By FRANK WARREN, The Sun
RECENTLY I observed that some US-based boxers who started fighting at lighter weights went on to win titles in many higher weight divisions.
It is a feat their British counterparts haven't managed to do.
Now, in the aftermath of the cancelled Pacquiao-Mayweather fight - where Golden Boy insinuated that Pacquiao was taking performance-enhancing drugs - things have taken a new turn with allegations that the president of Golden Boy Promotions Oscar De La Hoya had used performance-enhancing drugs.
The respected author Thomas Hauser - who also wrote Muhammad Ali's autobiography - caused a stir on secondsout.com challenging De La Hoya to make public the findings of the Nevada State Athletic Commission drug test for PEDs that he may have taken in the past.
Hauser said: "Oscar De La Hoya can show the world how a righteous PED-free fighter acts and remove any hint of suspicion that he himself might not have clean hands.
"Oscar should waive his right to confidentiality and authorise the Nevada State Athletic Commission to release results of any tests for performance-enhancing drugs he has taken in the past. I'm not talking about Lidocaine, nor creatine. I'm talking about the possibility of something more."
Pacquiao has furiously denied he ever took PEDs and issued writs in the US claiming damages.
The Nevada State Athletic Commission chief executive Keith Kizer insists there is nothing to hide and states: "All these tests are public and every test was negative for PEDs."
When asked whether the NSAC needs a waiver from De La Hoya to reveal the results, Kizer added: "No. I have no idea what Mr Hauser is referring to or why he would make such an implication."
There were continuous requests for Pacquiao to take tests so I am sure there shouldn't be a problem in clearing up these allegations.
Source: thesun.co.uk
Saturday, 30 January 2010
Haye Would Be Best Served Concentrating On Ruiz, Not The Klitschkos -- The Sweet Science
By Frank Lotierzo, The Sweet Science
Finally after a month or more of speculation the anticipated WBA heavyweight title bout between champ David Haye 23-1 (21) and former champ John Ruiz 44-8-1 (30) will take place on April 3rd at Manchester's MEN Arena. The 29-year old Haye will be making the first defense of his title since since the former cruiserweight champ captured it from Russia's Nikolai Valuev in Germany this past November.
The 38-year old Ruiz took step aside money last year that paved the way for Haye to meet Valuev, fully aware that he'd get the first crack at the winner. Ruiz has made a career out of fighting the best heavyweights and belt holders of his era. In fact he fought Valuev twice for the title and other than the one big shot Haye landed on Valuev that shook him in the last round of their bout, Ruiz actually did more to the Russian giant but was hosed out of the decision both times in Germany because of politics and connections.
Earlier this week the press conference for Haye-Ruiz was held and Ruiz was a no show. To which Haye retorted, "We paid for his first class tickets over here, a great hotel and tried to accommodate him as best as possible. He didn't get on the flight. I don't know what his reason is." Hopefully Haye wasn't trying to imply that Ruiz had even the slightest bit of trepidation about facing him at the press conference. If there's one thing boxing fans know about Ruiz, it's that he doesn't fear any heavyweight walking the planet.
Then Haye said, "I will not only beat him but beat him spectacularly and knock him out. I'm looking forward to getting back to what I do best - throwing my trademark 'Hayemakers.' Ruiz is a come-forward fighter so I aim to get at him, break him down, and take him out in good style."
After seeing Monte Barrett get up numerous times against Haye before the fight was stopped, Ruiz will have to become a fossil on the night of the fight for Haye to have a prayer to get Ruiz out of there early or in a spectacular fashion.
Haye's vow to become the only other fighter to stop Ruiz in 53 bouts since David Tua did it 14 years ago makes for great copy, but I for one am not convinced that he possesses the tools for the execution he promises. Haye, like Floyd Mayweather Jr., has been great at self promotion, but his body of work as a heavyweight is a little underwhelming. And if he thinks he can intimidate or rattle John Ruiz in anyway shape or form he's mistaken.
Ruiz was a 24 year old who hadn't filled out yet physically as a fighter when he was caught by Hurricane Tua back in 1996. And Tua just happens to be the biggest one-punch banger since George Foreman circa 1973-74. Not to mention he was at his absolute peak the night he fought Ruiz. Yet it is Ruiz who went on to win a piece of the heavyweight title twice - whereas Tua has only fought for it once and lost.
John Ruiz is much tougher and better than Monte Barrett, and will be ten times tougher for Haye than the heavy-bag with eyes that Valuev fought like. This fight is only intriguing for one reason, and that's because at 38 it's uncertain what Ruiz has left as a top-10 heavyweight. But if this were Ruiz of the 2000-2003 vintage, he'd maul Haye and probably stop him in late in the fight.
Haye says he wants to showcase his skills again in front of the British public, something he failed to do when he fought Valuev and ran like a thief in the night in the process of stinking the place out. When Ruiz fought Valuev in 2005 and 2008 (a much better version than the one Haye fought) he at least tried to engage and win the fight straight up. By the time Haye faced Valuev, the promoters and boxing establishment realized they had nothing with him and the farce had to end. Which is the sole reason Haye was awarded the decision against him.
Evander Holyfield at age 47 had a better claim to the decision verdict over Valuev than David Haye did. It's just that a sullen old Holyfield wasn't the right business move when it came time to relieve Valuev of his title. However, a young brash guy like Haye was the perfect guy to hand the title to despite him doing less against the Russian giant than either Ruiz or Holyfield did during their three bouts with him.
Because of Haye's ability to talk up and sell a fight, he knows the only way he loses to Ruiz is if he gets stopped. On the other hand Ruiz hasn't been the luckiest guy around when it comes to getting the decision in close fights. Add to that he's 38 and he'd have to beat Haye half to death just to earn a draw against him.
Haye says his goal is to unify the heavyweight title by beating the Klitschko brothers, Vitali and Wladimir, who hold the WBC, IBF, and WBO titles between them. Which he'll no doubt earn the privilege of getting knocked out by one of them if he gets by Ruiz. And because of the way boxing works, it's hard to pick Ruiz knowing he has to win by a knockout. And nothing is harder than trying to knock out a fighter who is looking to survive - the mindset Haye will approach the fight with.
Knowing the decision is a forgone conclusion the smart pick looks to be Haye. But Ruiz may still have one more good night left in him, and if he does Haye will lose his title in his first defense. David Haye has shown to be a shrewd boxing manager and his cockiness isn't the worst thing for a heavyweight to posses in 2010. Let's see if he can back it up like the wannabe Cassius Clay aka Muhammad Ali he's become.
