Boxing News Thread

[heyzel]

Wladimir Klitschko: "I'll Teach David Haye a Lesson

By Mark Vester

WBC/WBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko has vowed to teach David Haye a less if the two ever meet in the ring. Haye, the former undisputed cruiserweight champion, is now targeting the heavyweight division and has made Klitschko his primary target. Haye confronted Klitschko at a UK charity several weeks back, and plans to fly out to Germany this weekend to once again confront the heavyweight champ as he defends against WBO mandatory Tony Thompson.

Klitschko said that he never even heard of Haye until the UK fighter challenged him at the London charity event. He says Haye is a nutcase and very difficult to deal with.

"I didn't know anything about this guy three months ago," Klitschko said on Setanta Sports News. "Then I got a chance to meet him in London. And that was a pleasant meeting but the guy is nuts, he is really difficult to handle. I think he's a good person but he's very emotional and I think I have to teach [him about] his behaviour in the ring.

"I got information from my management that David Haye bought 20 tickets to get to the show and that is surprising to me. I would have got tickets for him. The arena is sold out but we would have found reserves for him. I have another guy, the IBF number one contender Alxander Povetkin who sent a two-story bus to the press conference. It is recognition for me that so many people want to fight me - especially David Haye, no one is as loud as David Haye so I better teach him his behaviour in the ring.

"First of all I would say good luck in his next heavyweight fight, because he hasn't fought as a heavyweight y

 

[heyzel]

Arlovski going to have Freddie Roach in his corner

Former UFC heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski discussed training with 3-time boxing trainer of the year Freddie Roach during the Affliction: Banned teleconference today.

Arlovski will be fighting former IFL heavyweight Champion Ben Rothwell on the Affliction: Banned Pay-Per-View card in Anaheim, CA on July 19.

"I'm very proud to train with Freddie Roach. He's a great coach," Arlovski said. "He (has) taught me a lot...Freddy has shown me a lot of technique, he has shown me what can be good for me against Ben Rothwell."

Roach is the owner of the Wildcard Boxing Club in Los Angeles and is known for training elite boxers like Mike Tyson, Bernard Hopkins and Manny Pacquiao.

Arlovski is the first mixed martial arts fighter Roach has worked with, but he thinks Arlovski has what it takes to be a successful boxer.

"Andre came into my gym, he had great discipline and great work ethic and that's what I demand from all my fighters and he had that so I want to help him," Roach said. "If someday down the line Andre wants to go into boxing I'm sure he'll be a top heavyweight in boxing also."

Rumors have been circulating that Arlovski could be making his professional boxing debut before the end of the year, but Roach denies that anything has been arranged.

"I've been training Andrei for boxing, yes...I know he has a future in boxing, of course. But I don't believe there's anything set out there."

 

[2-0-Sixx]

New season of 'The Contender' on Versus channel, this time - Cruiserweights

The Contenders: (subject to change)
O'Neil Bell, Vadim Tokarev, B.J. Flores, Darnell "Ding-A-Ling Man" Wilson, Matt Godfrey, Johnathon Banks, Aaron Williams, Shawn Hawk, Emmanuel Nwodo, Ola Afolabi, Ehinomen Ehikhamenor and Mike Alexander.




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Four months after ESPN canceled "The Contender," the boxing reality series that produced junior middleweight titleholder Sergio Mora and other title challengers has found new life on Versus.

After airing for one season on NBC followed by two seasons on ESPN, "The Contender" will make its fourth-season debut on Versus in December with the first of 11 one-hour episodes followed by a two-hour season finale to crown the tournament winner.

"We're the show that refuses to die. We're like the fighter that keeps getting off the mat to fight on," said Jeff Wald, co-executive producer of the Tournament of Contenders promotional company. "We're excited to be on Versus."

Versus declined comment.

In previous seasons, "The Contender," which is co-produced by reality series hitmaker Mark Burnett and powerhouse DreamWorks Television, has focused on junior middleweights, middleweights and super middleweights. However, the new season will feature a 16-man tournament of cruiserweights (200 pounds), in which American fighters will face a team of international boxers.

Trainer Buddy McGirt will return to the series to coach the American fighters. The international trainer has not been determined, although series producers are interested in including Wales' Enzo Calzaghe, the father and trainer of light heavyweight champion Joe Calzaghe.

