Boxing News Thread
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Khan will fight Alexander in Dubai for welterweight title in December... with winner set for Mayweather showdown
Amir Khan is to challenge Devon Alexander for the American’s IBF world welterweight title, almost certainly in the first big fight ever to be held in the Arabian desert.
If Khan becomes a three-time world champion in the proposed venue of Dubai on December 7, he will propel himself towards a mega-millions super-fight with Floyd Mayweather next spring.
That enticing prospect of redemption for Bolton’s former Olympic silver medallist was mapped out by his US promoter during Khan’s wedding in New York this weekend.
Historic fight: Amir Khan will take on Devon Alexander for the world welterweight title in Dubai this December
Defence: Alexander will put his IBF crown on the line
Historic fight: Khan will take on Devon Alexander for the world welterweight title in Dubai (below) this December
It will be the first big fight held in Dubai, once agreed, when the two rivals collide
Richard Schaefer, chief executive of Golden Boy, confirmed: ‘Amir needs one fight at welterweight, along with a title, to set up the match with Floyd. He is getting that chance against Devon, who has agreed the fight. We will be finalising and signing the contracts in the next couple of weeks.’
Schaefer will then fly to Dubai next month to examine potential venues and begin the organisation of an historic event.
He says: ‘We have opened discussions with the ruling family of the Emirates who have made it very clear that they are keen to put on a major boxing event. This is very exciting for Amir and all of us. If he defeats Devon, preferably in style, the next step for him would be against Floyd.’
On that basis Showtime, the American cable TV network who are bankrolling a record $200million-plus six-fight deal for Mayweather, are giving their seal of approval for a Khan fight.
Thus the door is open for Khan to complete a remarkable comeback from the successive defeats by Lamont Peterson and Danny Garcia which cost him his previous world titles.
Mega fight: The winner of Khan v Alexander is likely to go on to face Floyd Mayweather next spring
Mega fight: The winner of Khan v Alexander is likely to go on to face Floyd Mayweather next spring
It had been expected that Khan would bid to regain his light-welter crown against the winner of a mini-tournament of current champions which climaxed in final between Garcia and Argentinian KO merchant Lucas Matthysse.
However, as the world’s pre-eminent Muslim boxer, he is the ideal man to put prize-fighting on the map in Dubai, attracting as he does so the global attention which can prime a tilt at Mayweather, the No 1 pound-for-pound boxer in the world, in another desert… the Nevadan.
The 26-year-old Khan has put his career back on track with back-to-back wins, the second in a thriller against former world champion Julio Diaz in Sheffield at the end of April.
His wedding to 20-year-old New York beauty Faryal Makhmood, their honeymoon and his religious obligation to observe Ramadan through the end of July and the beginning of August are delaying the next, now crucial, fight until December.
Alexander is fresh from successfully defending his title in Atlantic City with a seventh-round stoppage of another English challenger, Colchester’s Lee Purdy, despite breaking a hand as early as the first round.
Last time out: Khan enjoyed a victory over Julio Diaz in Sheffield recently
Last time out: Khan enjoyed a win over Julio Diaz in Sheffield recently while Alexander beat Lee Purdy (below)
Packing a punch: Alexander defeated Colchester's Lee Purdy in Atlantic City last month
Packing a punch: Alexander defeated Colchester's Lee Purdy in Atlantic City last month
However, Khan is characteristically confident of victory, saying: ‘I am sure I can beat Alexander. He is a very good boxer and worthy champion but my speed will overcome his clever, difficult, slippery style.’
Nor is Alexander a big puncher in the mould of Garcia, whose knockout win raised further criticism in some quarters as to the resilience of Khan’s chin.
Khan senses he is back on the brink of glory, as well as blazing a trail for boxing in the Arab world.
Dubai first attempted to stage a first big fight three years ago but negotiations for Mike Tyson to make a one-off comeback failed at the last moment when the former world heavyweight champion decided he would stay permanently retired.
Tyson proposed his ear-bitten nemesis, Evander Holyfield, as an alternative but that deal could not be made, either.
Now Khan can contemplate taking boxing to the Arab world. Golden Boy are eager to open up that new and potentially hugely enriching frontier.
Comeback: Khan is looking to become a three-time champion after defeats to Danny Garcia and Lamont Peterson
Comeback: Khan is looking to become a three-time champion after defeats to Danny Garcia and Lamont Peterson
Lamont Peterson
Schaefer says: ‘This promises to be a tremendous opportunity for us and for boxing.’
Beyond that, Mayweather awaits like a holy grail shimmering in the sands of Las Vegas.
Assuming, of course, that he comes safely through what threatens to be one of the toughest fights of his recent career.
Saul Alvarez will be Floyd Jnr’s next opponent in his home-town MGM Grand Garden Arena, on September 14.
The kid called Canelo – cinnamon in English in deference to his unusual red hair - is the new folk hero of Mexican boxing, regarded now as the natural and long-awaited successor to the legendary Julio Cesar Chavez Snr.
Wedding joy: Khan tied the knot with beauty Faryal Makhmood in New York
Wedding joy: Khan tied the knot with beauty Faryal Makhmood in New York
Alvarez has been campaigning at light-middleweight, where he showed dramatic improvement in his technical qualities when defending his world title against Austin Trout, with no reduction in his tough, pressure-fighting aggression.
He and Mayweather, the super-champion at welterweight, are to meet at a catch-weight 152 lbs.
Khan, for both legacy and financial reasons, will be praying that Mayweather prevails again... as well as himself.
Read more: Amir Khan v Devon Alexander for world title in Dubai in December | Mail Online
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook
Amir Khan is to challenge Devon Alexander for the American’s IBF world welterweight title, almost certainly in the first big fight ever to be held in the Arabian desert.
If Khan becomes a three-time world champion in the proposed venue of Dubai on December 7, he will propel himself towards a mega-millions super-fight with Floyd Mayweather next spring.
That enticing prospect of redemption for Bolton’s former Olympic silver medallist was mapped out by his US promoter during Khan’s wedding in New York this weekend.
Historic fight: Amir Khan will take on Devon Alexander for the world welterweight title in Dubai this December
Defence: Alexander will put his IBF crown on the line
Historic fight: Khan will take on Devon Alexander for the world welterweight title in Dubai (below) this December
It will be the first big fight held in Dubai, once agreed, when the two rivals collide
Richard Schaefer, chief executive of Golden Boy, confirmed: ‘Amir needs one fight at welterweight, along with a title, to set up the match with Floyd. He is getting that chance against Devon, who has agreed the fight. We will be finalising and signing the contracts in the next couple of weeks.’
Schaefer will then fly to Dubai next month to examine potential venues and begin the organisation of an historic event.
He says: ‘We have opened discussions with the ruling family of the Emirates who have made it very clear that they are keen to put on a major boxing event. This is very exciting for Amir and all of us. If he defeats Devon, preferably in style, the next step for him would be against Floyd.’
On that basis Showtime, the American cable TV network who are bankrolling a record $200million-plus six-fight deal for Mayweather, are giving their seal of approval for a Khan fight.
Thus the door is open for Khan to complete a remarkable comeback from the successive defeats by Lamont Peterson and Danny Garcia which cost him his previous world titles.
Mega fight: The winner of Khan v Alexander is likely to go on to face Floyd Mayweather next spring
Mega fight: The winner of Khan v Alexander is likely to go on to face Floyd Mayweather next spring
It had been expected that Khan would bid to regain his light-welter crown against the winner of a mini-tournament of current champions which climaxed in final between Garcia and Argentinian KO merchant Lucas Matthysse.
However, as the world’s pre-eminent Muslim boxer, he is the ideal man to put prize-fighting on the map in Dubai, attracting as he does so the global attention which can prime a tilt at Mayweather, the No 1 pound-for-pound boxer in the world, in another desert… the Nevadan.
The 26-year-old Khan has put his career back on track with back-to-back wins, the second in a thriller against former world champion Julio Diaz in Sheffield at the end of April.
His wedding to 20-year-old New York beauty Faryal Makhmood, their honeymoon and his religious obligation to observe Ramadan through the end of July and the beginning of August are delaying the next, now crucial, fight until December.
Alexander is fresh from successfully defending his title in Atlantic City with a seventh-round stoppage of another English challenger, Colchester’s Lee Purdy, despite breaking a hand as early as the first round.
Last time out: Khan enjoyed a victory over Julio Diaz in Sheffield recently
Last time out: Khan enjoyed a win over Julio Diaz in Sheffield recently while Alexander beat Lee Purdy (below)
Packing a punch: Alexander defeated Colchester's Lee Purdy in Atlantic City last month
Packing a punch: Alexander defeated Colchester's Lee Purdy in Atlantic City last month
However, Khan is characteristically confident of victory, saying: ‘I am sure I can beat Alexander. He is a very good boxer and worthy champion but my speed will overcome his clever, difficult, slippery style.’
