Boxing News Thread

[2-0-Sixx]

Well, what Haymon fighter is in the position that Stevenson is right now? Champion, a country behind him, multiple awards and more people wanting to see him fight?

Danny Garcia? Maidana? I would imagine these guys are in line for bigger fights, bigger paydays. But I guess its irrelevant. Stevenson is hot right now (I'm just saying I don't know if he's worth the amount of money he may think he is).

Sounds like Kovalev ducked Hopkins. Yet people here are saying Stevenson is ducking Kovalev, LMAO.

Lol. Personally I think Duva/Kovalev simply went with the most sured thing. If they chose Hopkins it would have went to a purse bid, who knows how long that would have taken, negotiations etc. Nathan Cleverly, everything was set up and ready, all Kovalev had to do was sign his name. Simple. Easy. Fast. Worked out for both Hopkins and Kovalev, imo.

 

[trips]

Trainer: Floyd Don't Mistreat Amir Khan, Give Him his Shot

 

[trips]

lol

Floyd Mayweather Sr. sounds off on Freddie Roach following his 6th Trainer of the Year award

 

[trips]

Khan: Mayweather Not The Same, He's a Cherry Picker!

By Edward Chaykovsky

British fighter Amir Khan has fired off some shots at Floyd Mayweather Jr., claiming the unbeaten pound-for-pound king is a cherry picker who picks easier opponents to look impressive. Mayweather is scheduled to return on May 3rd at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Khan, along with Marcos Maidana, are the two frontrunners to fight him.

Khan was the frontrunner for several months to get the fight, but now Maidana, who Khan defeated several years ago, is being pushed more and more as the likely candidate.

“People say I have no chance and I don’t deserve to be in the ring with Floyd,” Khan told The National. “Why not? Floyd is not the same fighter as he was three or four years ago. That’s why he picks slow fighters, because he doesn’t have the same movement as he used to."

“If you look at his last three or four fights … all of them are slow, with no footwork, one-dimensional fighters. He cherry picks them, to make himself look good. I’m fast. I’m quick. I have an awkward footwork. Styles make fights, and I will show him style.”

 

[trips]

Stevenson: Haymon Will Handle Numbers For Kovalev

By Ryan Burton

Adonis Stevenson had a brilliant 2013 campaign, going 4-0 with 4 knockouts and captured the WBC light heavyweight title and the lineal light heavyweight title in the process. Earlier this week, the Haitian fighter sent shock waves throughout the industry when he announced that he had signed a contract with powerful boxing adviser Al Haymon, who is regarded by many as the most powerful man in the sport.

Stevenson said that one of the many reasons that he joined Haymon's deep stable of fighters is because he wants to make sure that he gets paid fairly for everything that he has accomplished over the past year. Stevenson won numerous awards for his 2013 campaign and wants to be compensated accordingly.

"I had Knockout of the Year and I was named Fighter of the Year so I just want to make sure I get paid what I am worth. That is why I signed with Al," explained Stevenson.

The 36-year-old Montreal resident had appeared to be on a collision course with fellow knockout artist Sergey Kovalev prior to signing with Haymon. The plan was for Stevenson to face Andrzej Fonfara in May, and then face Kovalev, who takes on Cedric Agnew in March, in the fall provided they both win their upcoming bouts.

Stevenson said that he has absolutely no problems with either fight but insists that now he will solely concentrate on training in the gym and leave the business aspects of his career to Haymon and his promoter Yvon Michel, President of Gym Promotions.

"Whatever my manager and promoter say is what I will do. My job is to keep training and knock my opponents out. The rest is up to Al Haymon and Yvon Michel," Stevenson stated.

A Stevenson-Kovalev showdown is one of the most highly anticipated fights that can be made. Stevenson reiterated that facing the Russian isn't an issue and also said that he believed the fight would do big numbers on Canadian pay-per-view.

