By Lem Satterfield, FanHouse
WBC welterweight (147 pounds) champion, Andre Berto, of Winter Haven, Fla., was fighting the toughest fight of his life, mentally, physically, and, emotionally, on Saturday night before his partisan fans at at the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise, Fla.
Not only was the 26-year-old Berto facing his most difficult opponent in 33-year-old, southpaw former world champion, Carlos Quintana, of Puerto Rico, but the Haitian-American was doing so with a heavy heart -- this, in a clash that ended an 11-month ring absence during which eight of Berto's family members were killed in the mid-January earthquake that rocked Haiti.
In addition, to that, Berto had to overcome a second-round tear in his left bicep against Quintana, who was looking for his third straight knockout in as many consecutive victories.
"I think I tore it [bicep] probably in the second round. Second or third round. I felt it, and every time that I threw it, I could feel it," said Berto, who donated proceeds from Saturday night's show to his continued efforts toward Hatian disaster relief.
"I could feel that I had hurt it pretty badly, so I just tried to stay strong," said Berto. "Just working my way through it. I was feeling pretty rusty like I said. But we have the heart of a lion, so I just finished it off."
Berto did just that in the eighth round, where an early, left-right combination began a barrage of blows against Quintana that prompted refree Tommy Kimmons to wrap his arms around the beaten fighter signaling the end of the fight at 2:16 of the round.
"I knew that I had hurt him a couple of times during the fight, and I didn't want him to get off of the hook. But I had hurt my bicep, like I said, and I wanted to try to finish the fight as soon as I could," said Berto. "You know, because with each round, it felt like it was getting worse, and worse, and worse. So I just wanted to finish the fight, and to finish it in impressive fashion."
In victory, Berto rose to 26-0, with his 20th knockout, as Quintana slipped to 27-3, with 21 KOs after the HBO- televised bout.
Berto had emersed himself in the cause of Haiti, devoting much of his attention toward saving lives and generally lifting the will and the well-being of those who dwell there.
"I've definitely been missing it. As you can see, I'm still a little rusty. But we had to get back in here. You know, we've been working hard. Just like I said, we went through a lot these last few months in my personal life," said Berto. "But you know, the people there in Haiti are strong, so you know, I'm going to make sure to stay in this ring strong for them."
In Quintana, Berto defeated the only man to have vanquished three-time world champion, Paul Williams (38-1, 27 KOs), as
well as a fighter who is coming off of December's junior middleweight (154 pounds), third-round, technical knockout of Jesse Feliciano (15-8-3, nine KOs), of Las Vegas.
Quintana had dethroned Williams as WBO welterweight titlist in February 2008, but was knocked out in the first round of their rematch four months later. Quintana rebounded from that setback with October's fourth-round stoppage of Joshua Onyango, which was also contested at 154 pounds.
"Quintana's a former world champion. He's well experienced. So he knows all of the little tactics. So he hit me in the back of the head pretty hard. But we got up and we finished the fight. So it's all good," said Berto of Quintana, the third straight southpaw he has faced.
"As soon as I really started to let the pain in my body just numb away, I just took it out of my mind and tried to get back to business. By like the fifth or sixth round, I felt like I was getting back into my groove a little bit. I started to land some effective punches."
In the wake of the tradgedy which killed as many as eight of Berto's relatives, the distraught fighter had pulled out of a scheduled Jan. 30 bout with 38-year-old, WBA welterweight super champion, Shane Mosley (46-5, 39 KOs), who will now face 32-year-old, unbeaten, Floyd Mayweather (40-0, 25 KOs) on May 1.
Berto said that he will now look to face the Mayweather-Mosley winner, or, perhaps WBO welterweight king, Manny Pacquiao (51-3-2, 38 KOs), who is coming off of last month's unanimous decision over Joshua Clottey.
"I have a lot of things to choose from. Stilt, I'm willing to wait. All of those guys -- Shane Mosley, Floyd Mayweather, they've got a fight coming up. You know, Manny Pacquiao looks like he might be free," said Berto.
"Any of the top guys, I'm just ready to just get back in there and stay busy," said Berto. "I've been off for 11 months, and I'm just ready to get back in there. I'm 26 years old, and I'm still young, baby, so we're going to just keep pushing and to keep working hard."
Source: boxing.fanhouse.com
Sunday 11 April 2010
Berto successful in fight for cause -- ESPN
By Dan Rafael, ESPN.com
SUNRISE, Fla. -- Andre Berto's life has changed quite a bit in the 11 months since his last fight, a lopsided decision against Juan Urango.
Since then, Berto prepared to fight the biggest bout of his career against fellow welterweight titleholder Shane Mosley on Jan. 30. And then Berto endured the life-changing event that forced that fight to be called off less than two days ahead of time: the devastating 7.0 earthquake that rocked Haiti, the Caribbean island nation where his parents are from and where he has many family members.
Eight members of Berto's family were killed in the disaster that claimed more than 200,000. His sister and niece were missing for days before being located.
After Berto and his brother, Cleveland, went to Haiti on a relief mission, working among the dead and dying to do what they could, Berto vowed to do whatever he could to keep attention on his ravaged homeland.
That brings us to Saturday night, when Berto knocked out former titleholder Carlos Quintana in the eighth round to retain his title in the main event of a card dubbed "Fighting for Haiti."
"I was looking forward to getting back in there and getting this fight out of the way," Berto said. "I know I was rusty. But I was ready to get in there."
Berto did what he could to focus attention on the island, which many have forgotten in the months since the disaster. Berto and promoter Lou DiBella promised to donate a percentage of the gate receipts to Berto's Dynasty Foundation to help the earthquake relief effort.
It is a noble cause. Unfortunately, there probably won't be a lot of money because the crowd was sparse. The attendance was not announced, for obvious reasons, but there couldn't have been more than 3,000 or so in the cavernous BankAtlantic Center.
But those who showed up were into the fight and watched Berto (26-0, 20 KOs), albeit rusty, do his thing in retaining his 147-pound title for the fourth time.
"The kid went through hell with what happened," DiBella said. "You gotta give the kid some credit. He really sucked it up. He was fully trained to fight Shane and then he went through a personal tragedy and then came back for this fight. I thought he showed a lot of character.
"Now we want Manny Pacquiao. Whenever Manny wants to fight us, we are ready."
Although Berto, 26, was rusty and took a few rounds to get rolling, he did so under tough circumstances. He said in the first or second round he injured his left biceps.
"I think I tore it or pulled it," said Berto, who wrapped himself in the Haitian flag. "I really wanted to throw the left hooks to the body and I could feel it. I think he knew my biceps was hurt and he tried to take advantage of it."
Puerto Rico's Quintana (27-3, 21 KOs), 33, however, couldn't take advantage. Although he rocked Berto in the second round with a left hand, Berto was clearly the physically stronger man.
It was only a matter of time until that strength took over.
In the third round, Berto righted himself and unloaded a flurry on Quintana, who was laying on the ropes. Adding to Berto's advantage in the round was when referee Tommy Kimmons docked a point from Quintana for hitting Berto behind the head after having previously warning him for the foul.
Round after round, Berto was slowly breaking Quintana down. A right hand here, a left hook there. Quintana felt them.
In the eighth round, Berto, injury be damned, took it to Quintana. He was teeing off on Quintana and Kimmons was looking closely, ready to stop it at any moment as Quintana was being rocked.
Berto hammered a stumbling Quintana around the ring. He was trying to hold Berto but he would have none of it. He separated himself and unleashed a straight right hand that snapped Quintana's head back, forcing Kimmons to step in and stop it at 2 minutes, 16 seconds.
"He took some savage shots at the end," said DiBella, who also promotes Quintana. "But he's a man's man. He did the best he could. He has nothing to be ashamed of."
"I knew he was hurt and as soon as I hurt him I wanted to finish him as soon as possible," Berto said. "He didn't hurt me at all and that knockout was pretty vicious. And you have to look at it like I've been off a long time. I'll get better from here."
DiBella has promoted Berto for his entire career and was proud of him.
"He hasn't fought in 11 months and he put a lot of pressure on himself for this fight," DiBella said. "It took him a few rounds before he loosened up and he came into his own in the last couple of rounds. He can't stay out 11 months again. He's a young welterweight and he needs to fight.
"I thought he was tight for a couple of rounds and I was a little worried after he grabbed the biceps. Despite the injury, Andre sucked it up and did what he had to do."
Berto was happy with the win, relieved to get back in the ring and still focused on Haiti.
