Q AND A WITH STAR BOXING'S
HOT WELTERWEIGHT PROSPECT
RAYMOND "TITO" SERRANO

On August 1st, Star Boxing's welterweight prospect Raymond "Tito" Serrano (9-0, 5KO) will look to stay undefeated when he takes on Jessie Davis (11-13, 8KO) on the undercard of the Delvin Rodriguez vs. Issac Hlatswahyo matchup for the vacant IBF Welterweight Championship of the World. Rodriguez vs. Hlatshwayo will be a rematch of their highly entertaining draw that took place back in November of last year. The Star Boxing promoted card will be held at the beautiful Mohegan Sun Resort and Casino in Uncasville, CT.


Serrano recently took time out of his busy training schedule to talk about his career, and his upcoming fight on the 1st.

Q: Raymond how has everything been leading up to this fight?

RS: Everything has been great. I have been in the gym training for the last five months, so I know I am going to be in great shape come fight night. This is going to be my second fight in a row at the Mohegan Sun and I'm really looking forward to putting on another good performance for all those in attendance.

Q: Your last fight was March 6th on ESPN2 "Friday Night Fights". It was your first co- feature fight, and it was also the first time you were on national TV. What did you take away from the fight, and were you happy with your performance?

RS: Yes, I was very happy with my performance. I know that I made a couple mistakes, but I use every fight as a learning experience, so that I don't make those same mistakes in the future.

Q: What mistakes do you think you made?

RS: Well it was my first fight on national TV and I had the guy down in the first and after that I got a little bit over anxious trying to knock him out. After the first though I calmed down and started boxing again and I won the fight easily, so overall I think it was a good performance.


Q: What is your game plan going into this fight?

RS: To be honest, I don't know much about my opponent. I hear he is tough so we will see. I know though that as long as I stick to my game plan, and do the things I have been working on in training that there is no doubt I will come out victorious.

Q: You were one of the lead sparring partners for Manny Pacquiao as he prepared to face Ricky Hatton, what was that like for you?

RS: That was a dream come true for me. To have the opportunity to be in the same ring with the number one pound for pound in the world, well it just doesn't get much better then that. I learned a lot from working with Manny. I couldn't have asked for a better experience, especially at such an early stage in my career. I believe that I am going back out to prepare him for his fight with Cotto and I am really looking forward to it.


Q: You are still very young, just 20-years-old. What kind of timeline do you have for yourself in your career?

RS: Well I think Joe (Serrano's promoter is Joe DeGuardia's Star Boxing) has moved me along well. Like you said I am still young, but I am also very hungry. I want to continue to stay busy and continue to keep moving up the ranks in the welterweight division. I feel that in another two years I will be ready to take on any of the big names in the division, and hopefully get the opportunity to fight for a world championship.

Q: When did you start working with trainer Danny Davis?

RS: I started working with Danny after my second fight as pro.

Q: What has Danny changed, or improved on in your game?

RS: Danny has improved a lot of things in my game. He has a lot of experience working with world class fighters, so when he tells me things, I listen to them. He has made me a much better fighter.

One of my favorite things about working with Danny is the work we do on the pads. I believe his pad work is second to none. It has really improved the combinations I throw. I mean anyone who has done the pads for Bernard Hopkins is good enough for me (laughs Serrano).

Q: Other then becoming champion of the world, do you have any other aspirations you want to fulfill in your career in boxing?

RS: I want to have a major fight in my native country of Puerto Rico. I fought there when I was an amateur but not yet as a pro. The atmosphere over there is absolutely crazy! There is nothing like Puerto Rican fans, I truly believe they are the best boxing fans in the world.

Q: Anything you would like to say in closing?

RS: I want to thank all my fans who have continued to show their support for me throughout my career. I want to encourage everyone to be there Saturday August 1st, as I am going to put on another great performance that no one will want to miss.


Tickets are priced at $125, $75, $45 and $30 and are on sale now through Ticketmaster. Ticketmaster customers may log on to ticketmaster.com or purchase tickets by calling 1-800-745-3000. Tickets may also be purchased by calling the Star Boxing office. Star is currently holding choice seats for prime customers. To find out more information about this terrific offer or to purchase these exclusive tickets please call Star Boxing at (718) 823-2000.

ABOUT STAR BOXING:
Star Boxing has been in operation since 1992 and has worked to produce some of the most exciting and memorable boxing events in recent history. Star has continued to work with and develop a number of very exciting world champions, world rated contenders and young prospects. Star has consistently brought credibility, integrity, and exciting fights to the boxing industry.

Photo's taken by Star Boxing Photographer Marty Rosengarten

Ohio man claims assault by boxer Pavlik, trainer

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (AP)—An Ohio man claims WBC middleweight boxing champion Kelly Pavlik and his trainer assaulted him at a bar in Pavlik’s hometown of Youngstown.

No charges have been filed.

Police Chief Jimmy Hughes said Tuesday the initial investigation into the report by 45-year-old Ronald Cappitte of Boardman has turned up no corroborating evidence.

Cappitte says he walked up to Pavlik in a bar about 11 p.m. Saturday, said, “Hi,” and was punched in the groin. A police report says he fell, got up and was punched repeatedly in the body by Pavlik and trainer Jack Loew.

Loew says there was an altercation but no assault and that Cappitte was unruly. No phone listing or immediate contact could be found for Pavlik.

The incident was first reported by The Vindicator in Youngstown.

Promoter wins libel action against ex-boxing champ

LONDON (AP)—Former world heavyweight champion Herbie Hide has been ordered to pay $57,720 in libel damages to boxing promoter Frank Warren by London’s High Court.

In a television interview in July 2008, Hide claimed that Warren had bribed Johnny Nelson to retire and give up his WBO cruiserweight title so that Enzo Maccarinelli, a boxer Warren promoted, would gain it without having to fight him.

Hide was found guilty at an earlier court hearing. At Monday’s proceedings, Judge Patrick Moloney determined the amount.

Moloney also granted an injunction preventing Hide from repeating the libel. The boxer took no part in the proceedings.

Hide twice held the WBO heavyweight title, most recently in 1999.

Police: Ex-boxing champion Forrest killed in Ga.

By CHARLES ODUM, AP Sports Writer

ATLANTA (AP)—Vernon Forrest, a former three-time champion who gained stardom when he became the first boxer to defeat “Sugar” Shane Mosley, was shot and killed during an apparent robbery in Atlanta, police said Sunday.

Atlanta Police Sgt. Lisa Keyes said in an e-mail Sunday that Forrest, 38, was shot “multiple times in the back” Saturday night. Keyes said there are no suspects.

“Vernon was one of the few decent people in boxing,” promoter Gary Shaw said Sunday.

“I mean really decent. He cared about mentally challenged adults. He cared about kids. I just can’t believe it.”

Mark Guilbeau, an investigator with the Fulton County Medical Examiner’s office, said an autopsy is planned for Sunday.

Forrest, a native of Augusta, Ga., who lived in Atlanta, was a member of the 1992 Olympic team. He also was a former IBF welterweight and two-time WBC junior middleweight champion.

“He was one of the most gracious and charitable fighters in boxing and he will be missed by the entire boxing community and all of his friends at HBO,” HBO Sports president Ross Greenburg told The Associated Press.

Greenburg helped put on eight of Forrest’s fights.

“Maybe Vernon’s lasting legacy will be for Americans everywhere to rise up and end this kind of senseless violence,” Greenburg said.

Those who knew the fighter praised his role in launching the Destiny’s Child group homes in Atlanta, which work to provide homes for the mentally disabled.

“It was truly his calling,” Forrest’s publicist, Kelly Swanson, said of his work with children. “When he wasn’t boxing, this was his full-time job.

“When they would see him, they would just light up, and some of them couldn’t even talk. Vernon was very much involved. He’d have some of the kids over to his house on Sundays. They were part of his family.”

Swanson said Forrest was not married and has one son, Vernon Jr.

Inside the ring, Forrest was known for taking two wins over Mosley in 2002. On Sept. 13, 2008, Forrest reclaimed his WBC 154-pound title by beating Sergio Mora in a rematch of a fight won by Mora.

The win over Mora was Forrest’s last fight. He suffered a rib injury while training for an April fight against Jason LeHoullier. That fight was canceled, and Forrest had to vacate his title.

Ken Hershman, vice president in charge of boxing at Showtime, which aired Forrest’s first fight with Mora, said Forrest was a popular fighter who was dedicated to his charity work.

“He wasn’t looking for anything, he just did it because it was the right thing to do,” Hershman said.

“Vernon was a young, vibrant guy coming to the end of his career. He still had a lot of life ahead of him.”

There were tentative plans for a title fight against Sergio Martinez, perhaps in October, Shaw said. Plans for an August fight against Martinez were pushed back by Forrest’s rib injury.

“Instead of being an Olympian, a two-time world champion, a guy who beat Shane Mosley twice, the guy who did some good for boxing—maybe his legacy will be for something else,” Shaw said. “Maybe boxing will finally get around the violence outside of the ring. Maybe Vernon’s name and legacy will be for that.”

