Boxing News World
Sunday 20 December 2009
Mayweather-Pacquiao fight bound for MGM -- Las Vegas Review-Journal
By STEVE CARP, Las Vegas Review-Journal
Las Vegas has finally crossed the finish line to land the March 13 megafight between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao, sources close to both fighters said Saturday.
The MGM Grand Garden, despite a seating capacity of only 16,200, appears to have won out over the new Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, which could seat 100,000 for the bout.
Top Rank president Todd duBoef said late Saturday the deal with the MGM Grand is not complete.
"We're finalizing the details," he said. "Hopefully we'll have it done this coming week."
A source close to Mayweather said: "Nothing is signed. The talks are ongoing. It's getting close, but there's no deal in place yet."
DuBoef's boss, Top Rank founder and chairman Bob Arum, said last week he wanted to have a site for the fight locked up before Christmas. DuBoef has been handling site negotiations with Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer for the past 10 days, since Schaefer abruptly canceled a planned trip to Dallas on Dec. 9 to meet with Cowboys owner Jerry Jones.
Jones had made an initial offer of $25 million. Dallas Mavericks owner and fellow billionaire Mark Cuban was interested in partnering with Jones to bring the fight to Texas. It is not known whether Jones had sweetened his offer.
While the MGM Grand cannot compete with the Cowboys' massive stadium from a seating standpoint, it can pool resources with other MGM Mirage properties to have as many as 50,000 seats available between the live gate and closed-circuit seating. Closed-circuit locations could include the MGM Grand conference center, the Mandalay Bay Events Center and venues at the newly christened CityCenter.
MGM Mirage can offer hotel rooms, food and beverage capabilities and other amenities that Jones can't. Another factor in the negotiations is the MGM Grand's longstanding business relationship with Top Rank and Golden Boy, as well as Mayweather's promotional company.
Richard Sturm, president of entertainment and sports for MGM Mirage who has been negotiating with duBoef and Schaefer, said through a spokesman that it is not an appropriate time to comment.
The Grand Garden has hosted both boxers' most recent fights: Mayweather's return Sept. 19 when he defeated Juan Manuel Marquez after a 21-month layoff, and Pacquiao's 12th-round TKO victory over Miguel Cotto on Nov. 14.
Arum, who like Mayweather lives in Las Vegas, has said from the beginning of the negotiations he would like to see the fight in his hometown. However, Arum said it was important to consider all bidders, especially after Jones' huge $25 million offer. But it appears that despite having the smaller venue, the MGM is going to win out to play host to boxing's biggest fight in years.
"When we're ready to release a statement, we will let everyone know," duBoef said.
• GOLDEN BOY SIGNINGS -- Veteran junior welterweight Nate Campbell and Sergio Mora, a former world junior middleweight champion, signed promotional contracts with Golden Boy Promotions.
The 37-year-old Campbell (33-5-1 with 25 knockouts) is a former lightweight champion. His latest fight, against Timothy Bradley in August for the WBO light welterweight title, was called a no contest after Campbell sustained a bad cut over his left eye in the third round and couldn't continue.
Mora (21-1-1, five KOs) was a former champion on the TV reality series "The Contender." The 29-year-old defeated the late Vernon Forrest in 2008 to win the WBC light middleweight belt, then lost it in a rematch later in the year.
• STILL WAITING -- The Nevada Athletic Commission is waiting for Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. to respond to its complaint that he tested positive for a banned substance before his fight against Troy Rowland on Nov. 14 at the MGM Grand Garden.
Chavez reportedly tested positive for Furosemide, otherwise known as Lasix, a diuretic on Nevada's banned substance list. He has until Thursday to respond, and a hearing is expected to be in January. If the commission rules against him, he could be fined and/or suspended.
Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@ reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913.
Source: lvrj.com
Las Vegas has finally crossed the finish line to land the March 13 megafight between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao, sources close to both fighters said Saturday.
The MGM Grand Garden, despite a seating capacity of only 16,200, appears to have won out over the new Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, which could seat 100,000 for the bout.
Top Rank president Todd duBoef said late Saturday the deal with the MGM Grand is not complete.
"We're finalizing the details," he said. "Hopefully we'll have it done this coming week."
A source close to Mayweather said: "Nothing is signed. The talks are ongoing. It's getting close, but there's no deal in place yet."
DuBoef's boss, Top Rank founder and chairman Bob Arum, said last week he wanted to have a site for the fight locked up before Christmas. DuBoef has been handling site negotiations with Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer for the past 10 days, since Schaefer abruptly canceled a planned trip to Dallas on Dec. 9 to meet with Cowboys owner Jerry Jones.
Jones had made an initial offer of $25 million. Dallas Mavericks owner and fellow billionaire Mark Cuban was interested in partnering with Jones to bring the fight to Texas. It is not known whether Jones had sweetened his offer.
While the MGM Grand cannot compete with the Cowboys' massive stadium from a seating standpoint, it can pool resources with other MGM Mirage properties to have as many as 50,000 seats available between the live gate and closed-circuit seating. Closed-circuit locations could include the MGM Grand conference center, the Mandalay Bay Events Center and venues at the newly christened CityCenter.
MGM Mirage can offer hotel rooms, food and beverage capabilities and other amenities that Jones can't. Another factor in the negotiations is the MGM Grand's longstanding business relationship with Top Rank and Golden Boy, as well as Mayweather's promotional company.
Richard Sturm, president of entertainment and sports for MGM Mirage who has been negotiating with duBoef and Schaefer, said through a spokesman that it is not an appropriate time to comment.
The Grand Garden has hosted both boxers' most recent fights: Mayweather's return Sept. 19 when he defeated Juan Manuel Marquez after a 21-month layoff, and Pacquiao's 12th-round TKO victory over Miguel Cotto on Nov. 14.
