By Frank Lotierzo, The Sweet Science
I don’t know whether or not Lucian Bute is the best super middleweight in the world. But no serious conversation about who actually is can be conducted without his being a part of it. In his last two fights, the IBF champion has closed the show with highlight reel one punch knockouts -- both lethal left uppercuts. One was a body shot landed on Librado Andrade, someone who nobody ever hurts, the other placed just under the chin of Edison Miranda, who’d recently taken Andre Ward the distance.
While watching Bute-Miranda it was clear that Bute had been hurting Edison Miranda with hard uppercuts to the body throughout the third round of their abbreviated fight. About midway through the round, a left uppercut identical to the one that had felled Librado Andrade for the count almost did the same to Miranda, who masked his distress by pounding his own abs. A moment later, another shot hurt him. This time Miranda posed, then charged with his head down, making Bute’s perfectly timed uppercut all the more potent. Edison thudded face first to the canvas. Although his conditioning allowed him to beat the count, he was finished; referee Ernie Sharif didn’t think twice about stopping it.
Lucian Bute has proved that he is more than a hometown attraction, although he’s certainly that. He’s consistently able to draw 15,000 people into the Bell Center in Montreal. He’s an interesting fighter, who doesn’t fight much like anyone else. He moves well in either direction, but he’s not fast footed. He has somewhat quick hands, but more significantly, his punches are sudden. Bute has a very good eye: he’s able to spot openings extremely well, and he fires almost automatically into them. He operates behind a good, solid right jab that is often followed by the straight left. Although he punches in combination, I don’t think that he systematically works out these combinations as much as he senses where they should go. This might mean that he looks like a bigger puncher than he actually is. The hook that Floyd Mayweather used to knock out Ricky Hatton might cause someone watching him for the first time to assume they were seeing a big puncher. Although I’ll give Bute credit for having more power than Mayweather, I can’t see these recent one punch knockouts as suggesting another Thomas Hearns (as Max Kellerman suggested during his interview after the Miranda fight.)
What you're seeing in Lucian Bute is, a fighter with a good degree of natural talent who is dangerous because he sees what's in front of him, and he fights a little scared. I don’t mean that as a criticism. It's one of the things that has kept him undefeated so far. He doesn’t freeze because of it; it somewhat keeps him in alert mode. He looked like he had a healthy respect for Edison Miranda’s power for the first two rounds of their fight. It wasn’t until he’d decided that he could get in and out with combinations against his lead-footed opponent that he grew a little less cautious.
This isn’t to suggest that Lucien Bute won’t fight if it comes to that. But he likes to dictate the terms whenever possible. He was able to control both Miranda and Andrade (another very slow-footed guy) with a double jab, a punch he uses to both maintain distance and to direct opponents. That distance is important to him, and it’s worth noting that even his excellent uppercuts are thrown with a scythe-like motion from what is a conventional uppercut. He’s able to get away with throwing them because of his accuracy and timing.
People undoubtedly would like to see how he’d do against Super Six tournament fighters like Andre Ward, Andre Dirrell, Arthur Abraham, and Carl Froch.
Since that’s not going to happen for the near future, I’ve got another suggestion. He should fight Kelly Pavlik. It makes sense for everybody involved. And even though he’d be favored to beat the former middleweight champion, especially after Pavlik’s poor showing against Sergio Martinez shown on the same HBO broadcast as Bute-Miranda, it’s not a fight without risks. Pavlik can always punch, even late into his fights.
The fight would draw a huge crowd in Montreal. From a risk/reward perspective, it’s by far the best fight Kelly Pavlik could take. He doesn’t need to come back with a tune-up or a confidence builder. His career is at a standstill, and he needs to jump back into the deep end and see what happens. It’s clear that things couldn’t get worse for him than they are now, unless he loses to a fringe opponent, which could happen if Martinez took away what remained of his confidence. Better to roll the dice against a big name, and go out on his shield if necessary.
If Bute could stop Pavlik, it would continue his ascent into the upper echelon of the game. He has a style that’s well suited to doing that. Kelly cuts and, as a result, tends to walk straight into shots that he can’t see. If he walks into one like the one that kayoed Edison Miranda, it might well kayo him too. The question is what happens if Pavlik is able to land his big right. He’d be smart to find out if he can do that.
Lucian Bute is not going to do well moving up in weight -- his body is well suited to 168 and he can’t move down. Facing Pavlik would be a good place keeping fight for him to take while waiting for the Super Six dust to clear. At this point, I’m not sure that Kelly Pavlik is much more dangerous than Edison Miranda was, although the benefits from knocking him out are far greater.
For Miranda, it’s back to ESPN Friday Night Fights, possibly as no more than a prestigious opponent. We know what he can do. And, unfortunately for him, we know what he can’t.
Frank Lotierzo can be contacted at GlovedFist@Gmail.com
Source: thesweetscience.com
Showing posts with label Lucian Bute. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lucian Bute. Show all posts
Tuesday, 20 April 2010
Monday, 19 April 2010
Lucian Bute - Should He Now Enter The Pound-For-Pound Ratings? -- Eastside Boxing
By James Slater, Eastside Boxing
Shortly after his hugely impressive, 4th-round stoppage of the super-tough Librado Andrade in November, I wrote how IBF super-middleweight champion Lucian Bute should perhaps be looked at as THE best 168-pounder in the world. Not only had the Romanian-born southpaw managed to do what no other fighter ever had and stop the Mexican warrior, but he had also proved again his ever continuing improvement as a fighter.
Some fans agreed with me that the 30-year-old known as "La Tombeur" should be looked at as the premiere super-middleweight in the sport, while others still disagreed.. Well, what the Canadian-based talent with the 26-0(21) record did last night do Edison Miranda, in taking him out inside three-rounds, which is quicker than any other fighter ever has, certainly failed to make me alter my opinion any. Although Miranda has been exposed as a fighter who is not quite good enough to make it at world level, Bute's win was truly impressive in that he made it look so effortless. I really have to ask myself: with the power he is showing, the calmness he has, the variety (a great puncher to both body and head) and the sheer confidence his dominance has brought him, is there anyone out there at the weight who can defeat Bute?
Also, with his significant wins continuing to stack up (Sakio Bika, Andrade twice and the dangerous duo that is Fulgencio Zuniga and Miranda all being handed comprehensive defeats), the growing length of his title reign AND his continually growing skills; I have to also ask if Bute is a fighter now worthy of being ranked in the pound-for-pound charts?
I know no fighter should be ranked on potential, and it must be admitted that putting Bute among boxing's absolute best at a time when he has still to win his first mega-fight over a true great could be guilty of going too far; but should the past achievements of a fighter keep him in the pound-for-pound ratings? Look at Ring magazine's top-ten P4P and you will see Bernard Hopkins still in at #6. I'm not saying Bute should replace the future Hall of Famer who looked so faded last time out in winning on points over the also shop-worn Roy Jones, but shouldn't B-Hop, as great as he's been, drop out of the top-ten altogether? If he did, the fighters ranked behind him, in Miguel Cotto, Chad Dawson, Paul Williams and Celestino Caballero, would all go up a notch - leaving the #10 spot free.
Would you have any problem seeing the IBF 168-pound champ placed at the bottom of the pound-for-pound charts? We'll have to see if Ring magazine does choose to reward Bute (their #1 choice at among super-middleweights) for his win over Miranda (and all his other achievements) by juggling their P4P list somewhat. But, for what it's worth, I would rate Bute as a pound-for-pound operator right now.
Source: eastsideboxing.com
Shortly after his hugely impressive, 4th-round stoppage of the super-tough Librado Andrade in November, I wrote how IBF super-middleweight champion Lucian Bute should perhaps be looked at as THE best 168-pounder in the world. Not only had the Romanian-born southpaw managed to do what no other fighter ever had and stop the Mexican warrior, but he had also proved again his ever continuing improvement as a fighter.
Some fans agreed with me that the 30-year-old known as "La Tombeur" should be looked at as the premiere super-middleweight in the sport, while others still disagreed.. Well, what the Canadian-based talent with the 26-0(21) record did last night do Edison Miranda, in taking him out inside three-rounds, which is quicker than any other fighter ever has, certainly failed to make me alter my opinion any. Although Miranda has been exposed as a fighter who is not quite good enough to make it at world level, Bute's win was truly impressive in that he made it look so effortless. I really have to ask myself: with the power he is showing, the calmness he has, the variety (a great puncher to both body and head) and the sheer confidence his dominance has brought him, is there anyone out there at the weight who can defeat Bute?
Also, with his significant wins continuing to stack up (Sakio Bika, Andrade twice and the dangerous duo that is Fulgencio Zuniga and Miranda all being handed comprehensive defeats), the growing length of his title reign AND his continually growing skills; I have to also ask if Bute is a fighter now worthy of being ranked in the pound-for-pound charts?
I know no fighter should be ranked on potential, and it must be admitted that putting Bute among boxing's absolute best at a time when he has still to win his first mega-fight over a true great could be guilty of going too far; but should the past achievements of a fighter keep him in the pound-for-pound ratings? Look at Ring magazine's top-ten P4P and you will see Bernard Hopkins still in at #6. I'm not saying Bute should replace the future Hall of Famer who looked so faded last time out in winning on points over the also shop-worn Roy Jones, but shouldn't B-Hop, as great as he's been, drop out of the top-ten altogether? If he did, the fighters ranked behind him, in Miguel Cotto, Chad Dawson, Paul Williams and Celestino Caballero, would all go up a notch - leaving the #10 spot free.
Would you have any problem seeing the IBF 168-pound champ placed at the bottom of the pound-for-pound charts? We'll have to see if Ring magazine does choose to reward Bute (their #1 choice at among super-middleweights) for his win over Miranda (and all his other achievements) by juggling their P4P list somewhat. But, for what it's worth, I would rate Bute as a pound-for-pound operator right now.
Source: eastsideboxing.com
Sunday, 18 April 2010
Bute puts Miranda to sleep in three. Martinez defeats Pavlik! -- 8CountNews
By Brad Cooney, 8CountNews.com
IBF super middleweight world champion Lucian Bute (26-0-21KO) only needed three rounds to put hard hitting Edison Miranda to sleep. It would be a brilliant upper cut that would end the night. Miranda started to clown around a little bit encouraging Bute to exchange with him. Bute obliged, and with one punch in the third round, it was over. Bute was asked about a possible Bernard Hopkins fight during the post fight interview. Bute is looking for big fights from here on out, and deserves them.
Middleweight champ Kelly Pavlik ran into a buzz saw in Sergio Martinez. A bloody but determined Pavlik was unable to land his power shots. Martinez' slick and awkward style proved too much for the former champ to handle. There were a few rounds in the middle of the fight where Pavlik gained some control, but lost the momentum in the later rounds. Martinez was knocked down early in the fight, a legit knockdown but he was not hurt by it. Pavlik was cut badly over his eyes, and the blood had an impact on his performance. A well deserved win for Martinez.
Scores 115/111 116/111 and 115/112 UD Martinez
8CN is ringside for the fight so stay tuned for a full ringside report from Ed Anderson, Peter Czymbor, and Maureen Shea.
Source: 8countnews.com
IBF super middleweight world champion Lucian Bute (26-0-21KO) only needed three rounds to put hard hitting Edison Miranda to sleep. It would be a brilliant upper cut that would end the night. Miranda started to clown around a little bit encouraging Bute to exchange with him. Bute obliged, and with one punch in the third round, it was over. Bute was asked about a possible Bernard Hopkins fight during the post fight interview. Bute is looking for big fights from here on out, and deserves them.
Middleweight champ Kelly Pavlik ran into a buzz saw in Sergio Martinez. A bloody but determined Pavlik was unable to land his power shots. Martinez' slick and awkward style proved too much for the former champ to handle. There were a few rounds in the middle of the fight where Pavlik gained some control, but lost the momentum in the later rounds. Martinez was knocked down early in the fight, a legit knockdown but he was not hurt by it. Pavlik was cut badly over his eyes, and the blood had an impact on his performance. A well deserved win for Martinez.
Scores 115/111 116/111 and 115/112 UD Martinez
8CN is ringside for the fight so stay tuned for a full ringside report from Ed Anderson, Peter Czymbor, and Maureen Shea.
Source: 8countnews.com
Bute retains super-middleweight crown -- Montreal Gazette
By Herb Zurkowsky , The Gazette
MONTREAL – Montreal’s Lucian Bute successfully retained his International Boxing Federation super-middleweight title Saturday night with remarkable ease.
Bute stopped Colombia’s Edison Miranda with a technical knockout at 1:22 of the third round at the Bell Centre before 13,682 raucous spectators.
Bute remains undefeated, with a 26-0 record. It was the 21st knockout of his career. He was making the fifth defence of his 168-pound crown.
Miranda, making his second attempt at a world title and with a new trainer, Joe Goossen, in his corner, fell to 33-5.
Miranda came out aggressively to start the third round and, at one point, defiantly challenged Bute to hit him – pounding his chest initially and then placing his arms against his hip.
Bute responded with a thunderous left hook, eventually knocking Miranda down with a left uppercut. Miranda fell face-first to the canvas. He got up before the count of 10 but was clearly wobbly and unable to continue.
Referee Ernie Sharif from Pittsburgh, working the 15th world-title bout of his career, immediately stopped the fight.
The undercard was highlighted by middleweight Renan St. Juste scoring a TKO at 1:27 of the ninth round against Colombia’s Dionisio Miranda.
