By Brian Wilbur, Ringside Report
Manny Pacquiao defeated Antonio Margarito last November in a fight that was billed as Pacquiao attempting to win his eighth world title in as many weight classes. Manny already held the record with seven titles in seven weight classes and was attempting to push his record even farther. The two pugs fought for the vacant WBC light middleweight championship.
Having a claim as a world champion is much easier in today’s boxing scene than it was in the past. One only has to win one of the four alphabet soup belts, the WBC, IBF, WBA, or WBO, in order to boast to be a world champion. One could also win a claim to the historical title lineage or win the Ring Magazine belt to be considered a world champion even without holding an alphabet soup belt.
Manny Pacquiao thrashed Antonio Margarito, winning the WBC’s version of the title at that weight class. Thus, he successfully became the only boxer ever to hold eight titles in eight weight classes. Right? Technically I suppose so using the definition of a modern boxing champion in the previous paragraph. But let’s look at the recent history of that 154-pound WBC title to see how much credibility it has.
On July 25th, 2009, WBC Light Middleweight Champion Vernon Forrest was shot and killed by a group of low-life thugs during an armed robbery. The three men were arrested and are awaiting trial with the death penalty potentially in their future. The world needlessly and tragically lost a terrific boxer and an even better human being that day.
Vernon’s belt obviously became vacant and the WBC had the task of crowning a new champion. The most obvious candidate to fight for the title was the WBC’s interim champion at that weight class, Sergio Martinez. Martinez turned down the opportunity, instead opting to fight Paul Williams at middleweight for big money on HBO.
One would think that the next move for the WBC would have been to arrange a bout for the vacant title among some the boxers whom they rated highly within that division. At the time their top three were Alfredo Angulo, Ricardo Mayorga, and Julio Cesar Chavez JR., in that order.
No such bout ever occurred.
Instead, the WBC sanctioned a match between Manny Pacquiao and Antonio Margarito for their vacant 154-pound belt. Pacquiao had never fought at junior middleweight prior to that match. Margarito had fought once in the last five years at junior middleweight in a meaningless tune up fight.
Margarito’s story about getting suspended for trying to use loaded hand wraps against Shane Mosley is well documented. Inexplicably, the WBC instantly made Margarito the number one contender when he returned from his exile despite being a proven cheater, despite having done nothing of merit in his new weight class, and despite coming off of a one-sided knockout loss. WBC president Jose Sulaiman essentially commended Margarito for cheating through his actions and various public statements defending the Mexican boxer.
Margarito was, and still is, a disgrace to boxing with no right to fight for any title until he proves that he can fight without loaded hand wraps, especially not at junior middleweight. Margarito had very little experience or success at that higher weight, having found his championship success at welterweight.
How, or why, would these two be sanctioned to fight for the vacant WBC light middleweight title? I possibly see why Pacquiao would get a pass directly to the title shot at junior middleweight considering that he was a pound for pound champion and a reigning world champion one weight class down, but only if he was fighting an established champion at 154 pounds. That was not the case. Manny was fighting for the vacant title against someone (Margarito) who was also new to the weight class and had no business being ranked inside the top 10.
The sanctioning of Pacquiao and Margarito by the WBC stunk. The WBC obviously wanted to get a cut of Pacquiao’s massive purse in the form of a sanctioning fee and bent over backwards to make sure that their title was at stake.
After Pacquiao won he vacated his new belt because his appearance at junior middleweight was only intended to be a cameo and he had no intention of sticking around to defend the belt. What is happening to the belt now is further discrediting the WBC belt and tarnishing Pacquiao’s claim as an eight-division champion.
A young Mexican slugger named Saul “Canelo” Alvarez won the WBC silver junior middleweight championship last July. For those who don’t know, the WBC silver titles are in place of the old “interim” label. So, in the WBC there are no more interim champions but there are plenty of title claimants to the silver belts. Alvarez, despite being a largely unproven, green prospect was first in line for a shot at the real belt based on the fact that he held that division’s “silver” belt.
That part is fine even if I don’t agree with Alvarez being rated as the #1 contender at junior middleweight, at least the WBC is consistent with their own rules up to this point.
What blows my mind is that the WBC is allowing Saul Alvarez to fight Matthew Hatton for vacant WBC junior middleweight belt. Hatton is best known for being Ricky Hatton’s younger brother but has found moderate success in the European circuit’s welterweight division. Hatton has had no significant fights at 154 pounds and has never beaten anyone that the media would consider at top 15-ranked contender in any weight class or at any point in his career.
Matthew Hatton bypassed a long list of WBC junior middleweight contenders ready and willing to fight Alvarez for the vacant belt, including Ryan Rhodes, Alfredo Angulo, Sergio Mora, and Kermit Cintron among the notables. Hatton is not ranked in the WBC 154 rankings, though he is, perplexingly, ranked #5 in their welterweight rankings.
A vacant title should be awarded only when the clear #1 and clear #2 ranked contenders fight. The WBC is hand picking undeserving boxers from any nearby weight class for no logical reason.
In the first case (Margarito vs. Pacquiao) you had two name opponents who were foreign to the weight class, one of whom was coming off a loss and suspicion for cheating. The next case (Alvarez vs. Hatton) you have two guys who would not be on most people’s top ten list fighting for the vacant title.
This belt, the WBC junior middleweight championship, is completely meaningless based on their recent actions and their vast history of poor decision making. How can boxing historians put any weight on the belt of an organization that runs business is this manner? They are giving titles away willy nilly, sanctioning any bout if the money is right. Pacquiao’s accomplishment of eight titles in eight weight classes is in serious question.
