s what started the whole argument. I’m still willing to put my girl in the ring to whop her ass. I don’t give a fuck about the lime light. I made his career. And he said I’m jealous. Jealous of what? I’m the one that made you, you are my seed. If it weren’t for me you won’t be a dime. You will be nothing.”
When the question came up about how he feels about his brother Roger training him rather than him, Floyd Joy did not hesitate to ask, “how many champions have Roger made? How many champions have Floyd Joy made? People said I was jealous of Roger for that. Jealous of Roger for what, daddy not jealous of nobody! He aint made nothing to scare nobody with! I made my son! I made De La Hoya, Chad Dawson, Joan Guzmán and Laila Ali what they talking about? I trained some of the best fighters. I trained multi talented fighters!”
When asked why he stopped training with these champs he said, “Dawson wanted the ladies and babies, Forbes I don’t know and Lil Floyd it was an altercation between him and his manager back then that lead up to it.”
We asked him what was next for Floyd Joy and he jumped right in with, “I’m gonna get my own gym! I don’t care nothing about his (Floyd Jr.) gym! Floyd Joy Mayweather Sr. jealous of no one, I got my own money. This is the most dangerous thing he did that could end his career. He bout to get it and now he’s gonna have a changed record! Before he get in the ring with Ortiz, he’s gonna lose to me!”
I asked what his predictions were for the upcoming match with Floyd Jr. and Ortiz and he kept it brief, “He should beat Ortiz. Sometimes you don’t know. I think the Lord is in the situation now. I think the fight only got bigger because of this situation.”
When asked was he invited to his son’s wedding, he said “Hell No and I Aint Going!” I threw in a joke and asked him are you taking a gift? “Hell No!” Have you met his finance? “Don’t make a difference; she said I shouldn’t have been down there. She don’t know me and she barely know him!” Do you think the fallout will affect your relationship with you grandkids? “No, I can see them when I want.”
Any last words Floyd Joy? “If you wanna throw down, let’s do it! Aint no real father gonna take that on tv. Your girl (fighter) aint Shit! He aint scaring no mother fucking body, talking bout he put a hit out if he got one! I aint got nothing to say to him PERIOD. Stay out of my face. I don’t want nothing to do with him ever! I’m Sr. so you don’t mean shit, your shorter than me and always gonna look smaller to me, beneath me, short of me. I’m the innovator, motivator and creator of the whole ordeal. He knows who made him who his is and he can’t take nothing from me.” He paused and put his finger over his mouth, “let me hush my mouth and be nice before I really break him down. Whatever he do, farewell. It aint got nothing to do with me. Leave me out of it.
When asked do he think they will ever make up? “He can go his way and I’m going mine. Sometimes people get so mad about something they might say something they wouldn’t normally say. It’s spiritual now what he did before the world. To go on national tv and speak to your dad like that, your suppose to think about your stature.”
By Quenton Marselles: Everybody has been talking about the big fight between Mayweather Jr. and Mayweather Sr. that was aired live on HBO’s 24/7 and later streamed on YouTube. No one knows the truth behind what took place other than those who were there. I ran into Floyd “Joy” Mayweather Sr. at the world famous Johnny Tocco’s boxing gym after the incident to get his side of the story.
Approaching the situation and conversation there was never any hesitation or aggression from the champion trainer Floyd Joy. I came right out and asked him why did he curse his son out on national television, and he said, “I didn’t curse him out! He started with me. He told me I need to mind my own business. It started over a talk about our girl fighters who fought about a week ago. He started talking to me. Then he started calling me sissy and faggot and punk in front of a group of people on national tv. Anybody that’s grown is gonna respond to that! What he did was against the cardinal rule and he’s gonna have to answer to someone else for that.”
He went on to tell me, “then he told me to get out the gym and yes I told him ‘fuck’ his gym, he even told me that he have a hit out on me! He kicked me out his house before so I don’t care about him tryna kick me out his gym too. You call me dad I aint no Jr.” I asked him why he thinks his son is so upset with him and he said, “I don’t know why. I don’t know what I did to him. He always got these other guys around him geeking him up talking about, his girl whopped my girl. And that’s what started the whole argument. I’m still willing to put my girl in the ring to whop her ass. I don’t give a fuck about the lime light. I made his career. And he said I’m jealous. Jealous of what? I’m the one that made you, you are my seed. If it weren’t for me you won’t be a dime. You will be nothing.”
When the question came up about how he feels about his brother Roger training him rather than him, Floyd Joy did not hesitate to ask, “how many champions have Roger made? How many champions have Floyd Joy made? People said I was jealous of Roger for that. Jealous of Roger for what, daddy not jealous of nobody! He aint made nothing to scare nobody with! I made my son! I made De La Hoya, Chad Dawson, Joan Guzmán and Laila Ali what they talking about? I trained some of the best fighters. I trained multi talented fighters!”
When asked why he stopped training with these champs he said, “Dawson wanted the ladies and babies, Forbes I don’t know and Lil Floyd it was an altercation between him and his manager back then that lead up to it.”
We asked him what was next for Floyd Joy and he jumped right in with, “I’m gonna get my own gym! I don’t care nothing about his (Floyd Jr.) gym! Floyd Joy Mayweather Sr. jealous of no one, I got my own money. This is the most dangerous thing he did that could end his career. He bout to get it and now he’s gonna have a changed record! Before he get in the ring with Ortiz, he’s gonna lose to me!”
I asked what his predictions were for the upcoming match with Floyd Jr. and Ortiz and he kept it brief, “He should beat Ortiz. Sometimes you don’t know. I think the Lord is in the situation now. I think the fight only got bigger because of this situation.”
When asked was he invited to his son’s wedding, he said “Hell No and I Aint Going!” I threw in a joke and asked him are you taking a gift? “Hell No!” Have you met his finance? “Don’t make a difference; she said I shouldn’t have been down there. She don’t know me and she barely know him!” Do you think the fallout will affect your relationship with you grandkids? “No, I can see them when I want.”
Any last words Floyd Joy? “If you wanna throw down, let’s do it! Aint no real father gonna take that on tv. Your girl (fighter) aint Shit! He aint scaring no mother fucking body, talking bout he put a hit out if he got one! I aint got nothing to say to him PERIOD. Stay out of my face. I don’t want nothing to do with him ever! I’m Sr. so you don’t mean shit, your shorter than me and always gonna look smaller to me, beneath me, short of me. I’m the innovator, motivator and creator of the whole ordeal. He knows who made him who his is and he can’t take nothing from me.” He paused and put his finger over his mouth, “let me hush my mouth and be nice before I really break him down. Whatever he do, farewell. It aint got nothing to do with me. Leave me out of it.
When asked do he think they will ever make up? “He can go his way and I’m going mine. Sometimes people get so mad about something they might say something they wouldn’t normally say. It’s spiritual now what he did before the world. To go on national tv and speak to your dad like that, your suppose to think about your stature.”
Khan slams Maidana and Bradley; says he never heard of Jessie Vargas
By William Mackay: WBA Super World light welterweight champion Amir Khan was in a feisty mood today, slamming both Marcos Maidana and Timothy Bradley on his twitter page.
Here is what Khan had to say about them: “I know Maidana never wanted to give [Victor] Ortiz a rematch too. [Timothy] Bradley will always be a b***h but if he decides to grow some balls and fight me in December, I’ll give him the respect for stepping up before I b***h slap him all over the ring for making me wait. Never heard of Jessie Vargas until Floyd Mayweather mentioned I have to fight him. He looks good, yes, but only had 16 fights. He’s a prospect.”
Khan wants to fight Bradley in the worst way, likely because he’s small at 5’6″, not a big puncher, and holds the WBO light welterweight title. Khan wants the belt and wants to fight the guy that was/is considered to be the best fighter in the division. However, Bradley wants to wait on a bigger fight against Manny Pacquiao rather than take the small money to fight Khan. He’s not going to waste time fighting Khan when he could be fighting Pacquiao in 2012.
Khan wants to fight Mayweather, but he may have to meet Mayweather’s requirements that he fight the up and coming 22-year-old Vargas before he’ll fight him. Mayweather made that condition recently, and it looks as if Khan is considering it. It’s a dangerous fight for Khan, because even though Vargas is inexperienced and young, he can really punch.
Vargas is dangerous with either hand, and he’s a Maidana-type of fighter. If Khan takes on Vargas, he could find himself getting knocked out and then never getting a fight with Mayweather. This is why Khan will probably decide against the Vargas fight and just keep calling Mayweather out over and over again, hoping he’ll drop his conditions for fighting him. Vargas is the type of fighter that Khan struggles against, so he’ll probably avoid him like he’s been avoiding Breidis Prescott and Maidana rematches.
By William Mackay: WBA Super World light welterweight champion Amir Khan was in a feisty mood today, slamming both Marcos Maidana and Timothy Bradley on his twitter page.
Here is what Khan had to say about them: “I know Maidana never wanted to give [Victor] Ortiz a rematch too. [Timothy] Bradley will always be a b***h but if he decides to grow some balls and fight me in December, I’ll give him the respect for stepping up before I b***h slap him all over the ring for making me wait. Never heard of Jessie Vargas until Floyd Mayweather mentioned I have to fight him. He looks good, yes, but only had 16 fights. He’s a prospect.”
Khan wants to fight Bradley in the worst way, likely because he’s small at 5’6″, not a big puncher, and holds the WBO light welterweight title. Khan wants the belt and wants to fight the guy that was/is considered to be the best fighter in the division. However, Bradley wants to wait on a bigger fight against Manny Pacquiao rather than take the small money to fight Khan. He’s not going to waste time fighting Khan when he could be fighting Pacquiao in 2012.
Khan wants to fight Mayweather, but he may have to meet Mayweather’s requirements that he fight the up and coming 22-year-old Vargas before he’ll fight him. Mayweather made that condition recently, and it looks as if Khan is considering it. It’s a dangerous fight for Khan, because even though Vargas is inexperienced and young, he can really punch.
Vargas is dangerous with either hand, and he’s a Maidana-type of fighter. If Khan takes on Vargas, he could find himself getting knocked out and then never getting a fight with Mayweather. This is why Khan will probably decide against the Vargas fight and just keep calling Mayweather out over and over again, hoping he’ll drop his conditions for fighting him. Vargas is the type of fighter that Khan struggles against, so he’ll probably avoid him like he’s been avoiding Breidis Prescott and Maidana rematches.
