Iron Fist Boxing: 2010-10-03

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Head to head: Mosley vs. Mora

SHANE MOSLEY vs. SERGIO MORAWhen: Saturday, Sept. 18Where: Staples Center, Los Angeles TV: HBO Pay-Per-View, 9 p.m. ET/ 6 p.m. PTWeight: Junior middleweightTitle(s) at stake: NoneAlso on the card: Victor Ortiz vs. Vivian Harris, 10 rounds, junior welterweights; Saul Alvarez vs. Carlos Baldomir, 10 rounds, junior middleweights; Daniel Ponce de Leon vs. Antonio Escalante, 12 rounds, featherweights.MOSLEYThe essentialsAge: 39Height / reach: 5-9 (175cm) / 74 (188cm)Stance: OrthodoxHometown: Pomona, Calif.Nickname: SugarTurned pro: 1993Record: 46-6 (39 knockouts)Trainer: Naazim RichardsonFight-by-fight: Fight-by-fight: <ahref=" http://boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?human_id=004952&cat=boxer"> http://boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?human_id=004952&cat=boxer</a>The Ring rating: No. 4 welterweightTitles: IBF lightweight (1997-99; vacated); WBC welterweight (2000-02; lost it to Vernon Forrest); WBA and WBC junior middleweight (2003-04; lost titles to Winky Wright); WBA welterweight (2009-10; lost title to Floyd Mayweather Jr.).Biggest victories: Philip Holiday, Aug. 2, 1997, UD 12 (wins IBF lightweight title); Oscar De La Hoya, June 17, 2000, SD 12 (wins WBC welterweight title); De La Hoya, Sept. 13, 2003, UD 12; Antonio Margarito, Jan. 24, 2009, TKO 9.Losses: Vernon Forrest, 2002, UD 12 and UD 12 (for WBC welterweight title); Winky Wright, 2004, MD 12 and UD 12 (for junior middleweight titles);Miguel Cotto, Nov. 10, 2007, UD 12; Floyd Mayweather Jr., May 1, 2010, UD 12.MORAThe essentialsAge: 29Height / reach: 6-0 (183cm) / 73 (185cm)Stance: OrthodoxHometown: Los Angeles, Calif.Nickname: Latin SnakeTurned pro: 2000Record: 22-1-1 (6 knockouts)Trainer: Dean CamposFight-by-fight: Fight-by-fight: <ahref=" http://boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?human_id=36966&cat=boxer"> http://boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?human_id=36966&cat=boxer</a>The Ring rating: NoneTitles: WBC junior middleweight (2008)Biggest victories: Ishe Smith, Sept, 12, 2004, SD 5 (Contender); Jesse Brinkley, Sept. 24, 2004, UD 7 (Contender); Peter Manfredo Jr., May 24, 2005, UD 7 (Contender); Vernon Forrest, June 7, 2008, MD 12 (won title); Calvin Green, April 3, 2010, TKO 7.Loss: Vernon Forrest, Sept. 13, 2008, UD 12 (lost title)HEAD-TO-HEADSkills: Mosley knows how to box. He has good technique, but his identity is that of a fighter and that's what he does in the ring. Despite vast experience and considerable skill the veteran is not comfortable when he's not fighting and he has shown an inability to adjust to world-class boxers who will not engage him head on. Mora's identity is that of boxer. His lack of world-class power has forced him to develop into a versatile fighter with an awkward style all his own. The East L.A. native can come forward with combinations, stick and move, fight off the ropes, box in close or counter punch from a distance. Edge: MoraPower: This category is not hard to figure out. Mosley owns far more knockouts (39) than Mora has fights (24). Mora has only knocked out six of the 22 opponents he has defeated and most of the fighters he stopped were journeymen. Mosley has stopped world-class fighters with world-class chins such as John-John Molina, Wilfredo Rivera, Ricardo Mayorga and Antonio Margarito. Edge: MosleySpeed and athletic ability:If Mora were facing the prime version of Mosley this would be no contest. From 1997 to 2001 Mosley's athletic prowess was rivaled only by Roy Jones Jr. The lightweight and welterweight champ was fast and powerful with lighting-quick coordination. However, age and wear and tear have robbed Mosley of his reflexes and explosiveness. Mora lacks power but he's a good athlete with deceptive strength, agility, stamina and exceptional reflexes. Mora can react to his opponent at the speed of thought. It's questionable whether Mosley still can. Mora is not explosive, but neither is Mosley at this stage of his career.Edge: EvenDefense: Mosley always possessed the ability to be an elusive opponent, and there was a time -- during his lightweight title reign -- when this was evident in the ring. However, Mosley is gifted (or cursed depending on one's perspective) with a world-class chin and durability, which coupled with his warrior's mentality, often causes him to eschew defense in pursuit taking the fight to his opponents. Mora's not a defensive genius but he's a smart boxer who knows that he cannot overwhelm his opponents physically, so he seldom takes the fight directly to his adversaries and he won't stand and trade for very long. In other words, Mora's mentality and style prevent him from taking too much punishment. Edge: MoraExperience: Mora turned pro two months after Mosley defeated Oscar De La Hoya for the welterweight title in the same arena he'll face the veteran on Saturday. 'Nuff said. Mora has a victory over Vernon Forrest on his resume (something Mosley can't claim) but that's the only elite fighter he's faced. Mosley has fought 14 current or former champs/titleholders in 18 fights, including the elite likes of De La Hoya (twice), Forrest (twice), Winky Wright (twice), Floyd Mayweather Jr., Miguel Cotto, and Antonio Margarito.Edge: MosleyChin: Neither fighter has ever been stopped in a professional fight. Both suffered knockdowns against Forrest. Mora also suffered a knockdown against Archak TerMeliksetian. Although Mosley was dropped twice by Forrest and appeared to be hurt much worse than the weight-drained Mora was when he was felled by the late champ, the 39-year-old veteran's chin has been more tested and is thus more proven. Mosley's beard has absorbed the best shots from sharp/hard punchers such as De La Hoya and Mayorga as well as heavy handed bangers Margarito and Cotto. Edge: MosleyConditioning: Mosley's been a gym rat all his life. It's safe to say that he's never been out of shape. Mora doesn't live the Spartan life that Mosley does but he's serious when it comes to preparing for a fight and while he's only fought past 10 rounds twice (against Forrest), he's never faded in the late rounds of any of his distance bouts that went eight rounds or more. Edge: EvenWear and tear: Mosley, who began boxing competitively when he was eight years old, has the wear and tear of 17 years of professional fighting on his 39-year-old body. He's usually the punisher in his fights but he's been on the receiving end a few times as he was with Forrest, Wright, and in spots versus Cotto and Mayweather. Mora had two intense bouts with Peter Manfredo Jr. (UD 7, SD 8) in which he suffered cuts, but he's never received an extended beating, including his one-sided loss to Forrest in their rematch. Edge: MoraCorner: Dean Campos, the 40-year-old trainer who has been with Mora since his amateur days, developed the unorthodox style that has served the East L.A. native so well as a pro. The two share a very special bond and obviously work well together. However, Mosley's chief second, Naazim Richardson, is the more experienced trainer in this matchup. Richardson, who will be working with Mosley for the third time, was an understudy to one of the last truly old-school trainers, Bouie Fisher. The Philadelphia native coached his son Rock Allen (a 2004 U.S. Olympian) and his cousin Karl Dargan (a 2007 Pan-American Games gold medalist) to amateur success before he made his name as a pro trainer with Hopkins, Mosley and Steve Cunningham. Edge: MosleyOutcome: The Southern Californian fighters will begin the bout in the center of the ring as they look to establish their jabs and set up power shots. Mosley will be the first to score with significant punches, landing smashing over-hand rights that knock Mora back on his heels and cause the Staples Center audience to rise from their seats. Mosley will take the first two rounds by forcing Mora back with right crosses and left hooks to the body, but starting in the third round the younger fighter will time lead right hands over the veteran's pawing jab as he begins to get into his rhythm. Mora will use quick in-and-out footwork and feints to trick Mosley out of position and then rush in and nail the legend with left uppercuts and straight rights in rounds four and five. Mora's head shots will snap Mosley's head back and score points with the judges but they will not hurt the older fighter. However, Mosley will sense the fight is getting away from him in the middle rounds and act accordingly by stepping up his pressure. The veteran will bully Mora to the ropes and punish the upstart with single power shots to the body and head in rounds six, seven and eight. Mosley's body shots will land with authority but he will have trouble landing to the head of Mora, who will twist, turn, duck and lean away from most of those incoming shots. Mora will fight off the ropes in spots, scoring mainly with a quick two-fisted body attack that excites the crowd, but at the behest of his corner he will get off the ropes going into the late rounds of the bout. Mora will frustrate a stalking Mosley with his jab, feints and lateral movement in the final three rounds of the bout but both fighters will raise their hands in victory at the sound of the final bell. The majority of the ringside press will believe the East L.A. native pulled off an upset, while most of the fans in attendance see a victory for Mosley, rewarding the veteran's aggression and harder punching.Prediction: Mora by very close, perhaps controversial decision.Michael Rosenthal contributed to this feature.