If the WBC sanctioned a fight between Pacquiao and Eric Crumble (look him up on boxrec) for the 168-pound title would we consider that nine titles in nine weight classes for Pacman? Absolutely not, and nor should we accept his claim to eight titles either, until he fights and beats a legitimate champion at 154 pounds.
Source: ringsidereport.com
Showing posts with label Saul Alvarez. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Saul Alvarez. Show all posts
Friday, 4 March 2011
Tuesday, 1 March 2011
Hatton hampered by weight limit as Alvarez becomes an even heavier favourite -- Daily Mail
By Jeff Powell, Daily Mail
The going in America was always going to be tough for Matthew Hatton and now it looks like getting even tougher come Saturday night.
The WBC are expected to insist that Hatton's fight with Mexican hot-shot Saul Alvarez for their vacant world title is made at the full light-middleweight limit of 154 lbs.
Ricky the Hitman's younger brother, who has been campaigning at welterweight, has been preparing for a catchweight contest at 150 lbs.
But the WBC were widely criticised for approving an identical compromise when Manny Pacquiao moved up to win a world title in an unprecedented eighth division by massively outpointing two-time light-middleweight champion Antonio Margarito.
When Pacquiao, having reinforced his status as the best pound-for-pound boxer on the planet, relinquished that belt so as to return to middleweight there was a delay before the WBC agreed to sanction Alvarez v Hatton for the championship.
It is believed they were seeking confirmation that this would be an authentic light-middleweight battle.
That - plus a decision by Golden Boy promotions to bring this Friday's weigh-in forward from mid-afternoon to noon - threatens to give Alvarez a substantial advantage in poundage by the time they enter the ring at the Honda Centre in Anaheim, California almost a day and a half later.
Alvarez, a natural light-middleweight, has been the heavy (in every sense) favourite since pen was put to paper for a fight originally conceived as a final eliminator for the world title.
The 20-year-old, undefeated and unusually red-haired Mexican is being fast-tracked to stardom by Golden Boy.
But Hatton, at nine years the older, has always believed he could make his extra experience count.
To his considerable credit, he still does, even though not only the stakes but probably the weight are being raised.
Hatton the Younger said from the start that he would not let the difference of a few pounds deter him or affect the fight.
Now those few pounds look like becoming half a stone......and rising. Even so - and although he acknowledges the prodigious talent which has already made Alvarez a celebrity south of the Mexican border and an eye-catcher in America - he remains confident of pulling off the upset.
That gritty determination is typical of the fight family Hatton. This is the kind of against-the-odds challenge which the Manchester Hitman always relished - and so often overcame before time and Floyd Mayweather Jnr and Pacquiao caught up with him.
Source: dailymail.co.uk
The going in America was always going to be tough for Matthew Hatton and now it looks like getting even tougher come Saturday night.
The WBC are expected to insist that Hatton's fight with Mexican hot-shot Saul Alvarez for their vacant world title is made at the full light-middleweight limit of 154 lbs.
Ricky the Hitman's younger brother, who has been campaigning at welterweight, has been preparing for a catchweight contest at 150 lbs.
But the WBC were widely criticised for approving an identical compromise when Manny Pacquiao moved up to win a world title in an unprecedented eighth division by massively outpointing two-time light-middleweight champion Antonio Margarito.
When Pacquiao, having reinforced his status as the best pound-for-pound boxer on the planet, relinquished that belt so as to return to middleweight there was a delay before the WBC agreed to sanction Alvarez v Hatton for the championship.
It is believed they were seeking confirmation that this would be an authentic light-middleweight battle.
That - plus a decision by Golden Boy promotions to bring this Friday's weigh-in forward from mid-afternoon to noon - threatens to give Alvarez a substantial advantage in poundage by the time they enter the ring at the Honda Centre in Anaheim, California almost a day and a half later.
Alvarez, a natural light-middleweight, has been the heavy (in every sense) favourite since pen was put to paper for a fight originally conceived as a final eliminator for the world title.
The 20-year-old, undefeated and unusually red-haired Mexican is being fast-tracked to stardom by Golden Boy.
But Hatton, at nine years the older, has always believed he could make his extra experience count.
To his considerable credit, he still does, even though not only the stakes but probably the weight are being raised.
Hatton the Younger said from the start that he would not let the difference of a few pounds deter him or affect the fight.
Now those few pounds look like becoming half a stone......and rising. Even so - and although he acknowledges the prodigious talent which has already made Alvarez a celebrity south of the Mexican border and an eye-catcher in America - he remains confident of pulling off the upset.
That gritty determination is typical of the fight family Hatton. This is the kind of against-the-odds challenge which the Manchester Hitman always relished - and so often overcame before time and Floyd Mayweather Jnr and Pacquiao caught up with him.
Source: dailymail.co.uk
Thursday, 17 February 2011
Saul Alvarez-Matthew Hatton Will Be For The Vacant WBC 154-Pound Title: Who Will Succeed Pac-Man - “Canelo” Or “Magic?” -- Eastside Boxing
By James Slater, Eastside Boxing
Golden Boy Promotions wasted no time at all in trying to set up a fight whereby the winner will crown a new WBC 154-pound champion. Just days after Manny Pacquiao made it clear he would not be defending the light-middleweight belt he’d won by hammering Antonio Margarito over 12-rounds, Golden Boy were urging the WBC to sanction the upcoming bout between Saul Alvarez and Matthew Hatton as for the vacated title.