Forrest, who had a 41-3 career record with 29 knockouts, is the third prominent boxer to die this month.

Former two-time champion Arturo Gatti, who retired in 2007, was found dead July 11 at a Brazilian resort. Gatti’s wife, Amanda Rodrigues, is being held as the prime suspect.

Another former champion, Alexis Arguello, was found dead on July 1 at his home in Managua, Nicaragua. He was elected mayor of Nicaragua’s capital last year.

“If the saying is bad things come in threes, hopefully we’re done with that for a long time to come,” Hershman said. “I hope that’s the case. I mean, ironically three great people, three great human beings too. Not a good few months.”

Forrest’s trainer, Buddy McGirt, also worked with Gatti. McGirt said Forrest planned to start training Aug. 1 for his next fight.

“I just feel so bad, he has a son you know,” McGirt said. “Someone is going to be raised without a father because somebody wanted to rob someone.”

AP Sports Writer Dave Skretta contributed to this report.

Vernon Forrest Shot Dead

Some terrible breaking news that former three time world champion Vernon Forrest has been killed.

WSB News (WSB Radio)

Former boxing champion and U.S. Olympian Vernon Forrest was shot and killed in an attempted car jacking in Northwest Atlanta, a police spokesperson said. Lt. Keith Meadows with the Atlanta police department told WSB Radio, Forrest was putting air in the tires of his Jaguar around 11 p.m. Saturday at a gas station on White Hall St. at McDaniel Blvd. Investigators said at least two men jumped out of a red Chevrolet Monte Carlo and tried to steal Forrest's car.

The boxer had a gun and started running after the suspects. "The victim and suspect became involved in a brief foot chase," Lt. Meadows said. "At some point, gunfire was exchanged between the two of them. The victim was shot at least once in the head."

Investigators said they are talking to several witness. "At this point we have a general description of at least two black males driving a red Monte Carlo." Lt. Meadows said. Police don't think the suspects knew Forrest was a professional boxer.

His girlfriend's young son was in the car at the time of the shooting. Family members are flying in from Texas to pick up the child, Lt. Meadows said.

Forrest, who lived in Atlanta, was a member of the 1992 U.S. Olympic team in Barcelona, Spain. He was a three-time champion with two WBC welterweight wins against Sugar Shane Mosley in 2002. Forrest, nicknamed the viper, beat Sergio Mora for the WBC junior middleweight title in September. The Augusta, Ga. native was stripped of his WBC belt in May because of a rib injury. He was supposed to fight Sergio Martinez on August 1st.

WINDY CITY FIGHT NIGHT 4

8Count Promotions
UIC Pavilion, Chicago , IL
Friday, July 24, 2009

The leather was flying once again for Dominic Pesoli’s 8Count Promotions event Windy City Fight Night 4, playing to a packed house tonight in the Chicago hotbed of boxing talent.






First up was heavyweight TYREE ORTIZ ( Merrillville , IN ), who used his strength and impressive size to pound ERIC CRITTENDON ( Clinton , MO ) into submission. Ortiz needed only half a round to land a killer straight right hand and a series of left hooks that put Crittendon down for good, improving Ortiz’s record to 3-0.

Lightweights GADIEL ANDALUZ ( Chicago ) and OSCAR DE LA CRUZ ( Chicago ) staged a real barnburner in a fast-paced, well-executed fight. Andaluz started strong by taking the first two rounds with his perfect jab and accurate overhand right, which wobbled de la Cruz early in the fight. De la Cruz fought back, though, to rally and take the last three rounds (on the Bolo Punch scorecard) with his left hooks to the body and overall outhustling of Andaluz, who inexplicably stopped jabbing for the last two rounds. Knowing the official scorecards would be close, the crowd waited with baited breath after the final bell was given, but boos filled the air as the scores of 48-47 (Andaluz, twice) and 48-47 (De la Cruz) were read off. In a controversial split decision, Andaluz improves his pro record to 4-1), while de la Cruz moves down to 5-7.





Making his professional debut was NATE MOHR (Crystal Lake, IL) against TOMMY MOORE (Pinebluff, AR) in the third bout of the night, Mohr needed only two rounds to put Moore down three times, prompting the referee to stop the contest at 2:23 of the second round. Mohr brings some mixed martial-arts to the table, and his athleticism is as noticeable as his odd haircut (reminding me of a young Vinny Pazienza), but his boxing ability needs some time to blossom a bit. With opposition like Moore , though, he’ll be just fine for his next few fights, at least. Nate Mohr wins his debut, making his pro record 1-0.






In a super-middleweight bout, MIKE KURZEJA (Chicago) pounded on NICHOLAS WHITTING (Bermidji, MN) for three rounds, but in doing so, proved that he still needs quite a bit of work. Kurzeja is rather strong, but telegraphs all of his shots that, so far, it would take a fighter of the caliber of Whitting (now 1-11) to stand in front of them. Kerzeja bends at the waist well, and has power in both hands, landing big, looping overhand rights and lefts to the face of Whitting, who was stopped at 1:44 of the third round (TKO), improving Kurzeja’s pro record to 2-0.






Next up, DIAMOND JAMES BAIER (Chicago) took on NOE PEREZ (also from Chicago ) in a junior lightweight contest, pitting two high-energy fighters with very little professional experience in a truly stirring war. It should be noted that despite his lack of pro fights, Baier stepped up to be former WBC Lightweight Champion David Diaz’s chief sparring partner for Diaz’s 2008 battle with current pound-for-pound king, Manny Pacquiao. Both fighters were on top of the action at various points in the bout, with Baier’s fast, flashy style matching up beautifully with the accurate, plodding power of Perez. Perez was dropped in the second round, from a short straight left hand from Baier, but Perez stayed right with his opponent to take the third and fourth rounds with his intensity, giving one of the judges every reason to award him a 38-37 victory, but the other two judges saw the knockdown as the deciding factor to award Baier the victory, and in this game, majority rules. 38-37 (Baier, twice) and 38-37 (Perez) were the official scores to this bout, improving Baier’s pro record to 1-0-1.





Heavyweight debuts are always a bit of a charge for me. . . .and this one was no exception. DAVID “Diesel” LATORIA seemingly brought everyone from his hometown of Chicago to come cheer him on, as Diesel signs and t-shirts were running rampant throughout the UIC Pavilion on this night. Latoria, a late-blooming (27) powerhouse with an extensive football history needed only 1:50 of the first round to knock CHRIS BOYKINS (Holiday, FL) unconscious with a right-left-fight combo against the ropes, sending Boykins nearly onto the media table outside the ring, rendering him asleep for at least three minutes after the fight was waved off. Fortunately, Boykins got up on his own power, and headed back to the dressing room to gather his thoughts, and wonder why he ever took this fight in the first place. Latoria, truly a fan favorite, as well as a fighter worth paying attention to, starts his pro career the right way; 1-0 with 1 KO.




The headline fight of the evening waged “Fast” FRES OQUENDO ( Chicago by way of Puerto Rico) against former WBA Heavyweight Titlist, BRUCE SELDON ( Camden , NJ ) in a NABA heavyweight title fight. Seldon, probably best known for basically handing Mike Tyson his title after a 40 second “fight” in 1996 has always been a physically gifted specimen. Even during his ring walk, he amazed the fans, myself included, by standing ten feet from the ring steps, then without notice LEAPING up to the top step like a gazelle of some kind. Let me just say, it was damn impressive. I only wish Seldon fought with the same intensity. Oquendo, a utility heavyweight who has been impressive in nearly every fight he’s ever been in, had a field day with the post-40 year old Seldon, using his straight jab and overhand right hand to keep Seldon away from him, setting him up for his power shots, which quickly swelled up Seldon’s face and eyes. Seldon occasionally loaded up a telegraphed (albeit quick) left hook or overhand left hand, but they rarely ever found their mark. After seven rounds of taking a beating from Oquendo, Seldon took a knee to straighten himself out, only to be sent to the canvas again in the ninth, this time complaining of a hurt right arm, prompting the referee to stop the fight at 2:35 of the ninth, official stoppage being a TKO.

After the fight, during the in-ring interviews, Seldon said of Oquendo, “I won the title of the world in my first title shot. . . .you lost your first and second chances, but after tonight, THREE TIMES A CHARM!” Seldon hugged the taller Oquendo in the middle of the ring, basically saying he’d never be in Chicago again as a fighter, but as a trainer. Hopefully for the former champion, this was an announcement of retirement. Oquendo took the microphone and said to Seldon, “I appreciate the opportunity to fight the former world champion, and I thank my fans for their unending support.”

***Special thanks goes out to Mr. Dominic Pesoli and Mr. Bernie Bahrmasel of 8Count Promotions for issuing Bolo Punch the necessary credentials to cover this event.

