Pacman: No tradeoff -- The Philippine Star

By Abac Cordero, The Philippine Star

MANILA, Philippines - Manny Pacquiao will never use the lawsuit, which he filed against Floyd Mayweather Jr. and company as a bargaining chip for his highly-anticipated super-fight with the undefeated American.

“That was never the intention,” said Pacquiao’s adviser, Mike Koncz, yesterday after reports came out that the Pacquiao-Mayweather fight could take place if both sides reach a compromise.

Pacquiao’s trainer, Freddie Roach, was quoted the other day as saying the fight could happen if Mayweather drops his demand for random blood-testing, and Pacquiao drops the lawsuit.

The Filipino champion has beaten anybody thrown at him, at any weight over the last five years, prompting Mayweather to accuse Pacquiao as taking illegal performance enhancers.

Pacquiao hurled Mayweather to court, saying the accusations have damaged his reputation, and included Floyd Sr., the uncle, Roger, and his promoters from Golden Boy in the lawsuit.

But Pacquiao, said Koncz, has no plans of dropping the case just to get the fight on. Besides, Pacquiao said he’s ready to retire, and not unless he gets what he wants he may never ever fight Mayweather.

“It’s Floyd who needs me. I can retire now if I want to,” said Pacquiao.

“Why do we need to use the lawsuit as a bargaining chip? That’s ridiculous,” Koncz told The STAR from General Santos City where Pacquiao is busy campaigning for the May 10 elections.

“Manny’s reputation has been tarnished. And we just talked to our lawyers in Los Angeles the day before yesterday. It’s full steam ahead as far as the lawsuit is concerned,” said the Canadian adviser.

Koncz stressed that the only way the lawsuit would go away is if Pacquiao is “compensated monetarily or the Mayweathers are punished by the court and asked to pay millions or if there’s an off-the-court settlement.”

Koncz said not even a public apology from the Mayweathers and their promoters can clear the air.

“Manny has said time and again that the fight is going to happen only if Floyd Mayweather lets the commission do what it’s supposed to do,” said Koncz, referring to the old drug-testing procedure.

Pacquiao said it’s always been the commission that has done the testing, through urine tests and blood tests before and after the fight, but not too close to the fight, and it should be the same way.

The Filipino pound-for-pound champion said Mayweather’s demand for random blood testing, which could happen the day before or even closer to the fight, was the American’s only way out of the fight.

“I’m sure Manny won’t change his position because we’re not spending thousands and thousands of dollars for the lawsuit just to use it as a bargaining chip for a fight. No way,” added Koncz.

“It was never our intention to file the lawsuit and use it later on as a bargaining chip for a fight,” he added.

A Pacquiao vs Mayweather could generate revenues of more than $100 million and the fighters could earn $40 million to $50 million each on their purse, pay-per-view sales, television rights, merchandise and ticket sales.

However, many believe that Mayweather was not yet ready to face Pacquiao after a retirement that lasted almost two years. So, he fought Juan Manuel Marquez instead, and will climb the ring against Shane Mosley in May.

“The damage to his reputation and lost business opportunities could be in the tens of millions of dollars,” Pacquiao’s American lawyer, Dan Petrocelli, said in a previous interview.

Pacquiao filed the suit in a U.S. District Court in Nevada against the Mayweathers and Golden Boy Promotions executives Oscar De La Hoya and Richard Schaefer, alleging that they made false and defamatory statements accusing him of taking performance-enhancing drugs.

Source: philstar.com

Audley: David Haye will lose title if he underestimates John Ruiz -- Eastside Boxing

Eastside Boxing

AUDLEY Harrison believes David Haye will lose his WBA World Heavyweight Championship on Saturday if he underestimates American John Ruiz. Haye fights Ruiz at the MEN Arena in Manchester in the first defence of his belt, which he won in November by beating Russian giant Nikolay Valuev. However, Harrison, who fights Michael Sprott for the vacant European title on April 9 at London’s Alexandra Palace, thinks betting favourite Haye is not in peak condition. "I watched a training session of David Haye from Sky Sports and his timing is off. He’s also carrying excess weight,” said Harrison. "I know David very well and mark my words, if he doesn't blast out Ruiz early, which is possible, then it’ll be a tough night..

“Golden Boy have also signed Ruiz, so they are in with the winner and out with the winner.

“But it's a funny old game and if it doesn't go well for David on Saturday night then who knows what the future holds for him.”

With Ukrainian Wladimir Klitschko holding the IBF, WBO and IBO belts and his brother Vitali as WBC Champion, Harrison insists Haye needs to impress American fight fans on Saturday.

But California-based Harrison maintains Haye will not be seen as a true world champion until he has defeated one of the Klitschkos.

“The heavyweight division is desperately looking for marquee names and, no disrespect to David Haye, but no one in the US is talking about David Haye,” added 38-year-old Harrison.

“They’re all talking about the Klitschkos and no one is giving David Haye any play as a world champion so the guys I want to fight are the Klitschkos.

“If you get a chance against David Haye then people will say ‘you now have to beat the Klitschkos’, so if I beat Sprott, I want the Klitschkos.

“The fight with Sprott is obviously huge for me because when I get revenge and lift the title it puts me straight in line for a shot at the world title.

“People are talking about me fighting David Haye at Wembley but, with all due respect to David, outside of the UK no one is talking about him – it’s the Klitschkos they see as the real Heavyweight Champions so dethroning one of them is what I really want.

Tickets for the Harrison v Sprott clash for the vacant European Championship at Alexandra Palace on April 9 cost £30 and £60 and are available from www.seetickets.com or 0871 230 7148.

Source: eastsideboxing.com

Roach expects Pacquiao-Mayweather Jnr fight to happen -- ESPN

ESPN.co.uk

Freddie Roach is confident Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jnr will get the chance to settle their differences in the ring.