Seven of Ruiz's eight defeats came via decision. If Haye stops Ruiz - even a 38 year old on——he deserves all due credit. However, I reserve the right to wait for that to happen before I begin to take him completely seriously as a threat to the upper-tier heavyweights of today.
Frank Lotierzo can be contacted at GlovedFist@Gmail.com
Source: thesweetscience.com
Finally after a month or more of speculation the anticipated WBA heavyweight title bout between champ David Haye 23-1 (21) and former champ John Ruiz 44-8-1 (30) will take place on April 3rd at Manchester's MEN Arena. The 29-year old Haye will be making the first defense of his title since since the former cruiserweight champ captured it from Russia's Nikolai Valuev in Germany this past November.
The 38-year old Ruiz took step aside money last year that paved the way for Haye to meet Valuev, fully aware that he'd get the first crack at the winner. Ruiz has made a career out of fighting the best heavyweights and belt holders of his era. In fact he fought Valuev twice for the title and other than the one big shot Haye landed on Valuev that shook him in the last round of their bout, Ruiz actually did more to the Russian giant but was hosed out of the decision both times in Germany because of politics and connections.
Earlier this week the press conference for Haye-Ruiz was held and Ruiz was a no show. To which Haye retorted, "We paid for his first class tickets over here, a great hotel and tried to accommodate him as best as possible. He didn't get on the flight. I don't know what his reason is." Hopefully Haye wasn't trying to imply that Ruiz had even the slightest bit of trepidation about facing him at the press conference. If there's one thing boxing fans know about Ruiz, it's that he doesn't fear any heavyweight walking the planet.
Then Haye said, "I will not only beat him but beat him spectacularly and knock him out. I'm looking forward to getting back to what I do best - throwing my trademark 'Hayemakers.' Ruiz is a come-forward fighter so I aim to get at him, break him down, and take him out in good style."
After seeing Monte Barrett get up numerous times against Haye before the fight was stopped, Ruiz will have to become a fossil on the night of the fight for Haye to have a prayer to get Ruiz out of there early or in a spectacular fashion.
Haye's vow to become the only other fighter to stop Ruiz in 53 bouts since David Tua did it 14 years ago makes for great copy, but I for one am not convinced that he possesses the tools for the execution he promises. Haye, like Floyd Mayweather Jr., has been great at self promotion, but his body of work as a heavyweight is a little underwhelming. And if he thinks he can intimidate or rattle John Ruiz in anyway shape or form he's mistaken.
Ruiz was a 24 year old who hadn't filled out yet physically as a fighter when he was caught by Hurricane Tua back in 1996. And Tua just happens to be the biggest one-punch banger since George Foreman circa 1973-74. Not to mention he was at his absolute peak the night he fought Ruiz. Yet it is Ruiz who went on to win a piece of the heavyweight title twice - whereas Tua has only fought for it once and lost.
John Ruiz is much tougher and better than Monte Barrett, and will be ten times tougher for Haye than the heavy-bag with eyes that Valuev fought like. This fight is only intriguing for one reason, and that's because at 38 it's uncertain what Ruiz has left as a top-10 heavyweight. But if this were Ruiz of the 2000-2003 vintage, he'd maul Haye and probably stop him in late in the fight.
Haye says he wants to showcase his skills again in front of the British public, something he failed to do when he fought Valuev and ran like a thief in the night in the process of stinking the place out. When Ruiz fought Valuev in 2005 and 2008 (a much better version than the one Haye fought) he at least tried to engage and win the fight straight up. By the time Haye faced Valuev, the promoters and boxing establishment realized they had nothing with him and the farce had to end. Which is the sole reason Haye was awarded the decision against him.
Evander Holyfield at age 47 had a better claim to the decision verdict over Valuev than David Haye did. It's just that a sullen old Holyfield wasn't the right business move when it came time to relieve Valuev of his title. However, a young brash guy like Haye was the perfect guy to hand the title to despite him doing less against the Russian giant than either Ruiz or Holyfield did during their three bouts with him.
Because of Haye's ability to talk up and sell a fight, he knows the only way he loses to Ruiz is if he gets stopped. On the other hand Ruiz hasn't been the luckiest guy around when it comes to getting the decision in close fights. Add to that he's 38 and he'd have to beat Haye half to death just to earn a draw against him.
Haye says his goal is to unify the heavyweight title by beating the Klitschko brothers, Vitali and Wladimir, who hold the WBC, IBF, and WBO titles between them. Which he'll no doubt earn the privilege of getting knocked out by one of them if he gets by Ruiz. And because of the way boxing works, it's hard to pick Ruiz knowing he has to win by a knockout. And nothing is harder than trying to knock out a fighter who is looking to survive - the mindset Haye will approach the fight with.
Knowing the decision is a forgone conclusion the smart pick looks to be Haye. But Ruiz may still have one more good night left in him, and if he does Haye will lose his title in his first defense. David Haye has shown to be a shrewd boxing manager and his cockiness isn't the worst thing for a heavyweight to posses in 2010. Let's see if he can back it up like the wannabe Cassius Clay aka Muhammad Ali he's become.
Seven of Ruiz's eight defeats came via decision. If Haye stops Ruiz - even a 38 year old on——he deserves all due credit. However, I reserve the right to wait for that to happen before I begin to take him completely seriously as a threat to the upper-tier heavyweights of today.
Frank Lotierzo can be contacted at GlovedFist@Gmail.com
Source: thesweetscience.com
Floyd Mayweather's adviser: Announcement of Shane Mosley fight 'definitely' by next week -- Grand Rapids Press
By David Mayo, The Grand Rapids Press
Floyd Mayweather’s adviser said he saw no remaining hang-ups in negotiations for a Shane Mosley fight and said an announcement “definitely” would come next week.
“We’re very close,” Leonard Ellerbe said. “There are no hang-ups. It’s just all the legal-beagle stuff now.”
The fight will be scheduled May 1 at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, presumably for Mosley’s World Boxing Association welterweight title.
Mosley-Mayweather has been in the works since the proposed Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao fight fell through earlier this month. Mosley’s fight against Andre Berto, originally scheduled Saturday, subsequently was canceled, with Berto citing the earthquake tragedy in Haiti, where he has family.
Mosley-Mayweather has been close to finalized for two weeks. It was only a matter of hammering out details.
Random blood and urine testing, which was at the heart of the Mayweather-Pacquiao negotiation failure, has not been a problem for Mosley-Mayweather.
“We’ve agreed to all the major deal points and Mosley has agreed to the random testing. I don’t foresee any problems at all,” Ellerbe said.
