By Robert Morales, Los Angeles Daily News
Sometimes people get turned off when athletes talk about religion.
It's looked upon as boring. But according to promoter Kathy Duva, a very strong faith is what has made heavyweight Tomasz Adamek the exciting fighter he is today.
If Adamek were not a strong believer, he would be having a much more difficult time these days. The Poland native has been mourning Polish president Lech Kaczynski, his wife Maria and several other of the country's high-ranking politicians who lost their lives in a plane crash April 10.
Unfortunately, there's more. About two months before that, there was another catastrophe that took several people close to Adamek, who tonight will take on Chris Arreola at Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario (on HBO).
"A few weeks before he started camp, he lost several close friends in a plane crash," said Duva, president of New Jersey-based Main Events Inc. "And he knew people on this (presidential) plane, too. He doesn't even talk about it ...
"He is an incredibly religious man. That's who he is. We know him well and we understand that. Then you understand that he accepts fate, he accepts things that happen. They happen for a reason. He has complete and total unshakable faith."
As Adamek sat at a table in the San Manuel Casino in Highland following Monday's final news conference, it was easy to see just by looking into his eyes he was everything Duva said he is.
Adamek came off not only as a man with a strong belief in divinity but someone to take advice from during times of struggles.
"This is my motto in life: Without God, there is nothing," said Adamek, 33. "In everyday life, this is how I raise my children. I let them know that God is No. 1 and without him nothing makes sense.
"So it helps me in this situation and it helps me in every other aspect of life."
And, as Duva said, Adamek accepts fate. The way he explains it, it's the only way.
"Unfortunately, there is nothing we can do to help those people who perished, first my friends and now the president, because you have to believe there is some higher power which is guiding us," Adamek said. "They were unfortunate deaths of people who I know, but we shouldn't get into despair because it will not help you in life. You cannot go through life in despair. I was raised this way and I believe this is where my strength comes from is God."
Unshakable faith, indeed. It's who Adamek is and, as Duva claimed, what has helped him become a terrific fighter.
"That will carry anyone through any kind of adversity," Duva said when asked if she was concerned Adamek's sorrow will create a lack of concentration on tonight's task. "He's a guy who will stay focused on what he has to do.
"It's part of why he's gotten to where he is."
Adamek has won world titles in the light heavyweight and cruiserweight divisions. He was 3-1 in light heavyweight world title bouts, moved up in weight and went 3-0 in cruiserweight world championship fights.
With a thirst to become heavyweight champion, Adamek again moved up and is 2-0 in what used to be boxing's bread and butter division.
He brings a fine record of 40-1 with 27 knockouts into tonight's fight.
Regardless of his inner strength, he seemingly is in over his head physically against Arreola. The two heavyweights Adamek defeated over the past six months are fellow Pole Andrew Golota and Jason Estrada. Estrada is a very light hitter and Arreola refers to Golota as "an aged Andrew Golota." Golota was 41 when he was stopped in the fifth round by Adamek last October.
Arreola has a large size advantage. He is 6-foot-4 and Thursday weighed 250 1/2 pounds. Adamek is 6-1 1/2 and weighed in at 217.
"I do believe it will be competitive for a while," Arreola said. "But the thing is my job in there is to wear him down and show him what it's like to be in the heavyweight division."
No problem, said Adamek, who moved from Poland to New Jersey in 2008.
"The size of Chris Arreola really makes no difference," he said. "He's 6-8, 6-9, 260, 220, it doesn't really matter. It is what is in your head that matters, not your size.
"I don't plan to go down after three, four or five punches from Chris."
Rather, Adamek said he plans to be "quick and smart."
Arreola doesn't want to hear it.
"I don't care about this David and Goliath crap," he said. "I'm not here to preach the Bible."
Adamek is, and if he's victorious tonight against the likes of Arreola, those who yawn during religious speak might listen a little more closely in the future.
Mosley is still fighting with old PED issues
"Sugar" Shane Mosley is basically a mild-mannered sort. He usually is smiling and rarely frowning.
But Mosley was hot when a reporter asked him a question during a conference call this week regarding his use of steroids and the blood-doping agent EPO before his second fight with Oscar De La Hoya in 2003.
Mosley, who next Saturday will take on Floyd Mayweather Jr. at MGM Grand in Las Vegas, never tested positive for the performance-enhancing drugs, but he later admitted during grand jury testimony to unknowingly ingesting them.
The reporter asked this of Mosley: "Two thousand three is a long time ago, but can you say since then how you have felt differently in fights? Can you tell a difference from that night to how you fight now or recent fights from when you didn't take that stuff? I mean, what did it do to you as a fighter to come off it and then try to get back to just 100 percent of yourself and how you feel now when you're in the ring compared to then?"
Mosley reacted strongly.
"That's just a stupid question that you asked me because I never did that stuff," he said. "I never was on it really like that. I've always been a clean fighter."
He wasn't clean that night against De La Hoya, even if he thought he was. And now, seven years later, he's still dealing with the issue because he has a defamation suit against BALCO founder Victor Conte, who claims Mosley knew he was cheating.
Mosley, whose grand jury testimony was part of an investigation of BALCO, is sick of hearing about his connection to PEDs.
"It's ridiculous now that the media wants to make me the poster boy of steroids when I don't even ... whatever. If you guys want to continue to put that out there, so be it. So be it. You guys know the truth."
Conte recently released a video on YouTube showing some of the deposition Mosley gave in his suit against him. Mosley basically said he knew he was taking EPO, but he didn't know what EPO was until federal investigators clued him in.
Judd Burstein, Mosley's attorney, didn't want to talk much about the video and said Conte edited it to his advantage and, "Shane will be victorious in court and that will answer all the questions."
Etc.
Carl Froch (26-0, 20 KOs) of England will square off with Mikkel Kessler (42-2, 32 KOs) tonight in Kessler's native Denmark. Froch's super middleweight title will be on the line, and the fight will be televised by Showtime as part of the network's Super Six tournament. ... Robert "The Ghost" Guerrero recently gave up the junior lightweight world title he won last August so he could be with his wife, Casey, who in January 2009 was declared in remission from leukemia, only to see the disease return. Guerrero (25-1-1, 17 KOs) will be back in the ring Friday when he takes on Roberto Arrieta (35-15-4, 17 KOs) of Argentina in the main event at Tropicana Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. Guerrero said his wife is doing well. "Casey is coming along great," said Guerrero of Gilroy. "She's still undergoing some procedures, but she's right where she's supposed to be." The fight will be televised by the Spanish-language station Telefutura.
Source: dailynews.com
Saturday, 24 April 2010
Floyd Mayweather To Manny Pacquiao: 'Take The Test' -- FanHouse
By Lem Satterfield, FanHouse
To say that Floyd Mayweather is confident is an understatement.
If the 33-year-old, unbeaten, five-time champion doens't truly believe he's better than Sugar Ray Robinson and Muhammad Ali, he's at least saying that he does.
"Why not? I take my hat off to them. I got respect for Sugar Ray Robinson. I've got respect for Muhammad Ali. But I'm a man just like they're men, I put on my pants just like they put on their pants. What makes them any better than I am? Because they fought a thousand fights?" asked Mayweather, who is 40-0, with 25 knockouts, during Thursday's conference call with reporters.
"In my era, it's totally different [from those of Robinson and Ali]. You know? It's pay-per-view now, so things change. It's out with the old and in with the new," said Mayweather. "Like I said, Muhammad Ali is one hell of a fighter. But Floyd Mayweather is the best. Sugar Ray Robinson is one hell of a fighter, but Floyd Mayweather is the best."
Mayweather will get a chance to prove his assertions in what could be the biggest test of his career on May 1, when he takes on 38-year-old WBA welterweight (147 pounds) champion, Shane Mosley (46-5, 39 KOs), at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
But even in victory, Mayweather does not believe that his critics will give him credit. He doesn't feel as if they ever do.
"I've been dominating since the 90's. That's what we talk about when you talk about what I've been doing. Like I said before, when guys like this [Manny Pacquiao or Shane Mosley] fight Oscar De la Hoya, they say, 'Oh, it's unbelievable.' But when I fight De la Hoya, they said, 'De la Hoya's washed up,'" said Mayweather.
"See? It's things like this that I don't like," said Mayweather. "So when I go out and beat Mosley, they're going to go say he's over the hill. It's always an excuse. But they don't talk about how I won a title in one year. I had the title all throughout my career, retired, came back, and beat the number two dude, pound-for-pound."
Mayweather is facing the largest opponent he ever has during the course of what is surely a Hall of Fame career in Mosley, who is coming off of January's ninth-round knockout of Antonio Margarito, stopping the hard-punching Mexican fighter for the first time in his career and dethroning him as WBA titlist.
A former IBF lightweight champion, Mosley has fought at welterweight or higher exclusively since relinquishing his lightweight belt in 1999, including seven bouts at junior middleweight (154 pounds), and one other at 148 pounds -- an April, 2005 decision over David Estrada.
At junior middleweight, Mosley has twice stopped former world champion, Fernando Vargas, knocked out former world titlist, Ricardo Mayorga, and earned his second win over former world champ, de la Hoya -- the latter for the WBC and WBA crowns in September of 2003.
Mosley also twice lost to Winky Wright at 154 pounds.
Meanwhile, Mayweather has fought at welterweight five times, and, once as a junior middleweight, weighing 150 pounds against the 154-pound de la Hoya during his May, 2007 split-decision victory.
Mayweather's welterweight victories were knockouts of Sharmba Mitchell and Ricky Hatton, and decisions over Zab Judah, Carlos Baldomir, and, Juan Manuel Marquez, with Marquez, and, Hatton, respectively, rising from lightweight (135 pounds), and, junior welterweight (140 pounds) to face him.
Mayweather, however, does not see Mosley's size or his power as any sort of advantage.
"Mosley's a fighter that's always worried about landing that one punch. He worries about being strong, and I worry about being smart. So we approach the fight in two, totally different ways," said Mayweather.
"I think Shane may be loading up with wide shots, and kind of not using a forward jab, and I use a forward jab," said Mayweather. "When I shoot my shots, I look at my opponents and I look where I'm punching at. When Shane punches a lot, he closes his eyes when you go back and you look at some of his fights."