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No 'Pacman' vs. 'Money'; eight more fights we won't see in 2010

The fight game used to deliver the fights we wanted to see. It's the greatest thing about boxing. As soon as the "supposed" best beats a highly touted opponent fans could always say, "Well what about so and so!" There's little sense in doing that now because you're only setting yourself up for disappointment.

The cries for Manny Pacquiao versus Floyd Mayweather started back in the middle of 2008 when Pacman dismantled the same Oscar De La Hoya that "Money" fought to a decision against. Two years later, we still don't have the fight we want and really don't appear any closer to getting those guys in the same ring. But they're not the only fighters frustrating fans right now. Here are eight more fights we won't see before the calendar changes to 2011.

8. Wladimir Klitschko vs. Vitali Klitschko
We know it's not fair to ask brothers to square off but we can always hope. After all, these are the two best heavyweights in the world. They've combined for 20 straight wins and there's just a few fighters on the horizon worth watching the giants square off against.

7. Sergio Martinez vs. Paul Williams
This isn't a big deal for the casual fan but for the hardcore it's a rematch that needs to happen. Martinez took apart Kelly Pavlik last time out and lost an oddly scored fight against Williams at the end of 2009. Martinez's mix of craftiness and volume may be tough for Williams to overcome next time around.

6. Manny Pacquiao vs. Timothy Bradley
Instead of having Pacman face the guy recognized by most as the best 140-pounder in the world, Top Rank is going to force Antonio Margarito or Miguel Cotto down our throats. Because he's not under the Top Rank or Golden Boy banner, Bradley is viewed as an outsider and hasn't been exposed enough to the public. So instead we get to see Pacquiao face Cotto, whom he destroyed last time around, or Margarito, who can't legally fight in the U.S. and was mauled by Shane Mosley, who was just wrecked by Mayweather.

5. Andre Ward vs. Lucian Bute
Showtime's Super Six middleweight tournament has been a fight fan's dream come true. All of the matchmaking politics have been eliminated in squaring off guys like Ward, Andre Dirrell, Mikkel Kessler, Arthur Abraham and Carl Froch. One problem, because Bute is an HBO guy, he wasn't invited to the party. When this thing is over, if Ward rolls to a win, Bute needs to be the next guy in line. He's already filling up arenas in Canada. He's a highly marketable guy to go against America's next great hope.

4. David Haye vs. Wladimir Klitschko
What's the problem here? Haye's big mouth will make this fight into a blockbuster internationally and possibly win back the adulation of Ross Greenburg and HBO. Klitschko reported offered a 50-50 split and got no response from Haye, who is now fighting something called Audley Harrison. Time's a wastin'. Haye better get in there with one of the Klitschkos before no one really cares.

3. Bernard Hopkins vs. Chad Dawson
This is ridiculous on both sides. Hopkins, 46, is quickly falling from the consciousness of many fight fans. He looked old at times against an even older Roy Jones Jr. Dawson, 28, is the guy at light heavyweight and has been for a while, but he's losing luster booking fights like Glen Johnson-Dawson IX. They better get this one done by the middle of 2011 or it's never going to happen.

2. Carl Froch vs. Joe Calzaghe
Calzaghe wants to come back, but why is he targeting bums? After having cleared out the 168-pound division, the 38-year-old walked away with an unblemished 46-0 mark. Well, it took less than two years for the super middleweight class to rebound and produce some highly marketable guys. Froch may not be the best of the lot but he's British and has a big trap. A Brit versus Welshman fight anywhere in the U.K. would draw 50,000 fans in a soccer stadium. Plus the fight could be a classic.

1. Floyd Mayweather vs. Paul Williams
Williams deserves the shot. He's a matchup nightmare at 6-foot-2, but his promoter Dan Goossen put it perfectly last week saying the greats take on all comers. Who wanted to face the gangly, tall Tommy Hearns in the '80's? No one. But Sugar Ray Leonard did it. Williams is recognized by many as No. 3 pound-for-pound, so if Floyd won't fight the No. 1, why can't we see No. 2 versus No. 3? You know why and that's why there are this many fights we want to see but won't in 2010.

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Alvarez stops Baldomir in six

LOS ANGELES -- Saul "Canelo" Alvarez, a rising star in Mexico, continued his ascent with a spectacular third-round knockout of veteran Carlos Baldomir on the Shane Mosley-Sergio Mora card Saturday at Staples Center.Alvarez (34-0-1, 26 KOs) hurt Baldomir (45-13-6, 14 KOs) with a number of punches toward the end of the final round but it was a straight left that put the Argentine on his face and ended the fight.Baldomir, who had been KO'd only once before, was able to get to his feet but was too wobbly to continue.Baldomir was a good test for the 20-year-old from Guadalajara because of his experience and awkward style. However, Alvarez, mature beyond his years and much quicker than Baldomir, patiently outboxed his 39-year-old foe and landed more and more hard punches as the fight progressed.Baldomir, who has one of the best chins in boxing, took most of the big shots but was slowly worn down. Alvarez hurt Baldomir with several punches before the final blow.

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Kirkland released from prison

James Kirkland was released from prison in Three Rivers, Texas, today and plans to resume training as soon as possible, said his attorney, Michael Miller.Kirkland, behind bars since he was arrested for possession of a gun by a felon in April of last year, went to a half-way house in his hometown of Austin, Texas. He must stay there for a week, after which he can leave during the day to begin training for his comeback fight."I can't wait to get back in the ring and pick up where I left off," Kirkland said in a statement released Friday. "I apologize to all my friends, family, team members and fans for everything that happened, but I promise that I will make everybody proud in the coming months and years."The former junior middleweight contender, who has not fought since March of last year, is expected to get back into the ring in early December. One possibility is the Dec. 11 card featuring Amir Khan and Marcos Maidana in Las Vegas.Kirkland's handlers had hoped he would fight next month but his release was delayed a few weeks. That and the fact he can't leave the half-way house for a week to train properly precluded an earlier fight.Miller said Kirkland (25-0, 22 knockouts) weighs only 172 pounds after taking part in exercise programs in prison."He took part in an abs class," Miller said. "And he took part in a run-walk class. He probably put in 40 miles a week doing that. He usually starts training camp at about 180 pounds so he's in pretty good shape."Miller also is optimistic that Kirkland's legal problems are behind him."He's saying all the right things," Miller said. "He said, 'I get it now. I understand. I was a dumb ass in the past. I'm not going to do it anymore. I have children who look up to me. I have fans I let down.' I've been preaching to him that it's actions and not words that are important, though."He's looking forward to proving his naysayers wrong."Kirkland is a convicted felon (for armed robbery in 2003), which makes it illegal for him to possess a gun.

