McCloskey: I made Khan look pretty average on Saturday night -- The Score

By Niall Kelly, thescore.ie

PAUL MCCLOSKEY HAS rubbished suggestions that Amir Khan is one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world at present, claiming that he made the WBA Super-Lightweight Champion look “pretty average” during their fight on Saturday evening.

Referee Luis Pabon and ringside doctor Fraser Pinkney ordered the bout to be stopped after just six rounds when an accidental clash of heads left McCloskey with a nasty looking gash above his right eye. The fight was decided by the ringside judges who unanimously awarded all six rounds to the defending champion.

Though McCloskey’s camp were furious with the premature stoppage and have lodged an official complaint with boxing’s authorities, Khan has already started to plot his next move, eyeing up a divisional reunification contest with American Timothy Bradley before taking on stablemate Manny Pacquiao, the man currently regarded by many as the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world.

Speaking to Newstalk’s Off The Ball last night, the Dungiven man laughed off suggestions that Khan could even be considered in the same class, saying that the Briton had done nothing of note during their six rounds in the ring together.

“Anybody with a brain or anybody who knows anything about boxing knows that those six rounds were pretty close,” McClosksey said.

I made Amir Khan who has been recognised as one of the best pound-for-pound boxers in the world look pretty average and pretty ordinary. He was doing no damage to me whatsoever.
Describing himself as “completely gutted” and “mesmerised” by Saturday night’s events, the previously-undefeated 31-year-old said that his plan was to let Khan tire himself out as he sought to score an early and impressive knockout in front of the British crowd.

“To be fair, I was behind on points but we had a bit of a gameplan,” McCloskey said. “We knew he was going to come out early on and try to blast me away because he was trying to impress the crowd and he’d a bit of job to do.”

“I could feel the difference even in the number of punches that were coming my way. The number of punches per round were coming down, he wasn’t making me work as much, so we were going to up the tempo in the second half of the fight.”

The Northerner also dismissed Khan’s suggestion that a knockout was imminent had the bout not been waved off as post-fight bluster, saying “talk’s cheap at that stage.”

He said that at the press conference, but to be honest anything I put to him at the press conference, he couldn’t answer me back.

He’s very good at talking the talk once the event’s over, but he was quiet before the fight and up to that point.

Although he conceded that the chances of Khan agreeing to rematch were “slim,” McCloskey said that the manner in which the fight ended has done his future prospects no harm at all.

“To come out of the fight the way I did, it does my ranking no harm. I’m still highly ranked, and I’ve no doubt that I’ll be back fighting for a title in the very near future – if not this title then another one.”

Source: thescore.ie

AMIR KHAN IS CUT OUT FOR TILT AT TIM BRADLEY -- UK Express

By Niall Hickman, express.co.uk

AMIR KHAN can sail serenely towards a showdown with his hero Manny Pacquiao and ignore the spurious calls for a rematch from Paul McCloskey’s camp.

Boxing’s authorities may have shot themselves in the foot for a second time only a few months after the Audley Harrison-David Haye fiasco by calling a premature halt to McCloskey’s challenge, but the Ulsterman was never in danger of taking Khan’s WBA world light- welterweight title.

After a clash of heads in the sixth round, the ring doctor ruled that McCloskey’s cut was too severe to continue. McCloskey has probably cut himself worse in the shaving mirror, so to take away his stab at stardom was wrong and cruel.

British Boxing Board of Control secretary Robert Smith said: “I have absolutely no problem with the competence of the doctor. Fraser Pinkney is very experienced, has worked with the board for many years and it was his judgment call. He felt there would be a considerable amount of blood getting into McCloskey’s eye.”

The fact that Khan had bossed each round by an increasing margin means calls for a rematch should be ignored and McCloskey’s cut, requiring just seven stitches, cannot cloud the simple truth that he would not beat the champion in a month of Sundays. McCloskey does not have the tools to beat a global talent like Khan.

It was not vintage Khan – he took two or three rounds to find his range against an elusive opponent – but it was enough to prove that under Freddie Roach’s tutelage he is now ready for the step up to Tim Bradley. They are close to securing a fight in Las Vegas on July 23.

Roach said: “I know Tim Bradley well and he is one hell of a fighter, but would I put Amir in with him in the ring tomorrow and expect my boxer to win? Yes I would.

“Their fight will determine who is the best at 140lbs and then the winner should go up to 147lbs and take on Manny Pacquiao. That is my feeling.”

Khan admits he is desperate to unify the titles as the Californian holds the WBC and WBO belts.


“Bradley and me belong in the same class, world class, whereas I have proven that McCloskey does not,” said Khan.

“Bradley is a good fighter but that’s just going to push me and motivate me.

“Bradley is quick, fast on his feet and he can punch. He is a proven world champion.

“When I go back to LA for my training camp, knowing it is Bradley I’m fighting is going to push me even more.

“I have to go over to America and take his world titles but I am very willing to do that.

“I want to be in with Tim Bradley next. What would be the point of a rematch with McCloskey? It was an easy fight for me.”

Khan showed in glimpses some of the lightning hand speed which has made him such a marketable talent and although he will be facing a far more formidable opponent in Bradley, he has the tools to win Stateside.

Khan may not have liked to beat McCloskey this way, but compared to Harrison v Haye, this was at least a contest.

Source: express.co.uk

Shaw pushes Bradley for Mayweather matchup, jabs Donaire's loyalty level -- Examiner

By Michael Marley, Examiner.com

When a bulldog like Big Gary Shaw is not barking, there has to be a reason for it.

Which is why I called the fesity promoter Wednesday night, to see what's been keeping him off the airwaves so much lately.

"Everything is good," Shaw said. "I'm working on some big things."

Shaw is obviously keen on having Timothy Bradley, who he co-promotes, get a chance to fight Manny Pacquiao with the attendant rich paynight.

"Pacquiao is great but he only fights twice a year. I'd like to see Tim fight either Floyd Mayweather or Pacquiao or both of them, really. Tim is a natural opponent for either or both of them. And fighting at 147 pounds is not an issue."

I didn't interject that the mercurial "Money" fights once a year...if we're so lucky.

Like most boxing insiders, Shaw isn't sure when Mayweather will make a move to return to the ring.

"I think you can see that Floyd is his own man," Shaw said. "He'll decide when he will come back and fight again and nobody else will tell him when.

"Nobody tells Floyd what to do."

Shaw was dumped by Filipino Flash Nonito Donaire Jr., whose plan to dump Bob Arum and Top Rank, has been gummed up by arbitrator and former California State Superior Judge Daniel Weinstein.

It was Weinstein, man in the middle of the Top Rank-Golden Boy Manny Pacquiao dispute, who has enjoined GBP from promoting the red-hot bantamweight king Donaire until he's finished contractual obligations for Arum's troupe.

First, Shaw assessed Donaire's ability.

"I think that Nonito's a terrrific fighter. I think he is a terrific asset. But loyalty is not his strong suit, let's put it that way," Shaw said. "His loyalty does not rise to the 100 percent level."

Donaire left Shaw claiming that the New Jersey-based promoter did not deliver him the major bouts he desired.
This was after Donaire stopped Vic Darchinyan in five rounds in one of the biggest upsets of 2007.

When he signed with Top Rank, Donaire said: "I’m a very ambitious person,” Donaire said. “I’m never the kind who’s going to be satisfied with anything. I want to fight the best out there. Bring them, whoever they are. I’m not backing out on anyone Mr. Arum wants to put in front of me.”

Source: examiner.com

Tim Bradley has changes to make before Pacquiao fight becomes likely -- Examiner

By Scott Heritage, Examiner.com

After his ten round technical decision victory over Devon Alexander last weekend, the speculation over who WBO/WBC light welterweight champion Tim Bradley's next opponent might be has become one of the most talked about subjects in the sport.

While the obvious choice might be a bout against WBA champion Amir Khan to unify three of the four major titles at the weight and with it any lingering doubt as to who the best fighter in the division is, Bradley himself seems to have other plans.

Despite the fact that the Alexander fight was neither a crowd pleaser or a particularly dominant showing from Bradley, in part due to the ending and a bad clash of styles, the one name mentioned consistently by Bradley if not his current promoter has been pound for pound king Manny Pacquiao.

Before that fight has any realistic chance of happening though, there are several things that have to change for Bradley.

The first of which is likely his promotional status.

Top Rank boss Bob Arum said recently that Bradley was the kind of opponent he would welcome for Pacquiao in the future.

What he didn't mention is the fact that Bradley will become a free agent in the coming months and that Top Rank, along with Golden Boy and current promoter Gary Shaw are all hoping to sign him.

Bradley taking on Pacquiao then likely comes with the caveat that it will only happen if both fighters are under the Top Rank banner at the time.

Looking past a possible showdown with Pacquiao though, in the long term Golden Boy might be the better option for Bradley in terms of available opponents. Their roster currently includes Juan Manuel Marquez, Amir Khan, Marcos Maidana, Victor Ortiz and Lucas Matthysse, all interesting opponents.

Top Rank on the other hand certainly has a deep roster of fighters but at light welterweight and even welterweight their ranks are a little thin these days, and Bradley likely wouldn't be able to effectively compete at junior middleweight or above where the majority of their talent has been heading to of late.

Aside from the promotional difficulties in putting a fight together with Pacquiao, there are other concerns, namely Bradley's effectiveness at welterweight and his tendency to inadvertently headbutt opponents causing fight ending cuts.

