Pacquiao-Clottey tickets selling briskly despite stiff prices -- Manila Bulletin

By NICK GIONGCO, Manila Bulletin

Tickets for the World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight title showdown between Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines and Joshua Clottey of Ghana are selling briskly despite the tickets’ stiff prices.

The top seat tickets cost $700 while other tickets are being peddled for $500, $400, $300, $200, $100, and $50, something Arum believes will entice fight fans to fill the reconfigured (45,000-capacity) Cowboys Stadium on fight night.

As this developed, Clottey downplayed Pacquiao perceived superiority, saying the Filipino champ is just Superman’s alter-ego Clark Kent and not The Man of Steel.

“I know it’s Pacquiao but I don’t like people thinking that Manny is super, that nobody can beat him,” Clottey told the Ghanaian media as he gears up for his March 13 showdown with the Filipino fighter at Cowboys Stadium in Dallas, Texas.

Clottey said Pacquiao “is a human being like me,” and that he is going all-out in his ambitious quest to “dethrone him” and “win the (World Boxing Organization welterweight) title for Ghana.”

While Clottey is assured the biggest paycheck of his career, the African banger insists he is facing Pacquiao.

Source: mb.com.ph

***

Joshua Clottey steps up again, this time against the best fighter in the world -- Eastside Boxing

By Mike Cassell, Eastside Boxing

As I stood behind the curtain of the press area in Atlantic City’s historic Boardwalk hall back in 2006, welterweight Joshua Clottey looked absolutely sick following his fight with Antonio Margarito. I noticed his left hand was grossly swollen. “That must really sting” I said to Clottey. He smiled widely; “This?” pointing to visibly damaged hand “This is nothing. What really hurts is that, I know I had him. I know I can beat him.”

His tremendous performance against Antonio Margarito was overshadowed back on December 12th 2006, when Miguel Cotto totally destroyed Carlos Quintana with a devastating body punch in the main event.. But Joshua Clottey 35 – 3 (20KO’s) made a big noise in the hearts and minds of boxing fans everywhere when he stood with a severely injured hand, and banged it out with the seemingly invincible Margarito, who nobody wanted to fight. Often underrated, but never disrespected, Clottey is a true warrior who never says die. Clottey was born in Accra Ghana, in a small village called Bochum. He is member of the Ga tribe. He shares his heritage with fighters like Ike Quartey, Azumah Nelson, Alfred Kotey and D.K. Poison.

The boxers there train on a dirt surfaces in vacant lots that are surrounded by dilapidated, windowless shanties. His rise was slow, but his destination was undeniable. Clottey finally got his day in the sun when he won the vacant IBF welterweight title against Zab Judah. Instead of taking a few easier fights, he went right on to face Miguel Cotto, who he definitely defeated, but was apart of another badly judged fight, in a year of terrible decisions. Although one judge had Clottey ahead 114-113, two judges saw the fight Cotto’s way, with one despicable judge scoring 116 – 111 for Cotto. Again, he was overshadowed by Cotto, but this time because of the heart of the declining warrior. Most watching the fight realized who Top Rank’s other star was.

What makes Clottey’s journey so salient is that he earned every bit of his success. He didn’t talk his way into a world title shot. While Floyd Mayweather Jr justified dodging Margarito and Cotto, Clottey simply stood up to be counted as one of the best welterweights in the world and truly fought them both, toe to toe. He quietly became one of the most rugged fighters in the world, without any prognostication or pandering. As once again, Floyd Mayweather Jr finds another ridiculous reason not to fight the best; Clottey will again get into the ring with one of the best fighters in sport of boxing.

Manny Pacquiao is without a doubt the most complete fighter in the world, and on March 13th in Texas, it will take every ounce of Clottey’s grit to compete with him, much less beat him, but if anybody has the will and determination to take on this monumental task, Clottey definelty does. He is naturally bigger and in his prime. This fight in all reality could be absolutely phenomenal and in many ways be a much more entertaining fight than Pacquiao, Mayweather could ever be. Where boxing has failed in the past, is promoting names, instead of great match ups. This one may seem like a back up bout at first glance, but when you dig a little deeper, it has more teeth and less mouth. In other words, both of these fine pugilists are to rumble. Keep in mind that Pacquiao has had real problems with fearless brawlers like Clottey in the past.