James Toney: “Bernard Hopkins is a big old crybaby, a sissy in disguise
by Geoffrey Ciani (Exclusive Interview by Jenna J & Geoffrey Ciani) - This week’s 141st edition of On the Ropes Boxing Radio (brought to you by CWH Promotions) featured an exclusive interview with former three division champion who spoke about his career, his future, and the prospect of fighting Denis Lebedev later this year. Toney also shared his views on a variety of other aspects pertaining to the current boxing landscape including the Klitschko brothers, David Haye, Pacquiao-Marquez III, Mayweather-Ortiz, HBO’s 24/7 series, Bernard Hopkins, Antonio Tarver, Marco Huck, Steve Cunningham, and more! Here is a complete transcript from that interview:
JENNA J: It’s actually time for our second guest of this week’s show. He’s making his second appearance with On the Ropes. We’re joined by the former middleweight, super middleweight, and cruiserweight champion of the world—James “Lights Out” Toney! How are you feeling today James?
JAMES TONEY: I’m feeling good. Fabulous!
JENNA: Alright! Well let’s talk about some rumors that are going on around with you. There are rumors that you will be taking on Denis Lebedev in November. How true are those James?
TONEY: Well the rumors are true. Whatever goes on we’re pushing pretty soon because I’m ready to fight. I can’t get a fight with the so-called big guys in the division—the Klitschko sisters, or any of those guys, so I’m going for the next best thing.
JENNA: Okay well the next best thing would be down at 200 pounds. Why did you make this choice to go from your last fight at 257 down to the cruiserweight limit?
TONEY: Well basically like I said, I can’t get a fight in the heavyweight division so I have to go down in weight in order to try and get a big fight. The main goal right now is to get Bernard Hopkins in the ring. First thing first is David, I don’t know how you say his last name but whatever his name is, I’m going to get him in there and then I’m going to get rid of him!
JENNA: How hard has it been to get down to this weight? It’s a weight that you haven’t been at in a good seven years.
TONEY: Well it’s hard, but I’m training. You know what I’m saying? That’s the main thing, being focused. I’m real focused right now so when I’m focused and ready to go like I am now there ain’t nothing stopping me.
JENNA: Okay now if you win a fight against someone like Lebedev, what do you think that does for your career?
TONEY: After I beat Lebedev the sky is the limit! I’m still going to be heavyweight world champion, I’m still going to be a heavyweight regardless. Maybe I’ll have a big fight against Antonio Tarver or maybe we can get something with Hopkins. Who knows? Let’s see if they got balls.
JENNA: So with this weight loss and this new desire to train here, does this mean at the age of 43 that you’re as focused as ever on your boxing career?
TONEY: Oh, I’m very focused! I’m ready to go! I’m a dangerous man! Everybody knows that. Why do you think the Klitschko sisters don’t want to fight me? Everybody knows I’m the most dangerous fighter in the world, period! That’s why everybody has been ducking me for so long. If these two are the best fighters in the world that you claim to be, and they’ve been ducking me for seven or eight years! They always have an excuse why they don’t want to fight James Toney because everybody knows I’m going to whop their ass!
JENNA: Alright well one of the Klitschkos himself has a fight this upcoming weekend against Tomasz Adamek. Does Adamek have any chance at all?
TONEY: Well like I keep on telling everybody, it’s bum versus bum! May the best bum win. I mean you really don’t consider those guys real fighters, do you? Both Klitschkos and Adamek they fight hand-selected over the hill guys who can’t even spell the word “fight”. So like I said, put them in with a real fighter like myself and see what happens. They will fold!
JENNA: How damaging do you think it was to the heavyweight division with the whole debacle between David Haye and Wladimir Klitschko?
TONEY: Well it made something bad even worse! Now you see why everybody is with MMA. Don’t use that fight as a message as to why boxing is declining. We got James Toney here! James Toney is here! When James Toney is in shape, everybody knows in boxing! They don’t want to admit it, but they know I got the most skills out there. Nobody has more skills than me—nobody!
JENNA: You mentioned Bernard Hopkins. How low do you think you need to go in weight to temp him to fight you?
TONEY: Well I would go as low as 190 for him, no problem!
JENNA: So you would go 190 for him? So what do you think would happen? You’re crafty, he’s crafty—
TONEY: What do you mean? What do you think? Don’t tell me, please young lady, that you think Bernard Hopkins is an old-school fighter! You think he’s a crafty fighter?
JENNA: I think he—
TONEY: You think he’s a craft fighter?
JENNA: He might not be a throwback fighter like you, but he’s crafty!
TONEY: Right there! He’s not a throwback fighter like me! He’s not crafty! Anyone who runs in while holding their heads down, that’s not a throwback fighter! Okay? When I look at old film like Ray Robinson, he does not run in with his head down, hitting and holding, and then crowd and get hit! Pow! Bernard Hopkins is a big old crybaby, a sissy in disguise!
JENNA: Well what do you think allows him to be so successful at his older age?
TONEY: Well he’s always in great shape! You can’t take that away from Bernard. Bernard has stayed in great shape all of these years and I tip my hat off to him. You know what? If I would have stayed focused all those years I would still be undefeated and be one of the greatest ever period, like I am now but even more.
JENNA: Alright now James do you think this is your last run? Now that you’re 43 and you’re focused, is this your last chance to put together a final credential on your career?
TONEY: My career is solidified! Everyone is trying to do what I’ve been doing. I’m already a first ballot Hall of Famer. You know I’ve won more titles than anybody besides Pacquiao. You know what I’m saying, whether you guys want to count them or not. It is what it is. I’m only doing things for James Toney! I ain’t doing this for everybody else. I don’t care what anybody says! I don’t care what everybody is trying to tell me to do. James is going to be James! I’m going to do what I want to do, and that’s to dominate!
JENNA: Alright well James, we’re also on the line with my Co-Host Geoff Ciani.
GEOFFREY CIANI: Hey James, it’s a pleasure to have you back on the show.
TONEY: Hey what’s up, man? How are you doing Geoff?
CIANI: I’m doing very good, thanks. James, going back to Bernard Hopkins for a minute, his upcoming fight with Chad Dawson—what are your thoughts on that?
TONEY: Oh he’s going to knock Chad Dawson out! Chad Dawson’s head ain’t right. Even if it he was right, he still can’t beat Bernard because Bernard has too many tricks for him. He leads him in, he’s going to bring him in, and boom! He’s going to be knocked out!
CIANI: Now you mentioned that a victory against Lebedev could potentially open up a door and you mentioned Hopkins as a target. Right now, if you couldn’t get a fight with Hopkins if you beat Lebedev, what about a fight against the better known champions in the division who are considered the best like Steve Cunningham or Marco Huck? Would you consider fighting them?
TONEY: Marco or Steve Cunningham? Like I said, batter up! I don’t turn down nothing! I’m the best fighter, period! You know what I’m saying? If you’re the best fighter in the world you fight the best opposition out there! You don’t run from anybody. I ain’t never done that! You look at my record. I fought the best in every division and I’ve done very well. So why should things change now? Like I said I’m an old school fighter, I’m a real old-school fighter! I fight the best available competition out there. All fighters should be that way today, but I’m the only one! I’m the only real fighter out there, the only real fighter!
CIANI: So if you had the choice if you beat Lebedev—
TONEY: If I had my choice, after I beat Lebedev—after I beat him, not if! I’m not Roy Jones. I’m a real fighter. I’m a dangerous man. I can tell you. After I beat him my preference would be one of the two “Bitchko sisters”. You know what I’m saying? That’s my first choice, but that ain’t got the balls, they ain’t got the guts, so my preference would be Hopkins or Antonio Tarver.
CIANI: Okay, Antonio Tarver, what did you think about his win against Danny Green and what do you think of his prospects in the cruiserweight division right now?
TONEY: Well I thought his victory with Danny Green was tremendous. Once again, hats off to him. Everybody was saying he couldn’t do it, but he went over there and took advantage of the man in his hometown. We’ll see. Batter up! Everybody talks a good game in boxing, but they don’t follow through with it. I do it!
CIANI: You mentioned Roy Jones before. I thought he was actually doing better against Lebedev through nine than the official scorecards suggested. What do you take out of that fight between Jones and Lebedev?
TONEY: Well I ain’t seen the fight so I don’t know. I’m just going by word of mouth. You know what I’m saying? I’m not Roy Jones. I’m a fighter. I don’t run around the ring and shake my ass. That’s not my thing. I go in there and try to hurt people. That’s what I do.
JENNA: Okay James well you like to refer to the Klitschkos as the “Bitchko sisters”.
TONEY: That’s right.
JENNA: Now if you were able to get them in the ring, what do you think you need to do as a fighter to beat them, to get a decision? How do you beat them?
TONEY: How do I beat them? That’s for me to know and you to find out. I don’t tell my secrets over the phone. Number one, I’m going to let you in on a little secret. All you got to do is go back to when he fought Lamon Brewster. You see, you know what happens. When you put pressure on pipes, the pipes bust. Right? It’s the same thing. You put pressure on those guys and they will fold over in the corner. I promise you. They don’t have the intensity to fight the right fight. David “Gaye” showed he was really gay how he went out there and just collapsed. As a matter of fact, that was one of the biggest robberies in history. They robbed people of a lot of money without a gun. You know what I’m saying? Thank God the fight wasn’t on pay-per-view in the United States, because nobody would have bought it anyway.
JENNA: Alright since you can’t tell me your secret and we don’t want you to give that away, what are all the other fighters doing wrong against the Klitschkos? What are they doing wrong?
TONEY: They’re not fighting! They’re taking pictures, and trying to find an opening here and there, and getting outpointed by that weak-ass jab that they got, or what they so-call a jab. They’re not great fighters. I mean their trainer sucks! Emanuel Steward is a half-assed trainer. Emanuel Steward is supposed to train like me. Emanuel Steward knows why he doesn’t want them to fight me. It was the same thing I did to all the fighters he had in the Kronk Gym all these years—kill, crush, destroy!
JENNA: Alright, I got to stop you there James. You’re saying Emanuel Steward isn’t that great of a trainer?