Nor is Alexander a big puncher in the mould of Garcia, whose knockout win raised further criticism in some quarters as to the resilience of Khan’s chin.
Khan senses he is back on the brink of glory, as well as blazing a trail for boxing in the Arab world.
Dubai first attempted to stage a first big fight three years ago but negotiations for Mike Tyson to make a one-off comeback failed at the last moment when the former world heavyweight champion decided he would stay permanently retired.
Tyson proposed his ear-bitten nemesis, Evander Holyfield, as an alternative but that deal could not be made, either.
Now Khan can contemplate taking boxing to the Arab world. Golden Boy are eager to open up that new and potentially hugely enriching frontier.
Comeback: Khan is looking to become a three-time champion after defeats to Danny Garcia and Lamont Peterson
Comeback: Khan is looking to become a three-time champion after defeats to Danny Garcia and Lamont Peterson
Lamont Peterson
Schaefer says: ‘This promises to be a tremendous opportunity for us and for boxing.’
Beyond that, Mayweather awaits like a holy grail shimmering in the sands of Las Vegas.
Assuming, of course, that he comes safely through what threatens to be one of the toughest fights of his recent career.
Saul Alvarez will be Floyd Jnr’s next opponent in his home-town MGM Grand Garden Arena, on September 14.
The kid called Canelo – cinnamon in English in deference to his unusual red hair - is the new folk hero of Mexican boxing, regarded now as the natural and long-awaited successor to the legendary Julio Cesar Chavez Snr.
Wedding joy: Khan tied the knot with beauty Faryal Makhmood in New York
Wedding joy: Khan tied the knot with beauty Faryal Makhmood in New York
Alvarez has been campaigning at light-middleweight, where he showed dramatic improvement in his technical qualities when defending his world title against Austin Trout, with no reduction in his tough, pressure-fighting aggression.
He and Mayweather, the super-champion at welterweight, are to meet at a catch-weight 152 lbs.
Khan, for both legacy and financial reasons, will be praying that Mayweather prevails again... as well as himself.
Read more: Amir Khan v Devon Alexander for world title in Dubai in December | Mail Online
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook
Props:
Tony and 2-0-Sixx
Mosley could face Broner-Malignaggi winner or Mundine
June 2nd, 2013 | Post Comment
Broner Malignaggi Broner vs. Malignaggi shane mosley paulie malignaggi anthony mundine adrien broner (Photo credit: Alma Montiel) By Allan Fox: 41-year-old Shane Mosley (47-8-1, 39 KO’s) is being mentioned as a possible opponent for the winner of the June 22nd fight between WBA welterweight champion Paulie Malignaggi (32-4, 7 KO’s) and Adrien Broner (26-0, 22 KO’s), according to Badlefthook.
Mosley will get the winner unless he chooses instead to face former WBA super middleweight champion Anthony Mundine (44-5, 26 KO’s) in a fight that would take place in August or September in Australia.
Mosley is reportedly being offered good money for the Mundine fight to face him at 154. Mundine, a middleweight, would drop down 6 pounds to take the fight.
Mosley seems like he’d prefer to face the Broner vs. Malignaggi winner, but unless he gets a guarantee to face the winner of that fight, he’ll likely accept the offer to face the 38-year-old Mundine.
Mosley said to fighthubtv.com “They’re throwing fights at me; one in Australia with Anthony Mundine. They’re offering me some good money and I might do that. It would probably be August or September. They want to do it at 154.”
Mosley would likely make more money facing Mundine than he would in getting a fight with the Broner vs. Malignaggi winner. The problem here though is that Mosley says he wants a crack at winning a world title at 147, and so if he turns the fight down to fight Mundine with title on the line, who knows how long Mosley might have to wait before he gets another title shot.
He can’t count on welterweight champions Devon Alexander, Tim Bradley or Floyd Mayweather Jr. fighting him because they probably won’t. Mosley’s best chance is the Broner-Malignaggi winner, if it’s offered to him. If he has an opportunity to face the winner of that fight then I can see him taking that fight rather than Mundine even if it’s less money.
The Mundine fight would be a tough one for Mosley because Mundine is big at 5’11”, and he tends to rehydrate up in weight. Mosley could end up fighting a much heavier Mundine and end up taking a beating in Australia for his money.
June 2nd, 2013 | Post Comment
Broner Malignaggi Broner vs. Malignaggi shane mosley paulie malignaggi anthony mundine adrien broner (Photo credit: Alma Montiel) By Allan Fox: 41-year-old Shane Mosley (47-8-1, 39 KO’s) is being mentioned as a possible opponent for the winner of the June 22nd fight between WBA welterweight champion Paulie Malignaggi (32-4, 7 KO’s) and Adrien Broner (26-0, 22 KO’s), according to Badlefthook.
Mosley will get the winner unless he chooses instead to face former WBA super middleweight champion Anthony Mundine (44-5, 26 KO’s) in a fight that would take place in August or September in Australia.
Mosley is reportedly being offered good money for the Mundine fight to face him at 154. Mundine, a middleweight, would drop down 6 pounds to take the fight.
Mosley seems like he’d prefer to face the Broner vs. Malignaggi winner, but unless he gets a guarantee to face the winner of that fight, he’ll likely accept the offer to face the 38-year-old Mundine.
Mosley said to fighthubtv.com “They’re throwing fights at me; one in Australia with Anthony Mundine. They’re offering me some good money and I might do that. It would probably be August or September. They want to do it at 154.”
Mosley would likely make more money facing Mundine than he would in getting a fight with the Broner vs. Malignaggi winner. The problem here though is that Mosley says he wants a crack at winning a world title at 147, and so if he turns the fight down to fight Mundine with title on the line, who knows how long Mosley might have to wait before he gets another title shot.
He can’t count on welterweight champions Devon Alexander, Tim Bradley or Floyd Mayweather Jr. fighting him because they probably won’t. Mosley’s best chance is the Broner-Malignaggi winner, if it’s offered to him. If he has an opportunity to face the winner of that fight then I can see him taking that fight rather than Mundine even if it’s less money.
The Mundine fight would be a tough one for Mosley because Mundine is big at 5’11”, and he tends to rehydrate up in weight. Mosley could end up fighting a much heavier Mundine and end up taking a beating in Australia for his money.
I think if Pac wins in his fight, and Floyd wins in his, you'll finally see Pac and Floyd.
Props:
JLMACN and Tony
CHAD DAWSON: "STEVENSON IS A WORTHY OPPONENT, BUT HE'S NOT ON MY LEVEL"
By Press Release | June 03, 2013
Light Heavyweight kingpin Chad Dawson (31-2, 17 KOs) is ready to go on the road once again and defend his WBC title against top contender and dangerous power puncher Adonis Stevenson (20-1, 17 KOs) in Stevenson's backyard of Canada at the Bell Centre in Montreal. The 12-round championship showdown is scheduled to take place Saturday, June 8th on HBO Boxing After Dark as part of a doubleheader featuring Yuriorkis Gamboa vs. Darley Perez as the co-main event. The HBO telecast will begin at 10:00 p.m. (live ET/tape-delayed PT).
Dawson is a throwback fighter who is willing to give advantages to his opponents in order to make the best fights possible. This will be his third time going to Canada to meet an opponent on his home turf, the first time was back in August of 2010 against Jean Pascal and then again in May of 2011 against Adrian Diaconu. Now Dawson will fight Stevenson, who's originally from Haiti, and makes no excuses for traveling to hostile territory.
"I expect the crowd to be against me, but I'm not worried about that because I know that I can win them over with my performance," said Dawson. "Stevenson is a worthy opponent but he's not on my level. I've fought and won over there before so I hope he's not banking on home field advantage because it's going to take a whole lot more to beat me. Once again I'm going to fight in someone's backyard and I'm fully confident I'll come out victorious."
"I'm grateful to my promoter Gary Shaw and HBO for giving me this opportunity. Now that I'm back at Light Heavyweight I'm going to get back to dominating the division." Dawson continued.
The Andre Ward fight in Oakland was Dawson's last outing and he not only fought in Ward's home town, but he also came down in weight. He fought Ward at Ward's weight class of 168 lbs, a move that proved to be Dawson's downfall. However, Dawson is back at his natural weight of 175 lbs, the weight class in which Dawson reigns as the lineal champion.
With Dawson back at his real weight, he insists that he feels stronger and his training camp is operating on a much higher efficiency level.