In his sole outing north of the 140lb division, Bradley looked dominant against Luis Abregu but against a higher caliber of opponent the size and strength difference might have been more telling.

Against Pacquiao this isn't a concern for Bradley as much as Pacquiao is one of the smaller welterweights and moved up in weight himself, but without a resume at the weight many would no doubt question whether Bradley had earned a fight against the best in the division.

Perhaps the biggest concern from Pacquiao's point of view though is the fact that Bradley's head has caused cuts in each of his last five fights, ending two of them prematurely.

Worse than that though, even on his best days he isn't a particularly charismatic or always entertaining fighter to watch, and Pacquiao obviously won't want to look bad even in winning due to a clash of styles. Nor will his team want him to be in against a dangerous and unbeaten fighter that won't contribute much in the pay per view department.

Lastly, the fact that WBA light welterweight champion Amir Khan trains with Pacquiao could also for now make the fight unlikely. Pacquiao and Khan have formed a bond since training together and it could well be the case that Pacquiao wouldn't want to rob Khan of the opportunity of becoming the lineal light welterweight champion.

Source: examiner.com

Timothy Bradley's hands didn't defeat Devon Alexander, his head did -- Examiner

By Paula Duffy, Examiner.com

Devon Alexander's manager and trainer Kevin Cunningham let loose after the ten-round technical loss inflicted on his hard hitting young fighter at the hands of Timothy Bradley (27-0, 11 KOs).

"The last thing I told the referee before the fight was that Timmy's last six opponents have been cut by head butts. I told him, I told him, I told him,"

Yeah Kevin you told him, but what did you do to prepare your fighter? Alexander (21-1, 13 KOs) told HBO's Larry Merchant after the fight that he was in top shape and trained to the max, but there is no way to train for head butts.

Bradley won the HBO-named Super Fight that unified the WBO and WBC championships in the 140 pound category. One of the men in the ring at the Pontiac Silverdome outside Detroit, would suffer his first loss and Alexander pulled the short straw.

Hyped as a highly unusual meeting of undefeated American fighters, the actual boxing part of the evening bore out the fact that these men were evenly matched, if measured solely on the stats.

Luckily for Bradley, the judges saw a more aggressive fighter who seemed to stun, if not hurt Alexander when he landed his blistering right hand. The judges scored it 97-93, 96-95, and 98-93

The 27 year-old is trained by the giant of a man-trainer Gary Shaw, who cowered in the training room with Mrs. Bradley rather than sit ringside and be an emotional wreck. That alone was worth watching and it isn't clear if Shaw knows that without his fighter's use of his noggin he wouldn't get past the faster Alexander.

Bradley's first accidental head butt, seen as a punch by the ring referee Frank Garza, opened a gash on Alexander's right eyelid that required multiple stitches.

But it was the condition of the fighter's left eye, the general area of the last accidental head butt, that ultimately caused ring doctor Peter Samet to stop the fight at 1:59 of the tenth round. Alexander couldn't open it and was screaming that it was burning.

At the end of the fight, he was cut and gashed as if he were fighting Edward Scissorhands.

Perhaps that is a good nickname for Bradley who has his sights set on Amir Khan, but ultimately wants what all 140 pounders want: a shot at Manny Pacquiao.

Timothy Bradley's next opponent might want to consider figuring out how to keep his forehead and eyes from meeting their demise, not at the hands of Bradley but his head.

Source: examiner.com

Bradley Makes a Mark in a Talented Division -- New York Times

By PETER OWEN NELSON, The New York Times

PONTIAC, Mich. — In a locker room at the Silverdome, the ringside physician Peter Samet asked the battered junior welterweight Devon Alexander a question about the gash above his right eye: “Do you want a big scar, a little scar or no scar?”

Alexander replied, “No scar.”

With a grin, Samet said, “Some fighters want a scar — like a badge of honor.”

The permanent mark after Saturday’s fight was not on Alexander’s eye from six stitches, but on his record. It was formerly perfect, but is now 21-1 after his loss to the World Boxing Organization champion Timothy Bradley (27-0).

In the talent-rich 140-pound junior welterweight division, Bradley has emerged as the last undefeated champion and, by beating Alexander, the World Boxing Council titleholder, unified two of the three occupied belts. The World Boxing Association belt belongs to Amir Khan (24-1). Just before Saturday’s bout, Khan said of whoever emerged as the victor, “In the summertime, I’m thinking we can have a unification fight.”

Many in boxing hoped that Saturday’s bout would determine supremacy among the junior welterweights. It was the first time since Mike Tyson beat Tony Tucker in 1987 to unify the heavyweight crown that two undefeated continental American champions met. The unanimous technical decision for Bradley, however, was announced less than 10 rounds into the fight. An accidental head butt caused the temporary paralysis of Alexander’s eyelid and forced the referee to end the fight, eliciting a chorus of boos from the modest crowd of 6,247.

The victory, its anticlimactic finish aside, firmly puts Bradley in the top tier of junior welterweights. Now there will be a push for him to face Khan to determine who rules the division. Khan’s promoters said that matchup could take place in late July, after Khan’s tuneup fight April 16 in Manchester, England.

Bradley’s manager, Cameron Dunkin, said Saturday, “Amir Khan’s a great fight for Tim, as is Marcos Maidana,” referring to the Argentine boxer whom Khan defeated Dec. 11. Bradley had previously expressed his envy of Khan’s financial success, saying, “They aren’t paying me his dollars, and I’m the top guy in the division.”

The consensus among fans, promoters and HBO (which aired Saturday’s bout) is that a star will emerge from among the junior welterweights. A Bradley-Khan showdown this summer would help build the profile of both fighters. At stake is not only prestige and potential stardom, but also a possible lucrative payday against one of boxing’s two biggest names: Floyd Mayweather Jr. or Manny Pacquiao (who both fight as welterweights).

“Once the last man of the junior welterweight division is standing, he can go knock on Pacquiao or Mayweather’s door,” the promoter and former champion Oscar De La Hoya said.

Whether Pacquiao or Mayweather answers will be another matter. Both may continue to be too busy not fighting each other in a matchup that has failed to materialize despite multiple negotiations and an eager public.

Khan is trained by Freddie Roach, who also trains Pacquiao.

“I’d never fight Pacquiao because we’re close friends,” Khan said, “but someone like Mayweather could be a fight in the future.”

There are some who doubt that the key to Bradley or Khan’s becoming a star will be a showdown with Pacquiao or Mayweather.

“All of boxing should stop obsessing over Pacquiao and Mayweather fighting each other or anyone else,” said Thomas Hauser, a boxing journalist and a biographer of Muhammad Ali, adding, “The entire sport should just focus on good, exciting, competitive fights.”

Many of those can be made in the junior welterweight division, which boasts not only Bradley, Khan, and Maidana, but also Victor Ortiz, Lamont Peterson and Zab Judah (who is scheduled to fight for a vacant world title in March).

As for Alexander, a first defeat can cause some boxers to unravel, but television networks generally give gifted fighters a second chance. HBO has committed to airing Alexander’s next fight.

“The aftermath of a first loss is a function of the psyche of the fighter,” said Ken Hershman, the vice president and general manager of Showtime Sports, adding, “There are plenty of great fighters who lost close fights but come back stronger than ever.”

Time will tell if Alexander can get past his first defeat. His trainer of 16 years, Kevin Cunningham, seems certain that he will.

While the anesthetic lidocaine was being applied to Alexander’s cut before it was stitched up, Cunningham silently looked at the boxer and surveyed the desolate faces of the fighter’s entourage, before declaring, “Don’t worry, we’ll be back.”

Source: nytimes.com

Bradley Or Mayweather For Pacman? -- The Sweet Science

By David A. Avila, The Sweet Science

Rumors continue to ricochet from parking lots, to casinos, to boxing gyms and through the Internet, and the center of all the rumors continue to be who will be Manny Pacquiao’s next opponent?

A survey circulated around the boxing world revealed that Timothy “Desert Storm” Bradley was the favorite of those who participated in the informal poll. It wasn’t Floyd Mayweather, Antonio Margarito or Miguel Cotto who hard core boxing fans want to see versus Pacman. It was the kid from Palm Springs.

Bradley? Wow.

That was a shocking surprise to me. Though many including this writer feel he has the physical tools to match the Filipino superstar, it was an eye-opener to see that many fans prefer Bradley over Mayweather.

Mayweather has experience, defensive skills that border on genius, and just enough power to keep a whirlwind fighter like Pacquiao from attacking with impunity. Bradley has the same physical attributes, but lacks the experience of fighting in a mega fight with all of the world watching.

Mega fights are like no other prize fights. Aside from entering a ring in front of more than 16,000 screaming fans, and knowing that more than 1 million households have purchased the fight, there is much more to a mega fight.

Pacman and Money Mayweather know all about it.

You see, it’s a long arduous road that involves a non-stop road schedule of hyping the fight with numerous press conferences. Then there are the one-on-one stops in between the scheduled stops with boxing writers and high-powered sports columnists from New York, Jersey City, Boston, Philadelphia and Washington D.C. on the East Coast.

Sometimes there are other stops in Miami and Chicago depending on the nationality of the fighter.

All this takes place in the beginning of the announcement.