TONEY: You heard what I said! Let me tell you something. All the fighters he trained will confirm it and I know for a fact, the only thing Emanuel ever did in his whole career was come in the last week before a fight after he had Walter Smith, Bill Miller, and everybody else doing all the training camps for the whole eight or nine weeks. The last week Emanuel comes in when the camera is on him and he does mitts with him and says he did something. Man that’s bullsh*t! If he was training he would be with them day and night. He’s doing it now because of with Klitschko over there, he’s kissing his ass. He’s an ass-kisser. He’s an Uncle Tome. You can tell him I said it, too. I don’t care.
JENNA: You’re entitled to your opinion like everyone else.
TONEY: Oh yeah! I am entitled to my opinion and I hope everybody is listening because what I’m speaking is the truth. I speak the truth, and nothing but the truth because the truth sets you free, period! I see you’re an Emanuel Steward fan, huh?
JENNA: We have him on quite often and I believe he’s a great trainer. He’s trained so many world champions—
TONEY: Anybody can come in the last minute and train somebody and come in and take the lead the last week and take credit for it. You don’t see him making champions like Freddie Roach.
JENNA: What about Tommy Hearns? He trained Tommy Hearns from the amateurs.
TONEY: No, no, no, no! That’s my trainer. Bill Miller was the original trainer of Tommy Hearns. If you want to bet me on that, we can call up Bill Miller right now! He’s 95 years old and still alive and he’ll tell you the f*cking truth! So look! Let me tell you something! I don’t know how old you are or how long you’ve been in the game, but apparently you’re brand new to this because you don’t know what the f*ck you’re talking about!
JENNA: I know what I’m talking about. I’ve interviewed him. He trained him from the amateurs into the professionals.
TONEY: Okay! That’s what he says! That’s what he says! But ask the mother*ckers around here! Okay!
JENNA: Okay, okay James. Let’s change the subject because we don’t need to argue about this. Let’s talk about you. If you do not get the fight with Denis Lebedev, what are your options?
TONEY: Well like I said I’ll fight anybody, anywhere, anytime. I want to fight the best opposition out there, Tarver, Hopkins, you know like I said, whoever.
JENNA: Alright well what about Alexander Povetkin? He just won a portion of the heavyweight title. Would that fight interest you?
TONEY: Oh no doubt! 100%! The more the merrier, whoever wants to dance let’s make it happen.
JENNA: People have been complaining about whether or not that fight should have been for a real belt. Do you think if you win that fight you would be considered a champion?
TONEY: Of course! See number one, my name is gold! So everybody already knows I’m the real deal. A belt don’t make James Toney! James Toney makes the belt, so I’m not even worried about that. All we get to do is get him and make it happen. I’m pretty sure after I beat this guy Denis, if the fight does materialize I’ll take care of my business and everybody will see that I’m the new heavyweight champion.
JENNA: How great do you think it would be for boxing to once again have an American holding a heavyweight title belt around his waist?
TONEY: Well we do have an American heavyweight champion! I am! Like I said the belt don’t make me, I make the belt. What people need to understand, I’m not falling into the boxing politics. I don’t do that. It ain’t my thing. I’m an old school fighter and I’m going to keep on rumbling and do this damn thing right! And I’m going to get it right! One day it’s going to happen!
JENNA: How do you feel now, now that you’re at a lighter weight? Do you feel better? Do you feel stronger? Do you feel like you can do better in the ring now that you’re down a little bit in weight?
TONEY: Yeah, I feel pretty good. I feel excellent. I’m going to feel better when I get closer to 190. I’ll feel even greater, but right now I’m just going to take it one day at a time. That’s all I can do.
CIANI: Your last fight against Damon Reed, that was one of the longest layoffs you had in your career between professional fights in a boxing ring. How did you feel after the long layoff? Did you feel any rust at all or anything like that?
TONEY: To be honest with you I felt like sh*t and I looked like sh*t, and I already knew what the problem was because I had been out for so long and it wasn’t my fault! I’ve been trying to fight but there ain’t anybody who wants to fight. Like I said in this new age of boxing there ain’t anybody trying to fight nobody! If you’re a top ten fighter and you want to get a shot at the title, you should fight another top ten fighter, period! It’s a shame for boxing fans. That’s why we’re losing our fans from boxing to MMA, because we’re not putting the fights on that everybody wants to see. So my thing right now is now that I’m back, I’m healthy and 100%, I’ll make sure everybody gets their money’s worth.
CIANI: Was there any doubt in your mind before that time, that you were going to return to the boxing ring in the midst of that long layoff?
TONEY: Oh yeah, no doubt! I’m still doing both. I’m enjoying myself and having fun again. It’s like anybody. Whoever enjoys their job they’re going to want to go to work every day, and that’s what I do! I can’t wait to wake up and go to the gym and work out every day. The excitement is back!
CIANI: So would you say that’s what keeps you motivated to keep going at this stage?
TONEY: Oh what keeps me motivated is to go down as the best ever, period. I’ve done something that no one has ever done. You have people who move from middleweight to heavyweight and don’t do too well. I’ve been able to do it constantly. Roy won the title and went down. I stayed and I competed against the big guys in the division. I have done very well! I’ve beaten them!
CIANI: You mentioned before James that the fans aren’t getting to see a lot of the fights they want to see, and the fight that immediately jumps to mind when you say that of course is Pacquiao versus Mayweather. They both have upcoming fights. Pacquiao is fighting Juan Manuel Marquez for a third time and Mayweather’s fighting Victor Ortiz. Do you think fans will ever get to see that fight?
TONEY: It’s going to have to happen one way or another because the fights they’re fighting are garbage! Victor Ortiz? Come on! The guy quit on national TV a couple of years ago. And Juan Manuel Marquez? I don’t know how he even got into the Pacquiao sweepstakes, but it is what it is. So it’s going to have to happen eventually.
CIANI: Have you been watching the 24/7 series at all for the buildup to Mayweather-Ortiz, and if so what do you think of it?
TONEY: It’s a good series. You know it’s okay, it could be better, but it is what it is. I think Mayweather is probably a lot better. Victor doesn’t look like he’s really sure of himself. You know what I’m saying? That’s what I’m saying, because I’ve seen fighters like that for 25 years, almost 25 years as a professional. So I know the fight game inside and out from the promoter’s point of view to the fighter’s point of view. So I’m not convinced.
JENNA: Alright well James we just have a couple of more questions before we let you off the line. You mentioned David Haye, or as you call him David “Gaye”. Seeing as he upset a lot of boxing fans with his last performance in the ring against Wladimir Klitschko, how much would you like to get in the ring with him?
TONEY: If he wants to come to the United States we’ll do it! I ain’t got no problem with knocking him out here on US soil and then he can back to Britain with the rest of the fans over there and do what he does. David is nothing special. Like I said, all of these opponents are hand-selected. If you look at my record, even from my first pro fight, my opponents have never been hand-selected. I fought the best and toughest guys out there. All of the fighters of today’s era couldn’t last when I was coming up. There ain’t a chance! They get protected too much.
JENNA: Alright now James you mentioned all the great fighters you fought in your career. Do you have any regrets now? At the age of 43 do you think you could have done anything differently?
TONEY: Yeah! If I would have gotten serious and motivated for the Roy Jones fight you guys would have never heard of him again! But it is what it is, I made a mistake and I paid for it!
JENNA: Okay James, well some people are saying you’re getting towards the end of your career. Realistically how much longer do you see yourself boxing?
TONEY: I can do this as long as I want to! There is no reason to end my career. Ya’ll say it, but my career is going to go as long as I want it to go. I’m not going t o let anybody tell me when I have to go. I feel like I’m just getting started, I’m fresh again, so we’ll see!
JENNA: How would you feel if Evander Holyfield, who you beat eight years ago, gets a title shot before you do?
TONEY: Well I expected that, because they do a lot of ass-kissing in their camp so I can’t worry about that. I can’t worry about what another man does.
JENNA: Well I have one final question. There are a lot of James Toney fans out there in the world. Is there anything you want to say to them?
TONEY: Yeah, I love them! Keep on moving! We ain’t done. We’re just getting this party started. I promise you!
JENNA: Alright, take it easy James and we wish you the best of luck with all your future fights.
TONEY: Alright.
CIANI: Thank you James, best of luck.
by Geoffrey Ciani (Exclusive Interview by Jenna J & Geoffrey Ciani) - This week’s 141st edition of On the Ropes Boxing Radio (brought to you by CWH Promotions) featured an exclusive interview with former three division champion who spoke about his career, his future, and the prospect of fighting Denis Lebedev later this year. Toney also shared his views on a variety of other aspects pertaining to the current boxing landscape including the Klitschko brothers, David Haye, Pacquiao-Marquez III, Mayweather-Ortiz, HBO’s 24/7 series, Bernard Hopkins, Antonio Tarver, Marco Huck, Steve Cunningham, and more! Here is a complete transcript from that interview:
JENNA J: It’s actually time for our second guest of this week’s show. He’s making his second appearance with On the Ropes. We’re joined by the former middleweight, super middleweight, and cruiserweight champion of the world—James “Lights Out” Toney! How are you feeling today James?
JAMES TONEY: I’m feeling good. Fabulous!
JENNA: Alright! Well let’s talk about some rumors that are going on around with you. There are rumors that you will be taking on Denis Lebedev in November. How true are those James?
TONEY: Well the rumors are true. Whatever goes on we’re pushing pretty soon because I’m ready to fight. I can’t get a fight with the so-called big guys in the division—the Klitschko sisters, or any of those guys, so I’m going for the next best thing.
JENNA: Okay well the next best thing would be down at 200 pounds. Why did you make this choice to go from your last fight at 257 down to the cruiserweight limit?
TONEY: Well basically like I said, I can’t get a fight in the heavyweight division so I have to go down in weight in order to try and get a big fight. The main goal right now is to get Bernard Hopkins in the ring. First thing first is David, I don’t know how you say his last name but whatever his name is, I’m going to get him in there and then I’m going to get rid of him!
JENNA: How hard has it been to get down to this weight? It’s a weight that you haven’t been at in a good seven years.
TONEY: Well it’s hard, but I’m training. You know what I’m saying? That’s the main thing, being focused. I’m real focused right now so when I’m focused and ready to go like I am now there ain’t nothing stopping me.