***Written report and ringside photography by Emil Kegebein’s is exclusively the property of Bolo Punch Boxing, and is available for sale at smugmug.com.

Valuev to fight Haye for WBC belt in November

By ROBERT MILLWARD, AP Sports Writer

LONDON (AP)—Tired of waiting for Vitali Klitschko, Nikolai Valuev will defend his WBA heavyweight title against David Haye in November.

The fight is likely to be in Germany on Nov. 7 with Haye, the brash former cruiserweight world champion now trying to make his name as a heavyweight, promising to be the first fighter to knock out the 7-foot Russian.

“It is not the first time that my opponents have said things like that,” Valuev said Thursday. “Haye is a young man with a big mouth. Let him talk. It will be different in the ring. He will certainly not get my belt.”

Valuev’s German-based backers said they had been trying to set up a unification bout with Klitschko, the WBC champion, but they did not hear back from his management.

“I know that a lot of boxing fans really wanted to see Valuev fighting Vitali,” said Valuev’s manager, Wilfried Sauerland. “We wanted to make this fight happen. It was our top priority and I had really good talks with Vitali.

“But all of a sudden, I did not hear back. I could not get in touch with his management anymore. We were under time pressure and at some point we had to look for a different opponent. We are happy to present an up-and-coming challenger such as David Haye. I am sure it will be an exciting fight.”

Haye became available after his challenge to Vitali’s brother, Wladimir, was called off last month because Haye injured his back in training. Haye was also close to a deal to fight Vitali before deciding to take on Valuev instead.

Haye is still a novice at heavyweight, having fought only twice at that level, and will be nine inches shorter and probably up to 100 pounds lighter than Valuev, the tallest and heaviest world champion in boxing history.

The 36-year-old Valuev is 50-1, while the 28-year-old Haye is 23-1.

“I saw the guy actually fight when I was 16 years old at Battersea Town Hall” (in London), Haye said. “I went up next to him and I couldn’t believe human beings got that big. And now I am fighting him. I have got to get inside him and outmaneuver him. Big heavyweights punch a lot harder, but they punch a lot slower, so I can see everything that’s coming.”

Vitali Klitschko’s manager, Bernd Boente, said Thursday that Haye had turned down an offer to fight his client in Frankfurt so he can instead take on Valuev, considered by many a less formidable opponent than the Klitschko brothers.

Boente said he learned about the Valuev deal through the media, and railed against Haye for backing out of what he considered a completed deal to fight Sept. 12 at Commerzbank-Arena.

“The cancellation was very surprising,” Boente said. “Haye’s manager, Adam Booth, did not even have the courage to give me a call personally and tell me about their decision—for me a sign of his inexistent class.”

Wladimir Klitschko also took a shot at Haye, who irked the brothers during a media tour for their scheduled fight. Haye wore graphic T-shirts that depicted him holding the Klitschkos’ dismembered heads up in the center of the ring.

“David always had a big mouth and tried to offend us with ridiculous, self-made T-shirts,” Wladimir Klitschko said. “But when it comes up to step into the ring and show what he’s got, he runs away. He even admits that fighting Valuev is the easier way. For me Haye is a little, inexperienced kid who is afraid of his own courage.”

AP Sports Writers Nesha Starcevic in Frankfurt and Dave Skretta in New York contributed to this report.

Mexican boxer Nazareth dies of brain hemorrhage

MEXICO CITY (AP)—Mexican junior welterweight Marco Antonio Nazareth has died at a hospital in Puerto Vallarta, four days after sustaining a brain hemorrhage in a loss to Omar Chavez.

The 23-year-old Nazareth was hospitalized after the fight, in which Nazareth was knocked down in the first round and knocked out in the fourth.

Nazareth underwent surgery after the fight, but his condition steadily worsened. His professional record was four victories—three by knockout—and four losses.

The undefeated Chavez is the son of former champion Julio Cesar Chavez.

BOXING HISTORY MADE!

July 20th, 2009 will go down as one of the most historic days in boxing, as more than thirty of the United States top promoters met at the Roosevelt Hotel in New York City to discuss the current state of boxing and the need to establish a unified boxing promoters association. After an all day meeting the promoters unanimously formed a trade association. The organizational structure and name will be released after the next meeting in September.

DECLARATION OF BOXING PROMOTERS ASSOCIATION

Those in attendance included:

Alfredo Marchio
Aaron Jacobs
Banner Promotions
Classic Entertainment and Sports
DiBella Entertainment
Don Chargin Productions
Don King Productions
Fight Factory
Gary Shaw Productions
Golden Boy Promotions
Goosen-Tutor Promotions
Gotham Boxing
Hirsch-Borao Promotions
Hitz Boxing
Kea Boxing Promotions
Let's Get It On Promotions
Main Events
Maryland Boxing Club
Mike Acri Promotions
One Punch Productions
Peltz Boxing
Ring Promotions
Roy Englebrect Events
Seminole Warriors Boxing

Gatti remembered as a fighter with a big heart

By AMY LUFT, Associated Press Writer

MONTREAL (AP)—Arturo Gatti was remembered as a big-hearted, star fighter at his funeral Monday, drawing a standing ovation from mourners when his mother received a championship belt from the World Boxing Council.

More than 1,000 mourners packed Notre Dame de la Defense church in the heart of Montreal’s Italian community to pay respects to the 37-year-old boxer who was found dead July 11 at a Brazilian resort.

“He had the same personality when he was boxing the ring, and in his life he gave it his all,” said Canadian boxing promoter and former national boxing coach Yvon Michel, who has known Gatti for 30 years.

Gatti’s wife, Amanda Rodrigues, is being held as the prime suspect. She has been accused, but not charged, of strangling her husband with a purse strap as he slept.

A coroner’s report last weekend in Brazil indicates Gatti died of asphyxiation after his body was “suspended and hanged,” opening the possibility he may have committed suicide, authorities said.

“Nobody believes whatsoever that there’s even a one percent chance of a suicide. He lived life to the fullest,” said Ivano Scarpa, a close family friend who spoke during the funeral service.

Gatti lived in Montreal with his wife and family. Scarpa said family and friends are suspicious of Rodrigues, adding the couple had a tumultuous relationship.

Gatti retired in 2007 with a 40-9 record and two world titles in his 16-year professional career.

“We never knew he would be such a great fighter. I was always happy to see his success, to see him walk in the gym a boy and become a great man,” said a letter from former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson. The letter was sent to Gatti’s family and read by family friend Mario Costa.

When his mother, Ida Gatti, received the posthumous championship belt in the fighter’s honor, mourners stood and applauded.

“I don’t think we’ll see another fighter like this,” boxing trainer Howard Grant said. “You have to go back to the old days and guys like Rocky Graziano or Jake La Motta.”

Pacquiao-Cotto showdown set for November in Vegas

LAS VEGAS (AFP) - Filipino superstar Manny Pacquiao and three-time world champion Miguel Cotto of Puerto Rico will meet in Las Vegas on November 14, promoter Bob Arum announced on Monday.

Pacquiao, considered the pound-for-pound world champion after flattening England's Ricky Hatton in the second round in May, will meet Cotto after failed overtures from US veterans Shane Mosley and Floyd Mayweather Jnr.

"Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto have reached an agreement to fight at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on November 14," said Arum, the promoter for both fighters.

Cotto agreed to contesting the fight at a weight limit of 145 pounds, two pounds below the welterweight maximum.

Pacquiao, 49-3 with two drawn and 37 knockouts, has won world titles in a record-tying six weight classes from 112 to 140 pounds.

Last year, the flashy Filipino defeated Juan Manuel Marquez, David Diaz and Oscar de la Hoya. Pacquiao then continued his win streak to 10 fights by stopping Hatton in the second round.

Cotto, 34-1 with 27 knockouts, has defeated a host of top fighters including Mosley, Zab Judah and Joshua Clottey. Cotto's only loss came last year to Mexico's Antonio Margarito.

The announcement comes as a disappointment for World Boxing Association welterweight champion Mosley, 46-5 with 39 knockouts.

Mosley said he was willing to take only 40 percent of the purse and would agree to fight at the light-welterweight limit in order to strike a deal with Pacquiao.

Mayweather, 39-0 with 25 knockouts, will make his return from a 21-month layoff in September when he fights Mexico's Marquez. The fight was delayed from last weekend after Mayweather suffered a rib injury.

A Mayweather-Pacquiao showdown is the mega-fight most boxing fans would want to see, matching the past and current pound-for-pound ring kings, but now both men must overcome a difficult opponent simply to set the stage for such a bout.

Mayweather said last week it was unlikely he would fight Pacquiao because both camps were insistent on the lion's share of a 60-40 fight purse split. Mayweather also has bitter feelings toward Arum, his former promoter.

Gatti’s wife remains in jail, police backtracking

By BRADLEY BROOKS, Associated Press Writer

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP)—Arturo Gatti’s wife will remain in jail pending a judicial decision despite the release of an autopsy report casting doubt on whether the former champion boxer was killed.