"No excuses in my last fight, we'll just say that I'm a different fighter when I'm at 175 lbs. I can say with absolute confidence that my power is back, and not just my power but my strength as well. It's like I'm stronger in every aspect and it is playing a huge roll in training camp. I'm strong enough to push myself more miles, strong enough to go more rounds, and I'm stronger at the end of my workouts." Dawson said.
Gary Shaw Productions knows Dawson-Stevenson is a top quality main event and the fans will be witnessing a great night of boxing.
"This is Chad's return to his rightful thrown at 175 lbs and he is fighting the most dangerous opponent available. Stevenson has been avoided by all the top guys and he is more dangerous with one punch than most guys throwing ten. On top of it all, he's going to Canada because he is a true warrior willing to prove time and time again why he is top dog at light heavyweight. HBO has been doing a great job televising meaningful fights in boxing, of course the lineal light heavyweight title falls under that umbrella. Everyone watching will get to see two warriors giving it their all to come out on top. This makes for a great night of boxing." Shaw said.
By Press Release | June 03, 2013
Light Heavyweight kingpin Chad Dawson (31-2, 17 KOs) is ready to go on the road once again and defend his WBC title against top contender and dangerous power puncher Adonis Stevenson (20-1, 17 KOs) in Stevenson's backyard of Canada at the Bell Centre in Montreal. The 12-round championship showdown is scheduled to take place Saturday, June 8th on HBO Boxing After Dark as part of a doubleheader featuring Yuriorkis Gamboa vs. Darley Perez as the co-main event. The HBO telecast will begin at 10:00 p.m. (live ET/tape-delayed PT).
Dawson is a throwback fighter who is willing to give advantages to his opponents in order to make the best fights possible. This will be his third time going to Canada to meet an opponent on his home turf, the first time was back in August of 2010 against Jean Pascal and then again in May of 2011 against Adrian Diaconu. Now Dawson will fight Stevenson, who's originally from Haiti, and makes no excuses for traveling to hostile territory.
"I expect the crowd to be against me, but I'm not worried about that because I know that I can win them over with my performance," said Dawson. "Stevenson is a worthy opponent but he's not on my level. I've fought and won over there before so I hope he's not banking on home field advantage because it's going to take a whole lot more to beat me. Once again I'm going to fight in someone's backyard and I'm fully confident I'll come out victorious."
"I'm grateful to my promoter Gary Shaw and HBO for giving me this opportunity. Now that I'm back at Light Heavyweight I'm going to get back to dominating the division." Dawson continued.
The Andre Ward fight in Oakland was Dawson's last outing and he not only fought in Ward's home town, but he also came down in weight. He fought Ward at Ward's weight class of 168 lbs, a move that proved to be Dawson's downfall. However, Dawson is back at his natural weight of 175 lbs, the weight class in which Dawson reigns as the lineal champion.
With Dawson back at his real weight, he insists that he feels stronger and his training camp is operating on a much higher efficiency level.
"No excuses in my last fight, we'll just say that I'm a different fighter when I'm at 175 lbs. I can say with absolute confidence that my power is back, and not just my power but my strength as well. It's like I'm stronger in every aspect and it is playing a huge roll in training camp. I'm strong enough to push myself more miles, strong enough to go more rounds, and I'm stronger at the end of my workouts." Dawson said.
Gary Shaw Productions knows Dawson-Stevenson is a top quality main event and the fans will be witnessing a great night of boxing.
"This is Chad's return to his rightful thrown at 175 lbs and he is fighting the most dangerous opponent available. Stevenson has been avoided by all the top guys and he is more dangerous with one punch than most guys throwing ten. On top of it all, he's going to Canada because he is a true warrior willing to prove time and time again why he is top dog at light heavyweight. HBO has been doing a great job televising meaningful fights in boxing, of course the lineal light heavyweight title falls under that umbrella. Everyone watching will get to see two warriors giving it their all to come out on top. This makes for a great night of boxing." Shaw said.
The gamble Floyd Mayweather Jr. needs to take
In around 29 months' time, Floyd Mayweather Jr. will likely quickstep his way into boxing retirement, with the things he cares about the most firmly intact. Mayweather keeps score on his own success with a two-fisted combination of his bank balance and the '0' at the end of his 44-0 career record. By the time his six-fight, $200 million Showtime contract expires, probably sometime towards the end of 2015, both should remain in healthy order.
Yet if boxing's pound-for-pound king wants to give his legacy a long-lasting boost and provide the fight game and its loyal fans with a desperately needed injection of excitement, there is only one legitimate option – and it's not Canelo Alvarez.
That would be to fight Andre Ward, widely acclaimed as the second-best pound-for-pound boxer on the planet, a bigger man than Mayweather and an outstanding technician with a record (26-0) just as blemish-free as that held by "Money."
"If I fought Floyd it would be a great fight, pretty much the best thing you could see," Ward told Yahoo! Sports in a telephone conversation on Sunday night. "It would be a high-level chess match, but not one that would lack any action. Just two guys who both offensively and defensively are at the highest level of the game, the highest level of skill."
But before fans get too excited about seeing boxing's best fighter play out his career by taking on a sterner test rather than picking his way through outmatched opponents, it should be noted that the Ward option would pose a severe risk for Mayweather. And for all the recklessness Mayweather shows in his personal life, when it comes to who he chooses to face inside the ring, the cautious option is normally preferred.
Until this point, the only sparring Mayweather has shown any interest in exchanging with Ward has been of the verbal variety, in a series of barbed comments deriding the 2004 Olympic gold medalist's relative lack of profile outside the confines of boxing circles.
But while wars of words have a history of ending up in organized contests billed as grudge matches for PR purposes, evidence suggests that Mayweather will keep Ward at arm's length unless he has a significant change of heart and a shift in mentality.
The potential upside for Mayweather largely centers around his legacy and his stated desire to be remembered among the eternal greats of the sport. If that need ever becomes more important to him than simply racking up the cash and victories, then this fight could happen.
But to make it happen, Mayweather would have to move up in weight and even then would still be facing a significant discrepancy.
Ward has fought his entire professional career at the super welterweight limit of 168 pounds, although he said in a recent interview that he would be prepared to come down to 160 (middleweight) if Mayweather was the opponent. However, Mayweather has never gone higher than 154 pounds, for his 2007 split decision victory over Oscar De La Hoya. He will meet Alvarez on September 14 at a catchweight of 152.
Given how boxers rehydrate and bulk up again in the time between the weigh-in and stepping into the ring a day later, Ward could be up to 18 pounds bigger than Mayweather if the two actually squared off.
Yet greats such as Henry Armstrong and Sugar Ray Robinson, considered by many to be the two best to have ever laced gloves, both stepped into higher categories, moves that did much to further enhance their reputations for posterity. Those are the kind of fighters Mayweather says he wants to be likened to and the ball is largely in his court.
There is not much more than Ward can do and he is currently looking at options within his own division, such as Englishman Carl Froch. Mayweather fights who Mayweather wants to fight and this will only happen if he suddenly decides it is a good idea, whatever Ward says or does.
Regarding the weight, even going to 160 would severely drain Ward, who carries not a scrap of fat at 168 and would have to effectively boil down his own muscles to meet the lower limit. Any more weight loss would be impossible.
"Going down that much weight to 160 would be entering the land of the unknown," Ward said. "I would have to hire specialists to do it safely without being completely drained. It would hurt and be incredibly difficult as it would be carving muscles off my body. You would have to be careful where you lost the muscle and how."
There is also another potential hang up: Mayweather is committed to Showtime, while Ward recently signed a deal with HBO. That's not a completely insurmountable hurdle to overcome, as in 2002, promoters were able after years of talks to put together Lennox Lewis (HBO) against Mike Tyson (Showtime), but it is a massive mountain that needs to be climbed
Speaking to Ward, it was easy to sense some frustration that his profile is not as high as might be expected for a boxer of his ability. While he admits that his determination to live a clean, uncontroversial, religious life takes away some of the gossip-page headlines reserved for more outrageous athletes, he admitted he expects more from manager James Prince and promoter Dan Goossen when it comes to furthering his name.
Mayweather's name needs no more recognition; he is one of the most famous sportsmen on the planet and rakes in extraordinary sums of money for each of his contests.
Only if and when he starts to see the lift that a bigger challenge, against a bigger fighter, in a fight far more intriguing than anything else he is likely to line up, would provide to his place in history, can boxing's best fight become a reality.
Got Em!!
In around 29 months' time, Floyd Mayweather Jr. will likely quickstep his way into boxing retirement, with the things he cares about the most firmly intact. Mayweather keeps score on his own success with a two-fisted combination of his bank balance and the '0' at the end of his 44-0 career record. By the time his six-fight, $200 million Showtime contract expires, probably sometime towards the end of 2015, both should remain in healthy order.