And now, as reported on Fightnews.com, the WBC has complied with the request of Golden Boy - much to the delight of both Alvarez and Hatton, as well as pleasing GB head, Oscar De La Hoya.
At one time, it was assumed the winner of Alvarez-Hatton (set for March 5th in California) would then go on to fight the next available WBC contender at the weight; with Mexican rival to Alvarez Alfredo Angulo looking likely to face “Canelo” providing the 20-year-old got past Hatton. But it appears (according to De La Hoya) visa issues have made things complicated for the vicious-punching “El Perro” and now the winner of the March bout will emerge as the WBC ruler.
![Paper Champion [Explicit]](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_uGM07Mt9Ywi-AhT4D4-JbCEPzPjlxrHV10-H5Wj-KwfgyQ6-vprxGuvSTCMMPREXPkl3L4UtGijj65j9fXHgb4OPYfwirsOKGHP0gMuO8Y4cvrnH_pUUrMpldl6j0Tea9gOH3DYp9OnJuq19HKj75aVIuUyVBPpoaQmkDEpeoUW188yO3zIYlpYhkM4_3K6XyTevvBcKNTdsAkp-8g3X44JLRs-4xR9lkojWY=s0-d)
“The WBC did the right thing,” Oscar said. “Alvarez is ranked #1 and ‘Perro’ Angulo has some visa issues.”
“This is fantastic news,” Hatton said. “Every kid that laces up gloves has a dream to become a world champion. It’s a fantastic opportunity.”
Some fans will perhaps choose to look at either Hatton or Alvarez as something of a “paper champion” after March 5th, and it’s true the winner will have to beat much bigger names before being accepted as even one of the best at the weight. But those fights will come in the future For now we ask: who will win the belt Pac-Man vacated - “Canelo” or “Magic?”
The exciting fighter some have said will be “the new Oscar De La Hoya” is a pretty big betting favourite to win next month, and he is a bigger puncher, he is faster, more versatile and he is the younger man. What the solid if unspectacular Hatton has on his side is experience - having been a pro five years longer than his rival and having had eleven more bouts than the Mexican has had. But will this be in any way near enough to see Hatton through to an upset win?
A touch of added experience aside, I cannot think of one advantage Hatton has over Alvarez. Barring an upset some would maybe even call a shocker, I think Alvarez will be crowned the new WBC champ two weeks on Saturday. Hatton figures to stick around for a few good rounds, but I take Alvarez to get the stoppage win late; say the 8th or 9th-round.
Source: eastsideboxing.com
Golden Boy Promotions wasted no time at all in trying to set up a fight whereby the winner will crown a new WBC 154-pound champion. Just days after Manny Pacquiao made it clear he would not be defending the light-middleweight belt he’d won by hammering Antonio Margarito over 12-rounds, Golden Boy were urging the WBC to sanction the upcoming bout between Saul Alvarez and Matthew Hatton as for the vacated title.
And now, as reported on Fightnews.com, the WBC has complied with the request of Golden Boy - much to the delight of both Alvarez and Hatton, as well as pleasing GB head, Oscar De La Hoya.
At one time, it was assumed the winner of Alvarez-Hatton (set for March 5th in California) would then go on to fight the next available WBC contender at the weight; with Mexican rival to Alvarez Alfredo Angulo looking likely to face “Canelo” providing the 20-year-old got past Hatton. But it appears (according to De La Hoya) visa issues have made things complicated for the vicious-punching “El Perro” and now the winner of the March bout will emerge as the WBC ruler.
“The WBC did the right thing,” Oscar said. “Alvarez is ranked #1 and ‘Perro’ Angulo has some visa issues.”Alvarez and Hatton are both thrilled to have the title opportunity, naturally.
“I am happy to dispute for the title,” Alvarez said. “I was already motivated but this only adds to it.”
“This is fantastic news,” Hatton said. “Every kid that laces up gloves has a dream to become a world champion. It’s a fantastic opportunity.”Some fans will perhaps choose to look at either Hatton or Alvarez as something of a “paper champion” after March 5th, and it’s true the winner will have to beat much bigger names before being accepted as even one of the best at the weight. But those fights will come in the future For now we ask: who will win the belt Pac-Man vacated - “Canelo” or “Magic?”
The exciting fighter some have said will be “the new Oscar De La Hoya” is a pretty big betting favourite to win next month, and he is a bigger puncher, he is faster, more versatile and he is the younger man. What the solid if unspectacular Hatton has on his side is experience - having been a pro five years longer than his rival and having had eleven more bouts than the Mexican has had. But will this be in any way near enough to see Hatton through to an upset win?
A touch of added experience aside, I cannot think of one advantage Hatton has over Alvarez. Barring an upset some would maybe even call a shocker, I think Alvarez will be crowned the new WBC champ two weeks on Saturday. Hatton figures to stick around for a few good rounds, but I take Alvarez to get the stoppage win late; say the 8th or 9th-round.
Source: eastsideboxing.com
Monday, 4 October 2010
Juan Manuel Marquez tells next generation of Mexican boxers to step it up -- Examiner
By Ricardo Lois, Examiner.com
As Mexico looks for the next generation of boxing super stars, its best active fighter Juan Manuel Marquez (51-5-1, 37 KOs) believes the future is now for rising Aztec figures Julio Cesar Chavez Junior and Saul Alvarez.