"If the deal makes sense I will fight him. That is why I have Al Haymon. As long as it is a good deal and it makes sense I will fight him, no problem. That fight is a good fight. It would bring in a lot of money in Canada. The business side is Al Haymon's part to take care of. Focusing on training is my job and he takes care of the business situation," Stevenson told BoxingScene.com.

The majority of Haymon's stable fight on Showtime while Stevenson is one of rival network HBO's top stars. Haymon is closely aligned with Golden Boy Promotions and it is no secret that Stevenson has long coveted a fight against IBF light heavyweight champion Bernard Hopkins, who also is a stakeholder in Golden Boy Promotions. Stevenson was coy in responding to my question of whether a showdown against the 49-year-old future Hall of Famer was a possibility in the near future.

"Of course the opportunity is there but I am with HBO. I am an HBO fighter. So wherever my fight is or takes place, it is up to my manager to take care of that," Stevenson stated.

Hopkins will likely face WBA light heavyweight champion Beibut Shumenov in April so he would have to win that fight for a unification fight against Stevenson to be possible.

Stevenson has fought the majority of his career in his adopted hometown of Montreal. While he loves fighting in front of his hometown fans, he has said on numerous occasions that he would love to fight in the Fight Capital of the World or in the Big Apple and he feels that his new alliance with Haymon can make his dream possible.

"Al Haymon is my manager so that is an option. I can fight in Vegas or New York. I am probably going to fight at either or both places. Whatever Al Haymon says is where I am going to fight. It can be in New York or Vegas or even in Africa (laughing)," Stevenson quipped.

 

[2-0-Sixx]

Neither Maidana or Khan deserve Mayweather. But Maidana is more deserving than Khan is. With that said Maidana is an easier match up for Floyd imo. I don't think Maidana would win one minute of a single round. Khan will get KOd by Floyd, but I bet his speed and style give Floyd some problems early on. Then his chin will eventually get cracked walking into a counter.

 

[trips]

lol

Sam Watson what he tells fighters right before a fight ring in walk

 

[battle619]

Out of any GBP fighter, Maidana definitely deserves to fight Floyd for the title. Everyone else is forced to gain or drop weight to fight Floyd, but Maidana's last 3 or 4 fights have been at 147 and is now a champ at 147. If it were Danny Garcia to move up in weight, everyone would be okay with it. If it were Lara, it might be another catchweight but everyone would be okay with it. But Maidan is legit at 147 now and has proven so. Shit, he beat Ortiz yet Ortiz got the shot at Floyd, why not Maidana? He beat GBP's next "ppv star" after Canelo, and beat the shit out of him! What else does Chino have to do, fight Manny? He doesn't deserve it, he earned it

 

[Coach E. No]

The reason I said Stevenson is ducking Kovalev, when he's asked flat out if he would fight him after 3 straight fights, it sounds like nothing but b.s. answers as to why. Finally at the end of one of them he's like, maybe.... we'll see. I can understand if he's saying he wants Pascal for the money instead, bhop for the money instead. But Kovalev is also the elephant in the room when Stevenson is brought up. HBO has obviously been making an effort to pit them against each other.

 

[Coach E. No]

@2-0-Sixx ,
Provodnikov already fought Bradley at 147. I'm sure he would fight well there but I like him at 140 more. I don't doubt that Rios can't make 140. He was struggling to make 147

 

[battle619]

I think Rios will only drop to 140 for JMM. He saw some big cash for both Alvardao and Pacman fights so I don't think he minds risking a loss if he gets paid well for this. Rios is just not that disciplined anymore and Ariza is packing too much muscle on these fighters. But Ruslan is a champ at 140 and has more of a say than Rios and Rios sounds okay with it so lets move on.