Yet if boxing's pound-for-pound king wants to give his legacy a long-lasting boost and provide the fight game and its loyal fans with a desperately needed injection of excitement, there is only one legitimate option – and it's not Canelo Alvarez.
That would be to fight Andre Ward, widely acclaimed as the second-best pound-for-pound boxer on the planet, a bigger man than Mayweather and an outstanding technician with a record (26-0) just as blemish-free as that held by "Money."
"If I fought Floyd it would be a great fight, pretty much the best thing you could see," Ward told Yahoo! Sports in a telephone conversation on Sunday night. "It would be a high-level chess match, but not one that would lack any action. Just two guys who both offensively and defensively are at the highest level of the game, the highest level of skill."
But before fans get too excited about seeing boxing's best fighter play out his career by taking on a sterner test rather than picking his way through outmatched opponents, it should be noted that the Ward option would pose a severe risk for Mayweather. And for all the recklessness Mayweather shows in his personal life, when it comes to who he chooses to face inside the ring, the cautious option is normally preferred.
Until this point, the only sparring Mayweather has shown any interest in exchanging with Ward has been of the verbal variety, in a series of barbed comments deriding the 2004 Olympic gold medalist's relative lack of profile outside the confines of boxing circles.
But while wars of words have a history of ending up in organized contests billed as grudge matches for PR purposes, evidence suggests that Mayweather will keep Ward at arm's length unless he has a significant change of heart and a shift in mentality.
The potential upside for Mayweather largely centers around his legacy and his stated desire to be remembered among the eternal greats of the sport. If that need ever becomes more important to him than simply racking up the cash and victories, then this fight could happen.
But to make it happen, Mayweather would have to move up in weight and even then would still be facing a significant discrepancy.
Ward has fought his entire professional career at the super welterweight limit of 168 pounds, although he said in a recent interview that he would be prepared to come down to 160 (middleweight) if Mayweather was the opponent. However, Mayweather has never gone higher than 154 pounds, for his 2007 split decision victory over Oscar De La Hoya. He will meet Alvarez on September 14 at a catchweight of 152.
Given how boxers rehydrate and bulk up again in the time between the weigh-in and stepping into the ring a day later, Ward could be up to 18 pounds bigger than Mayweather if the two actually squared off.
Yet greats such as Henry Armstrong and Sugar Ray Robinson, considered by many to be the two best to have ever laced gloves, both stepped into higher categories, moves that did much to further enhance their reputations for posterity. Those are the kind of fighters Mayweather says he wants to be likened to and the ball is largely in his court.
There is not much more than Ward can do and he is currently looking at options within his own division, such as Englishman Carl Froch. Mayweather fights who Mayweather wants to fight and this will only happen if he suddenly decides it is a good idea, whatever Ward says or does.
Regarding the weight, even going to 160 would severely drain Ward, who carries not a scrap of fat at 168 and would have to effectively boil down his own muscles to meet the lower limit. Any more weight loss would be impossible.
"Going down that much weight to 160 would be entering the land of the unknown," Ward said. "I would have to hire specialists to do it safely without being completely drained. It would hurt and be incredibly difficult as it would be carving muscles off my body. You would have to be careful where you lost the muscle and how."
There is also another potential hang up: Mayweather is committed to Showtime, while Ward recently signed a deal with HBO. That's not a completely insurmountable hurdle to overcome, as in 2002, promoters were able after years of talks to put together Lennox Lewis (HBO) against Mike Tyson (Showtime), but it is a massive mountain that needs to be climbed
Speaking to Ward, it was easy to sense some frustration that his profile is not as high as might be expected for a boxer of his ability. While he admits that his determination to live a clean, uncontroversial, religious life takes away some of the gossip-page headlines reserved for more outrageous athletes, he admitted he expects more from manager James Prince and promoter Dan Goossen when it comes to furthering his name.
Mayweather's name needs no more recognition; he is one of the most famous sportsmen on the planet and rakes in extraordinary sums of money for each of his contests.
Only if and when he starts to see the lift that a bigger challenge, against a bigger fighter, in a fight far more intriguing than anything else he is likely to line up, would provide to his place in history, can boxing's best fight become a reality.
Got Em!!
I wont be able to make a June schedule for a couple of days (currently on my phone). If someone can please do. Just copy and paste from here:
Boxing Upcoming fight schedule - ESPN
Boxing Upcoming fight schedule - ESPN
Rigondeaux vs. Darchinyan is Possible For The Fall
By Edward Chaykovsky
According to Gary Hyde, manager of WBA/WBO super bantamweight champion Guillermo Rigondeaux (12-0, 8KOs), the Cuban boxer will return in September or October - against former champion Vic Darchinyan (39-5-1, 28KOs). Rigondeaux had a career defining performance in April when beat Nonito Donaire with a twelve round decision in New York City. Darchinyan upset highly regarded prospect Orlando Del Valle last September with a ten round decision. He then signed a promotional contract with Top Rank [who also have Rigondeaux] and returned last month with fourth round stoppage of Javier Gallo in Laredo, Texas.
By Edward Chaykovsky
According to Gary Hyde, manager of WBA/WBO super bantamweight champion Guillermo Rigondeaux (12-0, 8KOs), the Cuban boxer will return in September or October - against former champion Vic Darchinyan (39-5-1, 28KOs). Rigondeaux had a career defining performance in April when beat Nonito Donaire with a twelve round decision in New York City. Darchinyan upset highly regarded prospect Orlando Del Valle last September with a ten round decision. He then signed a promotional contract with Top Rank [who also have Rigondeaux] and returned last month with fourth round stoppage of Javier Gallo in Laredo, Texas.
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Props:
JLMACN
Leonard talks about catchweights, Mayweather-Canelo
In November of 1988, Sugar Ray Leonard accomplished an unprecedented feat by winning the world titles of two seperate weight classes with the same fight by getting WBC light heavyweight titleholder Donny Lalonde to put his 175-pound belt on the line at a catchweight of 168 pounds, with the WBC's newly created super middleweight title also up for grabs.
Leonard, who had upset undisputed middleweight champ Marvin Hagler for the WBC's 160-pound title in his previous fight, was dropped in the fourth round before eventually stopping Lalonde the ninth round, taking both WBC 175-pound and 168-pound belts in the process.
On Sept. 14 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, THE RING's No. 1-rated pound-for-pound boxer, Floyd Mayweather Jr. (44-0, 26 knockouts) will face a junior middleweight for only the third time in his career when he challenges THE RING 154-pound champion Saul "Canelo" Alvarez (42-0-1, 30 KOs) at a contracted catchweight of 152 pounds. Alvarez's RING title and WBC belt will be on the line.
Mayweather, who turned 36 in February, is asking a larger rival to meet him at catchweight for the first time in his career, having vanquished both Oscar De La Hoya and Miguel Cotto for junior middleweight titles in bouts that both defending beltholders were able to weigh in at the division limit of 154 pounds.
In this Q&A, Leonard recounts his famous catchweight bout with Lalonde before offering his thoughts on the Mayweather-Alvarez fight:
RingTV.com: Can you discuss the climate of your situation with Lalonde?
Sugar Ray Leonard: Well, there was a vacant 168-pound title available and on the line. Donny Lalonde wanted that belt, and I wanted that belt. And although, at the time, Lalonde was not a household name, he was a world champion, a light heavyweight world champion.
The way that this thing came to fruition is that it was a great deal, from both both perspectives -- from my perspective and from his perspective.
From my perspective, there was a title on the line that was vacant. For Lalonde, he had a chance and an opportunity to beat a fighter of great (fame), but a fighter that was considered to be past his prime.
That's what his people thought, and, in fact, they were pretty sure that Lalonde would wear me down because of the size difference.
RingTV.com: What do you recall was the difference in size?
SRL: Oh, there was a major difference in size. My walking around weight fluctuated, depending on how good I was. It could be in the high 160s. But it was never like 167 or 168.
I never carried more than 163, 164. Maybe, if that. But he was a big boy. I'm sure that he was up in the 170s. Lalonde's walking round weight, who knows what that could have been? It could have been in the 180s. I mean, he was the light heavyweight champion.
So we tried to neutralize that or balance it out or make it a little more fair. Even with experience and all of those things, one punch from a guy that size could just totally even the playing field.
RingTV.com: Are there similarities in your rationale for the Lalonde catchweight and that of Mayweather for the Alvarez fight?
SRL: For me, that was just to even the playing field, and it was taken from a business standpoint. But they felt so sure that they would win, that they were willing to risk that. Think about that.