"I went through a lot," Berto said. "The people of Haiti did too. They are strong and I was glad to do what I could. I'm holding up this [Haitian] flag and giving any type of support I could."
Dan Rafael is the boxing writer for ESPN.com.
Source: sports.espn.go.com
SUNRISE, Fla. -- Andre Berto's life has changed quite a bit in the 11 months since his last fight, a lopsided decision against Juan Urango.
Since then, Berto prepared to fight the biggest bout of his career against fellow welterweight titleholder Shane Mosley on Jan. 30. And then Berto endured the life-changing event that forced that fight to be called off less than two days ahead of time: the devastating 7.0 earthquake that rocked Haiti, the Caribbean island nation where his parents are from and where he has many family members.
Eight members of Berto's family were killed in the disaster that claimed more than 200,000. His sister and niece were missing for days before being located.
After Berto and his brother, Cleveland, went to Haiti on a relief mission, working among the dead and dying to do what they could, Berto vowed to do whatever he could to keep attention on his ravaged homeland.
That brings us to Saturday night, when Berto knocked out former titleholder Carlos Quintana in the eighth round to retain his title in the main event of a card dubbed "Fighting for Haiti."
"I was looking forward to getting back in there and getting this fight out of the way," Berto said. "I know I was rusty. But I was ready to get in there."
Berto did what he could to focus attention on the island, which many have forgotten in the months since the disaster. Berto and promoter Lou DiBella promised to donate a percentage of the gate receipts to Berto's Dynasty Foundation to help the earthquake relief effort.
It is a noble cause. Unfortunately, there probably won't be a lot of money because the crowd was sparse. The attendance was not announced, for obvious reasons, but there couldn't have been more than 3,000 or so in the cavernous BankAtlantic Center.
But those who showed up were into the fight and watched Berto (26-0, 20 KOs), albeit rusty, do his thing in retaining his 147-pound title for the fourth time.
"The kid went through hell with what happened," DiBella said. "You gotta give the kid some credit. He really sucked it up. He was fully trained to fight Shane and then he went through a personal tragedy and then came back for this fight. I thought he showed a lot of character.
"Now we want Manny Pacquiao. Whenever Manny wants to fight us, we are ready."
Although Berto, 26, was rusty and took a few rounds to get rolling, he did so under tough circumstances. He said in the first or second round he injured his left biceps.
"I think I tore it or pulled it," said Berto, who wrapped himself in the Haitian flag. "I really wanted to throw the left hooks to the body and I could feel it. I think he knew my biceps was hurt and he tried to take advantage of it."
Puerto Rico's Quintana (27-3, 21 KOs), 33, however, couldn't take advantage. Although he rocked Berto in the second round with a left hand, Berto was clearly the physically stronger man.
It was only a matter of time until that strength took over.
In the third round, Berto righted himself and unloaded a flurry on Quintana, who was laying on the ropes. Adding to Berto's advantage in the round was when referee Tommy Kimmons docked a point from Quintana for hitting Berto behind the head after having previously warning him for the foul.
Round after round, Berto was slowly breaking Quintana down. A right hand here, a left hook there. Quintana felt them.
In the eighth round, Berto, injury be damned, took it to Quintana. He was teeing off on Quintana and Kimmons was looking closely, ready to stop it at any moment as Quintana was being rocked.
Berto hammered a stumbling Quintana around the ring. He was trying to hold Berto but he would have none of it. He separated himself and unleashed a straight right hand that snapped Quintana's head back, forcing Kimmons to step in and stop it at 2 minutes, 16 seconds.
"He took some savage shots at the end," said DiBella, who also promotes Quintana. "But he's a man's man. He did the best he could. He has nothing to be ashamed of."
"I knew he was hurt and as soon as I hurt him I wanted to finish him as soon as possible," Berto said. "He didn't hurt me at all and that knockout was pretty vicious. And you have to look at it like I've been off a long time. I'll get better from here."
DiBella has promoted Berto for his entire career and was proud of him.
"He hasn't fought in 11 months and he put a lot of pressure on himself for this fight," DiBella said. "It took him a few rounds before he loosened up and he came into his own in the last couple of rounds. He can't stay out 11 months again. He's a young welterweight and he needs to fight.
"I thought he was tight for a couple of rounds and I was a little worried after he grabbed the biceps. Despite the injury, Andre sucked it up and did what he had to do."
Berto was happy with the win, relieved to get back in the ring and still focused on Haiti.
"I went through a lot," Berto said. "The people of Haiti did too. They are strong and I was glad to do what I could. I'm holding up this [Haitian] flag and giving any type of support I could."
Dan Rafael is the boxing writer for ESPN.com.
Source: sports.espn.go.com
Berto stops Quintana in 8th to defend belt -- USA Today
By The Associated Press
SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) — Andre Berto stopped Carlos Quintana in the eighth round Saturday night to retain his WBC welterweight championship at the BankAtlantic Center.
Berto (26-0) did heavy damage from the third round through the eighth. He finally felled Quintana, a former WBO champion, with a succession of hard rights before referee Tommy Kimmons stopped the bout at the 2:16 mark.
Quintana (27-3) had Berto looking tentative in the first two rounds.
But Berto came alive in the third round and began landing combinations for the duration of the fight. He had Quintana against the ropes in the third round. In the fifth round, he rocked Quintana again, this time with a straight right.
Berto landed a couple big rights in the sixth and seventh rounds.
Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Source: usatoday.com
SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) — Andre Berto stopped Carlos Quintana in the eighth round Saturday night to retain his WBC welterweight championship at the BankAtlantic Center.
Berto (26-0) did heavy damage from the third round through the eighth. He finally felled Quintana, a former WBO champion, with a succession of hard rights before referee Tommy Kimmons stopped the bout at the 2:16 mark.
Quintana (27-3) had Berto looking tentative in the first two rounds.
But Berto came alive in the third round and began landing combinations for the duration of the fight. He had Quintana against the ropes in the third round. In the fifth round, he rocked Quintana again, this time with a straight right.
Berto landed a couple big rights in the sixth and seventh rounds.
Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Source: usatoday.com
47-year-old Holyfield scores 8th-round TKO of 41-year-old Botha -- Los Angeles Times
By Associated Press
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Evander Holyfield
stopped Frans Botha in the eighth round to win the WBF heavyweight title Saturday night.
The 47-year-old Holyfield (43-10-2) knocked the 41-year old Botha (47-5-3) down with 2:36 left in the round with a right to the left chin.
Botha beat referee Russell Mora's count, but with 2:05 left Mora stopped the fight with Botha backed into a corner. It was Holyfield's 28th career knockout.
Two judges had Botha ahead 67-66 when the fight was stopped. The other judge had it 69-64 for Holyfield, the former heavyweight champion.
There were only about 2,200 people in the stands at the Thomas & Mack Center, most rooting for Holyfield.
Holyfield briefly lost his balance, stumbling into a corner after a right from Botha with 2:04 left in the second round. After that, Holyfield started taking control.
Botha, a native South African, was warned by the referee twice in the first three rounds for hitting behind the head. Botha also was warned in the first round for a double hit to the head during a clinch.
This was Holyfield's first fight in Las Vegas since 2003, when he lost to James Tooney at Mandalay Bay.
Before Saturday Holyfield was only 10-6 in Las Vegas, including the infamous ear-biting incident against Mike Tyson in 1997, when he won by disqualification.
Source: latimes.com
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Evander Holyfield stopped Frans Botha in the eighth round to win the WBF heavyweight title Saturday night.The 47-year-old Holyfield (43-10-2) knocked the 41-year old Botha (47-5-3) down with 2:36 left in the round with a right to the left chin.
Botha beat referee Russell Mora's count, but with 2:05 left Mora stopped the fight with Botha backed into a corner. It was Holyfield's 28th career knockout.
Two judges had Botha ahead 67-66 when the fight was stopped. The other judge had it 69-64 for Holyfield, the former heavyweight champion.
There were only about 2,200 people in the stands at the Thomas & Mack Center, most rooting for Holyfield.
Holyfield briefly lost his balance, stumbling into a corner after a right from Botha with 2:04 left in the second round. After that, Holyfield started taking control.
Botha, a native South African, was warned by the referee twice in the first three rounds for hitting behind the head. Botha also was warned in the first round for a double hit to the head during a clinch.
This was Holyfield's first fight in Las Vegas since 2003, when he lost to James Tooney at Mandalay Bay.
Before Saturday Holyfield was only 10-6 in Las Vegas, including the infamous ear-biting incident against Mike Tyson in 1997, when he won by disqualification.
