Boxing News Thread
- Thread starter heyzel
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I've doubted Calzaghe for years as well, and he has always proved me wrong. Lacy is a monster until Calzaghe beat him to the point people don't even care about him anymore. Shoulder injury etc, ya I know.
I'm just saying you can't say Calzaghe is ducking Pavlik. He's one of those fighters that people will always doubt because of his style. I wouldn't call him a protected fighter. He was wrecking shop when Pav's was still in the amatuers. People disregard he was cleaning the division by beating the likes of Omar Sheika, Charles Brewer, Byron Mitchell, etc. At that point in time, those were TOP tier fighters. He put a clinic on Lacy, beat Kessler, and Hopkins. What else does the guy have to do? He can retire right now and he is an all time great. It's just that he's a Euro fighter and they get slim to no credit out here.
Pav is bad ass. Believe me, I'm as big of a Kelly fan as the next person. He doesn't deserve a fight with Calzaghe yet. Pav's people would be crazy to make the fight happen. If he won, no one would care that much, and if he lost (very good chance he would), it would crush his record. Too early to blemish his career. Risky fight for both fighters.
I'm just saying you can't say Calzaghe is ducking Pavlik. He's one of those fighters that people will always doubt because of his style. I wouldn't call him a protected fighter. He was wrecking shop when Pav's was still in the amatuers. People disregard he was cleaning the division by beating the likes of Omar Sheika, Charles Brewer, Byron Mitchell, etc. At that point in time, those were TOP tier fighters. He put a clinic on Lacy, beat Kessler, and Hopkins. What else does the guy have to do? He can retire right now and he is an all time great. It's just that he's a Euro fighter and they get slim to no credit out here.
Pav is bad ass. Believe me, I'm as big of a Kelly fan as the next person. He doesn't deserve a fight with Calzaghe yet. Pav's people would be crazy to make the fight happen. If he won, no one would care that much, and if he lost (very good chance he would), it would crush his record. Too early to blemish his career. Risky fight for both fighters.
Not trying to emphasize on it too much, but Pav has beaten Jermain Taylor and Edison Miranda. You can't talk about anyone else on his resume. Niether of which Calzaghe would even give the time of day too, and out of those 2 names Miranda has the punchers chance. Other than that...they have nothin on him.
But Calzaghe would get KO'd by Pav? No way...
I've been on the bandwagon, but not at the front of the line.
But Calzaghe would get KO'd by Pav? No way...
I've been on the bandwagon, but not at the front of the line.
Yes, absolutely he was protected (not necessarily his fault, but his promoters) because he defended the WBO belt and didn't chase the other belts for 9 years! He won the WBO belt in 1997 and didn't fight another champion until 2006, against Lacy! That's being protected, or at the least, being very, very cautious.
And if Calzaghe isn’t ducking Pavlik, then he’s being very, very cautious again, because Jones is 40 now and well past his prime. Ironically though, if Roy Jones never left 168 pounds back in the day, Calzaghe wouldn’t have a career.
I give calzaghe a little credit for getting a split decision over a 43 year old version of Bernard Hopkins but not much because a). he looked like shit and b). if Hopkins would have been physically capable of throwing a few more punches per round he would have won the fight. If he wants to be an ATG, imo, he needs to fight the pavlik's or chad dawson's, not 40+ year olds that have one foot in retirement! Who's next after Roy Jones? Glen Jonson? He'll be 40 in a couple months
And if Calzaghe isn’t ducking Pavlik, then he’s being very, very cautious again, because Jones is 40 now and well past his prime. Ironically though, if Roy Jones never left 168 pounds back in the day, Calzaghe wouldn’t have a career.
I give calzaghe a little credit for getting a split decision over a 43 year old version of Bernard Hopkins but not much because a). he looked like shit and b). if Hopkins would have been physically capable of throwing a few more punches per round he would have won the fight. If he wants to be an ATG, imo, he needs to fight the pavlik's or chad dawson's, not 40+ year olds that have one foot in retirement! Who's next after Roy Jones? Glen Jonson? He'll be 40 in a couple months
Lou DiBella: "The Andre Berto Era Begins Saturday Night
By Jake Donovan
It began as simply his first HBO Boxing After Dark headliner. Sure, undefeated welterweight contender Andre Berto had already appeared on the network several times before (this will be his 5th fight on the self-proclaimed Network of Champions). But this weekend was to belong to him, the last fight of the developmental stage before the 2004 Olympian seeks bigger game.
Then, with a single move made by another, this weekend becomes about so much more. A win advances Berto from prospect contender to titlist even sooner than his team imagined.
A big enough win creates a new star in a welterweight division suddenly in need of a leader.
"We find out if the Andre Berto era begins this weekend," says promoter Lou DiBella of one of the brightest rising stars in the sport today. "You have the #1 and #2 contender fighting for a world title, and for my kid it's a dangerous type of fight. Miguel Rodriguez boasts one punch power, so Andre has to be careful. It's an interesting fight."
The fight headlines a doubleheader on HBO (Saturday, Memphis, TN 10PM ET/PT), presented by DiBella Entertainment and Prize Fight Boxing. DiBella the promoter has a vested interest in both slots, with Chazz Witherspoon, who joined the DBE stable last year, taking on Chris Arreola in a battle of undefeated American heavyweights.
