Sunday, 21 March 2010

David Haye vs the Klitschkos

Boxing News World

UK’s pride David “Hayemaker” Haye had a big, but not so impressive, win over seven-foot giant Nikolai Valuev four months ago to grab the WBA world heavyweight belt.

Vitali “Dr. Ironfist” Klitschko has dismantled all his ring rivals who tried to take away his WBC world heavyweight belt he won over South African Corrie Sanders in April of 2004.

WBO and IBF world heavyweight champion Wladimir “Dr. Steelhammer” Klitscho, Vitali’s younger brother, extended his winning streak to 12 by knocking out American “Fast Eddie” Chambers in the final round of their championship fight at the ESPRIT arena, Düsseldorf, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany, just hours ago.

David Haye wants to unify the heavyweight division.

Does he have a chance of beating the Klitschkos?

British boxing promoter Frank Maloney, famous for managing heavyweight great Lennox Lewis, believes that Haye “has the talent and charisma to eclipse the giant Ukrainians”.

But do boxing experts agree?

Adam Pollack, Cyber Boxing Zone
The Klitschkos will win. There isn't anyone out there right now who has a chance with the Klitschkos. I would like to see Povetkin in there, and maybe Solis, but you'd have to make the Klitschkos the favorites in any potential bout. The only thing that will beat them is age/loss of interest/injury or if some fantastic raw talent comes along.

Geoff Poundes, Ringside Report
I think they’re 50/50 fights. I’d choose Haye over Wlad, purely because I think Wlad closes up when he’s got a competitive fight on his hands, and he’ll avoid the confrontation with a fast, mobile Haye, who also carries a punch. Vitali is a different proposition, and has enough about him to land heavily on David, who, as we all know, has a brittle chin.

Mark Whicker, Orange County Register
I haven't seen Haye enough to know, but I doubt he can beat either.

Bill Dwyre, Los Angeles Times
David Haye? Are you kidding? If Godzilla fights the Klitschkos, the Klitschkos will be favored.

Frank Lotierzo, The Sweet Science
Wladimir and Vitaly will beat Haye - because he's not durable enough to beat them. And they're both really good and he's not.

Tony Nobbs, Eastside Boxing
My heart certainly says David Haye wins so I will go with that. He should be too fast for them. He will have to fight smart though. Probably on points but he might stop Wlad.

Chris Ackerman, Doghouse Boxing
David Haye doesn't have a prayer against either.

Michael Rosenthal, Ring Magazine
Haye's too small for the Klitschkos. He loses to both.

TP Walker, Eastside Boxing
A lot of people don't realize how truly marginal boxing is. It's not linear but it is marginal. Over the years fight fans have deemed titles as insignificant, still, believe it or not, those belts do carry weight. Haye was being asked to take a much lesser purse to fight the Klits who represent the largest test of his career. If he lost to either of them his star would dim considerably. If you're gonna take a career ending chance at least be certain that it is going to benefit you financially. He chose a different route. Now that he has the belt and if he dominates Ruiz he is in a huge bargaining place. Also, don't be surprised if the winner of Haye/Ruiz matches with the winner of Jones/Hopkins if the Klits don't bend a bit.

Ramon Aranda, 411mania
Haye gets KO'd by both Klitschkos. No one in the heavyweight division beats them right now outside of each other.

Brandon Estrict, Doghouse Boxing
Haye's got a puncher's chance with both, especially Vitali, but I think they both stop him.

Tony Penecale Jr, Fight News Unlimited
I think David Haye has a better chance against Wladimir as opposed to Vitali. Haye would be giving up size and strength against both brothers but Wlad is the more vulnerable of the two. He has shown weaknesses in his chin and stamina which has affected his confidence and sees him fighting in a cautious boring manner. If Haye can break through early, he might force Wlad in a shell. Vitali has more of a fighter's mentality, a better chin, and a killer instinct. I would pick both Klitschko brothers against David Haye but I would be more confident in the Vitali pick.

Jim Amato, DM Boxing
Haye loses to either Klitschko. In fact the only heavyweight fight that interests me is Vitali -vs- Wlad. It will never happen and it should never happen. The heavyweight division today, IMO...SUCKS !

Springs Toledo, The Sweet Science
David Haye has some technical skill, but he tosses it aside like unclaimed baggage when the heat turns up in the ring. He would need to be a defensively-tight pressure-fighter in order to compete with the Klitschkos. He must land an overhand or some other unanticipated shot on Wlad or Vitali early in order to take away not only their control, but their perception of their own control. Make them fear imminent unconsciousness if he cannot KO them, or else he will be controlled like the rest of their victims. Haye has a big problem though, and the fight against Valuev was an eye-opener. He doesn't trust his chin. This may ruin his ability to fight the Klitschkos effectively.

Ronan Keenan, The Sweet Science
I give Haye a good chance of hurting Wladimir, but I can't see him being effective against Vitali's awkward style.

Don Stewart, Reading Eagle
I think either Klitschko would knock Haye out. Someone is going to beat those two someday, but it won't be Haye.

Paul H. Burbridge, Eastside Boxing
David Haye is an exciting young heavyweight who has garnered some interest because of his flamboyant style and his bravado. That always sells in boxing. He’s a decent fighter with decent skills but he also has many flaws all of which spell doom against the best fighters in the division, the Klitschko brothers. Perhaps he has a chance against Wladimir if he gets lucky, but I don’t see any chance of him competing with Vitali. The reach of both men is far too great for Haye to penetrate and his poor stamina is a recipe for disaster. I also have very strong concerns about his chin. He's been visibly shaken by fighters who do not posses anywhere near the kind of fire power that each brother possesses. Plus he’s already proven to me that he is somewhat intimidated by the Klitschko brothers because he left BOTH standing at the altar. Right now, David Haye hasn’t proven to me that he’s anything more than a marketing genius so I think he would be better served by defending his WBA title against Chris Arreola before he even thinks about fighting either one of the brothers.

Don’t listen to the bravado because the reality is that he’s already had his chance to step up and all he did was step aside!

Right now, He loses to either brother!

David Greisman, BoxingScene
Don't know about Haye vs. Klitschkos. Want to see him in more heavyweight fights first.

Igor Frank, Burbank Times
Either Klitschko would destroy David Haye. That is why he pulled out of both fights. Both brothers have underrated boxing skills and speed and they are too big and too strong for Haye. Haye would not hear the final bell with either brother.

Charles White, Eastside Boxing
Against Vitali, Haye will have a very tough fight because Vitali has a great chin and is tough as nails. Vitali seems to have been slowing down a bit in recent fights, but is still a great fighter. I tend to lean towards Vitali by KO in the mid to late rounds though. Against Wladimir, Haye is also in for a long night because Wladimir is not only a great boxer, but he has one hell of a punch as well. His defense has improved remarkably in the past few years since he started working with Emanuel Steward. I want to say that Wladimir would win by late round KO, but if Haye can connect solidly on Wladimir's chin, then there is always the chance of a knockout.

