Promoter says Tua can't afford to lose -- TVNZ

tvnz.co.nz

Heavyweight boxer David Tua's fight against Nigerian Friday Ahunanya is a world title eliminator that he cannot afford to lose, his promoter Cedric Kushner said.

But New York-based Kushner was also confident that Tua would prevail in Auckland next Wednesday night and go on to challenge for, and claim, a world belt before the year was out.

He said Tua had "elevated himself dramatically" with his second-round knockout last October of fellow New Zealander Shane Cameron, whom the World Boxing Organisation at the time ranked as its No. 7 contender.

"David is No. 3 in the world with the WBO and he is in the ratings with the other organisations," he said.

"People know who Ahunanya is and they know who Tua is. David Tua can't withstand a loss. He has to win."

Kushner said Ahunanya, who has also beaten Cameron, ending the latter's unbeaten record by knocking him out in late 2007, was "a very capable fighter" whom he had once tried to sign.

"But I think I have the best heavyweight in the world bar none," he said.

"In my opinion, David is the uncrowned champion and, as I have said on many occasions, this is David's year, 2010. He will be the heavyweight champion."

Tua, 38, has had one world title shot, losing by a unanimous decision to Briton Lennox Lewis in 2000.

Like Ahunanya, 37, he hasn't been knocked out in a career that has brought him 50 wins, 43 by knockout, three losses and a draw.

Kushner was unsure in what fashion a Tua victory would arrive here at Trusts Stadium.

"I'm sincere when I tell you it could be a really tough, competitive fight and go 12 rounds," he said.

"Or, as David has done so many times in the past, he could knock him out."

Kushner described Tua as looking in great shape, and as good as he did before the Cameron fight, for which he shed 26kg to weigh in at 108kg.

He said comments by Tua's former manager, Kevin Barry, this month that the boxer looked overweight during an open sparring session smacked of sour grapes.

Both Tua and Ahunanya said at a joint press conference that they had had an excellent preparation and were feeling in top shape.

"It's probably the best camp for us," Tua said.

"I'm very well prepared for this and I'm looking forward to a good test."

He was ready to go the full 12 rounds, rather than specifically targeting an early finish, which "if it happens, it happens".

Ahunanya, whose record is 24-5-3, with 13 of his wins by knockout, also had no complaints about his build-up and was confident about the result.

"I'm going to prove that the impossible is possible."

As for how he thought the contest would pan out, he said: "Make no mistake, it's going to be a long night."

Source: tvnz.co.nz

David Tua confident and ready to rumble -- The Dominion Post

By DUNCAN JOHNSTONE, Stuff.co.nz

David Tua is ready to rumble, declaring his training camp for next week's fight against Friday Ahunanya as the best of his lengthy career.

The two heavyweights and their entourages fronted a large media gathering in Auckland today with the room bristling with positivity.

"My training has been going very well ... it's probably been the best camp for me to date. It's been a choice time and we haven't overlooked anything" Tua said, breaking a lengthy silence in the build-up to this intriguing encounter.

While Ahunanya has been freely available for interviews since landing in Auckland last Sunday, Tua has kept to himself apart from an open sparring session last month.

But it looks like he has been busy. He appeared in good shape physically and looked calm and confident.

"I'm a lot happier now. We are more relaxed about our training. I'm ready and I'm looking forward to a good test."

His American trainer Roger Bloodworth backed up Tua's claims.

"This was a very good camp. No injuries, no concerns," Bloodworth said believing Tua's heavy workload into his last fight against Shane Cameron had benefitted him this time around.

"That has made it easier for us ... it was a platform into this camp. But we have worked hard and we have worked on everything because we are up against a world class opponent."

That was music to the ears of the Ahunanya camp who clearly rate the Las Vegas-based Nigerian.

"I have been talking trash for the last three weeks," admitted Ahunanya's manager-trainer Luis Tapia.

"But now it's time for action and I repeat that we will win.

"I think this will be one of the fights of the year in the heavyweight division. Friday needs to win this fight if he is to become world champion."