He added that he does not expect an announcement until after this weekend.
“Whether it’s this week or next week, what’s the urgency?” Ellerbe said. “It’s just the normal stuff that goes on with any huge, huge fight.”
E-mail David Mayo at dmayo@grpress.com and follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/David_Mayo
Source: mlive.com
***
Floyd Mayweather’s adviser said he saw no remaining hang-ups in negotiations for a Shane Mosley fight and said an announcement “definitely” would come next week.
“We’re very close,” Leonard Ellerbe said. “There are no hang-ups. It’s just all the legal-beagle stuff now.”
The fight will be scheduled May 1 at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, presumably for Mosley’s World Boxing Association welterweight title.
Mosley-Mayweather has been in the works since the proposed Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao fight fell through earlier this month. Mosley’s fight against Andre Berto, originally scheduled Saturday, subsequently was canceled, with Berto citing the earthquake tragedy in Haiti, where he has family.
Mosley-Mayweather has been close to finalized for two weeks. It was only a matter of hammering out details.
Random blood and urine testing, which was at the heart of the Mayweather-Pacquiao negotiation failure, has not been a problem for Mosley-Mayweather.
“We’ve agreed to all the major deal points and Mosley has agreed to the random testing. I don’t foresee any problems at all,” Ellerbe said.
He added that he does not expect an announcement until after this weekend.
“Whether it’s this week or next week, what’s the urgency?” Ellerbe said. “It’s just the normal stuff that goes on with any huge, huge fight.”
E-mail David Mayo at dmayo@grpress.com and follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/David_Mayo
Source: mlive.com
***
Drugs are 'rampant' in boxing says Conte -- BBC News
BBC News
Victor Conte, the man who provided the five-time Olympic gold medallist Marion Jones with illegal drugs, says attempts to catch cheats in boxing are "inept".
Conte, now working with professional boxers believes cheating is rife within the sport.
"Testing that is being utilised in boxing is virtually worthless," Conte told the BBC.
"I don't think a genuine effort is being made to establish an effective (anti-doping) programme.
"Until those who control the majority of the financial gain from boxing develop a true and genuine interest in reducing the use of performance-enhancing drugs, it will continue to be rampant."
Boxing is still reeling from the cancellation of the biggest payday in its history because of a drug-testing dispute.
The unbeaten American, Floyd Mayweather's proposed fight with the Filipino superstar Manny Pacquiao had been scheduled for 13 March.
But the fight was called off after Mayweather's management wanted both men - regarded as the two best pound-for-pound fighters in the world - to submit to blood-testing 14 days prior to the bout.
Pacquiao, however, refused, saying that he had difficulty with taking blood, and after days of negotiations the pair failed to resolve their dispute.
Source: bbc.co.uk
Victor Conte, the man who provided the five-time Olympic gold medallist Marion Jones with illegal drugs, says attempts to catch cheats in boxing are "inept".
Conte, now working with professional boxers believes cheating is rife within the sport.
"Testing that is being utilised in boxing is virtually worthless," Conte told the BBC.
"I don't think a genuine effort is being made to establish an effective (anti-doping) programme.
"Until those who control the majority of the financial gain from boxing develop a true and genuine interest in reducing the use of performance-enhancing drugs, it will continue to be rampant."
Boxing is still reeling from the cancellation of the biggest payday in its history because of a drug-testing dispute.
The unbeaten American, Floyd Mayweather's proposed fight with the Filipino superstar Manny Pacquiao had been scheduled for 13 March.
But the fight was called off after Mayweather's management wanted both men - regarded as the two best pound-for-pound fighters in the world - to submit to blood-testing 14 days prior to the bout.
Pacquiao, however, refused, saying that he had difficulty with taking blood, and after days of negotiations the pair failed to resolve their dispute.
Source: bbc.co.uk
Friday, 29 January 2010
Mayweather vs Mosley A Done Deal Very Soon? -- Eastside Boxing
By James Slater, Eastside Boxing
Though fight fans who are anxious to see it happen have been getting, well, anxious, due to how no fresh word has come out regarding what's happening with the prospective Shane Mosley - Floyd Mayweather Junior welterweight super fight, there seems to be no need for concern. Top scribe Kevin Iole of Yahoo Sports, has reported that Richard Schaefer of Golden Boy said on Thursday that "all major deal points have been agreed upon," and that Schaefer said he "hopes to have something to announce in the next couple of days.."
Iole wrote that the fight being announced as official is "imminent," and that a news conference to announce the big fight will likely be held in New York, perhaps even as soon as next week.
It goes without saying that this is great news indeed. Mosley, reportedly agreeing to the Olympic-style blood and urine testing Floyd demanded, unsuccessfully, of Manny Pacquiao, has wanted this fight for a while now - and so, evidently, has Mayweather. Finally, we can look ahead to a genuinely great fight involving the gifted, yet often cautious-about-who-he-fights, Mayweather.
May 1st, at The MGM Grand in Las Vegas, is the date Iole's report speaks of, and if his news is indeed correct, it will be a Mayday to remember for boxing fans. Very possibly a fight that "Money" can lose, the soon-to-be 33-year-old Mayweather will be given credit if he goes ahead with the Mosley challenge - and rightly so. Not only is the bout a major one, but the WBA 147-pound belt currently held by Mosley will also presumably be on the line (not that an alphabelt is needed in this one!)
It could be argued that not since his lightweight days has Mayweather taken such a risky fight. Of course, we have no idea how 38-year-old Mosley's layoff (it will be a layoff of over 15 months come May 1st - Mosley not having fought since ruining Antonio Margarito in Jan. of 2009) will affect his skills, but if "Sugar" is still sweet, he will push Mayweather hard; perhaps harder than anyone else in the pro ranks ever has.
Let's just keep our fingers crossed that nothing goes badly wrong behind the scenes as both sides complete a deal for the May fight, and that this fight comes off. If an official announcement is made next week, fight fans the world over are almost certain to celebrate.
Source: eastsideboxing.com
***
Though fight fans who are anxious to see it happen have been getting, well, anxious, due to how no fresh word has come out regarding what's happening with the prospective Shane Mosley - Floyd Mayweather Junior welterweight super fight, there seems to be no need for concern. Top scribe Kevin Iole of Yahoo Sports, has reported that Richard Schaefer of Golden Boy said on Thursday that "all major deal points have been agreed upon," and that Schaefer said he "hopes to have something to announce in the next couple of days.."
Iole wrote that the fight being announced as official is "imminent," and that a news conference to announce the big fight will likely be held in New York, perhaps even as soon as next week.