Once training starts there are numerous visits by television and radio crews from all over the country. In Pacquiao’s case they come from all over the world. Also, you have journalists descending on the training camps with their notebooks, recorders and video cameras too. The phone rings constantly with requests for interviews and this goes on every day during a mega fight.

It’s a lot to digest for a prizefighter in his first boxing bonanza.

The other factor is that fans come up every second with demands for autographs, photos or time to chat. They want to have their children pose with the fighter and they don’t care if your sitting down and just about to put a fork full of salad in your mouth. People will stop you and ask for whatever they want to ask.

It’s a daily grind.

Then, during the last two weeks before the big fight, the calls come in like machine gun fire. Sponsors want you to sign boxing gloves, pose for photos and meet their vice presidents and associate vice presidents. More press conferences are ordered by phone and during the last week there are more press conferences. It’s similar to a hurricane descending on the Gulf of Mexico-mass chaos.

Even the best fighters have been known to crack.

Mayweather and Pacquiao know all about this. Even Cotto and Margarito know all about this. The big question is can Bradley deal with the hype and demand of a mega fight.

So far, the Desert Storm seems pretty even keel about everything. He has balance not only in the ring but in life.

That can help a lot.

“Timothy is one the hardest workers and most dedicated fighters in the world,” said Alex Camponovo, who serves as a matchmaker for one of Bradley’s co-promoters Thompson Boxing Promotions. “He’s amazing.”

Maybe Bradley can be the guy Pacman needs?

More boxing chatter

Desert Showdown at Spotlight 29 in Coachella begins Wednesday July 21 and continues until Saturday July 24. Many of the best amateur boxers will take part in the tournament that has gained popularity nationwide. For more information (760) 775-5566.

Former bantamweight world title challenger Jose Navarro (27-5, 12 KOs) fights Juan Jose Beltran (22-16-3) at Club Nokia on Thursday July 22. It’s the second appearance for the former 2000 U.S. Olympian who came within one point of a world title on two occasions. For tickets and information go to www.ticketmaster.com

Freddie Roach’s fighter Craig McEwan of Scotland faces San Diego’s Danny Perez on Friday July 23 at Pechanga Resort and Casino. McEwan amassed more than 300 fights as an amateur and has worked with the Hall of Fame trainer for more than two years at the Wild Card Boxing gym. Perez is a former world title challenger. Local star Charles Huerta and former Olympian Gary Russell Jr. are also on the card.

Mexico’s undefeated Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. will fight former middleweight world champion Kelly Pavlik on Dec. 4, said Cameron Dunkin who manages Pavlik. Chavez recently defeated John Duddy by knockout last month. Pavlik lost his world title to Argentina’s Sergio Martinez in his last fight.

Mexico’s Fernando Montiel (43-2-2, 33 KOs) knocked out Panama’s Rafael Concepcion (14-5-1, 8 KOs) at 1:07 of the third round in Mexico on Saturday. Montiel was making the first world title defense of the WBC bantamweight belt he captured by knockout out Japan’s venerable Hozumi Hasegawa. A possible match with former flyweight world champion Nonito Donaire could happen later this year.

WBA cruiserweight world titleholder Beibut Shumenov defends his title against Viacheslov Uzelkov on Friday at Tachi Palace in Lemoore, Calif. Also on the Gossen-Tutor fight card is Rico Ramos (16-0) matched against Mexico’s Cuauhtemoc Vargas (15-3-1) in a junior featherweight clash.

Heavyweight challenger David Tua (51-3-2, 43 KOs) fought to a draw against Monte Barrett (34-9-1, 20 KOs) after 12 rounds on Saturday in Atlantic City. Barrett said he was retiring after the fight. Tua had hoped a win could place him in a position to fight for one of the four world titles. He was knocked down in the final round.

Strikeforce MMA brings Challengers 9 fight card to Comcast Arena in Everett, Wash. On Friday July 23. Sarah Kaufman fights Roxanne Modaferri for the Strikeforce welterweight title.

A mixed martial arts fight card takes place on Saturday July 24 at the Hollywood Palladium. Respect MMA – World War 3 starts at 6 p.m.

Mexico’s Jhonny Gonzalez (44-7) meets Aristides Perez (17-2-1) in a 12 round featherweight bout on Saturday July 24, in Campeche, Mexico. The former bantamweight world titleholder Gonzalez is on a four fight winning streak.

Mexican boxers Jorge “El Travieso” Arce (54-6-1, 41 KOs) and Martin “Gallito” Castillo (35-3, 18 KOs) battle on Saturday July 31 in Nayarit, Mexico. The two former world champions had been close to fighting each other for the past four years but it never happened.

Puerto Rico’s Carlos Velasquez (13-0, 11 KOs) stopped Mexico’s wild swinging Eduardo Arcos (15-2, 12 KOs) at 1:19 of the fifth round of a junior lightweight contest on Friday in Puerto Rico.

Matthew Hatton (40-4-2, 15 KOs) survived an early knockdown to beat Yuriy Nuzhnenko (30-2-1, 14 KOs) by unanimous decision after 12 rounds and capture the EBU welterweight title on Friday in Bolton, England. Hatton is the younger brother of Ricky Hatton who fought Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather.

Middleweight Fernando Guerrero (19-0, 15 KOs) took a hard fought decision win over Ishe Smith (21-5) on Friday in Mississippi. Also winning was junior middleweight Shawn Porter (16-0, 12 KOs) by decision over Ray Robinson (11-2) and junior welterweight Mike Dallas Jr. (15-0-1) over Lanard Lane (12-1, 7 KOs).

Former world champion Zab Judah (39-6, 27 KOs) knocked out Southern California’s Jose Armando Santa Cruz (28-5, 17 KOs) with a left uppercut at 2:33 of the third round of a junior welterweight clash on Friday. Though Judah is a former undisputed welterweight world champion, he is moving back down to junior welterweights.

Australia’s Danny Green (29-3, 26 KOs) defends his IBO cruiserweight world title against Paul Briggs (26-3, 18 KOs) on Wednesday July 21 in Perth, Australia. It’s Briggs, 34, first fight in three years.

Source: thesweetscience.com

Gary Shaw - "Arum did not build Pacquiao" -- Examiner

By Ricardo Lois, Examiner.com

At times, the verbal warfare between rival boxing promoters can be more entertaining that the action inside of the ring.

During a midnight conference call on Friday night to announce that Manny Pacquiao would be exploring options beyond Floyd Mayweather for his November 13 bout, promoter Bob Arum took the opportunity to take a few shots fellow promoters.

When asked about the possibility of Pacquiao fighting Palm Springs native Timothy Bradley, Arum made it clear that he did not feel the need to help another promoter build a star. Arum continued to stay that other promoters depend on fees from networks and Indian casinos to stay in business.

Gary Shaw, who promotes Timothy Bradley, is well known for acquiring television dates from high profile boxing broadcast networks Showtime and Home Box Office (HBO), along with securing event fees from Indian casinos such as the Agua Caliente Resort in Rancho Mirage.

Given the opportunity to rebuttal Arum’s statements on The Boxing Truth Radio Sunday night, Gary Shaw said the following:

“Tell him he is full of [expletive]. He did not build Pacquiao. When he got Pacquiao, Pacman was Pacman. He cannot take any credit for him. There are very few fighters out there, who are top fighters and can draw.

Mayweather was strictly an HBO fighter when he was with Arum, he became big when he left Arum, that is when he became a real big star, a real pay per view fighter.

So, I have no idea what Bob is talking about: What he did not tell you is that he has talked to Agua Caliente about putting on fights. It is just wrong. Why put down other promoters?”

What Shaw failed to tell The Boxing Truth Radio in his statement is that the rivalry between himself and Arum could be footed in the fact that Gary Shaw promoted Pacquiao for a brief time before Pacquiao joined Arum’s Top Rank Promotion.

Just another salvo in the very public war of words between boxing promoters.

Source: examiner.com

Amir Khan, Devon Alexander Answer Tim Bradley -- FanHouse

By Lem Satterfield, FanHouse

During his post-fight interview following Saturday night's 12-round, unanimous victory decision over previously unbeaten welterweight (147 pounds), Luis Carlos Abregu, WBO junior welterweight (140 pounds) champion, Tim Bradley (pictured above, at left), stared into the HBO television cameras and called out several potential opponents.

"I'm making the challenge right now," said Bradley, who rose to 26-0 with 11 knockouts at Agua Caliente Casino in Rancho Mirage, Calif., near his hometown of Palm Springs, Calif. "Manny Pacquiao, come break down this wall, baby. Manny, come break down this wall."

The 26-year-old Bradley is considered the premiere fighter in a deep and talented 140-pound weight class that includes Missouri's 23-year-old southpaw WBC and IBF champion Devon Alexander (20-0, 13 KOs), England's 23-year-old WBA king Amir Khan (23-1, 17 KOs), and, Argentina's 26-year-old WBA interim champ Marcos Rene Maidana (28-1, 27 KOs).

And he left few of them out.

"Anybody. Any of the top guys out there. Especially you, Devon Alexander," said Bradley, who dropped the hard-hitting Abregu of Salta, Salta,

Argentina to 29-1 with 23 KOs. "If everything is alright, and the money's right, everything is lined up, I'll fight you next. You, Devon, Maidana, and Khan. I'll fight all of them. I'm a throwback fighter, baby, I'll fight all of them."

On Sunday, Alexander answered his challenge. And on Monday, Khan did the same.