St. Juste, now 21-1-1 with 14 KOs, retained his World Boxing Council Continental title along with the North American Boxing Association crown.
hzurkowsky@thegazette.canwest.com
© Copyright (c) The Montreal Gazette
Source: montrealgazette.com
MONTREAL – Montreal’s Lucian Bute successfully retained his International Boxing Federation super-middleweight title Saturday night with remarkable ease.
Bute stopped Colombia’s Edison Miranda with a technical knockout at 1:22 of the third round at the Bell Centre before 13,682 raucous spectators.
Bute remains undefeated, with a 26-0 record. It was the 21st knockout of his career. He was making the fifth defence of his 168-pound crown.
Miranda, making his second attempt at a world title and with a new trainer, Joe Goossen, in his corner, fell to 33-5.
Miranda came out aggressively to start the third round and, at one point, defiantly challenged Bute to hit him – pounding his chest initially and then placing his arms against his hip.
Bute responded with a thunderous left hook, eventually knocking Miranda down with a left uppercut. Miranda fell face-first to the canvas. He got up before the count of 10 but was clearly wobbly and unable to continue.
Referee Ernie Sharif from Pittsburgh, working the 15th world-title bout of his career, immediately stopped the fight.
The undercard was highlighted by middleweight Renan St. Juste scoring a TKO at 1:27 of the ninth round against Colombia’s Dionisio Miranda.
St. Juste, now 21-1-1 with 14 KOs, retained his World Boxing Council Continental title along with the North American Boxing Association crown.
hzurkowsky@thegazette.canwest.com
© Copyright (c) The Montreal Gazette
Source: montrealgazette.com
Montreal boxer Bute retains title in 3rd round -- CBC Sports
By Chris Iorfida, CBC Sports
Lucian Bute retained his International Boxing Federation super middleweight title at Bell Centre in Montreal on Saturday night with a third-round stoppage of challenger Edison Miranda.
Bute floored the Colombian with a left uppercut to prompt the stoppage and improve to 26-0, with 21 knockouts.
Miranda (33-5, 29 KOs) had moments of success in the first two rounds but walked into the fateful punch, falling face first to the canvas.
Miranda beat the count but stumbled backward into the ropes, prompting referee Michael Griffin to stop the bout. Miranda did not protest the stoppage.
The Romanian-born Bute made the fifth defence of the 168-pound title he won in late 2007.
Bute could be in line for bigger paydays against the likes of Kelly Pavlik or Bernard Hopkins.
Pavlik of Youngstown, Ohio puts his 160-pound middleweight belt on the line later Saturday in nearby Atlantic City, N.J., against Sergio Martinez of Argentina.
Source: cbc.ca
Lucian Bute retained his International Boxing Federation super middleweight title at Bell Centre in Montreal on Saturday night with a third-round stoppage of challenger Edison Miranda.
Bute floored the Colombian with a left uppercut to prompt the stoppage and improve to 26-0, with 21 knockouts.
Miranda (33-5, 29 KOs) had moments of success in the first two rounds but walked into the fateful punch, falling face first to the canvas.
Miranda beat the count but stumbled backward into the ropes, prompting referee Michael Griffin to stop the bout. Miranda did not protest the stoppage.
The Romanian-born Bute made the fifth defence of the 168-pound title he won in late 2007.
Bute could be in line for bigger paydays against the likes of Kelly Pavlik or Bernard Hopkins.
Pavlik of Youngstown, Ohio puts his 160-pound middleweight belt on the line later Saturday in nearby Atlantic City, N.J., against Sergio Martinez of Argentina.
Source: cbc.ca
Bute Blasts Miranda in the 3rd -- 411mania
By Ramon Aranda, 411mania.com
The IBF super middleweight champ retains his title.
What a solid performance by IBF super middleweight champ Lucian Bute who successfully defended his title against Edison Miranda at the Bell Centre in Montreal.
Bute (26-0, 21 KOs) started off the fight by his keeping Miranda at a distance with the jab and punches up the middle. Miranda, tried to get on the inside and mixed in some shots to the body but was generally swinging wildly during the first two rounds.
Midway through the 3rd, Miranda ate a hard hook to the body that seemed to hurt, which caused him to begin showboating and asking Bute to come forward. Bute took the bait but connected with a brutal left uppercut that immediately sent Miranda to the canvas face-first. As raucous crowd watched on, Miranda beat the count but was on queer street, prompting the referee to correctly wave off the fight.
After the fight, Bute said he'd be willing to fight anyone in the Super Six World Boxing Classic tournament and even acknowledged the challenge laid out by Bernard Hopkins by saying that he's ready and willing.
Source: 411mania.com
The IBF super middleweight champ retains his title.
What a solid performance by IBF super middleweight champ Lucian Bute who successfully defended his title against Edison Miranda at the Bell Centre in Montreal.
Bute (26-0, 21 KOs) started off the fight by his keeping Miranda at a distance with the jab and punches up the middle. Miranda, tried to get on the inside and mixed in some shots to the body but was generally swinging wildly during the first two rounds.
Midway through the 3rd, Miranda ate a hard hook to the body that seemed to hurt, which caused him to begin showboating and asking Bute to come forward. Bute took the bait but connected with a brutal left uppercut that immediately sent Miranda to the canvas face-first. As raucous crowd watched on, Miranda beat the count but was on queer street, prompting the referee to correctly wave off the fight.
After the fight, Bute said he'd be willing to fight anyone in the Super Six World Boxing Classic tournament and even acknowledged the challenge laid out by Bernard Hopkins by saying that he's ready and willing.
Source: 411mania.com
LUCIAN BUTE SMOKES EDISON MIRANDA IN 3 -- Boxing Historian
By James De Roux, The Boxing Historian
Lucian Bute successfully defended his IBF super-middleweight title for the fifth time tonight in front of a home crowd of 16,000 packed into the Bell Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Bute (33-4, 29KOs) stopped hard hitting Columbian Edison Miranda in the third round with an uppercut from which Miranda never fully recovered, forcing th e referee to stop the fight
The undefeated Bute from Romania now settled in his adopted Canada finds himself atop the super middleweight rankings while all the other belt holders compete in the Showtime super six world classics tournament.
There are plenty of marketable names in the division; the winner of Jesse Binkley vs. Sakio Bika, scheduled for May 28th at Quebec, Canada could be future opponents. Bute defeated Bika via a 12 round unanimous decision when the two met in 2007, if Brinkley was to go one better he would surely secure a fight with Bute. Another possibility would be reining middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik who is rumoured to be considering a move to the super-middleweight division.
Source: theboxinghistorian.com
Lucian Bute successfully defended his IBF super-middleweight title for the fifth time tonight in front of a home crowd of 16,000 packed into the Bell Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Bute (33-4, 29KOs) stopped hard hitting Columbian Edison Miranda in the third round with an uppercut from which Miranda never fully recovered, forcing th e referee to stop the fight
The undefeated Bute from Romania now settled in his adopted Canada finds himself atop the super middleweight rankings while all the other belt holders compete in the Showtime super six world classics tournament.
There are plenty of marketable names in the division; the winner of Jesse Binkley vs. Sakio Bika, scheduled for May 28th at Quebec, Canada could be future opponents. Bute defeated Bika via a 12 round unanimous decision when the two met in 2007, if Brinkley was to go one better he would surely secure a fight with Bute. Another possibility would be reining middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik who is rumoured to be considering a move to the super-middleweight division.
Source: theboxinghistorian.com
Canadian St. Juste wins two minor titles with ninth round KO of Dionisio Miranda -- Winnipeg Free Press
By Bill Beacon, THE CANADIAN PRESS
MONTREAL - Renan St. Juste caught Dionisio Miranda coming in with a straight left to score a ninth round victory in a bout for the WBA Continental of Americas and NABA middleweight titles at the Bell Centre on Saturday night.
St. Juste (21-1-1), of Repentigny, Que., dropped the Colombian Miranda with the crushing shot and referee Michael Griffin elected to stop the scheduled 12-round fight at 1:27 of the ninth.
It had been a relatively uneventful bout in a strange atmosphere, with fans keeping one eye on the ring and the other on the Montreal Canadiens NHL playoff game in Washington, which most could see in the arena's private boxes.
The left-handed St. Juste won the then-vacant WBC Continental title in 2008 by stopping Mohammed Said of Brazil in the fifth round.
The 37-year-old St. Juste, a late-comer to the ring who only turned pro in 2003, had not fought since his last defence against Roberto Reuque on March 13, 2009.
It was the co-feature to the main event pitting IBF super-middleweight champion Lucian Bute (25-0) of Montreal against hard-hitting Edison Miranda (33-4, no relation to Dionisio) of Puerto Rico, which brought in the HBO television crew that included former heavyweight champ Lennox Lewis.
Bute is making the fifth defence of the title he won with an 11th round stoppage of Alejandro Berrio in 2007. He has since downed American veteran William Joppy and Fulgencio Zuniga and scored a pair of wins over Montreal-trained American Librado Andrade.
Pier-Olivier Cote (11-0) of Quebec City knocked down Hugo Pacheco (7-13-1) of Mexico twice before their scheduled six-round super-featherweight contest was stopped by the referee.
In a super-bantamweight bout, Sebastien Gauthier (18-2) of St. Jerome, Que., scored a knockdown in the seventh en route to a unanimous decision over Jason Heyward (6-9) of St. John's, N.L.
Francy N'Tetu (3-0) of Chicoutimi, Que., easily won all four rounds of super-middleweight bout over Juan Sanchez (3-6-1) of Halifax. In a women's match, Domina Olivo (8-5-1) handed a first loss to Nathalie Forget (2-1) of Montreal with a four-round unanimous decision.
Source: winnipegfreepress.com
MONTREAL - Renan St. Juste caught Dionisio Miranda coming in with a straight left to score a ninth round victory in a bout for the WBA Continental of Americas and NABA middleweight titles at the Bell Centre on Saturday night.
St. Juste (21-1-1), of Repentigny, Que., dropped the Colombian Miranda with the crushing shot and referee Michael Griffin elected to stop the scheduled 12-round fight at 1:27 of the ninth.
It had been a relatively uneventful bout in a strange atmosphere, with fans keeping one eye on the ring and the other on the Montreal Canadiens NHL playoff game in Washington, which most could see in the arena's private boxes.
The left-handed St. Juste won the then-vacant WBC Continental title in 2008 by stopping Mohammed Said of Brazil in the fifth round.
The 37-year-old St. Juste, a late-comer to the ring who only turned pro in 2003, had not fought since his last defence against Roberto Reuque on March 13, 2009.
It was the co-feature to the main event pitting IBF super-middleweight champion Lucian Bute (25-0) of Montreal against hard-hitting Edison Miranda (33-4, no relation to Dionisio) of Puerto Rico, which brought in the HBO television crew that included former heavyweight champ Lennox Lewis.
Bute is making the fifth defence of the title he won with an 11th round stoppage of Alejandro Berrio in 2007. He has since downed American veteran William Joppy and Fulgencio Zuniga and scored a pair of wins over Montreal-trained American Librado Andrade.
Pier-Olivier Cote (11-0) of Quebec City knocked down Hugo Pacheco (7-13-1) of Mexico twice before their scheduled six-round super-featherweight contest was stopped by the referee.
In a super-bantamweight bout, Sebastien Gauthier (18-2) of St. Jerome, Que., scored a knockdown in the seventh en route to a unanimous decision over Jason Heyward (6-9) of St. John's, N.L.
Francy N'Tetu (3-0) of Chicoutimi, Que., easily won all four rounds of super-middleweight bout over Juan Sanchez (3-6-1) of Halifax. In a women's match, Domina Olivo (8-5-1) handed a first loss to Nathalie Forget (2-1) of Montreal with a four-round unanimous decision.
Source: winnipegfreepress.com
Saturday, 17 April 2010
Hardship shapes Miranda's ring career -- Montreal Gazette
By HERB ZURKOWSKY, The Gazette
Where might Edison Miranda be, in life and his professional boxing career, had he defeated Arthur Abraham that fateful night in Germany, in September 2006, and captured the International Boxing Federation middleweight title? Miranda, always known for his punch, fractured Abraham's jaw in the fourth round. A round later, the ringside physician recommended the fight be stopped. Instead, referee Randy Neumann gave the champion five minutes to recover from a head-butt and then, during a span of seven rounds, deducted five points from Miranda for butts or low blows.
In a sport renowned for controversy and corruption, this was the ultimate act of duplicity. Requiring a knockout, Miranda instead lost a unanimous decision. It was the first defeat of his career after 26 victories, all but three by KO, and was a harbinger of the future. Miranda would lose three of his next nine.
"Bitter? That's not me, although they robbed me in Germany," the Colombian native, through an interpreter, told The Gazette during a lengthy interview this week.
"Everything that happened, all the people saw. But now, I'm not thinking about what happened or could have been. That's in the past. What could have happened doesn't exist. My opportunity is now."
Tonight at the Bell Centre, Miranda, a man who has overcome obstacles his entire life, will attempt one of the biggest - capturing the IBF super-middleweight title from undefeated hometown hero and favourite Lucian Bute,
25-0 with 20 KOs. The 12-round main event is scheduled for 10:15 p.m.
For the 29-year-old challenger, who sports a 33-4 record with 29 KOs, it could well be his last opportunity at boxing prominence. The 168- pound division is one of the hottest, and liveliest, in the sport. Miranda can't afford another loss if he hopes to remain a player in the category.