Arum, who like Mayweather lives in Las Vegas, has said from the beginning of the negotiations he would like to see the fight in his hometown. However, Arum said it was important to consider all bidders, especially after Jones' huge $25 million offer. But it appears that despite having the smaller venue, the MGM is going to win out to play host to boxing's biggest fight in years.
"When we're ready to release a statement, we will let everyone know," duBoef said.
• GOLDEN BOY SIGNINGS -- Veteran junior welterweight Nate Campbell and Sergio Mora, a former world junior middleweight champion, signed promotional contracts with Golden Boy Promotions.
The 37-year-old Campbell (33-5-1 with 25 knockouts) is a former lightweight champion. His latest fight, against Timothy Bradley in August for the WBO light welterweight title, was called a no contest after Campbell sustained a bad cut over his left eye in the third round and couldn't continue.
Mora (21-1-1, five KOs) was a former champion on the TV reality series "The Contender." The 29-year-old defeated the late Vernon Forrest in 2008 to win the WBC light middleweight belt, then lost it in a rematch later in the year.
• STILL WAITING -- The Nevada Athletic Commission is waiting for Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. to respond to its complaint that he tested positive for a banned substance before his fight against Troy Rowland on Nov. 14 at the MGM Grand Garden.
Chavez reportedly tested positive for Furosemide, otherwise known as Lasix, a diuretic on Nevada's banned substance list. He has until Thursday to respond, and a hearing is expected to be in January. If the commission rules against him, he could be fined and/or suspended.
Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@ reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913.
Source: lvrj.com
Edwin Valero Rises to 26-0, with 26th KO -- FanHouse
By Lem Satterfield, FanHouse
Venezuelan-born, 28-year-old southpaw, Edwin Valero, scored his 26th
knockout in as many victories without a
loss when he stopped 34-year-old Hector Velazquez in the first defense of his WBC lightweight (135 pounds) title on Saturday night before his hometown fans at the Polideportivo José María Vargas, in La Guaira, Venezuela.
Valero (26-0, 26 KOs) dropped Velazquez, of Tijuana, Mex., to 51-14-2, with 35 knockouts.
Next up for Valero could be WBC interim champion, Antonio Demarco (23-1, 17 KOs), a 23-year-old, Mexican southpaw who is coming off of an Oct. 31, 10th-round knockout of Jose Alfaro (23-5, 20 KOs).
Demarco's 12th consecutive victory improved his unbeaten streak to 15-0-1 with 10 knockouts since losing a six-round majority decision to Anthony Vasquez in February 2006.
Demarco's promoter, Gary Shaw, told FanHouse that he would like to match Demarco against Valero on Feb. 6 in Monterrey, Mexico.
But Valero's promoter, Bob Arum, told FanHouse earlier last week that he would like his fighter to appear on the undercard of the upcoming Floyd Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao welterweight (147 pounds) fight on March 13, which sources have headed for the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
"That's one of the things that I would consider him for," said Arum, "is a spot on the Pacquiao-Mayweahter card."
A winner of his first 18 bouts by first-round knockout, Valero has been trying to resolve a visa issues stemming from a DUI charge last May.
Citing Valero's trainer, Jose Castillo, Arum said the fighter has satisfied alcohol treatment requirements and rectified his travel situation.
"Jose was going to be flying to Venezuela to get all of the documents. And then, they would apply at the embassy for a U.S. Visa based on the new data," said Arum. "Jose then hoped that Valero would be in the U.S. as early as January of next year."
Another problem facing Valero, however, stems from brain surgery he received as the result of a motorcycle accident in 2001, and a subsequent MRI by the New York State Athletic Commission that revealed a blood clot on the surface of his brain.
Cleared to continued fighting following successful surgery to remove the clot, Valero was still placed on indefinite medical suspensionn by the NYAC.
Since most athletic associations upheld New York's decision, Valero did not fight in America, instead, spending nearly six years knocking out 14 opponents in countries such as Venezuela, Argentina, Panama, Japan, France and Mexico.
Texas allowed Valero to fight there, and he stopped Antonio Pitalua at at the Frank Erwin Center in Austin in February.
Arum believes, however, that Valero could fight in Las Vegas, pending an evaluation by the Nevada State Athletic Commission.
Source: boxing.fanhouse.com
Venezuelan-born, 28-year-old southpaw, Edwin Valero, scored his 26th
knockout in as many victories without a
loss when he stopped 34-year-old Hector Velazquez in the first defense of his WBC lightweight (135 pounds) title on Saturday night before his hometown fans at the Polideportivo José María Vargas, in La Guaira, Venezuela.
Valero (26-0, 26 KOs) dropped Velazquez, of Tijuana, Mex., to 51-14-2, with 35 knockouts.
Next up for Valero could be WBC interim champion, Antonio Demarco (23-1, 17 KOs), a 23-year-old, Mexican southpaw who is coming off of an Oct. 31, 10th-round knockout of Jose Alfaro (23-5, 20 KOs).
Demarco's 12th consecutive victory improved his unbeaten streak to 15-0-1 with 10 knockouts since losing a six-round majority decision to Anthony Vasquez in February 2006.
Demarco's promoter, Gary Shaw, told FanHouse that he would like to match Demarco against Valero on Feb. 6 in Monterrey, Mexico.
But Valero's promoter, Bob Arum, told FanHouse earlier last week that he would like his fighter to appear on the undercard of the upcoming Floyd Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao welterweight (147 pounds) fight on March 13, which sources have headed for the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
"That's one of the things that I would consider him for," said Arum, "is a spot on the Pacquiao-Mayweahter card."
A winner of his first 18 bouts by first-round knockout, Valero has been trying to resolve a visa issues stemming from a DUI charge last May.