"The time has come. You have pretended to be the best at 140 while everyone knows, Alexander is the true king of the division," Team Alexander wrote in a statement. "The difference between Alexander and Bradley is, Bradley wants to beg for an opportunity with the great fighters; Devon wants to beat the best fighters in his division and earn the right to fight the great fighters."

Bradley is hoping for an HBO-televised Jan. 29 bout opposite Alexander, which would take place the day before the NFL's 2011 Super Bowl. But Alexander has an HBO-televised Aug. 7, second defense of his WBC title -- and the first of his IBF crown -- against former WBA titlist Andriy Kotelnik (31-3-1, 13 KOs) before his hometown fans in St. Louis, Mo.

Alexander intends to defeat Kotelnik

"Boxing fans want to see the best fight the best, and the two fights they want most are Floyd Mayweather vs. Manny Pacquiao, and Devon Alexander vs. Tim Bradley," Team Alexander's statement read.

"HBO wants to make the fight, so Team Bradley, stop making cowardly moves stand up and fight," read the statement. "Your own fans are tired of your excuses.On Aug. 7, Devon will put on an explosive performance against Kotelnik, and then, Bradley will have nowhere to hide."

Coming off of a May 15, 11th-round knockout of Paulie Malignaggi (27-5, five KOs), Khan also publicly demanded a shot at Bradley -- "Next."

Khan issued a statement on his Twitter page challenging Bradley perhaps in the fall, and said that he would speak to his promoter, Golden Boy Promotions, about the prospect of doing so. Golden Boy CEO, Richard Schaefer, has told FanHouse that HBO has reserved the date of Dec. 11 for Khan's potential return.

"I'll fight Tim Bradley. It's the first time he's called me out. I'm going to Vegas and I'll talk to Golden Boy. I would love the fight," said Khan, who could fight in England or the United States in the fall. "Good style for me. I'm fighting Timothy Bradley next. I'm gonna tell Golden Boy. Let's see if they want it for real. Talk is cheap."

Khan will be at ringside for a July 31 bout between WBO and WBA lightweight (135 pounds) king Juan Manuel Marquez (50-5-1, 37 knockouts) and Juan Diaz (35-3, 17 KOs) in a rematch of their February, 2009, Fight of The Year won by Marquez via ninth-round knockout. Khan is a consideration for Marquez if Marquez wins.

Bradley's promoter,Gary Shaw, likes both the Khan and the Alexander fights, but would also throw in Maidana, and, contender, Victor Ortiz (27-2-1, 21 KOs) of Oxnard, Calif.

"Personally, I would rather fight Khan (pictured at right) first, and here is my reasoning. Khan has a loss, Maidana has a loss, Ortiz has a loss. And two of the three are from outside of the United States. Devon Alexander is an American fighter with an unblemished record. Tim Bradley is an American fighter with an unblemished record. So, I say, let Timmy fight Khan or Maidana, and let Devon Alexander fight Khan or Maidana, and then let the two winners meet, which was my idea all along," said Shaw.

"I was called by a radio station about Khan's Twitter message, and I immediately e-mailed Richard Schaefer and said, this is what you're fighter is saying," said Shaw. "I sent an e-mail not only to Richard, but to [HBO's president of sports] Ross Greenburg as well. I got back an e-mail from Richard saying, 'I will talk to Amir.'"

Source: boxing.fanhouse.com

Timothy Bradley Beats Abregu; Angulo Destroys Alcine -- The Sweet Science

By David A. Avila, The Sweet Science

RANCHO MIRAGE-Fighting bigger guys proved just a bit more of a problem but not enough to keep Palm Spring’s Timothy “Desert Storm” Bradley from moving into the welterweight division and junior middleweight Alfredo “Perro” Angulo had no problems stopping Joachime Alcine early on Saturday night.

A sold out crowd saw Bradley out-speed and use his defensive ability to overcome a surprisingly more defensive-minded Abregu (29-1, 23 KOs) before 2,152 at Agua Caliente Casino. Ultimately, it was Bradley’s defense that proved superior. Angulo was just too strong for the Canadian.

“He’s a hard puncher. He swore he was going to knock me out it,” said Bradley (26-0, 11 KOs). “It didn’t happen tonight.”

The first three rounds saw each fighter defensive minded and hoping the other would make a move that could be countered. Each fighter looked tight as a core of wire.

A counter right hand by Bradley wobbled Abregu twice in the first round. The smaller fighter jumped on him but couldn’t land a decisive blow. Earlier in the round Abregu landed a counter right following a Bradley jab.

The third round was close as defense took priority for both fighters. A counter right hand by Bradley was again the big punch, but Abregu also got in a left hook. A right hand missed for Bradley and he demonstrated his

Abregu stepped into a higher gear in the fourth round. A right hand connected for the Argentine but he suffered a cut over his right eye. It was his best round but blood dripped down his eye at the end.

A more comfortable Bradley found a good rhythm in the fifth round with some solid body shots and a snapping counter left hook. Abregu couldn’t seem to zero in on the quickness of Bradley.

Abregu shortened his punches in the sixth round and found more success against the fast moving Bradley. Though Bradley landed a good left hook, Abregu landed more telling blows.

During the seventh round an exchange by both fighters led to a clash of heads with Abregu hitting the floor in pain and showing a gash on the side of his left eye. When the fight resumed both got tied up inside but Bradley continued to punch to win the round.

From the seventh round to the ninth it became a tactical fight with less punches and more posing. Abregu had a good seventh but the next two rounds were more difficult to surmise.

"They told me to calm down that he was dangerous,” said Bradley. “He hits a little harder than in my weight class.”

Bradley seemingly landed more punches in the 10th than he had in the previous two rounds combined. Right hand counters did the job to open it up for some left hooks too.

The two fighters engaged a bit more in the last two rounds with Bradley scoring more with left hook counters to the body and head. Abregu’s attempts to land his right hand bombs proved ineffective against the defensive adeptness of Bradley.

“He was every bit a test as I thought he would be,” said Abregu who suffered cuts on both eyes.

Bradley did not take big chances in the final 30 seconds knowing he was probably ahead and not wanting to test Abregu’s power.

All three judges scored it in favor of the more accurate Bradley 118-110, 117-109, 116-112.

“I didn’t think a unanimous decision was fair. At worse I thought it was a draw,” said Abregu who added that he re-injured his right hand during the fight. “I would urgently like a rematch.”

Bradley said a match with Manny Pacquiao is preferred but a fight against any leading contender or rival champion is sufficient.

“I’m making a challenge right now to Manny Pacquiao,” Bradley said. “Any of the top fighters even Devon Alexander if the money is right.”

Angulo KOs Alcine

In the co-main event Mexico’s Alfredo “Perro” Angulo (19-1, 16 KOs) didn’t need much time to show that a new strength regimen is paying off with a quick demolition of Canada’s Joachim Alcine (32-2, 19 KOs) in a junior middleweight match.

It was expected to take a while for the brawling and slugging Angulo to wear down and catch up to the fleet footed Alcine, but a tactical error by the Canadian based boxer proved pretty bad.

Both boxers opened up the opening round with some opening combinations and tested each others moves. But when Alcine tried to tie up Angulo on the inside with one hand he allowed the gritty Mexican prizefighter to keep hitting him. About 10 punches connected for Angulo on Alcines left side of his head.

“He grabbed me because he didn’t want to fall,” said Angulo. “Even if they grab me I have one free hand so im going to keep on throwing.”

When both fighters finally broke apart Angulo tore into the taller Canadian fighter with a bloodlust. Alcine found himself on the ropes and was battered by six vicious blows each worse then the last. Referee Lou Moret saw that Alcine’s eyes seemed closed and stopped the fight at 2:59 of the first round.

“My punches were too wide,” said Alcine. “I wanted to keep the fight going.”

Angulo now becomes the number one junior middleweight contender in the WBC. He already is number one in the WBO.

Angulo attributed added strength to his new conditioning coach Darryl Hudson, who also works with Riverside’s Chris Arreola. The Mexicali native doesn’t care who he faces next.

“Fighting in California, in front of my people, I trained even harder for this fight,” Angulo said. “When they want to fight me we’ll fight. Whoever they are…I do my job and I do the best I can. If they don’t want to fight the Perro there must be a reason for that.”

Mexico’s Antonio DeMarco (24-2-1, 18 KOs) needed only 2:30 of the second round to figure out Daniel Attah’s (24-6-1) weakness an catch the fellow southpaw with one of his own left hand missiles for a knockdown. Attah survived the knockdown and attempted a left hand bomb of his own but fell flat on his knees again from tripping and missing. He got up and was met with a right hook that prompted referee Raul Caiz Jr. to halt the lightweight contest. It was DeMarco’s first fight since losing by technical knockout to the late Edwin Valero last February.

Glendale’s Art Hovannesyan (12-0-1) took a unanimous decision over Mexico’s wily veteran Cristian Favela (19-28-6) after eight rounds in a lightweight clash. The Mexican fighter waited too long to make his move. Meanwhile, Hovannesyan’s combinations did the job over eight rounds. The scores were 78-74, 77-75 twice for the Glendale boxer.

Gloria Salas (3-4-1) won by unanimous decision over Katarina De La Cruz (0-4-1) in a junior flyweight battle after four rounds. Salas was busier but tired a bit as De La Cruz made her move with some pinpoint counter punches in the third round. All three judges scored it for Salas.