Ahunanya was happy to let Tapia do most of the talking from his side of the table but showed respect to the more experienced Tua.

"David Tua is a veteran when it comes to boxing. I am honoured he has given me this opportunity. I want to make the impossible possible," he said.

The weigh-in is in Auckland on Tuesday with the fight over 12 three-minute rounds on Wednesday night at the Trusts Stadium in Waitakere City.

Source: stuff.co.nz

Old Ruiz must be a try guy -- The Sun

By COLIN HART, The Sun

WHEN John Ruiz challenges David Haye for his WBA world heavyweight crown we can only hope he will be trying to win.

It's not my desire to insult Ruiz, who clashes with Haye in Manchester tomorrow week.

After all, John is a former WBA champion and has been a respected pro for nearly 20 years.

The American was never quick when young and at 38 he might well decide there's little point trying to compete with Haye's speed of hand and foot.

It might mean Ruiz's strategy will be to try to ensure he finishes unhurt and on his feet at the end of the 12 rounds.

The last heavyweight to adopt entirely negative tactics was Kevin Johnston who tackled Vitali Klitschko in Berne four months ago.

The result was a whitewash defeat that had the crowd nodding off.

There seems to be a worrying tendency for underdog world championship contenders who feel they have little hope of victory to take a safety-first kit into the ring with them.

Joshua Clottey two weeks ago provided one of the most blatant examples of how to survive in a crisis.

When he signed to meet Manny Pacquiao everyone knew, to use a Muhammed Ali line, he had just two chances. Slim and none - and Slim had left town.

Clottey, who was paid £800,000, shamefully spent the entire fight with his gloves and arms held firmly in front of his face.

For me that is a cynical form of cheating.

Freddie Roach, Manny's superb award-winning trainer, was critical of Clottey's pacifism.

He said: "There was a world title on the line and he didn't try to win it."

Sentiments echoed by Dave "Boy" Green, who knew he was up against it when he took on Sugar Ray Leonard 30 years ago.

Dave, now a successful businessman, told me: "I was disgusted with Clottey. At least I had a go against Leonard. He knocked me out but it was an honourable defeat."

So is there a way to make the Clotteys and Johnsons give value for money?

Only if referees disqualify those who don't try and the governing bodies back them up by heavily fining the guilty.

Unfortunately we know that's never going to happen.

Source: thesun.co.uk

Williams ready to call it quits -- The Sun

By PAT SHEEHAN, The Sun

DANNY WILLIAMS will quit boxing after his British heavyweight title defence against Sam Sexton, regardless of the result.

The 36-year-old appears on the undercard of Kevin Mitchell's world lightweight title bid against Michael Katsidis at Upton Park on May 15.

But win or lose against Commonwealth champion Sexton, Williams has pledged to hang up his gloves to train for his new career as a celebrity bodyguard.

He added: "Regardless of what happens in this fight with Sexton, I'm retiring. It makes me more hungry and more dangerous."

Williams famously beat Mike Tyson in 2004 before failing in a world title clash with Vitali Klitschko later that year.

But he rejected the chance of a 'decider' against Audley Harrison for the vacant European crown on April 9 because he was not given enough notice.

Williams beat Harrison in 2005 only to lose to the 2000 Olympic gold medallist a year later.

And he said: "I only had three weeks' notice and my trainer Jim McDonnell said that wasn't enough time.

"I took my second fight against Harrison at just five days notice and I've learned my lesson."

Williams' Upton Park finale was originally set for Wembley last month, but Sexton suffered a cut thumb in a kitchen accident which he blames on celebrity cook and Norwich City co-owner Delia Smith.

Sexton said: "I know Delia and was following one of her recipes but I'll be leaving the cooking to other people this time."

Source: thesun.co.uk

David Haye embraces 'Superman' role for John Ruiz bout -- The Guardian

By Kevin Mitchell, Guardian.co.uk

David Haye has reached new heights of hyperbole, warning the American John Ruiz to be ready to face Superman when they share a ring in Manchester on 3 April.