The pair were scheduled to fight early in 2010, but it fell through on account of Mayweather Jnr's demands for Olympic-style drug testing. With the clash with Mayweather Jnr on ice, Pacquiao took on Joshua Clotttey and secured an overwhelming points victory - while Mayweather Jnr is set to fight Shane Mosley in May.

Talk continues about a meeting between Pacquiao and Mayweather Jnr and Roach is convinced the fight will happen once the latter has got past Mosley.

"Mayweather is a good fighter and I think he came up with these excuses because he was not ready for Manny," Pacquiao's trainer Roach told ESPN. "He had two years off and I think he needed more time.

"He has a fight coming up and if he beats Mosley all the rust will be gone. Then he will be sharp for a guy like Pacquiao."

Pacquiao is still smarting about the suggestions regarding steroids and Roach says his fighter has a score to settle. "We have never flunked a test," Roach said. "We are tested before and after a fight. If we were on steroids we would not pass."

Pacquiao was beaten by Erik Morales in 2005 and Roach says the Filipino blames the defeat on having to give blood for a doping test on the eve of the fight.

"Everyone knows that he blames losing the fight to Morales on that," Roach said. "He was tested the day before. When he gives blood I lose him for about three days and then he gets better.

"Mayweather is the first guy he has not liked who he has fought. He does not like Mayweather because of the attitude. Manny is clean, he was upset. But I can't let that get in the way in the fight. I can't let him fight angry. Mayweather is a good counter-puncher."

Roach claims the pair have an excellent working relationship, but is not afraid to speak his mind when the need arises.

"I don't hang out with him and go out to socialise with him," he said. "I want to keep that separation between trainer and fighter. I learned not to get too close because when I trained Virgil Hill we got too close and it affected our working relationship.

"I am the boss. I do have to put my foot down sometimes. One day they came in and were sleepy and they said they had been doing karaoke to 2am. I got the bunch together and told them all off. I told them we are in a camp and curfew is 9pm.

"Manny was quiet, he iced me for two days. But it worked itself out. I think he was more interested in who ratted him out."

Source: espn.co.uk

Serious as can be -- 15Rounds

By Bart Barry, 15Rounds.com

Keep Andre Dirrell in your prayers. What happened to him Saturday is graver than a disqualification victory. It’s about Dirrell being struck with a right uppercut on the chin and then reaching for a spot over his left eye. It’s not about a breach of sportsmanship by Arthur Abraham. It’s about Dirrell needing ice eight inches from where Abraham hit him.

It’s about Dirrell’s incoherence after the fight. It’s about his crying, “I’m hurt, man!” It’s about the way he winced and scrunched the left side of his face. It’s about an ambulance ride to the hospital for a CT scan – apparently negative, thankfully.

What a terrible way to get two points in Showtime’s Super Six World Boxing Classic.

Saturday in Detroit, American Andre Dirrell got those two points when Armenian Arthur Abraham got disqualified for an intentional foul at 1:13 of round 11. Behind by prohibitive margins on all scorecards, Abraham landed a perfect right uppercut with Dirrell on the seat of his trunks after he slipped on a Cemex Tolteca ad on the canvas.

Abraham still leads the tournament with the three points he won in October. That’s the best that can be said after his second trip to the United States from Germany, where he resides. The rest comprises the derogatory things now being thought about him in America, a country that’s still pretty important to the prizefighting world.

In some sense both men were victims of Abraham’s concussive power Saturday. Had Abraham missed with his right hand he might have stopped Dirrell in the five minutes that remained. Dirrell was fading. Had Abraham caught Dirrell with a glancing, or anyhow less-effective, punch he would have lost a point that didn’t matter anyway – à la Marco Antonio Barrera against Juan Manuel Marquez. Instead he knocked Dirrell senseless and left referee Laurence Cole no choice but to disqualify him. His record is now blemished in more than one way.

That’s nothing compared to what Abraham’s right hand may have done to Dirrell, who was on the precipice of a career-defining victory.

Gone were so many of the bad habits that had ruined Dirrell’s last fight with Carl Froch. In Saturday’s first six rounds Dirrell damn near threw a shutout against an undefeated former world champion. He threw leveraged, scientific punches, looped correctly round Abraham’s customarily high guard. He slipped punches like he wanted to counter them, not just impress his boys back home. He did almost everything the professional way.

Almost everything. There was one glaringly amateurish trait that survived Dirrell’s training camp. It happened five or six times. It was his move to the right. It was all wrong. Hands at his waist, feet crossed, chin pointed skyward, Dirrell leaped away from Abraham’s left hook. It made Abraham look ridiculous and slow. But to learned eyes, it made Dirrell look ridiculous, too.

Guess what Dirrell was doing when he slipped in the first minute of the 11th round. Dropped in the 10th from a right cross, Dirrell began the 11th wisely intending to play Keep Away. But he unwisely switched from Andre Dirrell to “The Matrix” – the kid with too much athleticism for his own good – and began to bounce back and forth, hands low. He Matrixed rightward. His right foot landed on the ‘x’ in Cemex – the sticker wet and frictionless – and his legs splayed.

That has to be the last thing Dirrell remembers from Saturday.

His hands on the canvas, Dirrell looked at Abraham’s onrushing right fist. The punch landed on the left side of his chin. Dirrell appeared disappointed, betrayed. Then the left side of his face contorted. Dirrell closed his left eye and brought his left glove to his forehead. He did not rub where he’d been struck. Rather he rubbed the place his jarred brain would have struck its protective shell. He rolled on his back. His legs began to shake involuntarily. It was ugly and frightening.