 

[heyzel]

LEONARD ELLERBE REFUTES KHAN'S CLAIM; SAYS MAYWEATHER STILL HASN'T DECIDED ON MAY 3 OPPONENT
By Ben Thompson | February 21, 2014
LEONARD ELLERBE REFUTES KHAN'S CLAIM; SAYS MAYWEATHER STILL HASN'T DECIDED ON MAY 3 OPPONENT

"When Floyd Mayweather makes up his mind on who he's fighting, which he hasn't yet, he will announce it to the world," stated Mayweather Promotions CEO Leonard Ellerbe, who refuted a recent claim by former jr. welterweight champion Amir Khan stating that he was no longer in the running to face undefeated pound-for-pound king Floyd "Money" Mayweather when he makes his highly-anticipated return to the ring on May 3. While it's unclear as to exactly what Khan has been told, according to Ellerbe, Mayweather is still mulling his choice of opponents, which was said to be between and WBA welterweight champion Marcos Maidana.

Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer was unavailable for comment at the time of this writing, so we're not sure if Khan was told that he would not get the fight, or if he's making an assumption based on his own frustrations. Either way, his comments on Twitter are probably not going to help his cause when it comes to Mayweather making his final decision.

 

[heyzel]

Khan complains about being disrespected by Mayweather
February 21st, 2014 | Post Comment - 18 Comments
2Share 1 262Share 1Tweet

Amir Khan ✔ A @amir KingKhan
Follow

Very disrespected by his team. Wasted my time

By Scott Gilfoid: Amir Khan made a series of bellyaching tweets today about how he feels disrespected by Floyd Mayweather Jr. because he hasn’t heard a peep from the talented fighter ever since he made an announcement about the poll on his website for fans to pick his next opponent. Khan thinks he’s not going to get the fight with Floyd, and he’s pretty bugged to no end. Instead of keeping a stiff upper lip and realizing that Mayweather only fights the best and the brightest, Khan is all bent out of shape and he doesn’t mind letting people know about it.

Honestly, all this blabbering from Khan is probably turning Mayweather’s stomach to where he’ll never fight the guy. I mean, Khan needs to let Mayweather do things on his own time and not push him to reveal who his next opponent will be. With the way Khan is complaining and acting wounded, it’s going to be a real turnoff for Mayweather.

Here’s some more from Khan: “No response from Mayweather or his team. Fights not happening. I should of taken the title fight last December against Alexander. Very disrespected by his team. Wasted my time. Good luck to Maidana against Mayweather. Can I apologies to the thousands of people who are let down. You me and everyone wanted the Mayweather fight. He’s running scared.”

What the heck is Khan doing announcing Mayweather’s next fight? He’s so controlling. Why can’t Khan let Mayweather do his own announcing? Maybe that’s what put Mayweather off about fighting Khan.

Khan is acting like it’s the end of the world or something. I mean, so what if he’s not getting the Mayweather fight. At least he had a chance to get the fight. If the fans hadn’t complained in mass at the thought of Khan fighting Mayweather, then I suppose Khan would be fighting him next. If Khan wants to blame someone for Mayweather choosing another opponent, then he needs to blame the fans who overwhelmingly were against Khan getting the fight in the three independent polls at Fightnews, ESPN and RingTV. Khan should blame the fans in the boxing forums like at boxingforum24. I’m sure Mayweather took in what fans felt about the fight, and that might be the reason why he changed his mind.

At any rate, we still don’t know who Mayweather will be fighting on May 3rd. Honestly, Khan might be shooting himself in the foot for no reason. That would be funny if Mayweather had decided to fight Khan all along, but then changed his mind when he saw how Khan was complaining and trash talking 24/7.

Read more at Khan complains about being disrespected by Mayweather

 

[heyzel]

Boxing vs. Money
February 21st, 2014 | Post Comment - 46 Comments
3Share 3 23Share 9Tweet

floyd mayweather jr By Mark Colleti: I understand that we all need to make a living. A also understand that boxing is a very dangerous sport. But somehow it has gotten to the point that money is taking over boxing. Is it the way it’s supposed to be?

The question of who is going to make more money on their PPV sales is not the right question. I mean, because more people purchased my PPV, does that mean I am the best?

Right now Floyd “Money” Mayweather Jr is going to pick his opponent for his May fight. It’s either going to be Marcos Maidana or Amir Khan. I realize that boxing is a business, but how does someone’s PPV sales define him?