Source: latimes.com
Caballero handles overmatched Yordan -- ESPN
By Dan Rafael, ESPN.com
SUNRISE, Fla. -- Celestino Caballero, one of the top boxers in the world, had sought an opportunity to fight on the big stage of HBO for the past couple years, and looking to impress when he got it.
He got his opportunity on Saturday night and indeed impressed.
The junior featherweight titleholder moved up to featherweight and pounded his way past Daud Yordan for a lopsided unanimous decision at the BankAtlantic Center in the co-featured bout on the Andre Berto-Carlos Quintana card.
You name it and Caballero nailed Indonesia's Yordan with it. He stayed busy with his jab, landed hard right uppercuts and worked the 22-year-old over with a withering body assault.
All the while the hard-headed Yordan kept coming forward, but with only occasional success. He landed some hard left hands, but they came only one at a time while Caballero threw punches in bunches all night.
In the end, Caballero landed 325 of 1,248 punches (26 percent), according to CompuBox statistics. That's the third-most punches ever thrown in a featherweight fight tracked by CompuBox over 25 years.
Yordan could muster landing only 105 of 379 shots (28 percent).
The disparity showed on the scorecards, which read 120-107, 119-108 and 118-108 for Caballero. ESPN.com also had it for Caballero, 118-109.
In the first round, Panama's Caballero, 33, threw 111 punches, 77 of which were jabs, and never stopped firing.
As the fight wore on, Yordan's face began to swell, his flanks were red from the body attack and he got a bloody nose in the sixth round.
Caballero (34-2, 23 KOs), whose nickname of "Towering Inferno" speaks to his 5-foot-11 frame -- huge for the weight class -- won a 122-pound title in 2006 and made eight defenses, including unify belts when he knocked out Steve Molitor in the fourth round in 2008 in Molitor's native Canada.
But without any big fights at junior featherweight, Caballero, who is trained by Jeff Mayweather, made the move to the 126-pound division and rolled past Yordan (25-1,19 KOs), who had looked good in a March 2009 fight with Robert Guerrero in a junior lightweight bout on HBO. Yordan was giving the heavily favored Guerrero fits through the first round-plus until an accidental head butt opened a cut over Guerrero's right eye and he elected not to continue, forcing the fight to be ruled a no decision.
Before Saturday's fight, there was talk among Caballero's handlers, Top Rank and HBO about matching him with featherweight titlist Yuriorkis Gamboa on July 24. Now that Caballero is safely through the fight with Yordan, expect that talk to heat up. However, money could be an issue. According to Sampson Lewkowicz, Caballero's co-promoter, they are far apart on the money.
Although Gamboa is the fight being prominently discussed, there was a small section of fans in the crowd chanting, "Juanma! Juanma!" in reference to their desire to see Caballero fight featherweight titlist Juan Manuel Lopez, a former junior featherweight titlist who left the division without facing Caballero, who had called him out for the past year to no avail.
Smith scores body-shot knockout
Miami welterweight prospect Antwone Smith (18-1, 9 KOs) destroyed Franklin Gonzalez (13-6, 9 KOs) of the Dominican Republic by brutalizing his body before knocking him out with a crushing left hook to the ribs in the third round.
Smith, grunting like Monica Seles with every punch he threw, was dominating the fight when he ripped a wide open Gonzalez with the fight-ending shot. Gonzalez went down in obviously pain, was counted out by Tommy Kimmons at 2:40 and was down for several minutes while the ringside doctor examined him.
The victory could propel Smith into an HBO fight against fellow prospect Mike Jones on June 5 on the Yuri Foreman-Miguel Cotto undercard at Yankee Stadium. Jones, who has to win a fight next week on the Kelly Pavlik-Sergio Martinez undercard, is being discussed by HBO and Top Rank for the opening bout on the June 5 card with Smith in the mix to face him.
• Junior middleweight Yudel Jhonson (6-0, 4 KOs), a 2004 Cuban Olympic silver medalist who defected with teammates Guillermo Rigondeaux and Yordanis Despaigne in 2007, blew out Chris Grays (9-20, 2 KOs), dropping him twice in the first round for a knockout at 2 minutes, 4 seconds.
Jhonson, 28, dropped Grays early in the first with a straight left and then finished with another straight left that deposited him on his butt and unable to beat the count.
• Former Cuban amateur standout Yunier Dorticos (4-0, 4 KOs), 24, blasted out Zack Ziegler (3-1, 2 KOs) in the first round of a cruiserweight fight. Dorticos, who defected last year with other Cuban amateurs, stopped Ziegler with a left to the body at 1:24.
• Ithaca, N.Y., middleweight prospect Willie Monroe Jr. (8-0, 3 KOs), the son of former middleweight contender Willie "The Worm" Monroe Sr., shut out Miami's Ibaheim King (7-2, 2 KOs), easily outboxing him for the lopsided decision. All three judges had it 60-54.
• Middleweight Jonathan Cepeda (8-0, 7 KOs) of West Palm Beach knocked out Shadrack Kipruto (18-16-2, 10 KOs) of Canal Point, Fla., at 2:31 of the second round of a scheduled eight-rounder.
• Junior welterweight Joe Elegele (6-0, 4 KO), who is tight with Berto, stopped Mario Hayes (4-6, 0 KOs) at 2:51 of the third round. Elegele dropped Hayes twice, including a picture-perfect straight left hand to finish him.
Source: sports.espn.go.com
SUNRISE, Fla. -- Celestino Caballero, one of the top boxers in the world, had sought an opportunity to fight on the big stage of HBO for the past couple years, and looking to impress when he got it.
He got his opportunity on Saturday night and indeed impressed.
The junior featherweight titleholder moved up to featherweight and pounded his way past Daud Yordan for a lopsided unanimous decision at the BankAtlantic Center in the co-featured bout on the Andre Berto-Carlos Quintana card.
You name it and Caballero nailed Indonesia's Yordan with it. He stayed busy with his jab, landed hard right uppercuts and worked the 22-year-old over with a withering body assault.
All the while the hard-headed Yordan kept coming forward, but with only occasional success. He landed some hard left hands, but they came only one at a time while Caballero threw punches in bunches all night.
In the end, Caballero landed 325 of 1,248 punches (26 percent), according to CompuBox statistics. That's the third-most punches ever thrown in a featherweight fight tracked by CompuBox over 25 years.
Yordan could muster landing only 105 of 379 shots (28 percent).
The disparity showed on the scorecards, which read 120-107, 119-108 and 118-108 for Caballero. ESPN.com also had it for Caballero, 118-109.
In the first round, Panama's Caballero, 33, threw 111 punches, 77 of which were jabs, and never stopped firing.
As the fight wore on, Yordan's face began to swell, his flanks were red from the body attack and he got a bloody nose in the sixth round.
Caballero (34-2, 23 KOs), whose nickname of "Towering Inferno" speaks to his 5-foot-11 frame -- huge for the weight class -- won a 122-pound title in 2006 and made eight defenses, including unify belts when he knocked out Steve Molitor in the fourth round in 2008 in Molitor's native Canada.
But without any big fights at junior featherweight, Caballero, who is trained by Jeff Mayweather, made the move to the 126-pound division and rolled past Yordan (25-1,19 KOs), who had looked good in a March 2009 fight with Robert Guerrero in a junior lightweight bout on HBO. Yordan was giving the heavily favored Guerrero fits through the first round-plus until an accidental head butt opened a cut over Guerrero's right eye and he elected not to continue, forcing the fight to be ruled a no decision.
Before Saturday's fight, there was talk among Caballero's handlers, Top Rank and HBO about matching him with featherweight titlist Yuriorkis Gamboa on July 24. Now that Caballero is safely through the fight with Yordan, expect that talk to heat up. However, money could be an issue. According to Sampson Lewkowicz, Caballero's co-promoter, they are far apart on the money.
Although Gamboa is the fight being prominently discussed, there was a small section of fans in the crowd chanting, "Juanma! Juanma!" in reference to their desire to see Caballero fight featherweight titlist Juan Manuel Lopez, a former junior featherweight titlist who left the division without facing Caballero, who had called him out for the past year to no avail.
Smith scores body-shot knockout
Miami welterweight prospect Antwone Smith (18-1, 9 KOs) destroyed Franklin Gonzalez (13-6, 9 KOs) of the Dominican Republic by brutalizing his body before knocking him out with a crushing left hook to the ribs in the third round.