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Khan, Maidana agree to fight on Dec. 11

Well, one highly anticipated fight at 140 pounds is a done deal.Amir Khan, ranked No. 2 by THE RING, will fight No. 4 Marcos Maidana on Dec. 11, Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer said Wednesday. The fight, for Khan's sanctioning-body belt, probably will take place at the Mandalay Bay Hotel in Las Vegas, although that hasn't been finalized.Khan and Maidana had hit an impasse in negotiations, prompting Maidana to ask the WBA for a purse bid and it was granted. However, the agreement makes purse bid unnecessary."The issues were where the fight was going to be held, in the UK or U.S., and how the money was going to be split," Schaefer said. "Amir felt he was entitled to a certain amount of money; Maidana felt he was entitled to a certain amount of money. Those opinions were pretty far apart, prompting Maidana to ask for a purse bid."Obviously, with the purse bid scheduled for next week [Sept. 21], negotiations intensified. Sometime late [Tuesday night] we were able to get everybody on the same page."Khan (23-1, 17 knockouts) will be making his third defense of the junior welterweight title he took from Andreas Kotelnik last year. Maidana (29-1, 27 KOs) lost the title to Kotelnik five months before Khan won it.Two more top 140-pounders, No. 1 Timothy Bradley and No. 3 Devon Alexander, are negotiating to fight on Jan. 29.

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Mosley in no-win situation but still enjoying ride

Sergio Mora (right) is taller and naturally bigger than Shane Mosley. Photo / Gene Blevins-Hoganphotos-Golden Boy PromotionsLOS ANGELES -- Shane Mosley was the toast of boxing only two fights ago, when he stunned almost everyone by brutally knocking out Antonio Margarito in February of last year at Staples Center.The upset dispelled any notion that the future Hall of Famer was in decline even though he was 37 at the time and earned him a shot at Floyd Mayweather Jr., who some believed he could beat.Alas, Mayweather won almost every round and Mosley -- in spite of all he's accomplished -- is back to where he was before the Margarito fight: Perceived to be a has-been whose days in the sport are clearly numbered.Only this time there will be no victory over Margarito to change the minds of the masses. Instead, he faces Sergio Mora on Saturday night in same arena in which he beat Margarito, a fight he's expected to win in spite of advancing years.If he loses, retirement might be a good option. If he wins, it's only Sergio Mora. Naazim Richardson, Mosley's trainer, said this is a can't-win situation if there ever was one."I'd have to go on a private tour to convince people how good Sergio Mora is," Richardson told RingTV.com. "It's not going to happen. I had a fighter named Bernard Hopkins. He fought a kid named Enrique Ornelas, who is a monster. I knew once he beat Ornelas that he wouldn't get credit. And he didn't. This is the same situation."The people in boxing know Mora is a beast. The people who don't know will say, 'Oh, he's just one of the Contender guys.' Shane won't get full credit."Beast might be a strong word for Mora but most experts see him as a legitimate threat to Mosley.The native of Los Angeles has the wrong style for Mosley, who's at his best when his opponent comes directly to him (as Margarito did). Mora is no Mayweather but he's a good, athletic boxer. He's taller and naturally heavier than Mosley. And he once beat Vernon Forrest, who twice outpointed Mosley.The only mark against him is a perceived lack of power. Mora (22-1-1) has only six knockouts.Still, if this fight took place five years ago, no one would've given Mora a chance. Mosley, who has been fighting for more than 30 years, turned 39 on Sept. 7 and is coming off the worst performance of his career."I understand that people have questions about me," Mosley said. "People could say, 'You had Mayweather out [in the second round] and should've knocked him out. You lost every round after that.' Mayweather was the better man that night and we just move on."... I have something to prove to myself and the fans."So he does have questions in his mind?"No, not really," Mosley said. "It's just about proving it to the fans. I have no doubt that I can be the best fighter out there. This fight is going to get me back on track."The fact Mosley has to prove anything to anyone after a 17-year career in which he has held five titles in three weight classes -- and is one fight removed from a spectacular victory -- is unfortunate.Mike Tyson was shot when he faced Lennox Lewis in 2002 yet many fans, blinded by Iron Mike's fearsome, bigger-than-life aura, were certain he'd knockout the big Briton. When the opposite happened, they had a hard time figuring it out.Mosley is no Tyson. He's recognized as a great fighter but even if he established something resembling an aura against Margarito, it disappeared against Mayweather.That has been Mosley's lot in a sport whose fans are particularly fickle."I think any time you come off a loss and you're Shane's age, some questions will arise," said Judd Burstein, Mosley's longtime advisor. "... He's always had that unfortunate aspect to his career, though. He's always been a gentleman, not a controversial figure."So I think he lives and dies by the quality of his fights and not by the force of his public persona."Mosley has big plans if beats Mora. Manny Pacquiao is at the top of his wish list and that seems to be more likely in light of Mayweather's legal problems. Yes, the man thinks big. Another possibility is a rematch with Miguel Cotto.Even if he loses, the thought of retirement might cross his mind but probably will keep right on going. He has said many times that he sees himself fighting into his 40s, as Hopkins has. Mosley, who shares a fanaticism for fitness with Hopkins, said was back in the gym three or four days after the Mayweather setback. Burstein called him "a freak" in that regard.Mosley can still command a sizable payday; he's guaranteed $1 million for the Mora fight. And, perhaps most important, he still enjoys it. He truly loves the sport."I can't imagine being away from boxing," he said. "I would probably have to force myself to leave. I think in three, four years I should be done; I should be ready to force myself to leave. My son [boxer Shane Jr.] is coming up. I'll start getting behind him."The young guys can't beat me. Why stop? When I start getting beat by guys nobody knows I'll know it's time to hang up the gloves. Now, I'm having too much fun. I feel like I'm getting my second wind ... maybe my third."The Mora fight sure doesn't seem like a no-win situation in Mosley's mind.<a href="mailto:ringtveditor@yahoo.com">Michael Rosenthal can be reached at RingTVeditor@yahoo.com</a>

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Pound for pound: Top 10s of Fischer, Rosenthal

Kevin Iole, the boxing writer for our partner Yahoo! Sports, raised the question in his most-recent <a href="http://yhoo.it/chbbUL">column</a>: How does one determine the best fighter in the world pound for pound?Iole's method mirrors that of many thoughtful observers: "I have always viewed the poll as a manner of deciding who would win if all fighters weighed the same and they fought each other," he said.Others take a different approach.Doug Fischer and Michael Rosenthal, Co-Editors of RingTV.com, agree that a combination of ability and achievements -- with heavy emphasis on quality of opposition -- is the best means of determining the No. 1 fighter on the planet regardless of weight.In other words, that lofty title must be earned to a great degree, according to Fischer and Rosenthal.Thus, it's no great surprise that the RingTV.com editors rate Pacquiao higher than Mayweather in their respective pound-for-pound Top 10 lists, which they forward to Iole each month as members of the Yahoo! Sports voting panel."Accomplishment and quality of opposition are the key criteria for my pound-for-pound ratings," Fischer said. "Going undefeated and winning multiple titles, even in separate weight classes, is not enough to automatically merit pound-for-pound consideration in my opinion. This isn't Henry Armstrong's era of eight divisions and one world title for each weight class. We have four 'major' titles, 17 weight classes, and a lot of very unworthy alphabet 'contenders' in this era of the sport."Now more than ever talented fighters must prove their elite status by seeking out the best possible opposition. In other words: They must challenge themselves. Pacquaio is a good example of a world-class talent who consistently challenges himself."So which is the better method? Neither.The approach taken by Fischer and Rosenthal is similar to the manner in which fighters should be ranked by the sanctioning bodies, by wins and losses with emphasis on quality of opposition.That's the only objective means of determining who should fight who for the various titles.The beauty of the pound-for-pound ratings is that they play little to no role in the business of boxing. They're merely a fun way to compare the best fighters in the world to one another.The point is that everyone has their own criteria in determining the mythical king and no one who has truly done his or her homework is necessarily wrong."The thing that always strikes me is how worked up people get over the pound-for-pound ratings," Rosenthal said. "It's a matter of opinion, nothing more. One can argue that Mayweather is better than Pacquiao and vice versa. And both arguments are likely to be valid."This is supposed to fun, not fodder for a nasty war of words."In that spirit, Fischer and Rosenthal give you their Top 10 lists in the first installment of what will be a monthly feature on the Web site. Enjoy and, as always, give us your thoughts.Doug Fischer's Top 101. Manny Pacquiao: Fighter of the decade proved mettle by going 5-1-1 against fellow future hall of famers Marquez, Barrera and Morales. 2. Floyd Mayweather Jr.:Boxing's best blend of talent, skill and technique is undefeated over 14 years. Toughest foe may be himself. 3. Juan Manuel Marquez: 37-year-old lightweight champ is last man to give Pacquiao a fight. Only decisive loss was to Mayweather in a welterweight bout.4. Wladimir Klitschko: Heavyweight champ, on 13-bout win streak, has completely dominated his division for last four years.5. Vitali Klitschko: 39-year-old former champ is every bit as dominant as younger brother.6. Paul Williams: Former welterweight titleholder has been a contender in three divisions. Nov. 20 rematch with Martinez is proof he seeks challenges.7. Sergio Martinez: Middleweight champ is 1-1-1 in his last three bouts but most thought he beat Kermit Cintron and some believe he deserved the nod against Williams. Title-winning fight with Kelly Pavlik and rematch with Williams proof Martinez relishes a challenge.8. Pongsaklek Wonjongkam: Flyweight champ has lost once in his last 69 bouts. Majority decision over Kameda in March clinched future Hall of Fame induction.9. Fernando Montiel:Talented three-division beltholder is unbeaten in last 11 bouts, including impressive stoppage of Hasegawa in a title-unification bout.10. Tomasz Adamek: Former cruiserweight champ, now rated at heavyweight, has won 11 bouts since his only loss, a decision to Dawson at light heavyweight. Veteran has been a contender in boxing's three heaviest weight classes, which is very rare. Michael Rosenthal's Top 101. Manny Pacquiao: Most-impressive combination of ability and achievements. The greatest fighter of his generation.2. Floyd Mayweather Jr.: Most-gifted and polished boxer must do more to prove he's best.3. Paul Williams: Must beat Martinez in more-convincing fashion in rematch to solidify position here.4. Andre Ward: Complete fighter might be next dominant figure in boxing.5. Sergio Martinez:Victory over Williams lifts late bloomer even higher.6. Timothy Bradley: Talented but has other 140-pounders on his heels.7. Juan Manuel Lopez: The new Puerto Rican star, loaded with talent and power, could be tested by veteran Rafael Marquez.8. Wladimir Klitschko: Utter domination of division speaks volumes.9. Vitali Klitschko: See Wladimir.10. Juan Manuel Marquez: Old man proved against Juan Diaz that he has plenty left.