Abraham stood to the side, believing Dirrell was being theatrical – a belief he confirmed afterwards – and disbelieving he was about to lose by disqualification. What Abraham did was intentional. He deserved the result he got. But what Abraham did was not premeditated. That must be remembered.

Imagine you are Arthur Abraham. Like any man in the 31st minute of a championship prizefight, you’re more than a little buzzed from your opponent’s punches. You are desperate to sink your knuckles in the other man’s flesh. He has hit you repeatedly. He has taunted you. He has also been to the canvas minutes before. He is weakened and slowing. You have to render him unconscious or you lose.

For a half hour, he has evaded you with unorthodox moves. He drops his hands, changes levels and swoops away. You have cornered him. He struck the top of your chest with a jab after his head dropped oddly away. Now his hands are down. He is absolutely defenseless. That is a green light for you, not a red one. You throw the right hand you have cocked. You finish the defenseless man because that’s your job.

Moral judgments on Abraham need not apply here. Within the relative world of prizefighting, Abraham broke the rules and received a proper punishment. Had Dirrell been just as defenseless while standing, though – out on his feet, hands down – we’d be applauding Abraham as a great finisher for throwing that right hand.

None of this relativity helps Dirrell – a fighter about whom many things became more serious Saturday in Joe Louis Arena. If he is able to return to previous form, if subsequent tests come back negative, that is, expect the last vestiges of “The Matrix” to go away. Expect a far less playful guy in the ring. Expect a man who uses his athleticism to hurt other men. Expect some resentment at the end of those punches.

Expect that everything about Andre Dirrell just got a lot more serious.

Bart Barry can be reached via Twitter.com/bartbarry

Source: 15rounds.com

The Real Deal In Detroit: Of Cole's Conduct, And Sour Krauts -- The Sweet Science

By George Kimball, The Sweet Science

DETROIT --- Has anybody else noticed how often the bravest guys in the aftermath of these skirmishes turn out to be the non-combatants?

Or, put another way, do you suppose Anthony Dirrell knows -- or cares -- how close he came to turning the result of Saturday night’s fight at Joe Louis Arena into a double-disqualification?

Andre Dirrell was still twitching on on the canvas in the blue corner when, amid a total breakdown of security, several members of the American boxer’s posse came bounding through the ropes and across the ring. On one hand, it might be understandable that Anthony would be so alarmed that he wanted to immediately ascertain his brother’s condition, even though in doing so he was issuing an open invitation to Laurence Cole to invoke a second disqualification.

The referee at that point had yet to officially affirm his intention to DQ Arthur Abraham, and, having summoned the ringside physicians to attend to Dirrell, had his hands full trying to herd Abraham back into a neutral corner, so he may well not have even noticed. But even when another cornerman dragged Anthony Dirrell back across the ring to the red corner he remained in the ring, and occupied himself directing threats and menacing gestures toward Abraham -- who at least a couple of times looked ready to take him up on the offer.

And of course by then the ring had become total chaos, with several dozen officials and members of both entourages milling around, presumably while they waited for Cole to make up his mind.

In fairness to the referee, although he once again did not have a good night in the ring (does he ever?), his handling of the DQ appears to have been adequate. He might not have rendered his decision with the decisive authority of a Mills Lane, but the interval between the act and his ruling was marked not, as some subsequently suggested, by indecision, but rather by what seemed to be a process of deliberate contemplation to make sure it was done right. (The tape reveals that even with Dirrell still down, Cole can be heard informing Abraham of the impending disqualification.)

And, moreover, you can take this much to the bank: Had Cole’s decision been anything other than what it was, he probably never would have gotten out of the Joe alive. And neither, for that matter, might any of the rest of us seated near ringside. 
 


Abraham sounded even sillier attempting to justify the flagrant foul that cemented his first loss than he looked committing it in the first place. After the fight he tried to tell Showtime’s Jim Gray that he was watching Dirrell’s eyes and not his feet and, ergo, didn’t even realize the American was down when he almost took his head off with a right hand.

Drawn to his full height, Arthur Abraham is four inches shorter than Dirrell. Put Dirrell on the floor, with both legs tucked underneath his body, and Abraham was standing a good two feet above his target. And we’re supposed to believe he didn’t notice?

In watching the sorry -- sorry for everybody save Showtime, since between Dirrell’s performance and the controversial outcome the network will receive a huge boost from the events in Detroit -- scene unfold, one could not but recall the post-fight melee that attended Abraham’s only other previous fight in the United States.

After King Arthur knocked out Edison Miranda three years ago at the Seminole Hard Rock in Florida, one member of his posse celebrated Kristallnacht by chasing a Miranda supporter around the ring with a folding chair. Abraham’s brother Alex took the more direct route, climbing into the ring to kick Miranda, who was still on the floor, being attended to by the ringside physician. The good doctor attempted to protect the boxer by grabbing the offending foot, which is just about the time the Seminole Tribal police arrived. What they saw, of course, was one guy in the ring grappling with another’s leg, so their first reaction was to slap the cuffs on Dr. Weiss.

To the best of our knowledge American authorities still have an outstanding warrant for Alex Abraham as a result of that little affray, which is probably the only reason there was no brother-against-brother battle in the ring at the Joe Saturday night.

Cole, as we have noted, didn’t exactly color himself with glory with his performance in the Dirrell-Abraham bout, but he didn’t even come close to committing the worst transgression of the evening by a ringside official. For that, Dr. Hisham Ahmed can stand up and take a bow.

By the ninth round the cut Abraham had sustained in the seventh was bleeding copiously enough that Cole called time and led the German over to be examined by the ringside physician -- and the operative word here is, or is supposed to be, examined.