Mayweather-Mosley materialized following the disintegration of talks between Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao for a potential mega fight -- this as a result of the fighters' failure to agree on the role of drug testing for their bout.
Mayweather and Mosley, who has admitted past steroid use, are each being randomly tested by the United States Anti-Doping Agency.
Pacquiao, meanwhile, elected not to be randomly tested, a subject that remains a sore one with Mayweather.
"All I'm saying, if you're a clean athlete, take your test. That's all I'm saying. That's all I've got to say. If you're a clean athlete, take the test," said Mayweather. "Show the world, you know what, I'm a natural. Take the test, that's all I say. Let them come get you at any time and take the test."
Asked whether Mosley or Pacquiao should be considered among those on a list that would include himself, Robinson and Ali, Mayweather responded to the negative, questioning their credentials.
"I can't see Mosley talk about putting himself as a future Hall of Famer. This was a guy who we don't know how long he was taking enhancement drugs. So this is something that we don't know. Okay, Manny Pacquiao struggled twice -- which we really know he got beat -- but he struggled twice with Marquez, which we know he really lost, right?" said Mayweather.
"And we know he's been knocked out twice. And he's been out-boxed by Erik Morales, but they still give him boxer of the Decade. He beat a Ricky Hatton that got stretched by me," said Mayweather. "I'm trying to find out what it really is. That's not for me to choose. That's not for me to put him in the Hall of Fame."
And what bout himself?
"I don't know, I can't say how this fight matches up, but I think I'm a 15-round fighter. I think I'll show the world that I'm always in tiptop shape, and I'm in the best condition," said Mayweather.
"You know, the guys [HBO's camera crew] from 24/7, they say that they went to every other fighter's camp, and they went to some other guys' camps, some mixed martial arts guys, and they said they always ask them, "Well who works the hardest?' And they say 'Well, hands-down, Floyd Mayweather,'" said Mayweather.
"Nobody pushes to the limit like I do, so I was happy when I heard that," said Mayweather. "Like I said before, the only thing I want to do is just be the best. So I'm going to continue just to work hard, and I'm pretty sure Shane's in good condition. So we're going to put on one hell of a show on May 1."
Source: boxing.fanhouse.com
To say that Floyd Mayweather is confident is an understatement.
If the 33-year-old, unbeaten, five-time champion doens't truly believe he's better than Sugar Ray Robinson and Muhammad Ali, he's at least saying that he does.
"Why not? I take my hat off to them. I got respect for Sugar Ray Robinson. I've got respect for Muhammad Ali. But I'm a man just like they're men, I put on my pants just like they put on their pants. What makes them any better than I am? Because they fought a thousand fights?" asked Mayweather, who is 40-0, with 25 knockouts, during Thursday's conference call with reporters.
"In my era, it's totally different [from those of Robinson and Ali]. You know? It's pay-per-view now, so things change. It's out with the old and in with the new," said Mayweather. "Like I said, Muhammad Ali is one hell of a fighter. But Floyd Mayweather is the best. Sugar Ray Robinson is one hell of a fighter, but Floyd Mayweather is the best."
Mayweather will get a chance to prove his assertions in what could be the biggest test of his career on May 1, when he takes on 38-year-old WBA welterweight (147 pounds) champion, Shane Mosley (46-5, 39 KOs), at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
But even in victory, Mayweather does not believe that his critics will give him credit. He doesn't feel as if they ever do.
"I've been dominating since the 90's. That's what we talk about when you talk about what I've been doing. Like I said before, when guys like this [Manny Pacquiao or Shane Mosley] fight Oscar De la Hoya, they say, 'Oh, it's unbelievable.' But when I fight De la Hoya, they said, 'De la Hoya's washed up,'" said Mayweather.
"See? It's things like this that I don't like," said Mayweather. "So when I go out and beat Mosley, they're going to go say he's over the hill. It's always an excuse. But they don't talk about how I won a title in one year. I had the title all throughout my career, retired, came back, and beat the number two dude, pound-for-pound."
Mayweather is facing the largest opponent he ever has during the course of what is surely a Hall of Fame career in Mosley, who is coming off of January's ninth-round knockout of Antonio Margarito, stopping the hard-punching Mexican fighter for the first time in his career and dethroning him as WBA titlist.
A former IBF lightweight champion, Mosley has fought at welterweight or higher exclusively since relinquishing his lightweight belt in 1999, including seven bouts at junior middleweight (154 pounds), and one other at 148 pounds -- an April, 2005 decision over David Estrada.
At junior middleweight, Mosley has twice stopped former world champion, Fernando Vargas, knocked out former world titlist, Ricardo Mayorga, and earned his second win over former world champ, de la Hoya -- the latter for the WBC and WBA crowns in September of 2003.
Mosley also twice lost to Winky Wright at 154 pounds.
Meanwhile, Mayweather has fought at welterweight five times, and, once as a junior middleweight, weighing 150 pounds against the 154-pound de la Hoya during his May, 2007 split-decision victory.
Mayweather's welterweight victories were knockouts of Sharmba Mitchell and Ricky Hatton, and decisions over Zab Judah, Carlos Baldomir, and, Juan Manuel Marquez, with Marquez, and, Hatton, respectively, rising from lightweight (135 pounds), and, junior welterweight (140 pounds) to face him.
Mayweather, however, does not see Mosley's size or his power as any sort of advantage.
"Mosley's a fighter that's always worried about landing that one punch. He worries about being strong, and I worry about being smart. So we approach the fight in two, totally different ways," said Mayweather.
"I think Shane may be loading up with wide shots, and kind of not using a forward jab, and I use a forward jab," said Mayweather. "When I shoot my shots, I look at my opponents and I look where I'm punching at. When Shane punches a lot, he closes his eyes when you go back and you look at some of his fights."
Mayweather-Mosley materialized following the disintegration of talks between Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao for a potential mega fight -- this as a result of the fighters' failure to agree on the role of drug testing for their bout.
Mayweather and Mosley, who has admitted past steroid use, are each being randomly tested by the United States Anti-Doping Agency.
Pacquiao, meanwhile, elected not to be randomly tested, a subject that remains a sore one with Mayweather.
"All I'm saying, if you're a clean athlete, take your test. That's all I'm saying. That's all I've got to say. If you're a clean athlete, take the test," said Mayweather. "Show the world, you know what, I'm a natural. Take the test, that's all I say. Let them come get you at any time and take the test."
Asked whether Mosley or Pacquiao should be considered among those on a list that would include himself, Robinson and Ali, Mayweather responded to the negative, questioning their credentials.
"I can't see Mosley talk about putting himself as a future Hall of Famer. This was a guy who we don't know how long he was taking enhancement drugs. So this is something that we don't know. Okay, Manny Pacquiao struggled twice -- which we really know he got beat -- but he struggled twice with Marquez, which we know he really lost, right?" said Mayweather.
"And we know he's been knocked out twice. And he's been out-boxed by Erik Morales, but they still give him boxer of the Decade. He beat a Ricky Hatton that got stretched by me," said Mayweather. "I'm trying to find out what it really is. That's not for me to choose. That's not for me to put him in the Hall of Fame."
And what bout himself?
"I don't know, I can't say how this fight matches up, but I think I'm a 15-round fighter. I think I'll show the world that I'm always in tiptop shape, and I'm in the best condition," said Mayweather.
"You know, the guys [HBO's camera crew] from 24/7, they say that they went to every other fighter's camp, and they went to some other guys' camps, some mixed martial arts guys, and they said they always ask them, "Well who works the hardest?' And they say 'Well, hands-down, Floyd Mayweather,'" said Mayweather.
"Nobody pushes to the limit like I do, so I was happy when I heard that," said Mayweather. "Like I said before, the only thing I want to do is just be the best. So I'm going to continue just to work hard, and I'm pretty sure Shane's in good condition. So we're going to put on one hell of a show on May 1."
Source: boxing.fanhouse.com
It’s ‘make-or-break time’ for Cris Arreola -- Los Angeles Times
By Lance Pugmire, Los Angeles Times
Cris Arreola still tells the jokes — "I want to thank Corona for building a heavyweight," he said recently — but he's aware the flab has lost its humor.
"It's very important that I start showcasing my skills," Arreola, 29, said as he wrapped up preparation for Saturday's heavyweight bout against former world light-heavyweight and cruiserweight champion Tomasz Adamek (40-1, 27 knockouts) at Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario. "I want to solidify the work of the people around me, show that [my promoter] isn't blowing smoke. I still have a lot to prove to myself."
Riverside's Arreola (28-1, 25 KOs) is seven months removed from his one-sided loss to world heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko at Staples Center, when Arreola's trainer Henry Ramirez threw in the towel after 10 rounds.
Arreola has since confessed that he started training for that bout at 295 pounds, and Ramirez has scolded his fighter for disappearing during past training camps.
"When I disappear, I stay at home and play video games," Arreola said, denying that he's used the down time to drink beer and eat fatty foods. But he had a taste of a heavyweight title opportunity, and now says he aches for another.
"Once I lost to Klitschko, I realized it's make-or-break time for me," Arreola said. "My first question to [promoter] Dan [Goossen] after I lost was, ‘When can I fight again?' I hate losing. I don't want to be labeled a loser."
Arreola retained a new conditioning trainer, Darryl Hudson, who formerly worked with Shane Mosley and consults Winky Wright and super-middleweight Andre Dirrell.
"Cris' transformation is a process, mentally and physically, getting him to understand it takes a new lifestyle to become a world champion," Hudson said. "He sees progress now, and it spurs him to do better."
Hudson says Arreola will call him from a restaurant and ask, "Is this OK to eat?" They have spent weeks running up and down college stadium stairs, along the track, throwing medicine balls.
Still, for all that training Arreola weighed in this week at 250 1/2 pounds for the Adamek fight, only half a pound lighter than for the Klitschko bout.
"He knows he's got to show he's not just a come-forward, hit-me-in-the-chin kind of guy. You'll see a quicker, lighter, more nimble Cris Arreola," Hudson said.
Nimble? A description for Cris Arreola?