Police, meanwhile, are backing off strong statements that Gatti’s wife was unquestionably responsible for his death. Earlier they said she undoubtedly strangled him with her purse strap as he drunkenly slept.

The lawyer for Amanda Rodrigues—whom police have said is the only suspect in the fighter’s July 11 death—petitioned for her release through two legal channels.

Pernambuco state judge Fausto Campos on Monday denied the request that she be released because she was cooperating with police. He ruled, though, that her writ of habeas corpus must be examined by a three-judge panel, leaving open the possibility she will be freed. The panel meets each Tuesday, but the court did not say when Rodrigues’ request would be heard.

The judge’s decision came on the same day about 1,000 people turned out for Gatti’s funeral in his adopted hometown of Montreal.

Gatti was found dead in the apartment he was renting with Rodrigues in the seaside resort of Porto de Galinhas in Brazil’s northeast. The pair, who had a tumultuous marriage, had arrived there a few days before Gatti’s death for a second honeymoon. The couple brought their 10-month-old son, who was unhurt and is in the care of Rodrigues’ family in Brazil.

On Saturday, authorities released an initial autopsy report that said Gatti could have died in an unexplained accident, been murdered, or committed suicide. The report indicated Gatti died of asphyxiation after his body was “suspended and hanged.”

Police said from the beginning they think Rodrigues strangled Gatti as he slept—and they have said they think the crime scene was altered before Rodrigues reported Gatti’s death. Her attorney, however, said the fact Gatti’s body was found suspended proved his client’s innocence.

“The report was telling the truth,” Rodrigues’ attorney, Celio Avelino, told The Associated Press. “The report said he was hanged. She could never suspend and hang a man that size.”

But a Gatti family friend rejected out of hand the chance the fighter committed suicide.

“Nobody believes whatsoever that there’s even a one percent chance of a suicide. He lived life to the fullest,” said Ivano Scarpa, a close family friend who spoke during the funeral service in Canada.

Rodrigues, in a handwritten note given to the AP last week, proclaimed her innocence and said it would be proved within days.

Police inspector Paulo Alberes said he could no longer comment on the case until the investigation was complete—an abrupt reversal from many detailed statements investigators have given about Gatti’s death.

“I cannot confirm that she is a suspect,” Alberes said. “I can tell you that she is still imprisoned as of right now. That is it.”

The investigator said police hope to have their final report prepared by next week. The initial investigation report was legally required to be handed over to prosecutors by Wednesday, but police received an extension on that deadline.

Associated Press Writer Tales Azzoni in Sao Paulo contributed to this report.

McGee Receives "Athlete of the Year Award"

"Merciless" Mary McGee and One In A Million, Inc. President/CEO Octavius James Celebrating Mary's award

GEM Awards Honored Gary Native Along With Other Well Known Celebrities From Gary & Northwest Indiana

July 14 (Merrillville, In) - While back in his native Gary, IN last week, Octavius James visited Gary's City Hall to discuss upcoming plans between the city and "Merciless" Mary McGee. "There are big things coming up between the partnership of Mayor Rudy Clay, the City of Gary and One In A Million Inc.; these are definitely some exciting times for all involved," said James.

Merciless" Mary McGee, who is currently ranked #3 in the world in the lightweight division, has won golden gloves, two world championships and now the Gary native has staked claim to her first Gary Entertainment Music (GEM) Athlete of the Year award.

"I'm extremely happy they selected me and I'm so sorry that I wasn't able to be there in person to accept the award," said McGee, who wasn't able to make the award show due to her having a previous commitment. "It's definitely an honor to receive this award since I am from and love the city of Gary."

The 22-year old is currently unbeaten (17-0, 10 KOs) and coming off the biggest fight of her young career with a 10-round majority decision over the WBF Light Welterweight World Champion Kristy "Rose" Follmar earning the vacant WBC International Super Lightweight world championship and successfully defending the NABC Lightweight title.

WBC International and NABC World Lightweight Champion Mary McGee with her (GEM) Athlete of the Year Award.

"I couldn't make it back in time for the award show but Mary and myself were able last week to go and celebrate this incredible award," said Octavius James, C.E.O. of One In A Million Inc. "I'm just pleased to see that she is getting some huge positive recognition for all her hard work and we definitely are excited for her and appreciate GEM for honoring her for her accomplishments." James said.

The GEM awards are given to those individuals inside Gary and Northwest Indiana that have excelled inside their industry with the idea of helping motivate younger artists within music and other genres through seeing other local talent succeed in their industries on the grandest stages.

McGee will be making her highly anticipated return to the ring since defeating Follmar in a mesmerizing 10-round bout on Octavius James' One In A Million Inc.'s upcoming fight card.

Also scheduled will be Jimmy "Fight School Teacher" Holmes (18-1-2, 9 KO's), Ed "2 Fast 2 Furious" Ochoa (9-0, 8 KO's), Derrick "Superman" Findley (13-3, 8 KO's), Josh Crouch (5-0, 5 KO's) and Marcus Thompkins (4-0, 1 KO) with the location and date to be announced soon.

Visit us at our new knockout website and leave us some feedback:

http://www.oneinamillionboxing.com/

Thought of Regaining Title Consumes The Ghost

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Story by Josh Koehn ~ Gilroy Dispatch: Photo by Daisy Rosas
The closer it gets, the more Robert "The Ghost" Guerrero wants it. Climbing back to the status of champion has taken longer than Guerrero expected, but the Gilroy native, who relinquished his IBF featherweight title more than a year ago to move up a weight class and was forced to take time off due to dispute with his former promoter, says he isn't about to be preoccupied with anything but winning when opportunity knocks.

An Aug. 22 title fight against IBF junior lightweight champion Malcolm Klassen (24-4-2, 14 KOs) has Guerrero once again leaving the comfy confines of his hometown to be isolated in training. Preparing in Los Angeles for his last bout, an eighth-round stoppage of Efren Hinojosa in June, Guerrero (24-1-1, 17 KOs) will be spending the next five weeks in the mountains of Big Bear, Calif. before flying directly to Houston the week of the fight.

The plan is to "get out there in camp, work hard, work on everything," Guerrero said. "Just making those sacrifices and being prepared like I was last fight."

Trying to shake off rust in his last fight after spending just 12 rounds in the ring in more than two years - as well as silence critics after a second-round no-contest in March allowed some to label him a quitter after not continuing with a deep cut - Guerrero knows this bout, his third title shot, is a make-or-break stepping stone in his career. A new belt could set up unification bouts or possibly even bigger fights at the lightweight division.

"We were looking to get the (Juan) Diaz fight and that fell through," Guerrero said. "I have a good promotional team, management team - take care of this fight and it's all right there."
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For more information regarding the August 22nd event, please visit http://www.goldenboypromotions.com/.

CARINA "LA REINA" MORENO
GIVES INSPIRATIONAL SPEECH TO LATE GRADUATING STUDENTS IN HER COMMUNITY OF WATSONVILLE CALIFORNIA

Four-time world champion, Carina "La Reina" Moreno (21-1, 6 KO's), was asked to give a commencement speech to the late 2009 graduates of Aptos, Watsonville and Pajaro Valley High Schools. The ceremony took place at the Mello Center in Watsonville California, where Moreno gave an inspiring speech, congratulating all the students on their accomplishment, struggle and dedication to get their diploma. Students were encouraged to continue the quest for a better education.

"I feel its important that all students to get their diploma and go to college, said Carina. "To build a brighter future for tomorrow, we need to keep the next generation of students in school. It makes me feel good that I was able to give some inspiration to the students that were present. I'm hoping they will continue to better their education."

MORENO BLOWS THE WHISTLE AT THE START OF THE ROLLER DERBY MATCH BETWEEN THE SANTA CRUZ DERBY GIRLS VS THE BAKERSFIELD REVOLUTION

Carina was the honorary guest asked to blow the whistle at the start of the game between the Santa Cruz Derby Girls versus the Derby Revolution of Bakersfield. She is pictured with announcer Timothy Jordan and Lex Van Den Berghe of "Survivor" along with Steve Wozniak of "Apple" fame. Moreno took pictures with both teams after the match and was asked to try out with the Derby Girls on July 19. Carina feels that she can be a jammer for the Derby Girls with her speed and agility.

"This was a fun event," said Moreno. "There was a lot of action and the girls are really athletic. I'm looking forward to my invitation to try out for the team."

Northern NJ locals fondly recall Arturo Gatti

By VICTOR EPSTEIN, Associated Press Writer

JERSEY CITY, N.J. (AP)—Boxing trainer Mike Skowronski honed his skills beside Arturo Gatti at Jersey City’s Ringside Gym and said the former champ’s longtime friends never liked Gatti’s wife—who is suspected of strangling him.

Skowronski, Gatti’s one-time stablemate, sparring mate and cornerman, said Amanda Rodrigues met the boxing legend while working as a stripper in northern New Jersey and quickly became his business adviser and then his wife. Friends in the working-class area of Jersey City where Gatti paid his dues in the ring were suspicious of her motives but didn’t want to offend him by pushing the matter.