Couple that with the fact that neither Margarito or Cotto could hurt this man, it makes for a very interesting evening. After everything has been said, I think Bob Arum put it best.

“These guys aren’t businessmen, or worried about messing up their pretty faces. They are fighters. That’s what they do.”

Source: eastsideboxing.com

***

Floyd Mayweather-Shane Mosley Announcement 'Very Close' -- FanHouse

By Lem Satterfield, FanHouse

In one corner is 32-year-old challenger Floyd Mayweather Jr., a five-time champion with a spotless record of 40-0, 25 knockouts and has been virtually unhittable, if not untouchable, throughout much of his career.

In the other corner is 38-year-old WBC welterweight (147 pounds) super champion Shane Mosley (46-5, 39 KOs), who is ending a nearly 14-month layoff since a Jan. 24, 2009, ninth-round knockout victory over Antonio Margarito.

"You have the best meeting the best, and that's what the public wants to see," said Mayweather's adviser, Leonard Ellerbe, on Friday afternoon. "This is the biggest fight in boxing that can be made right now. This is two great American fighters, and the fans can't wait to see it."

According to Ellerbe, CEO of Mayweather promotions, "the negotiations have gone very smoothly," and boxing fans may not have to wait much longer than May 1 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas to see Mayweather against Mosley.

"We're very close. Both sides have agreed to the deal points. Now, it's just a matter of the legal-beagle stuff," Ellerbe told FanHouse. "Working with [Golden Boy Promotions' CEO] Richard Schaefer and Team Mosley has been very smooth."

Ellerbe's assertion backs up a statement made by Golden Boy Promotions president, Oscar De La Hoya, on Tuesday during a Los Angeles press conference announcing a Feb. 25, junior welterweight (140 pounds) bout between Victor Ortiz and Hector Alatorre.

De La Hoya expressed confidence on Tuesday that a deal for Mayweather-Mosley was near completion, and Schaefer told Kevin Iole of Yahoo! Sports on Thursday that an announcement of a May 1, welterweight clash between two of the sport's premiere pound-for-pound fighters was "imminent," adding, "I hope to have something to announce in the next few days."

"Shane Mosley is a tremendous fighter who has fought all of the top fighters of his era, and who had a very good amateur background. He went on, as a professional, to win three titles in as many different weight classes, so he's proven that he's been one of the top fighters of his day," said Ellerbe.

"I have a tremendous amount of respect for Mosley's trainer [Nazim Richardson.] He's one of the top trainers in the sport, and he doesn't get the credit that he deserves -- even though he's been one of the top trainers for a number of years," said Ellerbe. "We know that Shane will come in and be well-prepared, but it won't be enough to beat Floyd."

Mayweather's recent negotiations for a proposed March 13 bout with Manny Pacquiao (50-3-2, 38 KOs) reached an impasse over the latter's refusal to give blood within 24 days of the fight.

Mayweather's camp wanted Pacquiao, who never has tested positive for any banned substance under boxing's urninalysis-based procedures, to adhear to both fighters being randomly blood-tested as close to 14 days of fight time.

The camps' inability to resolve the issue led to the fight's demise, and seven-division champion Pacquiao choosing to defend his WBO welterweight title against Joshua Clottey (35-3, 20 KOs) of Ghana on March 13 at The Dallas Cowboys' Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

Meanwhile, Mosley (pictured right) was scheduled to face 26-year-old, WBC champ, Andre Berto (25-0, 19 KOs), on Jan. 30, before a distraught Berto pulled out of the fight as a result of the death of eight relatives during the recent earthquake in Haiti.

After Mayweather's unanimous decision victory over Juan Manuel Marquez in September, Mosley jumped into the ring, interrupted Mayweather's post-fight interview with Max Kellerman, and challenged the unbeaten fighter to face him.

In truth, however, it was Mayweather who initially began calling out Mosley 10 years ago, when the Pomona, California resident still was a 35-pound champion, and Mayweather, a 130-pound titlist.