It goes without saying that this is great news indeed. Mosley, reportedly agreeing to the Olympic-style blood and urine testing Floyd demanded, unsuccessfully, of Manny Pacquiao, has wanted this fight for a while now - and so, evidently, has Mayweather. Finally, we can look ahead to a genuinely great fight involving the gifted, yet often cautious-about-who-he-fights, Mayweather.
May 1st, at The MGM Grand in Las Vegas, is the date Iole's report speaks of, and if his news is indeed correct, it will be a Mayday to remember for boxing fans. Very possibly a fight that "Money" can lose, the soon-to-be 33-year-old Mayweather will be given credit if he goes ahead with the Mosley challenge - and rightly so. Not only is the bout a major one, but the WBA 147-pound belt currently held by Mosley will also presumably be on the line (not that an alphabelt is needed in this one!)
It could be argued that not since his lightweight days has Mayweather taken such a risky fight. Of course, we have no idea how 38-year-old Mosley's layoff (it will be a layoff of over 15 months come May 1st - Mosley not having fought since ruining Antonio Margarito in Jan. of 2009) will affect his skills, but if "Sugar" is still sweet, he will push Mayweather hard; perhaps harder than anyone else in the pro ranks ever has.
Let's just keep our fingers crossed that nothing goes badly wrong behind the scenes as both sides complete a deal for the May fight, and that this fight comes off. If an official announcement is made next week, fight fans the world over are almost certain to celebrate.
Source: eastsideboxing.com
***
Pacquiao hurts sparring mate -- ABS-CBN News
By Joseph Pimentel, ABS-CBN North America News Bureau
LOS ANGELES, California -- Filipino boxing champ Manny Pacquiao concluded his first day of sparring on Thursday (Friday in Manila) by dominating journeyman boxer Bryan Brooks in four rounds.
“I feel good. I’m very well conditioned. My opponent was big. I did well against him. I’m happy and my coach is happy,” said Pacquiao.
Roach said Pacquiao followed the game plan well during the four-round sparring session. He also said Brooks was hurt a few times while sparring with the pound-for-pound king.
“[Pacquiao] did really well. He’s already following the game plan. This was a good sparring partner for Shane Mosley but I don’t think I’m going to bring him back… he got hurt a few times. Manny was too much for him,” he said.
He added: "Yes, he did whatever he wanted too. He was playing with him a little bit. He likes to play with his audience a little bit … overall, it was a great day."
Pacquiao will be facing Joshua Clottey at the Cowboys Stadium in Dallas, Texas on March 13.
The 7-time world champion is heavily favored to win the bout but Roach is not taking any precautions. He did not allow any media members to film the sparring session or mitt work.
Pacquiao also believes they have their work cut out for them. He said Clottey is a tough, durable opponent. In 39 fights, the boxer from Ghana has never been knocked out.
“Clottey is strong and sturdy. He can take a punch and has a good defense. This is not going to be an easy fight,” said the Filipino.
Roach said that the key to beat Clottey is Pacquiao’s quickness.
“Don’t stand in front of him. Use lateral movement, in-and-outs and side-to-side pretty much because he’s a big strong guy but again boxing ability is going to win this, not size,” said Roach.
If Thursday’s sparring session was an indicator of how the fight will be against Clottey, then Clottey has his work cut out for him.
Source: abs-cbnnews.com
***
LOS ANGELES, California -- Filipino boxing champ Manny Pacquiao concluded his first day of sparring on Thursday (Friday in Manila) by dominating journeyman boxer Bryan Brooks in four rounds.
“I feel good. I’m very well conditioned. My opponent was big. I did well against him. I’m happy and my coach is happy,” said Pacquiao.
Roach said Pacquiao followed the game plan well during the four-round sparring session. He also said Brooks was hurt a few times while sparring with the pound-for-pound king.
“[Pacquiao] did really well. He’s already following the game plan. This was a good sparring partner for Shane Mosley but I don’t think I’m going to bring him back… he got hurt a few times. Manny was too much for him,” he said.
He added: "Yes, he did whatever he wanted too. He was playing with him a little bit. He likes to play with his audience a little bit … overall, it was a great day."
Pacquiao will be facing Joshua Clottey at the Cowboys Stadium in Dallas, Texas on March 13.
The 7-time world champion is heavily favored to win the bout but Roach is not taking any precautions. He did not allow any media members to film the sparring session or mitt work.
Pacquiao also believes they have their work cut out for them. He said Clottey is a tough, durable opponent. In 39 fights, the boxer from Ghana has never been knocked out.
“Clottey is strong and sturdy. He can take a punch and has a good defense. This is not going to be an easy fight,” said the Filipino.
Roach said that the key to beat Clottey is Pacquiao’s quickness.
“Don’t stand in front of him. Use lateral movement, in-and-outs and side-to-side pretty much because he’s a big strong guy but again boxing ability is going to win this, not size,” said Roach.
If Thursday’s sparring session was an indicator of how the fight will be against Clottey, then Clottey has his work cut out for him.
Source: abs-cbnnews.com
***
I'll back Hatton - Haye -- Manchester Evening News
By Trevor Baxter, Manchester Evening News
World heavyweight champion David Haye has backed Ricky Hatton's decision to return to the ring later this year.
And he promises to be ringside when the 'Hitman' pulls on his gloves for the first time since his devastating defeat by Manny Pacquiao last May.
Before then the 29-year-old Londoner defends his WBA belt against Puerto Rican John 'the Quiet Man' Ruiz at the MEN Arena on April 3 in the first world heavyweight title fight in Britain for 10 years.
And he wants Hatton's famous fans to roar him to victory in this mandatory defence after slaying Russian giant Nikolai Valuev in Germany last November.
"I think it's great Ricky has decided to make a comeback," Haye told MEN Sport in an exclusive interview.
"Whatever he feels he needs to do I will support him 100 percent. If he wanted to retire I would support that, too."
And Haye, who will train at Hatton's Hyde gym during the build-up to his Easter Saturday spectacular, added: "If he feels he still has something to give then why not.
"You can be sure that whenever he fights Ricky is going to draw a big crowd.
"He will give a good night's entertainment and the one thing he can count on is me being ringside for that fight."
Haye visited Manchester earlier this week to promote his fight against veteran Ruiz, who lists victory against Evander Holyfield as one of his career highlights. Ruiz also has two defeats by Valuev to his name.
Stunned
Haye hopes for a 20,000 sell-out but will happily spare a seat for the only man to spoil his otherwise perfect career record.