- Big thanks to the above boxing experts for sharing their thoughts, Marshall N. B., marx7204@lycos.com

Mayweather’s motive for random blood testing remains questionable

Boxing News World

Less than a week after pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao dismantled reluctant Ghanaian boxer Joshua Clottey at the mammoth Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas in front of a massive 51,000 spectators, Floyd Mayweather Jr – Shane Mosley May 1 showdown, particularly the random blood testing agreement, has been the hottest topic on many boxing websites.

Floyd Mayweather’s random blood testing demand was the real cause why the super bout Mayweather-Pacquiao broke down on the negotiation table earlier this year. Mayweather insisted on such testing, believing that the exemplary ring performance of Pacquiao in the last couple of years at heavier weight classes could not have been possible without aid of performance enhancing drugs. Pacquiao rejected the demand, saying that drug-testing rules should be decided by boxing commissions, not by individual boxers.

While Mayweather deserves applause for trying to instigate the very first random blood testing in the sport of boxing considering that the sport has had doping issues since 1995, his motive for such unprecedented action remains questionable in the minds of sensible boxing fans.

It is a fact that while Mayweather has been decisioning his ring rivals since 2006 with the exception of Hatton, Pacquiao has been beating bigger and credible fighters.

If Pacquiao had not looked unstoppable against David Diaz, Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton, and Miguel Cotto, Mayweather most probably wouldn’t have asked for random blood testing.

It was not about cleaning up the sport. It was about his fear of losing and egotistical personality that impelled Mayweather to continue clinging to expensive random blood testing, much to the delight of the business-minded and opportunistic WADA/USADA people.

- Marshall N. B., marx7204@lycos.com

Hayemaker the hero -- Sky Sports

Sky Sports

David Haye has single-handedly saved boxing...

That is the view of his one-time promoter Frank Maloney, who guided Lennox Lewis to the top of the world some 17 years ago.

WBA boss Haye still has some way to go before emulating the last unified world heavyweight champion but fellow Londoner Maloney believes he has already dragged the sport - and its heavyweight division - out of the doldrums.

In the seven years since Lewis retired the four recognised belts have been passed around with only the Klitschko brothers, Vitali and Wladimir, establishing themselves as genuine forces.

But Maloney believes Haye has the talent and the charisma to eclipse the giant Ukrainians.

"Boxing is about heavyweight boxing. If you've got a heavyweight champion, boxing is here," he told skysports.com.

"People recognise David Haye; they don't recognise these Eastern European champions.

"A British or an American heavyweight champion is what boxing needs and I think David Haye has saved boxing in a way by winning the world title.

"Who knows the Beast From The East (Nikolai Valuev)? He's a nice fella, but he doesn't speak English - and you need a heavyweight that the British and American public can associate with."

History

Haye saw fights with both Klitschkos fall through before he toppled Valuev and has upset them with his infamous t-shirt, depicting him holding the severed heads of both siblings.

But between them the brothers have the rest of the heavyweight division tied up. Wladimir successfully defended his WBO and IBF titles against Eddie Chambers on Saturday night, while Vitali - who was Lewis' last opponent - holds the WBC version.

And Maloney says that if they can get past the bad blood, his former charge can build on his legacy by beating either.

"The fight that will cement David's place in history will be one of the Klitschko's," he said.

"Lennox had those fights: he became Britain's first heavyweight world champion for 100 years which made history; then he fought Frank Bruno, who was the darling of the British public; then he went on and beat Holyfield to become unified champion.

"If David can beat Vitali Klitschko he's established, because Vitali Klitschko is seen as the supreme heavyweight out there - even if half the world don't know who he is!"

Source: skysports.com

Champion Klitschko eyes top fight against Briton Haye -- Reuters

By Karolos Grohmann, Reuters

DUESSELDORF, Germany (Reuters) - Minutes after successfully defending his WBO, IBO and IBF heavyweight titles, Vladimir Klitschko had already set his sights on Briton David Haye's WBA crown.

The 33-year-old Ukrainian retained his three titles when he knocked out American "Fast Eddie" Chambers with a left hook in the 12th and final round on Saturday evening.

"I do not feel my age at all," he told reporters. "I just feel that I keep getting better and better. There is more where this came from."

The Ukrainian, whose brother Vitaly holds the WBC title, was never really threatened by Chambers, let alone seriously hurt, and the question on everyone's mind now is when will a Haye-Klitschko fight go ahead?

With no possibility of a single fighter holding all belts at the moment, as the two brothers are not going to fight each other, the Haye fight would go a long way towards dispersing the notion the Klitschkos pick their opponents to suit their tastes and sizes.

It would also be by far the most lucrative bout for broadcasters.

CANCELLED FIGHTS

Haye pulled out of a scheduled fight with Vladimir last year, citing an injury, although it was more a case of the two sides and their promoters failing to reach a deal. A Haye-Vitaly Klitschko match also failed to materialise.

"I told Vitaly I would fight Haye and if he cares about having title belts in the house I told him I will give him Haye's afterwards," Vladimir said a day before the Chambers' fight.

"I would prefer to fight him in a soccer arena but I would also face him in a car park if necessary."

Vladimir is the more likely to fight the big-talking Briton with Vitaly set to fight European champion Albert Sosnowski from Poland in May.

Vitaly though also sounded confident a Klitschko-Haye fight was on the cards, even as early as this year.

"Maybe even this year," he told reporters in Duesseldorf. "We have good chances of setting this fight up."

(Editing by John Mehaffey)

Source: uk.reuters.com

Texas-sized threat -- Las Vegas Sun

By John Katsilometes, Las Vegas Sun

It is decision time at Cowboys Stadium.

Should you watch the action in the boxing ring? That’s where a pair of welterweights who tip the scale at around 145 pounds have been reduced to performing fleas by the pure enormity of their surroundings.

Should you instead watch that colossal video screen? It’s brawny. It’s beautiful. It looms large over the fight, seeming about to drop right into the action. The vast, high-definition expanse, the largest screen on the planet, shows each bead of blood and every blemish in vibrant color.

On the screen, these little fighters appear Bunyanesque.

But you hear a voice from afar and you glance, instead, behind you, toward the sea of upholstered seats being filled by thousands of fight fans. It is familiar, this voice. Or is it? It is a voice of Las Vegas, but we’re far from there, in spirit and in fact.

You make eye contact and yes, you know this man who now leans in and shouts to be heard: “Tell everyone in Las Vegas this place is terrible!”

This person is very Vegas. He is Cisco Aguilar, legal counsel for someone who is even more Vegas than he, the city’s native son Andre Agassi.

Vegas is in the house, and she is paying attention. But terrible? This place? Hardly. But you get the joke, and even a ripple of underlying concern. This place is no more terrible than it is understated — which is to say, it is wholly the opposite. It is a Texas-sized spectacle, a 100,000-seat domed palace of sports and entertainment — the vision of a man with an appropriately formidable ego, Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones.