"Floyd's been wanting to fight Shane Mosley since 1999," said Ellerbe, referring to the year when Mayweather still was the WBC's super featherweight king, and Mosley was the IBF's lightweight titlist. "Floyd's been asking for that fight for quite some time."

In April of that year, Mosley defended his IBF lightweight title for the last time with an eighth-round knockout of John Brown.

Mosley then skipped over the junior welterweight (140 pounds) division, jumping in Sept. 1999 right into the welterweight class.

Mosley scored consecutive 147-pound stoppages over Wlfredo Rivera and Willy Wise before earning a split-decision victory over De La Hoya that earned the WBC welterweight crown in June 2000.

In connection with the BALCO scandal of 2003, Mosley admitted during a grand jury testimony that he used the steroids, "the cream," and, "the clear," prior to defeating De La Hoya for what was the second time in their careers.

It was a win which earned Mosley the WBC and WBA junior middleweight (154 pounds) titles in Las Vegas in September of that year.

The Nevada State Athletic Commission's post-fight urinalysis did not detect banned substances in Mosley, who never has tested positive under boxing's current system.

Commission rules, nationwide, call for victorious boxers who susequently test positive to have their wins turned into no- contests. Mosley, however, still is officially credited with defeating De La Hoya.

Mayweather's camp has indicated that anyone he fights, from now until the end of his career, will be subject to random blood and urine testing.

"Unfortunatley, performance enhancing drugs are prevalent in American sports, and we want to champion this effort to change the perception of the way that boxing is looked at. It's unfortunate, but boxing has to catch up to what's going on in 2010. We need to be in a preventative mode as opposed to the other mode," said Ellerbe.

"It's too late once a guy already has fought, and he comes back after a fight and he tests positive for a banned substance. The damage already has been done," said Ellerbe

"Unlike any other sport, boxing is a brutal sport of hand-to-hand combat, where guys are taking a physical beating throughout a fight," said Ellerbe. "One punch could end a guy's career. For the betterment of the sport, health, and safety, boxing needs to be moving in that direction. Floyd's going to be out front championing this effort."

For that reason, Olympic-style drug-testing -- the same random blood-testing Mayweather's camp asked for during the negotiations against Pacquiao -- have been agreed to by Mosley, according to both sides.

De La Hoya told reporters earlier this week that he will advocate boxing commissions to institute tougher drug-testing policies such as those enforced by United States Anti-Doping Agency, which Mayweather's camp initially had asked to execute the procedures for Mayweather-Pacquiao.

Source: boxing.fanhouse.com

***

MORALES: De La Hoya all for drug testing, Mosley-Mayweather meeting -- Los Angeles Daily News

By Robert Morales, Los Angeles Daily News

Oscar De La Hoya sat inside the ESPN Zone at L.A. Live on Tuesday after playing host to a news conference promoting the Feb. 25 junior welterweight fight between Victor Ortiz and Hector Alatorre at Club Nokia.

But reporters surrounding De La Hoya wanted to talk more about the possibility of a May 1 fight between "Sugar" Shane Mosley and Floyd Mayweather Jr. They also wanted to know if De La Hoya believes a fight between Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao might still happen at some point.

When asked about Mosley-Mayweather, De La Hoya's eyes widened.

"That's the super fight that really takes boxing to another level because now you're talking about two All-American fighters who are really going to transcend the sport and take it to another level," said De La Hoya, whose Golden Boy Promotions has a working agreement with Mayweather, and promotes Mosley.

Richard Schaefer on Friday morning said Mosley and Mayweather have agreed on all the major points, and that a deal is virtually at hand.

"Negotiations are going very well," said Schaefer, CEO of Golden Boy. "We are pretty much getting there. I would hope that early next week we will have some big announcement."

The demand by Mayweather for Olympic-style drug-testing that killed his proposed March 13 fight against Pacquiao would be in play for Mosley-Mayweather.