Cheetham Hill's Carl Thompson stunned Haye with a fifth round stoppage at Wembley in 2004.
"I haven't seen Carl since," smiles the Bermondsey-born star. "I will get him some tickets to come down and see the guy he beat defend his heavyweight title.
"It's amazing that he beat me in 2004 but had one more fight and then retired while I went on to win the undisputed cruiserweight championship.
"It seemed that fight was a cross-roads in both of our lives. It's strange he didn't carry on with it and I did. I know he was older but I still feel he had a lot to offer. He proved that by beating me he still had a lot of fight in him."
Haye, who defended his former European title at Altrincham Leisure Centre in July 2006, clearly enjoys his trips to Manchester. "I have been here many times," he acknowledges. "I came to see Mike Tyson's fight against Julius Francis and that was my first real taste of a big arena.
"I was blown away by the fans and the atmosphere. I said to myself I'd love to be top of the bill here one day.
"It seemed a million miles away back then but here I am. Just walking around, I seem to have a lot of fans here."
Ruiz, now 38, is a two-time former world heavyweight champion and has been a professional for 18 years.
His list of wins includes victory over former Manchester star Michael Murray. His only loss in 53 fights came against Kiwi David Tua in 1996.
Ruiz declined a chance to attend Tuesday's press conference, preferring to remain and train in Las Vegas.
Not one to indulge in pre-fight hype, Ruiz has already taken some of Haye's best verbal shots.
"I like to call him a cure for insomnia," goaded the British favourite. "No one wants him because of his style. People in Puerto Rico say he is American and the Americans say he is from Puerto Rico.
"But I'm going to make sure it's the last time they see John Ruiz."
Source: manchestereveningnews.co.uk
World heavyweight champion David Haye has backed Ricky Hatton's decision to return to the ring later this year.
And he promises to be ringside when the 'Hitman' pulls on his gloves for the first time since his devastating defeat by Manny Pacquiao last May.
Before then the 29-year-old Londoner defends his WBA belt against Puerto Rican John 'the Quiet Man' Ruiz at the MEN Arena on April 3 in the first world heavyweight title fight in Britain for 10 years.
And he wants Hatton's famous fans to roar him to victory in this mandatory defence after slaying Russian giant Nikolai Valuev in Germany last November.
"I think it's great Ricky has decided to make a comeback," Haye told MEN Sport in an exclusive interview.
"Whatever he feels he needs to do I will support him 100 percent. If he wanted to retire I would support that, too."
And Haye, who will train at Hatton's Hyde gym during the build-up to his Easter Saturday spectacular, added: "If he feels he still has something to give then why not.
"You can be sure that whenever he fights Ricky is going to draw a big crowd.
"He will give a good night's entertainment and the one thing he can count on is me being ringside for that fight."
Haye visited Manchester earlier this week to promote his fight against veteran Ruiz, who lists victory against Evander Holyfield as one of his career highlights. Ruiz also has two defeats by Valuev to his name.
Stunned
Haye hopes for a 20,000 sell-out but will happily spare a seat for the only man to spoil his otherwise perfect career record.
Cheetham Hill's Carl Thompson stunned Haye with a fifth round stoppage at Wembley in 2004.
"I haven't seen Carl since," smiles the Bermondsey-born star. "I will get him some tickets to come down and see the guy he beat defend his heavyweight title.
"It's amazing that he beat me in 2004 but had one more fight and then retired while I went on to win the undisputed cruiserweight championship.
"It seemed that fight was a cross-roads in both of our lives. It's strange he didn't carry on with it and I did. I know he was older but I still feel he had a lot to offer. He proved that by beating me he still had a lot of fight in him."
Haye, who defended his former European title at Altrincham Leisure Centre in July 2006, clearly enjoys his trips to Manchester. "I have been here many times," he acknowledges. "I came to see Mike Tyson's fight against Julius Francis and that was my first real taste of a big arena.
"I was blown away by the fans and the atmosphere. I said to myself I'd love to be top of the bill here one day.
"It seemed a million miles away back then but here I am. Just walking around, I seem to have a lot of fans here."
Ruiz, now 38, is a two-time former world heavyweight champion and has been a professional for 18 years.
His list of wins includes victory over former Manchester star Michael Murray. His only loss in 53 fights came against Kiwi David Tua in 1996.
Ruiz declined a chance to attend Tuesday's press conference, preferring to remain and train in Las Vegas.
Not one to indulge in pre-fight hype, Ruiz has already taken some of Haye's best verbal shots.
"I like to call him a cure for insomnia," goaded the British favourite. "No one wants him because of his style. People in Puerto Rico say he is American and the Americans say he is from Puerto Rico.
"But I'm going to make sure it's the last time they see John Ruiz."
Source: manchestereveningnews.co.uk
10 questions going into the Pacquiao-Clottey fight -- The Ring
By Michael Rosenthal, The Ring
1. Is Clottey a worthy opponent? Short answer: yes. Pacquiao is THE RING’s No. 1-rated welterweight; Clottey is No. 5. That’s a good matchup. The Ghanian is coming off a loss to Miguel Cotto, one of the most-respected fighters in the world, but some believe he did enough to win a close decision. Clottey has never been knocked out and has good defensive skills, which means he’ll probably survive at least until the late rounds. That said, it’s difficult to get excited about Clottey’s chances or the fighter himself. He’s merely a very good boxer with pretty good power, which won’t be enough to stave off a fierce, quick-handed marvel like Pacquiao. The Filipino is roughly a 4-1 favorite for a reason. And Pacquiao went from Floyd Mayweather Jr. to a relative unknown for his opponent. A drop off that enormous will limit the buzz surrounding the fight.
2. Can Pacquiao hurt Clottey? Pacquiao has faced two welterweights. One, Oscar De La Hoya, could barely fight back. The other, Cotto, doesn’t have the best chin in the world. Clottey is different. The reason he has never been knocked out is he can take a punch. He has proved that over and over again. Thus, there is a very real possibility that the Clottey will remain standing for the full 12 rounds. I don’t see that happening, though. I believe Pacquiao has legitimate welterweight power. Plus, Clottey has never seen this kind of hand speed or punches coming from so many unpredictable directions. The punches that hurt opponents most are the ones they don’t see coming. Pacquiao might not take Clottey out with one punch but an accumulation of them should do the job. If not? Doesn’t matter. Pacquiao will just outbox his inferior foe.