Since the episode took place on the opposite side of the ring from our position we hadn’t paid much attention at the time, but the tape of the sequence shows that Dr. Ahmed pulled out a square of gauze and proceeded to apply pressure to Abraham’s wound for an unbroken period of 40 seconds, by which time it had been stanched to a trickle.

In this action, it should be plain enough that he overstepped the bounds of a ringside physician’s duties and was functioning as Abraham’s de facto cut man. Even when his colleague, Dr. Peter Samet, joined Ahmed on the apron he made no attempt to discourage him from this process, which served to revive Abraham.

Cole? Well, there’s no rule against a referee greeting his introduction by Jimmy Lennon Jr. by striking a favored pose recalled from his youth. (In this case, it was Elvis, from an early scene in “King Creole.”) But when it comes to ruling on low blows, isn’t the referee supposed to make those decisions himself? (Early in the sixth, Dirrell delivered a borderline, belt-high shot to the midsection, and Abraham reacted with a swoon. Although the referee, who was behind the fighters, couldn’t possibly have gauged whether it was low or not, and in fact did not seem to have considered it noteworthy when it happened, he opted to take Abraham’s word for it and, after the fact, called time.)

Add to that what was a blown knockdown call in the tenth. (Cole apparently claimed that the fighters got their feet tangled up as Abraham floored Dirrell. The replay seemed to show that there may have been slight contact between the shoes, but it had absolutely no bearing on Dirrell going down from what was plainly a punch.

Did Cole, as has been suggested, initially attempt to pick up a count after the flagrant foul that ended the fight? Having watched the replay over and over, we don’t think so. The referee did make one reflexive downward motion with his arm just after the impact, but in this case, he appears to have had his wits about him.

What could be interesting now will be the report on the proceedings the referee delivers to the Michigan Commission and to the WBC (who had sanctioned Dirrell-Abraham as a title eliminator). If Abraham’s actions are deemed sufficiently flagrant and premeditated, it remains possible that he could not only be fined but could wind up with a significant suspension as well. (And who is to say which would last longer -- an Abraham suspension, or the medically-mandated interval Dirrell is obliged to sit out in the wake of a devastating, if illegal, knockout?

(After promoter Wilfried Sauerland added his accusation that Direll was "trying to sneak out of a fight" to Abraham's contention that Dirrell is "an actor, not a boxer," Gary Shaw responded by calling Sauerland a "sourpuss."

Didn't he mean sauer Kraut?

One more question here: Is, or was, Abraham engaged in some sort of image makeover going into this fight? When he came into the ring against Miranda three years ago, there were dozens of German flags around the arena, and the bout was immediately preceded by a stirring rendition of the Hitler-era national anthem, “Deutschland Uber Alles.” In Detroit Saturday night there was no anthem, no German flags, but tricolored Armenian banners were visible in great profusion throughout the audience.

Just wondering: Was that Abraham’s idea? Or Showtime’s?

Source: thesweetscience.com

Odds favour quick win to David Tua -- Stuff

By DUNCAN JOHNSTONE, Stuff.co.nz

The bookmakers haven't been swayed by Friday Ahunanya's big talk with the TAB heavily favouring a David Tua victory in their heavyweight clash - most likely by knockout.

Ahunanya has spoken loudly and proudly about his durability to handle the distance but also his belief that he will become the first boxer to knock out Tua.

But the TAB see neither happening in Wednesday night's fight in west Auckland that is scheduled for 12 rounds.

They have Tua at short odds to win, paying $1.12 against $5.25 for the Las Vegas-based Nigerian.

And a Tua knockout pays just $1.20 compared to Ahunanya winning by a shortcut.

A Tua win by decision is at $5.540 with Ahunanya paying $7 if the fight goes the distance and he wins.

What's more the bookies see the fight finishing early as in the same way Tua demolished Shane Cameron last October.

A knockout victory to Tua in rounds one or two is playing $6 with $8 on offer for rounds three and four.

Ahunanya is paying $60 for a knockout in any of the 12 rounds.

Tua has a history of getting the job done quickly. He has won 50 of his 54 fights, 43 of them by knockout.

Ahunanya has fought 32 times with 13 of his 24 wins coming via knockouts.

He has suffered a TKO loss to Lance Whittaker in 2004, a defeat that started a poor stretch over two years where he lost four fights and drew another.

The west Auckland bout will be refereed by respected Australian Garry Dean and is being broadcast by Maori Television.

American Colonel Bob Sheridan, a regular visitor to New Zealand's biggest fights, will be the main TV commentator.

Source: stuff.co.nz

The Return of Mike Tyson: What Will it Mean for Boxing? -- Ringside Report

By Joe Wilson, RingsideReport.com

For the last several years, the heavyweight division has taken a back seat in the sport of boxing. In my lifetime, I don’t ever remember the division being in the shape it’s in today. It has clearly gone on vacation. Many fight fans are puzzled about what’s happening to the heavyweights.

There has not been a good heavyweight fight since World Heavyweight Champion Lennox Lewis stopped Vitali Klitschko in round six, after a bad cut to Klitschko’s left eye. That fight was very exciting. All three judges had Klitschko ahead before the stoppage. Those two fighters battled it out in the center of the ring.

Lennox Lewis retired shortly after that fight; that was June 21, 2003. Since then, there has been other heavyweight fights, but none of them really worth talking about. Maybe, the 2004 WBO heavyweight title fight, when Lamon Brewster knocked out Wladimir Klitschko in round six, after coming off the canvas himself in round two from a knockdown. Klitschko later won a rematch against Brewster.

Here recently there have been rumors of a Mike Tyson comeback. RSR’s very own, Managing Editor, Geno McGahee, launched a story on Tyson’s return that was picked up by several major Sports News Medias; USA Today, Detroit Free Press, Fox News and ESPN 2 to name a few.