Citing Valero's trainer, Jose Castillo, Arum said the fighter has satisfied alcohol treatment requirements and rectified his travel situation.
"Jose was going to be flying to Venezuela to get all of the documents. And then, they would apply at the embassy for a U.S. Visa based on the new data," said Arum. "Jose then hoped that Valero would be in the U.S. as early as January of next year."
Another problem facing Valero, however, stems from brain surgery he received as the result of a motorcycle accident in 2001, and a subsequent MRI by the New York State Athletic Commission that revealed a blood clot on the surface of his brain.
Cleared to continued fighting following successful surgery to remove the clot, Valero was still placed on indefinite medical suspensionn by the NYAC.
Since most athletic associations upheld New York's decision, Valero did not fight in America, instead, spending nearly six years knocking out 14 opponents in countries such as Venezuela, Argentina, Panama, Japan, France and Mexico.
Texas allowed Valero to fight there, and he stopped Antonio Pitalua at at the Frank Erwin Center in Austin in February.
Arum believes, however, that Valero could fight in Las Vegas, pending an evaluation by the Nevada State Athletic Commission.
Source: boxing.fanhouse.com
Manny Pacquiao still undisputed -- Boston Herald
By George Kimball, Boston Herald
The final list of nominations won’t go out to members of the Boxing Writers Association of America until this week, but when the ballots are counted it’s hard to imagine that the 2009 Fighter of the Year won’t be the same guy who was honored as the 2008 Fighter of the Year.
The only defensible logic for not voting for Manny Pacquiao might come from those who want to hedge their bets on his next fight, as his scheduled March 13 encounter with Floyd Mayweather Jr. will precede the presentation of the award at the annual BWAA dinner.
Should they cover next year’s event again, let’s hope the folks at Time get it right this time. Last month’s cover story on “Pac-Man” included the rather startling information that Pacquiao attended June’s BWAA dinner in New York “to receive his second Fighter of the Year award from The Ring magazine.”
What is even more absurd than misidentifying the voting body - if the story itself is to be believed - is that its authors supposedly attended that same dinner. Perhaps Howard Chua-Eoan and Ishaan Tharoor had one too many cocktails that night, but what ever happened to Time’s legendary team of fact-checkers? . . .
File this under the category, That’s Why They Call Them Yahoos: Mayweather, who has fought five times in the last five years, was nominated last week for “Athlete of the Decade” by Yahoo! [YHOO] Sports.
All five of those fights, incidentally, took place in Las Vegas, where the transplanted Michigander now resides. Pacquiao’s last six bouts have also been in Vegas, but no one would confuse him with a resident, which is one reason Pacquiao and promoter Bob Arum would prefer a more neutral venue for their welterweight title fight in March.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones reportedly has a $25 million offer on the table to host the bout at his new palace, Cowboys Stadium, and Texas, like Nevada, has no state income tax. Arum, HBO sports president Ross Greenburg and Golden Boy promotions CEO Richard Schaefer were supposed to fly to Dallas to confer with Jones a couple of weeks ago, but when Schaefer (presumably at Mayweather’s behest) canceled at the last minute, everyone else did, too.
Jones, who has already locked up the Cotton Bowl, an NCAA Final Four and a Super Bowl for his new venue, envisions the largest live audience in the history of American boxing - if he can land Pacquiao-Mayweather.
It’s hard to see how Jones can think on such a grand scale, even in Texas, but then again the oil bidness ain’t what it used to be. Still, even with an expanded capacity that would seat 110,000 for boxing, to recoup his investment Jones would need to price tickets, including those up in the nosebleed sections, at an average of more than $250.cw0cw0
Zbikowski punches in
This week’s other NFL/boxing connection concerns heavyweight Tommy Zbikowski, who made his pro debut three years ago when he knocked out Robert Bell on the Miguel Cotto-Paulie Malignaggi undercard at Madison Square Garden. Now a Baltimore Ravens safety, Zbikowski’s name is on the Pro Bowl ballot as a special teams performer, and following an injury to Ed Reed, has been in the Ravens’ starting lineup for the last few games. Although he hasn’t fought since his MSG pro debut, Zbikowski says he works out in a boxing gym on Tuesdays, the team’s off-day. . . .
Don’t be surprised, by the way, if Nate Campbell and Sergio Mora start moving up in The Ring’s ratings. Campbell, the former three-belt lightweight champion, has fought just three rounds since February (his head-butt fight vs. Tim Bradley, later changed to No Contest) and the “Latin Snake” not at all in 2009, but both signed promotional contracts with Golden Boy last week.
Rigondeaux reax
Hours before Guillermo Rigondeaux made his New York debut at B.B. King’s Wednesday night, an arbitration hearing issued a permanent injunction upholding the managerial contract Irishman Gary Hyde signed with the Cuban featherweight in 2007 - two years prior to Rigondeaux’ defection. Hyde’s investment was somewhat devalued hours later by the boxer’s lackluster performance against Ghanain journeyman Lantey Addy. Fighting beyond the fourth round for the first time in nearly 400 amateur and pro fights, Rigondeaux, who had knocked out each of his first three pro opponents, was extended the distance when Addy opted to fight in survival mode.
“I’d rather have seen him in there with someone who was actually trying to win a fight,” trainer Freddie Roach said.
Last night’s Kelly Pavlik-Miguel Espino card may have been HBO’s last pay-per-view of the year, but it won’t be the end of televised boxing for 2009. Beginning on Dec. 26, Boxing Day, HBO will reprise its top fights of the year nightly at 11: Mayweather-Raul Marquez on Dec. 26, Shane Mosley-Antonio Margarito on Dec. 27, Andre Berto-Luis Collazo on Dec. 28, Juan Manuel Marquez-Juan Diaz on Dec. 29, and Pacquiao-Miguel Cotto on Dec. 30. As a bonus, there will be a midnight showing of Paul Williams-Sergio Martinez following the Pacquiao-Cotto fight.