Boxing icon Sugar Ray Leonard, host of the series for the first three seasons, also is expected to return.

Although the field of fighters has not been signed, show executives are talking to promoters of several notable cruiserweights, with former undisputed champion O'Neil Bell the most prominent name among them.

"They've called me and I've spoken to them and I spoke to O'Neil and we're all going to talk about a deal," said Leon Margules of Seminole Warriors Boxing, Bell's promoter.

Others in the mix include Vadim Tokarev, B.J. Flores, Darnell "Ding-A-Ling Man" Wilson, Matt Godfrey, Johnathon Banks, Aaron Williams, Shawn Hawk, Emmanuel Nwodo, Ola Afolabi, Ehinomen Ehikhamenor and Mike Alexander.

" 'The Contender' doing cruiserweights is a great opportunity for guys in a weight class that doesn't get a lot of attention but has a lot of talent," said promoter Lou DiBella, who works with Ehikhamenor and Alexander. "The show would be a great opportunity for these guys, so we're talking to them about it. These are guys I've worked with and they would be great for the show."

Like in previous seasons, the group of fighters selected to participate will live and train together, with each episode culminating with a fight. The loser will be eliminated. However, unlike in previous seasons, which were filmed in Los Angeles, the fourth season will take place in Singapore.

The grand prize has not yet been determined, but previous season champions collected $1 million (first season), $500,000 (second season) and $750,000 (third season).

Mora defeated Peter Manfredo Jr. to win the first-season tournament and is the first graduate of the show to go on to win a major world championship. He did it June 7 by outpointing Vernon Forrest for a 154-pound world title.

Manfredo and first-season contestant Alfonso Gomez also went on to fight for major world titles, but Manfredo was stopped by Calzaghe in a super middleweight championship fight and Gomez was stopped by welterweight titlist Miguel Cotto.

Grady Brewer edged Steve Forbes for the second-season title but has not fought since because of a knee injury. Forbes' exposure on the series was one of the key factors in him landing a fight with Oscar De La Hoya in May.

Sakio Bika stopped Jaidon Codrington in the eighth round of November's third-season finale in a wild fight-of-the-year candidate.

In addition to picking up the boxing series, Versus will also air a similar program, "The Contender Muy Thai." It will run for 15 weeks beginning July 31 (10 p.m. ET) and feature a 16-man tournament competing in the Thai version of kickboxing.

In addition to the two reality shows, Tournament of Contenders will have at least three live boxing events on Versus under the deal. Versus' entry into boxing came two years ago with an exclusive contract with promoter Top Rank to provide monthly bouts and access to its library. However, Top Rank's final show under the agreement was last month.

Dan Rafael is the boxing writer for ESPN.com.

 

[naner12]

New season of 'The Contender' on Versus channel, this time - Cruiserweights

The Contenders: (subject to change)
O'Neil Bell, Vadim Tokarev, B.J. Flores, Darnell "Ding-A-Ling Man" Wilson, Matt Godfrey, Johnathon Banks, Aaron Williams, Shawn Hawk, Emmanuel Nwodo, Ola Afolabi, Ehinomen Ehikhamenor and Mike Alexander.

That's actually a really dope list of fighters for a contender show. I don't know if I could chill in a house with someone who made me a highlight reel.

 

[2-0-Sixx]

you referring to Nwodo and Wilson? lol, that would suck

 

[naner12]

you referring to Nwodo and Wilson? lol, that would suck

LOL yea .. that shit was brutal. Imagine having to live with that guy.

 

[heyzel]

Marco Antonio Barrera - What Does His Future Hold, Will He Fight Again, And Is He Lea

11.07.08 - by James Slater: Mexican great Marco Antonio Barrera has not fought since his October 2007 rematch with Manny Pacquiao. Losing for a second time to "Pac-Man," this time via unanimous decision as opposed to the 11th round TKO he suffered at the hands of Pacquiao in fight number one, Barrera announced his retirement afterwards..

But recently there have been whispers indicating Barrera has the urge to fight again - and is keen to end his legendary career with a win. There was talk of a second fight with Mzonke Fana, a fighter Barrera handled easily back in April of 2005 - stopping the South African in just two rounds. Fana then regrouped and won the IBF super-featherweight title - hence Marco's possible desire to fight him for a second time. But then, this past April, Fana lost his belt. So no rematch with Barrera, then.