"I believe Mosley will raise his hand and say, `Take me to the laboratory,"' De La Hoya said. "That's what Mosley's going to do and I'm going to be the first one to applaud him because Mosley has nothing to hide."
Mosley once admitted before a grand jury he unknowingly was on the steroids "the cream" and "the clear" before his second victory over De La Hoya in September 2003. Said Schaefer: "Floyd made it clear a couple of weeks ago or so that going forward, in any one of his fights, he would require Olympic-style drug-testing. And, as Shane said before, it's no issue for him."

Olympic-style testing requires random blood samples and urinalysis that can be taken as close to the day before the fight, as well as directly after. It is something De La Hoya said needs to become the rule for boxing because the sport is a life-and-death proposition.

Currently, the state of Nevada, where most of the bigger fights are held, tests only urine just before and just after a fight, though it does occasionally take out-of-competition urinalysis.

"I think what's going to happen with boxing is, people are now opening their eyes and realizing that, wow, you have two fighters who want to bash their brains in and if one fighter is on something, it can be devastating," De La Hoya said. "It should be mandatory that fighters go through these extensive tests to make sure that they're clean because it's our life up in that ring and we can't risk that."

When Pacquiao and Mayweather couldn't get together on how close to their bout Pacquiao would agree to have blood drawn - Pacquiao does not like to have blood drawn close to a fight - the event was scrapped. De La Hoya is of the mind it's a fight that has to happen eventually.

"Obviously, we tested the waters on how big this fight can be and, will the fight happen? Absolutely. It has to happen, no doubt about it," De La Hoya said. "It's too big not to happen.

"We didn't make it for one single reason and I think we all know what that reason is. But I'm very optimistic that it can be made in the near future because it's not that boxing needs it, it's that boxing wants it."

De La Hoya was reminded Pacquiao has said he will not agree to Olympic-style testing. "I'm sure the public will hopefully make him change his mind, because why would you not want to earn $40 million?" De La Hoya said. "Why would you not want to show the public that these speculations are all nonsense?

"Just go ahead and be the king and the master and say, `Hey, what are you talking about? I'm clean. I'm a clean athlete."'

The "speculations" De La Hoya spoke of were started by Floyd Mayweather Sr., who has strongly suggested Pacquiao uses performance-enhancing drugs. Others in the industry jumped on that bandwagon. Pacquiao has never had a dirty test.

The bottom line, De La Hoya said, is that boxing is no laughing matter. Cheaters in this sport, he said, should be banned for life.

To that end, he said he is "disgusted" Antonio Margarito is going to try to get a license to fight in Texas on the undercard of Pacquiao-Joshua Clottey on March 13 at Cowboys Stadium.

De La Hoya said Margarito should re-apply in California first because this is the state that revoked his license after he was busted with plaster inserts in his hand wraps prior to his fight with Mosley in January 2009 at Staples Center. That said, the Association of Boxing Commissions allows Margarito to apply for a license in any state one year after it is revoked in another.

"And," said a peeved Bob Arum, who promotes Pacquiao and Margarito, "that's what he's doing."


Ortiz shows courage in latest victory

It appeared to some Victor Ortiz might have quit in the sixth round of his junior welterweight interim title fight against Marcos Maidana in June at Staples Center. He had just gotten off the canvas after being decked in the sixth for the second time in the fight, his right eye was severely cut and there was a huge mouse under his left eye.

Just before the ringside physician stepped in to check him - the physician advised the referee to stop the fight - it seemed Ortiz wasn't that interested in continuing.

In the post-fight interview in the ring, Ortiz - who floored Maidana three times - said things like, "I was hurt, I'm not going to go out on my back. I'm not going to lay down for anyone. I'm going to stop while I'm ahead, that way I can speak well when I'm older. ... I'm young, but I don't think I deserve to be getting beat up like this, so I have a lot of thinking to do."

Ortiz, of Ventura, might have put the questions some had about his courage to rest when he came back and stopped former contender Antonio Diaz in the sixth round in December in Chicago.

"I wasn't 100 percent pleased with it because I know I still have more that I can work on," Ortiz said Tuesday at a news conference promoting his Feb. 25 fight against Hector Alatorre at Club Nokia at L.A. Live. "But overall performance, I was happy that I did exactly what my corner asked me to do."

Ortiz's manager, Rolando Arellano, was equally stoked.