Fame may be fleeting
Some of next summer’s inductees into the International Boxing Hall of Fame may only be allowed to travel to Canastota, N.Y., if they agree to wear ankle bracelets, and the trio of “modern” boxers - Jung-Koo Chang, Danny “Little Red” Lopez, and the late Lloyd Marshall - could be the weakest group ever elected, but the acceptance speeches of longtime Associated Press scribe “Fast” Edward Schuyler and Top Rank matchmaker Bruce Trampler should enliven June’s induction ceremony. The other question is whether the Hall will put new inductee Howard Cosell’s toupee on display with its other memorabilia. . . .
Danny Willams, the high point of whose career was his 2004 dismantling of Mike Tyson, has already announced that his Feb. 13 defense of his British heavyweight title against Sam Sexton at Wembly Arena will be his last fight.
When Sexton’s trainer, Graham Everett, described him as “a fighter on the slide,” Williams had a refreshingly candid response:
“Of course I am,” he told England’s Boxing News. “He’s 100 percent right. I’ve been on the slide for years. You can’t hide from the truth, I suppose, but Graham is cool, and he knows how pumped up I am for this one. (Everett and Sexton) both know I’ve got enough left to win this fight.” . . .
Dorchester-based Kevin McBride was supposed to have gotten the 2004 Tyson date, but lost out when Williams’ connections underbid his. When McBride stopped Tyson the following June, he ensured himself a place in the record books as the man who ended Tyson’s career. Although the “Clones Colossus” has been in the gym, he hasn’t fought in more than two years since he was stopped on cuts by Andrew Golota at Madison Square Garden, and never defended the Irish heavyweight title he won in Belfast a dozen years ago.
The Boxing Union of Ireland has now vacated that title, and BUI boss Mel Christle said that a bout to crown a successor will likely take place in early 2010, with Tyson Fury a likely participant. The unbeaten Fury owns the English title, but is of Irish descent and eligible for the All-Ireland championship. . . .
Happy birthday, Eric Harding.
Source: bostonherald.com
The final list of nominations won’t go out to members of the Boxing Writers Association of America until this week, but when the ballots are counted it’s hard to imagine that the 2009 Fighter of the Year won’t be the same guy who was honored as the 2008 Fighter of the Year.
The only defensible logic for not voting for Manny Pacquiao might come from those who want to hedge their bets on his next fight, as his scheduled March 13 encounter with Floyd Mayweather Jr. will precede the presentation of the award at the annual BWAA dinner.
Should they cover next year’s event again, let’s hope the folks at Time get it right this time. Last month’s cover story on “Pac-Man” included the rather startling information that Pacquiao attended June’s BWAA dinner in New York “to receive his second Fighter of the Year award from The Ring magazine.”
What is even more absurd than misidentifying the voting body - if the story itself is to be believed - is that its authors supposedly attended that same dinner. Perhaps Howard Chua-Eoan and Ishaan Tharoor had one too many cocktails that night, but what ever happened to Time’s legendary team of fact-checkers? . . .
File this under the category, That’s Why They Call Them Yahoos: Mayweather, who has fought five times in the last five years, was nominated last week for “Athlete of the Decade” by Yahoo! [YHOO] Sports.
All five of those fights, incidentally, took place in Las Vegas, where the transplanted Michigander now resides. Pacquiao’s last six bouts have also been in Vegas, but no one would confuse him with a resident, which is one reason Pacquiao and promoter Bob Arum would prefer a more neutral venue for their welterweight title fight in March.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones reportedly has a $25 million offer on the table to host the bout at his new palace, Cowboys Stadium, and Texas, like Nevada, has no state income tax. Arum, HBO sports president Ross Greenburg and Golden Boy promotions CEO Richard Schaefer were supposed to fly to Dallas to confer with Jones a couple of weeks ago, but when Schaefer (presumably at Mayweather’s behest) canceled at the last minute, everyone else did, too.
Jones, who has already locked up the Cotton Bowl, an NCAA Final Four and a Super Bowl for his new venue, envisions the largest live audience in the history of American boxing - if he can land Pacquiao-Mayweather.
It’s hard to see how Jones can think on such a grand scale, even in Texas, but then again the oil bidness ain’t what it used to be. Still, even with an expanded capacity that would seat 110,000 for boxing, to recoup his investment Jones would need to price tickets, including those up in the nosebleed sections, at an average of more than $250.cw0cw0
Zbikowski punches in
This week’s other NFL/boxing connection concerns heavyweight Tommy Zbikowski, who made his pro debut three years ago when he knocked out Robert Bell on the Miguel Cotto-Paulie Malignaggi undercard at Madison Square Garden. Now a Baltimore Ravens safety, Zbikowski’s name is on the Pro Bowl ballot as a special teams performer, and following an injury to Ed Reed, has been in the Ravens’ starting lineup for the last few games. Although he hasn’t fought since his MSG pro debut, Zbikowski says he works out in a boxing gym on Tuesdays, the team’s off-day. . . .
Don’t be surprised, by the way, if Nate Campbell and Sergio Mora start moving up in The Ring’s ratings. Campbell, the former three-belt lightweight champion, has fought just three rounds since February (his head-butt fight vs. Tim Bradley, later changed to No Contest) and the “Latin Snake” not at all in 2009, but both signed promotional contracts with Golden Boy last week.