Another name put forward as a possible comeback foe for Barrera is that of Humberto Soto (the fight is actually up on BoxRec right now as taking place in September). So far, however, nothing has been confirmed. But it would not be a big surprise if Barrera was to box again. Now thirty-four years of age - which isn't all that old in today's terms - Marco would more than likely be able to beat at least a couple of top-ten rated super-featherweights. If a second bout with Fana had taken place, for example, Barrera would have had a great chance of winning. And who could really blame Barrera if he did definitely decide to fight again?

After all he achieved in his future Hall of Fame career, it is only natural "The Baby Faced Assassin" would want to go out on top. And the 34-year-old didn't do all that badly in the rematch with the mighty Pacquiao, did he? Should he fight again as a super-featherweight, Marco just might be able to get his hands on another world title. With a number of top class 130 pound fighters either moving up to lightweight or planning to do so (Pacquiao, Juan Manuel Marquez and Edwin Valero, for three examples) there may soon be an opportunity for Barrera to box for a vacant title.

With regards to his short-term future, an article that went up on PhilBoxing.com today had interesting news about Barrera. According to the piece, Marco will soon very possibly be leaving Golden Boy Promotions. Indeed, the reason for this is because Barrera is unhappy he has not been given a fight since his loss to Pacquiao. So if true, this gives even further credence to the notion that the all-time great wants to box again. According to the article, Barrera may be holding a press conference very soon to announce his parting from Golden Boy.

Also in the piece was the news that Barrera has been in contact with Manny Pacquiao and is keen on doing some co-promotion work with him in the future. It seems Barrera has a number of ideas in the pipeline.

 

[heyzel]

Cotto vs Margarito PPV Undercard

GIOVANNI SEGURA and CESAR CANCHILA, the World Boxing Association’s No. 1 and No. 2-rated contenders, respectively, will battle 12-rounds for the WBA interim light flyweight title. Segura (19-0-1, 15 KOs), a native of Mexico, now hailing from Bell Gardens, Calif., has won seven of his last eight bouts by knockout, including a fifth-round stoppage of Jesus Martinez for the NABF title last year. It was the first of three knockout victories for Segura in 2007 made even more impressive by the fact that his three 2007 opponents (including Daniel Reyes and Willy Valdez) had a combined record of 78-10-4 (57 KOs). Making his U.S. debut, Canchila (26-1, 21 KOs), from Colombia, is riding a four-year, 18-bout winning streak with only two of those fights going the distance. Even more impressive is his current streak of 10 straight knockout victories dating back to 2006, including a 12th-round TKO of Miguel Tellez for the World Boxing Organization Latino / WBA Latin American titles.

Undefeated contender MIKE ALVARADO faces his toughest test when steps up to fight former world champion CESAR BAZAN in a 10-round super lightweight bout. Alvarado (21-0, 14 KOs), from Denver, reeled off seven straight knockout victories beginning with his pro debut in 2004. He has stepped up his competition in recent fights successfully meeting each challenge. In his last three bouts, Alvarado has stopped former world title challenger Michael Clark in the first round, won a 10-round decision over Jesus Rodriguez and knocked out Michel Rosales in the seventh round of his most recent bout in May. Together, Clark, Rodriguez and Rosales had a combined record of 69-7 (36 KOs). Bazan (48-10-1, 31 KOs), from Mexico, captured the World Boxing Council lightweight title in 1998, dethroning another Denver native, Stevie Johnston, via a split decision. He successfully defended the title twice before losing it the following year in a rematch to Johnston, again by split decision. Bazan returns to the ring fresh from a 10-round victory over Juan Rivera in May.

 

[heyzel]

Kelly Pavlik vs. Paul Williams - Deal Reached For 9/27?

By Mark Vester

According to Top Rank head Bob Arum, a deal has been reached for WBC/WBO middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik (34-0, 30 KOs) to face WBO welterweight champion Paul Williams (34-1, 25 KOs) on September 27 at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City.

Arum tells MaxBoxing/BoxingScene.com's Steve Kim that he reached a deal with Williams' promoter Dan Goossen, but was still optimistic about the fighting being finalized.

"I'm dealing with Goossen, it's a deal. But I'm not sure," said Arum. "You never know if it's a deal. I think there is a deal. But if my life depended on it, I wouldn't swear to it. With Goossen, you're never quite sure."