The fact that if you have a chance to, first of all, win another title, and also, to beat a guy -- whether it's a Floyd Mayweather or myself -- you know, you say "Well, s__t, man, he's 32 years old." All of those things were factors back then.
That's what made it doable. It was an attractive deal. You know, I never dealt with the finances, but I would imagine that Lalonde made well over $5 million or $6 million. From a public standpoint, (the fight) was a sellout.
RingTV.com: What do you recall about being knocked down in the fourth round?
SRL: You know, I had a premonition that I would be knocked down in that fight. Not knocked out, but knocked down. It was the weirdest thing, man. I'm fighting him, and every punch hurt.
Every punch rocked me big time. I was like, "You know what, man? This is not going to be an easy night." When he knocked me down, and I looked in his eyes, I heard some people at ringside say, "Get him."
I looked at him, and I looked into his eyes, and it was like (he was thinking): "S__t, I've got the chance to knockout Sugar Ray Leonard." And he went for broke, got a little careless.
Even though the commentators didn't say it, I hit him with a body shot and that was what led him to the knockout. That body shot just paralyzed him.
RingTV.com: What are your thoughts on the Mayweather-Alvarez fight?
SRL: I think that if there is any opportunity to beat Mayweather, it's now. This fight is intriguing and it's a can't-miss fight. I feel that this is a very interesting fight, and this is a fight that I would watch.
I'd watch because of what can happen. This kid Alvarez is young, this kid is super strong, this kid hits like a ton of bricks. He's aggressive and this kid can fight. But he doesn't have the quality of experience of a Mayweather.
So he doesn't have that. That's is so vitally important. But Mayweather is 36, and Mayweather is really fighting, from a business perspective, as a business man.
But what separates Mayweather is that, whenever he walks into that ring, man, he's always ready to go. That's such an anomaly. That's such a rarity.
Even with myself. I would walk into that ring sometimes and I wasn't really that fighter, but I've never seen Mayweather not be a fighter in the ring yet.
RingTV.com: What do you make of Mayweather's requesting a catchweight for the first time?
SRL: It kind of neutralizes things and balances things out. I would have asked for it too. You try to get every advantage. Sometimes, it's not just a mental thing, but also, a psychological thing.
Put it this way. Could I have beaten Lalonde if he had been given two or three more pounds? Sure. It would have been the same result. Lalonde has never said, "Well, that weight killed me."
In fact, he was open to the weight reduction, the catchweight. He was like, "Hey, I'll make the weight, and I'll knock Ray out."
It's just what you do. I don't think it's major factor, but psychologically, it's a big factor, if that makes sense. You always wanted the psychological edge.
RingTV.com: Ultimately, what is your break down of Mayweather-Alvarez?
SRL: There's a couple of scencarios that could happen. I think that Mayweather could expose this kid as not being as experienced as he was looked up to be. To break him down. To out-jab him. To make him flinch. To control this kid from Day One. To have him miss, which can be the case, because Mayweather is a very crafty, defensive fighter. He can counter this kid and make him pay for his misses.
That's something that he can do. That's great.
Or do we see Canelo coming out from his corner jabbing, jabbing, and all of a sudden you say, "Well, s__t, he's knocking Mayweather's head back."
And then, maybe he catches Mayweather with one of those shots, because, you know, as we get older, not necessarily our hand speed, but as we get older, there's some wear and tear. So I think that radar that we have and have relied upon and which has allowed us to slip punches, sometimes, that's not as strong as it used to be. Maybe (Mayweather) gets hit on his chin.
Unlike when Sugar Shane Mosley hurt Mayweather in the second round, this kid knows what to do. Shane Mosley knew what to do, but for some reason, he just ran out of gas right away.
I do think that that if there is any opportunity to beat Mayweather, it's now. But any way that you look at this, this fight is intriguing and it's a can't-miss fight.
In November of 1988, Sugar Ray Leonard accomplished an unprecedented feat by winning the world titles of two seperate weight classes with the same fight by getting WBC light heavyweight titleholder Donny Lalonde to put his 175-pound belt on the line at a catchweight of 168 pounds, with the WBC's newly created super middleweight title also up for grabs.
Leonard, who had upset undisputed middleweight champ Marvin Hagler for the WBC's 160-pound title in his previous fight, was dropped in the fourth round before eventually stopping Lalonde the ninth round, taking both WBC 175-pound and 168-pound belts in the process.
On Sept. 14 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, THE RING's No. 1-rated pound-for-pound boxer, Floyd Mayweather Jr. (44-0, 26 knockouts) will face a junior middleweight for only the third time in his career when he challenges THE RING 154-pound champion Saul "Canelo" Alvarez (42-0-1, 30 KOs) at a contracted catchweight of 152 pounds. Alvarez's RING title and WBC belt will be on the line.
Mayweather, who turned 36 in February, is asking a larger rival to meet him at catchweight for the first time in his career, having vanquished both Oscar De La Hoya and Miguel Cotto for junior middleweight titles in bouts that both defending beltholders were able to weigh in at the division limit of 154 pounds.
In this Q&A, Leonard recounts his famous catchweight bout with Lalonde before offering his thoughts on the Mayweather-Alvarez fight:
RingTV.com: Can you discuss the climate of your situation with Lalonde?
Sugar Ray Leonard: Well, there was a vacant 168-pound title available and on the line. Donny Lalonde wanted that belt, and I wanted that belt. And although, at the time, Lalonde was not a household name, he was a world champion, a light heavyweight world champion.
The way that this thing came to fruition is that it was a great deal, from both both perspectives -- from my perspective and from his perspective.
From my perspective, there was a title on the line that was vacant. For Lalonde, he had a chance and an opportunity to beat a fighter of great (fame), but a fighter that was considered to be past his prime.
That's what his people thought, and, in fact, they were pretty sure that Lalonde would wear me down because of the size difference.
RingTV.com: What do you recall was the difference in size?
SRL: Oh, there was a major difference in size. My walking around weight fluctuated, depending on how good I was. It could be in the high 160s. But it was never like 167 or 168.
I never carried more than 163, 164. Maybe, if that. But he was a big boy. I'm sure that he was up in the 170s. Lalonde's walking round weight, who knows what that could have been? It could have been in the 180s. I mean, he was the light heavyweight champion.
So we tried to neutralize that or balance it out or make it a little more fair. Even with experience and all of those things, one punch from a guy that size could just totally even the playing field.
RingTV.com: Are there similarities in your rationale for the Lalonde catchweight and that of Mayweather for the Alvarez fight?
SRL: For me, that was just to even the playing field, and it was taken from a business standpoint. But they felt so sure that they would win, that they were willing to risk that. Think about that.
The fact that if you have a chance to, first of all, win another title, and also, to beat a guy -- whether it's a Floyd Mayweather or myself -- you know, you say "Well, s__t, man, he's 32 years old." All of those things were factors back then.
That's what made it doable. It was an attractive deal. You know, I never dealt with the finances, but I would imagine that Lalonde made well over $5 million or $6 million. From a public standpoint, (the fight) was a sellout.
RingTV.com: What do you recall about being knocked down in the fourth round?
SRL: You know, I had a premonition that I would be knocked down in that fight. Not knocked out, but knocked down. It was the weirdest thing, man. I'm fighting him, and every punch hurt.
Every punch rocked me big time. I was like, "You know what, man? This is not going to be an easy night." When he knocked me down, and I looked in his eyes, I heard some people at ringside say, "Get him."
I looked at him, and I looked into his eyes, and it was like (he was thinking): "S__t, I've got the chance to knockout Sugar Ray Leonard." And he went for broke, got a little careless.
Even though the commentators didn't say it, I hit him with a body shot and that was what led him to the knockout. That body shot just paralyzed him.
RingTV.com: What are your thoughts on the Mayweather-Alvarez fight?
SRL: I think that if there is any opportunity to beat Mayweather, it's now. This fight is intriguing and it's a can't-miss fight. I feel that this is a very interesting fight, and this is a fight that I would watch.
I'd watch because of what can happen. This kid Alvarez is young, this kid is super strong, this kid hits like a ton of bricks. He's aggressive and this kid can fight. But he doesn't have the quality of experience of a Mayweather.
So he doesn't have that. That's is so vitally important. But Mayweather is 36, and Mayweather is really fighting, from a business perspective, as a business man.
But what separates Mayweather is that, whenever he walks into that ring, man, he's always ready to go. That's such an anomaly. That's such a rarity.
Even with myself. I would walk into that ring sometimes and I wasn't really that fighter, but I've never seen Mayweather not be a fighter in the ring yet.
RingTV.com: What do you make of Mayweather's requesting a catchweight for the first time?