Rigondeaux reax
Hours before Guillermo Rigondeaux made his New York debut at B.B. King’s Wednesday night, an arbitration hearing issued a permanent injunction upholding the managerial contract Irishman Gary Hyde signed with the Cuban featherweight in 2007 - two years prior to Rigondeaux’ defection. Hyde’s investment was somewhat devalued hours later by the boxer’s lackluster performance against Ghanain journeyman Lantey Addy. Fighting beyond the fourth round for the first time in nearly 400 amateur and pro fights, Rigondeaux, who had knocked out each of his first three pro opponents, was extended the distance when Addy opted to fight in survival mode.
“I’d rather have seen him in there with someone who was actually trying to win a fight,” trainer Freddie Roach said.
Last night’s Kelly Pavlik-Miguel Espino card may have been HBO’s last pay-per-view of the year, but it won’t be the end of televised boxing for 2009. Beginning on Dec. 26, Boxing Day, HBO will reprise its top fights of the year nightly at 11: Mayweather-Raul Marquez on Dec. 26, Shane Mosley-Antonio Margarito on Dec. 27, Andre Berto-Luis Collazo on Dec. 28, Juan Manuel Marquez-Juan Diaz on Dec. 29, and Pacquiao-Miguel Cotto on Dec. 30. As a bonus, there will be a midnight showing of Paul Williams-Sergio Martinez following the Pacquiao-Cotto fight.
Fame may be fleeting
Some of next summer’s inductees into the International Boxing Hall of Fame may only be allowed to travel to Canastota, N.Y., if they agree to wear ankle bracelets, and the trio of “modern” boxers - Jung-Koo Chang, Danny “Little Red” Lopez, and the late Lloyd Marshall - could be the weakest group ever elected, but the acceptance speeches of longtime Associated Press scribe “Fast” Edward Schuyler and Top Rank matchmaker Bruce Trampler should enliven June’s induction ceremony. The other question is whether the Hall will put new inductee Howard Cosell’s toupee on display with its other memorabilia. . . .
Danny Willams, the high point of whose career was his 2004 dismantling of Mike Tyson, has already announced that his Feb. 13 defense of his British heavyweight title against Sam Sexton at Wembly Arena will be his last fight.
When Sexton’s trainer, Graham Everett, described him as “a fighter on the slide,” Williams had a refreshingly candid response:
“Of course I am,” he told England’s Boxing News. “He’s 100 percent right. I’ve been on the slide for years. You can’t hide from the truth, I suppose, but Graham is cool, and he knows how pumped up I am for this one. (Everett and Sexton) both know I’ve got enough left to win this fight.” . . .
Dorchester-based Kevin McBride was supposed to have gotten the 2004 Tyson date, but lost out when Williams’ connections underbid his. When McBride stopped Tyson the following June, he ensured himself a place in the record books as the man who ended Tyson’s career. Although the “Clones Colossus” has been in the gym, he hasn’t fought in more than two years since he was stopped on cuts by Andrew Golota at Madison Square Garden, and never defended the Irish heavyweight title he won in Belfast a dozen years ago.
The Boxing Union of Ireland has now vacated that title, and BUI boss Mel Christle said that a bout to crown a successor will likely take place in early 2010, with Tyson Fury a likely participant. The unbeaten Fury owns the English title, but is of Irish descent and eligible for the All-Ireland championship. . . .
Happy birthday, Eric Harding.
Source: bostonherald.com
Valero remains WBC lightweight champion -- The Associated Press
AP
LA GUAIRA, Venezuela — Edwin Valero stopped veteran Hector Velazquez after six rounds Saturday night to keep his WBC lightweight title in a town on Venezuela's Caribbean coast.
The 28-year-old Valero (26-0, 26 KOs) was bleeding from an eyebrow and his nose after a pair of accidental head-butts early in the fight. But the feisty Venezuelan kept attacking, giving Velazquez (51-14-2) his third loss in four fights.
It was Valero's first defense since winning the belt in April with a second-round knockout of Antonio Pitalua in Austin, Texas. Valero is already planning to defend the title in early 2010 against Antonio DeMarco, who holds the interim WBC belt.
The fight Saturday night was held just outside Caracas — Valero's first fight since problems renewing his U.S. visa prevented him from defending his title in Las Vegas last month against junior lightweight champion Humberto Soto.
Valero at the time accused the U.S. government of discrimination, saying he had completed all the necessary paperwork and that his application wasn't approved in time because of his sympathy for Venezuela President Hugo Chavez — a fierce critic of the U.S. government. Valero has an image of Chavez tattooed on his chest along with a Venezuelan flag.
Authorities say that Valero has a pending drunken driving charge in Texas, which is the primary reason he was denied a visa.
The charismatic lightweight turned professional in 2002 and fought without any problems until he failed a prefight MRI exam two years later in New York, when it was revealed that he suffered a cerebral hemorrhage in a motorcycle accident in 2001.
Valero was place on indefinite suspension and wound up fighting mainly in Japan and Latin America. He finally received a license to fight in Texas, where he won his 135-pound title in the kind of dazzling performance that has become his hallmark.
Copyright © 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
Source: Google News
LA GUAIRA, Venezuela — Edwin Valero stopped veteran Hector Velazquez after six rounds Saturday night to keep his WBC lightweight title in a town on Venezuela's Caribbean coast.
The 28-year-old Valero (26-0, 26 KOs) was bleeding from an eyebrow and his nose after a pair of accidental head-butts early in the fight. But the feisty Venezuelan kept attacking, giving Velazquez (51-14-2) his third loss in four fights.
It was Valero's first defense since winning the belt in April with a second-round knockout of Antonio Pitalua in Austin, Texas. Valero is already planning to defend the title in early 2010 against Antonio DeMarco, who holds the interim WBC belt.
The fight Saturday night was held just outside Caracas — Valero's first fight since problems renewing his U.S. visa prevented him from defending his title in Las Vegas last month against junior lightweight champion Humberto Soto.