But what happens inside the ring pales in comparison with the harrowing life Miranda was forced to endure growing up in the port city of Buenaventura, located on the economically challenged southern coast of Colombia.
Born to a girl only 14 at the time, Miranda was abandoned after only one month, given to caretakers responsible for his upbringing. Constantly neglected, Miranda believed he would benefit more on his own and escaped at age 9.
Through casual conversations around town, he found his uncle working at a construction site, demanding he be taken to his mother. Proving the legitimacy of his claim via a two-inch long circular birthmark on his leg, Miranda was taken to her - only to again be deserted, although his mother married and had more children. Miranda never knew his father.
"Just because I appeared in her life doesn't mean she should stop feeding her kids because of me," he said. "She must have thought I was crazy. I hadn't showered and had no (decent) clothes."
With nowhere to turn, Miranda decided to live and run the streets of Colombia. He slept under trees, a construction-site tarpaulin serving as his blanket. Food? Sometimes he cooked a dead animal he found on the roadside over an open fire. Or he somehow chased down a lizard. Or simply ate out of garbage cans. Four days was the longest he went without food.
He never attended school, learning to read and write, he claimed, through a drug addict who befriended him and taught him the alphabet. Miranda read newspapers, combining letters into words, and then read the Bible daily. His faith and belief of God carried him through difficult times.
"I believe, had my mother not abandoned me, I wouldn't be here. I'd be dead. Of all the people I grew up with, only one is alive. I saw people lost to drugs and alcohol. Or they ended up being killed. It's true. I had no childhood.
"It hurts me a lot. I'm fighting for a title, yet there's no one around me (in Montreal) that has my blood. There are people that love me, but they don't have my blood. I can go out at 1 a.m., but nobody will call and ask me when I'm coming home. My only family is God."
At age 12, Miranda worked a plantain field. The next year, he became a fulltime construction worker and, at 14, was a cattle butcher. His dream was to box, knowing that would be his only means of escape. Miranda launched an amateur career at 15, winning all but four of 132 bouts while capturing four Colombian national titles.
He turned pro in 2001, with the promise of going to the U.S. to fight top middleweights. Instead, Miranda was victimized by an unfair contract, fighting mostly in Colombia and the Dominican Republic for small purses. Often, he never made a penny, settling instead for food and accommodation. It wasn't until May 2005, signing with Warriors Boxing Promotions, that he made his debut in Florida.
"I thought he was joking when he told me his story.
I couldn't believe it," said his manager, Steve Benbasat.
"I realize how resilient he was to recover from it. This is a kid who's really hungry to make it in life. You can see the passion in his eyes.
"I've learned a lot from him. In rough times - business or personal - I equate his story. It becomes a reality check. If he can overcome his tragedies, I can overcome whatever I'm going through."
Miranda has taken his lumps in the ring - he lost a rematch against Abraham, stopped in the fourth; was knocked out by Kelly Pavlik and was outclassed by Andre Ward last May - but also is the only one to defeat top contender Allan Green.
"I feel very proud of my life. I always believe God has something for you. He never gives you too much to handle - just enough," Miranda said. "God will give me the win (against Bute). God has a destiny for me, plans for me, and it begins Saturday."
hzurkowsky@thegazette.canwest.com
© Copyright (c) The Montreal Gazette
Source: montrealgazette.com
Where might Edison Miranda be, in life and his professional boxing career, had he defeated Arthur Abraham that fateful night in Germany, in September 2006, and captured the International Boxing Federation middleweight title? Miranda, always known for his punch, fractured Abraham's jaw in the fourth round. A round later, the ringside physician recommended the fight be stopped. Instead, referee Randy Neumann gave the champion five minutes to recover from a head-butt and then, during a span of seven rounds, deducted five points from Miranda for butts or low blows.
In a sport renowned for controversy and corruption, this was the ultimate act of duplicity. Requiring a knockout, Miranda instead lost a unanimous decision. It was the first defeat of his career after 26 victories, all but three by KO, and was a harbinger of the future. Miranda would lose three of his next nine.
"Bitter? That's not me, although they robbed me in Germany," the Colombian native, through an interpreter, told The Gazette during a lengthy interview this week.
"Everything that happened, all the people saw. But now, I'm not thinking about what happened or could have been. That's in the past. What could have happened doesn't exist. My opportunity is now."
Tonight at the Bell Centre, Miranda, a man who has overcome obstacles his entire life, will attempt one of the biggest - capturing the IBF super-middleweight title from undefeated hometown hero and favourite Lucian Bute,
25-0 with 20 KOs. The 12-round main event is scheduled for 10:15 p.m.
For the 29-year-old challenger, who sports a 33-4 record with 29 KOs, it could well be his last opportunity at boxing prominence. The 168- pound division is one of the hottest, and liveliest, in the sport. Miranda can't afford another loss if he hopes to remain a player in the category.
But what happens inside the ring pales in comparison with the harrowing life Miranda was forced to endure growing up in the port city of Buenaventura, located on the economically challenged southern coast of Colombia.
Born to a girl only 14 at the time, Miranda was abandoned after only one month, given to caretakers responsible for his upbringing. Constantly neglected, Miranda believed he would benefit more on his own and escaped at age 9.
Through casual conversations around town, he found his uncle working at a construction site, demanding he be taken to his mother. Proving the legitimacy of his claim via a two-inch long circular birthmark on his leg, Miranda was taken to her - only to again be deserted, although his mother married and had more children. Miranda never knew his father.
"Just because I appeared in her life doesn't mean she should stop feeding her kids because of me," he said. "She must have thought I was crazy. I hadn't showered and had no (decent) clothes."
With nowhere to turn, Miranda decided to live and run the streets of Colombia. He slept under trees, a construction-site tarpaulin serving as his blanket. Food? Sometimes he cooked a dead animal he found on the roadside over an open fire. Or he somehow chased down a lizard. Or simply ate out of garbage cans. Four days was the longest he went without food.
He never attended school, learning to read and write, he claimed, through a drug addict who befriended him and taught him the alphabet. Miranda read newspapers, combining letters into words, and then read the Bible daily. His faith and belief of God carried him through difficult times.
"I believe, had my mother not abandoned me, I wouldn't be here. I'd be dead. Of all the people I grew up with, only one is alive. I saw people lost to drugs and alcohol. Or they ended up being killed. It's true. I had no childhood.
"It hurts me a lot. I'm fighting for a title, yet there's no one around me (in Montreal) that has my blood. There are people that love me, but they don't have my blood. I can go out at 1 a.m., but nobody will call and ask me when I'm coming home. My only family is God."
At age 12, Miranda worked a plantain field. The next year, he became a fulltime construction worker and, at 14, was a cattle butcher. His dream was to box, knowing that would be his only means of escape. Miranda launched an amateur career at 15, winning all but four of 132 bouts while capturing four Colombian national titles.
He turned pro in 2001, with the promise of going to the U.S. to fight top middleweights. Instead, Miranda was victimized by an unfair contract, fighting mostly in Colombia and the Dominican Republic for small purses. Often, he never made a penny, settling instead for food and accommodation. It wasn't until May 2005, signing with Warriors Boxing Promotions, that he made his debut in Florida.
"I thought he was joking when he told me his story.
I couldn't believe it," said his manager, Steve Benbasat.
"I realize how resilient he was to recover from it. This is a kid who's really hungry to make it in life. You can see the passion in his eyes.
"I've learned a lot from him. In rough times - business or personal - I equate his story. It becomes a reality check. If he can overcome his tragedies, I can overcome whatever I'm going through."
Miranda has taken his lumps in the ring - he lost a rematch against Abraham, stopped in the fourth; was knocked out by Kelly Pavlik and was outclassed by Andre Ward last May - but also is the only one to defeat top contender Allan Green.
"I feel very proud of my life. I always believe God has something for you. He never gives you too much to handle - just enough," Miranda said. "God will give me the win (against Bute). God has a destiny for me, plans for me, and it begins Saturday."
hzurkowsky@thegazette.canwest.com
© Copyright (c) The Montreal Gazette
Source: montrealgazette.com
Montreal's Bute confident ahead of his super-middleweight bout with Miranda -- The Canadian Press
The Canadian Press
MONTREAL — Lucian Bute sounded cool and confident his super-middleweight belt will stay in Montreal following his bout with hammer-fisted Colombian Edison Miranda on Saturday night.
The two opponents faced off for the final time at a weigh-in Friday in advance of their showdown at the Bell Centre. Both boxers tipped the scales well under the 168-pound limit.
Bute (25-0, 20 KOs), the local product who is making the fifth defence of his IBF world title, weighed in at 167.2 pounds. His challenger Miranda (33-4, 29 KOs), who is making his second attempt at a world championship crown, came in at an even 167 pounds.
"I'm not nervous, I did everything I had to do to be well-prepared for this fight," said Bute, 29. "Miranda is a hard puncher but my speed and my skills will be my advantage to stay world champion. The belt will stay in Montreal and I can't wait for (Saturday)."
"Respect his power, and don't go testing it just for fun," was the advice of Bute's trainer Stephane Larouche in going in against yet another power puncher. "He's more enthusiastic than ever, he knows this is just the beginning of big fights to come."
In Montreal for the event will be U.S.-based cable giant HBO for the first time to televise the bout as part of a special double-header with a middleweight showdown in Atlantic City between Kelly Pavlik and Sergio Martinez of Argentina.
"He seems to have all the skills," said Luis Barragan, director of Programming for HBO Sports which first featured the flashy southpaw in his last fight - a convincing fourth-round knockout of the usually durable Librado Andrade.
"We had to see if the spotless record for a Canadian fighter was for real or if it was just padding. Watching him though we see what his real skills are."
As many as 14,000 are expected to show up for the Bell Centre show on a night when the Montreal Canadiens will be on the road playing Game 2 of their opening-round series versus the Washington Capitals.
"I'm very relaxed and well prepared," said Miranda, who will be making his second fight under the tutelage of famed Los Angeles based trainer Joe Goosen. "I'm way better and tomorrow you will see the change. I'd say I'm 35 per cent better than what I was."
The usual trash-talking Miranda has been unusually quiet during the weeks leading up to the fight, but was quite intense during the stare-down with the champion.
"I had to give him a message, the world knows me," said Miranda. "I'm not the type of fighter that Bute has knocked out before, I'm a warrior. I'm going in there to take the title, and whatever my trainer wants me to do, I'll do. I'm going to take the title home, I don't know how, but I know I will."
Copyright © 2010 The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
Source: google.com
MONTREAL — Lucian Bute sounded cool and confident his super-middleweight belt will stay in Montreal following his bout with hammer-fisted Colombian Edison Miranda on Saturday night.
The two opponents faced off for the final time at a weigh-in Friday in advance of their showdown at the Bell Centre. Both boxers tipped the scales well under the 168-pound limit.
Bute (25-0, 20 KOs), the local product who is making the fifth defence of his IBF world title, weighed in at 167.2 pounds. His challenger Miranda (33-4, 29 KOs), who is making his second attempt at a world championship crown, came in at an even 167 pounds.
"I'm not nervous, I did everything I had to do to be well-prepared for this fight," said Bute, 29. "Miranda is a hard puncher but my speed and my skills will be my advantage to stay world champion. The belt will stay in Montreal and I can't wait for (Saturday)."
"Respect his power, and don't go testing it just for fun," was the advice of Bute's trainer Stephane Larouche in going in against yet another power puncher. "He's more enthusiastic than ever, he knows this is just the beginning of big fights to come."
In Montreal for the event will be U.S.-based cable giant HBO for the first time to televise the bout as part of a special double-header with a middleweight showdown in Atlantic City between Kelly Pavlik and Sergio Martinez of Argentina.
"He seems to have all the skills," said Luis Barragan, director of Programming for HBO Sports which first featured the flashy southpaw in his last fight - a convincing fourth-round knockout of the usually durable Librado Andrade.
"We had to see if the spotless record for a Canadian fighter was for real or if it was just padding. Watching him though we see what his real skills are."
As many as 14,000 are expected to show up for the Bell Centre show on a night when the Montreal Canadiens will be on the road playing Game 2 of their opening-round series versus the Washington Capitals.
"I'm very relaxed and well prepared," said Miranda, who will be making his second fight under the tutelage of famed Los Angeles based trainer Joe Goosen. "I'm way better and tomorrow you will see the change. I'd say I'm 35 per cent better than what I was."
The usual trash-talking Miranda has been unusually quiet during the weeks leading up to the fight, but was quite intense during the stare-down with the champion.
"I had to give him a message, the world knows me," said Miranda. "I'm not the type of fighter that Bute has knocked out before, I'm a warrior. I'm going in there to take the title, and whatever my trainer wants me to do, I'll do. I'm going to take the title home, I don't know how, but I know I will."
Copyright © 2010 The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
Source: google.com
Friday, 16 April 2010
Lucian Bute, One Of Boxing's Most Dominant Fighters -- FanHouse
By Lem Satterfield, FanHouse
Romanian-born left-handed IBF super middleweight (168 pounds) champion, Lucian Bute, may not only be the most dominant fighter in his weight class, but also, among the most dominant boxers in the sport, overall.
For if Bute isn't stopping fighters with his vicious body shots, as he did during fourth-round stoppage of his past two rivals, Fulgencio Zuniga, and, Librado Andrade, then the Canadian resident is simply completely outclassing them on points.