“She tried to take over—she pushed him away from everybody,” Skowronski said Tuesday. “I chose not to be around it, if you can imagine that, after being friends for 20 years. A lot of his friends did the same.”

Rodrigues, a native of Brazil, is accused of strangling Gatti with her purse strap as he drunkenly slept. Rodrigues told investigators she awoke Saturday to find her husband’s body in the apartment they rented in Brazil. But police said she was the only suspect.

“Arturo had a big heart and she took advantage of that,” said Joe Gatti, 42. “There was nobody around down there that he could trust.”

Ringside Gym is located along the rough-and-tumble Route 1 & 9 truck route that snakes across northern New Jersey from the Holland and Lincoln tunnels out of New York City. Gatti was a wiry 17-year-old when he joined his older brother Joe there in 1989.

Joe Gatti, who still lives in northern New Jersey, said the family is struggling to come to terms with his death and to handle the funeral and memorial arrangements. Gatti’s body is scheduled to be released Tuesday in Brazil.

The family had hoped to hold a service in New Jersey, but Gatti never obtained his U.S. citizenship, so they’re leaning toward an event in Montreal this weekend.

“He’s my baby brother,” Joe Gatti said by phone from his home in Wyckoff. “I got him here, I raised him and he became a champion.”

The Gattis lived on one side of Route 1 & 9 in boxing guru Mario Costa’s single-family home and ate breakfast each morning in his White Mana diner. They trained on the other side of the truck route in his second-floor boxing gym, eating dinner in the Ringside Lounge below. The blue-collar area, which is known for its truck repair yards, sometimes attracts prostitutes at night.

Regulars recalled Gatti on Tuesday as a great kid who never forgot the neighborhood.

“Everybody was his friend here,” said Nunzi D’elia, 73. “He basically grew up here. We’re taking it real hard.”

Bartender Manuel Montiro said, “He wasn’t fancy. It hurts, especially the way he died.”

Gatti considered the area home and returned often even after becoming a world champion. The bar is festooned with his fight posters and trophies.

Costa cherished the champ’s final amateur boxing trophy Tuesday, laughing about the time he found a bruised and battered Gatti eating cheeseburgers and Philly cheesesteak sandwiches at White Mana the morning after a big fight in Atlantic City. Gatti had starved himself to make weight for the bout and said he’d been dreaming of the diner for days.

“What hurts is that he was by himself when he died, with nobody to protect him, because he was loved by so many people around here,” Costa said Tuesday.

Everyone has a Gatti story at Ringside. Costa likes to remember the starry-eyed teen who followed him around when he visited Montreal, begging for a chance.

Ricky Roman, 32, remembers sneaking away to neighborhood basketball courts with Gatti so the tough Canadian could break out the boxing gloves and give the local kids a shot. Gatti was small, but powerful. He also had “heavy hands,” boxing lingo for knockout power.

Skowronski, 38, of Passaic, remembered Gatti as a prankster with a penchant for pulling down the shorts of other boxers. He also recalled how hurt the teenage Gatti was by his father’s death in 1987. It was a source of strength for a boxer renowned for his courage, who was always trying to measure up to his old man’s exacting standards.

Skowronski said he would play soccer with Gatti when they were teenagers, even though he hated the sport, which is a big deal in the champ’s native Italy and childhood home of Quebec.

“I loved him,” Skowronski said. “I’d stand in the net and play goalie.”

Mayweather still quiet on injury, but ready to go

By GREG BEACHAM, AP Sports Writer

Although Floyd Mayweather Jr. still isn’t saying exactly how he injured his ribs training for his comeback fight, he has plenty to say about nearly everything else.

Mayweather kicked off the publicity campaign for his Sept. 19 fight against Juan Manuel Marquez on Tuesday by dismissing those who believe Manny Pacquiao is boxing’s best overall fighter, ripping Pacquiao promoter Bob Arum, and confirming an improved relationship with his father.

Yet the undefeated former pound-for-pound king still won’t give specifics about his abrupt injury last month, which forced the fight’s postponement from July 18 and immediately led to suspicions of skullduggery.

Many boxing observers speculated Mayweather wanted time to line up a big-money bout with Pacquiao for his first fight since December 2007. Mayweather (39-0, 25 KOs) insists he was injured in a “freak accident” in training, but won’t say much else.

“Believe me, it wasn’t a small guy that done it, but it didn’t even come from sparring,” Mayweather said. “When it happened, I tried to work through it. I was sparring for a while, but then it happened again. I said, ‘You know what, I can’t try to be a superhero. I’ve got to take time off and let it heal.’ I’d never tell exactly what happened. I just had a rib injury.”

Others wondered whether Mayweather thought he needed more time to prepare for the veteran star Marquez (50-4-1, 37 KOs)—or even whether Mayweather was disappointed by reportedly lackluster ticket sales for the fight, which Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer insists wasn’t the case.

Marquez, who’s training in Mexico City, believes Mayweather’s story about the injury, saying he used the extra time to take his children on vacation.

“I’m sure that there’s solid evidence,” Marquez said through a translator. “There should be some paperwork from the doctor, and I’m sure he presented the paperwork that was needed. I was calm. I’m fine. Things happen for a reason.”

Mayweather confirmed discussions with Arum and Top Rank about facing Pacquiao, but didn’t specify whether they occurred before or after the rib injury. Mayweather ripped Arum for demanding a 50-50 split of the purse for Pacquiao, the undersized Filipino star whose recent run of electric victories has elevated him to boxing’s top echelon.

“If he wouldn’t be so greedy, that fight would happen,” Mayweather said of Arum, his own promoter until Mayweather bought out his contract to promote himself.

Mayweather resumed training two weeks ago, but has limited himself to basketball and calisthenics. He plans to get back in the boxing gym this week.

He’s also spending more time with Floyd Mayweather Sr., the respected boxing trainer who molded his son into a champion before a furious family split several years ago. A family friend got the Mayweathers together for dinner this summer, and the two are back on friendly terms.

“He’s teaching his oldest grandson how to box, and that’s a good thing,” Mayweather said. “He’s coming to the birthday parties of his granddaughters. He’s spending more time getting to know his grandkids. My kids are the future of the Mayweather family and of the Mayweather brand. I feel our family is stronger if we stay together.”

Mayweather, Marquez and their promoters curiously won’t reveal the exact weight limit for the fight, saying only it’s a welterweight bout—which could mean anything from 141 pounds to the 147-pound class limit. De La Hoya claimed the mystery is designed to get people to watch the weigh-in on Sept. 18.

Marquez has never fought at more than 135 pounds, only moving up from 130 recently. Mayweather says he’s already close to 147 pounds, meaning the few extra pounds won’t be tough to lose.

Although Mayweather Promotions is closely aligned with Golden Boy, Mayweather also needled two Golden Boy partners during the conference call.

He blasted Sugar Shane Mosley as a cheater for using steroids, which Mosley says he did unwittingly. Mayweather also speculated De La Hoya “was just in it for the payday” when he lost to Pacquiao last year.

If Mayweather saw irony in a fighter whose self-proclaimed nickname is “Money” warning of the dangers in fighting solely for paychecks, he didn’t acknowledge it. Mayweather, whose camp has denied problems with the IRS over unpaid taxes, insists he’ll reclaim his spot atop the sport, starting next month.

“The biggest fight in boxing isn’t Mayweather vs. Marquez,” Mayweather said. “It’s Mayweather vs. anybody.”

Gatti death: Lawyer asks for release of wife

By BRADLEY BROOKS, Associated Press Writer

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP)—The Brazilian wife of Arturo Gatti asked to be released from jail, where she is held on accusations she strangled the former boxing champion with her purse strap as he drunkenly slept.

Her lawyer told The Associated Press on Tuesday he petitioned a court to release Amanda Rodrigues while the investigation continues. Celio Avelino expects the court in Recife to rule on Wednesday at the earliest.

Rodrigues told investigators she awoke Saturday about 6 a.m. to find her husband’s body in the apartment they rented in Porto de Galinhas, a seaside resort in Pernambuco state. She then called police, which Avelino said indicates her willingness to help authorities.

But police said she was the only suspect and they are certain she killed Gatti in their apartment where they and their 10-month-old son arrived for a second honeymoon last week. The boy was unhurt and was in the care of Rodrigues’ family.

Police spokeswoman Milena Saraiva told the AP the death may have even been premeditated and Rodrigues may have encouraged Gatti to drink excessively so she would be able to overpower him later.

“He was very drunk and that made it easier for her,” Saraiva said. “He was sleeping when she did this. She waited for the moment when he was drunk enough for her to do it.”

She also said Gatti’s body was released to his brother and it was her understanding the body would be flown to Canada on Wednesday.

Rodrigues told police she had a fight with Gatti after dinner on Friday and he pushed her to the ground, resulting in minor injuries to her elbow and chin. Witnesses also reported to police the couple fought and Gatti was drunk.