RSR thanked other publications for their professionalism. However, it was shame on Brian Kenny and Dan Rafael for the way they handled the report on ESPN 2 Friday Nights Fights a couple weeks ago. They misrepresented the story published on RSR, claiming to have investigated the story when in fact based their entire report on speculations and one interview were the subject said very little, according to McGahee.

Back on October 31, 2009, Don King let the “cat out of the bag” when he made it known to everyone that his relationship with “Iron Man” Mike Tyson has been renewed. King had a scheduled boxing event at Treasure Island Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. Before the start of the event King put on a “marketing extravaganza” with Mike Tyson.

King traveled all through the casino with Tyson at his side; shouting, “He’s back, Mike Tyson everybody, he’s back,” over and over again. They both stopped in the main lobby of the hotel & casino. There was an entourage with people following all around them flashing cameras and getting autographs.

That was the evening Don King started to promote Mike Tyson all over again. I had never seen King look so excited. He acted, as if Tyson was 20 years old, all over again. I must admit at that moment, it looked really nice. After all these years and setbacks of Mike Tyson, he and King could still attract attention. People were watching!

That night King had Tyson as a surprise commentator for his Showtime telecast. Not long ago Tyson released a documentary of his life. He had very harsh words to say about Don King, but that night it was much love between the two. Both Tyson and King acted as if there has never been a falling out between them.

It’s on record of Tyson saying “all things pass and he felt it was time to just mend fences with Don.” As of late, he has taken on a much kinder and gentler approach when dealing with others. He says “he has gratitude in his life now, and that he’s taken so much from others, and now it’s time to start giving back.” Tyson says “he never thought he would live to see 43 yrs. old, and he just wants to give back.”

King said, “He never said anything bad about Mike Tyson after all those years, because he knew one day, they would be back together again.” “Reunited and it feels so good” sings King… It had been four years since Don King put on a boxing event in Las Vegas. Having Tyson at his side is what made the evening so great!

“I think Mike is one of the greatest fighters that ever lived,” said King. He also feels that Tyson can still be a fighter if he wants to be one. Any time Don King start saying things like, “Mike needs vitamins; he needs tender loving care, dedication and discipline.” There are definitely plans for Mike Tyson’s return to the ring.

I agree with Managing Editor, Geno McGahee in regards to the five years Tyson has had away from boxing. Being away from the sport has allowed him to put a lot of things back in proper order. He seems to be focused.

Lately, Tyson seems to be very comfortable with himself. Anyone who has watched Mike fight during the prime of his career knows he can beat anybody who stands in front of him when he’s focused. He seems to have his head “screwed on pretty tight these days.” All he needs to do is get in top shape and spend time at the gym. Then, leave all the rest up to his promoter Don King.

The return of “Iron Man” Mike Tyson would be just the cylinder the heavyweight division needs. I don’t believe age would be a big factor, if he decides to come back. Tyson knows the dedication it will take to become champion again. George Foreman has definitely laid out the blueprint on how it can be done, even when you are past your prime.

There is a flip side to this coin and that is; Mike Tyson has to comeback, because Mike Tyson has that desire to fight again, not me or Don King or anyone else can place that in him. It totally has to be Mike. If he chooses to do so, the sport would gladly have him back!

Source: ringsidereport.com

David Tua working on more weapons -- Stuff

By DUNCAN JOHNSTONE, Stuff.co.nz

David Tua's trademark is a devastating left hook but trainer Roger Bloodworth promises the Kiwi heavyweight will bring far more than that to the ring for Wednesday night's clash with Friday Ahunanya.

The highly respected corner man says much of the past two months training has been spent on developing Tua into a multi-dimensional fighter.

Bloodworth says that if Tua is indeed to be a world title contender he needs to show more than he has in the past.

Tua showed glimpses of his new right hand power in his demolition of Shane Cameron last October and plenty of work has gone into progressing that.

"We have been working on his right hand. You are going to see a much more rounded boxer in David. He has to be, that's vital for his future. It's not just about the left hook any more," Bloodworth said.

"He still has his style ... it's always there if he needs a left hook. But the thing to do is to add more weapons."

Ahunanya's reputation for durability means Tua will need an array of weapons over the scheduled 12 rounds at the Trusts Stadium in west Auckland.

Bloodworth wants a win any which way but there appears to be a desire to see Tua tested more than he was by the severely outclassed Cameron.

Having been idle for two years before the Cameron fight, getting in a few rounds of competitive boxing wouldn't do Tua any harm – providing he can still come away with a victory so essential to his future.

Bloodworth, the experienced American, has no doubt Ahunanya is a worthy opponent who should provide a far sterner test than Cameron.

"Given the way the last fight went I think it will be a tougher challenge," Bloodworth said in reference to the stunning second round knockout Tua produced in his comeback appearance.

"Friday has been with some good fighters and he has never been stopped. That indicates that it might be a long night."

Ahunanya, a big Nigerian who looks in very good shape, has vowed to box clever. He has the respect of the Tua camp.

"We don't know what he will bring. There are only three things he can do – he can box, he can slug or he can run. We prepare for all three things and adjust round by round when we see what he brings," Bloodworth says.

The weigh-in is at Auckland's Sky City tomorrow at noon.

Source: stuff.co.nz

Beat Wlad or Vitali to be the best -- The Sun

By GAVIN GLICKSMAN, The Sun

CARL FROCH fears David Haye will not get the respect he deserves — unless he destroys the Klitschko brothers' domination of the heavyweight division.

Between them, Ukrainian duo Vitali and Wladimir hold the WBC, IBO, IBF and WBO titles.

Haye won the WBA crown by slaying Nikolai Valuev with a classy hit-and-hide performance in Germany last November.