How come we are looking at how popular a boxer is before picking him as an opponent? Does that make sense? Moving forward, is that the way it’s going to be?

There are sports and there is entertainment. Boxing is a sport not a popularity contest.

Because of money, we have not yet seen Mayweather vs. Manny Pacquiao. Although there are various other reasons, denying the fans this fight is like Real Madrid never playing Barcelona.

And why is Mayweather facing either Khan or Maidana? Isn’t Erislandy Lara his mandatory challenger for his WBA Jr. Middleweight title? Styles make fights and Lara would be a real challenge to Mayweather and it would be a really good fight for the fans and for boxing as a sport.

If boxing is going to be all about money, at least let’s not forget that we, the fans, play a part. We spend the 70$ to watch our favorite fighter compete. Compete to see who the best in the sport is. The best in the ring.

Figures don ’t lie, but liars figure. Its boxing, the sweet science. Does Guillermo Rigondeaux need to act like Adrien Broner now? That’s what I want to know. I had to get this off my chest, now please leave your comments like usual.

Read more at Boxing vs. Money

 

[heyzel]

Vera: I’m going to go in and hurt him [Chavez Jr]
February 21st, 2014 | Post Comment - 13 Comments
2Share 1 10Share 5Tweet

Chavez Jr. vs. Vera II Chavez Jr Vera II Brian Vera julio cesar chavez jr By Dan Ambrose: Brian Vera (23-7, 14 KO’s) feels that the judges robbed him last September in giving former WBC 160 lb champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. (47-1-1, 32 KO’s) a 10 round unanimous decision win by the scores of 98-92, 96-94, and 97-93. That’s why Vera plans on giving Chavez Jr. a beating on March 1st in their rematch so that the judges can possibly mess things up this time due to how one-sided it’ll be.

The venue for this fight favors Vera this time instead of Chavez Jr. with the fight being staged in Vera’s home state at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. There will still be a lot of Chavez Jr. fans at the fight due to the popularity of his famous father Julio Cesar Chavez, and the proximity of San Antonio to Mexico.
But Vera will still have more fans on his side this time than he did in his last fight against Chavez Jr. in Carson, California.

“I’m definitely going to go in and hurt him,” Vera said. “We’re going to change things up and throw him off. I don’t want any excuses for when I go in and beat him this time.”

Vera’s working more on his power this time, because he recognizes that Chavez Jr. has an incredible ability to take punishment and keep firing back shots. It means that Vera is going to need to hit Chavez Jr. with a lot of hard shots if he’s to have a chance at stopping him.

In their fight last September, Chavez Jr. looked beaten up at the end of the fight with visible swelling around both eyes. Vera didn’t even look like he’d been in a fight, as there no swelling or cuts around his face. He had the appearance of someone that he gone out for a long run, and built up little more than a good sweat.

Vera’s trainer Ronnie Shields said “When you beat a guy one time, you can beat him again.”

Shields also feels that Vera beat Chavez Jr. last September, and that’s why he thinks he can do it again no matter how better conditioned Chavez Jr. is for the rematch.

Chavez Jr. says that he wants to “Win definitely and leave no doubts.”

He’s going to need to win definitely this time because he’s not going to be able to move on from a loss to Vera or another controversial decision. Chavez Jr. has already had two controversial decisions in his fights against Carlos Molina and another very questionable decision in his first fight against Matt Vanda. He can’t make a career out of getting decisions scored in his favor.

Read more at Vera: I’m going to go in and hurt him [Chavez Jr]

 

[heyzel]

The PPV Numbers Game – Can Bradley vs Pacquaio II beat Floyd vs Maidana/Khan?
February 21st, 2014 | Post Comment - 77 Comments
207Share 1 219Share 7Tweet

Pacquiao Bradley II Pacquiao vs. Bradley II timothy bradley manny pacquiao floyd mayweather jr amir khan By Rocky Esposito: First, I would like to point out that I am a huge Boxing fan. Individually, I like and respect everyone of these fighters. With that being established, I honestly would not be surprised if “Bradley vs Pacquaio II” ends up with more PPV sales then ”Mayweather vs Maidana/Khan”. Many Mayweather fans would immediately disagree with me, but let me explain why.