Lancaster’s Joel Diaz scored a second round knockout of L.A.’s Rene Torrez (0-3-1) at 23 seconds of the second round of featherweight bout. A body and head combination ended the fight for Torrez. It was Diaz’s pro debut.

After taking a few right hand shots from Willshaun Boxley (5-7) to wake up La Puente’s Abraham Lopez (12-0, 10 KOs) retaliated with stinging jabs that opened a path for his combinations. It didn’t take long to prove he was the stronger fighter. Boxley was unable to continue at the end of round three for a technical knockout victory for Lopez.

Santa Maria’s Rufino Serrano (6-3) used his quickness and slightly more experience to beat East L.A.’s Eduardo Cruz (1-1) after four rounds of a featherweight clash. The fourth round was Cruz’s best round but it wasn’t nearly enough to offset Serrano’s quick combinations that allowed him to dominate early.

Source: thesweetscience.com

Bradley gets taste of Hollywood -- Desert Sun

By Leighton Ginn, The Desert Sun

HOLLYWOOD — For one day at least, the mild-mannered Timothy Bradley went Hollywood, holding an open media training session at the Fortune Gym off of Sunset.

Now ranked among the top pound-for-pound fighters in the world, Bradley's camp wanted to hold a media session in Los Angeles to maximize his exposure for the July 17 fight against Carlos Abregu at The Show inside the Agua Caliente Casino Resort Spa. The fight will be televised on HBO.

Inside the Fortune Gym, Bradley was surrounded by approximately 30 media members asking questions or taking pictures or videos.

“It's sweet. This is sweet. This is the most media I've ever seen,” said Bradley, the Cathedral City resident. “A lot of the media is here in L.A. A lot of the media can't come down to where I live, so we come to them, and they come to me right here. It's been beautiful. Without the media, and I might eat my words later in life because something can happen, but the media is what makes you.”

It threw a bit of a curve ball into Bradley's training schedule, having to make the two-plus hour commute to Los Angeles.

Bradley's trainer, Joel Diaz, said Bradley had a light workout scheduled anyway. Plus, Diaz understands the value of coming out to Los Angeles.

“It's part of the business. It's not a bad thing, it's a good thing,” Diaz said. “There's a lot of boxing fans in the L.A. area that need to know Tim Bradley more, get closer to Tim Bradley and get people from this side to come down to Palm Springs and enjoy a good fight.”

Bradley is the WBO light welterweight champion, who has emerged as the deepest and one of the most talked about divisions. At 26-0, Bradley is considered the No. 1 fighter in the division, and the public is starting to clamor for the top fighters to fight each other.

The most talked about fight is Bradley taking on Devon Alexander, who holds the IBF and the WBC belt that Bradley vacated. Other names being thrown around are WBO champion Amir Khan and Marcos Maidana, two fighters Bradley was going to fight. Both Khan and Maidana backed out of the fights, according to Bradley's camp.

However, Bradley is moving up from the 140-pound division to the 147-pound welterweight division to fight Abregu. An impressive showing by Bradley, and he could be in line for a mega fight with superstars Floyd Mayweather or Manny Pacquiao, especially if the two can't come to an agreement to fight each other.
Bob Arum, who promotes Pacquiao, has scoffed at Bradley, saying he doesn't have enough marquee value to help carry a pay-per-view event.

Bradley and his camp contend that Arum and Pacquiao are afraid to fight The Desert Storm and are making excuses.

But there is no denying that if Bradley can increase his fan base in Los Angeles even more, the Pacquiaos and Mayweathers will have no choice but to fight Bradley.

“It's very important for us. No. 1, this is a big fight for him, not just the opponent, but he's moving up (in weight) and he's on HBO. It's certainly very important in terms of what the future holds for him,” said Alex Camponovo, the general manager/matchmaker of Bradley's promoters, Thompson Boxing. “The best marketing he can have for any fight is how he's going to perform on July 17.”

Source: mydesert.com

Timothy Bradley & Alfredo "Perro" Angulo In L.A. -- The Sweet Science

By David A. Avila, The Sweet Science

WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA.-Reporters from as far as 130 miles away gathered in a boxing gym surrounded by the Hollywood Hills and all were there to see Timothy “Desert Storm” Bradley and Alfredo “Perro” Angulo.

In a little more than eight days Bradley moves up to welterweight to fight Argentina’s wrecking machine Carlos Abregu (29-0, 23 KOs) and Angulo defends the interim WBO junior middleweight title against Canada’s Joachim Alcine (32-1, 19 KOs) at Agua Caliente Casino in Rancho Mirage.

The co-main events will be televised on HBO live on Saturday July 17.

How good are Bradley and Angulo?

“He has sneaky speed,” said Bradley of Angulo.

Unknown to many, Mexicali’s Angulo comes from a lengthy amateur background that includes many international tournaments as a representative of Mexico’s team. He can box, he can move and he can counter with the best.

As a professional Angulo prefers a hunt, seek and destroy style of fighting and it’s one of the main reasons that card carrying boxing fans flock to see him fight.

“People love to see him fight,” said Tony Walker, an HBO executive with the pay-per-view branch.

One thing many fans don’t realize is Angulo and Bradley once collided in the ring as amateurs.

“Whoa it was a close fight. It was a hell of a fight,” said Timothy Bradley Sr. who remembers when his son and Angulo met as 152-pound amateurs. “He (Bradley) lost by one single point.”

Once again Angulo faces a fast mover who uses speed and slickness to gain an advantage.

“Whatever style he wants to fight is alright with me,” said Angulo (18-1, 15 KOs) whose last three opponents had a similar style including the talented Joel Julio. “I try to do something every day. If a fighter thinks he knows everything he’s going to lose.”

Angulo seldom smiles for the press and on this day it was no different. A smile for the Mexicali destroyer means in his mind that he’s soft. He’s anything but soft.

Contrary to the Mexican warrior, Bradley has a different approach.

While wrapping his own hands and preparing himself to train in Justin Fortune’s Boxing Gym the Indio based prizefighter who is the top ranked junior welterweight in the world and considered one of the top 10 prizefighters Pound for Pound, smiles generously and answers all questions crisply and brightly.

“Floyd Mayweather is the best fighter in the world,” says Bradley (25-0, 11 KOs) with no hesitation. “I think Amir Khan is the most protected fighter in the world.”

Bradley wants the big money fights where he can generate the mega millions that other elite fighters enjoy. Whether it’s Mayweather, Manny Pacquiao or Devon Alexander he wants them all. But it has to have the right price.

“People don’t understand it’s a business,” Bradley said. “Fans don’t understand. They just think I should fight this guy or that guy and not care about the money. That’s not the way it works.”

Bradley’s opponent Abregu is a concrete busting welterweight who has knocked senseless 23 of 29 opponents. He’s never lost.

Where does Bradley rank among top prizefighters today?

“He’s the complete package,” said Steve Kim, columnist for a Maxboxing.com web site based in California. “He’s one of the best fighters pound for pound.”

Many others agree.

Bradley seeks to prove that he belongs among the elite and maybe, just maybe, he’ll be able to fight one of those other elite boxers.

“Pacman and Floyd Mayweather, I want to fight all those guys,” Bradley said in front of more than 30 reporters. “My job is to continue to win.”

Other chatter

Nonito “Filipino Flash” Donaire leads a contingent of Filipino fighters on Saturday in Puerto Rico. Donaire (23-1, 15 KOs) defends the interim WBA junior bantamweight title against Mexico’s Hernan Marquez (27-1, 20 KOs). Also, Bernabe Concepcion fights Juan Manuel Lopez for his WBO featherweight title. Eden Sonsona (21-5, 17 KOs) faces Jonathan Oquendo (18-2, 11 KOs in a bantamweight clash. The Top Rank Promotion fights will be shown on pay-per-view.

Sergio Mora is off the fight card on July 23 at Pechanga Resort and Casino but now Craig McEwan steps in to face San Diego’s Danny Perez, said Richard Schaefer, CEO for Golden Boy Promotions. Mora is fighting Sugar Shane Mosley on Sept. 18 and did not want to risk cancellation should Mora get hurt. For tickets and information at Pechanga (888) 732-4264.

Canada’s Jeannine Garside (10-3-1, 4 KOs) convincingly defeated Germany’s Ina Menzer (26-1, 10 KOs) by unanimous decision in Germany last Saturday to capture the WBC, WBO and WIBF featherweight titles. Garside already had the WIBA title.

Mexico’s Saul “Canelo” Alvarez (32-0-1, 24 KOs) has a dangerous fight against Argentina’s Luciano Cuello (26-1, 12 KOs) on Saturday in Guadalajara, Mexico. The popular Alvarez recently signed a promotional contract with Golden Boy Promotions and is scheduled to fight on Sept. 18 in Los Angeles.

In a battle of former Mexican world champions Ulises Solis (31-2-2) won decision over Eric Ortiz (32-11-3) on Saturday in Reno, Nevada. Solis lost his title to Brian Viloria in the Philippines last year.

Mexico’s Ana Maria Torres (21-3-2, 13 KOs) knocked out Colombian southpaw Olga Julio (7-8-1) in the fourth round to keep her WBC junior bantamweight title on Saturday. The fight took place in Mexico City. Torres has not lost a fight in three years and that was a split decision lost to Korea’s Myung OK Ryu in North Korea.