The Londoner surpassed most previous efforts for ticket-selling when he belittled the 7ft, 22st Nikolai Valuev in the days leading up to his audacious burglary of the Russian's WBA heavyweight title in Nuremberg last November. He was a hairy, smelly freak, Haye taunted – before producing a performance that would not have been out of place in the Russian's beloved Ballet Russe.

For his first defence Haye plans an entirely different strategy and tonight he described graphically the pre-fight ritual that changes him from a laid-back dude into a cross between a man in cape and underpants and Usain Bolt. "In the lead-up to fights," he said, "I'm very relaxed, very calm. It's the warm-up in the changing room when I switch on. I don't even think about the fight until then. Some fighters are bouncing about the walls but I switch off. Then it's like someone flicks a switch in me."

That moment, he says, comes when he begins to wrap his hands in the metres of cotton that protect his gnarled fists. "When I'm training, I use heavier crepe for wraps, for protection – but you're not allowed to use them in competition. So when it comes to the fight, the wraps are softer. That's what hits me. You can feel your knuckles through the cotton.

"I only fight twice a year. So as soon as I put them on I know. I can feel it cut against my hand. The only time it ever happens is right before a fight. My whole body switches on. It feels like I'm Superman. No matter what happens, I'm just quick, I can see everything move in slow motion. My sight, my smell, my hearing, everything is heightened. It's like I can go out there and fly.

"As time goes on, I pick up the pace, stretching, shadow-boxing. You're sort of teasing your body. By the time you go out, your body's just itching to explode. You've got to hold it in, waiting for the first bell. Then you go out like a sprinter out of the blocks."

He does not expect to walk through walls on Saturday week but one senses the growing force in an athlete who leaves nothing to chance in his preparation. Haye reckons that, at 29 and with a career deadline of his 31st birthday next year, he is nearing his best. "This year and next year will by my peak time," he said. This should, he reckons, leave him enough time to beat Ruiz and the Klitschko brothers, Wladimir and Vitali.

Haye first has to get out of a contracted rematch with Valuev but expects the big man to "go down another road". That would at least allow Superman to be king of the world without having to leap another tall building in a single bound.

Source: guardian.co.uk

Erik Morales Returns to Ring Against Jose Alfaro -- FanHouse

By Lem Satterfield, FanHouse

Erik Morales' legacy as one of the premiere Mexican fighters is no doubt secure, as is his reputation as one of the best boxers ever to lace on a pair of gloves.

"Morales has sealed a respected reputation in boxing, in my humble opinion, because he's done so much. I believe that he's going to be a first-ballot Hall of Famer," said Robert Morales, of the Los Angeles Daily News and The Long Beach Press Telegram. "I don't think that there is anything that could stop him from being recognized as one of Mexico's greatest fighters of the past 25 years."

In November and April of 1996, and, 1997, respectively, Junior Jones handed the previously unbeaten Marco Antonio Barrera consecutive losses by fifth-round disqualification, and, unanimous decision.

Two fights later, however, Morales, nicknamed, "El Terrible," stopped Jones in four rounds on the way to running his own unbeaten mark to 35 bouts.

Born in Tijuana, Mex., Morales lost two out of three fights with Mexico City's Barrera, a classic trilogy that reached a legendary status which, for Mexicans, rivals the one between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier.

Barrera-Morales" is probably the greatest trilogy in boxing history," noted boxing historian, Burt Sugar, said in 2004. "Muhammad Ali-Joe Frazier II was a non-fight, and Tony Zale-Rocky Graziano III was a walk-over," said Sugar. "Barrera-Morales is the only trilogy where each of the three fights was as good as the other."

After defeating Morales in their third meeting by majority decision in November, 2004, Barrera extended his hand to Morales, only to get a water bottle thrown at him.

"At one point, Barrera had referred to Morales as an 'Indio,' which means 'Indian,' and for someone from the well-to-do, Southern part of of Mexico like Barrera to say that to a guy from the down-trodden, Northern part of Mexico, Tijuana, like Morales was, that's quite an insult," said Robert Morales, a Mexican-American who is not related to Erik Morales.