JENNA: Okay now if you win a fight against someone like Lebedev, what do you think that does for your career?
TONEY: After I beat Lebedev the sky is the limit! I’m still going to be heavyweight world champion, I’m still going to be a heavyweight regardless. Maybe I’ll have a big fight against Antonio Tarver or maybe we can get something with Hopkins. Who knows? Let’s see if they got balls.
JENNA: So with this weight loss and this new desire to train here, does this mean at the age of 43 that you’re as focused as ever on your boxing career?
TONEY: Oh, I’m very focused! I’m ready to go! I’m a dangerous man! Everybody knows that. Why do you think the Klitschko sisters don’t want to fight me? Everybody knows I’m the most dangerous fighter in the world, period! That’s why everybody has been ducking me for so long. If these two are the best fighters in the world that you claim to be, and they’ve been ducking me for seven or eight years! They always have an excuse why they don’t want to fight James Toney because everybody knows I’m going to whop their ass!
JENNA: Alright well one of the Klitschkos himself has a fight this upcoming weekend against Tomasz Adamek. Does Adamek have any chance at all?
TONEY: Well like I keep on telling everybody, it’s bum versus bum! May the best bum win. I mean you really don’t consider those guys real fighters, do you? Both Klitschkos and Adamek they fight hand-selected over the hill guys who can’t even spell the word “fight”. So like I said, put them in with a real fighter like myself and see what happens. They will fold!
JENNA: How damaging do you think it was to the heavyweight division with the whole debacle between David Haye and Wladimir Klitschko?
TONEY: Well it made something bad even worse! Now you see why everybody is with MMA. Don’t use that fight as a message as to why boxing is declining. We got James Toney here! James Toney is here! When James Toney is in shape, everybody knows in boxing! They don’t want to admit it, but they know I got the most skills out there. Nobody has more skills than me—nobody!
JENNA: You mentioned Bernard Hopkins. How low do you think you need to go in weight to temp him to fight you?
TONEY: Well I would go as low as 190 for him, no problem!
JENNA: So you would go 190 for him? So what do you think would happen? You’re crafty, he’s crafty—
TONEY: What do you mean? What do you think? Don’t tell me, please young lady, that you think Bernard Hopkins is an old-school fighter! You think he’s a crafty fighter?
JENNA: I think he—
TONEY: You think he’s a craft fighter?
JENNA: He might not be a throwback fighter like you, but he’s crafty!
TONEY: Right there! He’s not a throwback fighter like me! He’s not crafty! Anyone who runs in while holding their heads down, that’s not a throwback fighter! Okay? When I look at old film like Ray Robinson, he does not run in with his head down, hitting and holding, and then crowd and get hit! Pow! Bernard Hopkins is a big old crybaby, a sissy in disguise!
JENNA: Well what do you think allows him to be so successful at his older age?
TONEY: Well he’s always in great shape! You can’t take that away from Bernard. Bernard has stayed in great shape all of these years and I tip my hat off to him. You know what? If I would have stayed focused all those years I would still be undefeated and be one of the greatest ever period, like I am now but even more.
JENNA: Alright now James do you think this is your last run? Now that you’re 43 and you’re focused, is this your last chance to put together a final credential on your career?
TONEY: My career is solidified! Everyone is trying to do what I’ve been doing. I’m already a first ballot Hall of Famer. You know I’ve won more titles than anybody besides Pacquiao. You know what I’m saying, whether you guys want to count them or not. It is what it is. I’m only doing things for James Toney! I ain’t doing this for everybody else. I don’t care what anybody says! I don’t care what everybody is trying to tell me to do. James is going to be James! I’m going to do what I want to do, and that’s to dominate!
JENNA: Alright well James, we’re also on the line with my Co-Host Geoff Ciani.
GEOFFREY CIANI: Hey James, it’s a pleasure to have you back on the show.
TONEY: Hey what’s up, man? How are you doing Geoff?
CIANI: I’m doing very good, thanks. James, going back to Bernard Hopkins for a minute, his upcoming fight with Chad Dawson—what are your thoughts on that?
TONEY: Oh he’s going to knock Chad Dawson out! Chad Dawson’s head ain’t right. Even if it he was right, he still can’t beat Bernard because Bernard has too many tricks for him. He leads him in, he’s going to bring him in, and boom! He’s going to be knocked out!
CIANI: Now you mentioned that a victory against Lebedev could potentially open up a door and you mentioned Hopkins as a target. Right now, if you couldn’t get a fight with Hopkins if you beat Lebedev, what about a fight against the better known champions in the division who are considered the best like Steve Cunningham or Marco Huck? Would you consider fighting them?
TONEY: Marco or Steve Cunningham? Like I said, batter up! I don’t turn down nothing! I’m the best fighter, period! You know what I’m saying? If you’re the best fighter in the world you fight the best opposition out there! You don’t run from anybody. I ain’t never done that! You look at my record. I fought the best in every division and I’ve done very well. So why should things change now? Like I said I’m an old school fighter, I’m a real old-school fighter! I fight the best available competition out there. All fighters should be that way today, but I’m the only one! I’m the only real fighter out there, the only real fighter!
CIANI: So if you had the choice if you beat Lebedev—
TONEY: If I had my choice, after I beat Lebedev—after I beat him, not if! I’m not Roy Jones. I’m a real fighter. I’m a dangerous man. I can tell you. After I beat him my preference would be one of the two “Bitchko sisters”. You know what I’m saying? That’s my first choice, but that ain’t got the balls, they ain’t got the guts, so my preference would be Hopkins or Antonio Tarver.
CIANI: Okay, Antonio Tarver, what did you think about his win against Danny Green and what do you think of his prospects in the cruiserweight division right now?
TONEY: Well I thought his victory with Danny Green was tremendous. Once again, hats off to him. Everybody was saying he couldn’t do it, but he went over there and took advantage of the man in his hometown. We’ll see. Batter up! Everybody talks a good game in boxing, but they don’t follow through with it. I do it!
CIANI: You mentioned Roy Jones before. I thought he was actually doing better against Lebedev through nine than the official scorecards suggested. What do you take out of that fight between Jones and Lebedev?
TONEY: Well I ain’t seen the fight so I don’t know. I’m just going by word of mouth. You know what I’m saying? I’m not Roy Jones. I’m a fighter. I don’t run around the ring and shake my ass. That’s not my thing. I go in there and try to hurt people. That’s what I do.
JENNA: Okay James well you like to refer to the Klitschkos as the “Bitchko sisters”.
TONEY: That’s right.
JENNA: Now if you were able to get them in the ring, what do you think you need to do as a fighter to beat them, to get a decision? How do you beat them?
TONEY: How do I beat them? That’s for me to know and you to find out. I don’t tell my secrets over the phone. Number one, I’m going to let you in on a little secret. All you got to do is go back to when he fought Lamon Brewster. You see, you know what happens. When you put pressure on pipes, the pipes bust. Right? It’s the same thing. You put pressure on those guys and they will fold over in the corner. I promise you. They don’t have the intensity to fight the right fight. David “Gaye” showed he was really gay how he went out there and just collapsed. As a matter of fact, that was one of the biggest robberies in history. They robbed people of a lot of money without a gun. You know what I’m saying? Thank God the fight wasn’t on pay-per-view in the United States, because nobody would have bought it anyway.
JENNA: Alright since you can’t tell me your secret and we don’t want you to give that away, what are all the other fighters doing wrong against the Klitschkos? What are they doing wrong?
TONEY: They’re not fighting! They’re taking pictures, and trying to find an opening here and there, and getting outpointed by that weak-ass jab that they got, or what they so-call a jab. They’re not great fighters. I mean their trainer sucks! Emanuel Steward is a half-assed trainer. Emanuel Steward is supposed to train like me. Emanuel Steward knows why he doesn’t want them to fight me. It was the same thing I did to all the fighters he had in the Kronk Gym all these years—kill, crush, destroy!
JENNA: Alright, I got to stop you there James. You’re saying Emanuel Steward isn’t that great of a trainer?
TONEY: You heard what I said! Let me tell you something. All the fighters he trained will confirm it and I know for a fact, the only thing Emanuel ever did in his whole career was come in the last week before a fight after he had Walter Smith, Bill Miller, and everybody else doing all the training camps for the whole eight or nine weeks. The last week Emanuel comes in when the camera is on him and he does mitts with him and says he did something. Man that’s bullsh*t! If he was training he would be with them day and night. He’s doing it now because of with Klitschko over there, he’s kissing his ass. He’s an ass-kisser. He’s an Uncle Tome. You can tell him I said it, too. I don’t care.
JENNA: You’re entitled to your opinion like everyone else.
TONEY: Oh yeah! I am entitled to my opinion and I hope everybody is listening because what I’m speaking is the truth. I speak the truth, and nothing but the truth because the truth sets you free, period! I see you’re an Emanuel Steward fan, huh?
JENNA: We have him on quite often and I believe he’s a great trainer. He’s trained so many world champions—
TONEY: Anybody can come in the last minute and train somebody and come in and take the lead the last week and take credit for it. You don’t see him making champions like Freddie Roach.
JENNA: What about Tommy Hearns? He trained Tommy Hearns from the amateurs.
TONEY: No, no, no, no! That’s my trainer. Bill Miller was the original trainer of Tommy Hearns. If you want to bet me on that, we can call up Bill Miller right now! He’s 95 years old and still alive and he’ll tell you the f*cking truth! So look! Let me tell you something! I don’t know how old you are or how long you’ve been in the game, but apparently you’re brand new to this because you don’t know what the f*ck you’re talking about!
JENNA: I know what I’m talking about. I’ve interviewed him. He trained him from the amateurs into the professionals.
TONEY: Okay! That’s what he says! That’s what he says! But ask the mother*ckers around here! Okay!
JENNA: Okay, okay James. Let’s change the subject because we don’t need to argue about this. Let’s talk about you. If you do not get the fight with Denis Lebedev, what are your options?
TONEY: Well like I said I’ll fight anybody, anywhere, anytime. I want to fight the best opposition out there, Tarver, Hopkins, you know like I said, whoever.
JENNA: Alright well what about Alexander Povetkin? He just won a portion of the heavyweight title. Would that fight interest you?