Mayweather is Boxing’s Pound 4 Pound Champion and PPV King, you will find no argument from me. Regardless of what his detractors may say, Mayweather’s resume is impressive and undeniable. His PPV numbers don’t lie either. With all of this in mind, I still believe his upcoming fight in May is not locked in and guaranteed to surpass Bradley vs Pacquaio II.
First, the indecisiveness of choosing an opponent. Not having a clear cut opponent chosen, especially at this stage of the game hurts the marketing and promotion aspects of the fight. Granted, real Boxing fans will order the fight, but to do great PPV wise, the casual fan must be intrigued by the fight as well. Down the road, Mayweather has great options like Thurman and Porter. Lol, maybe even Pacquaio or Bradley if the cold war ends. But, this May is going to be tough.

Finally, to ”Bradley vs Pacquaio II”. Originally not having the ”Immediate Rematch” take place just might have been a wise move after all. Then again, no one could have predicted the paths that both men traveled to finally make the rematch a reality either. All of the controversy from the judging of the first fight is already built into the rematch. Also, all of the fans who missed the first fight will make sure not to miss it this time. Also, Bradley’s popularity and respect in and outside of the Boxing world has grown leaps and bounds. And, don’t forget that Bradley has improved as a fighter significantly since their first meeting. From Pacquaio’s point of view, he cannot afford to lose this fight. Brandon Rios was his comeback fight. This is all or nothing for Manny. His fans and the Boxing world knows this. All this legitimate intrigue can make this fight a great success PPV wise. We will see.

Read more at The PPV Numbers Game – Can Bradley vs Pacquaio II beat Floyd vs Maidana/Khan?

 

[heyzel]

Hurricane Carter's Dying Wish



He asks Brooklyn DA Ken Thompson to free another man who was wrongly convicted

BY RUBIN CARTER/ NEW YORK DAILY NEWS


You may remember me from my other life as a middleweight boxer. But fate had other plans for me; I was wrongly convicted of a triple murder in Paterson, New Jersey, and spent 19 years in prison trying, along with generous friends and good people from every walk of life, to right this wrong and gain my freedom.
I am now quite literally on my deathbed and am making my final wish to those with the legal authority to act.
My single regret in life is that David McCallum of Brooklyn — a man incarcerated in 1985, the same year I was released, and represented by Innocence International since 2004 — is still in prison. I request only that McCallum be granted a full hearing by the Brooklyn conviction integrity unit, now under the auspices of the new district attorney, Ken Thompson.
Knowing what I do, I am certain that when the facts are brought to light, Thompson will recommend his immediate release.
A man like McCallum, who has been wrongly convicted and has so far spent 28 years (beginning when he was just 16) behind bars, needs an unprejudiced higher authority, a person with nothing to lose or gain by righting an injustice, to examine the evidence that people have refused to act on all these years. Is it willful blindness or self-interest that was to blame?
Willie Stuckey, who was wrongly convicted along with McCallum, has already died in prison. Do we need David to die as well to avoid an inconvenient truth?


The details of this case would be the subject of the hearing, but I can say unequivocally that McCallum (who is being represented pro bono by attorneys Oscar Michelen and John O’Hara) and Stuckey are as innocent of the kidnapping and murder of 20-year-old Nathan Blenner in October of 1985 as anyone now reading this plea.
Not a single piece of evidence ever implicated them in this crime nor placed them anywhere near the scene. Their two confessions, gained by force and trickery, are not corroborated even by each other; they read as if two different crimes were committed.
The police, prosecutor, and judge jumped on those confessions like dogs on a bone, and the office of the previous Brooklyn DA, Charlie “Joe” Hynes, had been chewing on it ever since. New affidavits strongly indicate that potentially exculpatory police reports were lost, discarded or suppressed. DNA testing and fingerprint evidence all point in other directions.
The Brooklyn DA’s office has, as I said, a Conviction Integrity Unit and this conviction has no integrity.
I was freed from a living hell by the brave Judge H. Lee Sarokin, after I was given help from dedicated people who did so for no payment beyond the thanks I was able to give.
McCallum was incarcerated two weeks after I was released, reborn into the miracle of this world. Now I’m looking death straight in the eye; he’s got me on the ropes, but I won’t back down.
I ask Thompson to look straight in the eye of truth, a tougher customer than death, and not back down either.
Just as my own verdict “was predicated on racism rather than reason and on concealment rather than disclosure,” as Sarokin wrote, so too was McCallum’s. My aim in helping this fine man is to pay it forward, to give the help that I received as a wrongly convicted man to another who needs such help now.