3. Are Pacquiao’s last four victories misleading because of the opposition? Pacquiao supporters will roll their eyes when they read this but it’s a legitimate question. Diaz is good but limited; De La Hoya had nothing left; Hatton was overrated and some will argue that Cotto never fully recovered from the beating he took from Margarito. So what does that say about Pacquiao? Not much. As his trainer, Freddie Roach, has pointed out, we thought these opponents were all pretty good going into their meetings with Pacquiao. It was afterward, for the most part, that we began to question to them. Clottey might actually be the most-difficult to criticize even after the fact because he has had a fine career and has shown no signs of decline. Still, some will find serious fault with him and anyone else Pacquiao fights short of Mayweather or Mosley. The bottom line is that he’s destroying whomever they put in front of him. Let’s enjoy it.
4. Has Pacquiao’s reputation taken a hit after the failed negotiations with Mayweather? I don’t think so. Most fans seemed to blame Mayweather for the impasse, insisting that he was out of line to make blood-testing demands outside normal protocol even though Pacquiao has never failed a drug test. I also don’t think many people believe he has taken performance-enhancing drugs. Most adhere to the innocent-until-proven-guilty philosophy, which is the only fair approach to take. Undoubtedly, a small percentage feel strongly that he should’ve taken the blood test two weeks before the fight if he had nothing to hide. And a smaller percentage, those convinced he couldn’t have such success at heavier weights without some help, will accuse Pacquiao of wrong doing. That’s a very small group, though. He is relatively unscathed.
5. Will Pacquiao suffer a letdown after his epic showdown with Mayweather fell through? Not a chance. Pacquiao is the most-focused, most-professional boxer I’ve ever seen in spite of myriad distractions. In part, that’s just how he is. He is so committed that he left his homeland and traveled halfway around the world seeking a good trainer simply because he wanted to tap into what he knew was vast potential. The fact he has the hopes and dreams of an entire nation on his shoulders also is an immensely powerful motivating factor. He knows too much is riding on every fight to let down. And even if he were to slip up, Roach would be there to give him a good kick in the behind. Pacquiao will be as ready as ever on March 13.
6. Could Pacquiao’s demanding schedule the past few years catch up to him? Pacquiao, 31, hasn’t had a particularly hard fight since the rematch with Juan Manuel Marquez in March of 2008. He cruised past David Diaz, Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton and Miguel Cotto, although the first few rounds against Cotto were brutal. However, Pacquiao, one of the hardest workers in the world, has been training diligently to perfect his craft for 15 years without a significant break. That includes countless sparring sessions in which he has absorbed considerable punishment. Also, no one has a more hectic and demanding personal schedule than the Filipino idol. It’s not farfetched to wonder whether all of the above will take a toll on him at some point.
7. How many people will attend the fight at the new Cowboys Stadium in Dallas? An estimated 20,000 tickets were sold the first day they were available. That’s probably a tribute to Pacquiao’s growing popularity in the U.S., a large number of boxing-friendly Latinos in the Dallas area, a strong sports culture in Texas and the novelty of the first boxing card there. The stadium reportedly will be configured for 45,000 seats. I doubt that many people will buy tickets but I won’t be surprised to see a large crowd. I suspect the atmosphere will be festive but those in attendance shouldn’t necessarily expect electricity. I attended the Wladimir Klitschko-Ruslan Chagaev fight at a packed 60,000-seat soccer stadium in Germany and the energy dwindled to nothing when it became clear that Klitschko was going to win easily. Then again, the 126,000-seat Estadio Azteca in Mexico City rocked throughout the Julio Cesar Chavez-Greg Haugen fight.
8. How many pay-per-view buys will the fight generate? Pacquiao-Mayweather, featuring the two biggest pay-per-view draws in the U.S., might’ve smashed records by generating a record 3 million-plus buys. Pacquiao-Clottey? I think 800,000-900,000 –- or just shy of the 1 million Pacquiao-Cotto drew -- is realistic. Clottey isn’t nearly the attraction Cotto is in part because he doesn’t have a Latino fan base in the U.S. However, the fascination with Pacquiao is still growing and the unusual venue -– Cowboys Stadium -– adds to the appeal of the event. Plus, Antonio Margarito’s return from suspension would give the show a significant bump if he receives a license in Texas.
9. What if Pacquiao wins? Bob Arum, Pacquiao’s promoter, has come up with a fascinating plan to have his star attraction fight Antonio Margarito this year if the disgraced Mexican fighter receives a license in Texas. That would be a very lucrative matchup. The fact Margarito would be returning from his suspension in California –- for illegal hand wraps -– and a large following among Mexicans and Mexican-Americans would make him a hot commodity and the fight much more attractive than Pacquiao-Clottey. Thus, we might be looking at 2011 for the Pacquiao-Mayweather showdown. That’s assuming neither of the star participants slips up in the meantime and can get past blood-testing issues in the end.
10. What if Clottey wins? A Clottey victory would turn the boxing world upside down. Suddenly, the sport’s most-popular figure would be exposed as human after all and lose the remarkable momentum that has experts comparing him to the greatest fighters of all time. The landscape would be far less interesting, to say the least. Pacquiao would remain an attraction –- particularly if he could beat Clottey in a rematch -– but he probably would never be quite the same. Pacquiao-Mayweather or Pacquiao-Mosley would still be big but, with a diminished Pacquiao, wouldn’t smash pay-per-view records. Clottey would set himself up for some healthy paydays but will never be a true star. This is fantasy, though: Clottey isn’t going to win.
Michael Rosenthal can be reached at RingTVeditor@yahoo.com
Source: ringtv.com
***
1. Is Clottey a worthy opponent? Short answer: yes. Pacquiao is THE RING’s No. 1-rated welterweight; Clottey is No. 5. That’s a good matchup. The Ghanian is coming off a loss to Miguel Cotto, one of the most-respected fighters in the world, but some believe he did enough to win a close decision. Clottey has never been knocked out and has good defensive skills, which means he’ll probably survive at least until the late rounds. That said, it’s difficult to get excited about Clottey’s chances or the fighter himself. He’s merely a very good boxer with pretty good power, which won’t be enough to stave off a fierce, quick-handed marvel like Pacquiao. The Filipino is roughly a 4-1 favorite for a reason. And Pacquiao went from Floyd Mayweather Jr. to a relative unknown for his opponent. A drop off that enormous will limit the buzz surrounding the fight.
2. Can Pacquiao hurt Clottey? Pacquiao has faced two welterweights. One, Oscar De La Hoya, could barely fight back. The other, Cotto, doesn’t have the best chin in the world. Clottey is different. The reason he has never been knocked out is he can take a punch. He has proved that over and over again. Thus, there is a very real possibility that the Clottey will remain standing for the full 12 rounds. I don’t see that happening, though. I believe Pacquiao has legitimate welterweight power. Plus, Clottey has never seen this kind of hand speed or punches coming from so many unpredictable directions. The punches that hurt opponents most are the ones they don’t see coming. Pacquiao might not take Clottey out with one punch but an accumulation of them should do the job. If not? Doesn’t matter. Pacquiao will just outbox his inferior foe.