Now that's funny.
lance.pugmire@latimes.com
Copyright © 2010, The Los Angeles Times
Source: latimes.com
Cris Arreola still tells the jokes — "I want to thank Corona for building a heavyweight," he said recently — but he's aware the flab has lost its humor.
"It's very important that I start showcasing my skills," Arreola, 29, said as he wrapped up preparation for Saturday's heavyweight bout against former world light-heavyweight and cruiserweight champion Tomasz Adamek (40-1, 27 knockouts) at Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario. "I want to solidify the work of the people around me, show that [my promoter] isn't blowing smoke. I still have a lot to prove to myself."
Riverside's Arreola (28-1, 25 KOs) is seven months removed from his one-sided loss to world heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko at Staples Center, when Arreola's trainer Henry Ramirez threw in the towel after 10 rounds.
Arreola has since confessed that he started training for that bout at 295 pounds, and Ramirez has scolded his fighter for disappearing during past training camps.
"When I disappear, I stay at home and play video games," Arreola said, denying that he's used the down time to drink beer and eat fatty foods. But he had a taste of a heavyweight title opportunity, and now says he aches for another.
"Once I lost to Klitschko, I realized it's make-or-break time for me," Arreola said. "My first question to [promoter] Dan [Goossen] after I lost was, ‘When can I fight again?' I hate losing. I don't want to be labeled a loser."
Arreola retained a new conditioning trainer, Darryl Hudson, who formerly worked with Shane Mosley and consults Winky Wright and super-middleweight Andre Dirrell.
"Cris' transformation is a process, mentally and physically, getting him to understand it takes a new lifestyle to become a world champion," Hudson said. "He sees progress now, and it spurs him to do better."
Hudson says Arreola will call him from a restaurant and ask, "Is this OK to eat?" They have spent weeks running up and down college stadium stairs, along the track, throwing medicine balls.
Still, for all that training Arreola weighed in this week at 250 1/2 pounds for the Adamek fight, only half a pound lighter than for the Klitschko bout.
"He knows he's got to show he's not just a come-forward, hit-me-in-the-chin kind of guy. You'll see a quicker, lighter, more nimble Cris Arreola," Hudson said.
Nimble? A description for Cris Arreola?
Now that's funny.
lance.pugmire@latimes.com
Copyright © 2010, The Los Angeles Times
Source: latimes.com
Munroe wins world title shot -- Sky Sports
Sky Sports
Rendall Munroe's fairytale will take him all the way to a world title fight after he stopped Victor Terrazas in the ninth round of the WBC super bantamweight eliminator in Coventry.
European champion Munroe made a sluggish start at the Coventry Skydome, with the Mexican looking a strong and lively competitor.
Leicester bin man Munroe took a full five rounds to truly get a foothold in the contest, with Terrazas controlling the tempo of the fight and looking much more comfortable despite his four-day trip from Guadalajara.
As Munroe started to impose himself, however, Terrazas seemed to struggle with the Englishman's size and strength and the Mexican's tank seemed to empty pretty quickly.
Terrazas spent almost half of round six pinned in a neutral corner and merely covering up and offering very few shots in return.
Dictating
Munroe was now dictating matters, and his work rate smothered Terrazas who was glancing at his corner and taking big gulps of oxygen to try and get through the rounds.
Rounds seven and eight were all Munroe, and a minute into the ninth all the work finally paid off as a left hand to the body sent Terrazas to his knee.
The Mexican made the count at eight, but he clearly wanted out and referee John Keats took that same view and waved the fight off.
"It was brilliant," Munroe told Sky Sports. "With my team around me we've been working on a few things. I always said it was my childhood dream to go and be a world champion.
"They said to me before the fight I had to go out there and win in style - and I did that and showed the Mexican how to fight.
"That was the plan, everyone knows I'm like a steam train, you just have to chuck a bit of coal in me but once I'm going I'm chugging right on through."
Title fight
Frank Maloney said that he will try and bring a WBC title fight with Japan's Toshiaki Nishioka to Britain, but Munroe may have to travel to the Far East to try and achieve his dream.
"We don't know," said Maloney. "We've got the under hand in a pack of cards, but we'll try our best to hold it here because he deserves it.
"This is the story of a real fighting hero that's come up the hard way. Midland area, British, Commonwealth, European and now world title.
"This is what boxing's all about - he's a credit to the sport."
Source: skysports.com
Rendall Munroe's fairytale will take him all the way to a world title fight after he stopped Victor Terrazas in the ninth round of the WBC super bantamweight eliminator in Coventry.
European champion Munroe made a sluggish start at the Coventry Skydome, with the Mexican looking a strong and lively competitor.
Leicester bin man Munroe took a full five rounds to truly get a foothold in the contest, with Terrazas controlling the tempo of the fight and looking much more comfortable despite his four-day trip from Guadalajara.
As Munroe started to impose himself, however, Terrazas seemed to struggle with the Englishman's size and strength and the Mexican's tank seemed to empty pretty quickly.
Terrazas spent almost half of round six pinned in a neutral corner and merely covering up and offering very few shots in return.
Dictating
Munroe was now dictating matters, and his work rate smothered Terrazas who was glancing at his corner and taking big gulps of oxygen to try and get through the rounds.
Rounds seven and eight were all Munroe, and a minute into the ninth all the work finally paid off as a left hand to the body sent Terrazas to his knee.
The Mexican made the count at eight, but he clearly wanted out and referee John Keats took that same view and waved the fight off.
"It was brilliant," Munroe told Sky Sports. "With my team around me we've been working on a few things. I always said it was my childhood dream to go and be a world champion.
"They said to me before the fight I had to go out there and win in style - and I did that and showed the Mexican how to fight.
"That was the plan, everyone knows I'm like a steam train, you just have to chuck a bit of coal in me but once I'm going I'm chugging right on through."
Title fight
Frank Maloney said that he will try and bring a WBC title fight with Japan's Toshiaki Nishioka to Britain, but Munroe may have to travel to the Far East to try and achieve his dream.
"We don't know," said Maloney. "We've got the under hand in a pack of cards, but we'll try our best to hold it here because he deserves it.
"This is the story of a real fighting hero that's come up the hard way. Midland area, British, Commonwealth, European and now world title.
"This is what boxing's all about - he's a credit to the sport."
Source: skysports.com
Rendall Munroe stops Victor Terrazas to earn shot at WBC super-bantamweight title -- Telegraph
By Gareth A Davies, Telegraph.co.uk
After losing the opening four rounds, Munroe, a binman in Leicester by day, and enjoying popular local support, wore the South American down, trapping Terrazas on the ropes until, in the ninth round, referee John Keane stopped the contest after he had seen the exhausted visiting fighter barely respond with a punch for almost two rounds.
South paw Munroe - 21 wins, one loss - may now have to go to Japan to face champion Nishioka. He looked very strong at the 8st 10lb weight limit, and looked very powerful in the second third of the fight, dominating the Mexican.
Terrazas, ranked No 3 in the world, and No 9 on the WBC rankings, had not lost for seven years, in a 26-fight unbeaten run. It was his first fight outside South America.
The Mexican, from Guadalajara, who had endured a torturous 96-hour journey by air and road, chauffeur-driven from Madrid, due to the volcanic eruption last week in Iceland, looked slick in the early rounds of the fight, showing a great command of range, and speed with his jab and straight tight.
However, strength, determination, and focus from the honest professional Munroe — who had taken six weeks away from his bin round in preparation for this fight — won him the second third of the 12-round contest, his power and stamina eventually wearing his victim down in the ninth round.
A great victory which sets up the prospect of Munroe becoming another world champion from Britain.
Round-by-round: How Munroe-Terrazas unfolded:
(1) Terrazas's round. Bit busier 10-9.
(2) Munroe lands good left, Terrazas gets off a one-two and a clutch of clean shots. Munroe needs to step in more. Terrazas's round 10-9
(3) Munroe lacking belief, showing his opponent too much respect. Terrazas looking looser, gets more punches off. Terrazas's round again 10-9.
(4) Much livelier start to the round, Munroe steps in more, good arcing right hook from the Mexican. Terrazas hit on the back of the head, complains, fight is stopped. I have Terrazas winning the round again. 10-9. Between rounds Mike Shinfield, Munroe’s trainer, tells him to break the Mexican’s heart.
(5) Munroe looking stronger, six left hands land. Munroe caught by a left hand. Heavy left hand to the head from Munroe, then a body shot. The Mexican looks tired. Munroe’s round, Terrazas blowing 10-9.
(6) Munroe now dictating the fight, on the ropes, chipping away at the South American’s head and body. Terrazas comes back with upper cut and body shot. Munroe 10-9.
(7) Terrazas tries to stand off again, not dictating any longer. Backing off more. Munroe lands with a right. Terrazas glances at his corner. Munroe’s strength beginning to tell. Munroe walking through the Mexican’s punches. Munroe again 10-9.
(8) Munroe pressing again, working his opponent on the ropes, imposing himself. Munroe has the bit between his teeth, alternates between head and body, the Mexican is slowing, Terrazas gulping for air, no longer throwing.
Terrazas now exhausted, just hanging on, throws his first punch for two minutes. Munroe 10-9. Mike Shinfield tells Munroe he is even in the fight. Spot on. Completely agree. First four Terrazas, second four Munroe.
(9) Terrazas warned for holding. Munroe has the Mexican back on the ropes, then down. John Keane says he has seen enough. Arguably a tad premature but Terrazas looked like he had nothing left TKO win for Munroe, who will now get a WBC world title shot.
Source: telegraph.co.uk
After losing the opening four rounds, Munroe, a binman in Leicester by day, and enjoying popular local support, wore the South American down, trapping Terrazas on the ropes until, in the ninth round, referee John Keane stopped the contest after he had seen the exhausted visiting fighter barely respond with a punch for almost two rounds.
South paw Munroe - 21 wins, one loss - may now have to go to Japan to face champion Nishioka. He looked very strong at the 8st 10lb weight limit, and looked very powerful in the second third of the fight, dominating the Mexican.
Terrazas, ranked No 3 in the world, and No 9 on the WBC rankings, had not lost for seven years, in a 26-fight unbeaten run. It was his first fight outside South America.