Smith, grunting like Monica Seles with every punch he threw, was dominating the fight when he ripped a wide open Gonzalez with the fight-ending shot. Gonzalez went down in obviously pain, was counted out by Tommy Kimmons at 2:40 and was down for several minutes while the ringside doctor examined him.
The victory could propel Smith into an HBO fight against fellow prospect Mike Jones on June 5 on the Yuri Foreman-Miguel Cotto undercard at Yankee Stadium. Jones, who has to win a fight next week on the Kelly Pavlik-Sergio Martinez undercard, is being discussed by HBO and Top Rank for the opening bout on the June 5 card with Smith in the mix to face him.
• Junior middleweight Yudel Jhonson (6-0, 4 KOs), a 2004 Cuban Olympic silver medalist who defected with teammates Guillermo Rigondeaux and Yordanis Despaigne in 2007, blew out Chris Grays (9-20, 2 KOs), dropping him twice in the first round for a knockout at 2 minutes, 4 seconds.
Jhonson, 28, dropped Grays early in the first with a straight left and then finished with another straight left that deposited him on his butt and unable to beat the count.
• Former Cuban amateur standout Yunier Dorticos (4-0, 4 KOs), 24, blasted out Zack Ziegler (3-1, 2 KOs) in the first round of a cruiserweight fight. Dorticos, who defected last year with other Cuban amateurs, stopped Ziegler with a left to the body at 1:24.
• Ithaca, N.Y., middleweight prospect Willie Monroe Jr. (8-0, 3 KOs), the son of former middleweight contender Willie "The Worm" Monroe Sr., shut out Miami's Ibaheim King (7-2, 2 KOs), easily outboxing him for the lopsided decision. All three judges had it 60-54.
• Middleweight Jonathan Cepeda (8-0, 7 KOs) of West Palm Beach knocked out Shadrack Kipruto (18-16-2, 10 KOs) of Canal Point, Fla., at 2:31 of the second round of a scheduled eight-rounder.
• Junior welterweight Joe Elegele (6-0, 4 KO), who is tight with Berto, stopped Mario Hayes (4-6, 0 KOs) at 2:51 of the third round. Elegele dropped Hayes twice, including a picture-perfect straight left hand to finish him.
Source: sports.espn.go.com
Holyfield Stops Botha -- 411mania
By Ryan Bates, 411mania.com
Not a headline from 1993... Holyfield
defeated Botha in Las Vegas Saturday night. Namauu, Santamauro also victorious.
Despite all the grief and bellyaching we all gave the match-up, the heavyweight bout between Evander "The Real Deal" Holyfield and Francois "The White Buffalo" Botha wasn't really half bad after all.
Botha started early trying to land his power shots, but Holyfield demonstrated early why he was a 4-time world champion and a better boxer in his prime. Botha landed early to Holyfield's abs, and tried some dirty moves, like an Emanuel Augustus-like box-your-ears move, which cited warnings from referee Russell Mora.
Evident early was that Holyfield, despite reaching retirement age, is still in prime shape, while Botha looked like he belonged in a Toughman contest. Botha tired early, staying up against the ropes. His entire game plan seemed to be 1-2-clinch, a la John Ruiz. This actually worked in round five, where Botha was able to capitalize on top of those clinches to break away and land decent, meaningful shots. But for the majority of the fight, Evander's punch output managed to sway the 1-2-clinch program, and in round six he threw a straight right that simply floored Botha. Botha made the count, but he was clearly on Odd Way Out, and after a battering in the corner, Russell Mora stopped the fight in the seventh round.
Post-fight, Al Bernstein left the door open for a retirement for Botha, asking him what was next. The punchy Botha simply said he was going to talk to his team about what was next. He also asked Holyfield how to rate his performance, to which Holyfield gave himself a 7.
Holyfield is now the WBF (what?) heavyweight champion, and goes up to 43-10-2 (28 KO). Frans Botha goes down to 47-5-3 (28 KO).
Fight of the night goes to the ten-round cruiserweight bout between UNLV's own Henry Namauu and Rayford Johnson. Namauu and Johnson at times were ready to throw defense to the wind and stand and brawl all night. Johnson started the fight well into it. He came with power, and he came with some accuracy. Johnson's downfall came due to the fact that he fought a minute at a time, and a boxing round is three minutes. Namauu's stamina came into play as by the third and fourth round Johnson would fight the first minute and try to get by on that in the second and third. Namauu wasn't having that. The 2006 Cruiserweight Collegiate Champion put his thunderous power behind every punch, making sure he was giving as much as he was (occasionally) taking.
By round seven, the tide had turned, and it was now the Henry Namauu show. Johnson was still winging punches, but not connecting with any accuracy. Namauu would wind up his punches and connect. Johnson landed an intense flurry which connected with Namauu, and from that point Namauu saw red, barraging Johnson with head attacks that made Johnson's head look like it was going to snap right off. Tony Weeks mercifully jumped in and stopped the fight, but Namauu was incensed and looked like he could go ten more. Namauu, who started as a hard-luck fighter, now improves to 6-3 (4 KO) and shows no sign of slowing down. The too-game-for-his-own-good Johnson falls to 5-5.
On the undercard, in a story of "too little, too late," Valente Tinajero suffered a loss at the hands of former IBF champion, the veteran "King" Arthur Williams. Williams used his jab and reach to effectively keep Tinajero at bay for most of the fight. He moved him into the corner, but then couldn't do any real effective damage. Tinajero was looking for the big bomb all night, but couldn't find it, save for a left hook in round 5 that wobbled Williams. Both men were tired, but Tinajero had conserved more energy and used it to come on strong in rounds 5 and 6, but it wasn't enough. All three judges scored the bout 59-55 for Williams, moving him up to 47-16-1 (30 KO). 411Mania had the bout 58-56 for Williams, with Tinajero taking his first loss at 8-1 (4 KO).
On the first pay-per-view bout, local Rocco Santamauro won a shut-out decision against Karl Hammer. Hammer, for what it's worth, did his best but he was winded by round two, and allowed Santamauro to tee off on him, and tee off he did. Unfortunately, he couldn't finish someone whose knockout was there for the taking, so his team will have to evaluate whether this was a worthy win. The judges and 411mania were in agreement, 40-36 across the board.
In the night's women's bout, Jennifer Han picked up her first professional win as she out-fired Crystal Hoy in a four-round super featherweight bout. Hoy was able to slip the punches early, but Han was the more aggressive, harder puncher throughout the four rounds, and if round one had been a full three-minute round, Hoy may have gone down. 411Mania agreed with the scorecards of the judges, 40-36 for Han. She climbs to 1-1-1; Hoy picks up the loss and falls to 3-2-2 (2 KO).
It's a bad sign when your opponent comes in wearing boxing trunks and shoes, and you've been sent in with basketball shorts and sneakers. This is how the scene looked when Alexis Santiago took on Brice Yeniki in the opening bout. Yeniki, winless in four fights, was again clearly outmatched, took a lot of punishment, and didn't win a single round on 411's card or the judges' cards. It's hard to tell what Santiago has to offer against such a poor opponent. Santiago is now 3-0-1 (1 KO); Yeniki falls to 0-5 and really should rethink his career.
The swing bout came right after the Namauu/Johnson slobberknocker, and brought the energy of the arena way down. Again, if the guy comes to the fight in proper gear, and you show up in basketball shorts, it's not a good sign. Juan Alcolea showed up in basketball shorts. The action was few and far between but Lawrence Hughes' not-much was more accurate than Alcolea's not-much. The judges' scorecards all found in favor of Johnson, 40-36, 40-36, and 39-37. 411mania Boxing ruled the fight 40-36 for Johnson.
Source: 411mania.com
Not a headline from 1993... Holyfield defeated Botha in Las Vegas Saturday night. Namauu, Santamauro also victorious. Despite all the grief and bellyaching we all gave the match-up, the heavyweight bout between Evander "The Real Deal" Holyfield and Francois "The White Buffalo" Botha wasn't really half bad after all.
Botha started early trying to land his power shots, but Holyfield demonstrated early why he was a 4-time world champion and a better boxer in his prime. Botha landed early to Holyfield's abs, and tried some dirty moves, like an Emanuel Augustus-like box-your-ears move, which cited warnings from referee Russell Mora.
Evident early was that Holyfield, despite reaching retirement age, is still in prime shape, while Botha looked like he belonged in a Toughman contest. Botha tired early, staying up against the ropes. His entire game plan seemed to be 1-2-clinch, a la John Ruiz. This actually worked in round five, where Botha was able to capitalize on top of those clinches to break away and land decent, meaningful shots. But for the majority of the fight, Evander's punch output managed to sway the 1-2-clinch program, and in round six he threw a straight right that simply floored Botha. Botha made the count, but he was clearly on Odd Way Out, and after a battering in the corner, Russell Mora stopped the fight in the seventh round.