Speaking from his international pulpit on ESPN Deportes Golpe a Golpe, Marquez expressed the need for Mexico’s next generation of potential stars to step up their competition - now.
“He [Chavez Junior] has the ability to be a world champion,” announced Marquez. “But, it is time they put him in with a name fighter and a fighter who will show us what he is made of.”
One of the main criticisms directed at the twenty-four year old Chavez (41-0-1, 30 KOs) is the poor quality of his opposition and the need for his promotional company, Top Rank, to match him with a legitimate top ten fighter.
Marquez’s comments come on the heels of an announcement that Chavez will fight Alfonso Gomez (22-4-2, 11) on December 4 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California. As an opponent, Gomez will do little to hush Chavez’s critics, as he is an average word-class fighter at best and will be moving up to middleweight from welterweight for the fight.
Twenty-year old Saul Alvarez (34-0-1, 26 KOs), has not felt the critics’ stings to the degree Chavez Junior has due to his young age, but Marquez feels “Canelo” can improve the level of his competition and challenge some of boxing’s best names in the near future.
“It is time to put him in with a name figher,” said Marquez. “He is about one or two years from being able to compete with Manny Pacquiao, Floyd Mayweather, or Shane Mosley,”
Alvarez is also scheduled to fight on December 4, but in Cancun, Mexico against an undetermined opponent.
Source: examiner.com
As Mexico looks for the next generation of boxing super stars, its best active fighter Juan Manuel Marquez (51-5-1, 37 KOs) believes the future is now for rising Aztec figures Julio Cesar Chavez Junior and Saul Alvarez.
Speaking from his international pulpit on ESPN Deportes Golpe a Golpe, Marquez expressed the need for Mexico’s next generation of potential stars to step up their competition - now.“He [Chavez Junior] has the ability to be a world champion,” announced Marquez. “But, it is time they put him in with a name fighter and a fighter who will show us what he is made of.”One of the main criticisms directed at the twenty-four year old Chavez (41-0-1, 30 KOs) is the poor quality of his opposition and the need for his promotional company, Top Rank, to match him with a legitimate top ten fighter.
Marquez’s comments come on the heels of an announcement that Chavez will fight Alfonso Gomez (22-4-2, 11) on December 4 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California. As an opponent, Gomez will do little to hush Chavez’s critics, as he is an average word-class fighter at best and will be moving up to middleweight from welterweight for the fight.
Twenty-year old Saul Alvarez (34-0-1, 26 KOs), has not felt the critics’ stings to the degree Chavez Junior has due to his young age, but Marquez feels “Canelo” can improve the level of his competition and challenge some of boxing’s best names in the near future.
“It is time to put him in with a name figher,” said Marquez. “He is about one or two years from being able to compete with Manny Pacquiao, Floyd Mayweather, or Shane Mosley,”
Alvarez is also scheduled to fight on December 4, but in Cancun, Mexico against an undetermined opponent.
Source: examiner.com
Sunday, 2 May 2010
Undeterred Alvarez cuts down Cotto -- ESPN
By Dan Rafael, ESPN.com
LAS VEGAS -- Golden Boy Promotions president Oscar De La Hoya went to Mexico to personally sign 19-year-old Saul Alvarez in January, believing the he had a chance to become a major star. After the signing, De La Hoya hailed the move as "a historical day for Golden Boy."
Alvarez's popularity was growing steadily in Mexico, where he will continue to fight, but De La Hoya' vision was to also increase his profile in the United States.
So what better way to do that than by putting him in the co-feature on the year's biggest fight so far -- the Shane Mosley-Floyd Mayweather Jr. main event on Saturday night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena?
It almost backfired.
Although Alvarez stopped Jose Miguel Cotto in the ninth round of a junior middleweight bout, it didn't look good early.
Cotto, the older brother of former two-division titleholder Miguel Cotto, badly rocked Alvarez in the opening round, staggering him with a left hook that sent him falling into the ropes, which held him up. It could have been ruled a knockdown by referee Tony Weeks
Cotto hurt Alvarez again with several follow-up shots, including a flush right hand.
The Golden Boy brass must have had lumps in their throats at ringside.
But Alvarez, who turned pro at 15 with no amateur experience, rebounded to score a knockdown in the second round, nailing Cotto with a right hand. Cotto didn't go all the way down, but he spun around and touched his gloves to the mat to keep himself up.
From there, Alvarez (32-0-1, 24 KOs) remained in control thanks to his heavier punching and strong right hand. Alvarez finished a fading Cotto (31-2-1, 23 KOs) with an avalanche of hard right hands, forcing Weeks to step in and stop the fight at 2 minutes, 51 seconds.
Cotto, a 1996 Puerto Rican Olympian who twice fought for lightweight titles (drawing with Prawet Singwancha for a vacant belt and dropping a decision to Juan Diaz in 2006), showed a lot of heart, never going down during the finishing sequence.
"It was only a matter of time," Alvarez said. "I know the first round was a little scary but I gained my confidence as the rounds went on. Fighting in Vegas was a great atmosphere. I want to come here again. This is the first time Cotto has been stopped but it's because he's never fought anyone as tough as me."
• Former junior featherweight Daniel Ponce De Leon (39-2, 32 KOs) of Mexico turned back a stiff challenge from Detroit's Cornelius Lock (19-5-1, 12 KOs) to win a unanimous decision in a featherweight bout.
Ponce De Leon won his fifth consecutive fight since losing his 122-pound title to Juan Manuel Lopez via first-round knockout in June 2008 and later moving up in weight.