But the Londoner's display barely registered with fight fans in America.

And Froch insists the nature of boxing means he will not be recognised as the 'true' heavyweight champion if he fails to add the scalp of a Klitschko to his record.

The Cobra said: "Boxing's very fickle, so until he fights a Klitschko, they'll always be regarded as the best.

"Until he beats Wladimir or Vitali, he probably won't get the worldwide recognition he deserves.

"But David's confident he can beat either of them — and I'm behind on him on that.

"I think he'll knock one of them out, then he'll get the respect he deserves.

"It's hard to get recognition in boxing, as I know only too well, but it's coming for both me and David."

Haye, 29, defends his title for the first time against John Ruiz in Manchester on Saturday night.

And Froch is confident the Hayemaker will move closer to a crack at the Klitschkos by stopping the veteran American.

He added: "I think David will outbox him and pull out a stoppage.

"Ruiz is a tough guy, but David's also tough and strong. He's in the peak of his career, he's ambitious and he's fast.

"He goes about his work in the right way and I'll think he'll get Ruiz out of there."

Source: thesun.co.uk

Is WADA HGH blood test really reliable?

Boxing News World

Mr. Patrick C. English who is ‘an attorney with the firm of Dines and English, L.L.C. and has handled numerous matters involving drug testing and drug testing protocols, both on behalf of athletes as well as defending testing protocols’ recently wrote a brilliant piece about drug testing on SecondsOut.com.

His well-researched article confirmed my belief that WADA’s current Human Growth Hormones or HGH test is far from reliable and that WADA’s people are not after HGH-free boxing, but after money.

Floyd Mayweather Jr’s demand for an Olympic-style random testing was exactly what these white knights had been waiting for. It gave them the chance to infiltrate boxing, riding on Mayweather’s popularity and his malicious notion that if someone does not want to get tested (translation: if someone does not want WADA’s business), he must be doping.

The truth of the matter is that the potential market in the sport is just too good for them to ignore.

Mr. English’s article presented three strong facts behind WADA HGH testing.

1. That “the best experts in the field REPORT that THERE IS NO GOOD TEST FOR HGH”.

This is a solid fact that WADA cannot deny and should not lie about. On its website, WADA states that:

“The current (HGH) test is reliable.

"Another test, in its final development stage, will be combined with the current test to further enhance the detection window for HGH abuse.

"The concepts and development of both HGH tests have been systematically reviewed by international independent experts in such fields as HGH, endocrinology, immunoassay, analytical chemistry, etc. In addition, these tests are the outcome of nearly US$6 million in research over the course of more than 10 years.

"Research was initiated by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the European Union, and then taken over by WADA when it was created and had adopted scientific research as one of its priority activities.”

These statements are half true and deceitful. While the 2nd to 4th paragraphs probably hold certain truth, the first simply does not. WADA HGH test is and has been proven unreliable by statistics since its first application in the 2004 Athens Olympics.

American testing engineer Dr. Don H. Catlin, director of the non-profit Anti-Doping Research laboratory and, according to Mr. English, the ‘head of the UCLA Olympic Analytical Lab and for many years one of the most knowledgeable experts in the area - possibly the most knowledgeable’ mentioned that WADA HGH test is, not only impractical, but “simply not a useful test, no matter how you cut it or spin it.” Catlin also said that “he hasn't seen "any scientific discussion" on (WADA’s) blood scan's disputed reliability, only "warfare" rhetoric exchanged through media, pitting anti-doping officials against administrators of sports and unions”.

I see Dr. Catlin’s point. The single positive result on British rugby player Terry Newton announced on February 22 should not be taken as a proof of WADA test’s validity and reliability. We have to take into consideration the fact that 1,500 tests has been conducted but only one came back positive despite the strong supposition that HGH use by Olympic and professional athletes is rampant.

2. That WADA HGH test’s scientific validity is hard to prove in court.

Mr. English wrote:

“Dr. Peter Sonksen, a pioneer in the field of HGH testing, says “there’s very little new [data verifying the WADA test], and I think it would be quite easy for a lawyer to draw “cart and horses through it in Court.” This charge is echoed by epidemiologist Dr. Charles E. Yesalis of Penn State, who contends that the scientific data to back the testing protocols is insufficient to the point of being “almost criminal.”

Dr. Sonksen said this clearly and simple - “I think there’s a certain fear amongst the, ah, [WADA] politicians that if it comes to a case in court, they won’t win it.”

The weakness of WADA test's scientific validity is attributed to the fact that it has not displayed the “specifics” of its testing method.

3. That WADA test is slow.

Mr. English cited an example of one Olympic athlete who gave a urine sample but was notified of a failed test three weeks after. We can just imagine the mess it would bring if say Floyd Mayweather and Shane Mosley blood samples were taken a day before their fight and then a positive result was found after the match was long over.

Again, I am neither an advocate nor an ally of dopers and cheaters. I believe that it is important to have a drug-free boxing. However, it is equally important to make sure that drug testing is trustworthy and useful so that no boxer’s career is compromised and not a single penny is put to waste.

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

Ref Cole should've given big baby Dirrell swift kick in Detroit debacle -- The Examiner

By Michael Marley, Examiner.com

It's not Sauer grapes for German promoter Wilfried Sauerland to complain about Andre Dirrell's terrible acting job, all that moaning and groaning and writhing on the canvas after getting hit right in the mouth by Arthur Abraham in Detroit.

"After a slow start, Arthur was finally landing his power punches. He clearly knocked Dirrell down in the 10th, and was following it up in the 11th. There is no way Dirrell would have seen the end of the 12th round," said Sauerland.