The Mexican, from Guadalajara, who had endured a torturous 96-hour journey by air and road, chauffeur-driven from Madrid, due to the volcanic eruption last week in Iceland, looked slick in the early rounds of the fight, showing a great command of range, and speed with his jab and straight tight.
However, strength, determination, and focus from the honest professional Munroe — who had taken six weeks away from his bin round in preparation for this fight — won him the second third of the 12-round contest, his power and stamina eventually wearing his victim down in the ninth round.
A great victory which sets up the prospect of Munroe becoming another world champion from Britain.
Round-by-round: How Munroe-Terrazas unfolded:
(1) Terrazas's round. Bit busier 10-9.
(2) Munroe lands good left, Terrazas gets off a one-two and a clutch of clean shots. Munroe needs to step in more. Terrazas's round 10-9
(3) Munroe lacking belief, showing his opponent too much respect. Terrazas looking looser, gets more punches off. Terrazas's round again 10-9.
(4) Much livelier start to the round, Munroe steps in more, good arcing right hook from the Mexican. Terrazas hit on the back of the head, complains, fight is stopped. I have Terrazas winning the round again. 10-9. Between rounds Mike Shinfield, Munroe’s trainer, tells him to break the Mexican’s heart.
(5) Munroe looking stronger, six left hands land. Munroe caught by a left hand. Heavy left hand to the head from Munroe, then a body shot. The Mexican looks tired. Munroe’s round, Terrazas blowing 10-9.
(6) Munroe now dictating the fight, on the ropes, chipping away at the South American’s head and body. Terrazas comes back with upper cut and body shot. Munroe 10-9.
(7) Terrazas tries to stand off again, not dictating any longer. Backing off more. Munroe lands with a right. Terrazas glances at his corner. Munroe’s strength beginning to tell. Munroe walking through the Mexican’s punches. Munroe again 10-9.
(8) Munroe pressing again, working his opponent on the ropes, imposing himself. Munroe has the bit between his teeth, alternates between head and body, the Mexican is slowing, Terrazas gulping for air, no longer throwing.
Terrazas now exhausted, just hanging on, throws his first punch for two minutes. Munroe 10-9. Mike Shinfield tells Munroe he is even in the fight. Spot on. Completely agree. First four Terrazas, second four Munroe.
(9) Terrazas warned for holding. Munroe has the Mexican back on the ropes, then down. John Keane says he has seen enough. Arguably a tad premature but Terrazas looked like he had nothing left TKO win for Munroe, who will now get a WBC world title shot.
Source: telegraph.co.uk
Carl Froch ready to take on Mikkel Kessler despite ear infection -- The Guardian
By Kevin Mitchell, Guardian.co.uk
Carl Froch knows there is more than his unbeaten record and WBC super-middleweight title on the line against Mikkel Kessler in the quiet depths of rural Denmark tomorrow night. As he moves into the third section of Showtime's Super Six Series to find the world's best 12-stone fighter, he is seeking to extend a sequence of wins against elite boxers that would lift him above any British world champion of recent times.
After six years on the periphery of the big time, the 32-year-old Nottingham fighter strung together victories of varying types and quality against the tough young Jean Pascal, followed by a still competitive Jermain Taylor and the awkward American prospect Andre Dirrell – with Kessler and the remarkable Armenian Arthur Abraham to come.
If he wins at a packed Messencenter against Kessler, who gave Joe Calzaghe such a fright in 2007, Froch would probably meet the slick Andre Ward, who so embarrassed the Dane in Oakland last November. After that, depending on where he stands in the points table, he would again fight Dirrell – who was gifted a late disqualification win over Abraham but had looked impressive in the earlier rounds.
On top of that demanding schedule, Froch has also promised Pascal a rematch, which would be for the Canadian's WBC light-heavyweight title. If there is a shopping list better than that over the past 30 years or so, it has escaped the notice of this writer.
"He's already achieved his goals," his trainer, Robert McCracken, said at the weigh-in, where the champion hit the scales a pound under the 12st limit and Kessler weighed a quarter of a pound less. "This is the icing on the cake now, the next three fights especially. He's looking at the finish line and he can't wait to get into the ring."
It is going to be as physically demanding a challenge as the Pascal bout – voted fight of the year in 2008 – and Froch is against a seasoned opponent of proven pedigree fighting in front of 10,000 of his own fans, and a long way from Nottingham. This is the lightest Kessler has weighed in 14 fights over the past eight years. If he is nearing the exit after looking poor against Ward, there has been little evidence of it in his preparation.
"I'll need to be more of an animal in the ring," the popular Dane said. "I've been working on my footwork and have done 174 rounds of sparring. Maybe I have been too nice before." Not many of his 44 opponents in a distinguished career would agree with that. Kessler is among the best Europeans to have fought and won at world level at 12 stone, a former WBA champion who clearly wants to repair the damage done when he lost that title.
Despite an injury scare which proved to be little more than worries about an ear infection, Froch could hardly have had a better lead-up, either. There's nothing like a "mystery injury" to lend spice to a big fight and Froch created a minor stir in little Herning when he revealed he would be going in against Kessler with the sort of undisclosed "niggle" that has been almost a badge of honour throughout his career.
Froch prides himself on his ability to handle pain, from minor surgery without anaesthetics to getting through a fight with a broken hand, which he has done twice. This would not seem to be in that class.
Although he refused to talk about it, he is thought to have injured his ear in sparring and had it checked for any infections before being been passed fit to fight. "He's fine," McCracken said. "It happened ages ago. He will always have minor injuries because he trains right on the weight six weeks before a fight. That can make you more susceptible to small cuts and the like because he hardly has any body fat. It can make sparring a nightmare.
"But he has been in fantastic form in the gym and has been knocking a few of them over. He's been sparring with the likes of Danny McIntosh [English light-heavyweight champion], Colin Fish [the Canadian amateur star] and George Groves [the new Commonwealth super-middleweight champion]. George was really good, with a great attitude, but I pulled him out after a couple of rounds because Carl would just do too much damage. Fish, who is a bit of a superstar over there, went back after a week."
Source: guardian.co.uk
Carl Froch knows there is more than his unbeaten record and WBC super-middleweight title on the line against Mikkel Kessler in the quiet depths of rural Denmark tomorrow night. As he moves into the third section of Showtime's Super Six Series to find the world's best 12-stone fighter, he is seeking to extend a sequence of wins against elite boxers that would lift him above any British world champion of recent times.
After six years on the periphery of the big time, the 32-year-old Nottingham fighter strung together victories of varying types and quality against the tough young Jean Pascal, followed by a still competitive Jermain Taylor and the awkward American prospect Andre Dirrell – with Kessler and the remarkable Armenian Arthur Abraham to come.
If he wins at a packed Messencenter against Kessler, who gave Joe Calzaghe such a fright in 2007, Froch would probably meet the slick Andre Ward, who so embarrassed the Dane in Oakland last November. After that, depending on where he stands in the points table, he would again fight Dirrell – who was gifted a late disqualification win over Abraham but had looked impressive in the earlier rounds.
On top of that demanding schedule, Froch has also promised Pascal a rematch, which would be for the Canadian's WBC light-heavyweight title. If there is a shopping list better than that over the past 30 years or so, it has escaped the notice of this writer.
"He's already achieved his goals," his trainer, Robert McCracken, said at the weigh-in, where the champion hit the scales a pound under the 12st limit and Kessler weighed a quarter of a pound less. "This is the icing on the cake now, the next three fights especially. He's looking at the finish line and he can't wait to get into the ring."
It is going to be as physically demanding a challenge as the Pascal bout – voted fight of the year in 2008 – and Froch is against a seasoned opponent of proven pedigree fighting in front of 10,000 of his own fans, and a long way from Nottingham. This is the lightest Kessler has weighed in 14 fights over the past eight years. If he is nearing the exit after looking poor against Ward, there has been little evidence of it in his preparation.
"I'll need to be more of an animal in the ring," the popular Dane said. "I've been working on my footwork and have done 174 rounds of sparring. Maybe I have been too nice before." Not many of his 44 opponents in a distinguished career would agree with that. Kessler is among the best Europeans to have fought and won at world level at 12 stone, a former WBA champion who clearly wants to repair the damage done when he lost that title.
Despite an injury scare which proved to be little more than worries about an ear infection, Froch could hardly have had a better lead-up, either. There's nothing like a "mystery injury" to lend spice to a big fight and Froch created a minor stir in little Herning when he revealed he would be going in against Kessler with the sort of undisclosed "niggle" that has been almost a badge of honour throughout his career.
Froch prides himself on his ability to handle pain, from minor surgery without anaesthetics to getting through a fight with a broken hand, which he has done twice. This would not seem to be in that class.
Although he refused to talk about it, he is thought to have injured his ear in sparring and had it checked for any infections before being been passed fit to fight. "He's fine," McCracken said. "It happened ages ago. He will always have minor injuries because he trains right on the weight six weeks before a fight. That can make you more susceptible to small cuts and the like because he hardly has any body fat. It can make sparring a nightmare.
"But he has been in fantastic form in the gym and has been knocking a few of them over. He's been sparring with the likes of Danny McIntosh [English light-heavyweight champion], Colin Fish [the Canadian amateur star] and George Groves [the new Commonwealth super-middleweight champion]. George was really good, with a great attitude, but I pulled him out after a couple of rounds because Carl would just do too much damage. Fish, who is a bit of a superstar over there, went back after a week."
Source: guardian.co.uk
‘Canelo’ named Pan Am ambassador -- Guadalajara Reporter
By Tom Marshall, Guadalajara Reporter
Jalisco Governor Emilio Gonzalez this week dropped into the gym where boxer Saul “Canelo” Alvarez trains to wish him luck for his upcoming May 1 Las Vegas fight and invite him to be an ambassador of the Pan American Games 2011.
In a statement directed at Canelo, the governor said: “We’ve come, Canelo, to see you train a little and tell you that it fills us with pride to see you representing the state of Jalisco so honorably.”
Continued Gonzalez: “We want to invite you to become an ambassador for the Pan American Games Guadalajara 2011.”
Canelo, 19, the WBC Youth World Champion, joins GP2 race driver Sergio Perez and golfer Lorena Ochoa as ambassadors of the games.
“I’m happy, it’s a great responsibility,” answered Canelo. “It’s something I’ve earned little-by-little, but there’s still a lot of work to do.”