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Tuesday, October 5, 2010

The Vikki LaMotta Story: Jake, Raging Bull, Playboy, Sinatra and The Mob

The descent of boxing legend Jake 'Raging Bull' LaMotta leaves Ricky Hatton's fall from grace in the shade

Ricky Hatton used to talk about the "red mist" that descended on him sometimes in the ring. It cost him his two biggest fights ? against Floyd Mayweather Jnr and Manny Pacquiao ? and, away from the ring, he suffered from a similar impulse, an irresistible urge to "go for it".

Yet two weeks in rehab, the loss of his licence and a �20,000 fine do not seem to have convinced the Hitman he has a problem with drink or drugs, even though he clearly has issues adjusting to life after boxing. Fighters can be like that. As soon as they stop believing they're some version of superman, it's all or nothing ? often nothing. No athlete carries the psychic baggage boxers are lumbered with. It comes in many forms and the crime sheet is long.

While Hatton has done nothing more than fall prey to human idiocy and put his trust in a friend who ran to the newspapers with an incriminating video, he may benefit from reading about another vulnerable member of his calling whose urges were far more destructive and sinister. The British edition of Thomas Hauser's ghosted autobiography of Vikki LaMotta is just out and it shines fresh light on the man in whose shadow she walked, her husband of 11 years, the Raging Bull.

Vikki, who died five years ago, aged 75, once asked Jake, after taking yet another beating from him: "Why did you do it? What possible reason could you have had for hurting me so badly?"

He said: "I did it because I loved you. I thought it would frighten you into coming back to me. Besides, I get hurt all the time. It doesn't mean anything."

LaMotta made no distinction between himself and his wife. Pain was incidental, mundane almost. He was also a prisoner of drink. Vikki relates how he would keep a diary in his waning days as a fighter: "Alcohol seems to stay in your system and doesn't want to come out"; "Drank too much and got sick"; "Ate bad and drank bad"; "Black Friday, drank all day"; "Ate bad, drank bad, gained eight pounds in one day".

The 89-year-old LaMotta now lives in New York and, for the price of a good suit, he will reheat these anecdotes. If it were not for Jake, we would not have heard of Vikki, of course. But, were it not for Martin Scorsese's evocative 1980 movie, Jake's story would have rotted in the vault with a thousand others. Instead, they have all found fame with each other.

Hatton is hardly a raging bull. He is a good-natured and decent man. But he has demons of his own still to fight, just like Jake and all the others.

Kevin Mitchell

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Ponce de Leon stops Escalante in three

Daniel Ponce de Leon stopped Antonio Escalante with a single right hook at 2:40 of the third round of a scheduled-12 round featherweight bout on the Shane Mosley-Sergio Mora card Saturday at Staples Center.Ponce de Leon (40-2, 33 KOs) outworked Escalante (23-3, 15 KOs) for two-plus rounds but the KO punch came out of nowhere. The two were exchanging punches when Escalante walked into a short hook, which hurt him badly and sent him sprawling.Referee Tony Crebs waved off the fight without counting because Escalante lay semi-conscious on the canvas.The fight was a WBO title eliminator.Ponce de Leon has now won six consecutive fights since Juan Manuel Lopez took his junior featherweight title with a first-round knockout in 2008.

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Boxing In Ireland: McCloskey Retains European Title Against Morrison

Top Irish boxer Paul McCloskey was in fine form on Saturday night as the Dungiven southpaw dismantled Scotland's Barry Morrison over seven rounds in a European light welter title defense at the Leisure Centre in Letterkenny.
McCloskey commanded the centre of the ring from the start and by the third frame began to pick apart the [...]

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Judgement Night ? Saturday 16th October

Graham Earl Takes Championship Boxing To Northampton On October 16th.

Former World Champion Graham Earl brings Championship boxing to Northampton on Saturday 16th October. Earl, who is now promoting boxing events, will be presenting a night of boxing, at Northampton Cricket Ground in Northampton.

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Golden Boy Boxing: Gomez, Saenz Added To October 15 Solo Boxeo Show

A hot card just got hotter, as Southern California prospects Frankie Gomez and Gabino Saenz have been added to the Friday, October 15 boxing event at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, California.
In the co-main event, which will be televised on TeleFutura's "S�lo Boxeo Tecate," East Los Angeles' Gomez will take on an opponent [...]

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Emotional 5th Street return for Muhammad Ali

Plus; M�rquez rebels ready to strike, problems for Indian cyclists in Delhi and NFL star fined for a fumble

Muhammad Ali made an emotional return to Miami Beach for the reopening of the famed gymnasium that was his base during his unrivalled climb to boxing's summit, the Miami Herald reported last week.

Rarely seen in public these days, Ali's visit lasted only 20 minutes. Yet the reunion of The Greatest and his long-time cornerman Angelo Dundee at the 5th Street Gym provoked memories of the golden era of heavyweights. "I feel as juiced as I do before a title fight,'' said Dundee.

The new facility, with air con, treadmills and an aerobics studio, bears little resemblance to the sparse and shabby termite-infested sweatbox above an off-licence that the brash young boxer, then named Cassius Clay, walked into five decades ago, and which eventually produced 12 world champions under Dundee's tutelage.

Sixties icons including The Beatles, Frank Sinatra, Sean Connery and Malcolm X would have to pick their way through the litter, and worse, of one of Miami's less salubrious districts and climb a rickety wooden outside staircase when they came to watch Ali at work.

"It took years of blood and sweat dripping into the floor to make the gym what it was," said Matt Baiamonte, one of the new owners. "It meant the world to have Ali and many of the other old-timers at the opening."

The original 5th Street Gym, which hosted a parade of other big-name boxers such as Sugar Ray Robinson, Sonny Liston and Rocky Marciano at one time or another, was torn down in 1993, five years before the death of owner Chris Dundee, Angelo's brother.

It was a huge slice of good fortune, the Herald reports, that the businessmen behind the gym's revival saw a "For Rent" sign on the building erected in its place as they scouted Miami Beach for a suitable venue.