It would be worth praising unconditionally, for folks like Aguilar and, across the arena, Nevada political operative Sig Rogich, if it weren’t such an obvious and immediate threat to how Las Vegas does business. Big-event business, specifically. And on this night, even more specifically, boxing business.

Despite the mock plea from Aguilar, or any other individual concerned with Las Vegas tourism, we cannot report Cowboys Stadium is terrible. But it is terribly fascinating.

The stadium is a game-changer, without question. The proof can be found under a white retractable roof on a cool Saturday evening in Arlington, where nearly 51,000 boxing fans have gathered for what would be a lackluster title fight matching legendary punching machine Manny Pacquiao with cocooned challenger Joshua Clottey.

Pacquiao would pound his way to a unanimous decision. The even bigger big winner was, in its debut fight, Cowboys Stadium.

On the very same evening in Vegas, heretofore recognized as the Boxing Capital of the World, the MGM Grand Garden Arena sits empty.

Vegas will hope this is not prophetic.

Jones claims that one day he can put 110,000 fans into Cowboys Stadium for boxing, and you don’t doubt that he can, if the fighters swapping leather are Pacquiao and Mayweather.

“We are serious about boxing,” Jones says after the fight, and it certainly looks so.

You start doing simple math, realizing that Jones’ kind of numbers would fill MGM Grand Garden Arena a half-dozen times. You know that Jones didn’t build this stadium just for football, and he’s spoiling for fights, having said he wanted Pacquiao-Mayweather “so bad I could taste it” and put down $25 million to prove it.

And you remember the action in the ring, gazing up at the Godlike screen that seems as if you are witnessing the bout in your own living room, and you realize this stadium is a formidable, heavyweight contender staring down Vegas in the opposite corner.

‘It’s flamboyant’

To understand the effect the $1.2 billion Cowboys Stadium has on the greater Dallas area, particularly Arlington, consider the Dallas Morning News’ selection as its Sports Personality of 2009:

Cowboys Stadium.

“This stadium is showy,” Jones told the Morning News. “It’s flamboyant. It’s ballsy ... Would you be wrong to say that the stadium is like me? No, you would not.”

To visualize why Cowboys Stadium, aesthetically, is such an appealing event venue is jarringly simple: It is the screen, stupid. Take it from two wildly divergent voices: Former Cowboy wideout Michael Irvin, and Pat Christenson, head of Las Vegas Events.

Irvin, as a former player and current NFL broadcaster, has seen just about every form of stadiums in the country. Of this one: “Wait ’til you see the screen. It will blow your mind.”

Christenson, whose position with Las Vegas Events is to book shows and events in Las Vegas, takes a more clinical view.

“If it weren’t for the video screens, it would be just another stadium,” Christenson said. “I think it’s a gorgeous arena, but the reason they are selling tickets is the video screen. Boxing is a great example. Without the screens, it would be horrible. You’d be watching two little dots.”

No doubt. The screen brings whatever action is happening below to the stadium’s nether regions. Those sitting in the $50 seats for the March 13 bout had almost the same visual experience as those in the $700 seats. The NBA All-Star Game played to 108,000 fans, most of whom watched the contest not on the basketball court itself, but on the screen (which, at 159 feet wide, is far larger than an NBA-sized court, and spans each 20-yard-line of a football field).

Invaluably, the screen allows the stadium to expand its selection of events to just about any ticketed performance or competition. The first event at Cowboys Stadium was a George Strait concert in June. The first sporting event was a soccer doubleheader that drew 82,252 people, the largest crowd for such an event in Texas history. Jones has nailed down the 2011 Super Bowl and the NCAA’s 2014 Final Four. If there’s a papal visit in the offing anywhere in the Southwest, expect Jones to try mightily to book the pope.

This weekend it’s an AMA Supercross event, the type of show that brings several thousand fans to Sam Boyd Stadium each year.

“I think Jerry Jones realizes you can’t build a monster stadium just for football,” said Thomas & Mack Center and Sam Boyd Stadium Director Daren Libonati, who books events ranging from U2 concerts to PBR events at those venues. “You need to turn the turnstiles year-round and create opportunities to fill seats.”

That means, of course, Jones is seeking boxing matches. UFC President Dana White attended with co-owner Lorenzo Fertitta, lending speculation that the UFC, too, might branch out to Cowboys Stadium.

But what else is Jones after?

The Jones doctrine

Wearing a navy-blue suit adorned with a diamond-studded Dallas Cowboy lapel pin, Jones picks the spot for this midweek interview: A staircase landing on the second deck of Cowboys Stadium, overlooking the construction of the ring for the upcoming Pacquiao-Clottey fight.

The banging of metal beams and the whir of pneumatic tools play as a sort of soundscape for Jones’ distinctive drawl.

For starters, what does he have to say to people who live in Las Vegas who are concerned he is taking away some of the city’s most lucrative boxing events?

“It is a concern for Las Vegas, and I understand that,” he says. “But what we do here, for select fights, is great for Las Vegas.”

Really? How so?

“We can contribute to the interest in the sport across the country, including in Las Vegas.”

Jones is asked about the $25 million he offered to lure the ill-fated Pacquiao-Mayweather fight to Dallas. The figure is the largest such guarantee for any bout in history (by about $8 million), but he also has said that writing $25 million checks is not too uncommon for an NFL owner.

He is asked about reports that he is interested in bringing the National Finals Rodeo to Cowboys Stadium. Jones doesn’t seem to have given much thought about the profound effect it would have on Las Vegas if the rodeo moves to Texas.

In fact, he refers to it as “National Rodeo Finals.” He says he not yet talked directly with anyone at the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association about the future of the NFR.

“What we do recognize is that this is, quote-unquote, cowboy country, both from the standpoint of getting into the saddle and running up and down the field,” he says. “But I am a lot more passionate about the Cowboys who put on a football helmet.”

The NFR, a rite of winter in Vegas for 25 years that brings about 35,000 tourists and $50 million during what was once a stagnant time for tourism in the city, is contracted to be in Las Vegas through 2014. But because Cowboys Stadium has held a PBR event, to a crowd of 46,000, speculation is that Jones will throw a saddlebag full of cash across the table to bring that event to his billion-dollar fun house.

Any truth to that?

“I will say that rodeo is part of the heritage of this area. We have huge Dallas Cowboy fans who are rodeo fans, and certainly we have the potential to be aligned with those types of events,” Jones says. “But Las Vegas has such attractiveness to the people of rodeo, coming out there having worked a year to get there. Las Vegas has worked to build that into such a major event, and I recognize that. I do look at (the NFR) differently than I do a fight, a boxing match, mainly because there are just more opportunities to do boxing events than there is to do the National Rodeo Finals. It’s way out ahead of anything I’m about right now.