Hugo Cazares (32-6-2, 23 KOs) knocked out Everardo Morales (34-15-2) in the seventh round to win his first defense of the WBA junior bantamweight world title on Saturday. Cazares is a former junior flyweight world champion. Both Cazares and Morales fight out of Mexico.

Mexico’s Zulina Munoz (23-1-1, 17 KOs) a hard-hitting bantamweight from Mexico City fights equally dangerous Mayerlin Rivas (6-1, 5 KOs) of Venezuela on Friday in Mexico City. Rivas, 22, only loss came to Sandy Tsagouris in Canada. Munoz, 22, only loss came to Alesia Graf in Germany.

Undefeated Susie Ramadan (14-0, 6 KOs) meets Jane Kuvulani (11-10-2) on Friday July 9, for the vacant WBF bantamweight world title. The fight takes place in Coburg, Australia. Ramadan, 30, fights out of Australia and Kuvulani, 34, out of Kenya.

WBC junior lightweight titleholder Olivia Gerula (12-10-2) defends her world title against America’s Brooke Dierdorff (6-4-1). Gerula is making her first title defense since beating Myriam Chomasz in France last December.

Source: thesweetscience.com

Tim Bradley Calls Out Manny Pacquiao, Floyd Mayweather -- FanHouse

By Lem Satterfield, FanHouse

WBO junior welterweight (140 pounds) king Tim Bradley has transformed from a soft-talking prospect to a trash-talking fighter considered by many to be among boxing's premier boxers, pound-for-pound.

"There were a lot of things that I wouldn't say in the past because I wanted to stay humble. I'm still humble, but I'm at the point where I know who I am, and that I'm not going to let anybody just disrespect me. I'm going to talk," said Bradley, who is 25-0 with 11 knockouts.

"I pick and choose my battles, but I know that I'm capable in the ring. I know that I'm a good fighter. I know that I'm an elite fighter. So when you hear me talking, I'm just being myself," said Bradley. "I'm a man, you know? And if you say something bad about me, I'll say something bad about you. I've set boundaries. I had a habit of just laying back, but now, I'm stepping up. I'm not letting people run all over me. I had to change that about me."

Most recently, Bradley took issue with an assertion from Top Rank Promotions CEO Bob Arum that he would not be a good rival for seven-division champion Manny Pacquiao (51-3-2, 38 knockouts), holder of the WBO welterweight (147 pounds) title.

"I know that Pacquiao's promoter, Bob Arum, said that I'm not a household name, and that I wouldn't be a good fight for Manny. Not yet, at least. But I don't let that bother me at all," said Bradley, who has an HBO-televised, July 17 bout opposite welterweight Luis Carlos Abregu (29-0, 23 KOs) of Salta Salta, Argentina.

Bradley-Abregu is a non-title, over the limit bout that is slated for the Agua Caliente Casino, in Rancho Mirage, Calif., near Bradley's hometown of Palm Springs, Calif.

"As long as I keep on winning, then everything will continue to take care of itself," said the 26-year-old Bradley. "And if Manny Pacquiao's still going to still be in the game, then, it's going to be inevitable that he will have to fight me. Trust me. The fight fans, the media, everyone will be calling for the fight."

Nicknamed "The Desert Storm," Bradley has had to literally build his own reputation from the ground up.

Among Bradley's earliest signs of showing grit and determination were during an April 2009 unanimous decision win over Kendall Holt, where he twice rose from the canvas before emerging victorious.

Bradley also has earned a May 2008 split-decision over England's Junior Witter, handing Witter only his second setback in 40 bouts with the other being a decision loss to two-time former world champion Zab Judah.

Bradley is coming off of December's 12-round, unanimous decision victory over Lamont Peterson (28-1, 14 KOs), of Washington, D.C., whom Bradley dropped for the first time in his career.

It is the Peterson fight which officially put Bradley on the map and which changed him as a fighter, if not a person.

"They saw a different fighter in that ring against Lamont Peterson. Lamont Peterson came to fight and everything, but he just brought out the best in me that night. The best fighters in the world, that's what they do for me. They bring the best out of me. I love to rise to the occasion, and that's what I did in that fight," said Bradley.

"Overnight, things changed for me with the Lamont Peterson fight. Now I'm fighting for HBO, and the fighters are respecting me, and the fight game is finally giving me respect," said Bradley. "Like I've been checking out all of the websites, and the boxing writers are finally putting me into their rankings. They're putting me in their top 10, pound-for-pound, and I can't believe it. But it's true. I am the truth, and people are finding that out about me now."

In signing with the HBO network, Bradley joined contracted fighters such as WBC and IBF king Devon Alexander (20-0, 13 KOs), WBA titlist Amir Khan (23-1, 17 KOs), and, WBA interim champion, Marcos Rene Maidana (28-1, 27 KOs), among others.

"There is a little added pressure to back it up, you know? Because you don't want people to be saying, 'You know, we thought that this kid was the real deal, but we were wrong.' But my job is to just go out there and win, and to try not to get caught up in all of that. It used to be where I didn't want to let anyone down, didn't want to make any mistakes, but now, I've matured," said Bradley.

"It used to take me a while to open up when all of this was new to me. But I feel like after the Lamont Peterson fight, I've finally come into my own.

I'm finally realizing who I am and what I can do," said Bradley. "That's why I want you to see me in the ring with fighters like Floyd Mayweather or Manny Pacquiao. I know that if that happens, then you will see the best out of Timothy Bradley that night."

Bradley is hoping for an HBO-televised Jan 29 bout opposite Alexander, which would take place the day before the NFL's 2011 Super Bowl. But Bradley-Alexander is contingent on each of the youngsters winning big fights over the course of the summer.

First, Bradley must defeat Abregu. And then Alexander, a 23-year-old southpaw, has an HBO-televised Aug. 7, second defense of his WBC title -- and the first of his IBF crown -- against former WBA titlist Andriy Kotelnik (31-3-1, 13 KOs) before his hometown fans in St. Louis, Mo.

"I think that everybody will be calling for this fight between myself and Devon Alexader by that time, just like they're calling for the Floyd Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao fight right now. I think that it's at the point where everybody just wants to see us fight. I believe that it's going to happen," said Bradley.

"Just know that I'm on a mission to get into the ring with all of the best guys. I'm going to continue to win, and I'm going to continue to dominate," said Bradley. "If these guys don't want to let me in, then I'll start my own legacy. I'm going to continue on my path and start my own legacy. I'm just going to fight everybody and beat everybody."

Source: boxing.fanhouse.com

Timothy Bradley - "I Want Fights That Mean Something!" -- Eastside Boxing

By James Slater, Eastside Boxing

WBO light-welterweight champion Timothy Bradley, 25-0(11) is a frustrated man at present. Despite being a fighter who has proven , and wants to go on proving, he is a warrior who seeks out only the best possible opposition, "Desert Storm" has been unable to land a big fight to his satisfaction. Recently calling out names like Juan Manuel Marquez, Amir Khan and Ricky Hatton, to name a few, Bradley has been left without a signed deal.

Set to fight again on June 5th, in what will be his first fight since December of last year, the undefeated, incredibly hungry 26-year-old awaits confirmation of who the opponent will be. There was talk of a fight with WBC lightweight king Edwin Valero, who wanted to move up in weight, but so far nothing has been made official - much to Tim's disappointment (disappointment Bradley could not hide in the following interview; even though he was still friendly and accommodating).

Here is what the big fight-craving light-welterweight champion had to say yesterday evening (UK time) in reply to my questions:

James Slater: Thank you so much for your time, Champ. We hear you are fighting again on June 5th?

Timothy Bradley: Yes, hopefully against Ricky Hatton (laughs).

J.S: I think Ricky would need to lose quite a few pounds before being ready for you, Tim!

T.B: Yeah, I'm fighting on June 5th, I'm just waiting on who the opponent will be.

J.S: I read about how you could maybe fight Edwin Valero, once his cut has healed?

T.B: Valero don't want to fight.

J.S: That fight won't happen then? I read how your promoter, Gary Shaw, is so sure you'd school Valero the fight would happen in Mexico. But no chance of it happening?

T.B: He [Valero] would fight, but his people don't want the fight. But, hey, as you know, anything's possible in boxing - things can change overnight. But I've had no calls from my promoter about that fight. Bob Arum said he wanted it, but as of now I'm still waiting to hear who I'll be fighting next. I don't just want it to be some Joe Blow from down the street - I want to fight a top name. I always want to fight the top names - fights that mean something. You know, Ricky Hatton, Amir Khan, Paulie Malignaggi, Juan Manuel Marquez, Victor Ortiz; who else? All those guys, you know?

J.S: Are you frustrated at how these names are avoiding you?

T.B: Absolutely! I worked so hard to prove to the world that I am number-one, and now I can't keep proving it because nobody will fight me! It's time these guys got off their high horse and agreed to fight me. You know, there's no point in these guy's promoters avoiding a fight - come on, we can make it a 50-50 thing! There's no problem at all with money - I just wanna fight the top guys.

J.S: This fight on June 5th, will be your first fight this year. You must be anxious to get back in action - ready to fight?