While he'll be watching both fights with the same nervous energy that he always seems to carry, it's the Berto fight that can instantly represent bigger and better things to come for his promotional company.
"With Floyd Mayweather's retirement, the significance of Saturday's card dramatically increases. Not just because there's a title at stake, but there's a void to fill and Andre is at a point where we believe he's the guy to lead the division for years to come."
Berto first has to take care of what awaits him in the other corner this weekend. Some dismiss the fight as just another showcase for a young rising star. Those who believe this to be true are most likely unfamiliar with Rodriguez, merely going by his resume. Sometimes such a fight plays out exactly as it's laid out on paper. Other times, it becomes the very definition of low reward, and potentially high risk.
"Miki Rodriguez is a legit contender, but doesn't boast the same name recognition as the other top fighters in the division. Therefore, it's a test he not only has to pass, but deliver the best performance of his career. The fight has tremendous significance for Berto. He's only 24 years old, and is getting ready to hit his prime. From here, we want Shane Mosley, Zab Judah, Joshua Clottey and the other big names in the division."
What about the division's biggest name, at least at the moment?
"Obviously I leave Miguel Cotto off of the list for now, because I don't see Cotto fighting my kid. Berto's a beast and the money isn't huge. In the next few years when his rep grows he'll be a money fight. For now, sure a Cotto fight would be great, but we only want to pursue fights that can realistically be made in the immediate future. That's why a big win on Saturday night is so important, and not something that any of us – least of all Berto – is taking lightly."
There hasn't been a fight yet that Berto has overlooked, or could even afford to. Though he didn't leave Athens with a medal of any kind while representing Haiti in the 2004 Olympics, it was believed that Berto was among the most promising fighters from that crop of amateurs.
DiBella recognized it well before the Games began, and figured the kid to be exactly where he is today – in his stable, and on the verge of superstardom.
"Every so often, you get lucky enough to find that one kid who pans out exactly as you expected. One of the skills our company has is to discover young talent, to develop a young fighter from 0-0. It's fun to watch a fighter with the skills of Andre. He's done everything we've asked and has always risen to the occasion."
"I knew he was going to be a great pro the moment I saw him in the amateurs. I called him even before the Olympics began, and told him that no matter what happened, that I saw him as my first round draft pick. I thought he easily won his fight in the first round; he easily outlanded the kid (Xavier Noel), but wound up with a controversial loss. I believed he was the most skilled fighter out there, and had the perfect style for the pros."
So far so good, 21 fights later, only two of which came against upside-down opposition (fighters with losing records). It was an intentional path DiBella decided to travel in developing their blue chip prospect.
"Look at his record. From his fourth fight on, everybody he fought was above .500. In the past couple of years, he's had quality wins over David Estrada, Cosme Rivera - good learning-curve type of opponents. His last fight against Michel Trabant (which was on Boxing After Dark), he faced a solid European fighter, and ran through him with ease.
"It was then that we knew the developmental stage was coming to a close. Rodriguez represents the last step – a dangerous step, at that. With a win, it's onto the better known welterweight contenders."
Along with the hopes that Berto becomes one of them. All that his career is missing at the moment is instant recognition, which served as part of the motivation for bringing him back to Memphis for the third time in as many years. The fight has been well-received so far, with DiBella and Prize Fight recognizing their target audience, and pricing tickets accordingly.
"We priced the tickets really reasonable. We took into account the economy. There are $100 seats down to $25. I love Memphis; it's the third straight year I'm promoting a major event in the area. I love walking down Beale Street, I like the food. It's a great fight town, but also an area where the economy has been hit hard. I hope we have a nice crowd."
Having a newly crowned champion by night's end won't be so bad, either. On paper, the odds lie heavily in Berto's favor. The one question mark remains his chin, which seems to be the only area of disagreement when the young star's name is mentioned.
Suffering a knockdown against Cosme Rivera last summer on ESPN2 led some to believe that there was finally a chink in the armor, something that would stall Berto's progress. Others decided to see how he'd respond; Berto wound up winning every remaining round (though not before a little glove controversy in between rounds bought him extra recovery time), then came back strong two months later to stop David Estrada in 11 hard-fought rounds.
Whether a cynic or an optimist, all eyes will pay astute attention to Berto's ability to absorb – including DiBella's.
"Miki's a strong fighter; there's no question that his best chance at victory lies in his punch. He boasts one-punch power. As a promoter, I'd love for Andre to be careful every step of the way. But I'm confident that he's the better boxer, and the bigger and stronger guy, and that by night's end, my guy's hand will be raised."
An act which DiBella will recognize as more than just the 22nd win of his fighter's career.
"I truly believe the Andre Berto era begins this Saturday night."
By Jake Donovan
It began as simply his first HBO Boxing After Dark headliner. Sure, undefeated welterweight contender Andre Berto had already appeared on the network several times before (this will be his 5th fight on the self-proclaimed Network of Champions). But this weekend was to belong to him, the last fight of the developmental stage before the 2004 Olympian seeks bigger game.
Then, with a single move made by another, this weekend becomes about so much more. A win advances Berto from prospect contender to titlist even sooner than his team imagined.
A big enough win creates a new star in a welterweight division suddenly in need of a leader.