Valero at the time accused the U.S. government of discrimination, saying he had completed all the necessary paperwork and that his application wasn't approved in time because of his sympathy for Venezuela President Hugo Chavez — a fierce critic of the U.S. government. Valero has an image of Chavez tattooed on his chest along with a Venezuelan flag.
Authorities say that Valero has a pending drunken driving charge in Texas, which is the primary reason he was denied a visa.
The charismatic lightweight turned professional in 2002 and fought without any problems until he failed a prefight MRI exam two years later in New York, when it was revealed that he suffered a cerebral hemorrhage in a motorcycle accident in 2001.
Valero was place on indefinite suspension and wound up fighting mainly in Japan and Latin America. He finally received a license to fight in Texas, where he won his 135-pound title in the kind of dazzling performance that has become his hallmark.
Copyright © 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
Source: Google News
Pavlik defends title with knockout of Espino -- The Associated Press
AP
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio — Kelly Pavlik stopped Miguel Espino in the fifth round Saturday night to defend his middleweight titles, ending a difficult year on a high note.
After a 10-month layoff because of a staph infection on his left hand, the WBC and WBO champ dropped Espino to a knee in the fourth round with staggering rights. Pavlik knocked Espino down again in the fifth, and referee Steve Smoger stepped in at 1:44 into the round.
It was the third successful title defense for Pavlik, who was back in his hometown on the campus of Youngstown State University. Pavlik (36-1, 32 KOs) hadn't fought since beating Marco Antonio Rubio on Feb. 21 across town at the Chevrolet Centre.
Espino (20-3-1) was rated the No. 3 contender by the WBC, though few gave the fighter from North Hollywood, Calif., much of a chance. He was deducted a point for punching after the bell following the first round, then was warned in the second and third for repeated low blows.
His trainer, John Bray, said the plan was to circle and jab for the first four or five rounds, and Espino quickly scrapped that idea.
"As soon as Miguel got hit, the warrior came out and he went toe to toe," Bray said. "He didn't stick to the gameplan. He's a real warrior. Kelly Pavlik is a great champion and a big puncher. We fell into his trap."
Trying to prove to the boxing world he is back, Pavlik was aggressive early. He stung Espino in the first round with a flurry of body shots.
"I didn't stick to the gameplan," Espino said. "The heck with gameplans. I decided to rumble."
Pavlik got the knockout his trainer, Jack Loew, said he needed earlier this week. His image had been tarnished by a difficult year that included the staph infection in his left hand and twice canceling fights against Paul Williams.
As a result, his trip back to Youngstown on Saturday night had a much different feel than the first. After beating Rubio in front of a raucous sellout crowd in February, Pavlik knocked out Espino in front of a half-full Beeghly Center.
The announced crowd of 3,409 was less than half of the 7,000 capacity.
Pavlik was supposed to fight Williams in October, but the staph infection postponed the fight until Dec. 5. It was canceled when Pavlik realized he still couldn't make a fist with his injured left hand, and Williams decided to fight someone else on that date.
Faced with either fighting or being stripped of his belts, Pavlik hurriedly plucked the little-known Espino and dropped him into this title defense. He crammed a typical eight-week training schedule into five weeks, but it certainly didn't affect his performance.
The win was also sweet for Loew, whose brother-in-law Jimmy Villers collapsed on his way to the locker room after officiating an undercard fight earlier in the night.
Villers was speaking and in stable condition at St. Elizabeth Health Center after grabbing his chest and collapsing in the aisle. Medical personnel used a defibrillator and strapped oxygen to his face, and Villers was alert when he was placed on a stretcher and taken to the hospital. A cardiologist sitting near the ring helped take care of him.
On the undercard, rising prospect Vanes Martirosyan (26-0, 17 KOs) looked impressive in stopping Willie Lee at 2:13 of the third round of their junior middleweight fight — possibly setting up a title fight early next year.
"Vanes is ready for a world title shot," his trainer Freddie Roach said. "He's 26-0, done his homework, and he is ready for the big fight."
The pay-per-view fights from Youngstown were part of a unique split-site doubleheader with the opening bouts coming from Ciudad Obregon, Mexico.
Former junior lightweight champion Humberto Soto won a unanimous 10-round decision over Jesus Chavez, while Nehomar Cermeno retained his WBA interim bantamweight title by knocking out Alejandro Valdez in the 11th round.
After the result was announced, Valdez fell to the canvas and was taken to the hospital. His status was not immediately available.
Copyright © 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
Source: Google News
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio — Kelly Pavlik stopped Miguel Espino in the fifth round Saturday night to defend his middleweight titles, ending a difficult year on a high note.
After a 10-month layoff because of a staph infection on his left hand, the WBC and WBO champ dropped Espino to a knee in the fourth round with staggering rights. Pavlik knocked Espino down again in the fifth, and referee Steve Smoger stepped in at 1:44 into the round.
It was the third successful title defense for Pavlik, who was back in his hometown on the campus of Youngstown State University. Pavlik (36-1, 32 KOs) hadn't fought since beating Marco Antonio Rubio on Feb. 21 across town at the Chevrolet Centre.
Espino (20-3-1) was rated the No. 3 contender by the WBC, though few gave the fighter from North Hollywood, Calif., much of a chance. He was deducted a point for punching after the bell following the first round, then was warned in the second and third for repeated low blows.
His trainer, John Bray, said the plan was to circle and jab for the first four or five rounds, and Espino quickly scrapped that idea.
"As soon as Miguel got hit, the warrior came out and he went toe to toe," Bray said. "He didn't stick to the gameplan. He's a real warrior. Kelly Pavlik is a great champion and a big puncher. We fell into his trap."
Trying to prove to the boxing world he is back, Pavlik was aggressive early. He stung Espino in the first round with a flurry of body shots.