T.B: Yeah, oh yes! I was hoping for May, but it's been pushed back and pushed back. Nobody wants to fight me, but I have to be patient. Something will come up soon. I thought things were going well with the Amir Khan fight. We were talking with Frank Warren after the Lamont Peterson fight, and it seemed as though the figures were down. I was like, let's do it! But now, nothing! Khan doesn't want to fight me. There was a possibility I could have fought Paulie Malignaggi (instead of Khan, who is close to facing Malignaggi on May 15th), and we also offered Zab Judah a fight. But Zab says he wants to wait and weigh up his options. We also called out Victor Ortiz and [Marcos] Maidana, we spoke with Golden Boy. Everyone at 140 has a fight but me (laughs). But it's cool, they will wear each other out and then I'll get a fight. But it's all a little frustrating to me - all those possible fights, and I'm left with no-one now (laughs).

J.S: I can understand your frustration, Tim. We all love watching you fight, and it must be so annoying for you when the top names don't want to know! You always make 140 easily - would you go up to 147 to get a big, big fight?

T.B: I've already said it. I'd fight Shane [Mosley], Floyd [Mayweather], [Miguel] Cotto - any of those guys. I actually feel stronger up at 147 as hard as that may sound. I like it when all these guys underestimate me - I like being the underdog. They don't know about me, my background, where I've come from, what I've been through. I love proving people wrong. I just want the opportunity. But, yeah, 147 would be no problem for me.

J.S: Just talking about Khan-Malignaggi - who wins in your opinion?

T.B: It's a good fight. Khan has to be aggressive, and Paulie has a great jab. Khan has had trouble with the jab in the past in my opinion. I lean towards Khan to win, because he's just as fast as Malignaggi, if not even faster, and he's stronger and he has more power - and he also has Freddie Roach, who will devise a plan that could give Paulie fits. But I don't write Paulie off. He can make Khan miss. It's a good fight, but I lean towards Khan.

J.S: You feel you are better than all of those guys though? Khan, Malignaggi, Ortiz, Maidana, etc?

T.B: I do. I want to fight, let's do it! I mean, I don't know why Khan went for a fight with Paulie Malignaggi when he had a fight right here with me! He wants to prove he's number-one? Let's do it! Like I say, I'm so frustrated, but I have to be patient.

J.S: It's always a pleasure speaking with you, Champ. But I can sense your frustration and anger. It is crazy that you, the champ at 140, cannot get any fight with a big name! We still look ahead to your next fight in June - hopefully that will be against someone with a name.

T.B: As long as he has a name, that will be okay (laughs). I'll be in great shape and I look forward to fighting on June 5th. Thanks for the call.

Source: eastsideboxing.com

***

Nonito Donaire's New Opponent, Other Bob Arum Projects -- FanHouse

By Lem Satterfield, FanHouse

WBA interim super flyweight champ Nonito Donaire of the Philippines will defend his 115-pound belt against Manuel Vargas of Jalisco, Mexico, who is a late replacement for Saturday night's main event of Top Rank's Latin Fury 13-Pinoy Power III pay-per-view card at the Las Vegas Hilton.

Nicknamed "The Filipino Flash," the 27-year-old Donaire (22-1, 14 KOs) was slated to face Mexico's 32-year-old Gerson Guerrero (34-8, 26 KOs), until the Guerrero was discovered to have suffered a detached retina during Wednesday's pre-fight examination, said Top Rank's Carl Moretti.

The 28-year-old Vargas will be competing at a weight 10 pounds above his last fight -- September's split-decision loss to WBO 105-pound Donnie Nietes when he weighed the division limit. A former WBO 105-pound titlist, Vargas has twice fought at 113 pounds during his career, both victories.

"Manuel was scheduled to fight in Mexico on Saturday, so he's going to take this opportunity instead," said Moretti. "The Donaire-Vargas fight is as good if not better than Guerrero, ironically, but that's the only change."

The rest of the card is as follows: WBO bantamweight (118 pounds) titlist Fernando Montiel, and Puerto Rican-born former WBA flyweight (112 pounds) king Eric Morel, respectively, defending their crowns.

The 30-year-old Montiel (39-3-1, 29 KOs), of Los Mochis, Mex., will face Ciso Morales (14-0, eight KOs) of Bohol, Philippines, and the 34-year-old Morel (41-2, 21 KOs), Madison, Wis., will take on southpaw and former two-time world champion Gerry Penalosa (54-7-2, 36 KOs), of Cebu, Philippines, in a WBO 118-pound title eliminator.

In a scheduled 10-round matchup, 31-year-old Puerto Rican southpaw Mario Santiago (21-1-1, 14 KOs) will meet 21-year-old Bernabe Concepcion (29-2-1, 17 KOs), of Rizal, Philippines, in a matchup of featherweights (126 pounds).

Kelly Pavlik To Face Sergio Martinez -- 'Done Deal'

WBC and WBO middleweight (160 pounds) titlist, Kelly Pavlik (pictured at right) and, WBC junior middleweight king, Sergio Martinez will indeed meet on April 17 on HBO at Atlantic City's Boardwalk Hall, Top Rank Promotions' CEO Bob Arum told FanHouse.com.

Arum told FanHouse on Feb. 5 that Pavlik-Martinez was all-but a done deal, and that it would likely be shown as a double-header, as part of split-site coverage with Canada's southpaw, IBF super middleweight (168 pounds) titlist, Lucian Bute (25-0, 20 KOs) defending his crown opposite Puerto Rico's Edison Miranda (33-4, 29 KOs) from Bell Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

"It is a split-site with Canada with Bute, yes," said Arum, adding that Pavlik-Martinez stands to be a soldout, raucous event.

Pavlik (36-1, 32 KOs) ended a 10-month layoff with December's fifth-round KO of Miguel Espino, whom he floored twice in the fourth round, and, had dropped once more in the fifth before his hometown fans of his native Youngstown, Ohio -- thousands of whom often make the trips to Pavlik's Atlantic City fights where he has built a loyal following.

Pavlik debuted in Atlantic City with a September, knockout of Jermain Taylor for his current titles, then, in succession, stopped previously, once-beaten Gary Lockett in three rounds, and lost to Bernard Hopkins in June, and, October, of 2008 -- both in AC.

A southpaw, the 34-year-old WBC junior middleweight (154 pounds) champion, Martinez (44-2-2, 24 KOs), who is promoted by New York's Lou DiBella, fought his last bout in Atlantic City as well.

Martinez lost December's spirited, yet disputed 12-round, non-title, middleweight majority decision to southpaw Paul Williams (38-1, 27 KOs) in an action-packed, clash of southpaws during which each fighter was floored in the first round.

Yuri Foreman-Miguel Cotto 'Close'

Arum said that a June 12 bout between WBA junior middlweight king, Yuri Foreman (28-0, eight knockouts), of New York, and, Puerto Rico's former two-time welterweight (147 pounds) titlist, Miguel Cotto (34-2, 27 KOs) is desired by both fighters, in principle, and simply needs to be finalized.

"We're working on that right now," said Moretti.

Arum had "discussed the fight with the Cotto people, and we're trying to decide whether we should do it on pay per view or on HBO," the CEO told FanHouse last week, adding that he hoped to hold Foreman-Cotto -- a clash of 29 year olds -- at the main arena of New York's Madison Square Garden.

"Cotto's lawyer and manager is coming to Las Vegas tomorrow, so Foreman and Cotto is definitely going to get done," said Arum. "Carl [Moretti] and I, we're talking about the undercard, but we haven't got it finalized yet."

Edwin Valero vs. Tim Bradley

Arum and promoter Gary Shaw have engaged in preliminary talks regarding a potential bout between Arum's Venezuelan 28-year-old WBC lightweight (135 pounds) champion Edwin Valero (27-0, 27 KOs) and Shaw's 26-year-old junior welterweight (140 pounds) king, Timothy Bradley (25-0, 11 KOs) of Palm Springs, Calif.

Valero is coming off of last weekend's knockout of Antonio DeMarco (23-2-1, 17 KOs) of Mexico, who failed to come out for the 10th round, and Bradley, off of a December's one-sided, 12-round unanimous decision victory over previously unbeaten Lamont Peterson (27-1, 13 KOs) during which Bradley lost probably one round.

Top Rank first approached Shaw about a possible Valero-Bradley matchup shortly after Valero's win over DeMarco, in Monterrey, Mexico, and, on Tuesday, Shaw told FanHouse that he responded by proposing a June 5 clash between the two on Showtime.

"We have to see what the deal is," said Arum. "Valero is happy to fight Bradley, but we don't yet know what the deal is yet and we'd have to look it over."

Source: boxing.fanhouse.com

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Will Valero Weather “The Desert Storm”? -- SecondsOut

By Steve Kim, SecondsOut.com

As you peruse the upcoming boxing schedule, you’ll see a host of fights being made in the junior welterweight division. Fights involving the likes of Amir Khan, Devon Alexander, Marcos Maidana, Victor Ortiz, Nate Campbell, Juan Urango and Victor Cayo loom. But there’s one notable omission. That’s Tim Bradley, who not only holds the WBO version of the title, but is the consensus choice as the game’s best 140-pounder.

It seems that everyone is running into “The Desert Storm”-shelter. Bradley, who hails from Palm Springs, California, is willing, ready and able to face any junior welterweight on the planet.. The problem is that the feelings don’t seem to be mutual.

"There’s maybe one or two that maybe will step up and fight me, eventually," Bradley, 25-0 (11) with one no-contest, told Maxboxing on Monday afternoon. The bottom line is very simple; Bradley is on the wrong network (Showtime) and not affiliated with Golden Boy Promotions.