Slower than ever due to the advance of Parkinson's Disease, and three hours late for the opening, Ali, 68, shuffled in quietly and was unable to acknowledge the crowd chanting his name. But he spent several minutes reminiscing with Dundee.

"He can say more with a wink than most people can with a speech," Dundee told the paper. "We talk about fun times. He laughs about it. He's a good kid. A sincere, honest human being. I ain't never had an argument with him, never had a contract."

Dundee, who turned 89 in August, intends to continue coaching up-and-coming youngsters in Miami in the search for the next champion. "You can't live off nostalgia," he said.

MEXICO: M�rquez rebels ready to strike over party fallout

The fallout from the Mexican "booze and hookers" party rumbles on, reports Milenio. Two players, Arsenal's Carlos Vela and Celtic's Efra�n Ju�rez, were banned from the team for six months for organising the event, and now a group of 13 players is threatening to boycott the side as a result.

Led by the captain, Rafael M�rquez, the 13 rebels are furious after being punished for staging the party in the team hotel after the friendly against Colombia in Monterrey last month. The players, including Manchester United's Javier Hern�ndez and Tottenham's Giovani dos Santos, were fined �2,473 each for "failing to observe good discipline or rules about receiving visitors only at certain hours and within designated areas".

The latest allegations include an interview with transvestite "Gema" on TV Notas, where she claimed a "sexual encounter" with Carlos Salcido. Gema claims to have informed the Fulham player of her gender online after the encounter, leaving Salcido "very shocked". But Salcido, who denies her allegations, is now threatening to sue.

National team director Nestor de la Torre, who announced the sanctions, was less than forthcoming about the alleged offences, denying reports that prostitutes were involved.

The players have responded by sending a letter to the federation, leaked to the press, demanding that De la Torre quits, claiming he knew about the party, did not do anything at the time but acted when it became public to save his own skin.

"No one likes Nestor de la Torre," said the veteran striker Cuauht�moc Blanco. However, the federation secretary general, Decio De Mar�a, threatening rebels with further sanctions, said: "Nestor is the director and his head is not on the table as a condition for talks."

INDIA: Kit-less cyclists still unsure of their events

As the Tour de France winner Alberto Contador reacts to doping allegations by asserting he had been the victim of "contaminated meat", Indian cyclists preparing for the Commonwealth Games are facing a host of far more elementary difficulties, with the Indo?Asian News Service reporting that many of the athletes still do not know which event they are to compete in.

Sandeep Kumar said he has been training for two events: the 40km time trial and the mass start, and that adjusting between the two "is not easy". His team-mate Bikram Singh thinks he knows his event, but has had no official confirmation: "They said they will let us know in a day or two."

The confusion over events is just one of the issues facing the riders. The squad only received their bikes a couple of weeks ago, after a year's wait, and have yet to take delivery of their competition kit. If it doesn't arrive by Tuesday, not only will they not know what event they're in, but they'll be competing in borrowed suits, helmets and shoes.

The Games' beleaguered organisers also suffered another embarrassment when, only a day after the much-reported importing of angry-looking trained langurs (the simian equivalent of bouncers) to scare off common bonnet monkeys near venues, the Hindustan Times reported that: "A long-tailed primate sneaked inside the Athletes' Village ... And was witnessed roaming about the pathways."

USA: NFL star fined for a fumble

The US media are all aflutter with talk of the Kansas City Chiefs star Shaun Smith after he was accused, for the second time in a fortnight, of groping an opponent during a match. Comcast Sportsnet quoted the San Francisco 49ers right tackle Anthony Davis as claiming: "He tried to feel me... that's weird, right?" And last week it was the Cleveland Brown's Alex Mack saying: "I'm still fired up about it [being groped]." It had looked like a clever tactic ? both Mack and Davis were penalised for retaliation ? but Smith has now been fined $10,000 by the National Football League. He said he was innocent. "I don't recall doing anything like that. I'm not known for being a dirty player."

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Yonnhy Perez vs. Joseph Agbeko II Fight Prediction and Preview

On December 11 in Leon, Mexico, IBF Bantamweight Champion Yonnhy Perez defends against the man he dethroned?Joseph Agbeko. This is part of a 4-man bantamweight tournament. The other semi-final match is to be held on the same card, with Vic Darchinyan taking on Abner Mares. Okay, so maybe Fernando Montiel is the ?real? champ, but the winner of this mini-tourney will add a couple gems to his record while becoming the clear number-two guy in the division.

And what a division this is shaping up ...

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Rahman Comeback Continues: Marcus McGee Becomes a Believer

Alabama-based heavyweight Marcus McGee is now a firm believer in former undisputed and two-time World Heavyweight Champion Hasim "The Rock" Rahman's comeback after lasting just three minutes against him on Saturday night at the WBA KO Drugs Festival at the Arena Roberto Duran in Panama City, Panama.

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Ex-Champion Hasim Rahman Scores Fourth Straight Knockout

Filed under: IBF, WBO, Boxing Rumors, IBO

Former two-time world heavyweight champion Hasim Rahman of Baltimore scored a first-round knockout over 39-year-old Marcus on Saturday night at Arena Roberto Duran in Panama City, Panama.

The victory was the fourth straight stoppage for the 37-year-old Rahman (49-7-2) and the 40th knockout of his career.

Rahman was coming off of August's sixth-round knockout of 38-year-old Damon Reed (45-14, 32 KOs) of Topeka, Ks., at the Scope Arena in Norfolk, Va..

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Tim Coleman Scores Fourth Straight Win by KO

Filed under: Showtime

Baltimore junior welterweight (140 pounds) Tim Coleman scored his fourth straight victory and his second knockout during that time with a ripping, right uppercut against Patrick Lopez of Londonderry, N.H., ending their clash in the third round of Friday night's Showtime-televised bout at the Chumash Casino in Santa Ynez, Calif.

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Rocha outpoints Navarro on 'Solo Boxeo'

Nestor Rocha, of Montebello, Calif., lands a punishing left uppercut to the jaw of Jose Navarro, of South-Central L.A., en route to scoring an eight-round unanimous decision on Friday in Los Angeles. Photo / Naoki FukudaCome-backing former bantamweight contender Nestor Rocha scored a significant victory by outpointing veteran Jose Navarro over eight rounds in the main event of a Telefutura-televised card from Los Angeles on Friday.Rocha (23-2, 8 knockouts), who won by unanimous scores of 79-73, was simply too big and strong for the 10-year veteran, who fought with a swollen shut right eye from the third round on.The bout was fought at a brisk pace and both L.A.-area boxers were busy throughout, but Navarro (27-6, 12 KOs) was unable to hurt or move Rocha despite counter punching well in spots.The 29-year-old southpaw, who earned a spot on the 2000 U.S. Olympic team and challenged four times for junior bantamweight titles, was able to make Rocha miss often but he could not mount an effective attack.Rocha patiently walked Navarro down with a concentrated body attack and occasional hooks to the head, which quickly closed the veteran's right eye. Navarro staged a brief rally in the sixth by outworking Rocha but he sustained a cut over his right eye by the end of the round. It was not his night. Navarro's spirit was willing and the skills that made him a perennial contender at 115 pounds were evident but his face and body were not holding up under Rocha's pressure. Rocha landed clean head shots in the final two rounds to clinch the victory, his second in a row since suffering a first-round KO loss to Japan's Hozumi Hasegawa in a bantamweight title bout last July.In the co-featured bout of the 'Solo Boxeo' broadcast, lightweight prospect Luis Ramos (17-0, 8 KOs) scored an eight-round decision over late-sub John Figueroa (7-7-3, 3 KOs) in an entertaining bout that was far more competitive than the one-sided scorecards indicate.Ramos, who won by unanimous scores of 80-71, dropped Figueroa with a hook-cross combination in the final minute of the eighth round but the 22-year-old southpaw from Santa Ana, Calif., appeared to be wobbled in the seventh and suffered significant facial lacerations.Most of the fast-paced bout was fought at close quarters. Ramos often pressed Figueroa to the ropes and raked the older, slower man with right hooks to the body and head but the 30-year-old journeyman from Puerto Rico, who kept a high guard throughout, always answered back with heavy body and head shots of his own.