3. Are Pacquiao’s last four victories misleading because of the opposition? Pacquiao supporters will roll their eyes when they read this but it’s a legitimate question. Diaz is good but limited; De La Hoya had nothing left; Hatton was overrated and some will argue that Cotto never fully recovered from the beating he took from Margarito. So what does that say about Pacquiao? Not much. As his trainer, Freddie Roach, has pointed out, we thought these opponents were all pretty good going into their meetings with Pacquiao. It was afterward, for the most part, that we began to question to them. Clottey might actually be the most-difficult to criticize even after the fact because he has had a fine career and has shown no signs of decline. Still, some will find serious fault with him and anyone else Pacquiao fights short of Mayweather or Mosley. The bottom line is that he’s destroying whomever they put in front of him. Let’s enjoy it.
4. Has Pacquiao’s reputation taken a hit after the failed negotiations with Mayweather? I don’t think so. Most fans seemed to blame Mayweather for the impasse, insisting that he was out of line to make blood-testing demands outside normal protocol even though Pacquiao has never failed a drug test. I also don’t think many people believe he has taken performance-enhancing drugs. Most adhere to the innocent-until-proven-guilty philosophy, which is the only fair approach to take. Undoubtedly, a small percentage feel strongly that he should’ve taken the blood test two weeks before the fight if he had nothing to hide. And a smaller percentage, those convinced he couldn’t have such success at heavier weights without some help, will accuse Pacquiao of wrong doing. That’s a very small group, though. He is relatively unscathed.
5. Will Pacquiao suffer a letdown after his epic showdown with Mayweather fell through? Not a chance. Pacquiao is the most-focused, most-professional boxer I’ve ever seen in spite of myriad distractions. In part, that’s just how he is. He is so committed that he left his homeland and traveled halfway around the world seeking a good trainer simply because he wanted to tap into what he knew was vast potential. The fact he has the hopes and dreams of an entire nation on his shoulders also is an immensely powerful motivating factor. He knows too much is riding on every fight to let down. And even if he were to slip up, Roach would be there to give him a good kick in the behind. Pacquiao will be as ready as ever on March 13.
6. Could Pacquiao’s demanding schedule the past few years catch up to him? Pacquiao, 31, hasn’t had a particularly hard fight since the rematch with Juan Manuel Marquez in March of 2008. He cruised past David Diaz, Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton and Miguel Cotto, although the first few rounds against Cotto were brutal. However, Pacquiao, one of the hardest workers in the world, has been training diligently to perfect his craft for 15 years without a significant break. That includes countless sparring sessions in which he has absorbed considerable punishment. Also, no one has a more hectic and demanding personal schedule than the Filipino idol. It’s not farfetched to wonder whether all of the above will take a toll on him at some point.
7. How many people will attend the fight at the new Cowboys Stadium in Dallas? An estimated 20,000 tickets were sold the first day they were available. That’s probably a tribute to Pacquiao’s growing popularity in the U.S., a large number of boxing-friendly Latinos in the Dallas area, a strong sports culture in Texas and the novelty of the first boxing card there. The stadium reportedly will be configured for 45,000 seats. I doubt that many people will buy tickets but I won’t be surprised to see a large crowd. I suspect the atmosphere will be festive but those in attendance shouldn’t necessarily expect electricity. I attended the Wladimir Klitschko-Ruslan Chagaev fight at a packed 60,000-seat soccer stadium in Germany and the energy dwindled to nothing when it became clear that Klitschko was going to win easily. Then again, the 126,000-seat Estadio Azteca in Mexico City rocked throughout the Julio Cesar Chavez-Greg Haugen fight.
8. How many pay-per-view buys will the fight generate? Pacquiao-Mayweather, featuring the two biggest pay-per-view draws in the U.S., might’ve smashed records by generating a record 3 million-plus buys. Pacquiao-Clottey? I think 800,000-900,000 –- or just shy of the 1 million Pacquiao-Cotto drew -- is realistic. Clottey isn’t nearly the attraction Cotto is in part because he doesn’t have a Latino fan base in the U.S. However, the fascination with Pacquiao is still growing and the unusual venue -– Cowboys Stadium -– adds to the appeal of the event. Plus, Antonio Margarito’s return from suspension would give the show a significant bump if he receives a license in Texas.
9. What if Pacquiao wins? Bob Arum, Pacquiao’s promoter, has come up with a fascinating plan to have his star attraction fight Antonio Margarito this year if the disgraced Mexican fighter receives a license in Texas. That would be a very lucrative matchup. The fact Margarito would be returning from his suspension in California –- for illegal hand wraps -– and a large following among Mexicans and Mexican-Americans would make him a hot commodity and the fight much more attractive than Pacquiao-Clottey. Thus, we might be looking at 2011 for the Pacquiao-Mayweather showdown. That’s assuming neither of the star participants slips up in the meantime and can get past blood-testing issues in the end.
10. What if Clottey wins? A Clottey victory would turn the boxing world upside down. Suddenly, the sport’s most-popular figure would be exposed as human after all and lose the remarkable momentum that has experts comparing him to the greatest fighters of all time. The landscape would be far less interesting, to say the least. Pacquiao would remain an attraction –- particularly if he could beat Clottey in a rematch -– but he probably would never be quite the same. Pacquiao-Mayweather or Pacquiao-Mosley would still be big but, with a diminished Pacquiao, wouldn’t smash pay-per-view records. Clottey would set himself up for some healthy paydays but will never be a true star. This is fantasy, though: Clottey isn’t going to win.
Michael Rosenthal can be reached at RingTVeditor@yahoo.com
Source: ringtv.com
***
Aging action star Van Damme, 49, still wants a pro fight -- Yahoo! Sports
By Steve Cofield, Yahoo! Sports
Jean Claude Van Damme could whip anybody. Throw in one caveat -- on the silver screen. Now the 49-year-old Belgian star of dozens of action films wants to show he can do it for real.
Repeating what he said in September, Van Damme is trying to land a professional kickboxing match against former Olympian Somluck Kamsing in Macau as the capper to a proposed reality show. During a press conference in Ukraine (VIDEO), Van Damme explained his motivation.