Post-fight, Al Bernstein left the door open for a retirement for Botha, asking him what was next. The punchy Botha simply said he was going to talk to his team about what was next. He also asked Holyfield how to rate his performance, to which Holyfield gave himself a 7.
Holyfield is now the WBF (what?) heavyweight champion, and goes up to 43-10-2 (28 KO). Frans Botha goes down to 47-5-3 (28 KO).
Fight of the night goes to the ten-round cruiserweight bout between UNLV's own Henry Namauu and Rayford Johnson. Namauu and Johnson at times were ready to throw defense to the wind and stand and brawl all night. Johnson started the fight well into it. He came with power, and he came with some accuracy. Johnson's downfall came due to the fact that he fought a minute at a time, and a boxing round is three minutes. Namauu's stamina came into play as by the third and fourth round Johnson would fight the first minute and try to get by on that in the second and third. Namauu wasn't having that. The 2006 Cruiserweight Collegiate Champion put his thunderous power behind every punch, making sure he was giving as much as he was (occasionally) taking.
By round seven, the tide had turned, and it was now the Henry Namauu show. Johnson was still winging punches, but not connecting with any accuracy. Namauu would wind up his punches and connect. Johnson landed an intense flurry which connected with Namauu, and from that point Namauu saw red, barraging Johnson with head attacks that made Johnson's head look like it was going to snap right off. Tony Weeks mercifully jumped in and stopped the fight, but Namauu was incensed and looked like he could go ten more. Namauu, who started as a hard-luck fighter, now improves to 6-3 (4 KO) and shows no sign of slowing down. The too-game-for-his-own-good Johnson falls to 5-5.
On the undercard, in a story of "too little, too late," Valente Tinajero suffered a loss at the hands of former IBF champion, the veteran "King" Arthur Williams. Williams used his jab and reach to effectively keep Tinajero at bay for most of the fight. He moved him into the corner, but then couldn't do any real effective damage. Tinajero was looking for the big bomb all night, but couldn't find it, save for a left hook in round 5 that wobbled Williams. Both men were tired, but Tinajero had conserved more energy and used it to come on strong in rounds 5 and 6, but it wasn't enough. All three judges scored the bout 59-55 for Williams, moving him up to 47-16-1 (30 KO). 411Mania had the bout 58-56 for Williams, with Tinajero taking his first loss at 8-1 (4 KO).
On the first pay-per-view bout, local Rocco Santamauro won a shut-out decision against Karl Hammer. Hammer, for what it's worth, did his best but he was winded by round two, and allowed Santamauro to tee off on him, and tee off he did. Unfortunately, he couldn't finish someone whose knockout was there for the taking, so his team will have to evaluate whether this was a worthy win. The judges and 411mania were in agreement, 40-36 across the board.
In the night's women's bout, Jennifer Han picked up her first professional win as she out-fired Crystal Hoy in a four-round super featherweight bout. Hoy was able to slip the punches early, but Han was the more aggressive, harder puncher throughout the four rounds, and if round one had been a full three-minute round, Hoy may have gone down. 411Mania agreed with the scorecards of the judges, 40-36 for Han. She climbs to 1-1-1; Hoy picks up the loss and falls to 3-2-2 (2 KO).
It's a bad sign when your opponent comes in wearing boxing trunks and shoes, and you've been sent in with basketball shorts and sneakers. This is how the scene looked when Alexis Santiago took on Brice Yeniki in the opening bout. Yeniki, winless in four fights, was again clearly outmatched, took a lot of punishment, and didn't win a single round on 411's card or the judges' cards. It's hard to tell what Santiago has to offer against such a poor opponent. Santiago is now 3-0-1 (1 KO); Yeniki falls to 0-5 and really should rethink his career.
The swing bout came right after the Namauu/Johnson slobberknocker, and brought the energy of the arena way down. Again, if the guy comes to the fight in proper gear, and you show up in basketball shorts, it's not a good sign. Juan Alcolea showed up in basketball shorts. The action was few and far between but Lawrence Hughes' not-much was more accurate than Alcolea's not-much. The judges' scorecards all found in favor of Johnson, 40-36, 40-36, and 39-37. 411mania Boxing ruled the fight 40-36 for Johnson.
Source: 411mania.com
Hall of Fame referee Arthur Mercante dead at 90 -- The Associated Press
The Associated Press
NEW YORK — Hall of Fame boxing referee Arthur Mercante, the third man in the ring for the first Ali-Frazier fight and more than a hundred other world title bouts, has died. He was 90.
Mercante died Saturday at his home in Westbury, said Edward Brophy, executive director of the International Boxing Hall of Fame in Canastota.
Flags at the Hall of Fame were flying at half-staff Saturday, and 10-bell salutes were planned before Andre Berto's welterweight title fight against Carlos Quintana in Sunrise, Fla., and a Top Rank-promoted card in Las Vegas.
Mercante refereed 145 world title fights during his career, the most famous on March 8, 1971, when Joe Frazier defeated Muhammad Ali in "The Fight of the Century" at Madison Square Garden.
Copyright © 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
Source: google.com
NEW YORK — Hall of Fame boxing referee Arthur Mercante, the third man in the ring for the first Ali-Frazier fight and more than a hundred other world title bouts, has died. He was 90.Mercante died Saturday at his home in Westbury, said Edward Brophy, executive director of the International Boxing Hall of Fame in Canastota.
Flags at the Hall of Fame were flying at half-staff Saturday, and 10-bell salutes were planned before Andre Berto's welterweight title fight against Carlos Quintana in Sunrise, Fla., and a Top Rank-promoted card in Las Vegas.
Mercante refereed 145 world title fights during his career, the most famous on March 8, 1971, when Joe Frazier defeated Muhammad Ali in "The Fight of the Century" at Madison Square Garden.
Copyright © 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
Source: google.com
Call it a comeback: Martinez; Pavlik; Mosley; and Mayweather -- Examiner.com
By Eric Sloan, Examiner.com
"Don’t' call it a comeback, I've been here for years."-LL Cool J (from Mama Said Knock You Out)
The "comeback" element in boxing is an interesting phenomenon. The traditional definition is a fighter coming out of retirement or coming back from a loss. Perhaps the best example of the former is when George Foreman came out of retirement in 1987 and was considered nothing more than a sideshow. He silenced everyone, however, on November 5, 1994, when he knocked out Michael Moorer to become the oldest heavyweight champion in boxing history.
Coming back from a loss is a different animal. Miguel Cotto has not been the same fighter since his brutal loss to Antonio Margarito in July 2008. Mike Tyson never truly bounced back after Buster Douglas busted him in 1990 (prison didn't help either). Conversely, Manny Pacquiao got better when he dropped one to Erik Morales in March 2005. He also avenged the Morales loss twice--winning both fights by stoppage.
Four "comeback fighters" will do battle in the coming weeks. On April 17th, Sergio Martinez will face Kelly Pavlik in an HBO televised bout. The next comeback fight, on May 1st, puts Shane Mosley in the ring against Floyd Mayweather, Jr. on HBO/PPV. All four are comeback fighters, but for different reasons, and they each desperately need of a big win.
Sergio Martinez. Martinez is a comeback fighter of sorts because he has not defeated a major opponent. Some will argue that he was robbed by the judges in both the Kermit Cintron and Paul Williams fights. Regardless, only two men have defeated him--Paul Williams and Antonio Margarito. To say he is a comeback fighter may be a stretch by traditional definition standards; however, if he can reproduce the version of himself who fought Cintron and Williams and avoid the version of himself who fought Antonio Margarito, then Pavlik is in for a very long night.
Kelly Pavlik. According to USA Today, Pavlik trainer Jack Loew describes the Martinez fight as "very serious" and that "everybody is going to finally be able to see the best Kelly Pavlik they've seen in a long time." Those are comeback fight words right there. Even though Pavlik has been battling injuries since his lopsided loss to Bernard Hopkins in November 2008, he has been around fighting club-level opposition. To make matters worse, he made us open up our wallets to watch him do so on pay-per-view. Next weekend he is back to his HBO roots and quality opposition. The more explosive the win, the sharper his launch angle back to being a fan favorite. A loss to Martinez may well be a deal breaker for anyone living outside of Youngstown, Ohio.