Ponce De Leon, a southpaw, shook off a cut over his left eye, which Lock opened with a series of left hands in the fourth round.
Lock had success in the middle rounds, but Ponce De Leon kept swinging and won 97-93 and 96-94 (twice). Lock made a spirited attempt for the knockout in the 10th round, rocking Ponce De Leon but couldn't get him off his feet.
• In a wild shootout, Las Vegas resident Said Ouali (27-3, 19 KOs), who is originally from Morocco, survived a quick, hard knockdown and withstood a rough follow-up attack to knock out Argentina's Hector Saldivia (31-1, 24 KOs) in the first round.
Saldivia rushed toward Ouali at the outset and knocked him down almost immediately with a chopping right hand. Ouali survived and was taking punishment when he landed a surprising left hand and dropped Saldivia.
Saldivia, making his U.S. debut, was hurt and couldn't survive. Ouali, who is with Mayweather Promotions, landed a right hand to knock him down again and when Saldivia got up, he was in bad shape. He wobbled across the ring to a corner and referee Russell Mora called it off at 1 minute, 47 seconds.
Dan Rafael is the boxing writer for ESPN.com.
Source: boxrec.com
LAS VEGAS -- Golden Boy Promotions president Oscar De La Hoya went to Mexico to personally sign 19-year-old Saul Alvarez in January, believing the he had a chance to become a major star. After the signing, De La Hoya hailed the move as "a historical day for Golden Boy."
Alvarez's popularity was growing steadily in Mexico, where he will continue to fight, but De La Hoya' vision was to also increase his profile in the United States.
So what better way to do that than by putting him in the co-feature on the year's biggest fight so far -- the Shane Mosley-Floyd Mayweather Jr. main event on Saturday night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena?
It almost backfired.
Although Alvarez stopped Jose Miguel Cotto in the ninth round of a junior middleweight bout, it didn't look good early.
Cotto, the older brother of former two-division titleholder Miguel Cotto, badly rocked Alvarez in the opening round, staggering him with a left hook that sent him falling into the ropes, which held him up. It could have been ruled a knockdown by referee Tony Weeks
Cotto hurt Alvarez again with several follow-up shots, including a flush right hand.
The Golden Boy brass must have had lumps in their throats at ringside.
But Alvarez, who turned pro at 15 with no amateur experience, rebounded to score a knockdown in the second round, nailing Cotto with a right hand. Cotto didn't go all the way down, but he spun around and touched his gloves to the mat to keep himself up.
From there, Alvarez (32-0-1, 24 KOs) remained in control thanks to his heavier punching and strong right hand. Alvarez finished a fading Cotto (31-2-1, 23 KOs) with an avalanche of hard right hands, forcing Weeks to step in and stop the fight at 2 minutes, 51 seconds.
Cotto, a 1996 Puerto Rican Olympian who twice fought for lightweight titles (drawing with Prawet Singwancha for a vacant belt and dropping a decision to Juan Diaz in 2006), showed a lot of heart, never going down during the finishing sequence.
"It was only a matter of time," Alvarez said. "I know the first round was a little scary but I gained my confidence as the rounds went on. Fighting in Vegas was a great atmosphere. I want to come here again. This is the first time Cotto has been stopped but it's because he's never fought anyone as tough as me."
• Former junior featherweight Daniel Ponce De Leon (39-2, 32 KOs) of Mexico turned back a stiff challenge from Detroit's Cornelius Lock (19-5-1, 12 KOs) to win a unanimous decision in a featherweight bout.
Ponce De Leon won his fifth consecutive fight since losing his 122-pound title to Juan Manuel Lopez via first-round knockout in June 2008 and later moving up in weight.
Ponce De Leon, a southpaw, shook off a cut over his left eye, which Lock opened with a series of left hands in the fourth round.
Lock had success in the middle rounds, but Ponce De Leon kept swinging and won 97-93 and 96-94 (twice). Lock made a spirited attempt for the knockout in the 10th round, rocking Ponce De Leon but couldn't get him off his feet.
• In a wild shootout, Las Vegas resident Said Ouali (27-3, 19 KOs), who is originally from Morocco, survived a quick, hard knockdown and withstood a rough follow-up attack to knock out Argentina's Hector Saldivia (31-1, 24 KOs) in the first round.
Saldivia rushed toward Ouali at the outset and knocked him down almost immediately with a chopping right hand. Ouali survived and was taking punishment when he landed a surprising left hand and dropped Saldivia.
Saldivia, making his U.S. debut, was hurt and couldn't survive. Ouali, who is with Mayweather Promotions, landed a right hand to knock him down again and when Saldivia got up, he was in bad shape. He wobbled across the ring to a corner and referee Russell Mora called it off at 1 minute, 47 seconds.
Dan Rafael is the boxing writer for ESPN.com.