“I’m not trying to be shrewd and I’m not trying to be clever, but when you have a stadium you just spent $1.2 billion on ... I can’t make any mistakes,” Jones says. “The National Rodeo Finals are a great product, but I feel much more comfortable about doing fights here.”

Besides, the rodeo falls during the Cowboys’ regular-season schedule. As Jones notes, he did not build his team a new stadium only to have it displaced for two or even three home games so the other cowboys can roll in the dirt for two weeks.

It is noted that Jones does have a little Vegas in him.

“What I enjoy about Las Vegas is its building — I’m into building, hard spaces, floor coverings. I respect people who build and create jobs,” he says. “I enjoy Las Vegas’ interest in sports, which is a good thing ... I like to watch the customers and people who come to Las Vegas, how it makes them live in a world that’s a much-needed respite from the real trials of life. That is very similar to what I think the Dallas Cowboys are, and what the NFL is.”

The Texas tourism tax

Texas has more going for it than just Jerry Jones and his SuperSized Screen.

The state uses public money to help lure major events to places such as Cowboys Stadium, through its Texas Event Trust Fund.

The fund collects a 6 percent room tax levied on every hotel in the state. Expenses for select events, such as the NBA All-Star Game and the Super Bowl, can be reimbursed through this fund provided the events prove they have met a specific economic stimulus requirement. An independent firm conducts a study to see if, for example, an event would bring $8 million to the Dallas-Arlington region. For the most part, the standard has been met. At the moment, only major events are covered, but the state Legislature can adjust the requirements so an event like the Academy of Country Music Awards (to name one Vegas favorite) can be brought to Cowboys Stadium.

“As much as we should be worried about what Jerry Jones is doing, this fund has the potential to be a real problem if there was a lobbying effort to include events like the ACMAs,” Christenson said. “I’m more concerned about the State of Texas than I am Jerry Jones, to be honest.”

What is required, Christenson says (and boxing promoter Bob Arum aggressively concurs), is some sort of unified civic effort in the form of a new, neutral facility in Las Vegas. A proposal in late 2009 for a temporary arena concept was initiated by Christenson, and later picked up by Rogich.

This venue would have seated about 30,000 fans on the open parcel where the New Frontier once stood, across from Wynn, Encore, Venetian and Palazzo. This venue might have hearkened to boxing’s glory days at the temporary stadium at Caesars Palace, which was overtaken by that hotel’s extensive expansion.

The idea of bringing events to the city’s signature location and peerless photo opportunity — the Strip — was appealing to Rogich, one of the state’s more influential political operatives and PR consultants. He’s also a former Nevada state athletic commissioner who has been involved in marketing Las Vegas for more than three decades. An effort was made by Rogich and Arum to secure at least in-principle support from resort moguls in the neighborhood, including Steve Wynn, Phil Ruffin and Sheldon Adelson.

But the temporary arena concept collapsed like ... well, like a temporary arena being imploded.

“It had more to do with time than anything,” Rogich said. When we talked about a time in March, it was too short a window to construct it. But we thought it made good sense as a way to compete with what’s going on in Dallas.”

Christenson also said the arena was a might costly for something that would be disassembled in five years: $1 million just to lay turf down on the New Frontier dirt, $4 million for the structure, $2 million, over time, to maintain.

“For a temporary facility, it’s a lot to invest,” Christenson said. The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority doesn’t have that kind of money.

Arum has flatly accused MGM Mirage of protecting its two-arena monopoly (MGM Grand Garden and Mandalay Bay) and working to block the temporary-arena plan. To be sure, MGM Mirage did not sprint to the front of the line in support of the project. It has a couple of its own arenas to fill.

“We have a situation where one company owns the two private arenas in Las Vegas, and that is not healthy for the other resorts or for the city,” Arum said, adding that MGM Mirage holds fight tickets for its own customers, and often fans resort to purchasing event tickets from scalpers at highly inflated prices.

Asked about the “monopoly” accusation, MGM Mirage President of Sports and Entertainment Richard Sturm said, “I must tell you, I don’t understand what that means. We’re in competition with other arenas in town. We’re in competition not only with arenas in town, but across the country.” He also said, of the temporary arena, “It would have been impossible to build a venue that quickly in that short a period of time. There’s no way a venue could have been built in time for an event.”

Two arena locations are still being studied: One on the old Wet ’n Wild site on the northern end of the Strip, and the other years-old concept on the east side of the Strip, behind Bally’s and Paris Las Vegas.

“Both, I’m cheering for,” Christenson said. “Both have a small component of public funding. But we need to be educated about what the value of a new arena would be. That is our biggest obstacle, educating the community. The Thomas & Mack Center has not cost a dime in taxpayer money and it’s brought in $2 billion. It has more than served its purpose, but it was built in 1983.

“It’s time to compete as a city.”

City vs. Stadium

What is certain: The region that encompasses Arlington, Dallas, Fort Worth, Irving and Grapevine does not offer the entertainment options those visiting Las Vegas enjoy. It’s a more lopsided contest than Pacquiao-Clottey.

For example: Two of the biggest night life draws in Dallas are Hooters and the Hard Rock Hotel, both more than 15 miles from Cowboys Stadium. By comparison, there is a Hard Rock Café and a Hooters resort within walking distance of MGM Grand, and those are just two of dozens of nightclub/restaurant options just on the corner of Tropicana Avenue and the Strip, where in proximity stand a half-dozen resort-casinos.

There are a few bars in an area south of Cowboys Stadium, known as Arlington Highlands, and a few restaurants that turn into nightclubs about three miles from the facility. But the tourist attractions that Arlington Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Wes Jury enthusiastically points to are Six Flags amusement park, the Rangers Ballpark in Arlington (home of the Texas Rangers, just across the parking lot from Cowboys Stadium), and the Hurricane Harbor water park.

As one columnist who covers the night life entertainment scene in the area near Cowboys Stadium said: “Basically, it’s lame.”

Fighters often attend post-bout parties at clubs in Las Vegas, elaborate nightspots like Pure and Tao. For his post-fight appearance, in which he performed a mini-concert (Arum calls Pacquiao the Sinatra of the Philippines), Pacquiao ventured to Rangers Ballpark, about the only business open near the stadium when he took the stage after 2 a.m.

The 1,500-room Gaylord Texan, a beautiful hotel that is comparable in quality and customer experience to the renovated Monte Carlo, boasts the Glass Cactus. Pretty nice spot. Saturday night’s entertainment was Dokken/Skid Row. But that club closes at 2 a.m., giving anyone who took in the bout very limited post-fight club time. When the fight’s over, typically, so is the night.

The unflattering comparison is hardly a criticism. As even Irvin conceded, “What (Dallas) doesn’t have is the 24-hour party opportunities Las Vegas has. To suggest anyone matches Las Vegas as Sin City would be outlandish.”

True. Upon returning to the host hotel, most of the media covering the fight and the event’s support staff seemed lost as to what to do. Fortunately Java Coast, an outpost of the coffeehouse chain, was open. There, you could grab a panini, a salad from the refrigerator or a $3 sugar cookie.