TONEY: Oh no doubt! 100%! The more the merrier, whoever wants to dance let’s make it happen.
JENNA: People have been complaining about whether or not that fight should have been for a real belt. Do you think if you win that fight you would be considered a champion?
TONEY: Of course! See number one, my name is gold! So everybody already knows I’m the real deal. A belt don’t make James Toney! James Toney makes the belt, so I’m not even worried about that. All we get to do is get him and make it happen. I’m pretty sure after I beat this guy Denis, if the fight does materialize I’ll take care of my business and everybody will see that I’m the new heavyweight champion.
JENNA: How great do you think it would be for boxing to once again have an American holding a heavyweight title belt around his waist?
TONEY: Well we do have an American heavyweight champion! I am! Like I said the belt don’t make me, I make the belt. What people need to understand, I’m not falling into the boxing politics. I don’t do that. It ain’t my thing. I’m an old school fighter and I’m going to keep on rumbling and do this damn thing right! And I’m going to get it right! One day it’s going to happen!
JENNA: How do you feel now, now that you’re at a lighter weight? Do you feel better? Do you feel stronger? Do you feel like you can do better in the ring now that you’re down a little bit in weight?
TONEY: Yeah, I feel pretty good. I feel excellent. I’m going to feel better when I get closer to 190. I’ll feel even greater, but right now I’m just going to take it one day at a time. That’s all I can do.
CIANI: Your last fight against Damon Reed, that was one of the longest layoffs you had in your career between professional fights in a boxing ring. How did you feel after the long layoff? Did you feel any rust at all or anything like that?
TONEY: To be honest with you I felt like sh*t and I looked like sh*t, and I already knew what the problem was because I had been out for so long and it wasn’t my fault! I’ve been trying to fight but there ain’t anybody who wants to fight. Like I said in this new age of boxing there ain’t anybody trying to fight nobody! If you’re a top ten fighter and you want to get a shot at the title, you should fight another top ten fighter, period! It’s a shame for boxing fans. That’s why we’re losing our fans from boxing to MMA, because we’re not putting the fights on that everybody wants to see. So my thing right now is now that I’m back, I’m healthy and 100%, I’ll make sure everybody gets their money’s worth.
CIANI: Was there any doubt in your mind before that time, that you were going to return to the boxing ring in the midst of that long layoff?
TONEY: Oh yeah, no doubt! I’m still doing both. I’m enjoying myself and having fun again. It’s like anybody. Whoever enjoys their job they’re going to want to go to work every day, and that’s what I do! I can’t wait to wake up and go to the gym and work out every day. The excitement is back!
CIANI: So would you say that’s what keeps you motivated to keep going at this stage?
TONEY: Oh what keeps me motivated is to go down as the best ever, period. I’ve done something that no one has ever done. You have people who move from middleweight to heavyweight and don’t do too well. I’ve been able to do it constantly. Roy won the title and went down. I stayed and I competed against the big guys in the division. I have done very well! I’ve beaten them!
CIANI: You mentioned before James that the fans aren’t getting to see a lot of the fights they want to see, and the fight that immediately jumps to mind when you say that of course is Pacquiao versus Mayweather. They both have upcoming fights. Pacquiao is fighting Juan Manuel Marquez for a third time and Mayweather’s fighting Victor Ortiz. Do you think fans will ever get to see that fight?
TONEY: It’s going to have to happen one way or another because the fights they’re fighting are garbage! Victor Ortiz? Come on! The guy quit on national TV a couple of years ago. And Juan Manuel Marquez? I don’t know how he even got into the Pacquiao sweepstakes, but it is what it is. So it’s going to have to happen eventually.
CIANI: Have you been watching the 24/7 series at all for the buildup to Mayweather-Ortiz, and if so what do you think of it?
TONEY: It’s a good series. You know it’s okay, it could be better, but it is what it is. I think Mayweather is probably a lot better. Victor doesn’t look like he’s really sure of himself. You know what I’m saying? That’s what I’m saying, because I’ve seen fighters like that for 25 years, almost 25 years as a professional. So I know the fight game inside and out from the promoter’s point of view to the fighter’s point of view. So I’m not convinced.
JENNA: Alright well James we just have a couple of more questions before we let you off the line. You mentioned David Haye, or as you call him David “Gaye”. Seeing as he upset a lot of boxing fans with his last performance in the ring against Wladimir Klitschko, how much would you like to get in the ring with him?
TONEY: If he wants to come to the United States we’ll do it! I ain’t got no problem with knocking him out here on US soil and then he can back to Britain with the rest of the fans over there and do what he does. David is nothing special. Like I said, all of these opponents are hand-selected. If you look at my record, even from my first pro fight, my opponents have never been hand-selected. I fought the best and toughest guys out there. All of the fighters of today’s era couldn’t last when I was coming up. There ain’t a chance! They get protected too much.
JENNA: Alright now James you mentioned all the great fighters you fought in your career. Do you have any regrets now? At the age of 43 do you think you could have done anything differently?
TONEY: Yeah! If I would have gotten serious and motivated for the Roy Jones fight you guys would have never heard of him again! But it is what it is, I made a mistake and I paid for it!
JENNA: Okay James, well some people are saying you’re getting towards the end of your career. Realistically how much longer do you see yourself boxing?
TONEY: I can do this as long as I want to! There is no reason to end my career. Ya’ll say it, but my career is going to go as long as I want it to go. I’m not going t o let anybody tell me when I have to go. I feel like I’m just getting started, I’m fresh again, so we’ll see!
JENNA: How would you feel if Evander Holyfield, who you beat eight years ago, gets a title shot before you do?
TONEY: Well I expected that, because they do a lot of ass-kissing in their camp so I can’t worry about that. I can’t worry about what another man does.
JENNA: Well I have one final question. There are a lot of James Toney fans out there in the world. Is there anything you want to say to them?
TONEY: Yeah, I love them! Keep on moving! We ain’t done. We’re just getting this party started. I promise you!
JENNA: Alright, take it easy James and we wish you the best of luck with all your future fights.
TONEY: Alright.
CIANI: Thank you James, best of luck.
Haye Breaks His Silence, Says He Will Delay Retirement For A Return With Wladimir Or
By James Slater: As fans know, former WBA heavyweight champ David Haye has been extremely quiet ever since his humbling, heavy points defeat at the hands of Wladimir Klitschko. Barely a peep has been heard from “The Hayemaker” since the July 2nd fight, yet he has at last broken his silence. Haye, never one to have a softly-softly approach, hasn’t lost the ability to talk trash as a result of his second pro loss.
Speaking with German paper BILD, Haye said he will delay his planned October 13th retirement for six months - if he is given either a return with Wladimir, or a shot at WBC king Vitali. Haye, once again showing he has not been blessed with a quiet or retiring nature, went as far as to “dare” Vitali to give him a chance. Haye also referred to tonight’s WBC title challenger Tomasz Adamek as a “Polish plum.”
“If I am given a rematch against Wladimir - which I do not believe I will - or Vitali will fight me, I will postpone my retirement for six months,” Haye said. “I’ve considered everything after talking to my family and meeting with Lennox Lewis in Jamaica. Lewis gave me some tips on how to beat Vitali, just like he did in 2003. I will keep my fingers crossed Klitschko wins [against Adamek]. I want him to clean up this Polish plum Adamek and retain his title, so that he will fight me.
“Vitali should give me the chance, if he dares. He is supposed to have a dangerous punch, which I doubt.”
In all honesty, though these quotes are said to have come directly from Haye in speaking with BILD (I read them on Yahoo! Sports.com), I have trouble believing Haye actually said as many brash, disrespectful things as the quotes make out - either that or Haye drank too much rum whilst in Jamaica! “If Vitali “dare” give him a fight?! Who is Haye kidding? And besides offending every Polish boxing fan with his “Polish plum” reference, Haye will have done himself no favours with regards to the German fans.
Vitali himself has said a few times that he wants very much to “put Haye in the dust,” so it seems Haye has a great chance of getting a shot at the WBC crown if “Dr. Iron Fist” wins tonight. Vitali wants to punish Haye for the bad things he said in the run-up to the fight with Wladimir - he will surely only want to punish the Londoner even more after reading these statements by the former cruiserweight king!
Haye also spoke about his loss to Wladimir, stating that “Dr. Steel Hammer” had most things on his side during the big fight.
“Wladimir couldn’t put me down and he had the referee, judges and fans on his side,” Haye said. “I had no real chance.”
Is Haye daring to suggest the judges went against him in an unfair manner? If he is, he is badly mistaken. No way was Wladimir the recipient of anything but a fair and well deserved points victory. And as for Haye saying he had “no real chance” - that’s what happens when you do not throw anywhere near enough punches.
Does Haye deserve a shot at Vitali, as he says he does? In real terms, there is probably nobody who would generate as much cash or interest when it comes to facing Vitali, and for this reason Haye may get another big pay day. It seems also, that Haye is using his old trash-talk and insults game to ensure Vitali agrees to fight him.
“Vitali is 40 and will stop at some point,” he said. “For his finale, there is no opponent better than me. And I would send him into retirement, but without his belt.”
There is no doubt, the loser of a Vitali-Haye fight would have to look at retirement. But has Haye said anything much else fans will be able to agree with?
By James Slater: As fans know, former WBA heavyweight champ David Haye has been extremely quiet ever since his humbling, heavy points defeat at the hands of Wladimir Klitschko. Barely a peep has been heard from “The Hayemaker” since the July 2nd fight, yet he has at last broken his silence. Haye, never one to have a softly-softly approach, hasn’t lost the ability to talk trash as a result of his second pro loss.
Speaking with German paper BILD, Haye said he will delay his planned October 13th retirement for six months - if he is given either a return with Wladimir, or a shot at WBC king Vitali. Haye, once again showing he has not been blessed with a quiet or retiring nature, went as far as to “dare” Vitali to give him a chance. Haye also referred to tonight’s WBC title challenger Tomasz Adamek as a “Polish plum.”
“If I am given a rematch against Wladimir - which I do not believe I will - or Vitali will fight me, I will postpone my retirement for six months,” Haye said. “I’ve considered everything after talking to my family and meeting with Lennox Lewis in Jamaica. Lewis gave me some tips on how to beat Vitali, just like he did in 2003. I will keep my fingers crossed Klitschko wins [against Adamek]. I want him to clean up this Polish plum Adamek and retain his title, so that he will fight me.