If the deal gets done, Williams, who is listed as 6'1, but most say is 6'2 or '6'3, would move up in weight by 13-pounds to meet Pavlik at 160.

A variety of options were exhausted while trying to secure a September opponent. Arums says WBC junior middleweight champion Sergio Mora priced himself out, as did Winky Wright. Williams was initially, according to Arum, demanding as much as $2.5 million for the fight. Either he came down quite a bit or HBO offered more money to make it happen. Pavlik's manager Cameron Dunkin recently told Dan Rafael that HBO had a lot of interest in a Pavlik-Williams fight.

"I think it's a hard style and a tough fight, but it's a good fight," Dunkin said. "Kelly will have to be really, really prepared. Paul Williams is a tough fighter. He's probably better suited for (middleweight) than welterweight anyway. He's not a little guy moving up. I like the fight, HBO likes the fight."

 

[heyzel]

Tarver vs. Dawson Done For October 11 in Connecticut?

by T.K. Stewart

Sources have revealed that an autumn showdown between rival southpaws, IBF Light Heavyweight titlist Antonio "The Magic Man" Tarver and soon to be former WBC 175-pound, belt-holder "Bad" Chad Dawson, will land at either the Mohegan Sun or Foxwoods casinos in Connecticut with Showtime televising the fight on October 11.

WBC titlist Dawson, 26-0 (17KOs) hails from nearby New Haven, Connecticut and has fought 16 of his 26 professional fights in the state. Dawson was scheduled to make a mandatory defense of his WBC title against interim titlist Adrian Diaconu in Romania on October 4th but that fight is now off.

Dawson is instead opting for the more high profile and bigger money fight with the well-known Tarver. Dawson was expected to make $1.1 million had he gone through with the Diaconu fight but will make more against Tarver.

It is now expected that the WBC will strip Dawson of the WBC green belt he currently wears and award it to the undefeated Diaconu.

Tarver, 27-4 (19KOs) is no stranger to Connecticut and has fought two of his last three fights in the state. Connecticut is also where Tarver won the WBC and IBF 175-pound titles from Montell Griffin back in 2003.

This is a fight that has been building for a over a year. Both Tarver and Dawson fought on the same Showtime cards in June 2007 at Hartford, Connecticut and again in April of this year when Tarver beat Clinton Woods for the IBF title and Dawson squeaked by Glen Johnson to defend the WBC belt for the third time in Tampa, Florida which is Tarver's hometown.

When Tarver fought Danny Santiago at Foxwoods back in December 2007, Dawson was an interested observer at ringside and he also attended the post fight press conference.

Several Dawson supporters at the press conference attempted to disrupt the proceedings when they chanted, “Stop ducking Dawson! Stop ducking Dawson!” at Tarver. But promoter Gary Shaw put a stop to the shenanigans and threatened to have the chanters removed from the premises.

Tarver is currently ranked the #3 Light Heavyweight in the world by The Ring Magazine behind Joe Calzaghe and Bernard Hopkins while Dawson is rated at #4.

It will be a battle of youth versus age and experience for Dawson, as Tarver will turn 40 on November 21st. Dawson will celebrate his 26th birthday on Sunday

 

[2-0-Sixx]

No way, Paul Williams vs Pavlik?????? WTF? I don't know why Paul Williams will agree to something like that he'll be going up two weight classes 147 to 160. that's crazy talk! I realize he's a big guy and can add the weight no problem but still that's a huge jump especially against the top dog at middleweight.

 

[heyzel]

No way, Paul Williams vs Pavlik?????? WTF? I don't know why Paul Williams will agree to something like that he'll be going up two weight classes 147 to 160. that's crazy talk! I realize he's a big guy and can add the weight no problem but still that's a huge jump especially against the top dog at middleweight.

hell yeah I just knew that was a typo

 

[2-0-Sixx]

entertaining video of James Toney and Hasim Rahman talkin shit on the Best Damn Sports Show:

 

[2-0-Sixx]

Klitschko 241 lbs
Thompson 247.5 lbs

lmao

 

[naner12]

For anyone that cares .. Daniel Santos just knocked Joachim Alcine the fuck out.

 

[2-0-Sixx]

For anyone that cares .. Daniel Santos just knocked Joachim Alcine the fuck out.

was that on fnf's? fuck forgot about that

 

[naner12]

was that on fnf's? fuck forgot about that

Nah that was on some french canadian channel. FNF tonight was Adamek vs. Gomez. Haven't peeped FNF yet cause I caught a stream of the Alcine/Santos title fight.