"We find out if the Andre Berto era begins this weekend," says promoter Lou DiBella of one of the brightest rising stars in the sport today. "You have the #1 and #2 contender fighting for a world title, and for my kid it's a dangerous type of fight. Miguel Rodriguez boasts one punch power, so Andre has to be careful. It's an interesting fight."
The fight headlines a doubleheader on HBO (Saturday, Memphis, TN 10PM ET/PT), presented by DiBella Entertainment and Prize Fight Boxing. DiBella the promoter has a vested interest in both slots, with Chazz Witherspoon, who joined the DBE stable last year, taking on Chris Arreola in a battle of undefeated American heavyweights.
While he'll be watching both fights with the same nervous energy that he always seems to carry, it's the Berto fight that can instantly represent bigger and better things to come for his promotional company.
"With Floyd Mayweather's retirement, the significance of Saturday's card dramatically increases. Not just because there's a title at stake, but there's a void to fill and Andre is at a point where we believe he's the guy to lead the division for years to come."
Berto first has to take care of what awaits him in the other corner this weekend. Some dismiss the fight as just another showcase for a young rising star. Those who believe this to be true are most likely unfamiliar with Rodriguez, merely going by his resume. Sometimes such a fight plays out exactly as it's laid out on paper. Other times, it becomes the very definition of low reward, and potentially high risk.
"Miki Rodriguez is a legit contender, but doesn't boast the same name recognition as the other top fighters in the division. Therefore, it's a test he not only has to pass, but deliver the best performance of his career. The fight has tremendous significance for Berto. He's only 24 years old, and is getting ready to hit his prime. From here, we want Shane Mosley, Zab Judah, Joshua Clottey and the other big names in the division."
What about the division's biggest name, at least at the moment?
"Obviously I leave Miguel Cotto off of the list for now, because I don't see Cotto fighting my kid. Berto's a beast and the money isn't huge. In the next few years when his rep grows he'll be a money fight. For now, sure a Cotto fight would be great, but we only want to pursue fights that can realistically be made in the immediate future. That's why a big win on Saturday night is so important, and not something that any of us – least of all Berto – is taking lightly."
There hasn't been a fight yet that Berto has overlooked, or could even afford to. Though he didn't leave Athens with a medal of any kind while representing Haiti in the 2004 Olympics, it was believed that Berto was among the most promising fighters from that crop of amateurs.
DiBella recognized it well before the Games began, and figured the kid to be exactly where he is today – in his stable, and on the verge of superstardom.
"Every so often, you get lucky enough to find that one kid who pans out exactly as you expected. One of the skills our company has is to discover young talent, to develop a young fighter from 0-0. It's fun to watch a fighter with the skills of Andre. He's done everything we've asked and has always risen to the occasion."
"I knew he was going to be a great pro the moment I saw him in the amateurs. I called him even before the Olympics began, and told him that no matter what happened, that I saw him as my first round draft pick. I thought he easily won his fight in the first round; he easily outlanded the kid (Xavier Noel), but wound up with a controversial loss. I believed he was the most skilled fighter out there, and had the perfect style for the pros."
So far so good, 21 fights later, only two of which came against upside-down opposition (fighters with losing records). It was an intentional path DiBella decided to travel in developing their blue chip prospect.
"Look at his record. From his fourth fight on, everybody he fought was above .500. In the past couple of years, he's had quality wins over David Estrada, Cosme Rivera - good learning-curve type of opponents. His last fight against Michel Trabant (which was on Boxing After Dark), he faced a solid European fighter, and ran through him with ease.
"It was then that we knew the developmental stage was coming to a close. Rodriguez represents the last step – a dangerous step, at that. With a win, it's onto the better known welterweight contenders."
Along with the hopes that Berto becomes one of them. All that his career is missing at the moment is instant recognition, which served as part of the motivation for bringing him back to Memphis for the third time in as many years. The fight has been well-received so far, with DiBella and Prize Fight recognizing their target audience, and pricing tickets accordingly.
"We priced the tickets really reasonable. We took into account the economy. There are $100 seats down to $25. I love Memphis; it's the third straight year I'm promoting a major event in the area. I love walking down Beale Street, I like the food. It's a great fight town, but also an area where the economy has been hit hard. I hope we have a nice crowd."
Having a newly crowned champion by night's end won't be so bad, either. On paper, the odds lie heavily in Berto's favor. The one question mark remains his chin, which seems to be the only area of disagreement when the young star's name is mentioned.
Suffering a knockdown against Cosme Rivera last summer on ESPN2 led some to believe that there was finally a chink in the armor, something that would stall Berto's progress. Others decided to see how he'd respond; Berto wound up winning every remaining round (though not before a little glove controversy in between rounds bought him extra recovery time), then came back strong two months later to stop David Estrada in 11 hard-fought rounds.
Whether a cynic or an optimist, all eyes will pay astute attention to Berto's ability to absorb – including DiBella's.
"Miki's a strong fighter; there's no question that his best chance at victory lies in his punch. He boasts one-punch power. As a promoter, I'd love for Andre to be careful every step of the way. But I'm confident that he's the better boxer, and the bigger and stronger guy, and that by night's end, my guy's hand will be raised."
An act which DiBella will recognize as more than just the 22nd win of his fighter's career.
"I truly believe the Andre Berto era begins this Saturday night."