“It all comes down to, as a brand, do you want to own the city or the stadium?” Christenson said. “We have to own the city and all it has to offer.”

There are intangibles, too. As a venue, Cowboys Stadium enjoys a vibe. But so does Las Vegas, as always, as a destination.

The flight into Dallas-Fort Worth airport is unremarkable, like a flight into just about any airport in the country. But on the flight back to Las Vegas, the US Airways flight attendant excitedly tells the full cabin, “We are descending on Las Vegas! It is said that if you cross your seat belts, it brings good luck!” The tourists laugh, giddily.

Then you disembark, and are met with dozens of signs trumpeting what the city has to offer: Cher, Blue Man Group, Penn & Teller. Even Garth Brooks looms over baggage claim. His image is a reminder that in a contest with the owner of the Cowboys, Las Vegas has its own cowboy star, and always, a fighting chance in the bout between the Strip and the Screen.

Source: lasvegassun.com

Odlanier Solis Stops Carl Drummond, Eyes Title Shot -- FanHouse

By Lem Satterfield, FanHouse

As an amateur, Cuban-born, Odlanier Solis defeated future heavyweight world champions, Sultan Ibragimov, and, David Haye, respectively, of Russia, and, England.

The talented fighter went on to earn an Olympic gold medal in the 2004 Olympics for Cuba, ending his amateur career with an outstanding record of 347-12.

Three years ago, Solis successfully defected from Cuba to America with the help of his present manager,Tony Gonzalez, along with another Cuban-born gold medalist, Yuriorkis Gamboa (17-0, 15 KOs), who is now a 28-year-old WBA featherweight (126 pounds) champion promoted by Top Rank CEO, Bob Arum.

Although he is not yet a world champion, Solis wants to be, very badly.

"I believe that ever since I turned professional, my goal has always been the same, and I've felt that I've always been ready to challenge for the most prized crown in this industry, which is the heavyweight crown," said the 29-year-old, Solis, during a recent conference call interview with reporters.

"I've been ready since then, I'm ready now, and I'll always be ready," said Solis, who is living in Miami. "Once given that opportunity, I'll take full advantage of it and make the best of it."

On Saturday, at Mallory Square in Key West, Fla., as part of the Top Rank-promoted, Top Rank Live series that was televised on Fox, Solis took yet another huge step toward making his title hopes a reality -- this in the Southern-most portion of Florida that is just 90 miles from Solis' native Cuba.

Solis scored what was considered a third-round knockout over Costa Rica's 35-year-old Carl Davis Drummond (26-3, 20 KOs), earning his 12th knockout, and his sixth consecutive stoppage to improve to 16-0.

Drummond essentially quit on his stool between the third and fourth round, this, after being in trouble near the end of the third as Solis, who controlled the fight throughout, hammered the taller Drummond with one blow after another.

When asked by the referee if he could continue, Drummond shook his head "No," several times, indicating that he had had enough.

In victory, Solis successfully defended the WBC International title he earned his last bout, October's second-round knockout of former heavyweight title challenger, Monte Barrett.

"I thought that Odlanier looked very good," Arum said of Solis, who weighed 268 pounds compared to 228 for Drummond. "I think that he's a tough guy to beat. I think that he could beat any heavyweight around."

The loss was the third straight for Drummond, who had fallen, respectively, by decisions to former world champion, Ruslan Chagaev (25-1-1, 17 KOs), and, to Derric Rossy (23-2, 13 KOs).

Drummond's loss to Chagaev, by sixth-round, technical decision following a head butt by Chagaev was for the WBA title. The one against Rossy was for the vacant fringe USNBC crown.

Arum said that he is now looking at lining up a title shot for Solis against any of the four heavyweight champions.

WBC king, Vitali Klitscho (39-2, 37 KOs), who is 38, is scheduled to defend his crown against 31-year-old, Polish-born, nearly 6-3, Albert Sosnowski (45-2-1, 27 KOs), of Brentwood Essex, England, on May 29 at Veltins Arena, Gelsenkirchen, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany.

Earlier on Saturday, Klitschko's younger brother, 33-year-old IBF and WBO king Wladimir Klitschko (54-3, 48 KOs), scored a 12th-round knockout over 27-year-old Eddie Chambers (35-2, 18 KOs), of Philadelphia, at the Esprit Arena in Duesseldorf, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany.

The victory was the 12th straight for Wladimir Klitschko, and his ninth knockout during that time, setting up a defense possibly against mandatory challenger, Alexander Povetkin (19-0, 14 KOs), an earlier decision winner over Chambers.

"I think that Odlanier has a helluva shot with the Klitschkos, and, certainly, against Wladimir," said Arum. "We almost had a title shot set up with Vitali before he went with the Polish fighter, but I certainly think that we'll get one of them sometime later in the year."

There is also 29-year-old WBA king, David Haye (23-1, 21 KOs), of England, who is scheduled to defend his crown against 38-year-old, former two-time world champion, John Ruiz (44-8-1, 30 KOs), of Chelsea, Mass., on April 3.

"I would sure go after David Haye if he was availble, but I don't think that David Haye wouId fight him, but we'll see," said Arum.

"But I think that Odlanier would demolish David Haye. I just think that he's ready, and that he would beat anybody around," said Arum. "The only guys that we would have to say would be the favorites against him are the Klitschko brothers."

Arum said that he believes Povetkin "doesn't want to take the fight" against Wladimir Klitschko, which Arum said makes Top Rank-promoted, Nigerian-born, former world champion, Samuel Peter (34-3, 27 KOs), of Las Vegas, "the next mandatory."

On March 12 in Grapevine, Tex., Peter scored a second-round knockout of Nagy Aguilera (15-3, 10 KOs). It was Peter's fourth straight knockout since a 10-round majority decision loss to Chambers on March 27.

"I think Peter has to face Wladimir first, because he's the mandatory," said Arum. "If Odlanier doesn't get a title shot, he'll fight some other heavyweight. But he's ready, and he'll beat anybody around."

Peter already has lost to both Klitschkos, including a December 2005, unanimous decision setback to Wladimir Klitschko, whom he floored twice during that bout.

In October of 2008, Peter was also dethroned as WBC titlist by Vitali Klitschko, who stopped Peter in the eighth round.

"Obviously it's [the goal] getting one of the champions to agree to fight Solis," said Arum in an earlier interview, "and I'm very, very optimistic that that will happen with Vitali or Wladimir sometime before the end of the year, definitely."

Source: boxing.fanhouse.com

Pacquiao fight larger than life, thanks to venue -- San Antonio Express

By John Whisler, San Antonio Express

Fans attending Dallas Cowboys games for the first time face a daunting challenge.

Namely, how to watch the action on the field at Cowboys Stadium with that monstrous videoboard staring them in the face.

Some fans say it takes a while to train the eyes to focus on the game and rely on the giant screens — 72 feet high and 160 feet wide — only for replay.