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Monday, October 4, 2010

Golden Boy Boxing: Gary Russell Jr Added To October 28 Fight Night Club

There are only two "Fight Night Club" events left in 2010, so Golden Boy Promotions and AEG are pulling out all the stops to deliver the hardest-hitting shows of the season beginning with the Thursday, October 28 event at L.A. Live's Club Nokia, which features boxing's next big thing, unbeaten Gary Russell Jr. against Guadalupe [...]

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De La Hoya saddened by Hatton, Mayweather crises

LOS ANGELES - Oscar De La Hoya said on Tuesday that the recent personal crises of Ricky Hatton and Floyd Mayeather Jr. might be cries for help.Hatton was caught on video snorting cocaine and has reportedly checked into a rehabilitation facility. Mayweather went on a racist rant aimed at Manny Pacquiao, after which he apologized, and was later arrested on felony larceny charges after an argument with his ex-girlfriend."My reaction is that I wish all the best for them," De La Hoya said. "Maybe it's a cry for help. They definitely, especially Ricky Hatton, needs help. ... He's going to self destruct. ... I would tell him, 'I want to help you. I'm your friend, I'm your father, I'm your brother.' He's in a world right now, if he continues, he's going to self destruct. He could die. So he needs help."De La Hoya obviously has to be careful what he says publicly about Mayweather because they have a working relationship. Still, he seemed to have genuine compassion for his former rival."Maybe it's a cry for help too," De La Hoya said. "One never knows. Maybe he has his own problems. ... Ricky Hatton is a good guy. I truly feel Floyd Mayweather is a good guy too. He can be a nice guy. I've seen him in action. He can be nice."Sometimes it's a sign someone needs help. I can just say I wish the best for anybody in that situation because it's sad."

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After Briggs debacle, Aussie fans get Green versus Flores

After pulling the upset on Roy Jones Jr., Danny Green was a national hero in Australia. He produced another quick stoppage in his next fight but hero wasn't the word being thrown around in July. Make it heel. Many blamed Green for the 29 second laugher against Paul Briggs. Anyone who'd paid big money to watch Briggs quit, on what still doesn't look like a real punch, had to be infuriated. That fight was moved from Sydney to Perth when the commission Australia's biggest city refused to sanction the bout because Briggs hadn't fought in over three years. There was also the strange coincidence of heavy betting on an early knockout. Check it out for yourself. Is that a knockout punch?

As he was being showered by booes, Green went off after the fight. Now he's trying to make it up by taking on a big challenge in moving up to cruiserweight to face American B.J. Flores Nov. 17 in Perth.

"It has been a tough few months, but I’m focused on the future now and knocking out BJ Flores," Green said. "He is a tough fighter at the top of his game, but I have a point to prove and it’s going to take more than BJ Flores to stop me."

Green (30-3, 27 KOs) has never fought above light heavyweight. You can see the difference in bulk by looking at the press conference staredown. Flores is 6-foot-2 with an 80-inch reach. He's raised his spector a bit with regular appearances on ESPN's Friday Night Fights but Flores (24-0-1, 15 KOs) is in need of a big win too.

"With his size, speed and his power, it’s definitely going to be a big test, I’ve never faced anyone inside a boxing ring that big," said Green. "The most difficult thing about this is not his size, it's his speed coupled with his power and size, not only is he a big unit, he's a fast slick unit."

Because of contractual issues, Flores hasn't fought in 14 months.

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Mayweather likely to let deadline pass; no Pacman fight again!

The clock is ticking and Floyd Mayweather doesn't look like he is phased by it one bit. Bob Arum has pushed and pushed but "Money" is likely to bide his time and aim for a fight against Manny Pacquiao in 2011. Is Floyd scared? Not at all. So, what's the hitch?

Apparently most of the issues (money split, venue and drug testing) have been worked out in an odd negotation process. Sources say Ross Greenburg, president of HBO sports, has been the middle man between Arum and Mayweather's manager Al Haymon. The two sides haven't spoken directly. Each step of the way they've told Greenburg something and he's turned around to relay the message to the other side. But there's one thing Greenburg's patience can't solve — Roger Mayweather's lunacy away from the game.

The biggest issue for Floyd is the pending trial for his uncle and head trainer. The 55-year-old goes to court on a year-old battery charge. He's facing up to 10 years in prison for allegedly beating and choking a 26-year-old named Melissa St. Vil. The bigger problem is that Mayweather already served six months on a similar charge in 2006-2007. This won't be easy to beat.

David Mayo from the Grand Rapids Press has a nice roundup of all the factors that will probably nix a Nov. 13 fight between boxing's pound-for-pound best.

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Are Klitschkos bound for the Hall of Fame?

The Klitschko brothers, Wladimir and Vitali, have their supporters and detractors.Some see them as great heavyweights whose size and abilities would have made them formidable in any era. Others see them as big lugs with boring styles who are lucky they fight during a time with few decent heavyweights.When their careers are over, though, how might they fare in perhaps the most-important arena of opinion -- among the voters for the International Boxing Hall of Fame?Three experts with a keen understanding of boxing history - author Bert Sugar, broadcaster Larry Merchant and writer Cliff Rold - were asked that question and agreed on an answer: The Klitschkos will fare well.All three said the giant Ukrainians will one day be inducted in Canastota, N.Y., although they had different levels of enthusiasm.The most-compelling reason to conclude they are Hall bound is that almost all heavyweight champions in history who were recognized as the best in the world at some point and eligible for the Hall are enshrined. Even those who don't appreciate the Klitschkos' cautious style and question their opponents must admit they've had one of the more dominating runs in heavyweight history.Wladimir (54-3, 48 knockouts), who faces Sam Peter on Saturday in Frankfurt, has more or less ruled the division since he took one of the sanctioning-body belts from Chris Byrd in 2006, a period during which he successfully defended it eight times, added a second title and became THE RING champion.Vitali (40-2, 38 KOs) was at the top of the heap in the mid-2000s before retiring because of injuries and then made a triumphant return after a four-year hiatus, regaining a major title by thumping Sam Peter in 2008.At the moment, it seems, no one can touch them."Floyd Patterson was a good heavyweight, not a great heavyweight, and he's in the Hall of Fame," Rold said. "Ingemar Johansson is in Hall for beating Patterson once. Guys who are recognized as the heavyweight champion get in."Some other heavyweights in the Hall had relatively weak opposition, including Rocky Marciano.The most-dominating heavyweight of the 1950s went unbeaten in 49 fights but many believe the four fellow Hall of Famers he faced - Joe Louis, Jersey Joe Walcott, Ezzard Charles and Archie Moore -- were flawed when Marciano fought them.Louis was 37 and badly faded; Walcott was 38 and 39 in their two fights and at the end of a 23-year career; Charles, a great light heavyweight, was not at his strongest in the sport's glamour division, and Moore was 41.No one would question whether Marciano belongs in the Hall but his perfect record, not victories over other great fighters, is most responsible for his induction.The Klitschkos are in a similar situation. The only Hall of Fame-caliber fighter either has faced was Lennox Lewis, who beat Vitali on a cut in 2003. The landscape is barren beyond that, although a peak Chris Byrd and a young Jameel McCline are among Klitschko opponents who were capable."A lack of competition works against [the Klitschkos] as it did against Marciano," Sugar said. "Part of greatness is meeting and beating other great fighters. He faced four great fighters in six fights - Louis, [Archie] Moore, Walcott twice and Charles twice - and they averaged almost 40 years of age."I think Marciano is penalized by that. He was great but he might've been even greater."The Klitschkos have tremendous knockout ratios, Wladimir stopping 84 percent of his 57 opponents and Vitali stopping 90 percent of his.But that's not enough for many fans who crave action. The Klitschkos typically slowly break down and then knock out their opponents, rarely taking serious risks in the process.None of the three experts believes that will stand in the way of their eventual induction, although it could have an impact on whether they go in their first year of eligibility."I think they'll be in the Hall because of their dominance but it might take some time, though," Sugar said. "They sure as hell won't bring a large block of people to see them get inducted. They should give them one plaque and let 'em fight over it. At least then they'll have to fight each other. I was at Wladimir's fight with [Sultan] Ibragimov. The guy in front of me told me to quit snoring because I was keeping him awake. I've never seen a worse fight."They did good. They just didn't do good by the fans."Merchant believes the fact they're brothers also helps their cause.Dozens of brothers have succeeded in the sport, even if only one pair [Tommy and Mike Gibbons] is in the Hall, but no fraternal tandem has dominated a division as these brothers have. That sets them apart."Two guys dominate the heavyweight division for nearly a decade and they came out of the same womb? Is there another story like that in boxing?" Merchant said.Does one have an edge over the other?Some experts believe that Vitali is the better of the two, certainly the tougher, but Wladimir is more accomplished. Thus, the latter probably will garner more consideration by the voters.Wladimir's knockout losses raised serious questions about his toughness - not to mention his chin and stamina -- but he has used his careful, slow-paced strategy to become all but unbeatable.Vitali has been just as dominating, apparently having never been behind in a fight in his entire career. But injuries will have taken a toll on his legacy.Also, they were moved slowly early in their careers, both of which began in 1996."Wladimir is getting to the point where he has so many wins, where he has been dominant for so long without a gap, that it becomes impossible not to put him in [the Hall]," Rold said. "The fact Vitali has gone [most of his career] without losing a round is pretty impressive. If he didn't get hurt, though, I'm not sure Wladimir would've had a chance to become a Hall of Famer because Vitali would've cleaned out the division."... If Vitali had been moved faster and hadn't lost four years, he could've accomplished much more."Of course, they're not finished yet.Wladimir, 34, would solidify his position as a lock to reach the Hall by dominating the division for a few more years. Plus, he might have a few live opponents in his future. David Haye, who wears one of the belts, is deemed a worthy challenger. And undersized Thomas Adamek has some respect.The same holds true for Vitali, although at 39 he is much closer to the end of his career.It seems almost everyone assumes they would beat anyone with the gumption to step into the ring with them. Even if one or both loses, though, they might've already accomplished enough to plan a visit to Canastota."I don't think there's any doubt about it," Merchant said. "They're long-time heavyweight champions. What long-time heavyweight champions aren't in the Hall of Fame? Hall of Fames tend to expand their mandates from the super great to the great to the outstanding to the very good in all sports. Not everybody is a Babe Ruth or a Red Grange or a Johnny Unitas."For heaven's sake, I'm in the Hall of Fame."<a href="mailto:ringtveditor@yahoo.com">Michael Rosenthal can be reached at RingTVeditor@yahoo.com</a>