"[It's] dangerous but life is short," said Van Damme. "I want to prove to young people and even to mature people that a man can go into some very strong physical effort and training, and also be a movie star."
The fight was originally slated for a March K-1 event in Las Vegas. As Cagewriter told you at the time, the fight had zero chance of coming off in Nevada:
Kamsing, 35, was the 1996 Olympic Gold medalist in boxing at 126 pounds. He also fought in the 2000 and 2004 Olympics, losing to Rocky Juarez and Benoit Gaudet, respectively ... we'll rain on the parade with a reality check, the Nevada State Athletic Commission would never approve a fight with the [49-year-old] Jean Claude facing a former Olympian.
We nailed it. Van Damme got word that the fight could not go down in the U.S. as many states have strict guidelines for fighters over 35.
Randy Couture, 46, will fight 45-year-old Mark Coleman next week in Las Vegas in the main event of UFC 109. Along with 37-year-old Frank Trigg and 35-year-old Matt Serra, Couture and Coleman had to go in front of the NSAC to undergo neurological testing and gain approval to fight. Vam Damme has zero professional fights. The four UFC fighters have a combined 93 pro fights and were still scrutinized before they were given their licenses. The only "real" fight we know of for Van Damme was a rumored scrap against fellow action star Chuck Zito.
For Van Damme, fighting a former Olympian is a brave thing to attempt, but let's hope it's closer to a reality show fight than one where he may get injured badly.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
Jean Claude Van Damme could whip anybody. Throw in one caveat -- on the silver screen. Now the 49-year-old Belgian star of dozens of action films wants to show he can do it for real.
Repeating what he said in September, Van Damme is trying to land a professional kickboxing match against former Olympian Somluck Kamsing in Macau as the capper to a proposed reality show. During a press conference in Ukraine (VIDEO), Van Damme explained his motivation.
"[It's] dangerous but life is short," said Van Damme. "I want to prove to young people and even to mature people that a man can go into some very strong physical effort and training, and also be a movie star."
The fight was originally slated for a March K-1 event in Las Vegas. As Cagewriter told you at the time, the fight had zero chance of coming off in Nevada:
Kamsing, 35, was the 1996 Olympic Gold medalist in boxing at 126 pounds. He also fought in the 2000 and 2004 Olympics, losing to Rocky Juarez and Benoit Gaudet, respectively ... we'll rain on the parade with a reality check, the Nevada State Athletic Commission would never approve a fight with the [49-year-old] Jean Claude facing a former Olympian.
We nailed it. Van Damme got word that the fight could not go down in the U.S. as many states have strict guidelines for fighters over 35.
Randy Couture, 46, will fight 45-year-old Mark Coleman next week in Las Vegas in the main event of UFC 109. Along with 37-year-old Frank Trigg and 35-year-old Matt Serra, Couture and Coleman had to go in front of the NSAC to undergo neurological testing and gain approval to fight. Vam Damme has zero professional fights. The four UFC fighters have a combined 93 pro fights and were still scrutinized before they were given their licenses. The only "real" fight we know of for Van Damme was a rumored scrap against fellow action star Chuck Zito.
For Van Damme, fighting a former Olympian is a brave thing to attempt, but let's hope it's closer to a reality show fight than one where he may get injured badly.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
Flomos go into orgasmic flight as Mayweather accepts Mosley -- Examiner
By Michael Marley, Examiner.com
Flomos are about to go into orgasmic flight.
Finally, they are about to have some news to slightly fend off the Paclanders and all the others with their childish Duckweather and Fraudweather namecalling.
L'il Floyd is taking a big fight, he's accepting the call of Sugar Shane Mosley for the All American Matchup and, even though Mosley is edging age 40, it's no mismatch along the lines of Mayweather's 12 round playtime with too small, that's all urine imbiber Juan Manuel Marquez.
Mosley is a crafty, full-fledged welterweight. Seeing the Andre Berto bout, which would have taken place this Saturday night go bye bye, was a good thing for the Shanester.
There was the possibility that Berto could lose but still make Mosley look bad. Or they both could have committed excessive holding and produced a boring bout.
Now Mosley gets much more money and a tougher challenge. Can he take the precious "0" off Mayweather's pro record.
Guess we'll find out May 1 or May 8.
Golden Boy has made an "in house" match just like Top Rank did in making Manny Pacquiao-Joshua Clottey for March 13.
No promotional firm should take any bows for making an "in house" match.
Now can these kids play nice and match the May winner against the March winner?
Well, let me ask you this, you Mayweather knockers.
So many of you said he would perpetually avoid Mosley and now he's running to him rather than in the opposite direction.
I'd like to ramble on but I've got to rush out and get my random blood test, you know.
Reliable Kevin Iole, he's no Yahoo from Yahoo.com, was told by ex-Swiss banker Richie Rich Schaefer that all "major points" have been agreed to by both fighters and that a New York press conference may take place next week.
No word on urine and blood testing requirements for the media.
(mlcmarley@aol.com)
Source: examiner.com
***
Flomos are about to go into orgasmic flight.
Finally, they are about to have some news to slightly fend off the Paclanders and all the others with their childish Duckweather and Fraudweather namecalling.
L'il Floyd is taking a big fight, he's accepting the call of Sugar Shane Mosley for the All American Matchup and, even though Mosley is edging age 40, it's no mismatch along the lines of Mayweather's 12 round playtime with too small, that's all urine imbiber Juan Manuel Marquez.
Mosley is a crafty, full-fledged welterweight. Seeing the Andre Berto bout, which would have taken place this Saturday night go bye bye, was a good thing for the Shanester.
There was the possibility that Berto could lose but still make Mosley look bad. Or they both could have committed excessive holding and produced a boring bout.
Now Mosley gets much more money and a tougher challenge. Can he take the precious "0" off Mayweather's pro record.
Guess we'll find out May 1 or May 8.
Golden Boy has made an "in house" match just like Top Rank did in making Manny Pacquiao-Joshua Clottey for March 13.
No promotional firm should take any bows for making an "in house" match.
Now can these kids play nice and match the May winner against the March winner?
Well, let me ask you this, you Mayweather knockers.
So many of you said he would perpetually avoid Mosley and now he's running to him rather than in the opposite direction.
I'd like to ramble on but I've got to rush out and get my random blood test, you know.
Reliable Kevin Iole, he's no Yahoo from Yahoo.com, was told by ex-Swiss banker Richie Rich Schaefer that all "major points" have been agreed to by both fighters and that a New York press conference may take place next week.
No word on urine and blood testing requirements for the media.
(mlcmarley@aol.com)
Source: examiner.com
***
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