A similar scenario, no doubt, unfolded at last weekend's Manny Pacquiao-Joshua Clottey fight, the first boxing match at Cowboys Stadium.

The ring on the star at the 50-yard line must have appeared the size of a postage stamp from afar, even with the upper deck closed off.

As a result, it must have been oh-so tempting to watch the live action on the big screens.

They're mesmerizing.

Sitting in the press section, I had a nice view of the ring, on the floor maybe 10-12 rows back. But all night long, I couldn't resist leaning back in my chair to get a look at that much-ballyhooed high-def board.

Ninety feet above the playing field for football games, it was lowered to 45 feet for the boxing event.

Perhaps that's why it seemed to hover over me like a city-size spaceship from the movie “District 9.”

I half-expected the bottom to open up and prawn-like aliens to emerge. Or, maybe the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders, in a stunt only master marketer Jerry Jones could dream up.

The fight itself may have lacked punch, but the event was a knockout.

The atmosphere was electric. It also was a little bizarre at times.

The main event began with the playing of anthems for Clottey's native Ghana and Pacquiao's Philippines as men dressed in jeans and cowboy hats stood holding the flags.

Then three Cowboys cheerleaders in their skimpy little outfits sang the “Star-Spangled Banner” — in front of a Marine Color Guard in full-dress uniform.

Texas chic? Or Texas cheeky?

At Cowboys Stadium last weekend, it was all part of the show.

While the star of that show clearly was Pacquiao, he had to share top billing with Jones' $1.2 billion palace.

Jones and promoter Bob Arum expected a crowd of about 45,000, but sales of the “Party Pass” — Jones' version of standing-room-only — at $35 per ticket pushed the final attendance to 50,994.

Can you imagine if Floyd Mayweather Jr. had been Pacquiao's opponent and not Clottey? Attendance would have soared through the retractable roof at 100,000 or more.

It would have been a spectacle the likes of which boxing hasn't seen in decades.

As it was, this one was pretty high on the I-was-there meter.

Jones and Arum spared no expense to make it a special event. Production costs topped $1 million.

Floor risers on the field level were leased as part of a 9,000-seat configuration to provide better sightlines for fans. The setup was similar to the one used for the recent NBA All-Star Game at the stadium.

The lighting above the ring was special, too. It was provided by the company that designs that for the WWE.

There were a few problems with overcrowding on the floor, and promoters had to find creative ways to move some of the $500 and $700 tickets but, other than that, the event went off as planned and was a huge success.

Arum is already talking about coming back, possibly in June with a card featuring Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.

If tickets are priced accordingly, it's a show that could do well, although not Pacquiao-Clottey well.

At least by then, maybe some of us can get this videoboard thing figured out.

jwhisler@express-news.net

Source: mysanantonio.com

Wladimir Klitschko's Winning Streak Reaches Even Dozen -- FanHouse

By Lem Satterfield, FanHouse

Wladimir Klitschko last tasted defeat in April of 2004 when he was knocked out in the fifth-round by American Lamon Brewster of Los Angeles.

Since then the 6-foot-6, 244-pound Ukrainian-born heavyweight has racked up some impeccable statistics.

On Saturday with five seconds left in the bout, the Kiev native scored his 12th straight victory, his ninth knockout during that time, and his fourth consecutive stoppage with a 12th-round left hook that permanently floored previously, once-beaten, Philadelphia challenger, "Fast" Eddie Chambers in front of a screaming, sold out crowd of about 51,000 at Esprit Arena in Duesseldorf, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany.

In vanquishing Chambers, the 33-year-old Klitschko (54-3) scored the 48th knockout of his career, defending for the eighth time the IBF crown that he won from American Chris Byrd in April of 2006 and for the fourth time, the WBO belt that he earned from Sultan Ibragimov in February of 2008.

"Chambers is an extraordinary boxer. He is very, very quick and preemptive. But in the last rounds, I gave everything, and I am very happy about the result," Klitschko told FanHouse in an e-mail from team spokesman Klaus-Peter Dittrich Esprit Arena in Duesseldorf.

"To me Chambers gave up mentally after round six," said Klitschko, who likely won every round. "It is hard to hit somebody who is very passive and tries not to be knocked out."
Klitschko weighed 244 pounds compared to 209 for the 6-foot-1, 27-year-old Chambers (35-2, 18 KOs), meaning that he had a weight advantage of 35 pounds as well as advantage of nearly six inches over a man whose five-bout winning streak -- including two knockouts -- was ended.

"I knew about his quick right hand, but I could not do anything against it," said Chambers, who was stopped for the first time in his career and hospitalized after the fight.

"When I lifted him up, I wanted to take him out of his fight plan," said Chambers, referring to his lifting up and slamming Klitscho to the canvas in the second round. "I cannot remember the knockout."

Chambers' last previous loss was on January 2008 to 6-foot-2, 30-year-old Russian Alexander Povetkin (18-0, 13 KOs) in Berlin, Germany.

Chambers was coming off a July 4, unanimous decision victory over Ukrainian Alexander Dimitrenko, who lost for the first time in 30 bouts before a crowd partisan to Dimitrenko in Hamburg, Germany.

In triumph, Klitschko made sure that America's drought of failed heavyweight title attempts against him was maintained.

Chambers was the eighth American Klitschko has beaten during his scintillating run, joining Byrd, Brewster, Davarryl Williamson, Calvin Brock, Ray Austin, Tony Thompson and former world champion, Hasim Rahman, among the list of U.S. fighters he has beaten.

Like Chambers, Byrd, Brewster, Brock, Austin, Thompson and Rahman were knocked out, with Williams falling by fifth-round, technical decision.

Klitschko's older brother, 38-year-old Vitali Klitschko (39-2, 37 KOs), holds the WBC belt. And England's 6-3, 29-year-old David Haye (23-1, 21 KOs) is the WBA champion.

The last American to wear a version of the heavyweight belt was Shannon Briggs, of Brooklyn, N.Y., who earned the WBO crown via 12th-round knockout over Sergey Lyakhovich in November of 2006, but was dethroned in June of 2007 by Ibragimov via 12-round, unanimous decision.

John Ruiz held the WBA crown in 2005. And in 2006, Rahman and Byrd, respectively, were champions with the WBC, and, IBF.

And there's more.

Ibragimov, Brock, Eliseo Castillo, Samuel Peter, and, Ruslan Chagaev are among the five previously unbeaten fighters who lost for the first time to Klitschko during his winning spree.

Brock, Castillo and Chagaev were knocked out, with Peter, like Ibragimov, losing a decision.

Klitschko now turns his attention to his next defense, which could come against Povetkin (19-0, 14 KOs), who is the mandatory challenger, or Peter (34-3, 27 KOs)

Source: boxing.fanhouse.com

ESPN's Atlas should drop vendetta against Pacquiao -- The Examiner

By Michael Marley, Examiner.com

There's nothing personal about this for me as I respect Theodore "Teddy' Atlas as a person.