Police said Gatti had marks on his throat, indicating he was strangled, and a knife wound to the back of his head. They displayed a bloodied, white purse strap that was found near Gatti’s body, along with a small steak knife.

Saraiva said she could not confirm if Gatti was first strangled and then cut with the knife, or the opposite.

Chuck Zito, an actor and close personal friend of Gatti, said he spoke with Gatti a few weeks ago, and the boxer told him the couple was “probably going to get a divorce.”

Zito and Gatti met 13 years ago, when Zito was with Pamela Anderson and Raquel Welch at an Oscar De La Hoya fight. Gatti wanted to meet Welch, and the two men struck up a close relationship. Zito ended up accompanying Gatti to the ring for several of his most notable fights.

Zito said Gatti met his wife at the strip club Scores in New York and that Gatti’s friends tried to talk him out of marrying her.

AP Sports Writer Dave Skretta in New York contributed to this report.

Super middleweight tourny designed to crown champ

By DAVE SKRETTA, AP Sports Writer

NEW YORK (AP)—Ken Hershman knows his plan is ambitious, a six-man super middleweight round-robin tournament designed to crown a single champion. He also understands that if he pulls it off, it could go a long way toward reviving the sport of boxing.

The tournament, featuring two current champions, two former middleweight champions and two up-and-coming U.S. Olympians, was announced Monday at Madison Square Garden. It will begin this fall and conclude with a seeded semifinals and championship in early 2011.

“The beauty of this is that at the end, there’ll be one winner,” said Hershman, the senior vice president in charge of boxing at Showtime. “He’ll be the best in his weight division.”

Hershman began putting the concept together in May, first pitching the idea directly to the fighters: WBC champion Carl Froch, WBA titleholder Mikkel Kessler, former middleweight champs Arthur Abraham and Jermain Taylor, and former Olympians Andre Ward and Andre Dirrell.

Then Hershman went to their five promoters and, in a sport where it’s difficult enough to get two sides to agree on a fight, managed to get all five to sign a contract.

“It was an interesting process and not one I relish repeating,” Hershman said. “But they all believe firmly they can win the tournament and … that eliminated all the nonsense.”

Eliminating the nonsense is precisely what boxing fans want.

The primary complaint for years has been that there are too many champions in too many weight divisions, and that the best don’t want to fight each other. Greed has often taken precedence over interesting and exciting fights, alienating those fans that are left.

As mixed martial arts booms in popularity, boxing languishes behind.

“Boxing is still successful,” promoter Dan Goossen said, refusing to believe the sport is in jeopardy. “But what we haven’t done is grow the business.”

Fellow promoter Lou DiBella believes the “World Boxing Classic” will help.

“This is what’s going to get us back together, what’s going to get us back on the map,” he said. “There’s not going to be a bad fight in this tournament, the best are fighting the best.”

Unlike a traditional single elimination tournament, each fighter will be guaranteed three bouts and earn points based on their decisions. A victory will be worth two, including a bonus point for a knockout, and a draw will earn one point. The four boxers with the most points will advance to the semifinals.

While dates and locations have not been confirmed, the first group of bouts is set. Dirrell will fight Froch for his WBC title, while Kessler defends his WBA title against Ward and Taylor fights Abraham.

“It happened so fast,” Taylor said. “I was wondering what I was going to do next, and I got a phone call saying this tournament was coming. I couldn’t wait to sign.”

Some talented fighters didn’t get that chance.

Among those who aren’t involved are IBF champ Lucian Bute, who is scheduled to fight Librado Andrade this fall, WBO champion Karoly Balzsay and top contender Allan Green.

Hershman would not reveal what contingencies are in place should a fighter get hurt, fail a drug test or drop out for some other reason, but he acknowledged that Bute or another top super middleweight could conceivably end up in the tournament.

“If you have eight, at some point it becomes so unwieldy and long, and you run the risk of collapsing on top of itself,” Hershman said. “We expected we would go to six and one would say no, but everybody said yes, and we were done.”

The fighters give the tournament a global flair, while their resumes give it credibility.

Kessler (41-1, 38 KOs) might be considered the favorite. The hard-hitting Dane’s only loss came in 2007, when he waged a slugfest with unbeaten champion Joe Calzaghe.

Froch (25-0, 20 KOs) made headlines earlier this year when he rallied to knock out Taylor (28-3-1, 17 KOs) with 14 seconds left to defend his title. Abraham (30-0, 24 KOs) was born in Armenia and now fights out of Germany, and will be moving up from middleweight after vacating his 160-pound title over the weekend.

While the tournament isn’t designed to pit Europe versus America, that’s how many fans will view it. Taylor was a 2000 Olympic bronze medalist, Dirrell (18-0, 13 KOs) won the bronze medal in 2004, and Ward (19-0, 12 KOs) won gold for the U.S. in Athens.

“It has nothing to do with Europe and America,” Froch insisted. “It’s the best fighters in the world. It just happens to be where we come from.”

Mayweather says money dispute foils Pacquiao fight hopes

LAS VEGAS (AFP) - Unbeaten US star Floyd Mayweather Jnr declared himself fit to fight after a rib injury delayed his comeback but says money demands have foiled a possible showdown with Manny Pacquiao.

Mayweather dismissed Pacquiao's claim to the world pound-for-pound throne Mayweather vacated by retiring in December of 2007, saying, "It's like a T-Bone steak. After I eat all the meat off the steak, they throw him the bone."

Mayweather, 39-0 with 25 knockouts, will fight Mexico's Juan Manuel Marquez, 50-4 with one draw and 37 knockouts, on September 19 after this Saturday's planned date was scrapped over an injury whose origin Mayweather kept secret.

"It didn't come from sparring," Mayweather said Tuesday. "Freak accidents happen in training. It was just a freak accident.

"I tried to work through it but then it happened again and I'm like, 'I can't be a superhero. Take a little time off.' I healed. Now I'm ready to rock and roll. I can't wait to get back out there."

Mayweather will fight for the first time in 21 months, since a 10th-round stoppage of England's Ricky Hatton, who was flattened in the second round last May by Filipino star Pacquiao.

Interest is great for a Pacquiao-Mayweather showdown but Mayweather said the bout is unlikely because Pacquiao promoter Bob Arum seeks a 50-50 split of profits rather than a 60-40 break in Mayweather's favor.

"He wants a 50-50 split. That's never going to happen. If Bob Arum wasn't trying to be so greedy, that fight would happen," Mayweather said. "It still is a business even if it is a sport."

Mayweather's past two fights, with Hatton and Oscar de la Hoya, enticed 3.5 million US pay-per-view purchases, said Golden Boy Promotions chief executive Richard Schaefer, while Pacquiao "did a little bit more than half of that" against the same foes.

"It's difficult for Floyd to say it should be 50-50 because it really shouldn't be 50-50," Schaefer said. "Both fighters have a certain market value and they should get compensated accordingly."

While Mayweather said he has no grudge against Pacquiao, he neither has any great desire to fight him if the price is not right.

"Pacquiao is a good fighter. I don't take nothing from him," Mayweather said. "He hasn't done nothing I haven't done. Where was he when I was dominating in the '90s? He hasn't called me out. I'm not hard to find.

"I ain't worried about him. With or without him, I'm comfortable. I'm happy. He don't make me (nothing). I don't chase opponents. Opponents chase me. The biggest fight in boxing is Mayweather versus anybody."

Mayweather and Arum had a bitter breakup and Mayweather said Pacquiao loses 27 percent of his paydays.

"Manny Pacquiao has the worst contract in boxing with Bob Arum right now - 27 percent," Mayweather said. "I keep 100 percent of my money. Are you serious - 27 percent? Arum tells Manny Pacquiao the same bull he used to tell me."

Marquez rallied from being sent to the canvas three times in the first round to draw Pacquiao in 2004 and lost a controversial split decision to him in 2008 but Mayweather rates Marquez a better rival than Pacquiao.

"I would have to rate him ovr Manny. For a guy to knock him down three times in the first round and he comes back to get a draw, we know who lost," said Mayweather, who has recently healed strained relations with father Floyd Snr.

Fight co-promoter De la Hoya, who lost to Pacquiao last December, said that Mayweather deserves the pound-for-pound crown, not Pacquaio.

"I'd have to go with Floyd. I felt more skill coming out of Mayweather than I did with Pacquiao," de la Hoya said. "The winner between Mayweather and Marquez is the best pound-for-pound fighter on the planet."

Marquez dismissed Pacquiao as well, saying, "Mayweather is the best. He retired undefeated. When I fought Manny I thought I beat him both times."

De la Hoya tossed another dig at "Pac-Man", saying, "The fans are the ones who speak and we all know Marquez beat Pacquiao."

Japan’s Hasegawa retains WBC bantamweight title

KOBE, Japan (AP)—WBC bantamweight champion Hozumi Hasegawa of Japan has kept his title by stopping Nestor Rocha of the United States in the first round.