"I didn't stick to the gameplan," Espino said. "The heck with gameplans. I decided to rumble."
Pavlik got the knockout his trainer, Jack Loew, said he needed earlier this week. His image had been tarnished by a difficult year that included the staph infection in his left hand and twice canceling fights against Paul Williams.
As a result, his trip back to Youngstown on Saturday night had a much different feel than the first. After beating Rubio in front of a raucous sellout crowd in February, Pavlik knocked out Espino in front of a half-full Beeghly Center.
The announced crowd of 3,409 was less than half of the 7,000 capacity.
Pavlik was supposed to fight Williams in October, but the staph infection postponed the fight until Dec. 5. It was canceled when Pavlik realized he still couldn't make a fist with his injured left hand, and Williams decided to fight someone else on that date.
Faced with either fighting or being stripped of his belts, Pavlik hurriedly plucked the little-known Espino and dropped him into this title defense. He crammed a typical eight-week training schedule into five weeks, but it certainly didn't affect his performance.
The win was also sweet for Loew, whose brother-in-law Jimmy Villers collapsed on his way to the locker room after officiating an undercard fight earlier in the night.
Villers was speaking and in stable condition at St. Elizabeth Health Center after grabbing his chest and collapsing in the aisle. Medical personnel used a defibrillator and strapped oxygen to his face, and Villers was alert when he was placed on a stretcher and taken to the hospital. A cardiologist sitting near the ring helped take care of him.
On the undercard, rising prospect Vanes Martirosyan (26-0, 17 KOs) looked impressive in stopping Willie Lee at 2:13 of the third round of their junior middleweight fight — possibly setting up a title fight early next year.
"Vanes is ready for a world title shot," his trainer Freddie Roach said. "He's 26-0, done his homework, and he is ready for the big fight."
The pay-per-view fights from Youngstown were part of a unique split-site doubleheader with the opening bouts coming from Ciudad Obregon, Mexico.
Former junior lightweight champion Humberto Soto won a unanimous 10-round decision over Jesus Chavez, while Nehomar Cermeno retained his WBA interim bantamweight title by knocking out Alejandro Valdez in the 11th round.
After the result was announced, Valdez fell to the canvas and was taken to the hospital. His status was not immediately available.
Copyright © 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
Source: Google News
Pavlik stops Espino in fifth round -- AFP
AFP
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio — American Kelly Pavlik stopped Miguel Espino in the fifth round of their World Boxing Council middleweight fight on Saturday.
Pavlik, 27, floored Espino three times including twice in the fourth round. He sent Espino to the canvas again in the fifth and that's when the challenger's corner threw in the towel.
Pavlik (36-1, 32 KOs) traded punches with Espino from the opening bell in an entertaining fight that was stopped by referee Steve Smoger at 1:44 of the fifth.
Espino (20-3-1) is the third ranked contender behind Pavlik. He was deducted a point after round one for throwing a late punch.
The win was a confidence boost for Pavlik who recently took 10 months off to recover from an infected hand.
Pavlik suffered his only loss 14 months ago when he stepped up in weight to face Bernard Hopkins and dropped a unanimous 12-round decision.
Pavlik defended his title last February by beating Mexico's Marco Antonio Rubio, but needed this win to prove himself once again.
Copyright © 2009 AFP. All rights reserved.
Source: Google News
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio — American Kelly Pavlik stopped Miguel Espino in the fifth round of their World Boxing Council middleweight fight on Saturday.
Pavlik, 27, floored Espino three times including twice in the fourth round. He sent Espino to the canvas again in the fifth and that's when the challenger's corner threw in the towel.
Pavlik (36-1, 32 KOs) traded punches with Espino from the opening bell in an entertaining fight that was stopped by referee Steve Smoger at 1:44 of the fifth.
Espino (20-3-1) is the third ranked contender behind Pavlik. He was deducted a point after round one for throwing a late punch.
The win was a confidence boost for Pavlik who recently took 10 months off to recover from an infected hand.
Pavlik suffered his only loss 14 months ago when he stepped up in weight to face Bernard Hopkins and dropped a unanimous 12-round decision.
Pavlik defended his title last February by beating Mexico's Marco Antonio Rubio, but needed this win to prove himself once again.
Copyright © 2009 AFP. All rights reserved.
Source: Google News
Mayweather-Pacquiao site chosen, deal moves on -- Examiner.com
By Michael Marley, Examiner.com
Boxing fans could have their biggest gift for 2010 wrapped up with a red bow and under their trees before Christmas (next Saturday).
That’s the optimistic word from Manny Pacquiao promoter Bob Arum, speaking by phone just before his Kelly Pavlik middleweight title fight PPV card began Saturday night in Youngstown, Ohio.
One small caveat, here for fight fans who are licking their chops to see undefeated Floyd Mayweather Jr. climb into the ring with Pacman on March 13.
The site, Arum said, has been selected although he refused to tip his hand as to whether it will be the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas or Dallas Cowboys’ owner Jerry Jones’ spectacular new football playpen in Arlington, Tx.
“They have selected a site,” Arum said, referring to his stepson and Top Rank president Todd duBoef on the Pacquiao side and Richard Schaefer repping Mayweather on the other. “But I can’t say a word other than that.”
Arum said the nuts and bolts of the bout contract are in place but that details have to be fleshed out and then the agreement has to be properly reduced to writing by lawyers.
“This is a huge, huge, big money deal and it takes time,” Arum said.
Arum said there are no important matters of dispute which could wreck the mega bout deal.
Arum said the site will likely be announced at some point in the coming week.
A New York City press conference will be held Jan. 6 followed by one in Los Angeles on Jan.8.
“After that, the fighters can get to work at their training camps,” Arum said.
Arum said he thinks Mayweather will train at his own gym in Las Vegas and that a U.S. training base is being explored for Pacman.