"It kind of removed all the potential misconceptions that happened last time as to whether he had heart," Arellano said. "You know, `Is this kid shot already? Is he done?"'

Arellano said it was also good for Ortiz to prove to himself he is not gun-shy.

Then again, when a reporter was trying to ask Ortiz what he thinks of those who still wonder about his intestinal fortitude, the question wasn't finished being posed when Ortiz (25-2-1, 20 KOs) answered.

"I'm not here to make anybody happy," said Ortiz, 22. "I can't change anyone's opinion. I just keep on boxing and doing what I like to do. And that's just, you know, come back and work hard."

Alatorre, 28, is 16-8 with five knockouts. Ortiz is fighting him to stay busy until May 1, when he is slated for another big fight under the Golden Boy Promotions banner.

Source: dailynews.com

***

Mosley, Mayweather reach terms -- ESPN

By Dan Rafael, ESPN.com

Shane Mosley and Floyd Mayweather Jr. have agreed to terms for a welterweight super fight, Mayweather adviser Leonard Ellerbe said Friday.

Although the contracts are not signed, "all of the deal points have been agreed to," Ellerbe said. "We still have to put pen to paper, but everything is agreed to. It's with the lawyers. Shane is a great fighter, one of the best of his era, and so is Floyd. It's going to be a great fight. It's a fight fans have wanted to see for a long time."

Assuming the paperwork is signed, Mosley will defend his welterweight title against Mayweather on May 1 on HBO PPV at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Ellerbe said that he expected the paperwork to be completed in the next few days with a formal announcement likely next week.

The fight came together after an unexpected turn of events.

First, Mayweather became available for a fight three weeks ago when negotiations with pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao disintegrated. They had agreed to all terms for a March 13 fight that loomed as the biggest in boxing -- except for a drug testing protocol.

They had agreed to random urine testing, but Mayweather also wanted random blood testing, even though that is not required under the rules of the Nevada State Athletic Commission. Pacquiao agreed only to three blood tests, but none within 24 days of the fight, and the third one immediately after the bout.

Mayweather has alluded to Pacquiao using performance-enhancing drugs, even though he has never produced any evidence, and Floyd Mayweather Sr. has outright said he believes Pacquiao uses.

The rancor over the drug testing issue caused the fight to fall apart and Pacquiao moved on. He will defend his version of the 147-pound title against former titlist Joshua Clottey on March 13 at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

Then Mosley became available two weeks ago. He was scheduled to meet Andre Berto in a title unification bout at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas on Saturday night. However, Berto, a Haitian-American, withdrew from the bout after eight members of his extended family were killed in the earthquake in Haiti.

Immediately after the cancellation of Mosley-Berto, Mosley and Mayweather -- the former welterweight champ and pound-for-pound king until giving up the mantle during a brief retirement -- began negotiating.

"The negotiations were very cordial and went very smoothly," Ellerbe said.

Mosley has agreed to undergo random blood and urine testing, as has Mayweather, Ellerbe said.

Mosley has admitted to using PEDs and was connected to the BALCO scandal. Although he publicly denied using PEDs for years, Mosley admitted during grand jury testimony, which was later released, that he used designer steroids "the clear" and "the cream" and injected himself with EPO, a blood oxygen enhancer, during the lead-up to his 2003 rematch with Oscar De La Hoya. Mosley said he took the steroids unknowingly.

"Floyd only wants to be sure of an even playing field no matter who he fights," Ellerbe said.

Mayweather (40-0, 25 KOs), a five-division champion, and Mosley (46-5, 39 KOs), a three-division champion, have seemingly been on a collision course since the late 1990s, when Mosley was lightweight champion and Mayweather was junior lightweight champion.

Although their careers took different paths, talk of a potential fight heated back up in 2006 after Mosley's two knockouts of Fernando Vargas, but talks never got too serious.

However, Mosley stepped up his call for a fight with Mayweather, 32, last year after Mayweather ended his 18-month retirement. After Mayweather easily beat lightweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez in a lopsided decision in September, Mosley crashed his post-fight interview in the ring and called him out to his face.