The Alcine/Santos fight wasn't really all that .. pretty lackluster until Santos flattened him.

 

[heyzel]

HBO Should Have Forced Calzaghe-Pavlik," Says Arum

By Mark Vester

While promoter Bob Arum of Top Rank is close to finalizing a deal to match WBC/WBO middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik against WBO welterweight champ Paul Williams on September 27, he says that HBO should have forced Joe Calzaghe to fight Pavlik instead of allowing him to fight Roy Jones Jr. on pay-per-view.

Arum told boxing scribe Robert Morales that HBO is recycling the same fighters over and over and hurting the sport in the process.

"I think that's what boxing is suffering from," Arum said. "One guy (Calzaghe) is looking for his last fight and the other guy (Jones) should have retired a couple of years ago after he got knocked out. They are recycling everything and that doesn't help the sport. What HBO should have done is insisted Calzaghe fight the younger guy who has put himself there by hard work and has an upside for the future. And that's Pavlik. Where is this fight going? If Calzaghe wins, he retires. If Jones wins, who gives a f*ck."

Pavlik will meet Williams at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City. Steve Kim of MaxBoxing/BoxingScene.com broke the news on Thursday night when he received confirmation from Arum that a deal was reached. Dan Goossen, who promotes Williams, tells Morales that he's going over the deal with Williams and expects for the fight to get done.

"We're close," said Goossen. "We're making tremendous progress. I should have things done shortly

 

[heyzel]

Dawson Vacates WBC Title, Heads To Antonio Tarver

The below was sent to BoxingScene.com by the WBC, Dawson has officially vacated his title. As reported last night, Dawson is slated to face Antonio Tarver for the IBF light heavyweight title on October 11 on Showtime.

Chad Dawson contacted the WBC to inform that he will not fight Adrian Diaconu for the undisputed light heavyweight championship and therefore is relinquishing the title, even though representatives of both fighters had participated in a purse offer that was won by the Romanian promotor Gangkor Promotions.

The WBC feels very disillusioned with Dawson’s decision, as he was going to make the highest purse of his career against Diaconu. The WBC has always supported Dawson since he won the WBC Continental Americas title in 2003. He later asked for the permission of the organization not to fight Adrian Diaconu in a final elimination bout, but to be allowed to directly fight Tomasz Adamek for the title in a voluntary defense, which the WBC accepted and Dawson became WBC champion of the world in 2007. The WBC once again supported Dawson in allowing him to make a voluntary defense against Glen Johnson, for which Dawson signed a letter agreeing to fight Diaconu next.

It happens that he found the way not to fight Diaconu again.

Apparently the reason that Dawson did not comply with the WBC Rules is because of a commitment that he has with a television network, which it seems is interfering with the rights and infrastructure of the WBC, which must be addressed in the near future.

 

[heyzel]

Paulie Malignaggi - "I'll Give Ricky Hatton A Rematch After I Punish Manny Pacquiao!"

Exclusive interview by James Slater: As surely every British, if not global, fight fan is aware, Brooklyn, New York's Paulie "Magic Man" Malignaggi is the next opponent for Ricky "The Hitman" Hatton. Set to meet in November, most likely in Las Vegas, the two superb 140 pound fighters will clash in a contest that will decide the IBF light-welterweight championship - currently held by Malignaggi.

Very kindly granting me an over-the-phone interview today, (July 9th) the 27-year-old New Yorker with the 25-1(5) record spoke about the upcoming fight, his oft-broken right hand, his career in general and his ambitions for the future should he get past Hatton. Quick-tongued but very friendly, here is what "The Magic Man" had to say.

James Slater: Firstly, Paulie, how's your right hand? I understand the cast came off earlier this week.

Paulie Malignaggi: The hand is going good right now. I'm in the rehabilitation stage right now, but there is no pain and I'm healing real well.. In fact, this break is probably the least damaging of all the breaks I've had with the right hand. There was only one fracture, and I've had breaks where there were seven fractures. Thankfully, though, my long-time doctor, Doctor Steven Margles - who has probably saved my career so many times - took care of my hand once again.

J.S: For the record, Paulie, how many times have you broken your hand now?