"One guy who was born in Mexico but who now lives in the United States told me that 'Indio' was as bad as somebody using the N-word," said Morales. "That's what started the animosity and the real dislike for each other. And ther was no question that by the time these guys got done with their three fights, they just did not like each other."

But following that second loss to Barrera, Morales bounced back by earning a March, 2005, unanimous decision over future seven-division champion, Manny Pacquiao.

Since then, however, Pacquiao has gone 12-0, with eight knockouts -- including two stoppages over Morales -- earned Fighter Of The Year honors three straight times, been named Fighter Of The Decade, and agruably become the sport's best fighter, pound-for-pound.

"The two opponents who have defined my career are Junior Jones and Manny Pacquaio. Defeating Jones was important to me because he had stopped something like 32 Mexicans in previous fights," said Morales, who will turn 34 in September. "Defeating Pacquaio is my greatest accomplishment in the ring. I remember seeing him cry after our fight."

But Morales' career took a downward spiral following the victory over Pacquiao, after which, in succession, he was decisioned by Zahir Raheem in September of 2005, stopped in 10, and, three rounds, by Pacquiao, respectively, in January, and, November, of 2006, and, decisioned by David Diaz in August of 2007.

Morales lost, 115-112, 111-113, and, 114-113, to Diaz, who prevented Morales from becoming the first Mexican fighter to win a crown in four divisions.

Morales announced his retirement in the ring following losing to Diaz, which was his fourth straight setback, and the fifth in his last six fights.

"The smaller fighters usually have been in a lot of wars and take a lot of punishment because there are a lot more punches delivered. And his first championship was at super bantamweight [122 pounds,]" said Robert Morales, referring to Morales' September, 1997, 11th-round knockout of Daniel Zaragoza.

"So I don't see any reason for him to come back unless he needs the money or is in a financial hardship," said Morales. "Something like that could tarnish his legacy just a little bit because Morales has nothing left to prove."

But the 33-year-old, former three-division, world champion, is coming back.

For Morales (48-6, 34 knockouts) will end a 31-month ring absence on Saturday night when he takes on 26-year-old Jose "Jicaras" Alfaro (23-5, 20 KOs), of Nagarote, Nicaragua, in a 12-round, 142-pound bout in Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mex.

Among Morales' goals during the comeback are a fourth-straight match up with Pacquiao (51-3-2, 38 KOs), as well as a shot at Mexican great, Juan Manuel Marquez (50-5-1, 37 KOs), a WBA lightweight (135 pounds) champion and three-division titlist who has beaten Barrera, lost a disputed decision to Pacquiao and battled Pacquiao to a draw.

"I would love another chance at Pacquaio," said Morales, "and I also look forward to fighting Juan Manuel Marquez in the future."

Morales said that he would like to face Pacquiao at 147 pounds.

"At 147, I'm faster than ever and freer with my body, so I can get the most out of it. First, though, is my fight against Jose Alfaro on March 27th in Monterrey on pay per view," said Morales.

"Alfaro is a great young fighter and a former world champion. He's a wicked puncher who will bring his best," said Morales. "Alfaro has a big heart that he will bring into the ring, and he always gives fans everything he has."

Last seen in the ring on Halloween, however, Alfaro was absorbing a one-sided beating at the hands of Mexican southpaw, Antonio DeMarco, who won virtually every round of their WBC interim lightweight title bout before stopping Alfaro in the 10th.

Alfaro had won three straight fights, two of them by knockout, before facing DeMarco at Treasure Island Resort and Casino in Las Vegas.

Alfaro was attempting to line himself up for another shot at the WBA crown, which he had won in December of 2007 by split decision over Thailand's Prawet Singwancha.

Alfaro, however, was promptly dethroned by Japan's Yusuke Kobori, who stopped Alfaro in the third round of his first defense in May of 2008.