Martin Rogan: "I'll Crack Audley Harrison's Porcelain Chin"
By Mark Vester
Unbeaten prospect Martin Rogan has promised to finish off the career of Olympic Gold Medal winner Audley Harrison when the two fighters meet on July 19 in Birmingham. Rogan has only been involved in ten-bouts since 2004.
Rogan plans to target Harrison's chin. Harrison was knocked out cold by Michael Sprott last February. He returned in April to pack in a TKO win over Jason Barnett. Harrison is 3-3 in his last 6 fights. Rogan knows that another loss will end Harrison's career.
"I'm delighted to get a fight against a big name like Audley," Rogan told Sportinglife. "He probably wouldn't know me if he passed me on the street, but he's going to know all about me when I land a big right-hander on that porcelain chin of his.
"Harrison wants me because he thinks I will be an easy touch, but this is his last chance and will be finished if he losses. He will have to come and fight me because I don't do tip-tap, fancy, boxing. I'm a big guy and so is he so let's just stand toe-to-toe, slug it out, and see who has the best heart and chin.
"It is very fitting that we are coming up to the second Olympic Games since Harrison won Gold in Sydney and on that anniversary he will have his career ended by Martin Rogan."
By Mark Vester
Unbeaten prospect Martin Rogan has promised to finish off the career of Olympic Gold Medal winner Audley Harrison when the two fighters meet on July 19 in Birmingham. Rogan has only been involved in ten-bouts since 2004.
Rogan plans to target Harrison's chin. Harrison was knocked out cold by Michael Sprott last February. He returned in April to pack in a TKO win over Jason Barnett. Harrison is 3-3 in his last 6 fights. Rogan knows that another loss will end Harrison's career.
"I'm delighted to get a fight against a big name like Audley," Rogan told Sportinglife. "He probably wouldn't know me if he passed me on the street, but he's going to know all about me when I land a big right-hander on that porcelain chin of his.
"Harrison wants me because he thinks I will be an easy touch, but this is his last chance and will be finished if he losses. He will have to come and fight me because I don't do tip-tap, fancy, boxing. I'm a big guy and so is he so let's just stand toe-to-toe, slug it out, and see who has the best heart and chin.
"It is very fitting that we are coming up to the second Olympic Games since Harrison won Gold in Sydney and on that anniversary he will have his career ended by Martin Rogan."
Joe Calzaghe: "Roy Jones Jr, The Fight of My Life"
By Mark Vester
Undisputed super middleweight champ Joe Calzaghe is planning to call it a career after facing off with Roy Jones Jr. on the rumored date of November 15. Calzaghe would like to hold the final fight of his career in Cardiff, but admits the fight might head overseas because the money might be bigger if he takes it to Las Vegas in the United States.
"What a perfect way to finish my career by fighting one of the greats of this generation," Calzaghe told BBC Radio Wales. "It'll be the fight of my life. I haven't started training yet but once a date is confirmed I'll get back down to business. Fighting the greatest fighter of the 1990s would be the perfect way to finish off my career. But he'll be fighting the greatest fighter of the millennium."
Calzaghe knows the fans want him to continue his career, but he's decided on bowing out on top after the bout with Jones. The fight will take place at the light heavyweight limit of 175-pounds, where Calzaghe defeated Bernard Hopkins in April.
"This is a case of famous last words but I think that'll probably be it for me so my message to my fans is enjoy it now because after this year, it'll be the end," Calzaghe said. "The best night of my life was beating Chris Eubank for the vacant WBO super-middleweight title in 1997 but the proudest moment of my career was becoming undisputed champion by beating Mikkel Kessler in Cardiff last year. I'd love my last fight to be at home in Cardiff but it all comes down to business and what the TV companies want."
While there was some talk of Calzaghe possibly facing middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik, Calzaghe doesn't view him as a bigger star or a bigger fight than Jones.
"Kelly is just establishing himself and is not a big as star as Roy Jones Jr, he's a legend. Me and Roy Jones Jr wouldn't just be a fight, but a spectacular event," Calzaghe said.
By Mark Vester
Undisputed super middleweight champ Joe Calzaghe is planning to call it a career after facing off with Roy Jones Jr. on the rumored date of November 15. Calzaghe would like to hold the final fight of his career in Cardiff, but admits the fight might head overseas because the money might be bigger if he takes it to Las Vegas in the United States.
"What a perfect way to finish my career by fighting one of the greats of this generation," Calzaghe told BBC Radio Wales. "It'll be the fight of my life. I haven't started training yet but once a date is confirmed I'll get back down to business. Fighting the greatest fighter of the 1990s would be the perfect way to finish off my career. But he'll be fighting the greatest fighter of the millennium."
Calzaghe knows the fans want him to continue his career, but he's decided on bowing out on top after the bout with Jones. The fight will take place at the light heavyweight limit of 175-pounds, where Calzaghe defeated Bernard Hopkins in April.
"This is a case of famous last words but I think that'll probably be it for me so my message to my fans is enjoy it now because after this year, it'll be the end," Calzaghe said. "The best night of my life was beating Chris Eubank for the vacant WBO super-middleweight title in 1997 but the proudest moment of my career was becoming undisputed champion by beating Mikkel Kessler in Cardiff last year. I'd love my last fight to be at home in Cardiff but it all comes down to business and what the TV companies want."
While there was some talk of Calzaghe possibly facing middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik, Calzaghe doesn't view him as a bigger star or a bigger fight than Jones.