Source: boxrec.com
Who R U Picking Live Update
Boxing News World
Said Ouali (27-3-0, 19KOs) W-TKO1 Hector David Saldivia (33-2-0, 26 KOs)
Daniel Ponce de Leon (39-2-0, 32 KOs) W-UD Cornelius Lock (19-5-1, 12 KOs)
Saul Alvarez (32-0-1, 24 KOs) W-TKO9 Jose Miguel Cotto (31-2-1, 23 KOs)
- Marshall N. B., marx7204@lycos.com
Said Ouali (27-3-0, 19KOs) W-TKO1 Hector David Saldivia (33-2-0, 26 KOs)
Daniel Ponce de Leon (39-2-0, 32 KOs) W-UD Cornelius Lock (19-5-1, 12 KOs)
Saul Alvarez (32-0-1, 24 KOs) W-TKO9 Jose Miguel Cotto (31-2-1, 23 KOs)
- Marshall N. B., marx7204@lycos.com
Friday, 30 April 2010
Fighter Jose Miguel Cotto, Trainer Joe Santiago, Look To Overcome Adversity -- FanHouse
By Lem Satterfield, FanHouse
LAS VEGAS -- Neither boxer, Jose Miguel Cotto, nor his first-time trainer, Joe Santiago, has had the best of luck in this gambling town.
The last time Cotto was in Las Vegas was in April of 2006, when he lost his bid for the WBA lightweight (135 pounds) title to Juan Diaz.
Santiago was last in Las Vegas in November as the trainer for Cotto's younger brother, Miguel Cotto (34-2, 27 knockouts), who was dethroned as WBO welterweight (147 pounds) champion by Manny Pacquiao (51-3-2, 38 KOs) following a 12th-round knockout.
But on Saturday night, the duo from Puerto Rico will be in the same corner when Cotto (31-1-1, 23 KOs) takes on 19-year-old, rising star, Saul Alvarez (31-0-1, 23 KOs), who is a winner of 27 straight fights, including knockouts in eight of his past nine fights.
"Vegas has not been a good place for us in the recent past, but you know, that's what can happen when you're in the big leagues," said Santiago, who has since been removed as Miguel Cotto's trainer, and replaced by Manny Steward. "But my job is to help Jose to be in great position to win, and we're ready, and we trained hard, and we're hoping to have a big win on Saturday."
Alvarez-Cotto will take place on the undercard of a clash between 33-year-old Floyd Mayweather (40-0, 25 KOs) and 38-year-old WBA welterweight king, Shane Mosley (46-5, 39 KOs) at the MGM Grand.
"We have the experience, we have a tough fighter, and we have been in this type of situation before," said Santiago. "We have the confidence of having a great fighter, and we know that we've done the work to prepare for a great win on Saturday."
Both Santiago and Jose Miguel Cotto are in action for the first time since the January death of Miguel Cotto Sr., who replaced his own brother, Evangelista Cotto, with Santiago for Miguel Cotto Jr.'s June bout with Joshua Clottey.
"There is definitely a sense of loss that my father is not here with me because he's always been so much a part of everything," said Jose Miguel Cotto. "But I will definitely fight harder knowing that he is still here with me in spirit."
Miguel Cotto successfully defended his crown against Clottey with a 12-round, split-decision, but was removed following Cotto's loss to Pacquiao.
Steward will be in Miguel Cotto's corner for his June 5 challenge for the WBA junior middleweight (154 pounds) title belonging to Yuri Foreman, as the pair of 29-year-olds face off at the new Yankees' Stadium.
Jose Miguel Cotto is coming off of December's sixth-round knockout of Ilido Julio. In his past five fights, Cotto is 4-0-1, with four knockouts, including three straight stoppages.
"I didn't come here to be a stepping stone for anybody. This is an opportunity for me to, once again, show that I'm one of the best fighters out there," said Cotto.
"I came here to have a great fight and a great win," said Cotto. "I belong among the big leagues of boxers, and I will demonstrate on Saturday what Jose Miguel Cotto is all about."
Source: boxing.fanhouse.com
LAS VEGAS -- Neither boxer, Jose Miguel Cotto, nor his first-time trainer, Joe Santiago, has had the best of luck in this gambling town.
The last time Cotto was in Las Vegas was in April of 2006, when he lost his bid for the WBA lightweight (135 pounds) title to Juan Diaz.
Santiago was last in Las Vegas in November as the trainer for Cotto's younger brother, Miguel Cotto (34-2, 27 knockouts), who was dethroned as WBO welterweight (147 pounds) champion by Manny Pacquiao (51-3-2, 38 KOs) following a 12th-round knockout.
But on Saturday night, the duo from Puerto Rico will be in the same corner when Cotto (31-1-1, 23 KOs) takes on 19-year-old, rising star, Saul Alvarez (31-0-1, 23 KOs), who is a winner of 27 straight fights, including knockouts in eight of his past nine fights.
"Vegas has not been a good place for us in the recent past, but you know, that's what can happen when you're in the big leagues," said Santiago, who has since been removed as Miguel Cotto's trainer, and replaced by Manny Steward. "But my job is to help Jose to be in great position to win, and we're ready, and we trained hard, and we're hoping to have a big win on Saturday."
Alvarez-Cotto will take place on the undercard of a clash between 33-year-old Floyd Mayweather (40-0, 25 KOs) and 38-year-old WBA welterweight king, Shane Mosley (46-5, 39 KOs) at the MGM Grand.
"We have the experience, we have a tough fighter, and we have been in this type of situation before," said Santiago. "We have the confidence of having a great fighter, and we know that we've done the work to prepare for a great win on Saturday."
Both Santiago and Jose Miguel Cotto are in action for the first time since the January death of Miguel Cotto Sr., who replaced his own brother, Evangelista Cotto, with Santiago for Miguel Cotto Jr.'s June bout with Joshua Clottey.
"There is definitely a sense of loss that my father is not here with me because he's always been so much a part of everything," said Jose Miguel Cotto. "But I will definitely fight harder knowing that he is still here with me in spirit."