“Vitali should give me the chance, if he dares. He is supposed to have a dangerous punch, which I doubt.”
In all honesty, though these quotes are said to have come directly from Haye in speaking with BILD (I read them on Yahoo! Sports.com), I have trouble believing Haye actually said as many brash, disrespectful things as the quotes make out - either that or Haye drank too much rum whilst in Jamaica! “If Vitali “dare” give him a fight?! Who is Haye kidding? And besides offending every Polish boxing fan with his “Polish plum” reference, Haye will have done himself no favours with regards to the German fans.
Vitali himself has said a few times that he wants very much to “put Haye in the dust,” so it seems Haye has a great chance of getting a shot at the WBC crown if “Dr. Iron Fist” wins tonight. Vitali wants to punish Haye for the bad things he said in the run-up to the fight with Wladimir - he will surely only want to punish the Londoner even more after reading these statements by the former cruiserweight king!
Haye also spoke about his loss to Wladimir, stating that “Dr. Steel Hammer” had most things on his side during the big fight.
“Wladimir couldn’t put me down and he had the referee, judges and fans on his side,” Haye said. “I had no real chance.”
Is Haye daring to suggest the judges went against him in an unfair manner? If he is, he is badly mistaken. No way was Wladimir the recipient of anything but a fair and well deserved points victory. And as for Haye saying he had “no real chance” - that’s what happens when you do not throw anywhere near enough punches.
Does Haye deserve a shot at Vitali, as he says he does? In real terms, there is probably nobody who would generate as much cash or interest when it comes to facing Vitali, and for this reason Haye may get another big pay day. It seems also, that Haye is using his old trash-talk and insults game to ensure Vitali agrees to fight him.
“Vitali is 40 and will stop at some point,” he said. “For his finale, there is no opponent better than me. And I would send him into retirement, but without his belt.”
There is no doubt, the loser of a Vitali-Haye fight would have to look at retirement. But has Haye said anything much else fans will be able to agree with?
Yuriorkis Gamboa “Done At 126,” Wants Mega-Fight With Pacquiao
By James Slater: Yuriokis Gamboa, one of the fastest fighters alive today, proved to be way too fast for the heavy-handed but plodding Daniel Ponce De Leon last night. The sizzling Cuban won via shut-out technical decision when the fight was stopped in the 8th due to a bad cut suffered by the Mexican.
Gamboa never got the KO he and his fans were perhaps hoping for, but he thoroughly dominated a very dangerous, word class opponent. But Gamboa, now 21-0(16) struggled mightily to make featherweight for one last time (in fact neither he nor De Leon made 126, the fight being fought at 127) and he says his days of fighting at featherweight are definitely over and done with.
“I’m done at 126,” Gamboa said post-fight. “There’s nothing left for me to prove. I want to fight the best boxers in the world. Living legends like Manny Pacquiao. Bring on the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world.”
Gamboa himself is now deserving of a place in the top six or so P-4-P, at least in my view, but how great can the Cuban defector become? His sights set incredibly high, Gamboa sure wants to take on some seriously talented, greatness-defining opposition. But at just over 5’5” and with a reach of 65,” is there a realistic chance Gamboa will ever get to face Manny Pacquiao?
Gamboa can certainly continue to dominate up at 130-pounds, maybe even 135 - but 140 looks just too much for him. There are some potentially thrilling match-ups for Gamboa at 130 and 135, but will the 29-year-old phenom remain unsatisfied until he gets a crack at P-4-P king Pac-Man?
Such a match-up, if it could be held at a catch-weight of, say, 137-pounds, would be an absolutely massive attraction and a huge event. Pac-Man’s incredible speed and power Vs. Gamboa’s blurring speed and power! Just imagine the raw excitement that would take place in mid-ring. But will Pacquiao, now happy fighting at welterweight (even though his next fight will be fought at a catch-weight of 144), feel the need to come back down to accommodate Gamboa?
At 5’6.5” and with a reach of 67,” Pac-Man is not that much bigger, taller or longer-armed than Gamboa, so you never know, such a match-up might not prove to be such a flight of fancy. The weight issue will prove to be the sticking point though. But to repeat: what a truly exciting occasion it would be if Pacquiao and Gamboa met some time next year. What a great fight it would almost certainly be.
In the meantime, while Pac-Man takes care of business - first in his third fight with Juan Manuel Marquez and then, who knows, against Floyd Mayweather - Gamboa will begin his climb up the divisions. Gamboa, in my opinion, is certainly more than capable of causing carnage at super-featherweight; a division that has no real standout star. And as for the 135-pound division, the idea of Gamboa against the likes of Brandon Rios or (if he moves back down) Juan Manuel Marquez sends shivers down the spine!
Gamboa is set to become one of the biggest lower-weight stars in boxing I feel, with wins over the likes of Rios and, if the fight can still be made, Juan Manuel Lopez making him such a star. It would be a winning fight with Pac-Man that would make Gamboa a mega-star though. Will the fight ever happen?
By James Slater: Yuriokis Gamboa, one of the fastest fighters alive today, proved to be way too fast for the heavy-handed but plodding Daniel Ponce De Leon last night. The sizzling Cuban won via shut-out technical decision when the fight was stopped in the 8th due to a bad cut suffered by the Mexican.
Gamboa never got the KO he and his fans were perhaps hoping for, but he thoroughly dominated a very dangerous, word class opponent. But Gamboa, now 21-0(16) struggled mightily to make featherweight for one last time (in fact neither he nor De Leon made 126, the fight being fought at 127) and he says his days of fighting at featherweight are definitely over and done with.
“I’m done at 126,” Gamboa said post-fight. “There’s nothing left for me to prove. I want to fight the best boxers in the world. Living legends like Manny Pacquiao. Bring on the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world.”
Gamboa himself is now deserving of a place in the top six or so P-4-P, at least in my view, but how great can the Cuban defector become? His sights set incredibly high, Gamboa sure wants to take on some seriously talented, greatness-defining opposition. But at just over 5’5” and with a reach of 65,” is there a realistic chance Gamboa will ever get to face Manny Pacquiao?
Gamboa can certainly continue to dominate up at 130-pounds, maybe even 135 - but 140 looks just too much for him. There are some potentially thrilling match-ups for Gamboa at 130 and 135, but will the 29-year-old phenom remain unsatisfied until he gets a crack at P-4-P king Pac-Man?
Such a match-up, if it could be held at a catch-weight of, say, 137-pounds, would be an absolutely massive attraction and a huge event. Pac-Man’s incredible speed and power Vs. Gamboa’s blurring speed and power! Just imagine the raw excitement that would take place in mid-ring. But will Pacquiao, now happy fighting at welterweight (even though his next fight will be fought at a catch-weight of 144), feel the need to come back down to accommodate Gamboa?
At 5’6.5” and with a reach of 67,” Pac-Man is not that much bigger, taller or longer-armed than Gamboa, so you never know, such a match-up might not prove to be such a flight of fancy. The weight issue will prove to be the sticking point though. But to repeat: what a truly exciting occasion it would be if Pacquiao and Gamboa met some time next year. What a great fight it would almost certainly be.
In the meantime, while Pac-Man takes care of business - first in his third fight with Juan Manuel Marquez and then, who knows, against Floyd Mayweather - Gamboa will begin his climb up the divisions. Gamboa, in my opinion, is certainly more than capable of causing carnage at super-featherweight; a division that has no real standout star. And as for the 135-pound division, the idea of Gamboa against the likes of Brandon Rios or (if he moves back down) Juan Manuel Marquez sends shivers down the spine!
Gamboa is set to become one of the biggest lower-weight stars in boxing I feel, with wins over the likes of Rios and, if the fight can still be made, Juan Manuel Lopez making him such a star. It would be a winning fight with Pac-Man that would make Gamboa a mega-star though. Will the fight ever happen?
Maidana: I’m willing to fight McCloskey next
By Scott Gilfoid: WBA light welterweight champion Marcos Maidana congratulated Paul McCloskey (23-1, 12 KO’s) for beating Colombian Breidis Prescott (24-3, 19 KO’s) by a 12 round decision in their WBA light welterweight title eliminator last weekend in McCloskey’s home country of Ireland.
Maidana says he’s willing to fight McCloskey next, saying on his twitter “Congrats on your win. You know sometimes fighters ourselves don’t decide 100 percent in boxing [about who to fight], but I’m willing to face you with respect.”
The Maidana-McCloskey is a lot less appealing than a Maidana vs. Prescott fight, however, because McCloskey spends much of his time trying not to get hit and doesn’t usually attack until he gets desperate late in his fights like he did against Prescott.
I sat down watched the fight twice and I couldn’t give a round to McCloskey in the first seven rounds. He simply wasn’t throwing nearly enough punches to win any of the first seven rounds of the fight to be honest. McCloskey was throwing a lot of shots that missed completely or hit gloves, but the funny thing is the Irish crowd roared each time even though McCloskey was missing by a mile.
The Sky broadcasters even acknowledged how bleak things were looking for McCloskey. In the 8th, McCloskey came on and clearly won the round with some nice body shots. However, in the 9th round Prescott totally dominated the first half of the rounds with a ton of really hard head shots. Prescott’s momentum was slowed when he hit McCloskey on the belt-line with a shot, and McCloskey backed away as if it was a low shot. It wasn’t low. It was on the belt line – the white board of McCloskey’s belt.
McCloskey then milked the low blow for at least a minute to try and recoup because he was taking a horrendous beating in the round. In the meantime, Prescott was given a stern warning by the British referee for throwing a beltline [Read: legal] shot. It was pretty silly. After McCloskey had rested enough, the action was finally resumed and McCloskey landed a small handful of shots but still ate a lot of jabs in the final seconds. The funny thing is in the last seconds of the round, McCloskey tagged Prescott with a hard left hand low below the beltline right in front of the referee, yet he did nothing. No stoppage of the action, no warning, just nothing.
That kind of gave you an impression of what Prescott was up against in this fight. If that wasn’t bad enough, Prescott came out on fire in the 10th, blasting away at McCloskey and lighting him up for the entire round with head shots. One Sky analzyst correctly pointed out that McCloskey probably lost the round, while the other analyst said what a good job he did in the round and that he had won it. It was laughable.