It didn't look like Mosley would get the fight because two months later, Pacquiao knocked out Miguel Cotto and talks began for Pacquiao-Mayweather.

Mosley, 38, hasn't fought since last January, when he upset Antonio Margarito to win his title via ninth-round knockout.

Dan Rafael is ESPN.com's boxing writer.

Source: sports.espn.go.com

***

Joshua Clottey disappointed coach can’t get visa -- Ghana Web

By Prince Dornu-Leiku, Ghana Web

Joshua Clottey will not forgive US Embassy officials in Ghana if his trainer does not travel with him to the USA on Tuesday. The Ghanaian boxer is disappointed that despite government intervention and pleas on the urgency and need of the issue, US immigration officials have refused to grant visa to his trainer Godwin Dzanie Kotey. “I am very very disappointed. I am so disappointed because this is the reason why I came down to Ghana and the money I spent to buy plane ticket and time wasted have been useless. It is so disappointing and I don’t even know what to say. Its like Ghana is not regarded because everybody in the world knows that this fight is coming on. I am very disappointed,” an obviously disenchanted Clottey stated in Accra where he has been training with coach Kotey at the Attoh Quarshie Gym.

Clottey, 35-3, 20 KOs, arrived in Ghana just three days after signing paperwork sealing a mega fight with Philipine icon Manny Pacquiao in Dallas on March 13. Clottey flew down home in order to help acquire visa renewals for his trainer and assistant. But the deal to take on the highly-rated Pacquiao has it seems come at a heavy cost to the 32 year old Ghanaian fighter because of US immigration requirements. US officials maintain Kotey will be travelling to Dallas to work when Joshua goes into battle against Pacquiao and therefore has to get the required P-1 visa to make the trip. Apparently the earliest time the P-1 visa can get processed will take two whole months, by which time Clottey should have long fought Manny.

Now the boxer expects US officials to understand the enormity of the situation at hand and use their discretion to issue visas to the trainers, even if for two months. But the US Embassy in Accra remain adamant and have not issued the entry permit even after top officials at the National Sports Council and Sports Ministry got involved on behalf of the boxer. Joshua says Kotey is the trainer in which he has confidence and believe can guide him to victory amid revealing that he has no idea yet who he will chose as trainer when he goes back to America on Tuesday.

“Alloway is the coach I know, he can speak my language to me and make me understand things better. I am disappointed in the US Embassy because now I have to go and do this difficult job with people I don’t know. Now everything is on only me, I have to do it all on my own so I have to be at my best,” Joshua, who even wept when this issue was raised at last Tuesday’s press conference, said. He has been training with his preferred team in Accra and he says he is in terrific shape and ready to face Pacquiao for the WBO Welterweight title. “I am in good shape and I am enjoying myself in training and I must say I am very ready for the fight even if its today. But I need my coach there with me, I need him,” added Clottey.

Source: ghanaweb.com

***

Prove it Oscar -- The Sun

By FRANK WARREN, The Sun

RECENTLY I observed that some US-based boxers who started fighting at lighter weights went on to win titles in many higher weight divisions.

It is a feat their British counterparts haven't managed to do.

Now, in the aftermath of the cancelled Pacquiao-Mayweather fight - where Golden Boy insinuated that Pacquiao was taking performance-enhancing drugs - things have taken a new turn with allegations that the president of Golden Boy Promotions Oscar De La Hoya had used performance-enhancing drugs.

The respected author Thomas Hauser - who also wrote Muhammad Ali's autobiography - caused a stir on secondsout.com challenging De La Hoya to make public the findings of the Nevada State Athletic Commission drug test for PEDs that he may have taken in the past.

Hauser said: "Oscar De La Hoya can show the world how a righteous PED-free fighter acts and remove any hint of suspicion that he himself might not have clean hands.

"Oscar should waive his right to confidentiality and authorise the Nevada State Athletic Commission to release results of any tests for performance-enhancing drugs he has taken in the past. I'm not talking about Lidocaine, nor creatine. I'm talking about the possibility of something more."

Pacquiao has furiously denied he ever took PEDs and issued writs in the US claiming damages.

The Nevada State Athletic Commission chief executive Keith Kizer insists there is nothing to hide and states: "All these tests are public and every test was negative for PEDs."