SRL: It kind of neutralizes things and balances things out. I would have asked for it too. You try to get every advantage. Sometimes, it's not just a mental thing, but also, a psychological thing.
Put it this way. Could I have beaten Lalonde if he had been given two or three more pounds? Sure. It would have been the same result. Lalonde has never said, "Well, that weight killed me."
In fact, he was open to the weight reduction, the catchweight. He was like, "Hey, I'll make the weight, and I'll knock Ray out."
It's just what you do. I don't think it's major factor, but psychologically, it's a big factor, if that makes sense. You always wanted the psychological edge.
RingTV.com: Ultimately, what is your break down of Mayweather-Alvarez?
SRL: There's a couple of scencarios that could happen. I think that Mayweather could expose this kid as not being as experienced as he was looked up to be. To break him down. To out-jab him. To make him flinch. To control this kid from Day One. To have him miss, which can be the case, because Mayweather is a very crafty, defensive fighter. He can counter this kid and make him pay for his misses.
That's something that he can do. That's great.
Or do we see Canelo coming out from his corner jabbing, jabbing, and all of a sudden you say, "Well, s__t, he's knocking Mayweather's head back."
And then, maybe he catches Mayweather with one of those shots, because, you know, as we get older, not necessarily our hand speed, but as we get older, there's some wear and tear. So I think that radar that we have and have relied upon and which has allowed us to slip punches, sometimes, that's not as strong as it used to be. Maybe (Mayweather) gets hit on his chin.
Unlike when Sugar Shane Mosley hurt Mayweather in the second round, this kid knows what to do. Shane Mosley knew what to do, but for some reason, he just ran out of gas right away.
I do think that that if there is any opportunity to beat Mayweather, it's now. But any way that you look at this, this fight is intriguing and it's a can't-miss fight.
Props:
Tony and JLMACN
Ward: Froch 'not at the top of my list'
by Lem Satterfield
RING super middleweight champion Andre Ward said the magazine's No. 1-rated 168 pounder Carl Froch is not "at the top" of his list of opponents despite the British standout's recent unanimous decision over Mikkel Kessler in a rematch of their 2010 bout when Kessler unanimously decisioned Froch as part of Showtime's Super Six World Boxing Classic.
Ward (26-0, 14 knockouts) has earned unanimous decision victories over both Froch (32-2, 22 KOs) and Kessler (46-4, 35 KOs). Kessler was defeated in November of 2009 in Ward's home town of Oakland, Calif., and Froch in December 2011 for THE RING, WBA and WBC belts at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City in the finals bout of the Super Six.
But while working for HBO as a ringside analyst for Froch-Kessler II with Jim Lampley, Max Kellerman and unofficial scorer Harold Lederman, Ward initially said that a return bout with Froch would "make sense."
"I've already beaten Froch, but right now, his team it out there campaigning. They're politicking right now, and they're trying to turn the tables and make it seem like 'Ward needs us, and he has no options,' but he's in the same weight class, so he has about the same amount of options as I have," said Ward, 29.
"And he brings up a third fight with Kessler. But if you look at the ratings they just had, it's a poor rating, and that's a nice way to say it. Nobody wants to see that fight again, so he has the same amount of options as I have. But if Froch is a fight that makes sense, it's a fight that can get done and I'm not opposed to it."
(Note: HBO reported that Froch-Kessler II totaled 1,070,000 viewers or 1.1 million between its 6 p.m. primetime live airing and its 10 p.m. replay.)
Froch, 35, had earned consecutive stoppage victories over Philadelphia's Yusaf Mack in the third round and previously unbeaten IBF beltholder Lucian Bute in the fifth in May and November of 2012 prior to facing Kessler.
Ward fought through a broken left hand to defeat Froch and was later named Fighter of The Year for 2011 by THE RING and the Boxing Writers' Association of America.
Froch, meanwhile, has said that he could win a rematch by knockout against Ward, who believes the opposite.
"I would look forward to a rematch from the standpoint of just silencing Froch and just really just taking it to another level," said Ward.
"Because the fight would be totally different this time around. With two good hands, I would look to stop him the second time around. I would look to stop him if we ever fought again."
Another consideration for Ward is a matchup with former WBC middleweight titleholder Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. (46-1-1, 32 KOs), who is set to return on Aug. 3.
"As far as the fight with Froch, I've said it and I've stated it and I'll continue to state it, and that is that it's not a fight that's at the top of my list. I just think that [Chavez] is a fight that makes sense," said Ward of Chavez, who was last in the ring for a unanimous decision loss to 160-pound champion Sergio Martinez, whom Chavez Jr. dropped in the 12th round, last September.
"I'm at the point in my career where those are the types of fights that I'm looking for. He's bringing something to the table, and I'm bringing something to the table. I just think that that would be a big event."
Ward is coming off September's HBO-televised 10th-round knockout of RING and WBC light heavyweight champ Chad Dawson (31-2, 17 KOs), whose HBO-televised clash of southpaws with Adonis "Superman" Stevenson (20-1, 17 KOs) Ward will call from ringsside on Saturday from Briell Centre in Montreal.
"It's an interesting matchup. Dawson still has a lot of questions to answer. Does he still have the fire. Can he still take a punch, and what does he have left after his fight with me. I don't care how you slice it. When the situation happens like it happened in my fight with Dawson, where he loses the way that he lost, he has to rebuild his confidence. That's going to be the main thing. A training camp isnt going to do that. The only way that he can get back together is by getting in there and taking the shots that he needs to take and performing the way that he needs to perform, " said Ward.
"So he he's got a lot to overcome. Stevenson is really in a win-win situation because he's fighting in a heavier weight class, and he's fighting a Chad Dawson who is coming off a major loss to me. He's in his home country, and if he loses, people will say, 'hey, he's really not a light heavyweight, he's a super middleweight.' I'm sure that he wants to win, but there is a lot of pressure on chad Dawson. Adonis Stevenson just has to go out and win, while Chad has to not only win, but he has to be spectacular in doing it."
Asked if Stevenson was a potential opponent should he defeat Dawson, Ward said, "everybody is a possibility at this point," adding, "it just has to make sense."
"Things are always evolving, from the 160-pound division to the 168-pound division and the 175-pound division, things are always evolving. The pieces are always moving," said Ward. "So there could be a guy three months from now, six months from now that the public starts to demand that is big fight or a major fight."
Meanwhile, Ward reasserted his plans to return in September, this, after confirming a date and an opponent with promoter Dan Goossen and manager James Prince.
"I just want to get past September and then see where we're at. Right now, September is the month. They're getting closer to finalizing a date and finalizing a venue. I just need to get one fight under my belt to knock off any ring rust, and then I feel like I would be ready for whoever. That's what we're focused on right now. We're trying to lock that down. It's day by day," said Ward.
"I haven't been given any favors as far as the level of competition that I've fought. I wouldn't expect September to be any different. It's going to be a top flight opponent, but it's not going to be Chavez, and it's not going to be Froch. But, after September, I think that it can be any one of those guys. I'm on the phone with my team every day, with Jay Prince, my manager, and he's working overtime. So as soon as I get the info, we'll pass it along."
by Lem Satterfield
RING super middleweight champion Andre Ward said the magazine's No. 1-rated 168 pounder Carl Froch is not "at the top" of his list of opponents despite the British standout's recent unanimous decision over Mikkel Kessler in a rematch of their 2010 bout when Kessler unanimously decisioned Froch as part of Showtime's Super Six World Boxing Classic.
Ward (26-0, 14 knockouts) has earned unanimous decision victories over both Froch (32-2, 22 KOs) and Kessler (46-4, 35 KOs). Kessler was defeated in November of 2009 in Ward's home town of Oakland, Calif., and Froch in December 2011 for THE RING, WBA and WBC belts at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City in the finals bout of the Super Six.
But while working for HBO as a ringside analyst for Froch-Kessler II with Jim Lampley, Max Kellerman and unofficial scorer Harold Lederman, Ward initially said that a return bout with Froch would "make sense."
"I've already beaten Froch, but right now, his team it out there campaigning. They're politicking right now, and they're trying to turn the tables and make it seem like 'Ward needs us, and he has no options,' but he's in the same weight class, so he has about the same amount of options as I have," said Ward, 29.
"And he brings up a third fight with Kessler. But if you look at the ratings they just had, it's a poor rating, and that's a nice way to say it. Nobody wants to see that fight again, so he has the same amount of options as I have. But if Froch is a fight that makes sense, it's a fight that can get done and I'm not opposed to it."
(Note: HBO reported that Froch-Kessler II totaled 1,070,000 viewers or 1.1 million between its 6 p.m. primetime live airing and its 10 p.m. replay.)