Canelo is currently in Las Vegas for his first fight on U.S. soil.
The young Tapatio is set to square up against Puerto Rican Jose Miguel Cotto on the undercard of the Floyd Mayweather Jr. against Shane Mosley showdown on May 1.
It’s the biggest fight of Canelo’s short career but it’s a chance to show the big dollar U.S. boxing market that the pale, red-headed, freckled Mexican really is the next potentially great fighter to come from south of the border.
The fight will be shown on Televisa on Saturday, May 1, with the program starting from 10:30 p.m.
Source: guadalajarareporter.com
Jalisco Governor Emilio Gonzalez this week dropped into the gym where boxer Saul “Canelo” Alvarez trains to wish him luck for his upcoming May 1 Las Vegas fight and invite him to be an ambassador of the Pan American Games 2011.
In a statement directed at Canelo, the governor said: “We’ve come, Canelo, to see you train a little and tell you that it fills us with pride to see you representing the state of Jalisco so honorably.”
Continued Gonzalez: “We want to invite you to become an ambassador for the Pan American Games Guadalajara 2011.”
Canelo, 19, the WBC Youth World Champion, joins GP2 race driver Sergio Perez and golfer Lorena Ochoa as ambassadors of the games.
“I’m happy, it’s a great responsibility,” answered Canelo. “It’s something I’ve earned little-by-little, but there’s still a lot of work to do.”
Canelo is currently in Las Vegas for his first fight on U.S. soil.
The young Tapatio is set to square up against Puerto Rican Jose Miguel Cotto on the undercard of the Floyd Mayweather Jr. against Shane Mosley showdown on May 1.
It’s the biggest fight of Canelo’s short career but it’s a chance to show the big dollar U.S. boxing market that the pale, red-headed, freckled Mexican really is the next potentially great fighter to come from south of the border.
The fight will be shown on Televisa on Saturday, May 1, with the program starting from 10:30 p.m.
Source: guadalajarareporter.com
Adamek welcomes challenge against bigger Arreola -- USA Today
By Greg Beacham, AP Sports Writer
LOS ANGELES — Tomasz Adamek has risen through boxing's highest weight classes with impressive speed for three years now, steadily knocking off bigger and bigger opponents.
Title contenders don't come much bigger than Chris Arreola, and the fighters' 33-pound weight difference is just one reason their meeting in Ontario, Calif., is so intriguing.
No major titles or unbeaten records are on the line Saturday night at Citizens Business Bank Arena, just a short drive from Arreola's native Riverside. Arreola's meeting with Adamek merely is a competitive, tough-to-predict meeting of two top heavyweights and the type of bout that should occur much more often at boxing's elite levels, both fighters believe.
"It's great to get out there and see what happens against the best fighters," Arreola said. "He's not scared of me, and I know I'm not scared of anybody."
Both boxers could have taken simpler routes to title shots, but Arreola (28-1, 25 KOs) took just one tuneup fight after losing to WBC champion Vitali Klitschko in Los Angeles seven months ago before accepting a meeting with Adamek (40-1, 27 KOs), the former light heavyweight and cruiserweight champion who has won nine straight bouts.
"I'm glad I lost," Arreola said this week while getting his hands taped for a public workout across the street from Staples Center. "It humbles people. You gain a lot from losing. I lost for the heavyweight championship. I got my shot, and I'm going to get it again. I was ready last time, and it made me more prepared for fights like this, against guys like Adamek."
The Polish star also is taking a major risk against Arreola by fighting a bigger opponent in his own backyard. Although Arreola has significantly improved his conditioning in the past year, the hard-hitting brawler weighed in Thursday at 250 pounds, while the disciplined, speedy Adamek was a trim 217.
Adamek scoffs at the notion of a size advantage for Arreola.
"I don't know if you've noticed, but I am a little taller," Adamek said. "He is bigger by 25 or 30 pounds, but I don't pay attention to size too much. I'm trying to prepare myself to fight whatever the other guy brings to the ring. If he wants to brawl with me, I will do everything to discourage him to do it."
Adamek fights out of New Jersey, but trained for this bout in Houston after partnering with new trainer Ronnie Shields. He has developed a strong fan following both in his native country and the tri-state area, where he considers the Prudential Center in Newark the site of four of his last five fights to be his home arena.
Many of his European fans won't make it to his first fight on the West Coast and even more were forced to stay home after their flights were canceled by Iceland's volcanic eruption.
"I never had that easy career or easy life," Adamek said. "I don't like easy things. If you know how I can be a world champion fighting easy guys, please let me know. If you want to be a world champion, you have to beat the guys they are putting in front of you. For sure I can make easier money fighting in Poland or New Jersey, but it's not me. It makes no point. The fans know I'm a warrior. I'm not fighting for an easy paycheck."
And though many European athletes have fallen in love with Los Angeles including the Klitschko brothers, who live part-time in Southern California don't count Adamek among them.
"I'll be back in Jersey on Sunday, so you'll have my answer how I like here," Adamek said. "I'm just doing my job here, and on Sunday, it's Jersey, here I come."
Adamek has dedicated the fight to the victims of the plane crash that killed Poland's president, his wife and 94 other people two weeks earlier.
Arreola claims his newfound dedication to conditioning under coach Darryl Hudson has turned him into a fitter, more durable fighter, even if the results haven't showed on the scales. He weighed in at 251 pounds before meeting Klitschko.
"Everything is coming along so much easier, and it's all translating perfectly in the ring," Arreola said. "If I would have been smart enough to hire a strength-and-conditioning coach three or four fights earlier, I know I would have beaten Klitschko. I know I'd already be champion. You know me, being hardheaded, I didn't listen, but that's how much difference it has made."
Before the main event in Ontario, Alfredo "Perro" Angulo will face Joel Julio in a 154-pound bout. Although the meeting of two big punchers is more intriguing than anything on the undercard of Floyd Mayweather Jr.'s meeting with Sugar Shane Mosley next weekend, Angulo claims he felt marginalized in the promotion of his high-stakes fight against Colombia's Julio.
Angulo (17-1, 14 KOs), a Los Angeles resident and likely crowd favorite, has won two straight since a narrow decision loss to Kermit Cintron last May. Julio (35-3, 31 KOs) has fought just once since getting stopped by James Kirkland in San Jose last year for his second straight loss.
Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Source: usatoday.com
LOS ANGELES — Tomasz Adamek has risen through boxing's highest weight classes with impressive speed for three years now, steadily knocking off bigger and bigger opponents.
Title contenders don't come much bigger than Chris Arreola, and the fighters' 33-pound weight difference is just one reason their meeting in Ontario, Calif., is so intriguing.
No major titles or unbeaten records are on the line Saturday night at Citizens Business Bank Arena, just a short drive from Arreola's native Riverside. Arreola's meeting with Adamek merely is a competitive, tough-to-predict meeting of two top heavyweights and the type of bout that should occur much more often at boxing's elite levels, both fighters believe.
"It's great to get out there and see what happens against the best fighters," Arreola said. "He's not scared of me, and I know I'm not scared of anybody."
Both boxers could have taken simpler routes to title shots, but Arreola (28-1, 25 KOs) took just one tuneup fight after losing to WBC champion Vitali Klitschko in Los Angeles seven months ago before accepting a meeting with Adamek (40-1, 27 KOs), the former light heavyweight and cruiserweight champion who has won nine straight bouts.
"I'm glad I lost," Arreola said this week while getting his hands taped for a public workout across the street from Staples Center. "It humbles people. You gain a lot from losing. I lost for the heavyweight championship. I got my shot, and I'm going to get it again. I was ready last time, and it made me more prepared for fights like this, against guys like Adamek."
The Polish star also is taking a major risk against Arreola by fighting a bigger opponent in his own backyard. Although Arreola has significantly improved his conditioning in the past year, the hard-hitting brawler weighed in Thursday at 250 pounds, while the disciplined, speedy Adamek was a trim 217.
Adamek scoffs at the notion of a size advantage for Arreola.
"I don't know if you've noticed, but I am a little taller," Adamek said. "He is bigger by 25 or 30 pounds, but I don't pay attention to size too much. I'm trying to prepare myself to fight whatever the other guy brings to the ring. If he wants to brawl with me, I will do everything to discourage him to do it."
Adamek fights out of New Jersey, but trained for this bout in Houston after partnering with new trainer Ronnie Shields. He has developed a strong fan following both in his native country and the tri-state area, where he considers the Prudential Center in Newark the site of four of his last five fights to be his home arena.
Many of his European fans won't make it to his first fight on the West Coast and even more were forced to stay home after their flights were canceled by Iceland's volcanic eruption.
"I never had that easy career or easy life," Adamek said. "I don't like easy things. If you know how I can be a world champion fighting easy guys, please let me know. If you want to be a world champion, you have to beat the guys they are putting in front of you. For sure I can make easier money fighting in Poland or New Jersey, but it's not me. It makes no point. The fans know I'm a warrior. I'm not fighting for an easy paycheck."
And though many European athletes have fallen in love with Los Angeles including the Klitschko brothers, who live part-time in Southern California don't count Adamek among them.
"I'll be back in Jersey on Sunday, so you'll have my answer how I like here," Adamek said. "I'm just doing my job here, and on Sunday, it's Jersey, here I come."
Adamek has dedicated the fight to the victims of the plane crash that killed Poland's president, his wife and 94 other people two weeks earlier.
Arreola claims his newfound dedication to conditioning under coach Darryl Hudson has turned him into a fitter, more durable fighter, even if the results haven't showed on the scales. He weighed in at 251 pounds before meeting Klitschko.
"Everything is coming along so much easier, and it's all translating perfectly in the ring," Arreola said. "If I would have been smart enough to hire a strength-and-conditioning coach three or four fights earlier, I know I would have beaten Klitschko. I know I'd already be champion. You know me, being hardheaded, I didn't listen, but that's how much difference it has made."
Before the main event in Ontario, Alfredo "Perro" Angulo will face Joel Julio in a 154-pound bout. Although the meeting of two big punchers is more intriguing than anything on the undercard of Floyd Mayweather Jr.'s meeting with Sugar Shane Mosley next weekend, Angulo claims he felt marginalized in the promotion of his high-stakes fight against Colombia's Julio.