"I do not mind that Morales is the favorite in this fight. I understand, but I had the best training camp of my life, in my country, and I'm going to win," said Alfaro. "My youth and strength will dominate this match. I know that I'm going to be taking the victory to back to Nicaragua."

Among the bouts on the Morales-Alfaro undercard is a 12-round co-feature between former two-time, WBA light heavyweight (175 pounds) champion, Hugo Hernan "Pigu" Garay (32-4, 17 KOs), of Tigre, Buenos Aires, Argentina, against Chris "Hard Hittin" Henry (24-2, 19 KOs), of Houston, Tex., in a WBA eliminator.

"I'm happy to be here [in Monterrey,] and completely ready to face Alfaro. Fans will see a different Erik Morales than in my last few fights," said Morales.

"Now I'm hungry to win this fight and to go on toward winning a world title in my fourth division," said Morales. "I want to prove to everyone watching that all of the hard work in training camp will result in a great performance in my return to the ring."

Source: boxing.fanhouse.com

Klitschko vows to sock it to Sosnowski at soccer stadium -- Gulf Times

Reuters/Berlin

heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko has promised to give fight fans a memorable display when he takes on Polish challenger Albert Sosnowski on May 29.

“Muhammad Ali had this belt,” said the 38-year-old Ukrainian as he held it aloft at a news conference in Gelsenkirchen. “Mike Tyson and Lennox Lewis had it and now I am the rightful owner.

“I am the strongest in the world and for whoever comes to watch the fight I promise an unforgettable performance. I will only part with this belt when I want to.”

Klitschko, whose brother Vladimir holds the WBO, IBO and IBF heavyweight belts, will fight the British-based Sosnowski in front of an expected 60,000 crowd in Schalke 04’s soccer stadium in Gelsenkirchen.

“He (Sosnowski) has more fights than me, more experience in the heavyweight division ... but I am happy with whoever comes to challenge me and I am delighted with the fight,” said the champion.

“With Sosnowski, we met and talked. I saw it (hunger) in his eye. He wants it.”

Klitschko has 39 victories from 41 fights with two defeats while the 31-year-old Sosnowski has won 45 of 48 bouts, losing twice and drawing once.

Hopkins and Jones rematch ‘no clown reality show’

NEW YORK: The rematch between Bernard Hopkins and Roy Jones Jr is not just two boxers in the twilight of their careers looking to settle an old score nearly two decades after they last fought, the pair said on Wednesday.

Speaking to reporters on a conference call ahead of their non-title fight in Las Vegas on April 3, the American boxers said they were still at the top of their game and some younger fighters did not offer the same competition.

“When we came up when we were younger we spent more time doing things that enhanced our skills, nowadays there is so much to do that you don’t get much time to work on your skills,” the 41-year-old Jones said.

According to Jones, today’s younger fighters spend more time with video games and other distractions instead of working on enhancing skills the way he did in his early days.

Jones, who beat Hopkins when the two fighters first met on May 22, 1993 in Washington for the IBF middleweight title, also said older fighters today were better conditioned than ever and that younger fighters, while fresher, were not as skilful.

Jones (54-6, 40 knockouts) defeated a 32-year-old Jeff Lacy last August before suffering a first-round knockout defeat by Australian Danny Green, then 36, in December, which triggered fears a rematch with Hopkins would not occur.

But in early February the two sides agreed to fight again.

Hopkins (50-5-1, 32 knockouts) even went as far as to say people would be just as interested in this fight as they would if retired basketball greats Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson played one-on-one.

“This is not on some clown reality show station where you have two wrestlers, two boxers, two old entertainers or two old singers squaring off on some reality show,” said 45-year-old Hopkins. “This is the real deal.”

Source: gulf-times.com

Holyfield: I can rule the world again! -- ESPN Star

ESPNStar.com

Evander Holyfield insists he can be heavyweight champion again after his upcoming comeback.

He plans to underline his claims on April 10 when he challenges World Boxing Federation title-holder Frans Botha at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas.

"I'm not finished, yet. I will be champion of the world again," Holyfield said.