"Bute is in a different league. Bute, who is not a huge puncher, was able to knock out both Librado Andrade and Fulgencio Zuniga -- two extremely rugged and durable fighters," said Scott Crouse, co-host Ballroom Boxing Report, Baltimore's ESPN Radio 1300AM. "Those two knockouts happened because Bute is smart and surgically precise with his punches."
On Saturday night, Bute will put his record of 25-0, with 20 knockouts, on the line against hard hard-hitting, Colombian, Edison Miranda (33-4, 29 KOs) before Bute's partisan fans at the Bell Center in Montreal.
HBO has paired Bute-Miranda as a double-header with Kelly Pavlik (36-1, 32 KOs) defending his WBC and WBO middleweight (160 pounds) crowns against Spain's southpaw, WBC junior middleweight (154 pounds) champion, Sergio Martinez (44-2-2, 24 KOs).
"It will certainly be a pleasure for me to box again at the Bell Centre and to defend my title for the fifth time in front of my fans," said the 29-year-old Bute,in an earlier statement. "I am taking Miranda very seriously. He demolished many good fighters and is a notorious puncher. I will have to keep my concentration level on high to stay champion."
In November, Bute twice dropped the steel-chinned, Andrade (28-3, 21 KOs), a native of Mexico who lives in La Habra, Calif., who was knocked out for the first time in his career.
Bute had dropped the 31-year-old Andrade with a short left hand to the chin early in the round before finishing him with a hard, left to the rib cage from which left Andrade being counted out on all fours.
Bute-Andrade was a rematch of the champion's unanimous decision victory over Andrade in October of 2008, which ended in controversy at the Bell Centre in Montreal.
In that fight, Bute had to bravely survive a near-final round knockout against Andrade, who entered the bout at 24-1 with 18 stoppages and with his lone defeat having come by decision against Denmark's former WBA super middleweight king Mikkel Kessler (42-2, 32 KOs).
"We found out a few things about Bute after he stopped Librado Andrade," said, Joe Santoliquito, managing editor Ring Magazine, "and one of those things is that Bute can punch."
But he can also box.
Bute's last bout with Andrade notwithstanding -- he won by the scores of 117-109, 115-111, and, 115-110 -- the southpaw's resume has been one of dominance, whether stopping or widely out-pointing his opponents.
Before rematching Andrade, Bute was coming off of the March, 2009, stoppage of Zuniga.
But during two fights in 2006, Andre Thysse lost 120-107, 120-108, and, 120-109, and, Loleng Mock, 120-109, 120-108, and, 118-111.
In February and June of 2007, respectively, Bute dominated Sergey Tatevosyan, 119-108, on two judges' cards, and, 120-108, on the third; as well as Sakio Bika, 118-109, on two cards, and, 116-111, on the third.
During some of his most recent knockouts, the Canadian was ahead 98-92, twice, and, 97-93 on the third card before stopping Berrio, and he was pitching a shutout, 90-80, on all three cards before scoring a 10th-round knockout over former world champion, William Joppy.
Joppy had gone the distance with Bernard Hopkins and Jermain Taylor, and was stopped for only the second time in his career. The other time Joppy was knocked out was against Felix Trinidad in the fifth round in May of 2001.
"Bute uses the ring well," said Steve Farhood, Showtime boxing analyst. "Bute is very good defensively, has excellent, excellent balance, and everything you need against a pressure fighter."
The 33-year-old Miranda is coming off of October's first-round knockout of Francisco Sierra, of Mexico, who slipped to 20-3 with 19 knockouts, ending a winning streak of nine straight KOs since being stopped in the 10th round by Rigoberto Alverez in December of 2006.
In victory, Miranda rebounded from May's unanimous decision loss to former Olympic gold medalist Andrew Ward (21-0, 13 KOs), who dethroned Kessler as WBA king in November of Showtime's Super Six Super Middleweight World Boxing Classic.
Miranda's win over Sierra marked his first time working with trainer Joe Goossen, brother of Miranda's promoter, Dan Goossen. Miranda won his first 26 fights, with the initial 21 coming by way of knockout, and an incredible 16 of those being in the first round.
Among Miranda's biggest victories was a March, 2007 unanimous decision over Allan Green (29-1, 20 KOs) of Tulsa, Oklahoma, whom he out-pointed over 10 rounds, 96-91, on two cards, and, 97-90, on the third.
Green, who dropped Miranda in the eighth round, has since won six consecutive fights, four of them by knockout, and has been inserted into the Super Six to face Ward in June.
Green replaced former world champion, Jermain Taylor, who pulled out of the Super Six after being knocked out by Germany's Arthur Abraham (31-0, 25 KOs).
Nicknamed "Pantera," or "Panther," Miranda had lost four of his previous 10 fights heading into the matchup against Sierra. But Miranda began working in June with Joe Goossen, who has complimented the fighter's punching power with improved boxing skills and dietary habits.
Including Ward, Miranda's losses have all been to world champions.
Miranda has lost twice, by decision, and, knockout respectively, to Abraham, in September of 2006, and, June of 2008, and he was stopped in the seventh round in May of 2007 by Pavlik, who went on to dethrone Taylor as WBO and WBC middleweight (160 pounds) titlist.
In his first bout against Abraham, in Germany, Miranda broke the then IBF middleweight champ's jaw in the fourth round. Abraham, nevertheless, fought on in a bout that appeared dangerously close to being stopped.
Source: boxing.fanhouse.com
Romanian-born left-handed IBF super middleweight (168 pounds) champion, Lucian Bute, may not only be the most dominant fighter in his weight class, but also, among the most dominant boxers in the sport, overall.
For if Bute isn't stopping fighters with his vicious body shots, as he did during fourth-round stoppage of his past two rivals, Fulgencio Zuniga, and, Librado Andrade, then the Canadian resident is simply completely outclassing them on points.
"Bute is in a different league. Bute, who is not a huge puncher, was able to knock out both Librado Andrade and Fulgencio Zuniga -- two extremely rugged and durable fighters," said Scott Crouse, co-host Ballroom Boxing Report, Baltimore's ESPN Radio 1300AM. "Those two knockouts happened because Bute is smart and surgically precise with his punches."
On Saturday night, Bute will put his record of 25-0, with 20 knockouts, on the line against hard hard-hitting, Colombian, Edison Miranda (33-4, 29 KOs) before Bute's partisan fans at the Bell Center in Montreal.
HBO has paired Bute-Miranda as a double-header with Kelly Pavlik (36-1, 32 KOs) defending his WBC and WBO middleweight (160 pounds) crowns against Spain's southpaw, WBC junior middleweight (154 pounds) champion, Sergio Martinez (44-2-2, 24 KOs).
"It will certainly be a pleasure for me to box again at the Bell Centre and to defend my title for the fifth time in front of my fans," said the 29-year-old Bute,in an earlier statement. "I am taking Miranda very seriously. He demolished many good fighters and is a notorious puncher. I will have to keep my concentration level on high to stay champion."
In November, Bute twice dropped the steel-chinned, Andrade (28-3, 21 KOs), a native of Mexico who lives in La Habra, Calif., who was knocked out for the first time in his career.
Bute had dropped the 31-year-old Andrade with a short left hand to the chin early in the round before finishing him with a hard, left to the rib cage from which left Andrade being counted out on all fours.
Bute-Andrade was a rematch of the champion's unanimous decision victory over Andrade in October of 2008, which ended in controversy at the Bell Centre in Montreal.
In that fight, Bute had to bravely survive a near-final round knockout against Andrade, who entered the bout at 24-1 with 18 stoppages and with his lone defeat having come by decision against Denmark's former WBA super middleweight king Mikkel Kessler (42-2, 32 KOs).
"We found out a few things about Bute after he stopped Librado Andrade," said, Joe Santoliquito, managing editor Ring Magazine, "and one of those things is that Bute can punch."
But he can also box.
Bute's last bout with Andrade notwithstanding -- he won by the scores of 117-109, 115-111, and, 115-110 -- the southpaw's resume has been one of dominance, whether stopping or widely out-pointing his opponents.
Before rematching Andrade, Bute was coming off of the March, 2009, stoppage of Zuniga.
But during two fights in 2006, Andre Thysse lost 120-107, 120-108, and, 120-109, and, Loleng Mock, 120-109, 120-108, and, 118-111.
In February and June of 2007, respectively, Bute dominated Sergey Tatevosyan, 119-108, on two judges' cards, and, 120-108, on the third; as well as Sakio Bika, 118-109, on two cards, and, 116-111, on the third.
During some of his most recent knockouts, the Canadian was ahead 98-92, twice, and, 97-93 on the third card before stopping Berrio, and he was pitching a shutout, 90-80, on all three cards before scoring a 10th-round knockout over former world champion, William Joppy.
Joppy had gone the distance with Bernard Hopkins and Jermain Taylor, and was stopped for only the second time in his career. The other time Joppy was knocked out was against Felix Trinidad in the fifth round in May of 2001.
"Bute uses the ring well," said Steve Farhood, Showtime boxing analyst. "Bute is very good defensively, has excellent, excellent balance, and everything you need against a pressure fighter."
The 33-year-old Miranda is coming off of October's first-round knockout of Francisco Sierra, of Mexico, who slipped to 20-3 with 19 knockouts, ending a winning streak of nine straight KOs since being stopped in the 10th round by Rigoberto Alverez in December of 2006.
In victory, Miranda rebounded from May's unanimous decision loss to former Olympic gold medalist Andrew Ward (21-0, 13 KOs), who dethroned Kessler as WBA king in November of Showtime's Super Six Super Middleweight World Boxing Classic.
Miranda's win over Sierra marked his first time working with trainer Joe Goossen, brother of Miranda's promoter, Dan Goossen. Miranda won his first 26 fights, with the initial 21 coming by way of knockout, and an incredible 16 of those being in the first round.
Among Miranda's biggest victories was a March, 2007 unanimous decision over Allan Green (29-1, 20 KOs) of Tulsa, Oklahoma, whom he out-pointed over 10 rounds, 96-91, on two cards, and, 97-90, on the third.
Green, who dropped Miranda in the eighth round, has since won six consecutive fights, four of them by knockout, and has been inserted into the Super Six to face Ward in June.
Green replaced former world champion, Jermain Taylor, who pulled out of the Super Six after being knocked out by Germany's Arthur Abraham (31-0, 25 KOs).
Nicknamed "Pantera," or "Panther," Miranda had lost four of his previous 10 fights heading into the matchup against Sierra. But Miranda began working in June with Joe Goossen, who has complimented the fighter's punching power with improved boxing skills and dietary habits.
Including Ward, Miranda's losses have all been to world champions.
Miranda has lost twice, by decision, and, knockout respectively, to Abraham, in September of 2006, and, June of 2008, and he was stopped in the seventh round in May of 2007 by Pavlik, who went on to dethrone Taylor as WBO and WBC middleweight (160 pounds) titlist.
In his first bout against Abraham, in Germany, Miranda broke the then IBF middleweight champ's jaw in the fourth round. Abraham, nevertheless, fought on in a bout that appeared dangerously close to being stopped.
Source: boxing.fanhouse.com
Middleweight champion Pavlik looks to restore reputation vs. Martinez -- USA Today
By Bob Velin, USA TODAY
After Kelly Pavlik lost to aging legend Bernard Hopkins in Atlantic City in October 2008, his life began a downward spiral.
So thoroughly was the Pride of Youngstown, Ohio, beaten by Hopkins, then 44, that many, including Pavlik's fans, questioned The Ghost's rapid rise through the middleweight ranks.
Since then, Pavlik has addressed questions about excessive partying, injuries and inferior opponents. Pavlik's camp said a staph infection in his right hand in 2009 caused him to twice pull out of fights against Paul Williams, who ended up fighting, and barely beating, veteran Argentine light middleweight Sergio Martinez in December.
On Saturday, back in Atlantic City, Pavlik, 28, will get a chance to help rehabilitate his image when the middleweight champ puts his WBC and WBO belts on the line against smaller but quicker Martinez (HBO, 10 p.m. ET) at Boardwalk Hall.
Pavlik (36-1, 32 KOs) and his longtime trainer, Jack Loew, are well aware of what this fight means for his career.
"It's the most important fight of our life," Loew said Thursday. "He's taking it extremely serious. It's probably the hardest I've ever seen him work. And he knows what's at stake."
So what is at stake?
"Proving to everyone we just had a bad 2009," Loew says, "and that we're still a top-echelon fighter. We had a bad 2009 and a bad performance against Hopkins. So a lot of people have written us off. We've got a lot to prove, and we're ready to do it."
As for the excessive partying, Pavlik says, "There were hundreds of rumors going around: I was lazy; I was sick; I wanted to retire; I was broke; I lost everything. There's nothing you can do. If I go have a beer or two and people want to call me names and say I'm an alcoholic, well, that's going to happen."
Says Loew: " He's no different than any other 27-year-old kid. He likes to have fun outside of the ring and he deserves it, as hard as he works. He likes to play darts, and if they don't see him in church every day, then they feel he's doing the wrong thing.
"The outside world complaining what he's done outside of the ring, nobody's ever seen it, or witnessed it. They just assume, or they hear.
"Me knowing Kelly since he's 8-9 years old, like a father figure to him, it hurt because I know the truth. If he was out screwing around, I would've just shut my mouth. But he wasn't."
Pavlik says there was more to the Hopkins loss — a non-title bout at a catchweight of 170 pounds — than meets the eye, including an injured elbow.