"The TV pictures indicate that Dirrell was down, but there is no way Arthur could have realized that in the heat of the moment. He was just trying to keep up the attack. However, Dirrell is a very good actor," said Sauerland. "We are glad that his check-up at the hospital turned out just fine, but frankly we did not expect any other outcome since he was just acting. He deserves an Oscar for his performance."

Here's the weak counterargument from Big Gary Shaw:

“Sauerland is a sourpuss. Is he Abraham’s promoter or minister of propaganda?” asked Gary Shaw, Dirrell’s promoter. “Maybe Abraham is used to having his partners fake it, but thanks to SHOWTIME, the world witnessed not just Abraham’s heinous act, but a multitude of replays from every angle showing that Abraham was looking at Andre while he was down on the canvas before deliberately unleashing his illegal blow. As far as I’m concerned, Abraham is a coward and his promoter is an enabler. It was a desperate act by a desperate man.”

Sourpuss, sour pickle, sauerkraut...what's the difference when you can have braunschweiger, my friends?

I agree 100 percent with Herr Wilfried. But the only "Oscar" Dirrell should get is an Oscar Meyer weiner for his hot dog routine.

Maybe that was a "fake" brain scan they gave Dirrell during a three hour hospital stay. According to the suspicious Sauerland, doctors should have been testing the Flint resident for streoid use rather than checking out his brain.

So what if Abraham's "KO punch" came when Dirrell, having slipped, was on his knees? I mean, doesn't the referee always tell boxers to protect themselves at all times?

Sauerland is no sore loser here, no way.

He's making the valid point that one fighter should be allowed to whack an opponent as long as the foe is actually somewhere inside the ring.

Not even Sauerland would (I don't think) countenance one boxer hitting a foe while said foe is laying outside the ropes on the ring apron or taking a nap in the press section.

Shame, shame, shame on Dirrell.

He never called for a time out.

I see Sauerland's point.

If it was a show in Germany, the referee would have joined in, given Dirrell a swfit kick or something after Abraham's illegal but effective punch.

I'm not kidding. I saw a Spanish referee lift one of Sauerland's fighters off the canvas and carry him back to his corner to avoid a KO loss one time.

Now, that's what I call solid refereeing and beneficial for the home promoter as well.

What the hell was Laurence Cole, the ref in Detroit, doing swiftly calling Dirrell a winner by DQ?

What he should've done was to have cracked the kneeling Dirrell with a left hook right after Abraham landed his best single blow in 11 rounds, a right to the jaw.

That phoney baloney I'm in pain, he fouled me routine Dirrell went into to...well, what do you expect from a fighter who was well ahead on all three scorecards and could have only lost by a clean KO?

Clearly, being ahead as much as seven points on one scorecard, Dirrell was a desperate fighter when he went into his artificial swan dive to the floor.

This scandal requires immediate attention.

Again, all this could've been averted had lazy ref Cole given Dirrell a timely kick in the family jewels.

That would've made Dirrell, this terrible thespian, know what real pain feels like.

And where's the Michigan boxing commission?

Who will now bring their fighters to this state where you can't even get a victory just because you clobber a man who is already on the canvas?

Only the ring is square?

Not in Michigan, where Abraham's awesome punch was somehow branded a dirty deed.

Mr. Sauerland, let me know where I may sign your petition.

Only sissies win on fouls and only babies want the rules applied in world title bouts.

Sauerland takes real talk, real sense.

It's Big Gary Shaw who is the bloviating blowhard.

He even hugged Dirrell when the fighter finally got to his feet.

This is boxing, Shawtime, we've got no time for hugging and crying.

I'm betting Mr. McMahon will reverse Cole's donkey dumb ruling in a heartbeat.

As for "Matrix" Dirrell, many a tear has to fall but it's all in the game.

Next time you might try to man up instead of being such a weeping willow.

If you had never slipped, Andre, you couldn't have been hit while you were down. You put yourself in this precarious position, son, with sloppy footwork.

Even Jim Gray on Showtime did not mention that.

But, no worry, Sauerland's big broom will clean up this mess and pronto.

Rules you say? Don't talk to me about rules.

Rules are merely meant to be guidelines. Rules are for fools.

(mlcmarley@aol.com)

Source: examiner.com

Sauerland To File Protest: "Abraham Would Have KO'd Dirrell" -- Eastside Boxing

Eastside Boxing

DETROIT (March 28, 2010) — Wilfried Sauerland has no doubts that Super Six World Boxing Classic tournament point leader King Arthur Abraham would have knocked Andre Dirrell out had it not been for his controversial disqualification in the 11th round. “After a slow start, Arthur was finally landing his power punches,” Sauerland said. “He clearly knocked Dirrell down in the tenth and was following it up in the 11th. There is no way Dirrell would have seen the end of the 12th round..”

After reviewing the tape, Sauerland stated that a clearly exhausted Dirrell seized his chance to sneak out of the fight when the chance presented itself, especially with Abraham upping pressure before the controversial ending. “The TV pictures indicate that Dirrell was down, but there is no way Arthur could have realized that in the heat of the moment. He was just trying to keep up the attack. However, Dirrell is a very good actor. We are glad that his check-up at the hospital turned out just fine but frankly we did not expect any other outcome since he was just acting. He deserves an Oscar for his performance.”

The 26-year-old American was taken to hospital after the fight. “I wish him all the best and hope he is fine,” Abraham said. “I thought I could still punch because the referee did not stop us. In the heat of the moment I was not watching his feet but only his head. As a professional boxer, you always try and make pressure.”

Abraham said it was a very competitive fight. “I am a slow starter,” he added. “That is how I fight. But I picked up in the later rounds and connected.” Abraham was knocked down for the first time his career in the fourth but returned the favour in the tenth when he floored Dirrell, although no knock-down was credited.

Team Sauerland will officially protest the verdict.