"Kelly is just establishing himself and is not a big as star as Roy Jones Jr, he's a legend. Me and Roy Jones Jr wouldn't just be a fight, but a spectacular event," Calzaghe said.
Sakio Bika: "Anthony Mundine is Scared To Fight Me"
By Mark Vester
Sakio Bika, the "Contender" season-three champion, says former champion Anthony Mundine is scared to fight him. Mundine claimed that Bika was approached for a fight, but priced himself out. Mundine recently vacated his WBA super middleweight title and plans to move down to middleweight. Bika says that money was never even discussed.
"We never sat down and talked about money, no figures were discussed. That is a bullsh*t excuse. He was just too scared to fight me," Bika told SMH.
Bika is ecpected to announce his next fight very soon, and expects the bout to come against a big name, possibly someone from the United States. Mundine is also chasing a big fight in America, making the drop in weight to lure Kelly Pavlik and Winky Wright to the table
By Mark Vester
Sakio Bika, the "Contender" season-three champion, says former champion Anthony Mundine is scared to fight him. Mundine claimed that Bika was approached for a fight, but priced himself out. Mundine recently vacated his WBA super middleweight title and plans to move down to middleweight. Bika says that money was never even discussed.
"We never sat down and talked about money, no figures were discussed. That is a bullsh*t excuse. He was just too scared to fight me," Bika told SMH.
Bika is ecpected to announce his next fight very soon, and expects the bout to come against a big name, possibly someone from the United States. Mundine is also chasing a big fight in America, making the drop in weight to lure Kelly Pavlik and Winky Wright to the table
Mikkel Kessler: "If Joe Calzaghe Won't, I'll Fight Pavlik
By Mark Vester
If Joe Calzaghe is not willing to fight WBC/WBO middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik and instead take a November fight with Roy Jones Jr, Mikkel Kessler is ready and willing to meet Pavlik in the fall.
Kessler faces Dimitri Sartison for the vacant WBA super middleweight title this coming Saturday. He would like to set up Pavlik for the first defense. Pavlik's promoter, Bob Arum, has been trying to cut a deal with Frank Warren for a bout with Calzaghe, but Jones seems to be the focus for Joe's ring return.
"If what Joe Calzaghe says is true and he ends up fighting Roy Jones Jr. then I would like to fight Kelly Pavlin the fall. I've already told Mogens Palle (promoter) and Bettina. It's true that Pavlik impresses me with his style against people who get pushed back or don't fight back, but he's never faced a A-level challenger like myself," Kessler s
By Mark Vester
If Joe Calzaghe is not willing to fight WBC/WBO middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik and instead take a November fight with Roy Jones Jr, Mikkel Kessler is ready and willing to meet Pavlik in the fall.
Kessler faces Dimitri Sartison for the vacant WBA super middleweight title this coming Saturday. He would like to set up Pavlik for the first defense. Pavlik's promoter, Bob Arum, has been trying to cut a deal with Frank Warren for a bout with Calzaghe, but Jones seems to be the focus for Joe's ring return.
"If what Joe Calzaghe says is true and he ends up fighting Roy Jones Jr. then I would like to fight Kelly Pavlin the fall. I've already told Mogens Palle (promoter) and Bettina. It's true that Pavlik impresses me with his style against people who get pushed back or don't fight back, but he's never faced a A-level challenger like myself," Kessler s
woah, this caught me hella off guard:
Hopkins vs. Pavlik is Discussed
By Mark Vester
[...]
Another possible fight was mentioned by Schaefer, pitting former champion Bernard Hopkins against WBC/WBO middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik. Top Rank was trying to land Pavlik a date with Joe Calzaghe, who passed on the fight in favor of Roy Jones Jr. Pavlik is scheduled to return in a September bout slated for Cleveland with Marco Antonio Rubio as the frontrunner to get the fight.
If a deal gets struck for Hopkins-Pavlik, the fight would take place in October or November in Atlantic City. It's hard to believe that Arum would entertain such a fight. Two-weeks ago, Arum said that he was not interested in matching Pavlik against Jones or Hopkins and said the two fighters should retire. Also, Pavlik is two weight classes below Hopkins and would have to move up to at least 170 to make the fight.
"I like Roy Jones, but fighters like Roy Jones and Bernard Hopkins - enough! Let them go. Let them retire and let the young guys fight," Arum said.
In his last outing, Hopkins was beaten in a very close fight against Calzaghe in April. He appears to be serious about coming back for one last fight. Kim was informed that Hopkins approached trainer Freddie Roach to once again retain his services.
Hopkins vs. Pavlik is Discussed
By Mark Vester
[...]
Another possible fight was mentioned by Schaefer, pitting former champion Bernard Hopkins against WBC/WBO middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik. Top Rank was trying to land Pavlik a date with Joe Calzaghe, who passed on the fight in favor of Roy Jones Jr. Pavlik is scheduled to return in a September bout slated for Cleveland with Marco Antonio Rubio as the frontrunner to get the fight.
If a deal gets struck for Hopkins-Pavlik, the fight would take place in October or November in Atlantic City. It's hard to believe that Arum would entertain such a fight. Two-weeks ago, Arum said that he was not interested in matching Pavlik against Jones or Hopkins and said the two fighters should retire. Also, Pavlik is two weight classes below Hopkins and would have to move up to at least 170 to make the fight.