I only wrote 748 glowing items about him in The New York Post and in boxing magazines when he was trying to make his "bones" in the fight game.

I didn't pump Atlas' profile up because we're related, I did it because he was colorful, quotable and because the Legendary Johnny Bos was his publicity rabbi so to speak.

Unfortunately, somewhere along the years, Atlas lost Bos' phone number.

When Atlas got canned by Donny Lalonde, later to fight and deck Sugar Ray Leonard and pick up a neat $5 million purse, the trainer was livid.

He came up with a classic line about the "suicide blond" Lalonde and the late, great manager and writer (he penned the superb Connie Hawkins' basketball book, "Foul") Dave Wolf. Wolf may have sometimes walked on a rug but he always wore one.

"One dyes it," Atlas cracked, "and the other one buys it."

But Atlas becomes an insufferable blowhard on any topic involving Manny Pacquiao.

Look, I'm not saying Pacman is beyond criticism not by any means. But how about valid, sensible criticism?

The ESPN shouter has an axe to grind against the Pinoy Idol and I don't know why.

Maybe Theodore blames Manny because that he's never been able to produce that "mystery emaill" in which he reported someone representing Pacman asked what would happen if he came up dirty on a random blood testing for a super bout against Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Neither has another good New York boxing guy, Daily News scribe Tim Smith on whose coattails Atlas rode on that story.

Someone asked Atlas if he would apologize about that story and he petulantly told the reporter "to get an apology from Smith first."

It may be revealed at some future time that Pacman has been loaded to the gills with illergal drugs, that his marvelous feats were all chemically induced.

I kind of doubt it but I would not go into any Sugar Shane shock over such bad news.

But it will never be revealed that anyone representing Manny sent such an email to Mayweather's reps because it never transpired.

I'm not questioning Atlas' boxing IQ as he is usually pretty sharp.

He's been a student of the game for a long while going back to his Cus D'Amato understudy days in Catskill, when Michael Tyson was barely a teenager.

In fact, I hired Atlas when he needed a boost. I brought him in to train hevyweight hopeful Shannon Briggs when the Brooklyn fighter was turning pro. Briggs had great talent but a lack of discipline and he agreed with me that Drill Sargeant Atlas would put a boot up his backside. Keep in mind Briggs was about 19 then but acted like he was 12.

No wonder Shannon and I clicked immediately, lol, we had the same emotional maturity.

I convinced my co-manager Marc Roberts to give Atlas a contract, a rarity for trainers then and now, a salary and lease him a car.

Atlas was a solid trainer then and is one now.

But, when it comes to Pacman, Atlas seems to work off a personal agenda.

First, he was lambasting me for having the audacity to question his reportorial skills and now he is saying that Pacquiao got hit too much, too easily by the bigger, stronger Joshua Clottey.

Did Atlas expect the phenomenal Pacquiao to pitch a no-hitter for 36 minutes?

His observations about those six or seven crooked left uppercuts that Clottey landed squarely on Pacquiao's jaw and under his eye is accurate but, as Tedster would put it, so freaking what?

I just saw Not So Fast Eddie Chambers hit giant Wlad Klitschko with some flickering jabs, maybe he bruised WK's cheeks and what is the point of all that? That bout ended with Chambers surfing the ring mat in the 12th and final round.

Atlas said that shows him that Manny is easy to "touch."

Does he think Mayweather will lean in close like Clottey occasionally did?

That's not Mayweather's m.o., not in the least. Mayweather is not going into the shoulder roll and then leaning in with that sort of punch.

Working at close quarters is exactly what Mayweather will never dare to do against Pacquiao By unless it's late in the fight and he believes Manny is tiring.

Atlas and colleague Brian Kenny rapped out about Clottey-Pacquiao on ESPN Friday Night Fights and Kenny made a cogent comment about Clottey against Miguel Cotto.

When Cotto flung Clottey to the floor early on in a rassling move, it is true that the Ghanaian told ref Arthur Mercante Jr. he wanted to quit at that point. Mercante told me that chastized Clottey and told him to battle on which he did, going the 12 round limit.

Credit Kenny with a sharp eye and/or sharp ears and digging for a story. His father was a New York cop so maybe investigatory work runs in the family, I don't know.

Kenny has taken some rips from Mayweather but he's never taken it personally. Mayweather's remarks have rolled off his back quite easily.

But Atlas is, or comes across as, carrying a grudge against Pacquiao.

Some would say he carried a grudge against Tyson as well but I don't see any comparison. Atlas left the Tyson situation on his own accord as far as I know.

I don't expect neutrality or total objectivity from Atlas. He gets paid for his opinions just like I do although I probably make subway fare compared to his pay rate.

At this rate, I've a better chance of making a loan from Uncle Jerry Jones than from Tedster even at Staten Island "vigorish" rates.

I joke, I josh, I lampoon.

But I think we can, we should expect, Atlas to try to hit the ball down the middle of the fairway once in a while.

Even I do that, once in a very blue moon.

And I do it, even though I work in the filth-ridden sewer of the Internet as opposed to the pristine environment of television.

I could care less if Atlas predicts Mayweather demolishes Pacman in one round, he's entitled to do that as a paid pundit.

But put the Pacquiao hatchet away, will you please?

Give it a try, Theodore, give it a try.

(mlcmarley@aol.com)

Source: examiner.com

Formula: Manny is shining star, Saturday night, 51,000 fans -- The Examiner

By Michael Marley, Examiner.com

Wladimir Klitschko takes coach extremely well but, frankly my dear, I was more impressed by the materful corner work cum psychology of Emanuel Steward than I was by the world's second best heavyweight Saturday night.

Oh, and by the way, I guess we can cancel the funeral for boxing given the fact that Klitscho's somewhat dramtic 12th round left hook KO over Not So Fast Eddie Chambers attracted 51,000 fans in a huge soccer stadium in Dusseldorf.

If that crowd figure seems familiar, it's because that is the number of fans who turned up at Cowboys Stadium a week ago to watch Manny Pacquiao hammer Ghanaian pacifist Joshua Clottey.

Think of it, 102,000 paying customers in cavernous stadiums, one in Texas and one in Old Europe.
I hate to think what's possible when boxing comes alive again.

Superstars drive sports as we all know and the Klit Bros are superstars in Europe while Pacman is a worldwide megastar now.

Chambers, too small and too cautious, should have lost by 120-108 shutout votes on all cards but he prevented that by exposing his chin to a crunching left hook. Chambers went down like a sack of potatoes, yet another American imposter expoded by Wladimir and/or Vitali.

Back to the Kronk Goldfather, Steward said this before the final round:

"It's no way he should be going 12 rounds. He's gonna run now...You do not need to have another bullspit decision!"

Of course, it's my editorial filter that misspelled the real word Steward uttered...

Suitably chastized for not letting his punches fly in sufficient number, WKlit went out and finished the job.