Angulo (17-1, 14 KOs), a Los Angeles resident and likely crowd favorite, has won two straight since a narrow decision loss to Kermit Cintron last May. Julio (35-3, 31 KOs) has fought just once since getting stopped by James Kirkland in San Jose last year for his second straight loss.
Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Source: usatoday.com
Q&A Judd Burstein, Boxing Lawyer To The Stars -- FanHouse
By Lem Satterfield, FanHouse
Attorney Judd Burstein has had a seven-year working relationship with WBA welterweight (147 pounds) champion Shane Mosley, but the outspoken lawyer's been involved in associations with a number of other big names in the boxing game over the years.
The 56-year-old Burstein has taken on cases for Manny Pacquiao, Oscar de la Hoya, Lennox Lewis, Francois Botha and Terry Norris -- the last three against promoter Don King, whom Burstein later represented as well.
Burstein is also the lawyer for Golden Boy Promotions' CEO Richard Schaefer against Pacquiao in the latter's defamation of character suit, which names as defendants Schaefer, de la Hoya, Floyd Mayweather Sr., and Roger Mayweather, the latter of whom is the trainer for boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Burstein, who is representing Mosley in the boxer's libel and defamation of character suit against BALCO founder Victor Conte, addressed his varying roles and experiences in the sport with FanHouse in this Q&A -- the first of an occasional series.
FanHouse: List some big name boxers you've represented and against whom?
Judd Burstein: I started out representing Terry Norris against Don King in 1997. That was my first really big boxing case, and it had to do with getting Norris out of a fight against Felix Trinidad so that he could potentially fight Oscar de la Hoya.
But the problem ended up being that Terry lost the next fight after I represented him. I then represented Francois Botha and got him out of his contract with Don King, and that was maybe in 1998. The next major event was in 2001, where I received a call from Lennox Lewis' people about representing him.
What was the situation with Lennox Lewis?
Lennox had just lost to Hasim Rahman, and on top of it, he was in a dispute with his promoter at the time, Panos Eliadis. Lawyers sometimes have incredible streaks of luck. They can be talented, but they still have great runs. My run was that I tried the case against Rahman and King for Lewis to bar Rahman from refusing to give Lewis the rematch.
And we got the order that barred Rahman from fighting for 18 months unless he first fought Lennox, and, of course, Lennox beat him in the rematch. Then after that, in 2002, I won what was about an $8 million racketeering verdict for Lennox against Panos Eliadis.
There was also a $1 million verdict that I won against Lennox's former lawyer, Milton Chwasky.
You were involved with Lennox Lewis for quite a while, weren't you?
Well, for a while, Lennox had a very weak manager in terms of being a guy who wanted to do the work. So I learned the business because I played such a major role in the Lewis and Mike Tyson fight, the Lewis-Vitali Klitschko fight.
Can you talk more about the Lewis-Tyson fight, which unified HBO, which had Lewis, and Showtime, which had Tyson?
One of the things that people don't know is how Shelly Finkel and I helped to engineer the Lewis-Tyson fight. I went to HBO, and Shelly went to Showtime, and we said, 'We're both going to lose our clients to Don King, who is going to start up a rival network, unless you can bring these two together.'
Don King is the one who was promising things to the fighters, and that's how we got HBO and Showtime to agree to do the joint broadcast.
Can you tell me about the work you were involved in with Manny Pacquiao?
The Manny Pacquiao case was about getting him out from under his contract with Murad Muhammad, and that was in 2005.
Are there any more cases involving Don King?
Another case that was won against Don King was where I represented Julio Cesar Chavez, and basically foiled King's efforts to stop the second De la Hoya-Chavez fight.
And then the other major victory in there against King, which was, I think, in 2003, was the $7.5 million settlement that I got from King in the Terry Norris case. That was a case where King settled after the jury came out after about 20 minutes asking for a magnifying glass and a calculator.
Why did they ask for a magnifying glass and a calculator?
Well, the magnifying glass was because the print on King's contracts was so small, and the calculator was obviously to count up how much money they were going to award to Norris. In 28 years, I've never had that experience.
Ironically, however, you've been the attorney for Don King recently, correct?
I've represented Don King on a couple of things.
How did that arrangement come about?
I laugh about it now, but he's a brilliant guy. King managed to come up with a theory to sue me in England for libel. At the time, it was a landmark case in England. If it had happened today, I would have won.
But the issue was whether an American who exercises his right to an opinion under the First Ammendment, speaking to an American reporter on an American website, can be sued in England merely because someone downloads the article there.
The English courts said that I was subject to the jurisdiction of the English courts, and it was, even with insurance, starting to cost me an incredible amount of money -- I mean, hundreds and hundreds of thousands of dollars.
King used that to some degree as leverage to have me come and represent him.
What were the cases you represented him on?
I did some consulting for him, but I only represented him really on only one major case. I represented him in the case against Bernard Hopkins. It was an arbitration. Basically, it was fought to a draw.
King collected some money. But on the other hand, Hopkins' claims were essentially thrown out. So I considered it a draw.
Weren't you also involved in the Bernard Hopkins-Lou DiBella disputes?
Yes, I also tried the Lou DiBella against Bernard Hopkins defamation case, which I won for DiBella. I think that I represented Lou DiBella once in a dispute with Jermain Taylor, and I also represented Diego Corrales.
When did you start working with Shane Mosley?
After Lennox retired, I met Shane. I've stayed active in Shane's career in varying degrees since 2003.
Can you think of any other major fighters you've worked with that we haven't yet named?
I represented Antonio Tarver, and I think that's the only boxing case that I ever lost. I've also recently represented Beibut Shumenov. But since 2007, for the most part, and over the last two years, I had really gotten out of the business.
The only people I have been working for, with the exception of Beibut Shumenov, are Golden Boy Promotions, Oscar de la Hoya, and Shane. Really, I'm a trial lawyer, and the boxing business accounts for nor more than 10 percent of my practice.
What is the rest of your practice?
I'm a trial lawyer, I try every kind of case imaginable. Construction cases, insurance disputes, securities fraud, other kinds of fraud, racketeering, divorce, criminal cases -- you name it.
From my perspective, what a trial lawyer does is -- people may know more about a copyright, for example, but they can't do what I can do in terms of litigating a copyright dispute. People come and hire me for all sorts of things.
Why do you consider yourself a good attorney for an athlete or a boxer to have?
As a general rule, I am not interested in doing the general representation of athletes. For Shane Mosley, I'm happy to do it because I have a seven-year relationship with him. That's not to say that I wouldn't represent anybody if it was the right person coming along.
But it's just that I'm not prepared to do it as a general rule. I much prefer being a litigator. But one of the things that I love about what I do is that I can win a case without initially knowing anything about the subject.
Three years ago, I tried a very detailed construction case which involved poorly installed heating and air conditioning systems. I knew nothing about it. I had to learn it for the trial.
But now, I know nothing about it again, because I'm like a bathtub -- I fill up with knowledge and then it's gone.
Is it the same for you with boxing?
Well, with boxing, if you've done the business work for Lennox Lewis and Shane Mosley, you can sort of do this stuff in your sleep for anybody else.
Can you recall some of the things you have said -- some would call them outrageous things -- in the newspapers about cases or clients?
Well I once said of Don King that, 'He's the cancer, and I'm the chemotherapy.' But the worst one, and, maybe the one that I regret was many years ago, maybe 11 years ago. I wrote a letter to somebody that my client was about to sue threatening to conduct a proctology exam on his finances.
That ended up with my being sanctioned $50,000 by the judge, having a reputation as being a 'Rambo lawyer,' and then, having that decision reversed on appeal.
But I can look back in retrospect and say, 'You know, that was a stupid thing to say,' and I think that I can understand why the judge was upset with me doing it. I don't think that I did anything that warranted a sanction, but it's not the kind of thing that should be in a letter.
Why do you say such outrageous things?
Many times, it's a function of strategic choices that I make. If I can get the other side -- and not the lawyers, because I usually have great relationship with them. But if I can get the other side -- looking so crazy at me, it makes them more prone to make mistakes.
So you're like the Floyd Mayweather or Muhammad Ali of lawyers?
Well, I wouldn't say that.
What is one of your signature or favorite things that you've said or done?
One of my favorite things was in the Terry Norris case against Don King. And the jury was out, but they were coming back in. And as this was going on, I walked by Don King, who was reading the Bible.
I just walked past Don and I leaned over and said, 'Too Late.'
Source: boxing.fanhouse.com
Attorney Judd Burstein has had a seven-year working relationship with WBA welterweight (147 pounds) champion Shane Mosley, but the outspoken lawyer's been involved in associations with a number of other big names in the boxing game over the years.
The 56-year-old Burstein has taken on cases for Manny Pacquiao, Oscar de la Hoya, Lennox Lewis, Francois Botha and Terry Norris -- the last three against promoter Don King, whom Burstein later represented as well.
Burstein is also the lawyer for Golden Boy Promotions' CEO Richard Schaefer against Pacquiao in the latter's defamation of character suit, which names as defendants Schaefer, de la Hoya, Floyd Mayweather Sr., and Roger Mayweather, the latter of whom is the trainer for boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Burstein, who is representing Mosley in the boxer's libel and defamation of character suit against BALCO founder Victor Conte, addressed his varying roles and experiences in the sport with FanHouse in this Q&A -- the first of an occasional series.
FanHouse: List some big name boxers you've represented and against whom?
Judd Burstein: I started out representing Terry Norris against Don King in 1997. That was my first really big boxing case, and it had to do with getting Norris out of a fight against Felix Trinidad so that he could potentially fight Oscar de la Hoya.
But the problem ended up being that Terry lost the next fight after I represented him. I then represented Francois Botha and got him out of his contract with Don King, and that was maybe in 1998. The next major event was in 2001, where I received a call from Lennox Lewis' people about representing him.
What was the situation with Lennox Lewis?
Lennox had just lost to Hasim Rahman, and on top of it, he was in a dispute with his promoter at the time, Panos Eliadis. Lawyers sometimes have incredible streaks of luck. They can be talented, but they still have great runs. My run was that I tried the case against Rahman and King for Lewis to bar Rahman from refusing to give Lewis the rematch.