"I like Roy Jones, but fighters like Roy Jones and Bernard Hopkins - enough! Let them go. Let them retire and let the young guys fight," Arum said.
In his last outing, Hopkins was beaten in a very close fight against Calzaghe in April. He appears to be serious about coming back for one last fight. Kim was informed that Hopkins approached trainer Freddie Roach to once again retain his services.
MOSLEY VS MAYORGA
In the end, Sergio Mora's contractual obligations were too much to overcome, leading Shane Mosley to turn to Plan B: Ricardo Mayorga.
The Mora-Mosley negotiations fell apart Friday night, leading Mosley-Mayorga to gain steam over the weekend, and it was close to being set for Oct. 11 (HBO PPV) at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer and Mosley's wife and adviser, Jin Mosley, told ESPN.com.
"That is what it looks like we will do," Schaefer said. "I am working on it with [Mayorga promoter] Don King."
After Mora -- the first-season winner of "The Contender" -- pulled a major upset by dethroning junior middleweight titleholder Vernon Forrest on June 7, his camp moved quickly to set up his initial defense against fellow Los Angeles native Mosley, a former three-division champion.
However, the proposed fight disintegrated Friday under the weight of Mora's contractual obligations.
In addition to Mora's contract with Forrest containing rematch language -- although it was vague enough that his camp didn't believe the sequel had to be immediate -- he also owes a mandatory defense to Sergio Martinez, who had already stepped aside once to allow Mora-Forrest to take place. Now, Forrest wants his rematch and Martinez wants his shot.
It is unclear who Mora will face first, but the WBC ordered Mora and Martinez last week to begin negotiating a deal. If they can't reach an agreement, a July 25 purse bid will be ordered, the WBC said. There is a possibility that Forrest could force Mora to give up his belt and fight him in an immediate rematch.
The drama left Schaefer and the Mosleys with little choice but to look for a new opponent, and they've settled on Mayorga, who, like Mosley, is a former welterweight and junior middleweight titleholder.
Before Mosley signed to face former undisputed champ Zab Judah on May 31, a fight canceled because of an injury to Judah, there had been talk of Mosley-Mayorga. Now, the junior middleweight fight is close to reality.
"This is a fight that we tried to make instead of Judah," Jin Mosley told ESPN.com. "Things happen for a reason. Don King is a legend and we always wanted an opportunity to work with him. Mayorga is one of my favorite fighters to watch, so it is a great matchup and will be an exciting night. We are hoping that this will be Shane's next bout."
Carl King, Mayorga's manager, told ESPN.com on Sunday night: "We are talking. We're ready, willing and able. This is the fight we want. It's a fight we've been wanting for five years. Shane is one of the most decent guys in the sport. He's always been a class act. I think it's a good fight for both guys. It's a better fight for Ricardo than some of the other fights out there for him."
Mosley (44-5, 37 KOs) and Mayorga (28-6-1, 22 KOs) have several common opponents, including Oscar De La Hoya, Fernando Vargas and Forrest.
Mayorga owns two wins against Forrest and is coming off a win against Vargas last fall. But in the fight before he defeated Vargas, Mayorga was knocked out by De La Hoya. Mosley defeated De La Hoya twice, knocked out Vargas twice in 2006 and lost two decisions to Forrest in 2002.
Mosley-Mayorga, should it be signed, will give Mosley a chance to fight again at Staples Center, site of his biggest victory, a 2000 decision against De La Hoya to win the welterweight championship. It would also be Mosley's first fight since losing a close decision to welterweight beltholder Miguel Cotto on Nov. 10, 2007.
Mora's camp was disappointed that the fight with Mosley fell apart.
"I think it's silly, with all due respect to Vernon, that we would have an immediate rematch," Tournament of Contenders promoter Jeff Wald told ESPN.com. "Why do it immediately? I think a fight with Vernon is not a compelling fight right now after the way the first fight went. If Sergio beat Mosley, it would be more compelling because Vernon beat Shane twice. I would like to make it a bigger event than it would be right now."
Mora headlined at the Staples Center in an October 2005 rematch of "The Contender" first-season finale by again outpointing Peter Manfredo Jr. Wald said Mora was looking forward to another big fight in his hometown.
"It would have been a pleasure for him to fight in his hometown again," Wald said. "It would have been a great opportunity and a great fight. I love doing business with Golden Boy and Richard Schaefer. It's a huge disappointment for all of us at 'The Contender' and for Sergio. He's very disappointed on every level. But it was never our intention not to honor our rematch clause. I wanted to build the rematch into where it was meaningful in terms of business."
could be a dope fight now dat Mosley iz off the juice N Mayorga finally learned not 2 throw hella punches at once diz can be a koo fight
In the end, Sergio Mora's contractual obligations were too much to overcome, leading Shane Mosley to turn to Plan B: Ricardo Mayorga.
The Mora-Mosley negotiations fell apart Friday night, leading Mosley-Mayorga to gain steam over the weekend, and it was close to being set for Oct. 11 (HBO PPV) at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer and Mosley's wife and adviser, Jin Mosley, told ESPN.com.
"That is what it looks like we will do," Schaefer said. "I am working on it with [Mayorga promoter] Don King."