Chambers completely frustrated his corner with his ultra passive manner.

Before the 10th round, his cutwoman (yes, a lady) said, "You knock his ass out because you're losing...are you listening, Eddie?"

But my favorite verbal rip from Chambers corner came before round six: "This is bleeping ridiculous! You've got to fight this bleeper!"

If anyone needed a reminder that Pacman tutor Freddie Roach is not the only master trainer extant, then this was Exhibit A.

Good work by Wladimir, great work by old friend Manny.

Saturday to Saturday, come to think of it, the shining star in two massive fight shows attracting 51,000 fans, was a guy named Manny.

(mlcmarley@aol.com)

Source: examiner.com

Same Song, Same Dance, Challenger Has NO Chance: Wladimir KOs Chambers -- The Sweet Science

By Michael Woods, The Sweet Science

American fight fans needed to be blessed with a personality bordering on the absurdly optimistic if they looked forward to the Wladimir Klitschko/Eddie Chambers title fight in Dusseldorf on Saturday, and gave the undersized American more than a snowball's chance in hell of dethroning the WBO/IBF champion.

Chambers came in to ESPRIT Arena outweighed by 35 pounds, but red, white and blue rooters who ached for a release of the stranglehold the Klitschko brothers have on the heavyweight division hoped that his pugilism skills would be enough to propel him to an upset of immense proportions.

They will have to keep on aching, and in fact, might well want to wave the white flag of surrender, and simply root for the Brothers K to retire, before a Yank is able to once again strap a heavyweight belt around his waist. Over 12 one-sided rounds, Chambers had about the same luck as everyone else as had since Wladimir last lost, back in 2004 to Lamon Brewster, which is to say, very little. Klitschko (244 3/4 pounds) turned up the gas on the Pennsylvania almost-cruiserweight in the last round, and with a sharp, quick left hook, stopped the 209 1/2 pound challenger with just five seconds to go in the scrap. The ref didn't even bother counting, and those in attendance worried for the American as he took several minutes to get his senses.

The 33-year-old Ukrainian went to 54-3 and notched his 48th KO. Chambers, age 27, went to 35-2. The victory functioned as an early birthday gift; the younger Klitschko turns 35 on March 25. Brother Vitali, who holds the WBC belt, is 38.

It wasn't just a weight disparity that hampered Chambers; he gave away five inches or so to the 6-6 1/2 Klitschko, who used his superior jab to keep the loser at bay. That jab is something that a foe doesn't fully respect til he tastes it. The ever-focused Ukrainian uses it like a bayonet, as a soldier would a POW. He holds it out there, launches it, and keeps it erect as a reminder and deterrent.

Klitschko fought for the first time in ten months, and he's looked sharper. But his left hand at the end of the 12th, which maybe landed on the temple, and sent Chambers to the mat face-first like he'd been zapped with a stun gun, made up for the rust.

What's next? He and his brother will see how the April 3rd David Haye-John Ruiz beef plays out; both hope WBA champ Haye beats the pesky Ruiz, and both will volunteer to shut up the trash-talking Brit for a year's worth of insults. Vitali (39-2) figures to have zero trouble in his May 29 scheduled defense against C level Pole Albert Sosnowski (45-2), but it's looking like little brother will get first crack at remedying Hayes' disrespect.

Source: thesweetscience.com

Dominant Klitschko knocks out challenger Chambers -- Sydney Morning Herald

AFP

World heavyweight champion Vladimir Klitschko defended his WBO and IBF titles on Saturday with a 12th-round knockout of challenger Eddie Chambers from the United States.

This was Klitschko's eighth defence of his IBF title, the fourth defence of the WBO title he won against Sultan Ibragimov in New York in February 2008 and he was rarely troubled by the 27-year-old American.

Although Klitschko, 33, easily out-classed Chambers, ex-world champ George Foreman last week questioned how good the Ukrainian's opponents are and the champion failed to knock his opponent out until the final round.

"I must give Chambers plenty of respect, he was very quick," said Klitschko.

"I was looking for the knockout from the sixth round, but it didn't come until much letter, so respect to him for that."

Just five seconds before the end of the fight, a huge left dropped Chambers to the canvas and gave Klitschko his 48th knockout and the 54th win of his career, with just three defeats.

But this was not an impressive performance.

Chambers, who suffered the second defeat of his career, came out with some strange tactics and kept looking to lift Klitschko off his feet, which he did successfully in the second round when he put the champion on the canvas.

The Ukrainian responded by pinning the American to the ropes with a flurry of punches and Chambers stumbled briefly before repeating his lifting trick to carry himself out of trouble.

With a 15cm height advantage, Klitschko kept lining up the challenger and jabbed with his left throughout the third and fourth rounds, but Chambers used his agility to turn Klitschko and rarely allowed himself to be hit early on.

By the fifth, Chambers started looking to connect with Klitschko's jaw to test how well the champion can take a decent punch, but the American found no way through his opponent's guard.

Chambers came out for the sixth with his face showing signs of the punches Klitschko was landing through the Americans guard and by the seventh, the champion was clearly ahead.

Having landed some heavy shots to the head in the eighth, it was just a matter of time before Klitschko retained his title.

The challenger rallied briefly in the ninth, but Klitschko's superior fitness meant the champion was untroubled by the late effort and only a lucky punch was going to give Chambers victory.

The American had to change the glove on his right hand at the start of the tenth round which drew jeers from the crowd at the Esprit Arena, before Klitschko then landed two more big punches.

With time running out, the knockout punch came, but Klitschko certainly took his time before exerting his authority and will need to meet Britain's WBA heavyweight champion David Haye in the ring to truly dominate the division.

© 2010 AFP

Source: news.smh.com.au

Klitschko KO's Chambers in 12

Boxing News World

In front of 51,000 spectators, Ukranian-born Wladimir “Dr. Steelhammer” Klitschko retained his WBO and IBF heavyweight titles with an impressive 12-round knockout victory over American "Fast Eddie" Chambers just minutes ago at Esprit Arena in Duesseldorf, Nordrhein -Westfalen, Germany.

The 33-year old Klitschko effectively used his 5 inches height and 35 pounds weight advantages over the hapless Chambers throwing numerous crisp left jabs round after round while staying away from the American’s reach.

In Round 2, Klitschko unleashed a powerful right straight behind a left jab that momentarily staggered Chambers.

With 11 seconds remaining in the final round, Klitschko uncorked a vicious left hook to Chamber’s right face that knocked the challenger out cold. The official stoppage time was 2:55.

Chambers, (now 35-2-0, 18 KOs), despite being 6 years younger, didn’t live up to his moniker and just could not manage to land punches to deter his rival from handing him his career’s first knockout defeat.

With the victory, Klitschko, (54-3-0, 48 KOs), extended his unbeaten streak to 12 since losing to Lamont Brewster in April of 2004.

- Marshall N. B., marx7204@lycos.com