And we got the order that barred Rahman from fighting for 18 months unless he first fought Lennox, and, of course, Lennox beat him in the rematch. Then after that, in 2002, I won what was about an $8 million racketeering verdict for Lennox against Panos Eliadis.
There was also a $1 million verdict that I won against Lennox's former lawyer, Milton Chwasky.
You were involved with Lennox Lewis for quite a while, weren't you?
Well, for a while, Lennox had a very weak manager in terms of being a guy who wanted to do the work. So I learned the business because I played such a major role in the Lewis and Mike Tyson fight, the Lewis-Vitali Klitschko fight.
Can you talk more about the Lewis-Tyson fight, which unified HBO, which had Lewis, and Showtime, which had Tyson?
One of the things that people don't know is how Shelly Finkel and I helped to engineer the Lewis-Tyson fight. I went to HBO, and Shelly went to Showtime, and we said, 'We're both going to lose our clients to Don King, who is going to start up a rival network, unless you can bring these two together.'
Don King is the one who was promising things to the fighters, and that's how we got HBO and Showtime to agree to do the joint broadcast.
Can you tell me about the work you were involved in with Manny Pacquiao?
The Manny Pacquiao case was about getting him out from under his contract with Murad Muhammad, and that was in 2005.
Are there any more cases involving Don King?
Another case that was won against Don King was where I represented Julio Cesar Chavez, and basically foiled King's efforts to stop the second De la Hoya-Chavez fight.
And then the other major victory in there against King, which was, I think, in 2003, was the $7.5 million settlement that I got from King in the Terry Norris case. That was a case where King settled after the jury came out after about 20 minutes asking for a magnifying glass and a calculator.
Why did they ask for a magnifying glass and a calculator?
Well, the magnifying glass was because the print on King's contracts was so small, and the calculator was obviously to count up how much money they were going to award to Norris. In 28 years, I've never had that experience.
Ironically, however, you've been the attorney for Don King recently, correct?
I've represented Don King on a couple of things.
How did that arrangement come about?
I laugh about it now, but he's a brilliant guy. King managed to come up with a theory to sue me in England for libel. At the time, it was a landmark case in England. If it had happened today, I would have won.
But the issue was whether an American who exercises his right to an opinion under the First Ammendment, speaking to an American reporter on an American website, can be sued in England merely because someone downloads the article there.
The English courts said that I was subject to the jurisdiction of the English courts, and it was, even with insurance, starting to cost me an incredible amount of money -- I mean, hundreds and hundreds of thousands of dollars.
King used that to some degree as leverage to have me come and represent him.
What were the cases you represented him on?
I did some consulting for him, but I only represented him really on only one major case. I represented him in the case against Bernard Hopkins. It was an arbitration. Basically, it was fought to a draw.
King collected some money. But on the other hand, Hopkins' claims were essentially thrown out. So I considered it a draw.
Weren't you also involved in the Bernard Hopkins-Lou DiBella disputes?
Yes, I also tried the Lou DiBella against Bernard Hopkins defamation case, which I won for DiBella. I think that I represented Lou DiBella once in a dispute with Jermain Taylor, and I also represented Diego Corrales.
When did you start working with Shane Mosley?
After Lennox retired, I met Shane. I've stayed active in Shane's career in varying degrees since 2003.
Can you think of any other major fighters you've worked with that we haven't yet named?
I represented Antonio Tarver, and I think that's the only boxing case that I ever lost. I've also recently represented Beibut Shumenov. But since 2007, for the most part, and over the last two years, I had really gotten out of the business.
The only people I have been working for, with the exception of Beibut Shumenov, are Golden Boy Promotions, Oscar de la Hoya, and Shane. Really, I'm a trial lawyer, and the boxing business accounts for nor more than 10 percent of my practice.
What is the rest of your practice?
I'm a trial lawyer, I try every kind of case imaginable. Construction cases, insurance disputes, securities fraud, other kinds of fraud, racketeering, divorce, criminal cases -- you name it.
From my perspective, what a trial lawyer does is -- people may know more about a copyright, for example, but they can't do what I can do in terms of litigating a copyright dispute. People come and hire me for all sorts of things.
Why do you consider yourself a good attorney for an athlete or a boxer to have?
As a general rule, I am not interested in doing the general representation of athletes. For Shane Mosley, I'm happy to do it because I have a seven-year relationship with him. That's not to say that I wouldn't represent anybody if it was the right person coming along.
But it's just that I'm not prepared to do it as a general rule. I much prefer being a litigator. But one of the things that I love about what I do is that I can win a case without initially knowing anything about the subject.
Three years ago, I tried a very detailed construction case which involved poorly installed heating and air conditioning systems. I knew nothing about it. I had to learn it for the trial.
But now, I know nothing about it again, because I'm like a bathtub -- I fill up with knowledge and then it's gone.
Is it the same for you with boxing?
Well, with boxing, if you've done the business work for Lennox Lewis and Shane Mosley, you can sort of do this stuff in your sleep for anybody else.
Can you recall some of the things you have said -- some would call them outrageous things -- in the newspapers about cases or clients?
Well I once said of Don King that, 'He's the cancer, and I'm the chemotherapy.' But the worst one, and, maybe the one that I regret was many years ago, maybe 11 years ago. I wrote a letter to somebody that my client was about to sue threatening to conduct a proctology exam on his finances.
That ended up with my being sanctioned $50,000 by the judge, having a reputation as being a 'Rambo lawyer,' and then, having that decision reversed on appeal.
But I can look back in retrospect and say, 'You know, that was a stupid thing to say,' and I think that I can understand why the judge was upset with me doing it. I don't think that I did anything that warranted a sanction, but it's not the kind of thing that should be in a letter.
Why do you say such outrageous things?
Many times, it's a function of strategic choices that I make. If I can get the other side -- and not the lawyers, because I usually have great relationship with them. But if I can get the other side -- looking so crazy at me, it makes them more prone to make mistakes.
So you're like the Floyd Mayweather or Muhammad Ali of lawyers?
Well, I wouldn't say that.
What is one of your signature or favorite things that you've said or done?
One of my favorite things was in the Terry Norris case against Don King. And the jury was out, but they were coming back in. And as this was going on, I walked by Don King, who was reading the Bible.
I just walked past Don and I leaned over and said, 'Too Late.'
Source: boxing.fanhouse.com
Marco Antonio Barrera To Return On June 26th Duddy-Chavez Jr Card? -- Eastside Boxing
By James Slater, Eastside Boxing
When he was last seen in a ring, Mexican legend and former multi-weight world champion Marco Antonio Barrera was being out-pointed by the much faster Amir Khan, on the way to an eventual TD loss that came about due to a nasty cut Barrera picked up due to a butt that was ruled accidental. Afterwards, the then 35-year-old all-time great insisted that Khan never hurt him with any of his punches, and later still Marco's promoter Don King tried to get the decision overturned..
It was not to be, however, and Barrera, who slipped to 65-7(43) disappeared for over a year. Now, according to Box Rec, "The Baby Faced Assassin" will return to action on June 26th; when he will fight an as yet unknown foe on the Julio Cesar Chavez Junior-John Duddy bill in San Antonio, Texas. It's not clear which weight class Barrera will box in, how many rounds his comeback bout will be set for, or whether or not his opponent will be of the world class variety.
Prior to his upset loss to Khan in March of last year, Barrera had won two fights on the spin against limited opposition; these wins having followed his back-to-back points losses to Juan Manuel Marquez and Manny Pacquiao in 2007. Unless we're in for a real surprise, Barrera will almost certainly face a "so-so" type fighter in June.
The Khan fight showed us that Barrera can no longer handle speed, and it also showed us that he is even easier to hit these days (he was never all that tough to nail, even in his prime). The TD loss also showed that Barrera, if matched right, could perhaps still win a biggish fight or two. Certainly, though he was only able to really tag the elusive Khan with one good shot to the head in the entire 5-rounds, Barrera did not look like the typical "shot" fighter.
That fight was at lightweight, although Barrera's two wins before the loss to Khan took place at or around the light-welterweight mark. Who knows what weight the one-time bantamweight will come in at on June 26th. One thing that does spring to mind upon reading about Barrera's in-the-works return, though, is the possibility that he may soon be hooking up with one-time fierce rival Erik Morales. As fans know, "El Terrible," three years younger than Barrera, made his own successful ring return, up at full welterweight, back in March. Morales, 49-6(34) is set to try to follow up his points win over the useful Jose Alfaro with another winning fight, again in Mexico, on July 24th (thus far a TBA). Could we, then, soon be seeing a Barrera-Morales IV?
When last seen together, the two one-time heated rivals were all smiles as they posed for photos. Still, though the hatred they once had for one another has faded, it doesn't mean they won't fight again; especially if big money were offered. But would a fourth fight between the two legends generate big money? And at what weight would the two ageing warriors fight at?
We'll have to see how Barrera does on June 26th (and Morales on July 24th) before we can tell if there is any serious chance of the two "doing it again," but would you be shocked if they did fight for a fourth time?
Source: eastsideboxing.com
When he was last seen in a ring, Mexican legend and former multi-weight world champion Marco Antonio Barrera was being out-pointed by the much faster Amir Khan, on the way to an eventual TD loss that came about due to a nasty cut Barrera picked up due to a butt that was ruled accidental. Afterwards, the then 35-year-old all-time great insisted that Khan never hurt him with any of his punches, and later still Marco's promoter Don King tried to get the decision overturned..
It was not to be, however, and Barrera, who slipped to 65-7(43) disappeared for over a year. Now, according to Box Rec, "The Baby Faced Assassin" will return to action on June 26th; when he will fight an as yet unknown foe on the Julio Cesar Chavez Junior-John Duddy bill in San Antonio, Texas. It's not clear which weight class Barrera will box in, how many rounds his comeback bout will be set for, or whether or not his opponent will be of the world class variety.
Prior to his upset loss to Khan in March of last year, Barrera had won two fights on the spin against limited opposition; these wins having followed his back-to-back points losses to Juan Manuel Marquez and Manny Pacquiao in 2007. Unless we're in for a real surprise, Barrera will almost certainly face a "so-so" type fighter in June.