When asked whether the NSAC needs a waiver from De La Hoya to reveal the results, Kizer added: "No. I have no idea what Mr Hauser is referring to or why he would make such an implication."

There were continuous requests for Pacquiao to take tests so I am sure there shouldn't be a problem in clearing up these allegations.

Source: thesun.co.uk

Haye Would Be Best Served Concentrating On Ruiz, Not The Klitschkos -- The Sweet Science

By Frank Lotierzo, The Sweet Science

Finally after a month or more of speculation the anticipated WBA heavyweight title bout between champ David Haye 23-1 (21) and former champ John Ruiz 44-8-1 (30) will take place on April 3rd at Manchester's MEN Arena. The 29-year old Haye will be making the first defense of his title since since the former cruiserweight champ captured it from Russia's Nikolai Valuev in Germany this past November.

The 38-year old Ruiz took step aside money last year that paved the way for Haye to meet Valuev, fully aware that he'd get the first crack at the winner. Ruiz has made a career out of fighting the best heavyweights and belt holders of his era. In fact he fought Valuev twice for the title and other than the one big shot Haye landed on Valuev that shook him in the last round of their bout, Ruiz actually did more to the Russian giant but was hosed out of the decision both times in Germany because of politics and connections.

Earlier this week the press conference for Haye-Ruiz was held and Ruiz was a no show. To which Haye retorted, "We paid for his first class tickets over here, a great hotel and tried to accommodate him as best as possible. He didn't get on the flight. I don't know what his reason is." Hopefully Haye wasn't trying to imply that Ruiz had even the slightest bit of trepidation about facing him at the press conference. If there's one thing boxing fans know about Ruiz, it's that he doesn't fear any heavyweight walking the planet.

Then Haye said, "I will not only beat him but beat him spectacularly and knock him out. I'm looking forward to getting back to what I do best - throwing my trademark 'Hayemakers.' Ruiz is a come-forward fighter so I aim to get at him, break him down, and take him out in good style."

After seeing Monte Barrett get up numerous times against Haye before the fight was stopped, Ruiz will have to become a fossil on the night of the fight for Haye to have a prayer to get Ruiz out of there early or in a spectacular fashion.

Haye's vow to become the only other fighter to stop Ruiz in 53 bouts since David Tua did it 14 years ago makes for great copy, but I for one am not convinced that he possesses the tools for the execution he promises. Haye, like Floyd Mayweather Jr., has been great at self promotion, but his body of work as a heavyweight is a little underwhelming. And if he thinks he can intimidate or rattle John Ruiz in anyway shape or form he's mistaken.

Ruiz was a 24 year old who hadn't filled out yet physically as a fighter when he was caught by Hurricane Tua back in 1996. And Tua just happens to be the biggest one-punch banger since George Foreman circa 1973-74. Not to mention he was at his absolute peak the night he fought Ruiz. Yet it is Ruiz who went on to win a piece of the heavyweight title twice - whereas Tua has only fought for it once and lost.

John Ruiz is much tougher and better than Monte Barrett, and will be ten times tougher for Haye than the heavy-bag with eyes that Valuev fought like. This fight is only intriguing for one reason, and that's because at 38 it's uncertain what Ruiz has left as a top-10 heavyweight. But if this were Ruiz of the 2000-2003 vintage, he'd maul Haye and probably stop him in late in the fight.

Haye says he wants to showcase his skills again in front of the British public, something he failed to do when he fought Valuev and ran like a thief in the night in the process of stinking the place out. When Ruiz fought Valuev in 2005 and 2008 (a much better version than the one Haye fought) he at least tried to engage and win the fight straight up. By the time Haye faced Valuev, the promoters and boxing establishment realized they had nothing with him and the farce had to end. Which is the sole reason Haye was awarded the decision against him.

Evander Holyfield at age 47 had a better claim to the decision verdict over Valuev than David Haye did. It's just that a sullen old Holyfield wasn't the right business move when it came time to relieve Valuev of his title. However, a young brash guy like Haye was the perfect guy to hand the title to despite him doing less against the Russian giant than either Ruiz or Holyfield did during their three bouts with him.