Froch, 35, had earned consecutive stoppage victories over Philadelphia's Yusaf Mack in the third round and previously unbeaten IBF beltholder Lucian Bute in the fifth in May and November of 2012 prior to facing Kessler.
Ward fought through a broken left hand to defeat Froch and was later named Fighter of The Year for 2011 by THE RING and the Boxing Writers' Association of America.
Froch, meanwhile, has said that he could win a rematch by knockout against Ward, who believes the opposite.
"I would look forward to a rematch from the standpoint of just silencing Froch and just really just taking it to another level," said Ward.
"Because the fight would be totally different this time around. With two good hands, I would look to stop him the second time around. I would look to stop him if we ever fought again."
Another consideration for Ward is a matchup with former WBC middleweight titleholder Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. (46-1-1, 32 KOs), who is set to return on Aug. 3.
"As far as the fight with Froch, I've said it and I've stated it and I'll continue to state it, and that is that it's not a fight that's at the top of my list. I just think that [Chavez] is a fight that makes sense," said Ward of Chavez, who was last in the ring for a unanimous decision loss to 160-pound champion Sergio Martinez, whom Chavez Jr. dropped in the 12th round, last September.
"I'm at the point in my career where those are the types of fights that I'm looking for. He's bringing something to the table, and I'm bringing something to the table. I just think that that would be a big event."
Ward is coming off September's HBO-televised 10th-round knockout of RING and WBC light heavyweight champ Chad Dawson (31-2, 17 KOs), whose HBO-televised clash of southpaws with Adonis "Superman" Stevenson (20-1, 17 KOs) Ward will call from ringsside on Saturday from Briell Centre in Montreal.
"It's an interesting matchup. Dawson still has a lot of questions to answer. Does he still have the fire. Can he still take a punch, and what does he have left after his fight with me. I don't care how you slice it. When the situation happens like it happened in my fight with Dawson, where he loses the way that he lost, he has to rebuild his confidence. That's going to be the main thing. A training camp isnt going to do that. The only way that he can get back together is by getting in there and taking the shots that he needs to take and performing the way that he needs to perform, " said Ward.
"So he he's got a lot to overcome. Stevenson is really in a win-win situation because he's fighting in a heavier weight class, and he's fighting a Chad Dawson who is coming off a major loss to me. He's in his home country, and if he loses, people will say, 'hey, he's really not a light heavyweight, he's a super middleweight.' I'm sure that he wants to win, but there is a lot of pressure on chad Dawson. Adonis Stevenson just has to go out and win, while Chad has to not only win, but he has to be spectacular in doing it."
Asked if Stevenson was a potential opponent should he defeat Dawson, Ward said, "everybody is a possibility at this point," adding, "it just has to make sense."
"Things are always evolving, from the 160-pound division to the 168-pound division and the 175-pound division, things are always evolving. The pieces are always moving," said Ward. "So there could be a guy three months from now, six months from now that the public starts to demand that is big fight or a major fight."
Meanwhile, Ward reasserted his plans to return in September, this, after confirming a date and an opponent with promoter Dan Goossen and manager James Prince.
"I just want to get past September and then see where we're at. Right now, September is the month. They're getting closer to finalizing a date and finalizing a venue. I just need to get one fight under my belt to knock off any ring rust, and then I feel like I would be ready for whoever. That's what we're focused on right now. We're trying to lock that down. It's day by day," said Ward.
"I haven't been given any favors as far as the level of competition that I've fought. I wouldn't expect September to be any different. It's going to be a top flight opponent, but it's not going to be Chavez, and it's not going to be Froch. But, after September, I think that it can be any one of those guys. I'm on the phone with my team every day, with Jay Prince, my manager, and he's working overtime. So as soon as I get the info, we'll pass it along."
Angel Garcia bashes Robert Garcia’s training methods
June 4th, 2013 | Post Comment
Robert Garcia Danny Garcia Angel Garcia boxing By Meyer Lynk: Angel Garcia, aka “Mr. I would never lie to you,” aka, The Truth, aka Danny Garcia‘s (26-0) father and trainer is well known for being out spoken and never holding back on saying whatever is on his mind. No matter who it offends, fighters, trainers, or fans, if Angel feels like its the truth, then hes going to say it.
We have seen him verbally assault, Kendall Holt, Amir Khan, and his most recent verbal assault that lead to a brawl, Zab Judah – just to name a few. This time he has a few things to say about the 2012 trainer of a year and former IBF champion from Oxnard, California, Robert Garcia.
In Angel’s interview with Thaboxingvoice.com he bashes Robert Garcia’s training method for Nonito Donaire‘s fight against Guillermo Rigondeaux. If you saw the fight on HBO you heard the commentators state that Roberts only interaction with Nonito for that fight was only through the phone and the commentators went on to say that maybe that is the cause for why Nonito lost the match. Here is what Angel Garcia had to say about that (By the way, its a hilarious video thats guaranteed make you chuckle) – Angel Garcia disses Robert Garcias training methods! - YouTube
Angel made some pretty foul comments in the past that I thought was unnecessary but I’m going to have to agree with him on this one. The way I see it is this, how can you be 2012 trainer of the year and one of your top fighters Nonito Donaire has the biggest fight of his life against a fighter that’s more skilled than anyone he has ever faced and you, as a trainer, will train him over the phone?
Do you agree with Angel Garcia’s comment? Or do you think hes just talking greasy as usual?
June 4th, 2013 | Post Comment
Robert Garcia Danny Garcia Angel Garcia boxing By Meyer Lynk: Angel Garcia, aka “Mr. I would never lie to you,” aka, The Truth, aka Danny Garcia‘s (26-0) father and trainer is well known for being out spoken and never holding back on saying whatever is on his mind. No matter who it offends, fighters, trainers, or fans, if Angel feels like its the truth, then hes going to say it.
We have seen him verbally assault, Kendall Holt, Amir Khan, and his most recent verbal assault that lead to a brawl, Zab Judah – just to name a few. This time he has a few things to say about the 2012 trainer of a year and former IBF champion from Oxnard, California, Robert Garcia.
In Angel’s interview with Thaboxingvoice.com he bashes Robert Garcia’s training method for Nonito Donaire‘s fight against Guillermo Rigondeaux. If you saw the fight on HBO you heard the commentators state that Roberts only interaction with Nonito for that fight was only through the phone and the commentators went on to say that maybe that is the cause for why Nonito lost the match. Here is what Angel Garcia had to say about that (By the way, its a hilarious video thats guaranteed make you chuckle) – Angel Garcia disses Robert Garcias training methods! - YouTube
Angel made some pretty foul comments in the past that I thought was unnecessary but I’m going to have to agree with him on this one. The way I see it is this, how can you be 2012 trainer of the year and one of your top fighters Nonito Donaire has the biggest fight of his life against a fighter that’s more skilled than anyone he has ever faced and you, as a trainer, will train him over the phone?
Do you agree with Angel Garcia’s comment? Or do you think hes just talking greasy as usual?
What’s to keep Canelo from not making the 152 lb. catch-weight for Mayweather?
June 5th, 2013 | Post Comment
Mayweather Alvarez Mayweather vs. Alvarez saul alvarez floyd mayweather jr By Dan Ambrose: They made a big deal about the Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Saul “Canelo” Alvarez fight taking place at a measly 152 lb. catch-weight for their September 14th fight in Las Vegas, but what’s going to keep Canelo from not blowing off that two pounds and coming in at 154 like usual?
We’ve not heard there being a huge penalty written into the contract, and without one, Canelo can easily afford to pay whatever fine he’ll receive for coming in two pounds over the limit at 154.
It’s not as if Canelo hasn’t missed a catch-weight before. In 2011, Canelo actually won the vacant WBC junior middleweight title after missing the agreed upon 150 lb. catch-weight against WELTERWEIGHT Matthew Hatton by coming into the weigh-in at 151.8 lbs. instead of the agreed upon catch-weight of 150 lbs.
Canelo missed the catch-weight by nearly two points. Who’s to say that he’ll make the weight this time? Coming events cast their shadows before. We could see Canelo coming in overweight like before and easily paying whatever fine that they give him for missing the catch-weight.
That’s why Mayweather needed to make the catch-weight at 150 lbs and then attach a $2 million per pound penalty. That’s only way you keep a fighter from coming in whatever weight they want to.
The 152 lb. catch-weight for this fight is pretty much a joke. It’s like having a 1 pound catch-weight and calling it a catch-weight fight. Canelo SHOULD be able to make the 152 lb. limit, but since he’s barely making at 154 as it is and then rehydrating up to light heavyweight at 172 lbs., I’m just not so sure.