P.M: I've had four separate surgeries on the hand.

J.S: I know you have had criticism for your lack of KO's. Do you feel the hand trouble is the major factor with regards to your lack of knockouts?

P.M: I think it's quite obvious. I mean, people can criticise if they want, but the simple fact is, my hand has been fractured and with a fractured hand you cannot get the KO's. You cannot hit with enough force. I was born with brittle hands, and that's just something I have to deal with. All athletes have to overcome certain things, and brittle hands are something that I have had to overcome - as simple as.

J.S: Does it annoy you when the critics complain about your lack of KO's?

P.M: It used to. But now I look at it as nothing more than ignorance. I mean, you can't get angry at stupidity. People are born with it [stupidity] and that's it. These people can say what they want about me, but they choose to look at the hand trouble I've had and still expect KO's. But aside from my hand trouble, I've also fought very durable guys lately - guys who have never been stopped. You look at Donald Camarena, Herman Ngoudjo and Lovemore N'Dou - all fighters who have never been stopped.

J.S: Moving on to the Ricky Hatton fight. Are you unhappy the fight looks like it will be held in Las Vegas and not New York?

P.M: Well, it looks like it will be The MGM in Las Vegas on November 22nd. So I will be in Vegas with bells on. I would've liked the fight to have been at Madison Square Garden but I think it will be Ricky who lives to regret the fight taking place in Vegas instead. For the whole of his career, Ricky Hatton will never get the chance to headline at Madison Square Garden. His only chance would have been in a fight with Paulie Malignaggi. If he lives to be an old man, he will always regret not taking the fight at The Garden. I mean, it's the whole experience of the place, and the noise. It's just so loud and electric fighting there! I wanted to experience fighting in Manchester City - even if it that fight wasn't one of my best performances - and I did that and I will always cherish that. I think Ricky will always regret not doing the same thing. But there's no-one else to blame but Ricky.

J.S: You've gone on record as saying you think you may stop Hatton. Do you think that will come due to your accumulation of on-target punches?

P.M: I know Hatton is a fighter who has never had the best of chins. People can say what they want [about my chances of stopping him], but I feel Hatton is vulnerable to punches and he's not hard to hit at all. He's still determined, but I don't think he's the same fighter as he was when he beat Kostya Tszyu. I don't know if it's all the punches he's taken in his fights or his bad lifestyle, but Ricky's definitely not the fighter he was. But he's still the man on the mountain top at 140 pounds. I have to beat him to get the credit. Ricky Hatton is THE name at 140 still.

J.S: If you beat him, you will likely end his career. Is that your mindset going in?

P.M: Not really. I mean, I'm not looking at his future after this fight, I'm only looking at mine. The way I see it, I'd give Ricky a rematch just as soon as I've punished Manny Pacquiao. I am really angry at the complete lack of respect Manny Pacquiao has been giving me. I mean, he's been talking about fighting Hatton next, when Hatton hasn't even got past me yet! I've worked very hard to get where I am in my career, and for Pacquiao to completely take that away from me by disrespecting me - that makes me really want to punish him after I beat Hatton. But then, afterwards, I would be happy to give Ricky a rematch.

J.S: Your division of light-welterweight is a very good division now. Who else would you like to fight in the future?

P.M: It is a good weight class right now, yeah. I will fight whoever the public wants me to. There is nobody I won't fight if it means keeping the fans happy, along with putting money in my pocket of course. I mean, I spoke to Kendall Holt the morning after his win over Ricardo Torres - the round and fight of the year right there! - and we spoke about the possibility of us meeting down the road. I would fight anyone, is what I'm saying.

J.S: Are there any plans for you to move up to welterweight, or will you stay at 140?

P.M: I'll move up to welterweight to get a rematch with Miguel Cotto. That's the ultimate fight for me, and that would have to be at 147, so I'll move up for that fight.

J.S: Just going back to the Hatton fight. How do you see the fight going?

P.M: It will definitely be the best performance of my career. I mean, if I don't stop him I'll be happy to take a points win. The thing is, I'll have an answer for anything he does in there. In terms of skill we aren't even on the some page - there's no way he can match me for sheer skill. I know he holds a lot in fights, either when he's hurt or to try and counter his lack of skills. But as I say, he won't be able to do anything I've not seen before. I've wanted this fight for so long, to prove myself as the very best at 140 pounds