No way could McCloskey have won the 10th, not in the real world. He was blasted around the ring the entire round, yet we got one Sky analyst saying he won it. I can only guess the way the judges scored. Prescott then dominated the 10th and 11th rounds, landing the better shots by far. All McCloskey could do was chase after him, missing over and over with his shots. He did land every now and then, but mostly he just missed badly, looking like an uncoordinated oaf. The Irish crowd didn’t care, cheering madly as if the guy was actually landing. Let me be clear on this: The only one landing consistently was Prescott. McCloskey was just missing.
In the 12th round, McCloskey came out fast, energized by the ravenous Irish crowd, and missing like usual over and over. He did finally connect with some shots when he got in close and landed to the body. However, Prescott came back late in the round and staggered McCloskey with three big right hands and a left hook to the head. As the round ended, McCloskey was staggering around like a sailor coming out of a bar, bloody, disoriented.
McCloskey continued to staggered even after the fight was over. I don’t know about you, but in the U.S that’s a round that would have gone to Prescott. It’s kind of a no brainer, really. When a fighter gets staggered as badly as McCloskey did, they lose the round, period. But I guess not in Ireland, because the Sky analysts were saying McCloskey won the round. It’s totally hilarious yet sad at the same time. One of the brilliant Sky analysts upon noticing that Prescott and his team had immediately left the ring as soon as the decision was announced, ‘oh look, agree with the decision. They’re not even protesting the decision.’ Totally comical. How could someone be so clueless not to realize that when someone leaves the ring immediately after losing a bad deciion it’s a sign of disgust, not agreement.
Overall, I gave McCloskey one round and that’s it. I really feel sorry for Prescott to have to come all the way to Ireland, beat the stuffing out of McCloskey, and then got jobbed the way he did. It was pathetic. McCloskey doesn’t deserve to fight Maidana, and I really feel sorry for Maidana if he ends up traveling to Ireland to fight McCloskey, because McCloskey’s promoter Eddie Hearn wants that to happen. All I can say is I sure hope Maidana knocks him out, because that’s the only way I can see him winning
By Scott Gilfoid: WBA light welterweight champion Marcos Maidana congratulated Paul McCloskey (23-1, 12 KO’s) for beating Colombian Breidis Prescott (24-3, 19 KO’s) by a 12 round decision in their WBA light welterweight title eliminator last weekend in McCloskey’s home country of Ireland.
Maidana says he’s willing to fight McCloskey next, saying on his twitter “Congrats on your win. You know sometimes fighters ourselves don’t decide 100 percent in boxing [about who to fight], but I’m willing to face you with respect.”
The Maidana-McCloskey is a lot less appealing than a Maidana vs. Prescott fight, however, because McCloskey spends much of his time trying not to get hit and doesn’t usually attack until he gets desperate late in his fights like he did against Prescott.
I sat down watched the fight twice and I couldn’t give a round to McCloskey in the first seven rounds. He simply wasn’t throwing nearly enough punches to win any of the first seven rounds of the fight to be honest. McCloskey was throwing a lot of shots that missed completely or hit gloves, but the funny thing is the Irish crowd roared each time even though McCloskey was missing by a mile.
The Sky broadcasters even acknowledged how bleak things were looking for McCloskey. In the 8th, McCloskey came on and clearly won the round with some nice body shots. However, in the 9th round Prescott totally dominated the first half of the rounds with a ton of really hard head shots. Prescott’s momentum was slowed when he hit McCloskey on the belt-line with a shot, and McCloskey backed away as if it was a low shot. It wasn’t low. It was on the belt line – the white board of McCloskey’s belt.
McCloskey then milked the low blow for at least a minute to try and recoup because he was taking a horrendous beating in the round. In the meantime, Prescott was given a stern warning by the British referee for throwing a beltline [Read: legal] shot. It was pretty silly. After McCloskey had rested enough, the action was finally resumed and McCloskey landed a small handful of shots but still ate a lot of jabs in the final seconds. The funny thing is in the last seconds of the round, McCloskey tagged Prescott with a hard left hand low below the beltline right in front of the referee, yet he did nothing. No stoppage of the action, no warning, just nothing.
That kind of gave you an impression of what Prescott was up against in this fight. If that wasn’t bad enough, Prescott came out on fire in the 10th, blasting away at McCloskey and lighting him up for the entire round with head shots. One Sky analzyst correctly pointed out that McCloskey probably lost the round, while the other analyst said what a good job he did in the round and that he had won it. It was laughable.
No way could McCloskey have won the 10th, not in the real world. He was blasted around the ring the entire round, yet we got one Sky analyst saying he won it. I can only guess the way the judges scored. Prescott then dominated the 10th and 11th rounds, landing the better shots by far. All McCloskey could do was chase after him, missing over and over with his shots. He did land every now and then, but mostly he just missed badly, looking like an uncoordinated oaf. The Irish crowd didn’t care, cheering madly as if the guy was actually landing. Let me be clear on this: The only one landing consistently was Prescott. McCloskey was just missing.
In the 12th round, McCloskey came out fast, energized by the ravenous Irish crowd, and missing like usual over and over. He did finally connect with some shots when he got in close and landed to the body. However, Prescott came back late in the round and staggered McCloskey with three big right hands and a left hook to the head. As the round ended, McCloskey was staggering around like a sailor coming out of a bar, bloody, disoriented.
McCloskey continued to staggered even after the fight was over. I don’t know about you, but in the U.S that’s a round that would have gone to Prescott. It’s kind of a no brainer, really. When a fighter gets staggered as badly as McCloskey did, they lose the round, period. But I guess not in Ireland, because the Sky analysts were saying McCloskey won the round. It’s totally hilarious yet sad at the same time. One of the brilliant Sky analysts upon noticing that Prescott and his team had immediately left the ring as soon as the decision was announced, ‘oh look, agree with the decision. They’re not even protesting the decision.’ Totally comical. How could someone be so clueless not to realize that when someone leaves the ring immediately after losing a bad deciion it’s a sign of disgust, not agreement.
Overall, I gave McCloskey one round and that’s it. I really feel sorry for Prescott to have to come all the way to Ireland, beat the stuffing out of McCloskey, and then got jobbed the way he did. It was pathetic. McCloskey doesn’t deserve to fight Maidana, and I really feel sorry for Maidana if he ends up traveling to Ireland to fight McCloskey, because McCloskey’s promoter Eddie Hearn wants that to happen. All I can say is I sure hope Maidana knocks him out, because that’s the only way I can see him winning
Morales vs. Cano: Erik in tough fight for vacant WBC title this Saturday
By Jim Dower: Former three time world champion Erik “El Terrible” Morales (51-7, 35 KO’s) is matched tough this coming Saturday night in a fight against rising unbeaten contender Pablo Cesar Cano (22-0-1, 17 KO’s) for the vacant WBC light welterweight title at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Morales, 35, will be attempting to capture a 4th world title in facing the young 21-year-old power puncher Cano. Besides the belt that’s on the line, Morales stands to gain a lot with a victory on Saturday because he’s got some bit potential fights on the horizon, such as Amir Khan and Marcos Maidana.
While Cano does have good power his hand speed and defense need a lot of work. He didn’t impress all that much in his fight a year ago against Oscar Leon in a 10 split decision win. I had Leon winning that fight, as he took advantage of Cano’s slow hand speed and poor defense to land a lot of shots. Although it was close at the end, I still saw Leon as the better fighter.
Cano, ranked #12 WBC, is a replacement opponent for Lucas Matthysse who pulled out of the fight due to a lingering viral infection that got in the way of Matthysse’s training. With the other contenders ranked ahead of Cano busy with fights, Cano got the call. However, he’s still good enough to beat Morales because of his power and youth. Morales isn’t the same fighter he once was and even a fringe contender like Cano is a real threat to him at this point in his career.
By Jim Dower: Former three time world champion Erik “El Terrible” Morales (51-7, 35 KO’s) is matched tough this coming Saturday night in a fight against rising unbeaten contender Pablo Cesar Cano (22-0-1, 17 KO’s) for the vacant WBC light welterweight title at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Morales, 35, will be attempting to capture a 4th world title in facing the young 21-year-old power puncher Cano. Besides the belt that’s on the line, Morales stands to gain a lot with a victory on Saturday because he’s got some bit potential fights on the horizon, such as Amir Khan and Marcos Maidana.
While Cano does have good power his hand speed and defense need a lot of work. He didn’t impress all that much in his fight a year ago against Oscar Leon in a 10 split decision win. I had Leon winning that fight, as he took advantage of Cano’s slow hand speed and poor defense to land a lot of shots. Although it was close at the end, I still saw Leon as the better fighter.
Cano, ranked #12 WBC, is a replacement opponent for Lucas Matthysse who pulled out of the fight due to a lingering viral infection that got in the way of Matthysse’s training. With the other contenders ranked ahead of Cano busy with fights, Cano got the call. However, he’s still good enough to beat Morales because of his power and youth. Morales isn’t the same fighter he once was and even a fringe contender like Cano is a real threat to him at this point in his career.
Mayweather contradicts himself
By John F. McKenna (McJack): Floyd Mayweather Jr. (41-0, 25 KO’s) who faces WBC welterweight title holder Victor Ortiz (29-2-2, 22 KO’s) next Saturday night at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas has given conflicting comments to reporters with regard to a possible future fight with WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao (53-3-2, 38 KO’s).
In July Floyd was quoted by Associated Content at a press conference in New York City to hype his September 17 fight with Victor Ortiz saying:
“We’re only going to fight the biggest and the best out there and Manny Pacquiao, yes, your next.”
But more recently Mayweather said the following when reminded by reporters of his earlier comments:
“I never said that. I never said that at all. Don’t put words in my mouth because the media is good at doing that.”
The problem Floyd Mayweather Jr. has is that he did in fact make those comments in July telling Manny Pacquiao “yes your next.” The quote was made on videotape for everyone to see and hear as was the follow up quote denying it.
Floyd is normally comfortable in front of the media and cameras so it is a little bit unusual for him to fall into the trap of saying one thing on camera and a few weeks later contradicting himself also on camera. To make matters worse “Money” accused the reporters who were present of putting words in his mouth.