"It was one of those nights I couldn't get moving," he says. "If it was a fight where I was 100% and I got beat up like that, I'd say, 'Man, we've got to change something.' But that wasn't the case."
Pavlik has fought twice since, beating little known Marco Antonio Rubio (retired in ninth round) in February 2009 and Miguel Espino (5th-round TKO) in December. Both title fights were held in his hometown.
"(People) asked, why did you take the Espino fight and not the Paul Williams fight? But you don't fight Williams at 75-80%," Loew says. "I was a lot more comfortable (fighting) Espino at 80% than with Paul Williams."
Loew and Pavlik say he is completely healed. "This is probably the best camp we've ever had, and he's completely healthy, no hand injuries or issues. There are no excuses," Loew says."It's fight time and we are 100, 120% ready to go physically."
Lou DiBella, who promotes the 35-year-old Martinez says his fighter is supremely confident
"I'd be 100% positive my guy would win if he weren't so much smaller," DiBella says. "He's a much better fighter. He's more defensive, more agile. He's faster. He can punch and he can box."
DiBella says Pavlik is a 168-pounder shrinking himself down to 160. "I don't believe Sergio's capable of a one-punch knockout against Pavlik, but Pavlik's capable of a one-punch knockout against anybody. And that's Pavlik's innate advantage in the fight. He can turn the fight on one punch," DiBella says.
"That being said, if he can't catch Sergio, he's going to be in for a very long night."
Pavlik has no plans to play cat and mouse with Martinez.
"Right now it's stick to our gameplan, using our size, speed, power," he says. "You can't go and chase Martinez around the ring. We have to stick to our gameplan and keep him busy.
"If he decides to go toe-to-toe it's, definitely my advantage. He does get hit a lot.. .. he moves a lot but as far as defense, he does get hit."
Bute hopes to defend title:
The first half of HBO's telecast Saturday is another championship fight — Canada's undefeated Lucian Bute (25-0, 20 KOs) puts his IBF super middleweight title belt on the line against Edison Miranda (33-4, 29 KOs) of Colombia.
The bout will be held at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Bute's adopted hometown. He is originally from Romania.
Miranda, meanwhile, is fighting for the first time under the direction of new trainer Joe Goossen.
"I'm really impressed by the capacity of Edison to follow my directives," says Goossen. "When I saw him lose the decision against Andre Ward in 2009, he only had a heavy right hand to rely on. I've asked him to try new things, and he did them all with extreme precision.
"I've seen see a lot of fighters in my career and Edison has the abilities and capacities of a great athlete. He's one of the best athlete I've see in my gym. If Team Bute thinks that my fighter will be tired after the sixth round, they are in for a bad surprise."
Source: usatoday.com
After Kelly Pavlik lost to aging legend Bernard Hopkins in Atlantic City in October 2008, his life began a downward spiral.
So thoroughly was the Pride of Youngstown, Ohio, beaten by Hopkins, then 44, that many, including Pavlik's fans, questioned The Ghost's rapid rise through the middleweight ranks.
Since then, Pavlik has addressed questions about excessive partying, injuries and inferior opponents. Pavlik's camp said a staph infection in his right hand in 2009 caused him to twice pull out of fights against Paul Williams, who ended up fighting, and barely beating, veteran Argentine light middleweight Sergio Martinez in December.
On Saturday, back in Atlantic City, Pavlik, 28, will get a chance to help rehabilitate his image when the middleweight champ puts his WBC and WBO belts on the line against smaller but quicker Martinez (HBO, 10 p.m. ET) at Boardwalk Hall.
Pavlik (36-1, 32 KOs) and his longtime trainer, Jack Loew, are well aware of what this fight means for his career.
"It's the most important fight of our life," Loew said Thursday. "He's taking it extremely serious. It's probably the hardest I've ever seen him work. And he knows what's at stake."
So what is at stake?
"Proving to everyone we just had a bad 2009," Loew says, "and that we're still a top-echelon fighter. We had a bad 2009 and a bad performance against Hopkins. So a lot of people have written us off. We've got a lot to prove, and we're ready to do it."
As for the excessive partying, Pavlik says, "There were hundreds of rumors going around: I was lazy; I was sick; I wanted to retire; I was broke; I lost everything. There's nothing you can do. If I go have a beer or two and people want to call me names and say I'm an alcoholic, well, that's going to happen."
Says Loew: " He's no different than any other 27-year-old kid. He likes to have fun outside of the ring and he deserves it, as hard as he works. He likes to play darts, and if they don't see him in church every day, then they feel he's doing the wrong thing.
"The outside world complaining what he's done outside of the ring, nobody's ever seen it, or witnessed it. They just assume, or they hear.
"Me knowing Kelly since he's 8-9 years old, like a father figure to him, it hurt because I know the truth. If he was out screwing around, I would've just shut my mouth. But he wasn't."
Pavlik says there was more to the Hopkins loss — a non-title bout at a catchweight of 170 pounds — than meets the eye, including an injured elbow.
"It was one of those nights I couldn't get moving," he says. "If it was a fight where I was 100% and I got beat up like that, I'd say, 'Man, we've got to change something.' But that wasn't the case."
Pavlik has fought twice since, beating little known Marco Antonio Rubio (retired in ninth round) in February 2009 and Miguel Espino (5th-round TKO) in December. Both title fights were held in his hometown.
"(People) asked, why did you take the Espino fight and not the Paul Williams fight? But you don't fight Williams at 75-80%," Loew says. "I was a lot more comfortable (fighting) Espino at 80% than with Paul Williams."
Loew and Pavlik say he is completely healed. "This is probably the best camp we've ever had, and he's completely healthy, no hand injuries or issues. There are no excuses," Loew says."It's fight time and we are 100, 120% ready to go physically."
Lou DiBella, who promotes the 35-year-old Martinez says his fighter is supremely confident
"I'd be 100% positive my guy would win if he weren't so much smaller," DiBella says. "He's a much better fighter. He's more defensive, more agile. He's faster. He can punch and he can box."
DiBella says Pavlik is a 168-pounder shrinking himself down to 160. "I don't believe Sergio's capable of a one-punch knockout against Pavlik, but Pavlik's capable of a one-punch knockout against anybody. And that's Pavlik's innate advantage in the fight. He can turn the fight on one punch," DiBella says.
"That being said, if he can't catch Sergio, he's going to be in for a very long night."
Pavlik has no plans to play cat and mouse with Martinez.
"Right now it's stick to our gameplan, using our size, speed, power," he says. "You can't go and chase Martinez around the ring. We have to stick to our gameplan and keep him busy.
"If he decides to go toe-to-toe it's, definitely my advantage. He does get hit a lot.. .. he moves a lot but as far as defense, he does get hit."
Bute hopes to defend title:
The first half of HBO's telecast Saturday is another championship fight — Canada's undefeated Lucian Bute (25-0, 20 KOs) puts his IBF super middleweight title belt on the line against Edison Miranda (33-4, 29 KOs) of Colombia.
The bout will be held at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Bute's adopted hometown. He is originally from Romania.
Miranda, meanwhile, is fighting for the first time under the direction of new trainer Joe Goossen.
"I'm really impressed by the capacity of Edison to follow my directives," says Goossen. "When I saw him lose the decision against Andre Ward in 2009, he only had a heavy right hand to rely on. I've asked him to try new things, and he did them all with extreme precision.
"I've seen see a lot of fighters in my career and Edison has the abilities and capacities of a great athlete. He's one of the best athlete I've see in my gym. If Team Bute thinks that my fighter will be tired after the sixth round, they are in for a bad surprise."
Source: usatoday.com
HBO likes 'charismatic' Bute -- The Montreal Gazette
By Herb Zurkowsky , The Gazette
MONTREAL - The possibilities are endless for International Boxing Federation super-middleweight champion Lucian Bute – provided he continues winning.
And should he succeed, there’s a good chance HBO will be there for every punch and round of action.
“Lucian Bute is charismatic. Even with the language barrier, he comes across really well on TV, and you can’t underestimate that power,” said Luis Barragan, the director of programming for HBO Sports. “Guys who become stars have that charisma, and it comes across on the screen.
“And he’s a really talented fighter and a really good boxer.”
HBO, the specialty channel available to more than 30-million homes in the U.S. – and the one considered the leader in boxing – will televise Bute’s title defence against Edison Miranda Saturday night at the Bell Centre.
The card, which begins at 7, will be picked up by the cable giant at 10, and will precede HBO’s coverage of Kelly Pavlik defending his World Boxing Council and World Boxing Organization middleweight titles against Sergio Gabriel Martinez in Atlantic City. Pavlik’s bout will be available at the Bell Centre.
The possibility exists of Pavlik moving to 168 pounds and eventually fighting Bute. It’s no coincidence HBO decided on the doubleheader, nor that it had a say in Miranda as the opponent. This marks Miranda’s fourth appearance on HBO.
While Bute was training in Miami for nine weeks his trainer, Stéphan Larouche, said they were preparing for HBO as much as for Miranda.
“You do it unconsciously,” Larouche said this week, upon their return to Montreal. “You’re in show business and you’ve got to deliver. You better get used to this forum and close the show if you can. The fans of HBO, you want them to be awake. If they fall asleep, they won’t want you back. And you won’t make money.”
It was likely no coincidence this week when Barragan, just hours following his arrival to the city, had lunch with Jean Bédard, the CEO of the Sportscene Group Inc., which oversees promoter InterBox and guides Bute’s career.
This marks Bute’s second consecutive appearance on the cable channel, virtually unheard of for a Canadian boxer. HBO came to Quebec last November, when Bute dispatched Librado Andrade in their rematch, requiring only four rounds to knock him out. With the victory, Bute improved to 25-0 with 20 KOs.
Barragan said his company was skeptical of Bute prior to the bout, but ended the evening convinced he was for real.
“That fight opened our eyes,” Barragan said. “As fight people, we’re suspicious of undefeated records – especially from places like Canada, which doesn’t produce a lot of great fighters. The Andrade performance was a measuring tape.”
Bute won a unanimous decision against Andrade in their first fight, but Bute also was knocked down near the end of the final round and appeared to benefit from a long count. HBO was curious how he would fare, without controversy.
“He showed good lateral movement. He hits guys with punches they don’t see coming,” Barragan said.
Considering it was Bute’s first exposure to American audiences, and the bout coincided with U.S. Thanksgiving weekend, it served as a reasonable barometer. “This fight’s more high profile,” Barragan said. “And you have Pavlik following on a good boxing night.
“Bute’s going to have a lot more eyes on him.”
HBO wanted Miranda due to his one-punch knockout potential, giving him entertainment value. Miranda, 33-4 (29 KOs) is no stranger to marquee matchups, having faced Pavlik, Arthur Abraham and Andre Ward.
“Let’s not kid ourselves. This night isn’t about Miranda. It’s about Bute, and how he reacts to Miranda,” Barragan said. “This will give Bute the opportunity to add another element.”
hzurkowsky@thegazette.canwest.com
© Copyright (c) The Montreal Gazette
Source: montrealgazette.com
MONTREAL - The possibilities are endless for International Boxing Federation super-middleweight champion Lucian Bute – provided he continues winning.
And should he succeed, there’s a good chance HBO will be there for every punch and round of action.
“Lucian Bute is charismatic. Even with the language barrier, he comes across really well on TV, and you can’t underestimate that power,” said Luis Barragan, the director of programming for HBO Sports. “Guys who become stars have that charisma, and it comes across on the screen.
“And he’s a really talented fighter and a really good boxer.”
HBO, the specialty channel available to more than 30-million homes in the U.S. – and the one considered the leader in boxing – will televise Bute’s title defence against Edison Miranda Saturday night at the Bell Centre.
The card, which begins at 7, will be picked up by the cable giant at 10, and will precede HBO’s coverage of Kelly Pavlik defending his World Boxing Council and World Boxing Organization middleweight titles against Sergio Gabriel Martinez in Atlantic City. Pavlik’s bout will be available at the Bell Centre.
The possibility exists of Pavlik moving to 168 pounds and eventually fighting Bute. It’s no coincidence HBO decided on the doubleheader, nor that it had a say in Miranda as the opponent. This marks Miranda’s fourth appearance on HBO.
While Bute was training in Miami for nine weeks his trainer, Stéphan Larouche, said they were preparing for HBO as much as for Miranda.
“You do it unconsciously,” Larouche said this week, upon their return to Montreal. “You’re in show business and you’ve got to deliver. You better get used to this forum and close the show if you can. The fans of HBO, you want them to be awake. If they fall asleep, they won’t want you back. And you won’t make money.”
It was likely no coincidence this week when Barragan, just hours following his arrival to the city, had lunch with Jean Bédard, the CEO of the Sportscene Group Inc., which oversees promoter InterBox and guides Bute’s career.
This marks Bute’s second consecutive appearance on the cable channel, virtually unheard of for a Canadian boxer. HBO came to Quebec last November, when Bute dispatched Librado Andrade in their rematch, requiring only four rounds to knock him out. With the victory, Bute improved to 25-0 with 20 KOs.
Barragan said his company was skeptical of Bute prior to the bout, but ended the evening convinced he was for real.
“That fight opened our eyes,” Barragan said. “As fight people, we’re suspicious of undefeated records – especially from places like Canada, which doesn’t produce a lot of great fighters. The Andrade performance was a measuring tape.”
Bute won a unanimous decision against Andrade in their first fight, but Bute also was knocked down near the end of the final round and appeared to benefit from a long count. HBO was curious how he would fare, without controversy.