Hasegawa sent Rocha to the canvas twice Tuesday before the referee stopped the bout after 2 minutes, 28 seconds.

This was Hasegawa’s ninth title defense. He improved to 27-2, 11 by knockout. Rocha was bidding for his first world title and dropped to 21-2 with seven KOs.

In an earlier bout, Roman Gonzalez of Nicaragua retained his WBA minimumweight crown with a unanimous decision over Katsunari Takayama of Japan.

Rojas claims WBC featherweight title

TOKYO (AP)—Elio Rojas of the Dominican Republic has become the new WBC featherweight champion with a unanimous decision over Takahiro Aoh of Japan.

Rojas dominated from the opening rounds Tuesday, and was never seriously challenged in the 12-round bout at Korakuen Hall. The three judges scored it 116-113, 117-111, 118-110 for Rojas.

The 26-year-old Rojas improved to 21-1-0 with 13 knockouts; Aoh fell to 17-2-1.

It was the 25-year-old Aoh’s first defense of the title he won from Oscar Larios of Mexico in March.

Police: Khan not to blame in crash with cyclist

By ROB HARRIS, AP Sports Writer

MANCHESTER, England (AP)—Preparations for Amir Khan’s first world title fight were disrupted after the English boxer was questioned by police over a collision with a cyclist while driving.

Police on Tuesday cleared Khan of responsibility for the accident, which happened Sunday night in his hometown of Bolton, near Manchester.

The 22-year-old cyclist suffered a head injury and was taken to a hospital, although police don’t believe his injuries are serious.

“Several witnesses at the scene have been interviewed,” Greater Manchester Police said. “The driver was not at fault in the collision, and no further action will be taken on this matter.”

The incident is an unwelcome distraction for the 22-year-old Khan ahead of Saturday’s WBA world welterweight title bout with Andreas Kotelnik. On Monday, Khan described his first world title fight as a career defining moment.

“I’ve got a big fight in front of me now—this is a fight that is going to catapult me to the bigger fights,” Khan said. “I need to win this fight to take me to the next level.

“This is the biggest fight at the moment—for a world title—then I can plan out where I want to go from there. There’s a lot of pressure on me and I need to win this fight to get me to the places I want to get to.”

For that, Khan needs to captivate American television audiences.

“That’s a big thing for me—more attention in America, and then I’ll go over there and fight,” he said. “Everyone’s dream is to fight in Vegas and I want to fight in Vegas.”

Police eye wife in Gatti’s death, rule out nothing

By BRADLEY BROOKS, Associated Press Writer

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP)—Police investigating the death of former boxing champion Arturo Gatti are working on the assumption his wife strangled him with her purse strap while he drunkenly slept. The woman’s lawyer, however, insists she is innocent and was too “fragile” to kill a boxer.

Lead investigator Moises Teixeira told The Associated Press on Monday nothing is being ruled out but he is certain the woman acted by herself.

“It was technically impossible for a third person to have been in the flat,” where Gatti was found dead early Saturday, Teixeira said. “The investigation isn’t finished, but we continue to think she did this alone.”

Gatti’s 23-year-old Brazilian wife, Amanda Rodrigues, told investigators she awoke Saturday about 6 a.m. to find her husband’s body in the apartment they rented in Porto de Galinhas, a seaside resort in northeastern Pernambuco state.

Rodrigues told police she had a fight with Gatti after dinner Friday night and he pushed her to the ground, resulting in minor injuries to her elbow and chin. Witnesses also reported to police the couple fought and that Gatti was drunk.

Rodrigues told police the 37-year-old former junior welterweight champion then got into a cab with their son and returned to their rented apartment, leaving her alone downtown.

Teixeira said witnesses told police Gatti left his son to sleep in the apartment, then returned to the city center to find his wife. She arrived at the apartment before he did and waited for him. They then both went upstairs together.

Rodrigues told police she slept on the second floor of the apartment with her son, while Gatti slept on the first floor. She told police she awoke at 6 a.m. to feed her son and discovered her husband’s body. Police say he most likely had been killed at least four hours before that.

Teixeira said police do not think anyone else entered the apartment and killed Gatti—he said there were no signs of forced entry and electronic locks indicated nobody else had entered the room aside from Rodrigues and Gatti.

The investigator said Rodrigues told them she thought her husband had committed suicide or that someone had entered the apartment and killed him. Teixeira ruled out both scenarios.

Rodrigues’ sister, Flavia, told the newspaper Folha de S. Paulo there is “no way she could have strangled a man of that size.”

Rodrigues’ attorney, Celio Avelino, told the AP he agreed with Flavia’s conclusion and he would request Amanda be freed from jail Tuesday pending the conclusion of the investigation.

“She is fragile, young and skinny—how could she kill a boxing champion?” Avelino said. “When she awoke, she presumed he had committed suicide. But she had nothing to do with it.”

Flavia Rodrigues said her sister told her she thought Gatti had committed suicide—though she said he knew of no reason the boxer would kill himself or why the pair fought the night before his death.

“Sure, they had fights,” Flavia said. “But he was crazy about her.”

The sister told Recife’s TV Jornal news station that “Amanda told us she didn’t kill Arturo, and we believe her.”

“My sister, like us, is very religious and would be incapable of killing anyone,” Flavia said. “She found him already dead. It’s up to the police to discover what happened in the flat.”

The pair married in 2007 and according to Rodrigues had a rocky relationship. Authorities were told the couple was extremely jealous of each other and that Gatti constantly complained about her clothing when she traveled to Brazil, police spokeswoman Milena Saraiva said.

According to Brazilian law, police accuse a person of a crime but it is up to the prosecutor to formally file a charge. Teixeira said police have until July 22 to deliver their findings to the prosecutor’s office, but he hoped the investigation would be completed before then.

Rodrigues was accused of the crime Sunday and taken into police custody. She has been transferred to a woman’s prison in the state capital Recife. She maintains her innocence.

Gatti, Rodrigues and their 10-month-old son arrived in Brazil on Friday for what they told a local real estate agent was a second honeymoon. The baby, who was unhurt, is now with Rodrigues’ family in Brazil.

Gatti, a Canadian, fought an epic trilogy with Micky Ward that branded him one of the most exciting fighters of his generation. He retired in 2007 with a career record of 40-9 and 31 knockouts.

Known for his straightforward punching and granitelike chin, Gatti captured the super featherweight title in 1995, when he defeated Tracy Harris Patterson in Atlantic City, N.J. He won the junior welterweight title in 2004.

Police accuse wife in death of boxing champ Gatti

By TALES AZZONI, Associated Press Writer

SAO PAULO AP)—Brazilian authorities detained the wife of former boxing champion Arturo Gatti and formally accused her Sunday of killing him at a posh seaside tourist resort in Brazil.

Police said 23-year-old Amanda Rodrigues was taken into custody after contradictions in her interrogation and presented a formal accusation against her. Prosecutors will later decide whether she will be charged.

Rodrigues, who denies any involvement in her husband’s death, was the first to find the slain boxer’s body early Saturday inside the vacation apartment they were renting at the Porto de Galinhas resort in northeastern Brazil, police said.

The former junior welterweight champion was apparently strangled with the strap of a purse, which was found at the scene with blood stains, said Milena Saraiva, a spokeswoman for the Pernambuco state civil police. She told The Associated Press that the Canadian also sustained a head injury.

Police said Rodrigues, a Brazilian, could not explain how she spent nearly 10 hours inside the residence without noticing that Gatti was already dead.

Rodrigues told police she had a fight with Gatti after dinner Friday night and he pushed her to the ground during the altercation, causing her to sustain minor injuries to her elbow and chin. She told authorities Gatti was drunk and that a third party likely committed the crime after he went to the apartment by himself.

Witnesses had reported to police that the couple fought and that Gatti was drunk.

Authorities were told the couple was extremely jealous of each other and that Gatti constantly complained about her clothing when she traveled to Brazil, Saraiva said.

Acelino “Popo” Freitas, a four-time world champion Brazilian boxer, told Globo TV’s Web site on Saturday that he was a close friend of Gatti and his wife and that he “knew they were having some sort of problem and were about to separate.”

They had planned to spend one month in Brazil on vacation.

The couple’s 1-year-old son, who was unhurt, was handed to Rodrigues’ sister, Saraiva said.

The 37-year-old Gatti, whose epic trilogy with Micky Ward branded him one of the most exciting fighters of his generation, retired in 2007 with a career record of 40-9 and 31 knockouts.

Known for his straightforward punching and granite-like chin, Gatti captured the super featherweight title in 1995, when he defeated Tracy Harris Patterson in Atlantic City, N.J. He won the junior welterweight title in 2004.

Police detain wife of former boxing champion Gatti

By TALES AZZONI, Associated Press Writer

SAO PAULO (AP)—The wife of former boxing champion Arturo Gatti was detained as a suspect by Brazilian authorities Sunday following his death at a posh seaside resort.