The question many are asking is how much stock can be put into anything that comes out of the Mayweather camp when what is said this week is no longer relevant a few weeks later?
No one questions that Floyd is perhaps the best fighter of this generation. But there is increasing frustration by reporters who would like a legitimate answer as to when and if a fight with Manny Pacquiao is viable. The pat answer of “Manny just take the test” will no longer suffice and is an over simplification of the complexities of putting such a fight together.
Manny Pacquiao has put Floyd on the defensive by saying that he will be retiring after two or three more fights. He has also said that his legacy is secure with having won championships in eight different divisions and having won fighter of the year and decade awards as well as being universally acknowledged to be the Pound for Pound best fighter in the world.
The ball is now in Floyd Mayweather’s court.
By John F. McKenna (McJack): Floyd Mayweather Jr. (41-0, 25 KO’s) who faces WBC welterweight title holder Victor Ortiz (29-2-2, 22 KO’s) next Saturday night at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas has given conflicting comments to reporters with regard to a possible future fight with WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao (53-3-2, 38 KO’s).
In July Floyd was quoted by Associated Content at a press conference in New York City to hype his September 17 fight with Victor Ortiz saying:
“We’re only going to fight the biggest and the best out there and Manny Pacquiao, yes, your next.”
But more recently Mayweather said the following when reminded by reporters of his earlier comments:
“I never said that. I never said that at all. Don’t put words in my mouth because the media is good at doing that.”
The problem Floyd Mayweather Jr. has is that he did in fact make those comments in July telling Manny Pacquiao “yes your next.” The quote was made on videotape for everyone to see and hear as was the follow up quote denying it.
Floyd is normally comfortable in front of the media and cameras so it is a little bit unusual for him to fall into the trap of saying one thing on camera and a few weeks later contradicting himself also on camera. To make matters worse “Money” accused the reporters who were present of putting words in his mouth.
The question many are asking is how much stock can be put into anything that comes out of the Mayweather camp when what is said this week is no longer relevant a few weeks later?
No one questions that Floyd is perhaps the best fighter of this generation. But there is increasing frustration by reporters who would like a legitimate answer as to when and if a fight with Manny Pacquiao is viable. The pat answer of “Manny just take the test” will no longer suffice and is an over simplification of the complexities of putting such a fight together.
Manny Pacquiao has put Floyd on the defensive by saying that he will be retiring after two or three more fights. He has also said that his legacy is secure with having won championships in eight different divisions and having won fighter of the year and decade awards as well as being universally acknowledged to be the Pound for Pound best fighter in the world.
The ball is now in Floyd Mayweather’s court.
Haye: Lennox Lewis gave me tips on how to beat Vitali Klitschko
By Sean McDaniel: David Haye (25-2, 23 KO’s) feels confident that he can beat WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko (43-2, 40 KO’s) after a recent meeting Haye had with former world champion Lennox Lewis in Jamaica. During a trip around the Island, Lewis gave Haye the secrets on how to beat the 40-year-old Vitali.
Lewis used this knowledge to tear Vitali’s face apart and badly hurt him with uppercuts in his 6th round TKO stoppage in 2003. And now Lewis has given that knowledge to Haye.
“Lennox gave me some tips on how to beat Vitali, just like he did in 2003…Yeah, man, my broken toe is ok again…There is no better opponent than me. I would send him into retirement, but without his championship belt.”
Haye wants Vitali’s World Boxing Council heavyweight strap so that he can use the win and the title to anger Vitali’s brother IBF/WBA/WBO heavyweight champion Wladmir Klitschko into fighting him again. Wladimir beat Haye by a 12 round unanimous decision last July, but Haye feels he was hampered in that fight due to a broken right toe which prevented him from driving forward to throw his right hand haymaker shots.
Without the ability to put all his energy into his right hands because of the injury, Haye could do little more than move around on the outside and land shots every now and then. Haye wants to prove that the fighter that loss to Wladimir wasn’t him at his best. Against Vitali, Haye won’t fight unless he’s 100 percent healthy because he realizes now how important it is to go into his fights completely healthy.
As far as Lewis’ secret tips go, he likely told Haye to hit Vitali with uppercuts in close because Vitali is a sucker for an uppercut because of the way he leans forward. You also got to use a lot of movement and fakes to keep Vitali from being able to predict what Haye is going to do in the ring.
By Sean McDaniel: David Haye (25-2, 23 KO’s) feels confident that he can beat WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko (43-2, 40 KO’s) after a recent meeting Haye had with former world champion Lennox Lewis in Jamaica. During a trip around the Island, Lewis gave Haye the secrets on how to beat the 40-year-old Vitali.
Lewis used this knowledge to tear Vitali’s face apart and badly hurt him with uppercuts in his 6th round TKO stoppage in 2003. And now Lewis has given that knowledge to Haye.
“Lennox gave me some tips on how to beat Vitali, just like he did in 2003…Yeah, man, my broken toe is ok again…There is no better opponent than me. I would send him into retirement, but without his championship belt.”
Haye wants Vitali’s World Boxing Council heavyweight strap so that he can use the win and the title to anger Vitali’s brother IBF/WBA/WBO heavyweight champion Wladmir Klitschko into fighting him again. Wladimir beat Haye by a 12 round unanimous decision last July, but Haye feels he was hampered in that fight due to a broken right toe which prevented him from driving forward to throw his right hand haymaker shots.
Without the ability to put all his energy into his right hands because of the injury, Haye could do little more than move around on the outside and land shots every now and then. Haye wants to prove that the fighter that loss to Wladimir wasn’t him at his best. Against Vitali, Haye won’t fight unless he’s 100 percent healthy because he realizes now how important it is to go into his fights completely healthy.
As far as Lewis’ secret tips go, he likely told Haye to hit Vitali with uppercuts in close because Vitali is a sucker for an uppercut because of the way he leans forward. You also got to use a lot of movement and fakes to keep Vitali from being able to predict what Haye is going to do in the ring.
Wladimir Likely To Face Jean Marc Mormeck Next
By James Slater: In his last fight, Ring Magazine, IBF, WBA, WBO heavyweight king Wladimir Klitschko defended against a former cruiserweight who had moved up in weight, and it looks extremely likely that “Dr. Steel Hammer” will meet another former 200-pound ruler in his next fight.
According to a source who spoke exclusively with Ring.tv.com, a December 10th fight between Wladimir and the French fighter is “virtually a done deal.”
“I am told that it’s very close,” the source said. There is no word yet on the venue of the fight.
Seeing as how the Klitschkos have pretty much cleaned out the entire heavyweight division, having ducked no-one, “The Marksman,” as 39-year-old Mormeck is known, is probably as decent a choice as any other contender out there. Sure, the former WBC and WBA cruiserweight champ who has won three decisions in a row since moving up, is too small and too lacking in power to be able to beat Wladimir, but he might make things interesting for a few rounds due to his speed and courage.
Mormeck, best known for his thrilling fights with O’Neil Bell (one win, one loss) and David Haye (a TKO loss) is a tough man and he believes winning the heavyweight title is his destiny. Then again, recent Vitali challenger Tomasz Adamek is as tough as they come and he too believed it was his calling to become world heavyweight king, and look what happened to him.
In all likelihood, we will see another Klitschko beat-down on December 10th. Mormeck, 36-4(22) could barely get past Fres Oquendo and, last time out, Timur Ibragimov, both decisions that went in the Frenchman’s favour being questioned by some, and it’s almost impossible to make a case for him against the mighty Wladimir.
Not a big puncher (no KO’s yet as a heavy) and too small in height (5’11.5”), weight (approx 215) and reach (74” to Wlad’s 81” wingspan), Mormeck will probably enter the ring as something approaching a 20-1 underdog. But again, who else is there for Wladimir to fight?
Mormeck will give it a go, perhaps being encouraged by a wildly supportive bunch of French fans if the fight takes place in his homeland (which could happen, seeing as how Wladimir said recently that the idea of a fight in France appeals to him), but he will be outgunned and outclassed, just like everyone else has been over the last seven years of Wladimir’s dominant run.
I can’t see Mormeck surviving past the 7th-round.
By James Slater: In his last fight, Ring Magazine, IBF, WBA, WBO heavyweight king Wladimir Klitschko defended against a former cruiserweight who had moved up in weight, and it looks extremely likely that “Dr. Steel Hammer” will meet another former 200-pound ruler in his next fight.
According to a source who spoke exclusively with Ring.tv.com, a December 10th fight between Wladimir and the French fighter is “virtually a done deal.”
“I am told that it’s very close,” the source said. There is no word yet on the venue of the fight.
Seeing as how the Klitschkos have pretty much cleaned out the entire heavyweight division, having ducked no-one, “The Marksman,” as 39-year-old Mormeck is known, is probably as decent a choice as any other contender out there. Sure, the former WBC and WBA cruiserweight champ who has won three decisions in a row since moving up, is too small and too lacking in power to be able to beat Wladimir, but he might make things interesting for a few rounds due to his speed and courage.
Mormeck, best known for his thrilling fights with O’Neil Bell (one win, one loss) and David Haye (a TKO loss) is a tough man and he believes winning the heavyweight title is his destiny. Then again, recent Vitali challenger Tomasz Adamek is as tough as they come and he too believed it was his calling to become world heavyweight king, and look what happened to him.
In all likelihood, we will see another Klitschko beat-down on December 10th. Mormeck, 36-4(22) could barely get past Fres Oquendo and, last time out, Timur Ibragimov, both decisions that went in the Frenchman’s favour being questioned by some, and it’s almost impossible to make a case for him against the mighty Wladimir.
Not a big puncher (no KO’s yet as a heavy) and too small in height (5’11.5”), weight (approx 215) and reach (74” to Wlad’s 81” wingspan), Mormeck will probably enter the ring as something approaching a 20-1 underdog. But again, who else is there for Wladimir to fight?
Mormeck will give it a go, perhaps being encouraged by a wildly supportive bunch of French fans if the fight takes place in his homeland (which could happen, seeing as how Wladimir said recently that the idea of a fight in France appeals to him), but he will be outgunned and outclassed, just like everyone else has been over the last seven years of Wladimir’s dominant run.
I can’t see Mormeck surviving past the 7th-round.