Shane Mosley. Sugar Shane has milked his destruction of Antonio Margarito for over a year. Say what you will about Golden Boy Promotions, but they know how to keep inactive fighters relevant. The reason why Mosley is a comeback is because we don't know what he brings at age 38. It is a given that he is an elite talent, but he is not at the top of his game. Cotto defeated him. He looked awful in his win over Ricardo Mayorga, and Nazim Richardson's Margarito sting operation probably had a lot to do with the win. Given the age and inactivity, the question is can Mosley come back to the fighter he once was? He has to show that he can be more than Oscar De La Hoya revisited on May 1, 2010, or he will lose and Mayweather will have yet another win over an old champion.
Floyd Mayweather, Jr. For reasons right and wrong, Floyd is a comeback fighter. He took the better part of two years off and then fought Juan Manuel Marquez in September 2009. The hype is that he is the number 2 best fighter in the world. The reality is that we don't know what he has anymore or if his ability ever matched his marketing campaign. Defensively sound? Check. Fast? Check. Multi-divisional champion? Check. He also barely beat an old De La Hoya in May 2005. In retrospect, his win over Ricky Hatton is not that impressive. He screwed Marquez on the weight issue and then couldn't capitalize on the size advantage by knocking him out (granted nobody ever has, but come on). Of the four men, it is Mayweather with the toughest task. A loss to Mosley validates his critics and a lopsided win over an old fighter might do the same. He has to dominate Mosley and then Pacquiao. Do both and history will be rewritten.
Source: examiner.com
"Don’t' call it a comeback, I've been here for years."-LL Cool J (from Mama Said Knock You Out)
The "comeback" element in boxing is an interesting phenomenon. The traditional definition is a fighter coming out of retirement or coming back from a loss. Perhaps the best example of the former is when George Foreman came out of retirement in 1987 and was considered nothing more than a sideshow. He silenced everyone, however, on November 5, 1994, when he knocked out Michael Moorer to become the oldest heavyweight champion in boxing history.
Coming back from a loss is a different animal. Miguel Cotto has not been the same fighter since his brutal loss to Antonio Margarito in July 2008. Mike Tyson never truly bounced back after Buster Douglas busted him in 1990 (prison didn't help either). Conversely, Manny Pacquiao got better when he dropped one to Erik Morales in March 2005. He also avenged the Morales loss twice--winning both fights by stoppage. Four "comeback fighters" will do battle in the coming weeks. On April 17th, Sergio Martinez will face Kelly Pavlik in an HBO televised bout. The next comeback fight, on May 1st, puts Shane Mosley in the ring against Floyd Mayweather, Jr. on HBO/PPV. All four are comeback fighters, but for different reasons, and they each desperately need of a big win.
Sergio Martinez. Martinez is a comeback fighter of sorts because he has not defeated a major opponent. Some will argue that he was robbed by the judges in both the Kermit Cintron and Paul Williams fights. Regardless, only two men have defeated him--Paul Williams and Antonio Margarito. To say he is a comeback fighter may be a stretch by traditional definition standards; however, if he can reproduce the version of himself who fought Cintron and Williams and avoid the version of himself who fought Antonio Margarito, then Pavlik is in for a very long night.
Kelly Pavlik. According to USA Today, Pavlik trainer Jack Loew describes the Martinez fight as "very serious" and that "everybody is going to finally be able to see the best Kelly Pavlik they've seen in a long time." Those are comeback fight words right there. Even though Pavlik has been battling injuries since his lopsided loss to Bernard Hopkins in November 2008, he has been around fighting club-level opposition. To make matters worse, he made us open up our wallets to watch him do so on pay-per-view. Next weekend he is back to his HBO roots and quality opposition. The more explosive the win, the sharper his launch angle back to being a fan favorite. A loss to Martinez may well be a deal breaker for anyone living outside of Youngstown, Ohio.
Shane Mosley. Sugar Shane has milked his destruction of Antonio Margarito for over a year. Say what you will about Golden Boy Promotions, but they know how to keep inactive fighters relevant. The reason why Mosley is a comeback is because we don't know what he brings at age 38. It is a given that he is an elite talent, but he is not at the top of his game. Cotto defeated him. He looked awful in his win over Ricardo Mayorga, and Nazim Richardson's Margarito sting operation probably had a lot to do with the win. Given the age and inactivity, the question is can Mosley come back to the fighter he once was? He has to show that he can be more than Oscar De La Hoya revisited on May 1, 2010, or he will lose and Mayweather will have yet another win over an old champion.
Floyd Mayweather, Jr. For reasons right and wrong, Floyd is a comeback fighter. He took the better part of two years off and then fought Juan Manuel Marquez in September 2009. The hype is that he is the number 2 best fighter in the world. The reality is that we don't know what he has anymore or if his ability ever matched his marketing campaign. Defensively sound? Check. Fast? Check. Multi-divisional champion? Check. He also barely beat an old De La Hoya in May 2005. In retrospect, his win over Ricky Hatton is not that impressive. He screwed Marquez on the weight issue and then couldn't capitalize on the size advantage by knocking him out (granted nobody ever has, but come on). Of the four men, it is Mayweather with the toughest task. A loss to Mosley validates his critics and a lopsided win over an old fighter might do the same. He has to dominate Mosley and then Pacquiao. Do both and history will be rewritten.
Source: examiner.com
UFC 112: BJ Penn arrogance sees Hawaiian lose lightweight belt to Frankie Edgar -- Telegraph
By Gareth A Davies, Telegraph.co.uk
Fast and furious Frankie Edgar, a major underdog, upsets the MMA applecart with a workmanlike victory over BJ Penn
to take the UFC lightweight belt in Abu Dhabi at UFC 112.
More skilful ? No… Worthy champion ? Just about. Win all five rounds as one judge had Edgar on the cards ? Not a chance.
Penn finished the fight marked under both eyes, having had the belt slowly unbuckled from around his waist in five rounds of stand-up action. Penn should be kicking himself. I had him winning the first two rounds, Edgar the last three, as he outworked the champion. Most of the rounds were very close. But Penn, arrogantly, failed to listen to his corner who told him to take the fight to the ground for the last two rounds. It cost him his title – and potentially – part of his legacy. Penn will bounce back, and possibly back up to the welterweight division, where frankly, he is not the same machine, but this was poor from easily the best lightweight in the history of the sport.
The judges’ cards could not have come out with a greater differential if you’d rolled a die. The three cards… 50-45, 48-47, 49-46. How all five were scored for Edgar is beyond comprehension, from this perspective. But we’ve been here before…and 48-47 looked the best analysis. There will be widespread disagreement as the two men fought different battles, and inexplicably, Penn played completely to rote into Edgar’s favour and game plan. For one so inexperienced – or, as stated earlier, arrogant – it made no sense whatsoever. Penn was clearly more powerful than Edgar, and it showed in the brief moments they grappled, but great cardio and determination from Edgar earned him a win which seemed unlikely on paper. Yet on canvas, it was another story.
How the fight played out:
Rd 1
Good movement from Edgar, leg kicks in and out. Good left hook from Penn, then a jab. Edgar circles. Keeps circling. Wise game plan. Penn takes the centre of the Octagon. Penn patient. Grapple and uppercuts from Penn from his takedown defence. Combination from Penn. By the final minute Penn finds his range. Combination from Edgar. Penn 10-9
Rd 2
Penn stalks less in the second, Edgar’s movement not slowing. It’s all stand-up. Edgar’s head never stops moving, and his feints are canny. Penn scores with the left. Leg kick from Edgar. Takedown by Edgar, Penn up straight away. Penn’s round on my card. Penn 10-9.
Rd 3
Referee Herb Dean holds up the action and wipes excess water from Edgar at the start of round three. Freddie Roach, trainer to Manny Pacquiao, Amir Khan, and over 20 world champion boxers, has said that Penn has the best boxing/striking in MMA. His timing is being upended by Edgar’s incessant movement. It is a clever strategy, and it is working. Close range, Edgar lands with one solid right, Penn responds with a three-punch combo. It’s all about timing. Edgar lands with two left hooks. Edgar pushing Penn’s timing awry. Leg kick from Edgar then a takedown attempt. Great movement, feigns a takedown attempt and lands with a kick. This is Edgar’s round.
Edgar 10-9
Rd 4
Wisely, Edgar’s corner advises their man he needs to keep his eyes up when he is close in the pocket with Penn. On the other side of the Octagon, BJ Penn’s corner are advising him to take the contest to the ground. Edgar’s conditioning is staggering. Penn refuses corner’s advice. Stays in the stand-up. Head kick from Edgar just misses. Counter right and jab from Penn. Left hook counter, then a right-left from Edgar. He may have just levelled the fight on the judges’ scorecards. I had Edgar nicking the round.