When a fighter is that heavy and barely making the 154 lb. division then 2 pounds can be critical. That’s why I think Canelo will blow off that catch-weight if the weight penalty is a small fine per pound.
With him making millions for the fight, a penalty in the thousands is basically peanuts for him. I’m sure if he has the choice of coming in at 154 to keep his straps and be strong or come in at 152 and be weak, I think Canelo might opt for the former and choose to miss the weight and be strong.
June 5th, 2013 | Post Comment
Mayweather Alvarez Mayweather vs. Alvarez saul alvarez floyd mayweather jr By Dan Ambrose: They made a big deal about the Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Saul “Canelo” Alvarez fight taking place at a measly 152 lb. catch-weight for their September 14th fight in Las Vegas, but what’s going to keep Canelo from not blowing off that two pounds and coming in at 154 like usual?
We’ve not heard there being a huge penalty written into the contract, and without one, Canelo can easily afford to pay whatever fine he’ll receive for coming in two pounds over the limit at 154.
It’s not as if Canelo hasn’t missed a catch-weight before. In 2011, Canelo actually won the vacant WBC junior middleweight title after missing the agreed upon 150 lb. catch-weight against WELTERWEIGHT Matthew Hatton by coming into the weigh-in at 151.8 lbs. instead of the agreed upon catch-weight of 150 lbs.
Canelo missed the catch-weight by nearly two points. Who’s to say that he’ll make the weight this time? Coming events cast their shadows before. We could see Canelo coming in overweight like before and easily paying whatever fine that they give him for missing the catch-weight.
That’s why Mayweather needed to make the catch-weight at 150 lbs and then attach a $2 million per pound penalty. That’s only way you keep a fighter from coming in whatever weight they want to.
The 152 lb. catch-weight for this fight is pretty much a joke. It’s like having a 1 pound catch-weight and calling it a catch-weight fight. Canelo SHOULD be able to make the 152 lb. limit, but since he’s barely making at 154 as it is and then rehydrating up to light heavyweight at 172 lbs., I’m just not so sure.
When a fighter is that heavy and barely making the 154 lb. division then 2 pounds can be critical. That’s why I think Canelo will blow off that catch-weight if the weight penalty is a small fine per pound.
With him making millions for the fight, a penalty in the thousands is basically peanuts for him. I’m sure if he has the choice of coming in at 154 to keep his straps and be strong or come in at 152 and be weak, I think Canelo might opt for the former and choose to miss the weight and be strong.
Props:
Rumpelstiltskin
Froch: I could freeze Groves out if he continues being disrespectful
June 5th, 2013 | Post Comment
george groves carl froch By Scott Gilfoid: IBF/WBA super middleweight champion Carl Froch (31-2, 22 KO’s) doesn’t like the fact that unbeaten #1 WBO, #2 WBA, #2 WBA, #7 IBF, George Groves (19-0, 15 KO’s) has been calling him out left and right trying to get a fight with him.
Froch says if Groves keeps showing him disrespect than he won’t bother fighting him.
Speaking with Steve Bunce’s ESPN Podcast, Froch said “I’m in the position where I could freeze him out, and if he carries on being disrespectful I’ll just say ‘You know what, I don’t even need to fight you.’”
That sounds all well and good but the problem is Groves is only 25-years-old and is ranked too high for Froch to go on ignoring him for the remainder of his career. Froch will be forced to fight him at some point or else he’ll have to give up one of his straps, and I think Groves is okay with getting the title either way.
Froch can avoid Groves for whatever is left in his career, but unless he retires or vacates his WBA or IBF strap, he’s going to have to fight Groves or else he’ll get stripped of his title for failing to fight his mandatory challenger. Once Groves locks himself in for the title shot, Froch won’t have much choice.
The good news for Froch is that Groves is ranked #1 by the World Boxing Organization, meaning he’ll be facing WBO champion Robert Stieglitz sooner or later for the WBO title. If Groves captures the WBO title, then he won’t need Froch. He’ll make nice cash just defending the strap against the mostly weak opposition the WBO has ranked in their top 15.
If I’m Groves, I wouldn’t even bother trying to fight Froch. It’s pretty clear that Froch doesn’t fancy the fight with him, just as he doesn’t seem excited by the idea of getting in the ring again with American talent Andre Ward. Groves should just look to make his own mark without Froch. I mean, Joe Calzaghe never fought Froch, and it didn’t really matter. So, Groves shouldn’t even bother mentioning Froch’s name anymore because it just comes across like he’s too needy. That’s a real turn off. Let Froch be the one that comes looking for the fight. I don’t think he ever will, but let him call the shot
June 5th, 2013 | Post Comment
george groves carl froch By Scott Gilfoid: IBF/WBA super middleweight champion Carl Froch (31-2, 22 KO’s) doesn’t like the fact that unbeaten #1 WBO, #2 WBA, #2 WBA, #7 IBF, George Groves (19-0, 15 KO’s) has been calling him out left and right trying to get a fight with him.
Froch says if Groves keeps showing him disrespect than he won’t bother fighting him.
Speaking with Steve Bunce’s ESPN Podcast, Froch said “I’m in the position where I could freeze him out, and if he carries on being disrespectful I’ll just say ‘You know what, I don’t even need to fight you.’”
That sounds all well and good but the problem is Groves is only 25-years-old and is ranked too high for Froch to go on ignoring him for the remainder of his career. Froch will be forced to fight him at some point or else he’ll have to give up one of his straps, and I think Groves is okay with getting the title either way.
Froch can avoid Groves for whatever is left in his career, but unless he retires or vacates his WBA or IBF strap, he’s going to have to fight Groves or else he’ll get stripped of his title for failing to fight his mandatory challenger. Once Groves locks himself in for the title shot, Froch won’t have much choice.
The good news for Froch is that Groves is ranked #1 by the World Boxing Organization, meaning he’ll be facing WBO champion Robert Stieglitz sooner or later for the WBO title. If Groves captures the WBO title, then he won’t need Froch. He’ll make nice cash just defending the strap against the mostly weak opposition the WBO has ranked in their top 15.
If I’m Groves, I wouldn’t even bother trying to fight Froch. It’s pretty clear that Froch doesn’t fancy the fight with him, just as he doesn’t seem excited by the idea of getting in the ring again with American talent Andre Ward. Groves should just look to make his own mark without Froch. I mean, Joe Calzaghe never fought Froch, and it didn’t really matter. So, Groves shouldn’t even bother mentioning Froch’s name anymore because it just comes across like he’s too needy. That’s a real turn off. Let Froch be the one that comes looking for the fight. I don’t think he ever will, but let him call the shot
Kevin Cunningham: We'll Go To Dubai And Put A Turban On Khan's Head.
By Ryan Burton
Over the weekend a story ran on BoxingScene.com in which Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer said that he was close to finalizing a deal to pit IBF welterweight champion Devon Alexander (25-1, 14KOs) against former unified junior welterweight champion Amir Khan (28-3, 19KOs). According to the article Dubai is strongly being considered to host the event.
Yesterday Alexander's trainer and manager Kevin Cunningham made it clear that they would only consider taking the fight in Dubai if the money was huge.
Alexander is no stranger to fighting overseas. As a decorated amateur he fought all over the world and in 2008 as a professional he defeated Sun-Haeng Lee in China.
Cunningham reiterated that they have no problem facing Khan in Dubai, where as a Muslim, Khan would overwhelmingly have the support of the fans even though he is a Pakistani-Briton. "Devon has fought in China as a pro and all over the world as an amateur so this wouldn't be anything new. If the price is right, Devon will go to Dubai and put a turban on Khan's head."
***Poor, poor taste in words but Cunningham has always ran his mouth a bit to much. Even back when he trained Corey Spinks.***
By Ryan Burton
Over the weekend a story ran on BoxingScene.com in which Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer said that he was close to finalizing a deal to pit IBF welterweight champion Devon Alexander (25-1, 14KOs) against former unified junior welterweight champion Amir Khan (28-3, 19KOs). According to the article Dubai is strongly being considered to host the event.
Yesterday Alexander's trainer and manager Kevin Cunningham made it clear that they would only consider taking the fight in Dubai if the money was huge.
Alexander is no stranger to fighting overseas. As a decorated amateur he fought all over the world and in 2008 as a professional he defeated Sun-Haeng Lee in China.
Cunningham reiterated that they have no problem facing Khan in Dubai, where as a Muslim, Khan would overwhelmingly have the support of the fans even though he is a Pakistani-Briton. "Devon has fought in China as a pro and all over the world as an amateur so this wouldn't be anything new. If the price is right, Devon will go to Dubai and put a turban on Khan's head."
***Poor, poor taste in words but Cunningham has always ran his mouth a bit to much. Even back when he trained Corey Spinks.***