“He showed good lateral movement. He hits guys with punches they don’t see coming,” Barragan said.
Considering it was Bute’s first exposure to American audiences, and the bout coincided with U.S. Thanksgiving weekend, it served as a reasonable barometer. “This fight’s more high profile,” Barragan said. “And you have Pavlik following on a good boxing night.
“Bute’s going to have a lot more eyes on him.”
HBO wanted Miranda due to his one-punch knockout potential, giving him entertainment value. Miranda, 33-4 (29 KOs) is no stranger to marquee matchups, having faced Pavlik, Arthur Abraham and Andre Ward.
“Let’s not kid ourselves. This night isn’t about Miranda. It’s about Bute, and how he reacts to Miranda,” Barragan said. “This will give Bute the opportunity to add another element.”
hzurkowsky@thegazette.canwest.com
© Copyright (c) The Montreal Gazette
Source: montrealgazette.com
Thursday, 15 April 2010
Lucian Bute primed to defend IBF title against power-punching Miranda -- The Canadian Press
By Bill Beacon, The Canadian Press
MONTREAL — Lucian Bute feels he's starting to be recognized as one of the world's top boxers, but he will need to knock off power-punching Edison Miranda to keep it going.
The U.S. specialty channel HBO will be in Montreal for the first time Saturday night to show the Bute-Miranda clash at the Bell Centre as a part of a twin bill with a middleweight battle in Atlantic City between U.S. star Kelly Pavlik and Sergio Martinez of Argentina.
It will be Bute's second bout in a row on the channel that is widely considered No. 1 in boxing, and which arranges and broadcasts fights of most of the biggest names in the sport, from Floyd Mayweather to Bernard Hopkins and Manny Pacquiao.
"I hope they keep showing my fights," the super-middleweight from Montreal said Wednesday. "We have to put a on a good show and remain champion.
"It was my dream to be champion and I made it after four years of work. Now I want to be on HBO many times. I want to make it to the boxing hall of fame. I want to retire unbeaten. I want to fight the biggest fighters in the world, the biggest names. Those are my goals. So I still have a lot to prove."
Bute first fought on HBO in November, when he scored a fourth-round TKO before a full house of 16,000 in Quebec City in his rematch with Librado Andrade, the iron-jawed American who had given him a scare with a late knockdown in their first meeting at the Bell Centre in October, 2008.
The southpaw Bute (25-0, 20 knockouts) will defend his International Boxing Federation 168-pound title for the fifth time when he faces Puerto Rico-based Miranda (33-4, 29 KOs), a tough righthander who compensates for limited skill with a thundering punches from both hands.
It was HBO that insisted on Miranda as the opponent for the entertainment value in placing the slick and highly skilled Bute against a power hitter.
"Miranda is a puncher and anything can happen with a puncher," said Bute's trainer, Stephan Larouche. "And they know that if he gets knocked out, he'll get knocked out hard, which is good for TV. He won't quit. He won't put a knee on the floor."
The 29-year-old Miranda has been working for nine months with veteran trainer Joe Goosen, who has coached stars like Shane Mosley and Diego Corrales. The plan is to add some boxing skills to Miranda's power and athleticism, but Larouche is skeptical.
"Once Bute sets up and gets comfortable, Miranda will go back to his old habits because he'll be getting hit left and right and think 'I'd better do something to hurt this guy,"' said Larouche.
"Lucian has a difficult style to fight against. He's like a big Pacquiao. He has a style that isn't conventional. You don't know what side he's going to throw from. You don't know what he's doing with his footwork. He plays distances well."
Miranda has fought many of the best at 160 and 168 pounds, including a 12-round loss to Andre Ward, a pair of losses to Arthur Abraham and a 2007 loss to Pavlik, along with wins over Allan Green and Howard Eastman. In his last fight in October, Miranda knocked out Francisco Sierra (20-3) in the first round.
Bute hopes to dispatch Miranda and then move onto bigger fish. There are reports Hopkins wants to fight him, and that Pavlik may want to move back up to 168 pounds to take him on.
Some felt Bute was slighted when the Showtime channel overlooked him while setting up its Super Six Series between super-middleweights, including Ward, Abraham and others, but his camp now feels he's done better cementing his relationship with HBO.
A Super Six bout between Carl Froch and Mikkel Kessler in Denmark that was originally to be held on the same night as Bute-Miranda was moved to the following Saturday, perhaps to avoid head-to-head competition for viewers.
"For us not to be in the tournament probably turns out to be the best thing that could happen because HBO chose Lucian as the best 168-pounder," said Jean Bedard, who runs InterBox, Bute's promoter. "They moved Kessler-Froch - that's where you see the power of HBO."
Luis Barragan, director of programming for HBO Sports, said showcasing 30-year-old Bute was a natural.
"He's a sensational fighter and he's also very charismatic," he said. "And he's in that 168-pound class which has a lot of interesting fights in the future."
Barragan sees no problem selling Bute to an American audience even if the six-foot-two fighter is of Romanian origin and, while he has learned to speak fluent French, is still working on his English.
"A lot of our biggest stars don't speak much English," he said. "Manny Pacquiao didn't speak much English and now he's up there in the top three fighters - and personalities - in the world, not just fighters but personalities. Miguel Cotto is another. Eventually their charisma comes through."
Bute and Larouche recently returned from two months of intense training in Florida and feel they are ready.
Bedard expects a crowd of more than 12,000, which is far from a sellout. But he expects much of the revenue to come from pay per view sales. The bout is also to air two weeks later on TSN.
Copyright © 2010 The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
Source: google.com
MONTREAL — Lucian Bute feels he's starting to be recognized as one of the world's top boxers, but he will need to knock off power-punching Edison Miranda to keep it going.
The U.S. specialty channel HBO will be in Montreal for the first time Saturday night to show the Bute-Miranda clash at the Bell Centre as a part of a twin bill with a middleweight battle in Atlantic City between U.S. star Kelly Pavlik and Sergio Martinez of Argentina.
It will be Bute's second bout in a row on the channel that is widely considered No. 1 in boxing, and which arranges and broadcasts fights of most of the biggest names in the sport, from Floyd Mayweather to Bernard Hopkins and Manny Pacquiao.
"I hope they keep showing my fights," the super-middleweight from Montreal said Wednesday. "We have to put a on a good show and remain champion.
"It was my dream to be champion and I made it after four years of work. Now I want to be on HBO many times. I want to make it to the boxing hall of fame. I want to retire unbeaten. I want to fight the biggest fighters in the world, the biggest names. Those are my goals. So I still have a lot to prove."
Bute first fought on HBO in November, when he scored a fourth-round TKO before a full house of 16,000 in Quebec City in his rematch with Librado Andrade, the iron-jawed American who had given him a scare with a late knockdown in their first meeting at the Bell Centre in October, 2008.
The southpaw Bute (25-0, 20 knockouts) will defend his International Boxing Federation 168-pound title for the fifth time when he faces Puerto Rico-based Miranda (33-4, 29 KOs), a tough righthander who compensates for limited skill with a thundering punches from both hands.
It was HBO that insisted on Miranda as the opponent for the entertainment value in placing the slick and highly skilled Bute against a power hitter.
"Miranda is a puncher and anything can happen with a puncher," said Bute's trainer, Stephan Larouche. "And they know that if he gets knocked out, he'll get knocked out hard, which is good for TV. He won't quit. He won't put a knee on the floor."
The 29-year-old Miranda has been working for nine months with veteran trainer Joe Goosen, who has coached stars like Shane Mosley and Diego Corrales. The plan is to add some boxing skills to Miranda's power and athleticism, but Larouche is skeptical.
"Once Bute sets up and gets comfortable, Miranda will go back to his old habits because he'll be getting hit left and right and think 'I'd better do something to hurt this guy,"' said Larouche.
"Lucian has a difficult style to fight against. He's like a big Pacquiao. He has a style that isn't conventional. You don't know what side he's going to throw from. You don't know what he's doing with his footwork. He plays distances well."
Miranda has fought many of the best at 160 and 168 pounds, including a 12-round loss to Andre Ward, a pair of losses to Arthur Abraham and a 2007 loss to Pavlik, along with wins over Allan Green and Howard Eastman. In his last fight in October, Miranda knocked out Francisco Sierra (20-3) in the first round.
Bute hopes to dispatch Miranda and then move onto bigger fish. There are reports Hopkins wants to fight him, and that Pavlik may want to move back up to 168 pounds to take him on.
Some felt Bute was slighted when the Showtime channel overlooked him while setting up its Super Six Series between super-middleweights, including Ward, Abraham and others, but his camp now feels he's done better cementing his relationship with HBO.
A Super Six bout between Carl Froch and Mikkel Kessler in Denmark that was originally to be held on the same night as Bute-Miranda was moved to the following Saturday, perhaps to avoid head-to-head competition for viewers.
"For us not to be in the tournament probably turns out to be the best thing that could happen because HBO chose Lucian as the best 168-pounder," said Jean Bedard, who runs InterBox, Bute's promoter. "They moved Kessler-Froch - that's where you see the power of HBO."
Luis Barragan, director of programming for HBO Sports, said showcasing 30-year-old Bute was a natural.
"He's a sensational fighter and he's also very charismatic," he said. "And he's in that 168-pound class which has a lot of interesting fights in the future."
Barragan sees no problem selling Bute to an American audience even if the six-foot-two fighter is of Romanian origin and, while he has learned to speak fluent French, is still working on his English.
"A lot of our biggest stars don't speak much English," he said. "Manny Pacquiao didn't speak much English and now he's up there in the top three fighters - and personalities - in the world, not just fighters but personalities. Miguel Cotto is another. Eventually their charisma comes through."
Bute and Larouche recently returned from two months of intense training in Florida and feel they are ready.
Bedard expects a crowd of more than 12,000, which is far from a sellout. But he expects much of the revenue to come from pay per view sales. The bout is also to air two weeks later on TSN.
Copyright © 2010 The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
Source: google.com
Sunday, 29 November 2009
Bute KOs Andrade to keep IBF super middleweight belt
AFP
QUEBEC CITY — Unbeaten Lucian Bute knocked out Librado Andrade in the fourth round here to retain his International Boxing Federation super middleweight world title.
The Romanian-born Bute, who has become a hero in his adopted Canada, dropped the Mexican challenger for the first time in the fourth with a short left to the chin - sending a crowd of 16,000 into a frenzy.
Bute then connected with a left to the midriff that sent Andrade down for the count at 2:57 of the fourth.
Bute improved to 25-0 with 20 knockouts, while Andrade fell to 28-3 with 21 wins inside the distance. Bute said the knockout was just what he had in mind.
"That's what I trained for," said Bute, who wanted to erase the memory of his first fight with Andrade in October of last year. Then, Bute dominated Andrade in Montreal until the final 90 seconds, before the challenger unleashed a desperate comeback that many thought Bute was lucky to escape.
"I haven't felt that good in two years," a joyful Bute said. "Tonight you saw the real Lucian Bute."
Andrade was trying to become the first world champion from Mexico in the super middleweight division.
Bute, meanwhile, demonstrated his strength despite being the only major champion in the division snubbed for the "Super Six" promotion featuring top US and European fighters.
"Tonight was my night," he said. "Everything went as planned."
On the undercard, South Africa's Ali Funeka punished former two-division world champion Joan Guzman but emerged with only a controversial majority draw in a fight for the vacant IBF lightweight title.
One ringside judge scored it 116-112 for Funeka, while the remaining two saw it 114-114 to leave the title still vacant.
Dominican Guzman remained unbeaten with a record of 29-0-1 with 17 wins inside the distance. Funeka moved to 30-2-2 with 25 knockouts.
It was a second North American disappointment for Funeka, who took on American Nate Campbell for the IBF and World Boxing Association lightweight belts in February.
Campbell failed to make weight and was forced to give up the belts. He then beat Funeka to deny the South African's bid to claim the vacant titles.
"I travelled a long way from South Africa to prove I'm the best in the lightweight division," a frustrated Funeka said. "What can I do? I don't even know what I can say."
Copyright © 2009 AFP. All rights reserved.
Source: Google News
QUEBEC CITY — Unbeaten Lucian Bute knocked out Librado Andrade in the fourth round here to retain his International Boxing Federation super middleweight world title.
The Romanian-born Bute, who has become a hero in his adopted Canada, dropped the Mexican challenger for the first time in the fourth with a short left to the chin - sending a crowd of 16,000 into a frenzy.
Bute then connected with a left to the midriff that sent Andrade down for the count at 2:57 of the fourth.
Bute improved to 25-0 with 20 knockouts, while Andrade fell to 28-3 with 21 wins inside the distance. Bute said the knockout was just what he had in mind.
"That's what I trained for," said Bute, who wanted to erase the memory of his first fight with Andrade in October of last year. Then, Bute dominated Andrade in Montreal until the final 90 seconds, before the challenger unleashed a desperate comeback that many thought Bute was lucky to escape.
"I haven't felt that good in two years," a joyful Bute said. "Tonight you saw the real Lucian Bute."
Andrade was trying to become the first world champion from Mexico in the super middleweight division.
Bute, meanwhile, demonstrated his strength despite being the only major champion in the division snubbed for the "Super Six" promotion featuring top US and European fighters.
"Tonight was my night," he said. "Everything went as planned."
On the undercard, South Africa's Ali Funeka punished former two-division world champion Joan Guzman but emerged with only a controversial majority draw in a fight for the vacant IBF lightweight title.