Edgar 10-9
Rd 5
Penn starts the final round with puffy eyes. There is a huge moment in the fifth, when Penn misses with a left-right, and Edgar takes the champion down, the first time in years that Penn has been taken down fully in the lightweight division. Penn throws a lower leg kick, Edgar a counter left. Penn is now being pushed by Edgar – great straight right hand from the challenger. Signs of tiredness from Penn with two minutes remaining. Left hook Edgar. Left-right and kick from Edgar. He is now outperforming Penn, and he is getting quicker to the jab, and is still throwing kicks. Penn is slowing. Penn lands with a right and a body shot. A wild exchange in close in the last 10 seconds. If the fifth round is Edgar’s, we have a new champion.
Edgar 10-9.
Source: blogs.telegraph.co.uk
Fast and furious Frankie Edgar, a major underdog, upsets the MMA applecart with a workmanlike victory over BJ Penn to take the UFC lightweight belt in Abu Dhabi at UFC 112.More skilful ? No… Worthy champion ? Just about. Win all five rounds as one judge had Edgar on the cards ? Not a chance.
Penn finished the fight marked under both eyes, having had the belt slowly unbuckled from around his waist in five rounds of stand-up action. Penn should be kicking himself. I had him winning the first two rounds, Edgar the last three, as he outworked the champion. Most of the rounds were very close. But Penn, arrogantly, failed to listen to his corner who told him to take the fight to the ground for the last two rounds. It cost him his title – and potentially – part of his legacy. Penn will bounce back, and possibly back up to the welterweight division, where frankly, he is not the same machine, but this was poor from easily the best lightweight in the history of the sport.
The judges’ cards could not have come out with a greater differential if you’d rolled a die. The three cards… 50-45, 48-47, 49-46. How all five were scored for Edgar is beyond comprehension, from this perspective. But we’ve been here before…and 48-47 looked the best analysis. There will be widespread disagreement as the two men fought different battles, and inexplicably, Penn played completely to rote into Edgar’s favour and game plan. For one so inexperienced – or, as stated earlier, arrogant – it made no sense whatsoever. Penn was clearly more powerful than Edgar, and it showed in the brief moments they grappled, but great cardio and determination from Edgar earned him a win which seemed unlikely on paper. Yet on canvas, it was another story.
How the fight played out:
Rd 1
Good movement from Edgar, leg kicks in and out. Good left hook from Penn, then a jab. Edgar circles. Keeps circling. Wise game plan. Penn takes the centre of the Octagon. Penn patient. Grapple and uppercuts from Penn from his takedown defence. Combination from Penn. By the final minute Penn finds his range. Combination from Edgar. Penn 10-9
Rd 2
Penn stalks less in the second, Edgar’s movement not slowing. It’s all stand-up. Edgar’s head never stops moving, and his feints are canny. Penn scores with the left. Leg kick from Edgar. Takedown by Edgar, Penn up straight away. Penn’s round on my card. Penn 10-9.
Rd 3
Referee Herb Dean holds up the action and wipes excess water from Edgar at the start of round three. Freddie Roach, trainer to Manny Pacquiao, Amir Khan, and over 20 world champion boxers, has said that Penn has the best boxing/striking in MMA. His timing is being upended by Edgar’s incessant movement. It is a clever strategy, and it is working. Close range, Edgar lands with one solid right, Penn responds with a three-punch combo. It’s all about timing. Edgar lands with two left hooks. Edgar pushing Penn’s timing awry. Leg kick from Edgar then a takedown attempt. Great movement, feigns a takedown attempt and lands with a kick. This is Edgar’s round.
Edgar 10-9
Rd 4
Wisely, Edgar’s corner advises their man he needs to keep his eyes up when he is close in the pocket with Penn. On the other side of the Octagon, BJ Penn’s corner are advising him to take the contest to the ground. Edgar’s conditioning is staggering. Penn refuses corner’s advice. Stays in the stand-up. Head kick from Edgar just misses. Counter right and jab from Penn. Left hook counter, then a right-left from Edgar. He may have just levelled the fight on the judges’ scorecards. I had Edgar nicking the round.
Edgar 10-9
Rd 5
Penn starts the final round with puffy eyes. There is a huge moment in the fifth, when Penn misses with a left-right, and Edgar takes the champion down, the first time in years that Penn has been taken down fully in the lightweight division. Penn throws a lower leg kick, Edgar a counter left. Penn is now being pushed by Edgar – great straight right hand from the challenger. Signs of tiredness from Penn with two minutes remaining. Left hook Edgar. Left-right and kick from Edgar. He is now outperforming Penn, and he is getting quicker to the jab, and is still throwing kicks. Penn is slowing. Penn lands with a right and a body shot. A wild exchange in close in the last 10 seconds. If the fifth round is Edgar’s, we have a new champion.
Edgar 10-9.
Source: blogs.telegraph.co.uk
Exasperated Arum: Edwin Valero's conduct totally bizarre -- Examiner
By Michael Marley, Examiner.com
UPDATE ON VALERO, as reported on FightNews.com by Gabriel F. Cordero:
Unbeaten two-division world champion Edwin Valero was involved in a traffic accident and a police chase on Friday in Mérida, Venezuela. There were no injuries but Valero, allegedly under the influence of alcohol, fled the scene of the accident. He was taken home by police. He later said that he fled because he felt harassed by the media and the general public. “I reacted as anyone reacts to this situation,” he stated. The champ promised to take care of the expenses of the other driver. Valero had been scheduled to leave later that day to Cuba with his wife, two children, trainer Mario Morales and adviser Segundo Lujano, where he would begin a rehabilitation program after recognizing his problems with alcohol and drugs. He had just been released Thursday after 14 days of rehab following another incident. Authorities are now reconsidering whether or not they should send Valero to Cuba for further rehab.
I wrote the column below BEFORE hearing about the newest incident:
Bob Arum may getting ready to throw the promotional towel in on Problem Child Edwin Valero.
Valero, 28, is getting more exposure on the police blotter than on Boxrec.com.
Valero, with the perfect batting average of 27 knockouts in as many pro bouts, is Top Rank's Problem Child and, based on my conversation Friday afternoon with Uncle Bob, I'd say the 78 year old promoter is thisclose to dumping the Vicious Venezuelan.
Not that Unca Roberto dumps commercially viable, undefeated world champions easily but...he is clearly frustrated with the continuing stream of incomplete and inaccurate information he's been getting from sources close to the lefthanded puncher who is now the WBC "Champion In Recess."
Rick Reeno, newshound from Boxingscene, informed Arum that Valero, last reported being sent to a booze rehab center in his homeland for 180 days of drying out, had just jetted over to Cuba for a training stint.
Someone not as wizened, not as jaded as Arum might have blanched at this news but, when it comes to Valero, I don't think the promoter would've been surprised if the scribe had told him Valero was visiting Uranus...
Then Arum made comments which lead me to believe that, one more serious slip and fall, and he will throw the promotional towel in on the troubled Valero.
"He's in Cuba...I guess that figures with (Venezuela dictator and Valero pal Hugo) Chavez being an admirer of (Fidel) Castro but why?" Arum said.
"I can't get a straight story out of anybody on this guy, Valero. Not even from his manager. I don't know that the manager even really knows the score, I really don't. Him going to Cuba...that is not the smartest thing to do when you are trying to get a visa to enter the United States, is it now?"
(Valero is barred from the U.S. due to a drunk driving conviction in Las Vegas. His immigration lawyer has been working OT to overcome this legal hurdle but Valero's various domestic violence issues don't help, either.)
Arum said he can't equate the Valero he knows with the fighter who keeps into alcohol-related issues.
"He sees me he is very nice, very quiet and respectful then but...
"Look, when it comes to what is really going on with this guy, I am not sure, really. I just don't have the information or the insight on this guy. The only guy who seems to report accurately to us is the WBA's Gilberto Mendoza Jr. Junior talks to Todd (duBoef, Top Rank president)."
One Valero lawyer in Venezuela told some media that the fighter was not sent for six months in liquor and that he could do an Evelyn Wood style speed rehab which would get him not high but completely "dry" in a mere 48 hours.
I asked Arum if that seemed remotely plausible.
I got a typical Arum snappy answer.
"I don't know, I've never been in rehab...have you?"
Hey, don't get so personal, Roberto.