Arum said Pacman will not launch his training in Baguio or elsewhere in the Philippines. With the new calendar year about to begin, the Pinoy Idol is not concerned about getting heavily taxed for training in this country.
“We’re working on a site for Manny in the U.S.,” Arum said.
We can assume if Vegas was chosen over the $25 million offer by Jones that the MGM Grand Mirage guys dug deep into their corporate coffers to land the big fight.
(mlcmarley@aol.com)
Source: examiner.com
Boxing fans could have their biggest gift for 2010 wrapped up with a red bow and under their trees before Christmas (next Saturday).
That’s the optimistic word from Manny Pacquiao promoter Bob Arum, speaking by phone just before his Kelly Pavlik middleweight title fight PPV card began Saturday night in Youngstown, Ohio.
One small caveat, here for fight fans who are licking their chops to see undefeated Floyd Mayweather Jr. climb into the ring with Pacman on March 13.
The site, Arum said, has been selected although he refused to tip his hand as to whether it will be the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas or Dallas Cowboys’ owner Jerry Jones’ spectacular new football playpen in Arlington, Tx.
“They have selected a site,” Arum said, referring to his stepson and Top Rank president Todd duBoef on the Pacquiao side and Richard Schaefer repping Mayweather on the other. “But I can’t say a word other than that.”
Arum said the nuts and bolts of the bout contract are in place but that details have to be fleshed out and then the agreement has to be properly reduced to writing by lawyers.
“This is a huge, huge, big money deal and it takes time,” Arum said.
Arum said there are no important matters of dispute which could wreck the mega bout deal.
Arum said the site will likely be announced at some point in the coming week.
A New York City press conference will be held Jan. 6 followed by one in Los Angeles on Jan.8.
“After that, the fighters can get to work at their training camps,” Arum said.
Arum said he thinks Mayweather will train at his own gym in Las Vegas and that a U.S. training base is being explored for Pacman.
Arum said Pacman will not launch his training in Baguio or elsewhere in the Philippines. With the new calendar year about to begin, the Pinoy Idol is not concerned about getting heavily taxed for training in this country.
“We’re working on a site for Manny in the U.S.,” Arum said.
We can assume if Vegas was chosen over the $25 million offer by Jones that the MGM Grand Mirage guys dug deep into their corporate coffers to land the big fight.
(mlcmarley@aol.com)
Source: examiner.com
Sources: MGM Will be Site of Floyd Mayweather vs. Manny Pacquiao -- FanHouse
By Lem Satterfield, FanHouse
Unbeaten Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao will contest their megabout for Pacquiao's WBO welterweight (147 pounds) title on March 13 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, according to sources with knowledge of the decision.
"It's the MGM. It's definite," said a source.
The MGM was chosen over the Dallas Cowboys' Stadium, whose owner, Jerry Jones, had offered $25 million to host the bout. The promoters of both fighters, however, had indicated that they felt the MGM's offer could surpass that of Jones.
The choice of the MGM Grand, whose deal specifications are unclear, is largely based in both fighters' familiarity with the location as well as their past success there.
News conferences already had been planned for Jan. 6, followed by one in Los Angeles two days later on Jan.8, the sources indicated.
Both Pacquiao (50-3-2, 38 knockouts) and Mayweather (40-0, 25 KOs) were in agreement in principle with all of the fight deal's negotiation parameters, including a 50-50 financial split, competition at the 147-pound limit, eight-ounce gloves, and an Olympic-style random drug test at the request of Mayweather's camp.
Mayweather, a 32-year-old who is being represented by Golden Boy Promotions' Richard Schaefer in the negotiations, is a five-time champion, with a 6-0 record at the MGM that includes two knockouts.
The 30-year-old Pacquiao, a winner of seven crowns in as many weight divisions, is 3-1-1 at MGM.
Last week, The Los Angeles Times, citing a source involved in the site talks, spelled out a scenario in which the MGM Grand would generate $28 million in live-gate sales, offer 40,000 closed-circuit seats through MGM/Mirage properties, and charge $100 a head for a possible $4 million surplus -- a total worth of around $32 million.
Source: boxing.fanhouse.com
Unbeaten Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao will contest their megabout for Pacquiao's WBO welterweight (147 pounds) title on March 13 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, according to sources with knowledge of the decision.
"It's the MGM. It's definite," said a source.
The MGM was chosen over the Dallas Cowboys' Stadium, whose owner, Jerry Jones, had offered $25 million to host the bout. The promoters of both fighters, however, had indicated that they felt the MGM's offer could surpass that of Jones.
The choice of the MGM Grand, whose deal specifications are unclear, is largely based in both fighters' familiarity with the location as well as their past success there.
News conferences already had been planned for Jan. 6, followed by one in Los Angeles two days later on Jan.8, the sources indicated.
Both Pacquiao (50-3-2, 38 knockouts) and Mayweather (40-0, 25 KOs) were in agreement in principle with all of the fight deal's negotiation parameters, including a 50-50 financial split, competition at the 147-pound limit, eight-ounce gloves, and an Olympic-style random drug test at the request of Mayweather's camp.
Mayweather, a 32-year-old who is being represented by Golden Boy Promotions' Richard Schaefer in the negotiations, is a five-time champion, with a 6-0 record at the MGM that includes two knockouts.
The 30-year-old Pacquiao, a winner of seven crowns in as many weight divisions, is 3-1-1 at MGM.
Last week, The Los Angeles Times, citing a source involved in the site talks, spelled out a scenario in which the MGM Grand would generate $28 million in live-gate sales, offer 40,000 closed-circuit seats through MGM/Mirage properties, and charge $100 a head for a possible $4 million surplus -- a total worth of around $32 million.
Source: boxing.fanhouse.com
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