After Mora -- the first-season winner of "The Contender" -- pulled a major upset by dethroning junior middleweight titleholder Vernon Forrest on June 7, his camp moved quickly to set up his initial defense against fellow Los Angeles native Mosley, a former three-division champion.
However, the proposed fight disintegrated Friday under the weight of Mora's contractual obligations.
In addition to Mora's contract with Forrest containing rematch language -- although it was vague enough that his camp didn't believe the sequel had to be immediate -- he also owes a mandatory defense to Sergio Martinez, who had already stepped aside once to allow Mora-Forrest to take place. Now, Forrest wants his rematch and Martinez wants his shot.
It is unclear who Mora will face first, but the WBC ordered Mora and Martinez last week to begin negotiating a deal. If they can't reach an agreement, a July 25 purse bid will be ordered, the WBC said. There is a possibility that Forrest could force Mora to give up his belt and fight him in an immediate rematch.
The drama left Schaefer and the Mosleys with little choice but to look for a new opponent, and they've settled on Mayorga, who, like Mosley, is a former welterweight and junior middleweight titleholder.
Before Mosley signed to face former undisputed champ Zab Judah on May 31, a fight canceled because of an injury to Judah, there had been talk of Mosley-Mayorga. Now, the junior middleweight fight is close to reality.
"This is a fight that we tried to make instead of Judah," Jin Mosley told ESPN.com. "Things happen for a reason. Don King is a legend and we always wanted an opportunity to work with him. Mayorga is one of my favorite fighters to watch, so it is a great matchup and will be an exciting night. We are hoping that this will be Shane's next bout."
Carl King, Mayorga's manager, told ESPN.com on Sunday night: "We are talking. We're ready, willing and able. This is the fight we want. It's a fight we've been wanting for five years. Shane is one of the most decent guys in the sport. He's always been a class act. I think it's a good fight for both guys. It's a better fight for Ricardo than some of the other fights out there for him."
Mosley (44-5, 37 KOs) and Mayorga (28-6-1, 22 KOs) have several common opponents, including Oscar De La Hoya, Fernando Vargas and Forrest.
Mayorga owns two wins against Forrest and is coming off a win against Vargas last fall. But in the fight before he defeated Vargas, Mayorga was knocked out by De La Hoya. Mosley defeated De La Hoya twice, knocked out Vargas twice in 2006 and lost two decisions to Forrest in 2002.
Mosley-Mayorga, should it be signed, will give Mosley a chance to fight again at Staples Center, site of his biggest victory, a 2000 decision against De La Hoya to win the welterweight championship. It would also be Mosley's first fight since losing a close decision to welterweight beltholder Miguel Cotto on Nov. 10, 2007.
Mora's camp was disappointed that the fight with Mosley fell apart.
"I think it's silly, with all due respect to Vernon, that we would have an immediate rematch," Tournament of Contenders promoter Jeff Wald told ESPN.com. "Why do it immediately? I think a fight with Vernon is not a compelling fight right now after the way the first fight went. If Sergio beat Mosley, it would be more compelling because Vernon beat Shane twice. I would like to make it a bigger event than it would be right now."
Mora headlined at the Staples Center in an October 2005 rematch of "The Contender" first-season finale by again outpointing Peter Manfredo Jr. Wald said Mora was looking forward to another big fight in his hometown.
"It would have been a pleasure for him to fight in his hometown again," Wald said. "It would have been a great opportunity and a great fight. I love doing business with Golden Boy and Richard Schaefer. It's a huge disappointment for all of us at 'The Contender' and for Sergio. He's very disappointed on every level. But it was never our intention not to honor our rematch clause. I wanted to build the rematch into where it was meaningful in terms of business."
could be a dope fight now dat Mosley iz off the juice N Mayorga finally learned not 2 throw hella punches at once diz can be a koo fight
I really don't understand why Joe thinks so highly of himself.
Look at his resume and compare his opposition to the likes of Hagler, Sugar Ray, Hearns, Julio Cesar Chavez..etc. He's fought nobodies besides Hopkins, and although I do give him credit for winning all of his fights, his claims of being the best are bullshit being that he was a big fish in a small pond as far as the talent pool goes, and he was perfectly content with that...and feels now that since he's beaten an overrated Jeff Lacy, and an overrated slugger in Mikkel Kessler, then narrowly defeated a 43 year old fighter based on his volume of punches.
Look at his resume and compare his opposition to the likes of Hagler, Sugar Ray, Hearns, Julio Cesar Chavez..etc. He's fought nobodies besides Hopkins, and although I do give him credit for winning all of his fights, his claims of being the best are bullshit being that he was a big fish in a small pond as far as the talent pool goes, and he was perfectly content with that...and feels now that since he's beaten an overrated Jeff Lacy, and an overrated slugger in Mikkel Kessler, then narrowly defeated a 43 year old fighter based on his volume of punches.
Exactly, it's very irritating. I mean, he barely beat a 43 year old version of hopkins who, let's be honest, isn't anywhere near the same guy who fought Trinidad or was dominating the division for 10 years. Now he wants roy jones? Pavlik is the obvious choice to prove your greatness, a guy who is the undisputed middleweight champion of the world, undefeated and has a insane KO percentage. The fans wanted it too. Shit, even Chad Dawson or fuck, even Tarver would be a better choice then Jones.
But when Jermain Taylor barely scraped by Hopkins it counted right?