If I find a heaven after this life, I’ll be quite surprised. In my own years on this planet, though, I lived in hell for the first 49 years, and have been in heaven for the past 28 years.
To live in a world where truth matters and justice, however late, really happens, that world would be heaven enough for us all.
Carter is an advocate for wrongly convicted prisoners

 

[CZAR]

Yep and let Lara build up some more fans and maybe he will be one of Floyds final 3 fights. If he is still unknown and doesnt have a following then he wont get the fight simple as that. Got Em!!

 

[HERESY]

Boxing vs. Money
February 21st, 2014 | Post Comment - 46 Comments
3Share 3 23Share 9Tweet

floyd mayweather jr By Mark Colleti: I understand that we all need to make a living. A also understand that boxing is a very dangerous sport. But somehow it has gotten to the point that money is taking over boxing. Is it the way it’s supposed to be?

The question of who is going to make more money on their PPV sales is not the right question. I mean, because more people purchased my PPV, does that mean I am the best?

Right now Floyd “Money” Mayweather Jr is going to pick his opponent for his May fight. It’s either going to be Marcos Maidana or Amir Khan. I realize that boxing is a business, but how does someone’s PPV sales define him?

How come we are looking at how popular a boxer is before picking him as an opponent? Does that make sense? Moving forward, is that the way it’s going to be?

There are sports and there is entertainment. Boxing is a sport not a popularity contest.

Because of money, we have not yet seen Mayweather vs. Manny Pacquiao. Although there are various other reasons, denying the fans this fight is like Real Madrid never playing Barcelona.

And why is Mayweather facing either Khan or Maidana? Isn’t Erislandy Lara his mandatory challenger for his WBA Jr. Middleweight title? Styles make fights and Lara would be a real challenge to Mayweather and it would be a really good fight for the fans and for boxing as a sport.

If boxing is going to be all about money, at least let’s not forget that we, the fans, play a part. We spend the 70$ to watch our favorite fighter compete. Compete to see who the best in the sport is. The best in the ring.

Figures don ’t lie, but liars figure. Its boxing, the sweet science. Does Guillermo Rigondeaux need to act like Adrien Broner now? That’s what I want to know. I had to get this off my chest, now please leave your comments like usual.

Read more at Boxing vs. Money

This is real and the only people I see condoning this type of shit are casuals and people who really don't know shit about boxing.

 

[HERESY]

The reason I said Stevenson is ducking Kovalev, when he's asked flat out if he would fight him after 3 straight fights, it sounds like nothing but b.s. answers as to why. Finally at the end of one of them he's like, maybe.... we'll see. I can understand if he's saying he wants Pascal for the money instead, bhop for the money instead. But Kovalev is also the elephant in the room when Stevenson is brought up. HBO has obviously been making an effort to pit them against each other.

He wants more money. Again, it is ok for Floyd to say "Manny Pacquio you're next" twice and to not fight his mandatory. It's ok for Pacquio after every fuckin fight to say "maybe, talk to my promoter" but it is not ok for a guy to keep his mouth shut, continue to knock out ranked fighters and position himself to make more money? And he just got with Haymon and called Kovalev out. Kovalev's team had previously stated that the fight will be made. No ducking on Stevensons part but if you read what Bhop said then you have to look at Kovalev and how he ducked.