The Khan fight showed us that Barrera can no longer handle speed, and it also showed us that he is even easier to hit these days (he was never all that tough to nail, even in his prime). The TD loss also showed that Barrera, if matched right, could perhaps still win a biggish fight or two. Certainly, though he was only able to really tag the elusive Khan with one good shot to the head in the entire 5-rounds, Barrera did not look like the typical "shot" fighter.
That fight was at lightweight, although Barrera's two wins before the loss to Khan took place at or around the light-welterweight mark. Who knows what weight the one-time bantamweight will come in at on June 26th. One thing that does spring to mind upon reading about Barrera's in-the-works return, though, is the possibility that he may soon be hooking up with one-time fierce rival Erik Morales. As fans know, "El Terrible," three years younger than Barrera, made his own successful ring return, up at full welterweight, back in March. Morales, 49-6(34) is set to try to follow up his points win over the useful Jose Alfaro with another winning fight, again in Mexico, on July 24th (thus far a TBA). Could we, then, soon be seeing a Barrera-Morales IV?
When last seen together, the two one-time heated rivals were all smiles as they posed for photos. Still, though the hatred they once had for one another has faded, it doesn't mean they won't fight again; especially if big money were offered. But would a fourth fight between the two legends generate big money? And at what weight would the two ageing warriors fight at?
We'll have to see how Barrera does on June 26th (and Morales on July 24th) before we can tell if there is any serious chance of the two "doing it again," but would you be shocked if they did fight for a fourth time?
Source: eastsideboxing.com
To Mayweather, A Win Over Mosley Cements Legacy -- The Sweet Science
By Ron Borges, The Sweet Science
Floyd Mayweather, Jr. believes firmly that he knows what he is and, just as importantly, what Shane Mosley is not. In Mayweather’s mind he is fistic calculus. Mosley? Well, he’s no mathematician.
"I’m like a difficult math problem that can't no one solve,’’ the undefeated six-time world champion in five different weight classes said Thursday during a national teleconference call to hype next week’s showdown with Mosley at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. “No one can solve it.
“The ultimate goal is try to solve the problem. How to beat Floyd Mayweather? Like I have always said before – there is no remedy on how to beat Floyd Mayweather. Everyone is trying to solve the problem.’’
The implication of Mayweather’s words was clear – Mosley may be able to add and subtract but to solve the geometric problems Mayweather creates inside a boxing ring he’d need Euclid, Archimedes and Isaac Newton advising him in his corner, not just trainer Naazim Richardson.
“Shane done some things in this sport,’’ Mayweather (40-0, 25 KO) said, “but this fight is about enhancing my legacy, about proving I’m the best.’’
To do that he must disprove the theory Mosley (46-5, 39 KO) holds, which is that he is too strong, too aggressive and too experienced in big moments like this one for Mayweather to handle. While Mosley concedes Mayweather is a master defensive fighter he subscribes to the theory that he will pressure him until he cracks, round after round solving the riddle that is Mayweather.
To that Mayweather simply skipped right passed further mention of Mosley and compared himself (favorably of course) to Sugar Ray Robinson, who he seemed to hint was great but no Euclid in short pants.
Whatever Mayweather proves to be on May 1, he made clear in both word and deed that he remains convinced all he needs to be is himself after recently declaring on HBO’s 24/7 that he is better than either Robinson or Muhammad Ali and declared “No one can beat me.’’ Some might call that hyperbole. Floyd Mayweather, Jr. would call it reality.
“I don’t even rate myself,’’ Mayweather said of (who else?) Floyd Mayweather. “I don’t even watch boxing. I just go out and do my job.
“I’m a harsh critic of myself. I always say I could have done better. When I fought (read that dominated) Diego Corrales I could have done better. When I fought (dominated) Arturo Gatti I could have done better. Even when I fought Oscar De La Hoya. If we’d used eight ounce gloves (as Mayweather preferred) I would have chopped him up.’’
What he will do with – and to – Mosley is the more relevant issue of course and he made clear again, as he has throughout the days and weeks leading up to the May 1 fight, that this will be not a title fight but the latest in what has been a 40-fight coronation.
Perhaps to emphasize that point, Mayweather has refused to pay the World Boxing Association sanction fee, which means Mosley’s welterweight title belt will not be on the line. Mosley’s representatives, Golden Boy Promotions, is trying to convince the WBA to look upon it as a title defense if Mosley wins but whatever the WBA ends up calling it, Floyd Mayweather could not care less.
“At this level it’s not about belts,” explained Leonard Ellerbe, Mayweather’s chief advisor. “It’s about improving legacy and it’s about money. A title fight never entered the picture.”
What did enter the picture was Mosley, who appeared immediately after Mayweather’s negotiations with Manny Pacquiao broke down with more than $50 million on the table for the two of them. Mosley was the next best alternative and a fight of far more interest and significance than the one Pacquiao ended up with against reluctant Joshua Clottey.
Although 38, Mosley is still considered by many to be among the top pound-for-pound fighters in the world. The way he manhandled Antonio Margarito 14 months ago, stopping him in nine one-sided rounds, put Mosley back in the debate over who is the pound-for-pound champion and a win over Mayweather would cement that position.
To many, Mayweather and Mosley are seen as mirror images of each other because of their hand and foot speed. Don’t tell that to Mayweather however, because to him such suggestions are mathematical impossibilities and, frankly, absurd ravings of know-nothings who do not yet recognize what he is.
"We are totally different," Mayweather insisted. “He's a fighter that always worries about landing one big shot. He worries about who is extremely strong and I worry about being smart and winning. We approach fights in two totally different ways.
“When I shoot my shots, I am looking at my opponent. When Shane punches, a lot of times he closes his eyes."
That will be one of Floyd Mayweather’s goals come May 1. He will want to close Shane Mosley’s eyes and shut his mouth. Either that or make them both open wide in amazement at a problem he, like his 40 predecessors, has no solution for.
Source: thesweetscience.com
Floyd Mayweather, Jr. believes firmly that he knows what he is and, just as importantly, what Shane Mosley is not. In Mayweather’s mind he is fistic calculus. Mosley? Well, he’s no mathematician.
"I’m like a difficult math problem that can't no one solve,’’ the undefeated six-time world champion in five different weight classes said Thursday during a national teleconference call to hype next week’s showdown with Mosley at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. “No one can solve it.
“The ultimate goal is try to solve the problem. How to beat Floyd Mayweather? Like I have always said before – there is no remedy on how to beat Floyd Mayweather. Everyone is trying to solve the problem.’’
The implication of Mayweather’s words was clear – Mosley may be able to add and subtract but to solve the geometric problems Mayweather creates inside a boxing ring he’d need Euclid, Archimedes and Isaac Newton advising him in his corner, not just trainer Naazim Richardson.
“Shane done some things in this sport,’’ Mayweather (40-0, 25 KO) said, “but this fight is about enhancing my legacy, about proving I’m the best.’’
To do that he must disprove the theory Mosley (46-5, 39 KO) holds, which is that he is too strong, too aggressive and too experienced in big moments like this one for Mayweather to handle. While Mosley concedes Mayweather is a master defensive fighter he subscribes to the theory that he will pressure him until he cracks, round after round solving the riddle that is Mayweather.
To that Mayweather simply skipped right passed further mention of Mosley and compared himself (favorably of course) to Sugar Ray Robinson, who he seemed to hint was great but no Euclid in short pants.
Whatever Mayweather proves to be on May 1, he made clear in both word and deed that he remains convinced all he needs to be is himself after recently declaring on HBO’s 24/7 that he is better than either Robinson or Muhammad Ali and declared “No one can beat me.’’ Some might call that hyperbole. Floyd Mayweather, Jr. would call it reality.
“I don’t even rate myself,’’ Mayweather said of (who else?) Floyd Mayweather. “I don’t even watch boxing. I just go out and do my job.
“I’m a harsh critic of myself. I always say I could have done better. When I fought (read that dominated) Diego Corrales I could have done better. When I fought (dominated) Arturo Gatti I could have done better. Even when I fought Oscar De La Hoya. If we’d used eight ounce gloves (as Mayweather preferred) I would have chopped him up.’’
What he will do with – and to – Mosley is the more relevant issue of course and he made clear again, as he has throughout the days and weeks leading up to the May 1 fight, that this will be not a title fight but the latest in what has been a 40-fight coronation.
Perhaps to emphasize that point, Mayweather has refused to pay the World Boxing Association sanction fee, which means Mosley’s welterweight title belt will not be on the line. Mosley’s representatives, Golden Boy Promotions, is trying to convince the WBA to look upon it as a title defense if Mosley wins but whatever the WBA ends up calling it, Floyd Mayweather could not care less.
“At this level it’s not about belts,” explained Leonard Ellerbe, Mayweather’s chief advisor. “It’s about improving legacy and it’s about money. A title fight never entered the picture.”
What did enter the picture was Mosley, who appeared immediately after Mayweather’s negotiations with Manny Pacquiao broke down with more than $50 million on the table for the two of them. Mosley was the next best alternative and a fight of far more interest and significance than the one Pacquiao ended up with against reluctant Joshua Clottey.
Although 38, Mosley is still considered by many to be among the top pound-for-pound fighters in the world. The way he manhandled Antonio Margarito 14 months ago, stopping him in nine one-sided rounds, put Mosley back in the debate over who is the pound-for-pound champion and a win over Mayweather would cement that position.
To many, Mayweather and Mosley are seen as mirror images of each other because of their hand and foot speed. Don’t tell that to Mayweather however, because to him such suggestions are mathematical impossibilities and, frankly, absurd ravings of know-nothings who do not yet recognize what he is.
"We are totally different," Mayweather insisted. “He's a fighter that always worries about landing one big shot. He worries about who is extremely strong and I worry about being smart and winning. We approach fights in two totally different ways.
“When I shoot my shots, I am looking at my opponent. When Shane punches, a lot of times he closes his eyes."
That will be one of Floyd Mayweather’s goals come May 1. He will want to close Shane Mosley’s eyes and shut his mouth. Either that or make them both open wide in amazement at a problem he, like his 40 predecessors, has no solution for.
Source: thesweetscience.com
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