Calzaghe does it and its discounted. Calzaghe schooled Lacy when he was a left hook monster. Beat Kessler, who is far from over rated. If he fought and beat Pavlik, people still wont give him credit.
Calzaghe cleaned house. It's like saying RJJ was fighting no ones. He was fighting good opposition, he just made everyone look like amatuers. RJJ turned down a Darius Mich fight, because niether of them wanted to fight in each others backyards. Calzaghe fought Hopkins here in the US, and won it.
The fact that people believe Pavlik deserves any type of shot is beyond me. Win, lose, or draw...Pavlik isn't the best fighter in the world. You guys need to calm down. Just stop, sit down, take a deep breath, and seriously think about it. This is crazy talk...
Calzaghe does it and its discounted. Calzaghe schooled Lacy when he was a left hook monster. Beat Kessler, who is far from over rated. If he fought and beat Pavlik, people still wont give him credit.
Calzaghe cleaned house. It's like saying RJJ was fighting no ones. He was fighting good opposition, he just made everyone look like amatuers. RJJ turned down a Darius Mich fight, because niether of them wanted to fight in each others backyards. Calzaghe fought Hopkins here in the US, and won it.
The fact that people believe Pavlik deserves any type of shot is beyond me. Win, lose, or draw...Pavlik isn't the best fighter in the world. You guys need to calm down. Just stop, sit down, take a deep breath, and seriously think about it. This is crazy talk...
For every fight of his career?
LOL! Don't use that as an excuse.
Mayorga has beaten a young Forrest, and who else?
A washed-up, fat Vargas?
He was manhandled by Trinidad AND De La Hoya, who I might add Shane beat twice...but, that's right, he was on the juice, so I guess that doesn't count.
We should wager on this fight.
LOL! Don't use that as an excuse.
Mayorga has beaten a young Forrest, and who else?
A washed-up, fat Vargas?
He was manhandled by Trinidad AND De La Hoya, who I might add Shane beat twice...but, that's right, he was on the juice, so I guess that doesn't count.
We should wager on this fight.
I never gave taylor that much credit, nor did anyone else really which is why Taylor never even cracked the top ten pound 4 pound list. His 5 wins after hopkins were so mediocre that he didn't get much respect at all.
Absolutely he should! Again, Hopkins was born in 1965 and past him prime. In addition calzaghe got dropped and looked like absolute shit.
I told people prior to the fight that it's bad situation for Calzaghe because if he wins, it's not going to prove much beating a 43 year old, and two, if he loses he would be even more of a joke losing to a 43 year old.
BUT, the difference with this is Hopkins was CHAMPION. He had the Ring Title at Light Heavy. Jones on the other hand has done what since getting KO'd back to back times against Tarver & Johson? Narrowly defeated Hanshaw and beat a blown up Trinidad, who Jones didn't finish off and allowed him to fight for 12 rounds. Beating Jones at this point proves nothing. He has no belt, nothing. Everyone knows he's waaaaaay past his prime, even Calzaghe which is why he said Jones was the best fighter of the 1990's! Basically fighting hopkins/jones is two good names on his resume, and good names is something Calzaghe simply lacks.
A good win but the name Jeff "Left Hook" Lacy pretty much explains how one dimensional he was.
Sort of. Like I said, he protected that ONE WBC BELT for 9 years before taking on a serious challenge. Not exactly what I call cleaning house. He had opportunities on the way to fight bigger names but never elected to do so. (again, this may have been his promoters doings)
Yes, after Calzaghe spent his entire career fighting in Wales protecting that one belt and of course after bhop turned 43.
"Pavlik is the obvious choice to prove your greatness, a guy who is the undisputed middleweight champion of the world, undefeated and has a insane KO percentage. The fans wanted it too."
Nope and neither is Calzaghe!
Absolutely he should! Again, Hopkins was born in 1965 and past him prime. In addition calzaghe got dropped and looked like absolute shit.
I told people prior to the fight that it's bad situation for Calzaghe because if he wins, it's not going to prove much beating a 43 year old, and two, if he loses he would be even more of a joke losing to a 43 year old.
BUT, the difference with this is Hopkins was CHAMPION. He had the Ring Title at Light Heavy. Jones on the other hand has done what since getting KO'd back to back times against Tarver & Johson? Narrowly defeated Hanshaw and beat a blown up Trinidad, who Jones didn't finish off and allowed him to fight for 12 rounds. Beating Jones at this point proves nothing. He has no belt, nothing. Everyone knows he's waaaaaay past his prime, even Calzaghe which is why he said Jones was the best fighter of the 1990's! Basically fighting hopkins/jones is two good names on his resume, and good names is something Calzaghe simply lacks.
A good win but the name Jeff "Left Hook" Lacy pretty much explains how one dimensional he was.
Sort of. Like I said, he protected that ONE WBC BELT for 9 years before taking on a serious challenge. Not exactly what I call cleaning house. He had opportunities on the way to fight bigger names but never elected to do so. (again, this may have been his promoters doings)
Yes, after Calzaghe spent his entire career fighting in Wales protecting that one belt and of course after bhop turned 43.
"Pavlik is the obvious choice to prove your greatness, a guy who is the undisputed middleweight champion of the world, undefeated and has a insane KO percentage. The fans wanted it too."
Nope and neither is Calzaghe!