One ringside judge scored it 116-112 for Funeka, while the remaining two saw it 114-114 to leave the title still vacant.
Dominican Guzman remained unbeaten with a record of 29-0-1 with 17 wins inside the distance. Funeka moved to 30-2-2 with 25 knockouts.
It was a second North American disappointment for Funeka, who took on American Nate Campbell for the IBF and World Boxing Association lightweight belts in February.
Campbell failed to make weight and was forced to give up the belts. He then beat Funeka to deny the South African's bid to claim the vacant titles.
"I travelled a long way from South Africa to prove I'm the best in the lightweight division," a frustrated Funeka said. "What can I do? I don't even know what I can say."
Copyright © 2009 AFP. All rights reserved.
Source: Google News
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Friday, 27 November 2009
Opportunity beckons for Bute; Manny fans thinkskinned
By Chris Iorfida, CBC Sports
Quebec fighter Lucian Bute may have been left off the dancecard for the Showtime super middleweight tournament, but he'll have a chance to forge his own path if he's successful in a rematch Saturday night against Librado Andrade.
It's a moderate-sized if. Bute is the favourite, and should be, but was literally out on his feet at the end of the first bout between the two men in October 2008. He outboxed the rugged Mexican Andrade impressively for the first 11 rounds but found himself gassed in the final round. Had the bout gone another 20 seconds even, he would have been done.
Bute fell over once from exhaustion, and then was dropped by Andrade. Referee Marlon Wright made the very curious decision to choose that juncture to warn Andrade about being too far out of the neutral corner, buying Bute some crucial seconds. For an analogous situation, Julio Cesar Chavez was much further across the ring for his somewhat similar ending against Meldrick Taylor than Andrade, and was never warned.
For the good of boxing and the appearance of propreity, hopefully the Quebec commission will see fit to give Wright a rest in the rematch.
Bute will get a chance to defend his IBF title and show his skills to what will likely be the biggest TV audience to see him south of the border, with HBO coming to Canada for the first time in more than a quarter-century to broadcast the fight, along with a Joan Guzman-Ali Funeka undercard fight. Colisee Pepsi is just about sold out for the occasion, according to reports.
Even though he's on the outside of the 168-pound tournament, there are still several name opponents out there to prevent good paydays should Bute prevail. They include the winner of next month's Bell Centre rematch between provincial fighters Jean Pascal and Adrian Diaconu, Allen Green, the winner of a possible fight between Kelly Pavlik-Paul Williams, possibly one of the two octogenarians set to fight - Bernard Hopkins and Roy Jones.
In a way, the first Andrade bout could help Bute in attracting big opponents. He's talented, with good movement and combination punching, but doesn't have huge one-punch power and certainly isn't intimidating. Of course, they said the same thing about Joe Calzaghe years back and he never lost.
Bute is nearing 30, so now is the time to make a bid for a larger imprint on the sport. He can start that with an asterisk-free rematch win over Andrade.
Manny fans thinkskinned
A few commenters to last week's blog didn't care for my description of Manny Pacquiao's TKO win over Miguel Cotto in boxing's biggest superfight this year. I wasn't giving Manny any credit, they said.
Let's recap. I chose him as my 2008 Fighter of the Year. I will again pick him for fighter of the year in a few weeks and the Cotto win will in all likelihood be my performance of the year nod. It was pretty much guaranteed in May that Pacquiao would be the winner of my - and everyone ele's - KO of the year (it never gets old to watch).
Guys, what gives? Do I need to declare absolute fealty to the Filipino superstar?
What raised their hackles? Although I said there was no asterisk to the win whatsoever I had the nerve to suggest that Cotto isn't the same fighter he was 2 years ago just after beating Shane Mosley (primarily - owing to the beatdown he took against Antonio Margarito, who may have loaded his gloves).
Apparently stating that fact - which is painfully obvious to any objective boxing fans - besmirched Manny's win in their eyes. Not at all. It doesn't mean Manny didn't impressively grind down a damned talented fighter in there. Even after the beating Pacquiao laid on him, Cotto could still beat a few contenders. Manny's responsibility is to mow down who's put in front of him and he did once again on Nov. 14 - against the toughest, biggest opponent he's ever faced.
Fighter of the Blog
Andre Ward dominated Mikkel Kessler to close out the first round of the Showtime super middleweight tournament last weekend. The American outboxed Kessler, switched stances and looks, pounded him to the head and body, and won a technical decision late when the Dane was cut by headbutts.
Ward got a little sloppy in the last couple rounds - he should have been penalized for the butts, they weren't intentional but were reckless. It was an even more impressive performance than when Calzaghe decisioned Kessler by about three or four points in 2007. It's one thing to have 50,000 crazy Welshmen yelling with every punch you throw, like Calzaghe did, but Ward absolutely punished Kessler, who had no plan B. Being totally charitable you could give him two out of 10 completed rounds.
Kessler disappointed with his performance and shamed himself after. He refused to give Ward any credit, instead choosing to focus on the butts and some moderate Ward holding that went on in the ring, which were minor factors but certainly not the game changer. Kessler was a step behind almost from the jump.
Kessler even said he'd have to consider if he wanted to continue in the tournament. He'll likely wake up one day soon and be motivated to make up for this turkey, and his next opponent, Briton Carl Froch is beatable. Froch has none of Ward's fluidity, has been knocked down or shaken in two of his last three fights, and throws wide punches that can be easily countered by a classic European-style boxer like Kessler.
But what he seems to have in spades over Kessler, judging by Saturday night's intractableness and whining afterward - is unbelievable mental toughness.
And in boxing, that goes a long way.
Source: cbc.ca
Quebec fighter Lucian Bute may have been left off the dancecard for the Showtime super middleweight tournament, but he'll have a chance to forge his own path if he's successful in a rematch Saturday night against Librado Andrade.
It's a moderate-sized if. Bute is the favourite, and should be, but was literally out on his feet at the end of the first bout between the two men in October 2008. He outboxed the rugged Mexican Andrade impressively for the first 11 rounds but found himself gassed in the final round. Had the bout gone another 20 seconds even, he would have been done.
Bute fell over once from exhaustion, and then was dropped by Andrade. Referee Marlon Wright made the very curious decision to choose that juncture to warn Andrade about being too far out of the neutral corner, buying Bute some crucial seconds. For an analogous situation, Julio Cesar Chavez was much further across the ring for his somewhat similar ending against Meldrick Taylor than Andrade, and was never warned.
For the good of boxing and the appearance of propreity, hopefully the Quebec commission will see fit to give Wright a rest in the rematch.
Bute will get a chance to defend his IBF title and show his skills to what will likely be the biggest TV audience to see him south of the border, with HBO coming to Canada for the first time in more than a quarter-century to broadcast the fight, along with a Joan Guzman-Ali Funeka undercard fight. Colisee Pepsi is just about sold out for the occasion, according to reports.
Even though he's on the outside of the 168-pound tournament, there are still several name opponents out there to prevent good paydays should Bute prevail. They include the winner of next month's Bell Centre rematch between provincial fighters Jean Pascal and Adrian Diaconu, Allen Green, the winner of a possible fight between Kelly Pavlik-Paul Williams, possibly one of the two octogenarians set to fight - Bernard Hopkins and Roy Jones.
In a way, the first Andrade bout could help Bute in attracting big opponents. He's talented, with good movement and combination punching, but doesn't have huge one-punch power and certainly isn't intimidating. Of course, they said the same thing about Joe Calzaghe years back and he never lost.
Bute is nearing 30, so now is the time to make a bid for a larger imprint on the sport. He can start that with an asterisk-free rematch win over Andrade.
Manny fans thinkskinned
A few commenters to last week's blog didn't care for my description of Manny Pacquiao's TKO win over Miguel Cotto in boxing's biggest superfight this year. I wasn't giving Manny any credit, they said.
Let's recap. I chose him as my 2008 Fighter of the Year. I will again pick him for fighter of the year in a few weeks and the Cotto win will in all likelihood be my performance of the year nod. It was pretty much guaranteed in May that Pacquiao would be the winner of my - and everyone ele's - KO of the year (it never gets old to watch).
Guys, what gives? Do I need to declare absolute fealty to the Filipino superstar?
What raised their hackles? Although I said there was no asterisk to the win whatsoever I had the nerve to suggest that Cotto isn't the same fighter he was 2 years ago just after beating Shane Mosley (primarily - owing to the beatdown he took against Antonio Margarito, who may have loaded his gloves).
Apparently stating that fact - which is painfully obvious to any objective boxing fans - besmirched Manny's win in their eyes. Not at all. It doesn't mean Manny didn't impressively grind down a damned talented fighter in there. Even after the beating Pacquiao laid on him, Cotto could still beat a few contenders. Manny's responsibility is to mow down who's put in front of him and he did once again on Nov. 14 - against the toughest, biggest opponent he's ever faced.
Fighter of the Blog
Andre Ward dominated Mikkel Kessler to close out the first round of the Showtime super middleweight tournament last weekend. The American outboxed Kessler, switched stances and looks, pounded him to the head and body, and won a technical decision late when the Dane was cut by headbutts.
Ward got a little sloppy in the last couple rounds - he should have been penalized for the butts, they weren't intentional but were reckless. It was an even more impressive performance than when Calzaghe decisioned Kessler by about three or four points in 2007. It's one thing to have 50,000 crazy Welshmen yelling with every punch you throw, like Calzaghe did, but Ward absolutely punished Kessler, who had no plan B. Being totally charitable you could give him two out of 10 completed rounds.
Kessler disappointed with his performance and shamed himself after. He refused to give Ward any credit, instead choosing to focus on the butts and some moderate Ward holding that went on in the ring, which were minor factors but certainly not the game changer. Kessler was a step behind almost from the jump.
Kessler even said he'd have to consider if he wanted to continue in the tournament. He'll likely wake up one day soon and be motivated to make up for this turkey, and his next opponent, Briton Carl Froch is beatable. Froch has none of Ward's fluidity, has been knocked down or shaken in two of his last three fights, and throws wide punches that can be easily countered by a classic European-style boxer like Kessler.
But what he seems to have in spades over Kessler, judging by Saturday night's intractableness and whining afterward - is unbelievable mental toughness.
And in boxing, that goes a long way.
Source: cbc.ca
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Thursday, 8 October 2009
Your favorite boxing writer’s favorite boxers (Part 1)
Boxing News World
Want to know who’s the favorite all-time boxers and favorite active boxer of your favorite boxing writer? If you do, check this out:
Richard Cloutier
“Favorite active boxer: Lucian Bute (IBF Champ)”
“Favorite boxer of all time: Roy Jones Jr.”
Freelance journalist Richard Cloutier is the Publishing Editor – Canada – of Netboxe.com, an International Boxing Hall of Fame elector, a member – Sanctioning Committee – of Quebec Boxing Council, and an associate member of Fédération professionnelle des journalistes du Québec.
Coach Tim Walker
“My favorite fighter of all time Mr. Emile Griffith. Hands down. When you think raw power, awesome boxing technique, good defense and a general love and exuberance for the sport you have to consider Emile. His record wasn't unblemished but his boxing spirit was. He is, in my opinion, the quintessential boxing story. He was an immigrant to the United States from the Virgin Islands and was discovered totally by accident."
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"His story goes like this. He lied at the age of 15 to get a job at a hat factory. On one of those really hot days he asked his boss if it was okay that he took his shirt off. The boss told him yes. When he took his shirt off his boss was thoroughly impressed with how physically fit Emile was and basically took him to Clancy's Boxing Gym (Gil Clancy). Emile had no idea that his boss was a former amateur boxer and had never thought of boxing. For the next 2 or 3 months Emile would work half days and then spend 3 to 4 hours in the boxing gym. After only 2 or 3 months of amateur training, he fought in and made it to the finals of the Golden Gloves. The next year he won it. Wow!"
"He won the welterweight title in 1962 when there were only 8 weight divisions and when there was only one championship title (WBA). The WBC came into existence in 1963, IBF in 1983, and WBO in 1988. In fact he won the title after only 4 to 5 years of boxing, total, including amateur and pro. He won the title by knocking out Benny Paret and won two of the three trilogy fights with Paret. Unfortunately, he holds the dubious distinction of having killed Paret in the ring of their 3rd fight. Barring that, discounting the loss of the title to Luis Manuel Rodriguez (he regained the title 3 months later against Rodriguez) he held on to the WBA/WBC welterweight title til 1969. He also was the WBA/WBC Middleweight title by defeating Dick Tiger. However, after killing Paret in the ring he seemed to never go after his opponents with the same fervor. This is very evident in his decrease in knockout ratio despite facing some lesser talent. Still, he is absolutely my favorite. Honorable mentions in that category are Roy Jones Jr, Floyd Mayweather, Sugar Ray Leonard, Sugar Ray Robinson, Ezzard Charles, Archie Moore (very overlooked I think), Muhammad Ali, Evander Holyfield and Mike Tyson. I like all of these fighters because each revolutionized the sport in their own way.”
Coach Tim Walker is a contributing writer for Eastsideboxing.com and TheFightCountdown.com.
Ralph Rimpell
“My favorite active and all-time boxer is James "lights out" Toney. Another favorite of mine was the late Diego "Chico" Corrales.”
Ralph Rimpell writes for Iron Boxing.
Brandon Estrict
“My favorite active fighter is Floyd Mayweather, followed closely by Miguel Cotto.”