Miguel Cotto successfully defended his crown against Clottey with a 12-round, split-decision, but was removed following Cotto's loss to Pacquiao.
Steward will be in Miguel Cotto's corner for his June 5 challenge for the WBA junior middleweight (154 pounds) title belonging to Yuri Foreman, as the pair of 29-year-olds face off at the new Yankees' Stadium.
Jose Miguel Cotto is coming off of December's sixth-round knockout of Ilido Julio. In his past five fights, Cotto is 4-0-1, with four knockouts, including three straight stoppages.
"I didn't come here to be a stepping stone for anybody. This is an opportunity for me to, once again, show that I'm one of the best fighters out there," said Cotto.
"I came here to have a great fight and a great win," said Cotto. "I belong among the big leagues of boxers, and I will demonstrate on Saturday what Jose Miguel Cotto is all about."
Source: boxing.fanhouse.com
Teenager Saul Alvarez Nearing Main Event Status -- FanHouse
By Lem Satterfield, FanHouse
LAS VEGAS -- Mexican-born, welterweight (147 pounds) Saul Alvarez took a record of 22-0-1, with 15 knockouts into his December of 2008, clash with hard-hitting Raul Pinzon, of Barranquilla, Colombia, at the Miccosukee Indian Gaming Resort, in Miami.
Alvarez, then 18, was coming off of an October, 10-round, unanimous victory over Larry Mosley, and was going in against a fighter in Pinzon who was 16-1, with 15 knockouts.
Pinzon's only previous loss had been by a 10-round, majority decision to then, undefeated, Euri Gonzalez, who entered their bout with a mark of 14-0-1.
Alvarez, who had fought almost exclusively in Mexico, blasted Pinzon out of the fight in just one round, sensationally illustrating what the building, national fuss had been all about for the youngster among his countrymen.
"First of all, you look at him, and you know that this kid is different and that he's special. I call him 'The Mexican James Dean,'" said Richard Schaefer, CEO of Golden Boy Promotions, which has signed the red-haired, freckle-faced Alvarez to a promotional contract.
"Plus, he's very charismatic, very good looking, and he can fight, of course," said Schaefer. "Saul is undefeated. And the Mexican and Mexican-American people have embraced him as a potentially great superstar."
So confident is Schaefer in the talents of Alvarez, that the 19-year-old has been cast in the role of the co-main event for Saturday night's megafight between 33-year-old, six-time, champion, Floyd Mayweather (40-0, 25 knockouts), and, 38-year-old, WBA welterweight titlist, Shane Mosley (46-5, 39 KOs), whose crown is not on the line.
Alvarez, whose bout will take place at The MGM Grand, will meet 32-year-old, Jose Miguel Cotto (31-1-1, 23 KOs), of, Caguas, Puerto Rico, who is the older brother of 29-year-old, former three-time, world champion, Miguel Cotto (34-2, 27 KOs).
"Televisa, which is covering fight here, has been with Saul Alvarez the entire week. They're doing specials and feeds every day. The ratings that he gets are 15, and, 16 shares, which are similar to what the Mexican national soccer team gets, which is like, 17, and, 18 shares," said Schaefer.
"That means 16 percent of the entire nation is watching his fights," said Schaefer. "He usually fights in Gudadalajara, Mexico. He's been selling out 15,00-seat venues with people lining up outside."
Alvarez is 31-0-1 with 23 KOs. Alvarez has 27 straight wins, including knockouts in eight of his past nine fights, but none had as much exposure as the teenager will experience on Saturday night.
"I have listened to Saul's management team, and they're an experienced management and they know what they're doing. They feel that he's ready for that stage -- to be on one of the biggest cards of the decade and right before the main event," said Schaefer.
"I think that this is an experience which will help him. He wants to fight Manny Pacquiao. He wants to fight Floyd Mayweather. He has told me those things," said schaefer. "To be right before Mayweather-Mosley is an amazing platform, and he knows that. And I hope that his nerves won't fail him and that he's going to deliver, which we think that he will."
The only blemish on record of Alvarez (pictured below, at left, with Jose Miguel Cotto)_was a draw in his fifth fight as a professional, when he fought Jorge Juarez as a 15-year-old in June of 2006.
After that, Alvarez reeled off eight consecutive stoppages over an 11-month span -- including four in the second round, and, two in the fourth -- from July of 2006, through, June of 2007.
"Saul Alvarez is not weak in any one department. He sets things up with a jab. He's not in a hurry. He has power in both hands. He has good balance and good timing," said Doug Fischer, Co-editor of RingTV.com.
"He sets up punches and he blocks well, but could work on his defense," said Fischer. "I would say that his weakness is handspeed and lateral movement, and I base that off of his fight with Larry Mosley. Mosley basically out-boxed him, but Alvarez wanted it a little bit more."
Jose Miguel Cotto is coming off of December's sixth-round knockout of Ilido Julio, and has not lost since suffering a 12-round, unanimous decision setback to Juan Diaz for the WBA lightweight (135 pounds) title in April of 2006.
In his past five fights, Jose Miguel Cotto is 4-0-1, with four knockouts, including three straight stoppages.
"I didn't come here to be a stepping stone for anybody. This is an opportunity for me to, once again, show that I'm one of the best fighters out there," said Jose Miguel Cotto. "I came here to have a great fight and a great win. I belong among the big leagues of boxers, and I will demonstrate on Saturday what Jose Miguel Cotto is all about."
Alvarez did not back down when he heard Cotto's comments during a press conference on Thursday, instead, directing this salvo at his rival.