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No 'Pacman' vs. 'Money'; eight more fights we won't see in 2010

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Barrios dominates Alcorro

Former junior lightweight titleholder Jorge Barrios rebounded from inactivity stemming from his part in a fatal automobile accident by out-classing journeyman Wilson Alcorro over 10 rounds on Friday in his native Argentina.Barrios (50-4-1, 35 KOs) hadn't fought since last November due to legal issues stemming a January car crash that caused the death of a 20-year-old pregnant woman. The 34-year-old veteran, who was eventually absolved of any wrong doing in the accident, did not appear rusty as he out-boxed and out-worked Alcorro (26-13-3, 17 KOs) in a Telefutura and HBO Plus-televised main event in Corrientes.In the co-featured bout, Argentine welterweight veteran Hector David Saldivia (38-2, 28 KOs) knocked out Brazilian prospect Jailton De Jesus Souza (12-2, 10 KOs) in the third round of their scheduled 10-round bout.

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Tim Bradley: 'I Will Sign the Contract' to Fight Devon Alexander

Filed under: WBC, IBF, WBO, Boxing Rumors, HBO, FanHouse Exclusive

WBO junior welterweight champion Tim Bradley (pictured above, at right) of Palm Springs, Calif., told FanHouse moments ago that he will sign the fight contract "over the next couple of days" agreeing to terms for a Jan. 29 , HBO-televised unification bout with southpaw WBC and IBF counter part Devon Alexander (pictured above, at left) of St. Louis, Mo.

"I've got the contract, and I'm going to be signing it over the next couple of days. Finally, now everything is pretty much ready. I'm happy about this fight. Even though I feel like I'm taking this fight on short money, I still want this fight," said Bradley, who is 26-0, with 11 knockouts.

"Devon Alexander and his camp have been doing a lot of talking, and the fight has been a big buzz in the boxing community and in the media," said Bradley, whose clash will take place at a site to be determined. "And, you know, now we're going to see who is truly the best in the world in the 140-pound division. So on Jan. 29, I'm going to be very excited."

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Yonnhy Perez-Joseph Agbeko, Vic Darchinyan-Abner Mares Tourney Announced

Filed under: WBA, WBC, IBF, Boxing Rumors, Showtime, IBO

Showtime's Dec. 11, four-man, bantamweight (118 pounds) tournament, reported by FanHouse last month, will be officially announced on Thursday at LA Live in Los Angeles, the network stated in a release earlier this week.

In one of the semifinals, slated for Leon, Mex., Colombian-born IBF bantamweight (118 pounds) king Yonnhy Perez (20-0-1, 14 knockouts) will fight a co-feature opposite Ghana's Joseph "King Kong" Agbeko (27-2, 22 KOs), whom Perez (pictured at right) dethroned for the crown on Halloween by unanimous decision.

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Tim Bradley: 'I Will Sign the Contract' to Fight Devon Alexander

Filed under: WBC, IBF, WBO, Boxing Rumors, HBO, FanHouse Exclusive

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Ward-Dirrell, Froch-Abraham rescheduled for Nov. 27

The postponed Super Six World Boxing Classic matchups between Andre Ward and Andre Dirrell and Carl Froch and Arthur Abraham have been rescheduled for November 27, it was announced by Showtime, the U.S. cable network that created the innovative but troubled 168-pound tournament.Ward-Dirrell was supposed to take place on Saturday but was held up for reasons undisclosed by the network as well as the management and promoters of the fighters. It is rumored that the former 2004 U.S. Olympic teammates, who are friends, wanted more money than the network could offer to face each other on September 25.Froch-Abraham was to take place on October 2 but had to be pushed to a later date when Froch injured his back in training.Ward-Dirrell, which has yet to secure a venue, will headline the Nov. 27 Showtime telecast, live at 9 p.m. ET/PT, and will be contested for Ward's WBA title and the newly vacated WBC belt. On the same night, Froch will face Abraham at Hartwall Areena in Helsinki, Finland, in a bout that may or may not be televised by Showtime on a tape-delay basis depending on what the promoters of the fighters can work out with the venue.The vacant title up for grabs in the Ward-Dirrell fight was held by Mikkel Kessler, who won the belt in a heated 12-round decision over Froch in April. The bout, which took place in Kessler's home country of Denmark was part of the Super Six tournament. However, the Danish star had to withdraw from the tournament and abdicate his title when he revealed that he suffered from vision problems that need time to heal.Kessler's withdraw cut the Super Six down to five participants (Ward, Froch, Dirrell, Abraham and Allan Green, who replaced Jermain Taylor when the former middleweight champ withdrew following a brutal KO loss to Abraham in Group Stage 1 of the tournament) and left Green without an opponent for Group Stage 3.Fans and media speculated that Showtime would solve the dilemma by dropping Green, who was dominated by Ward in his only bout of the tournament, and moving directly to the four-man single-elimination semifinals. However, the network is proceeding with Group Stage 3, which Froch-Abraham and Ward-Dirrell are part of.A decision on Green's Group Stage 3 bout is expected in the coming days, according to Showtime.The third and final Group Stage will complete the round-robin portion of the tournament and determine the four fighters who will advance to the semifinals. Through the first two Stages, Ward is the only fighter to have secured a berth in the Semis. No fighter has been eliminated from contention creating a virtual win-or-go-home scenario for each of the men.

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Yuri Foreman, Dmitriy Salita Are Household Names in Israel

Filed under: Boxing Video, Boxing Rumors, HBO, FanHouse Exclusive, Top Rank Promotions

Elie Seckbach, the Embedded Correspondent, brings his exclusive video reporting to FanHouse. Check back regularly for more videos.