His promoter, Gary Shaw says, "I can’t blame HBO because he’s been fighting on Showtime. So therefore why would they push him? But I believe in making the best fights, that’s why I made [Antonio] DeMarco and [Edwin] Valero and went to Mexico. This thing where you’re going to protect Maidana and you’re going to protect Khan and you’re going to protect Victor Ortiz…shame on HBO for putting on fights with protected fighters and shame on Golden Boy for not putting on real fights and making champions fight champions."

It seems that HBO now has a quid pro quo stance on protecting Khan, as the word around the industry is that they told Maidana and Cayo (who are slated to face each other on “Boxing After Dark” on March 27th) that in exchange for appearing on the network, they must not enforce their WBA mandatory position against Khan for at least one year..

To be fair, the fights on HBO (from Maidana-Cayo, Alexander-Urango and Ortiz-Campbell) are pretty good fights on paper. But it’s clear that everyone was staying clear of Bradley, who may have taken the mantle of the sport’s most avoided fighter from one Paul Williams. "100-percent, he had the reign, he’s not that anymore," Shaw agreed. "But it’s just wrong. If you’re going to be the interim champion, you want to fight the champion. Why are you going to be the interim champion? You’re nothing."

But there does seem to be an individual who will be more than willing to fight Bradley.

"I got word today that Edwin Valero wants to step up and face me," said a hopeful Bradley. "Man, I mean, I raise my hat off to Valero; he looked impressive against DeMarco. I would love to fight Valero at 140-pounds if he wants to come up and see me. Let’s do it. But all the rest of the guys, I mean, I don’t know. Everybody is taking all these other fighters. Seems like nobody wants to be number one. So right now, I’m sitting at the number one spot and anyone who wants to be number one, has to come through me."

So would Bradley welcome a fight with the hard-punching Venezuelan?

"Let’s do it! Let’s do it!" he states emphatically. "I ain’t got no problems with facing Valero. I’m willing to fight the best fighters in the world. Valero, to me, is one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world. He’s got 27 wins, he’s undefeated, 27 knockouts. I mean, this guy is impressive, man, and these are the type of fights that I love and that I’m eager to have and want to fight. These fights are good for boxing. That’s what I want."

And what does Bob Arum- whose company, Top Rank, represents Valero- have to say about all this? Good news, he’s not telling any of us schmucks to go “F” ourselves.

"Yup, he’ll fight Bradley. He’ll fight any of these second-rate guys in this Golden Boy tournament at 140. He’ll beat anybody and beat the hell outta any guy," said the veteran promoter on Monday from his offices in Las Vegas. "He’s ready to fight Tim Bradley. He’s ready to fight anybody.. This motherf**ker is not afraid of any fighter."

Shaw, who promoted this past weekend’s bout that saw Valero successfully defend his WBC lightweight belt against DeMarco, was approached almost immediately about this potential fight in Monterrey, Mexico.

"Right after the fight, Fernando Beltran (whose company, Zanfer, shares Valero with Top Rank) came over to me, he said to me as I’m walking into DeMarco’s lockerroom, ’Would you consider fighting Valero at 140?’ I said, ’Yes, absolutely, but I need to talk to Timothy and Cameron Dunkin, the manager.’ That’s what I said to him. Then I’m reading and hearing from everybody that Bob’s trying to sell Valero and Bradley,” vented Shaw. “Well, number one, Timmy’s the champion and he belongs to Gary Shaw Productions, so I don’t know where Bob is going or where his thinking is. But he’s sure not the promoter of the fight; I’m the promoter of the champion. That’s number one.

"Number two, Valero is the WBC 135-pound champion; Tim Bradley is the WBO 140-pound champion. If he wants to fight, we have a fight- you can print that thought- but it’s going to be a fight for the WBO championship. So I gotta see if he can get rated at 140. I would assume the WBO would rate him at 140. He’s certainly qualified to be rated by anybody’s standards. So yes, if they want a fight, they got a fight."

There are other issues regarding Valero, first is just how quickly he will heal from the nasty gash he suffered on the right side of his face from an accidental elbow from DeMarco in the second round of their fight.

"That’s a pretty nasty cut. They say the end of June, beginning of July. I don’t know. He’s going to a plastic surgeon in Venezuela this week. We’ll see. I don’t think it takes that long for a cut like that, in that place to heal. I think it heals quicker than a cut under the eye," said Dr. Arum.

As for the issue of Valero’s visa and his ability to fight in the States, that point may be rendered moot.

Shaw, stating his case as to why he is the most fan-friendly promoter in the world, said, "I’ll do the fight in Mexico. If Valero can’t get in the United States, we will do the fight in Mexico. I will try to make it in Monterrey again. The people were wonderful to work with; the arena was first class. And hopefully, if Bob can come to terms, I’m going to start negotiating with him tomorrow (Tuesday, as of this writing) and you’ll see that fight on the first Saturday in June on Showtime."

Bradley-Valero would be one of the most intriguing match-ups of 2010. A battle between thunder and lightning. The devastating puncher (Valero) facing the athletic, hard-nosed boxer. Two fighters who, in many respects, need each other at this particular time.

Through it all, Bradley learned once and for all that boxing, at the highest levels, is much more about commerce than competition.

"Everyone is pretty much avoiding me right now at this point in my career. It’s sad to see that in boxing. In any other sport, you get to the elite level, you face the elite players. But in boxing, this is a business," he points out. "I understand that. It’s about the money; when you get to the elite level, it’s just not about making fights just because fans want to see it and you think it would be a good fight. It’s about styles. It’s about someone protecting your fighter, so he can get an advantage or some sort of fight he can win.

"But for me, it is a business; it is about the money, but I want to fight the best fighters in the world for the most money. I’m looking to step up and face any of the top guys in any division from 140 to 147. And if anybody wants to come up from 135 to face me, we can do it. But this is just who I am. It is about the money- but [at the same time] it’s not. I just want to be the best fighter in the world pound-for-pound and I want to continue to fight the best fighters in the world."

Since winning the title from Junior Witter on the road, Bradley has been on one of the most impressive runs in boxing, defeating the likes Kendall Holt and Lamont Peterson. Valero only helps his strength of schedule.

"This is a fight the boxing world wants to see. They want to see the young lion against the hard-puncher," Bradley says. "They want to see who is the best fighter at 140 pounds. This is a great, exciting fight. Valero throws a massive amount of punches; he has power in both hands. It’s a great fight for both of our careers right now and this will basically leap us to fighting the best fighters in the world like Floyd Mayweather or Manny Pacquiao or Shane Mosley or anybody of that nature."

OPEN SCORING

Does Gary Shaw hate open-scoring as much as I do?

"No, more," he says. And it reared its ugly head during the welterweight slugfest between Luis Abregu and Richard Gutierrez, which lead off Showtime’s broadcast.

"I don’t care how much you hate it; I hate it more. At the production meeting in Mexico, it’s the first time I hear there is going to be open-scoring. I go, ’Open-scoring?’ I’m told, ’Yes, at the end of the fourth and the end of the eighth round.’ I said, ’I just hate it; it takes so much out of it.’ Then there was the discussion how they were going to announce it. They get one minute between rounds and they agreed, ’OK, if we can’t get it in the one minute between rounds, then we’ll do it at the beginning of the fifth and ninth.’

"I finally said, ’I’m going to tell you guys one thing, right now. When that score goes up in the eighth and my fighter might be ahead and he’s ahead by enough rounds that the only way he can lose is by getting knocked out, I’m going to be yelling, ’Run, motherf**ker, run!’” quipped Shaw.

He continued, "So now, fast-forward to Saturday night and Abregu is ahead by like four rounds with two to go. I stand up and yell, ’Run, motherf**ker! Run like a deer! Run like a deer!’ I admit, I went to the corner, I said, ’Do not engage him!’ I can tell you right now, and I’m being honest, Abregu, would’ve fought him for the whole ninth and tenth. He only fights that way. I went to the corner and told him not to fight because I know Richard Gutierrez is dangerous."

What had been a back-and-forth slugfest (where knockdowns were traded early) became anti-climactic at the end because of this WBC edict. The remedy to dubious scorecards isn’t open-scoring- although it may force judges to be more accountable during the fight- but really to have more competent and honest judges.

One of the great traditions that this sport has is the drama and anticipation of revealing the scorecards at the end of a pitched battle. Open-scoring takes that away.

STORMY FLURRIES

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Robert Guerrero and his wife, Casey, who is battling leukemia and will need a bone marrow transplant. It was perfectly understandable that he pulled himself out of his March 27th bout against Michael Katsidis...Kendall Holt has been added to the March 27th show by Top Rank in Atlantic City, New Jersey. That night’s main event on “Top Rank Live” will feature Mike Jones-Henry Bruseles...I don’t care if I’d have to hitchhike, but if Bradley-Valero is actually made and takes place in Mexico, I’m there...Anyone else think that Kobe Bryant sitting out and getting some rest is the best thing for the Lakers, long-term?...What’s going on at North Carolina? This might be Roy Williams’ most underachieving squad ever...Arum and Glen Johnson are scheduled to be on this week’s edition of “The Main Event”…I can be reached via email at k9kim@yahoo.com or followed at twitter.com/stevemaxboxing.

Source: secondsout.com

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