Because of Haye's ability to talk up and sell a fight, he knows the only way he loses to Ruiz is if he gets stopped. On the other hand Ruiz hasn't been the luckiest guy around when it comes to getting the decision in close fights. Add to that he's 38 and he'd have to beat Haye half to death just to earn a draw against him.

Haye says his goal is to unify the heavyweight title by beating the Klitschko brothers, Vitali and Wladimir, who hold the WBC, IBF, and WBO titles between them. Which he'll no doubt earn the privilege of getting knocked out by one of them if he gets by Ruiz. And because of the way boxing works, it's hard to pick Ruiz knowing he has to win by a knockout. And nothing is harder than trying to knock out a fighter who is looking to survive - the mindset Haye will approach the fight with.

Knowing the decision is a forgone conclusion the smart pick looks to be Haye. But Ruiz may still have one more good night left in him, and if he does Haye will lose his title in his first defense. David Haye has shown to be a shrewd boxing manager and his cockiness isn't the worst thing for a heavyweight to posses in 2010. Let's see if he can back it up like the wannabe Cassius Clay aka Muhammad Ali he's become.

Seven of Ruiz's eight defeats came via decision. If Haye stops Ruiz - even a 38 year old on——he deserves all due credit. However, I reserve the right to wait for that to happen before I begin to take him completely seriously as a threat to the upper-tier heavyweights of today.

Frank Lotierzo can be contacted at GlovedFist@Gmail.com

Source: thesweetscience.com

Floyd Mayweather's adviser: Announcement of Shane Mosley fight 'definitely' by next week -- Grand Rapids Press

By David Mayo, The Grand Rapids Press

Floyd Mayweather’s adviser said he saw no remaining hang-ups in negotiations for a Shane Mosley fight and said an announcement “definitely” would come next week.

“We’re very close,” Leonard Ellerbe said. “There are no hang-ups. It’s just all the legal-beagle stuff now.”

The fight will be scheduled May 1 at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, presumably for Mosley’s World Boxing Association welterweight title.

Mosley-Mayweather has been in the works since the proposed Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao fight fell through earlier this month. Mosley’s fight against Andre Berto, originally scheduled Saturday, subsequently was canceled, with Berto citing the earthquake tragedy in Haiti, where he has family.

Mosley-Mayweather has been close to finalized for two weeks. It was only a matter of hammering out details.

Random blood and urine testing, which was at the heart of the Mayweather-Pacquiao negotiation failure, has not been a problem for Mosley-Mayweather.

“We’ve agreed to all the major deal points and Mosley has agreed to the random testing. I don’t foresee any problems at all,” Ellerbe said.

He added that he does not expect an announcement until after this weekend.

“Whether it’s this week or next week, what’s the urgency?” Ellerbe said. “It’s just the normal stuff that goes on with any huge, huge fight.”

E-mail David Mayo at dmayo@grpress.com and follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/David_Mayo

Source: mlive.com

***

Drugs are 'rampant' in boxing says Conte -- BBC News

BBC News



Victor Conte, the man who provided the five-time Olympic gold medallist Marion Jones with illegal drugs, says attempts to catch cheats in boxing are "inept".

Conte, now working with professional boxers believes cheating is rife within the sport.

"Testing that is being utilised in boxing is virtually worthless," Conte told the BBC.

"I don't think a genuine effort is being made to establish an effective (anti-doping) programme.

"Until those who control the majority of the financial gain from boxing develop a true and genuine interest in reducing the use of performance-enhancing drugs, it will continue to be rampant."

Boxing is still reeling from the cancellation of the biggest payday in its history because of a drug-testing dispute.

The unbeaten American, Floyd Mayweather's proposed fight with the Filipino superstar Manny Pacquiao had been scheduled for 13 March.

But the fight was called off after Mayweather's management wanted both men - regarded as the two best pound-for-pound fighters in the world - to submit to blood-testing 14 days prior to the bout.

Pacquiao, however, refused, saying that he had difficulty with taking blood, and after days of negotiations the pair failed to resolve their dispute.

Source: bbc.co.uk