I immediately repaired to Glacken's in the shadow of The House That (he played in Boston TWICE) Ruth Built and had a fortifying adult beverage.
Edwin Valero's promoter is not sure what the fighter is up or down to...
Me, I pity the immigration lawyer.
He knows who he is.
I hear's he's a Red Sox fan, wink, wink.
(mlcmarley@aol.com)
Source: examiner.com
UPDATE ON VALERO, as reported on FightNews.com by Gabriel F. Cordero:
Unbeaten two-division world champion Edwin Valero was involved in a traffic accident and a police chase on Friday in Mérida, Venezuela. There were no injuries but Valero, allegedly under the influence of alcohol, fled the scene of the accident. He was taken home by police. He later said that he fled because he felt harassed by the media and the general public. “I reacted as anyone reacts to this situation,” he stated. The champ promised to take care of the expenses of the other driver. Valero had been scheduled to leave later that day to Cuba with his wife, two children, trainer Mario Morales and adviser Segundo Lujano, where he would begin a rehabilitation program after recognizing his problems with alcohol and drugs. He had just been released Thursday after 14 days of rehab following another incident. Authorities are now reconsidering whether or not they should send Valero to Cuba for further rehab.
I wrote the column below BEFORE hearing about the newest incident:Valero, 28, is getting more exposure on the police blotter than on Boxrec.com.Valero, with the perfect batting average of 27 knockouts in as many pro bouts, is Top Rank's Problem Child and, based on my conversation Friday afternoon with Uncle Bob, I'd say the 78 year old promoter is thisclose to dumping the Vicious Venezuelan.
Not that Unca Roberto dumps commercially viable, undefeated world champions easily but...he is clearly frustrated with the continuing stream of incomplete and inaccurate information he's been getting from sources close to the lefthanded puncher who is now the WBC "Champion In Recess."
Rick Reeno, newshound from Boxingscene, informed Arum that Valero, last reported being sent to a booze rehab center in his homeland for 180 days of drying out, had just jetted over to Cuba for a training stint.
Someone not as wizened, not as jaded as Arum might have blanched at this news but, when it comes to Valero, I don't think the promoter would've been surprised if the scribe had told him Valero was visiting Uranus...
Then Arum made comments which lead me to believe that, one more serious slip and fall, and he will throw the promotional towel in on the troubled Valero.
"He's in Cuba...I guess that figures with (Venezuela dictator and Valero pal Hugo) Chavez being an admirer of (Fidel) Castro but why?" Arum said.
"I can't get a straight story out of anybody on this guy, Valero. Not even from his manager. I don't know that the manager even really knows the score, I really don't. Him going to Cuba...that is not the smartest thing to do when you are trying to get a visa to enter the United States, is it now?"
(Valero is barred from the U.S. due to a drunk driving conviction in Las Vegas. His immigration lawyer has been working OT to overcome this legal hurdle but Valero's various domestic violence issues don't help, either.)
Arum said he can't equate the Valero he knows with the fighter who keeps into alcohol-related issues.
"He sees me he is very nice, very quiet and respectful then but...
"Look, when it comes to what is really going on with this guy, I am not sure, really. I just don't have the information or the insight on this guy. The only guy who seems to report accurately to us is the WBA's Gilberto Mendoza Jr. Junior talks to Todd (duBoef, Top Rank president)."
One Valero lawyer in Venezuela told some media that the fighter was not sent for six months in liquor and that he could do an Evelyn Wood style speed rehab which would get him not high but completely "dry" in a mere 48 hours.
I asked Arum if that seemed remotely plausible.
I got a typical Arum snappy answer.
"I don't know, I've never been in rehab...have you?"
Hey, don't get so personal, Roberto.
I immediately repaired to Glacken's in the shadow of The House That (he played in Boston TWICE) Ruth Built and had a fortifying adult beverage.
Edwin Valero's promoter is not sure what the fighter is up or down to...
Me, I pity the immigration lawyer.
He knows who he is.
I hear's he's a Red Sox fan, wink, wink.
(mlcmarley@aol.com)
Source: examiner.com
Floyd Mayweather: I'll milk Mosley TWICE, then consider Pacquiao -- Examiner
By Michael Marley, Examiner.com
I take back every nasty or cutting thing I ever said or wrote about Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Until I saw this video, I did not realize how charming and how modest this fighter could be.
Call it my Mayweather Wake Up Call if you must.
SEE THE VIDEO HERE.
Plainly, listening to him prattle on, we must admit that L'il Floyd is undeniably the greatest thing since sliced bread and balut in a box.
In this Modest Mouse rant, you will learn it was Floyd who invented HBO, the 24/7 program and maybe television itself.
You will learn that he is the one and only fighter with any personality which may come as a shocker to TV host Jimmy Kimmel, who keeps putting Manny Pacquiao on his national show, not to mention the 50,000 fans who turned out in Dallas to watch Pacman hammer Joshua Clottey.
But I think the most important thing we learn herein is something Pacman promoter Bob Arum mentioned to me Friday at Yankee Stadium.
Arum is skeptical about talks for Mayweather-Pacquiao resuming on May 2 even if Floyd beats Sugar Shane Mosley the day before.
"There's going to be nothing to discuss because Mayweather has his rematch clause with Shane so what is there to talk about," Arum said in a matter of fact manner.
In this video, Mayweather unwittingly tips his hand.
Clearly, his intention is to milk Mosley, win, lose or draw in the upcoming bout, twice.
But, and you always have to look for the con man angle when Money May speaks, it's the way he phrases the situation that is a laugh riot.
"If Shane wants a rematch, I'll give him a rematch," Maywather said.
LOL, because hey, dude, YOU were the one who shoved the rematch clause (your option) down the rather desperate Mosley's throat, not vice versa.
Man up, Money, and tell the truth on this.
That takes care of calendar year 2010 and, as I have written before numerous times, throws a Manny-Floyd blockbuster in 2011.
So, in this sense, Arum's cynicism seems well placed.
Pacquiao will need a dance partner for this autumn, as soon as September Uncle Bob says if the Pinoy Idol does not emerge victorious in his Sarangani Congressional Campaign.
Remember, the voters go to the polls on May 10 to choose between Pacquiao and Roy Chiongbian.
So Mayweathher is no rush, no hurry, to share a ring with Manny.
Do you blame him, really?
(mlcmarley@aol.com)
Source: examiner.com
I take back every nasty or cutting thing I ever said or wrote about Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Until I saw this video, I did not realize how charming and how modest this fighter could be.
Call it my Mayweather Wake Up Call if you must.
SEE THE VIDEO HERE.
Plainly, listening to him prattle on, we must admit that L'il Floyd is undeniably the greatest thing since sliced bread and balut in a box.
In this Modest Mouse rant, you will learn it was Floyd who invented HBO, the 24/7 program and maybe television itself.
You will learn that he is the one and only fighter with any personality which may come as a shocker to TV host Jimmy Kimmel, who keeps putting Manny Pacquiao on his national show, not to mention the 50,000 fans who turned out in Dallas to watch Pacman hammer Joshua Clottey.
But I think the most important thing we learn herein is something Pacman promoter Bob Arum mentioned to me Friday at Yankee Stadium.
Arum is skeptical about talks for Mayweather-Pacquiao resuming on May 2 even if Floyd beats Sugar Shane Mosley the day before.
"There's going to be nothing to discuss because Mayweather has his rematch clause with Shane so what is there to talk about," Arum said in a matter of fact manner.
In this video, Mayweather unwittingly tips his hand.
Clearly, his intention is to milk Mosley, win, lose or draw in the upcoming bout, twice.
But, and you always have to look for the con man angle when Money May speaks, it's the way he phrases the situation that is a laugh riot.
"If Shane wants a rematch, I'll give him a rematch," Maywather said.
LOL, because hey, dude, YOU were the one who shoved the rematch clause (your option) down the rather desperate Mosley's throat, not vice versa.
Man up, Money, and tell the truth on this.
That takes care of calendar year 2010 and, as I have written before numerous times, throws a Manny-Floyd blockbuster in 2011.
So, in this sense, Arum's cynicism seems well placed.
Pacquiao will need a dance partner for this autumn, as soon as September Uncle Bob says if the Pinoy Idol does not emerge victorious in his Sarangani Congressional Campaign.
Remember, the voters go to the polls on May 10 to choose between Pacquiao and Roy Chiongbian.
So Mayweathher is no rush, no hurry, to share a ring with Manny.
Do you blame him, really?
(mlcmarley@aol.com)
Source: examiner.com
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