FanHouse has learned that former WBA junior middleweight (154 pounds) champion Yuri Foreman (28-1, eight knockouts) and WBA junior welterweight (140 pounds) prospect Dmitriy Salita (31-1-1, 16 KOs), each of whom is Jewish, are household names in Israel.

Foreman became the first Israeli world champion when he dethroned Puerto Rico's Daniel Santos in November. A rabbinica student who is studying to be a rabbi, Foreman was dethroned by Miguel Cotto by ninth-round knockout in a Top Rank Promotions HBO televised bout in June after suffering a severe knee injury in the first-ever fight at the New York Yankees new stadium.

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Sunday, October 3, 2010

Fight fans shocked as Mosley only gets a draw out of Mora fight

Shane Mosley thought he did enough to get a much-needed win over Sergio Mora. Compubox said Mosley won easily. The HBO announce team described the fight as if it were a blowout. HBO's ringside judge Harold Lederman had it 117-111. But in the only place it counts, only one of the judges at Staples Center agreed. Mosley outlanded Mora by 68 punches but all he got was a draw for his efforts. Judge Kermit Bayless gave the win to Mora 115-113 while David Denkin had it 116-112 for Mosley. The most veteran of the three judges Lou Moret scored it a 114-114 draw.

For the screams of robbery and travesty, Mosley, the supposed landslide winner, didn't throw a fit after the fight.

"You know what? Sergio fought a hard fight. I thought maybe it went my way," Mosley (46-6-1, 39 KOs) told HBO's Larry Merchant. "A draw? We both fought hard so what can you say?"

Mora, who many thought got a gift with the decision, stood up and boldly said he'd won.

"Yes. I thought I won the fight. I thought I did enough to win the decision," Mora told Merchant. "I felt I won this fight by at least two rounds."

Over the first six rounds, Mora stayed on his horse and looked unwilling to mix it up. He was outlanded 54-24 to that point and was down 5-1 on the Yahoo! boxing blog scorecard.

But the fight took a turn over the final six rounds. Mosley tired a bit in rounds seven through nine. Mora (22-1-2, 6 KOs) also began to draw him in so that he could clutch, hold and brawl inside. Both fighters landed their share of punches (38 to 23 for Mosley). There were times when Mora was the cleaner puncher but Mosley stood right there and took the shots.

The final three rounds were the best of the fight. They were punctuated by some good inside fighting. The Los Angeles crowd finally got into the fight as Mosley outlanded Mora 59-46 down the stretch. Was it enough for Mora to steal the fight? We didn't think so, scoring it 116-112, but Mosley did leave the door open for Mora to get back into the fight. Yahoo! Sports' lead boxing writer Kevin Iole had it 115-113 for Mosley. The 39-year-old Mosley did give credit to Mora for being elusive.

"I thought it was a good fight. Sergio is not a big puncher so he had to box. That’s his main thing. He had to box and move around," said Mosley. "I knew what my job was, but it was hard to get him. He moves pretty fast."

The screams off ripoff are a bit silly. Mosley landed 161-of-522 (31%) while Mora was 82-of-445 (18%). No fighter who lands an average of just over 13 punches a round did enough definitive damage to have fans or the media say he got jobbed or robbed.

Let's also put a stop to any postfight panic that may set in. Saying this draw may cost Mosley a big fight down the road is ridiculous. Golden Boy Promotions will make any fight it wants with Mosley. Now the question is, based on this performance, should the 39-year-old get a fight against a guy like Manny Pacquaio? Maybe not.

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Shobox Patrick Lopez vs. Tim Coleman Weigh-in Photos, Quotes & Weights

Tim Coleman tipped the scales at 139.75 pounds and Patrick Lopez measured 139 pounds during Thursday?s weigh in at Chumash Casino Resort in Santa Ynez, Calif. Both coming off huge victories and riding impressive winning streaks, United States Boxing Association (USBA) light welterweight champion, Coleman (17-1-1, 4 KOs) of Baltimore, Md., will face two-time Venezuelan Olympian Lopez (20-2, 12 KOs) a 12-round junior welterweight main event on ShoBox: The New Generation tomorrow/Friday, Oct. 1, LIVE on SHOWTIME� (11:45 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast).

Archie Ray Marquez and Juan ?Chago? ...

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GBP inks Paul Malignaggi

Former junior welterweight titleholder Paul Malignaggi signed with Golden Boy Promotions, the Los Angeles-based company announced on Tuesday.Malignaggi, a Brooklyn native who plans move up to the welterweight division, will also serve as one of Golden Boy's "ambassadors" to New York, assisting in the promotion of events in his hometown in conjunction with company's recently announced deal with The Barclays Center in Brooklyn."We are very excited to add Paulie to our roster of fighters," said Golden Boy Promotions President Oscar de la Hoya. "We have worked with him on numerous fights and his flashy style is exciting to watch both in and out of the ring. We have big plans in store for him and are thrilled that he is in our corner."Malignaggi (27-4, 5 knockouts) is 3-3 in his last six bouts, but his losses were to then-junior welterweight champ Ricky Hatton via 11th-round TKO in November of 2008, a controversial unanimous decision to Juan Diaz last August, and a one-sided 11th-round stoppage to current beltholder Amir Khan in his most recent fight this past May.Malignaggi, whose only other loss was decision to a prime Miguel Cotto in 2006, reportedly considered retirement following the loss to Khan but sounds re-energized now that he's fighting under the Golden Boy banner."This is the best career move I've made and I'm thankful to Golden Boy Promotions for giving me this opportunity," said Malignaggi, who owns victories over former titleholders Diaz (whom he soundly defeated in their rematch) and Lovemore Ndou (twice)."I know they can give me the biggest and best fights out there and that's what I want at this point in my career."

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James Kirkland out of Prison & Expected Back In the Ring by December

Unbeaten junior middleweight star James Kirkland was released from prison ahead of schedule yesterday and will finish the remainder of his sentence for a 2009 parole violation in a half-way house.� Kirkland will be allowed to train, travel and continue his quest for a world title in the boxing ring.

"I can't wait to get back in the ring and pick up where I left off," said Kirkland, whose most recent bout saw him stop fellow contender Joel Julio in six rounds on March 7, 2009. ...

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Arum now being labeled as the roadblock to big fight

We still have no official word on the next Manny Pacquiao fight. The window of exclusivity for negotiating with Floyd Mayweather went bye-bye last Friday and now Top Rank has moved on to other potential opponents. It's clear Team Mayweather doesn't want to fight this year, but now some media members are saying the same thing about Top Rank's Bob Arum, and that he never wanted the fight this year either. David Mayo of the Grand Rapids Press says Arum never negotiated in good faith:

Arum relayed through HBO Sports president Ross Greenburg the terms he would find acceptable for making the fight. You can bet they were favorable terms for Pacquiao, which is to say terms Mayweather very well might find onerous. They probably included a 50-50 split in money, or something close to it. Arum steadfastly refused to specify that. Second, Greenburg relayed those terms to the Mayweather camp, which never responded to them. Arum might as well have called me to relay the terms. I have all the same phone numbers and could’ve had the same conversations -- or lack thereof.

Mayo says that's not a negotiation as Arum calling it:

My 30-year-old Webster’s New World Dictionary -- the one that one of my dogs tore the cover off of years ago -- defines negotiate as “to confer, bargain, or discuss with a view to reaching a settlement.” Arum got a lot of mileage with the media in saying Manny Pacquiao had agreed to terms. Sending a message through an intermediary who isn’t empowered to respond or counteroffer doesn’t qualify. And that Greenburg converses often with the Mayweather camp means absolutely nothing.

He says Arum's always wanted a Pacquiao-Antonio Margarito or Pacquiao-Miguel Cotto fight:

Failing that, what Arum planned all along was to have two of his own fighters face each other on Nov. 13 -- Pacquiao against either Miguel Cotto or Antonio Margarito -- which seems the near-certain resolution now. That keeps all the money in house, gets another probable win for Pacquiao, and keeps him from being exposed to Mayweather for a few more months, if at all.

Mayo said Mayweather adviser Leonard Ellerbe predicted this is exactly what would go down back at the start of the year.

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