The 47-year-old is coming off of a controversial 12-round majority decision loss in December 2008 to then-WBA champion Nikolai Valuev.

Holyfield hasn't fought in Las Vegas in 11 years and he's looking forward to returning to the city of his greatest accomplishments.

"I'm honoured to be fighting again in Las Vegas," he said.

"Realistically, everything good happened to me in Las Vegas, starting when I made the 1984 US Olympic team. I became the undisputed world cruiserweight champion there (v Carlos DeLeon in 1988).

"The first time I won the world heavyweight title was there (v Buster Douglas in 1990).

"My second (v Riddick Bowe in 1993), third (v Mike Tyson in 1996), and fourth (v John Ruiz in 2000) heavyweight titles were all won in Las Vegas. It's where I've done my greatest things and I'm really looking forward to fighting back in Las Vegas."

All four of Botha's losses have all been to world champions - Tyson, Michael Moorer, Lennox Lewis and Wladimir Klitschko - and three came in world championship fights.

"This guy isn't afraid to come and fight," Holyfield added. "All of Botha's losses have been to world champions. He comes to fight, I come to fight; it should be a very interesting match-up."

Source: espnstar.com

Ahunanya expects an aggressive Tua to turn up -- Stuff

By DUNCAN JOHNSTONE, Stuff.co.nz

Friday Ahunanya is braced for a brutal assault from David Tua, believing the Kiwi heavyweight will be even more aggressive than he was in demolishing Shane Cameron.

Ahunanya and Tua go toe-to-toe at the Trusts Stadium in Auckland next Wednesday night in a fight that will be crucial to the futures of both ageing boxers.

Tua broke two years of inactivity by demolishing Cameron early in the second round of their fight in Hamilton last October.

Tua was devastating that night, stalking Cameron from the opening bell. He demolished Cameron at the end of the first round and finished his fellow New Zealander off after the restart in spectacular fashion with a savage combination of hits that reminded everyone of Tua's devastating power.

"I expect him to come out more aggressive than that," Ahunanya predicted of Tua's approach next week.

"I know he isn't taking this fight lightly. I expect him to come straight at me – and be real aggressive."

Ahunanya claims he hasn't gone through Tua's catalogue of 54 fights that have brought 50 wins, 43 of them by knockouts. He says he saw "clips of the fight with Shane Cameron.

"They say Tua is only known for his left hook but he has more things in him. I just hope he comes in to put up his best – just like I am going to."

Asked what his best shot was, Ahunanya laughed. "I can't tell you that man. You are just going to have to come and see what I do best."

Ahunanya backs his chin and fitness to absorb Tua's power and believes the longer the fight goes, the better his chances will be.

Source: stuff.co.nz

Maloney: I'll do it my way -- ESPN Star

ESPNStar.com

Frank Maloney has hit back at criticism of his handling of David Price.

The Beijing Olympic bronze medallist took his unbeaten professional record to five last Friday when he defeated Martyn Grainer inside a round.

It led to calls for Price to be matched tougher when he returns to action at Dagenham's Goresbrook Leisure Centre on May 14.

Maloney says: "I am ignoring all the criticism and matching David the way I think best and will continue to do so.

"People are entitled to opinions, but I have a proven track record with top heavyweights Lennox Lewis and John Ruiz. Domestically, I got it right with Julius Francis and James Oyebola.

"I don't remember Lennox, Ruiz or Frank Bruno having it tough early on, but judging by the some of the comments, people would like me to match David against a Klitschko or David Haye right now.

"Judge David in two or three years, not now."

Maloney believes Price will eventually become world heavyweight champion and plans to develop his latest protégé in the gym over the next 12 months.

Maloney added: "David might have a fantastic amateur pedigree and more potential than any British heavyweight, but he had hardly been in a professional gym until little over a year ago.

"Over the next few months he will do most of his learning in the gym and travelling around the world sparring.

"I am hoping that he will help Albert Sosnowski prepare for his world title challenge against Vitali Klitschko.

"He will also be travelling down to London to spar with one of my other fighters, John McDermott.

Source: espnstar.com