“My favorite fighter of all time isn't so easy to narrow down. I'm much younger than most writers and journalists so obviously I don't go back to the days of guys like Muhammad Ali, Thomas Hearns, Marvin Hagler, Sugar Ray Leonard, Bob Foster, the young George Foreman and so on. That isn't to say I haven't seen plenty of their fights or (I haven’t) researched (about) them, (it’s) just that it'd be sort of generic for me to pick any of those guys when I wasn't alive to see their fights firsthand.”
My all-time faves, based on the guys I've actually seen from the beginning of their careers, are Pernell Whitaker, James Toney, Evander Holyfield, Floyd Mayweather Jr., Shane Mosley, Bernard Hopkins and I'm sure a few more guys I'm forgetting.”
Brandon Estrict writes for DogHouseBoxing.com
Aaron Screen
“(My) favourite active (boxer is) Pretty Boy Floyd, 40-0 his fights are not just fights there events, I myself appreciate the technical skills of the sweet science, no body displays the overall skills like Mayweather do.”
“(My) favourite all-time (boxer) is Roy Jones Jr - the man they call Superman is by far one of the most naturally gifted fighters of all time.”
“Didn’t he almost invent the concept of Pound for Pound? Back when Roy was the real Roy he was simply untouchable, barely losing a minute never mind a round. His combination punching and hand speed was that of a world class featherweight.”
Aaron Screen is a young contributing writer for SecondsOut.com and UltimateBoxingResults.com.
Tony Nobbs
“Floyd (is my favorite active boxer). He is the best. A marvelous boxer.”
“(My favorite all-time boxer is) Lionel Rose. Why? 19 year old world champ, came from an Aboriginal settlement to conquer the world. Beat Hall of Famer Fighting Harada for the title in a great fight. Lionel was beautiful to watch.”
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Tony Nobbs writes for The Fist, Australia’s leading boxing magazine, and EastSideBoxing.com and World Boxing Foundation media correspondent (Australia).
Frank Gonzalez Jr.
“My favorite fighter of all time... is a hard question to answer since there were so many fighters I thought were great. I'll say Marvin Hagler, a great warrior who ducked no one. Mohammad Ali, the great stylist HW who beat everyone in his era that was worth fighting. Currently, I'd go with Rafael Marquez and Israel Vazquez, two guys who fought great battles against each other; both have great boxing skills and can slug it out just as good. Also Glen Johnson, who has beaten many greats of his era even though he was robbed by the Judges, Johnson was always humble, didn't talk crap and never pretended he was the best but said he wanted to fight the best.”
Frank ‘Sharkie’s Machine’ Gonzalez Jr is a contributing writer for BraggingRightsCorner.com, DoghouseBoxing.com, and EastSideBoxing.com.
Jason Petock
“The question of who is my favorite active boxer is a difficult one. I have several fighters that I like to watch and many of them have contrasting styles, as well as personalities. Also, sadly many of the fighters that I really enjoy watching in the ring have either retired or met their demise tragically (RIP - Arturo Gatti, Vernon Forrest). But the answer to this question is actually fairly simple when I consider it.”
“My favorite active fighter is Bernard "The Executioner" Hopkins (49 - 5 - 1 / 32 KOs). He is crafty, brilliant, skilled, elusive, and extremely tactical in the ring. He has all the tools in his arsenal and for him to still be fighting at 44 years of age and putting on performances like he did against Kelly Pavlik (which was nothing short of amazing) is a true testament to this great and fascinating boxer of our era.”
“My favorite boxer of all time is "Iron" Mike Tyson (50 - 6 - 0 / 44 KOs). He was a true throwback and simply incredible in the ring. He brought with him a modern display at the time of the ferocity of Jack "The Manassa Mauler" Dempsey (62 - 6 - 9 / 51 KOs), and he ran through the Heavyweight Division like a freight train, leaving fighters in his wake. He will always be the best of this generation, and no matter his troubles and turmoil outside of the ring, we can all appreciate his victories and performances in it.”
Jason Petock contributes writings to DoghouseBoxing.com.
Thomas Hauser
“(My) Favorite (boxer) of all time is Muhammad Ali.”
Thomas Hauser is the author of 34 books including 'Muhammad Ali: His Life And Times'. In 2005, he was honored by the Boxing Writers Association of America, which bestowed the Nat Fleischer Award for career excellence in boxing journalism upon him. He was the first Internet writer ever to receive the honor. Thomas describes writing for Secondsout.com as a chance to 'explore new frontiers and deliver cutting-edge material to website readers'.
PH Burbridge
“My favorite active fighter is Manny Pacquiao. Pacquiao is the type of fighter I prefer watching because he delivers excitement and he’s also a class act in and out of the ring.”
“He deserves our respect for his willingness to step into the ring with much bigger, world class fighters and he is clearly unmatched in that regard in modern boxing.”
“My favorite boxer of all time is Julio Cesar Chavez. Julio at one time in his career was 87-0 with 75 KO's and ranked as the P4P #1 fighter which says it all. He and Manny have a great deal in common. Perhaps no two fighters in history have meant more to their countries than these two.”
“Julio and Manny are my two favorite fighters of the last 20 years.”
PH Burbridge writes for EastSidbeBoxing.com.
- Marshall N. B., marx7204@lycos.com
Want to know who’s the favorite all-time boxers and favorite active boxer of your favorite boxing writer? If you do, check this out:
Richard Cloutier
“Favorite active boxer: Lucian Bute (IBF Champ)”
“Favorite boxer of all time: Roy Jones Jr.”
Freelance journalist Richard Cloutier is the Publishing Editor – Canada – of Netboxe.com, an International Boxing Hall of Fame elector, a member – Sanctioning Committee – of Quebec Boxing Council, and an associate member of Fédération professionnelle des journalistes du Québec.
Coach Tim Walker
“My favorite fighter of all time Mr. Emile Griffith. Hands down. When you think raw power, awesome boxing technique, good defense and a general love and exuberance for the sport you have to consider Emile. His record wasn't unblemished but his boxing spirit was. He is, in my opinion, the quintessential boxing story. He was an immigrant to the United States from the Virgin Islands and was discovered totally by accident."
Emile Griffith
"His story goes like this. He lied at the age of 15 to get a job at a hat factory. On one of those really hot days he asked his boss if it was okay that he took his shirt off. The boss told him yes. When he took his shirt off his boss was thoroughly impressed with how physically fit Emile was and basically took him to Clancy's Boxing Gym (Gil Clancy). Emile had no idea that his boss was a former amateur boxer and had never thought of boxing. For the next 2 or 3 months Emile would work half days and then spend 3 to 4 hours in the boxing gym. After only 2 or 3 months of amateur training, he fought in and made it to the finals of the Golden Gloves. The next year he won it. Wow!"
"He won the welterweight title in 1962 when there were only 8 weight divisions and when there was only one championship title (WBA). The WBC came into existence in 1963, IBF in 1983, and WBO in 1988. In fact he won the title after only 4 to 5 years of boxing, total, including amateur and pro. He won the title by knocking out Benny Paret and won two of the three trilogy fights with Paret. Unfortunately, he holds the dubious distinction of having killed Paret in the ring of their 3rd fight. Barring that, discounting the loss of the title to Luis Manuel Rodriguez (he regained the title 3 months later against Rodriguez) he held on to the WBA/WBC welterweight title til 1969. He also was the WBA/WBC Middleweight title by defeating Dick Tiger. However, after killing Paret in the ring he seemed to never go after his opponents with the same fervor. This is very evident in his decrease in knockout ratio despite facing some lesser talent. Still, he is absolutely my favorite. Honorable mentions in that category are Roy Jones Jr, Floyd Mayweather, Sugar Ray Leonard, Sugar Ray Robinson, Ezzard Charles, Archie Moore (very overlooked I think), Muhammad Ali, Evander Holyfield and Mike Tyson. I like all of these fighters because each revolutionized the sport in their own way.”
Coach Tim Walker is a contributing writer for Eastsideboxing.com and TheFightCountdown.com.
Ralph Rimpell
“My favorite active and all-time boxer is James "lights out" Toney. Another favorite of mine was the late Diego "Chico" Corrales.”
Ralph Rimpell writes for Iron Boxing.
Brandon Estrict
“My favorite active fighter is Floyd Mayweather, followed closely by Miguel Cotto.”
“My favorite fighter of all time isn't so easy to narrow down. I'm much younger than most writers and journalists so obviously I don't go back to the days of guys like Muhammad Ali, Thomas Hearns, Marvin Hagler, Sugar Ray Leonard, Bob Foster, the young George Foreman and so on. That isn't to say I haven't seen plenty of their fights or (I haven’t) researched (about) them, (it’s) just that it'd be sort of generic for me to pick any of those guys when I wasn't alive to see their fights firsthand.”
My all-time faves, based on the guys I've actually seen from the beginning of their careers, are Pernell Whitaker, James Toney, Evander Holyfield, Floyd Mayweather Jr., Shane Mosley, Bernard Hopkins and I'm sure a few more guys I'm forgetting.”
Brandon Estrict writes for DogHouseBoxing.com
Aaron Screen
“(My) favourite active (boxer is) Pretty Boy Floyd, 40-0 his fights are not just fights there events, I myself appreciate the technical skills of the sweet science, no body displays the overall skills like Mayweather do.”
“(My) favourite all-time (boxer) is Roy Jones Jr - the man they call Superman is by far one of the most naturally gifted fighters of all time.”
“Didn’t he almost invent the concept of Pound for Pound? Back when Roy was the real Roy he was simply untouchable, barely losing a minute never mind a round. His combination punching and hand speed was that of a world class featherweight.”
Aaron Screen is a young contributing writer for SecondsOut.com and UltimateBoxingResults.com.
Tony Nobbs
“Floyd (is my favorite active boxer). He is the best. A marvelous boxer.”
“(My favorite all-time boxer is) Lionel Rose. Why? 19 year old world champ, came from an Aboriginal settlement to conquer the world. Beat Hall of Famer Fighting Harada for the title in a great fight. Lionel was beautiful to watch.”
Lionel Rose
(Image is from http://www.truebluecollectables.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=TBC&Product_Code=bx0115)
Tony Nobbs writes for The Fist, Australia’s leading boxing magazine, and EastSideBoxing.com and World Boxing Foundation media correspondent (Australia).
Frank Gonzalez Jr.
“My favorite fighter of all time... is a hard question to answer since there were so many fighters I thought were great. I'll say Marvin Hagler, a great warrior who ducked no one. Mohammad Ali, the great stylist HW who beat everyone in his era that was worth fighting. Currently, I'd go with Rafael Marquez and Israel Vazquez, two guys who fought great battles against each other; both have great boxing skills and can slug it out just as good. Also Glen Johnson, who has beaten many greats of his era even though he was robbed by the Judges, Johnson was always humble, didn't talk crap and never pretended he was the best but said he wanted to fight the best.”
Frank ‘Sharkie’s Machine’ Gonzalez Jr is a contributing writer for BraggingRightsCorner.com, DoghouseBoxing.com, and EastSideBoxing.com.
Jason Petock
“The question of who is my favorite active boxer is a difficult one. I have several fighters that I like to watch and many of them have contrasting styles, as well as personalities. Also, sadly many of the fighters that I really enjoy watching in the ring have either retired or met their demise tragically (RIP - Arturo Gatti, Vernon Forrest). But the answer to this question is actually fairly simple when I consider it.”
“My favorite active fighter is Bernard "The Executioner" Hopkins (49 - 5 - 1 / 32 KOs). He is crafty, brilliant, skilled, elusive, and extremely tactical in the ring. He has all the tools in his arsenal and for him to still be fighting at 44 years of age and putting on performances like he did against Kelly Pavlik (which was nothing short of amazing) is a true testament to this great and fascinating boxer of our era.”
“My favorite boxer of all time is "Iron" Mike Tyson (50 - 6 - 0 / 44 KOs). He was a true throwback and simply incredible in the ring. He brought with him a modern display at the time of the ferocity of Jack "The Manassa Mauler" Dempsey (62 - 6 - 9 / 51 KOs), and he ran through the Heavyweight Division like a freight train, leaving fighters in his wake. He will always be the best of this generation, and no matter his troubles and turmoil outside of the ring, we can all appreciate his victories and performances in it.”
Jason Petock contributes writings to DoghouseBoxing.com.
Thomas Hauser
“(My) Favorite (boxer) of all time is Muhammad Ali.”
Thomas Hauser is the author of 34 books including 'Muhammad Ali: His Life And Times'. In 2005, he was honored by the Boxing Writers Association of America, which bestowed the Nat Fleischer Award for career excellence in boxing journalism upon him. He was the first Internet writer ever to receive the honor. Thomas describes writing for Secondsout.com as a chance to 'explore new frontiers and deliver cutting-edge material to website readers'.
PH Burbridge
“My favorite active fighter is Manny Pacquiao. Pacquiao is the type of fighter I prefer watching because he delivers excitement and he’s also a class act in and out of the ring.”
“He deserves our respect for his willingness to step into the ring with much bigger, world class fighters and he is clearly unmatched in that regard in modern boxing.”
“My favorite boxer of all time is Julio Cesar Chavez. Julio at one time in his career was 87-0 with 75 KO's and ranked as the P4P #1 fighter which says it all. He and Manny have a great deal in common. Perhaps no two fighters in history have meant more to their countries than these two.”
“Julio and Manny are my two favorite fighters of the last 20 years.”
PH Burbridge writes for EastSidbeBoxing.com.
- Marshall N. B., marx7204@lycos.com
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