"The only thing that Cotto has going for him is his last name," said Alvarez. "Maybe it's better for him to remain in the corner and to help his brother."
Schaefer expects Alvarez to have remained unbeaten when he leaves the MGM Grand.
"Saul Avalrez really has captured the imagination of the Mexican people," said Schaefer. "He's an entertaining fighter, and an exciting fighter, and we think that he has a bright future. I really can't wait to see him on Saturday night."
Source: boxing.fanhouse.com
LAS VEGAS -- Mexican-born, welterweight (147 pounds) Saul Alvarez took a record of 22-0-1, with 15 knockouts into his December of 2008, clash with hard-hitting Raul Pinzon, of Barranquilla, Colombia, at the Miccosukee Indian Gaming Resort, in Miami.
Alvarez, then 18, was coming off of an October, 10-round, unanimous victory over Larry Mosley, and was going in against a fighter in Pinzon who was 16-1, with 15 knockouts.
Pinzon's only previous loss had been by a 10-round, majority decision to then, undefeated, Euri Gonzalez, who entered their bout with a mark of 14-0-1.
Alvarez, who had fought almost exclusively in Mexico, blasted Pinzon out of the fight in just one round, sensationally illustrating what the building, national fuss had been all about for the youngster among his countrymen.
"First of all, you look at him, and you know that this kid is different and that he's special. I call him 'The Mexican James Dean,'" said Richard Schaefer, CEO of Golden Boy Promotions, which has signed the red-haired, freckle-faced Alvarez to a promotional contract.
"Plus, he's very charismatic, very good looking, and he can fight, of course," said Schaefer. "Saul is undefeated. And the Mexican and Mexican-American people have embraced him as a potentially great superstar."
So confident is Schaefer in the talents of Alvarez, that the 19-year-old has been cast in the role of the co-main event for Saturday night's megafight between 33-year-old, six-time, champion, Floyd Mayweather (40-0, 25 knockouts), and, 38-year-old, WBA welterweight titlist, Shane Mosley (46-5, 39 KOs), whose crown is not on the line.
Alvarez, whose bout will take place at The MGM Grand, will meet 32-year-old, Jose Miguel Cotto (31-1-1, 23 KOs), of, Caguas, Puerto Rico, who is the older brother of 29-year-old, former three-time, world champion, Miguel Cotto (34-2, 27 KOs).
"Televisa, which is covering fight here, has been with Saul Alvarez the entire week. They're doing specials and feeds every day. The ratings that he gets are 15, and, 16 shares, which are similar to what the Mexican national soccer team gets, which is like, 17, and, 18 shares," said Schaefer.
"That means 16 percent of the entire nation is watching his fights," said Schaefer. "He usually fights in Gudadalajara, Mexico. He's been selling out 15,00-seat venues with people lining up outside."
Alvarez is 31-0-1 with 23 KOs. Alvarez has 27 straight wins, including knockouts in eight of his past nine fights, but none had as much exposure as the teenager will experience on Saturday night.
"I have listened to Saul's management team, and they're an experienced management and they know what they're doing. They feel that he's ready for that stage -- to be on one of the biggest cards of the decade and right before the main event," said Schaefer.
"I think that this is an experience which will help him. He wants to fight Manny Pacquiao. He wants to fight Floyd Mayweather. He has told me those things," said schaefer. "To be right before Mayweather-Mosley is an amazing platform, and he knows that. And I hope that his nerves won't fail him and that he's going to deliver, which we think that he will."
The only blemish on record of Alvarez (pictured below, at left, with Jose Miguel Cotto)_was a draw in his fifth fight as a professional, when he fought Jorge Juarez as a 15-year-old in June of 2006.
After that, Alvarez reeled off eight consecutive stoppages over an 11-month span -- including four in the second round, and, two in the fourth -- from July of 2006, through, June of 2007.
"Saul Alvarez is not weak in any one department. He sets things up with a jab. He's not in a hurry. He has power in both hands. He has good balance and good timing," said Doug Fischer, Co-editor of RingTV.com.
"He sets up punches and he blocks well, but could work on his defense," said Fischer. "I would say that his weakness is handspeed and lateral movement, and I base that off of his fight with Larry Mosley. Mosley basically out-boxed him, but Alvarez wanted it a little bit more."
Jose Miguel Cotto is coming off of December's sixth-round knockout of Ilido Julio, and has not lost since suffering a 12-round, unanimous decision setback to Juan Diaz for the WBA lightweight (135 pounds) title in April of 2006.
In his past five fights, Jose Miguel Cotto is 4-0-1, with four knockouts, including three straight stoppages.
"I didn't come here to be a stepping stone for anybody. This is an opportunity for me to, once again, show that I'm one of the best fighters out there," said Jose Miguel Cotto. "I came here to have a great fight and a great win. I belong among the big leagues of boxers, and I will demonstrate on Saturday what Jose Miguel Cotto is all about."
Alvarez did not back down when he heard Cotto's comments during a press conference on Thursday, instead, directing this salvo at his rival.
"The only thing that Cotto has going for him is his last name," said Alvarez. "Maybe it's better for him to remain in the corner and to help his brother."
Schaefer expects Alvarez to have remained unbeaten when he leaves the MGM Grand.
"Saul Avalrez really has captured the imagination of the Mexican people," said Schaefer. "He's an entertaining fighter, and an exciting fighter, and we think that he has a bright future. I really can't wait to see him on Saturday night."
Source: boxing.fanhouse.com
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