Source: eastsideboxing.com

Abraham: stupid, Dirrell: a disgrace -- BoxingNews24

By Matt Flanagan, BoxingNews24.com

The latest Super 6 bout ended in controversy last night when Arthur Abraham was disqualified for landing an illegal shot on Andre Dirrell. At the time the fight was on a knife-edge – Dirrell ahead on points with Abraham coming on strong looking for the knockout.

Going into the fight, I had contradicting thoughts about Dirrell. He is clearly talented, with his speed and his technical ability. The big question mark that hangs over him is his courage in the ring. Against Carl Froch – his lack of courage clearly cost him the fight. Had he gone to Nottingham to fight, then he most probably would have won. As it happened, he ran, clinched and faked slips every time Froch got near him and left the arena with his first defeat.

Last nights fight did nothing to change my thoughts as Dirrell showed himself at his best and worst.

Firstly let me say that Dirrell boxed very well, and was very effective at neutralizing the dangerous Abraham. He worked his jab, threw combinations and his movement prevented Abraham pinning him down and unloading.

As the fight wore on, Abraham came more into it and began to get to Dirrell, at which point we saw the worst of the American. Knowing he was ahead on points, and fearing he was going to get knocked out, he reverted back to the cowardly tactics that lost him the fight with Froch. Each time Abraham pinned him down and didn’t allow him to run, Dirrell would force the referee to intervene and protect him by pretending to slip over or clinching with Abraham. The sweet science, is all about hitting and not being hit, but Dirrell applies this in the most cowardly way possible.

The fight ended when Abraham was disqualified for an illegal shot on Dirrell. While there is no doubt that Abraham was wrong to throw the punch, Dirrell’s reaction proved one thing – that he has very little heart and will never be considered a truly great fighter because he consistently takes the easy way out.

After he was hit, Dirrell stayed still for a couple of seconds, touched his face a couple of times and then went down and pretended to be knocked out. If I had never seen someone get knocked out, I might have believed that it was genuine however that is not the case and it was obvious that Dirrell was acting. There were a number of factors that indicated that this was not a genuine KO:

Red flag #1: It wasn’t that big a punch from Abraham

Red flag #2: After the punch had landed, Dirrell sat still for a couple of seconds – not typically the reaction of a boxer who has just taken a knock out punch

Red flag #3: Dirrell touched his face with his gloves – not typically the reaction of a boxer who has just taken a knock out punch

Red flag #4: The rate at which Dirrell went from sitting down to laying ‘knocked out’ on the canvas was very slow. He went down slower than the titanic – not typically the reaction of a boxer who has just taken a knock out punch.

Nobody will ever know how the fight would have ended. A Dirrell UD or an Abraham KO were both distinct possibilities. Abraham had already knocked Dirrell down (regardless of the referee’s ruling) and there is no doubt that he was coming on strong. Dirrell was way ahead on points.

The only conclusion we can definitely come to is that future Oscar nominee Andre Dirrell faked it and chose to take the easy option. I think after his antics last night, he will have lost the respect of a lot of people – boxers and fans alike.

Source: boxingnews24.com

Andre Dirrell acting job taints night in Detroit -- The Examiner

By T.K. Stewart, Examiner.com

Joe Louis versus Max Schmeling it was not.

This America versus Germany match-up, featuring Andre Dirrell from Flint, Michigan against Arthur Abraham from Armenia via Berlin, Germany was nothing like the night Louis and Schmeling met in 1938 at New York's Yankee Stadium.

On that night, Louis a.k.a. "The Brown Bomber" so decisively triumphed over Nazi Germany's Max Schmeling, in less than a round, that it made everyone proud to be American.

Last night at Detroit's near empty Joe Louis Arena, Dirrell was far ahead on the official judges scorecards after 10 completed rounds. He had put on a solid display of boxing against a relatively passive Arthur Abraham and was leading by tallies of 97-92, 97-92 and 98-91. I had him ahead 97-91.

But in the 11th round, Dirrell, 19-1 (13)KO, appeared to slip to the floor on the wet ring canvas. As he did Abraham lightly clipped him with a right hand to the head. Dirrell seemed to have his wits about him, even raised his hand to his head in shock, made a face - and then simply fell over to the floor in mock pain and agony.

Texas referee Laurence Cole went for the bait - hook, line and sinker and he immediately disqualified Abraham for the late hit.

Dirrell, who to me seems a bit light on guts, had found his way out of a fight he was winning handily and is thus able to continue on, albeit indecisively, in the Showtime network's Super Six World Boxing Classic 168-pound tournament.

"I got dropped man! He hit me when I was down!" was all that Dirrell was able to whine once the fight had been called off, he was out of harm's way and the decision in his favor announced.

Abraham, who suffered his first career loss after having been knocked down in the fourth round, lost his perfect record and falls to 31-1 (25)KO. He was extremely disappointed with the result and seemed to sense that Dirrell's animated display of pain was a total farce.

"I did not see that he was down," said Abraham. "This can't be a disqualification. I shouldn't have been disqualified for this."

Abraham seemed to be surging as he had won the 10th round on my scorecard. He was giving Dirrell a good going over in the 11th before his night was cut short by the thespian Dirrell, who, with some acting lessons, may have a potential career in Hollywood.

"I did not see that he was down," said Abraham in his own defense. "He's a good actor, he's a good actor."

Expect that Abraham's promoter, Wilfried Sauerland, will aggressively rail against the disqualification loss. Abraham is one of the crown jewels of his promotional empire and to have his man's reputation and record tarnished in this manner will not sit well with him.

Nor should it.

The boxing ring is no place for actors - especially ones as putrid as Andre Dirrell.

E-mail: tkstewartboxing@gmail.com

Source: examiner.com