Police said 23-year-old Amanda Rodrigues was taken into custody after contradictions in her interrogation. Gatti’s body was found early Saturday in a hotel room at the Porto de Galinhas resort in northeastern Brazil.

The former junior welterweight champion was apparently strangled with the strap of a purse, which was found at the scene with blood stains, said Milena Saraiva, a spokeswoman for the Pernambuco state civil police. She told The Associated Press that the Canadian also had a head injury.

The investigation was not complete, but Saraiva said authorities were preparing to present a formal accusation against Rodrigues, who denied being involved in her husband’s death.

Police said Rodrigues, a Brazilian, could not explain how she spent nearly 10 hours in the room without noticing that Gatti was already dead.

Police were investigating witness reports that the couple fought and Gatti was drunk when he returned to his room Friday night, Saraiva said, adding that police were told the pair were extremely jealous of each other and that he constantly complained of her clothing when she traveled to Brazil.

Acelino “Popo” Freitas, a four-time world champion Brazilian boxer, told Globo TV’s Web site on Saturday that he was a close friend of Gatti and his wife and that he “knew they were having some sort of problem and were about to separate.”

The couple’s 1-year-old son, who was unhurt, was with Rodrigues’ sister, Saraiva said.

The 37-year-old Gatti, whose epic trilogy with Micky Ward branded him one of the most exciting fighters of his generation, retired in 2007 with a career record of 40-9 and 31 knockouts.

Known for his straightforward punching and granite-like chin, Gatti captured the junior welterweight title in 1995, when he defeated Tracy Harris Patterson in Atlantic City.

STEVENS ANNIHILATES WILCZEWSKI

Star Boxing's Curtis "Showtime" Stevens (21-2, 15) showed why he is one of the most feared super middleweights in the world, with a sensational third round TKO over previously unbeaten Piotr Wilczewski (22-1, 7KO).

CURTIS "SHOWTIME" STEVENS W/ PROMOTER JOE DEGUARDIA

Stevens came out in the first round firing, eventually dropping Wilczewski hard with a right uppercut. Luckily for Wilczewski the end of the round was near and he was able to survive.

In the third a huge left uppercut from Stevens dropped Wilczewski hard again. He was able to get to his feet but was visibly still hurt. Stevens seized the opportunity and jumped all over Wilczewski. With Wilczewski being helplessly beaten against the ropes, the referee called a halt to the contest at 1:47 of the third round.

It was a huge win for Stevens as he showed why he is a serious contender in the super middleweight division.
Photo by Star Boxing Photographer Marty Rosengarten

Adamek beats Gunn to defend cruiserweight title

NEWARK, N.J. (AP)—Tomasz Adamek successfully defended his International Boxing Federation cruiserweight world championship Saturday night with a fourth-round technical knockout of Bobby Gunn.

Adamek, a Polish native who now lives in Jersey City, N.J., dominated the fight from the outset and improved his career record to 38-1 with 26 knockouts. Gunn, who hails from Hackensack, N.J., fell to 18-4-1.

Adamek stunned Gunn with a powerful overhand right in the fourth round, buckling the challenger’s knees, but he signaled to Adamek that he was not seriously hurt by shaking his head. Adamek appeared shocked that Gunn didn’t go down, especially after ending the round with a flurry of 17 unanswered punches.

After the bell, referee Earl Brown went to Gunn’s corner and stopped the fight, giving Adamek the victory.

“The doctor looked at the cut (over Gunn’s left eye) and recommended that I should stop it,” Brown said. “I was ready to give him a little longer.”

Gunn believed Brown should have.

“I didn’t even see the blood,” Gunn said. “I couldn’t believe he was stopping it. Honest to God, I wasn’t hurt. I could have gone on.”

Adamek, who was clearly ahead on all three cards, didn’t question Brown’s actions.

“It wasn’t my decision,” Adamek said. “I always believe in going into the ring healthy and leaving healthy. That should work for both of us. Obviously, the fans wanted to see more.”

Adamek used his left jab with ease in the first round, then scored at will in a clearly one-sided second round, hurting the challenger several times with an assortment of powerful right hands.

“My jab is my No. 1 weapon,” Adamek said. “Other than my straight right, I use the jab a lot.”

Although Gunn was the New Jersey native, it was clearly a pro-Adamek crowd, with several of the 7,000 or so fans waving the Polish national flag and chanting “Polska, Polska,” with every Adamek punch. Adamek fought for the third straight time at the Prudential Center and has become a crowd favorite in each of those bouts, all three victories.

Adamek used his left jab with ease in the first round, then scored at will in a clearly one-sided second round, hurting the challenger several times with an assortment of powerful right hands.

The shorter Gunn tried to counter with a left hook that scored a few times, but never really hurt the champion. Adamek displayed a host of combinations in the third round to take firm control of the bout.

“He tried something and it didn’t work,” Adamek said. “I realized what was going on. I’m an experienced fighter and it was a puzzle that was easy to solve. He got hit with a lot of hard shots.”

Agbeko downs Darchinyan to keep bantamweight crown

SUNRISE, Florida (AFP) - Ghana's Jospeh Agbeko retained the International Boxing Federation bantamweight title with a unanimous decision over Australian-based Armenian Vic Darchinyan.

Agbeko overcame a controversial knockdown in the seventh round to improve to 27-1 and denied Darchinyan a world title in his third different weight class, dropping the undisputed super flyweight world champion to 32-2 with one drawn.

"This win means a lot to me," Agbeko said. "This is my time to shine. I prepared very well. I didn't prepare to be a champion for a short time. I want to reign for a long time."

Agbeko made the second successful second defense of the crown he won with a seventh-round stoppage of Nicaraguan Luis Perez in 2007. Agbeko has won six in a row, including a defense last December over Nicaraguan William Gonzalez.

"He's not better than me but he was today," Darchinyan said. "I went for a big punch and I paid for it. It was a close decision. I lost."

Agbeko opened a cut over Darchinyan's left eye in the second round and bloodied the southpaw's nose in the fifth round.

Darchinyan answered in the seventh by pushing Agbeko down to his right knee while landing a left in what was called a knockdown by referee Tommy Kimmons.

Agbeko opened a bloody gash over Darchinyan's right eye in what was ruled an accidental clash of heads. Darchinyan shoved Agbeko to the canvas in the 10th and 11th round but could not send him down with punches that counted.

"I knew to watch for head butts. I didn't and I paid for it. I took bad tactics. No excuses. He was great at moving. I couldn't find the right position. I know my mistakes. That's what I will work on."

Darchinyan, the former IBF flyweight king, saw his five-fight unbeaten streak snapped and must decide within 10 days whether or not to defend his undisputed superfly crown or stay at bantamweight, where Agbeko still rules.

"Vic Darchinyan can never stop my dream," Agbeko said. "Ghana is behind me. This was for them. This was the biggest fight of my career. I know nothing can stop me now."

Vetyeka beats Barcelona for vacant bantam title

JOHANNESBURG (AP)—Simphiwe Vetyeka of South Africa won the vacant IBO bantamweight title, beating Eric Barcelona of the Philippines by unanimous decision Saturday.

Vetyeka (21-1) had an advantage in weight, height and reach, and won on all the judges’ cards at Emperor’s Palace: 118-114, 118-110 and 117-111 at Emperor’s Palace. Barcelona fell to 48-16-1.

Both fighters overcame a slippery ring as they tumbled along with Puerto Rican referee Roberto Ramirez at times.

Earlier, South African-born Lovemore N’dou (47-11-1) of Australia won the vacant IBO welterweight title at 37 against Phillip N’dou—no relation—by unanimous decision. It was only the second fight in five years for Phillip N’dou (32-4).

Former boxing champ Gatti found dead in Brazil

By STAN LEHMAN, Associated Press Writer

SAO PAULO (AP)—Former boxing champion Arturo Gatti, one of the most exciting fighters of his generation, was found dead in a hotel room in the posh seaside resort of Porto de Galihnas early Saturday.

Police investigator Edilson Alves told The Associated Press that the body of the former junior welterweight champ was discovered in his hotel room at the tourist resort, where Gatti had arrived on Friday with his Brazilian wife Amanda and 1-year-old son.

Alves said police were investigating and it was unclear how the 37-year-old Canadian died.

“It is still too early to say anything concrete, although it is all very strange,” Alves said.

A spokeswoman for the state public safety department said Gatti’s wife and son were unhurt. The women declined to give a name in keeping with department policy.

“There were no bullet or stab wounds on his body, but police did find blood stains on the floor,” she said.

Gatti first captured the junior welterweight title in 1995, when he defeated Tracy Harris Patterson in Atlantic City, N.J. His brawling style and natural charisma made him a fan favorite, and he became one of New Jersey’s adopted sons while fighting some of his most memorable battles on the Boardwalk.

“His entire boxing career he fought with us, we’ve known him since he was 17,” Kathy Duva of promoter Main Events told The Associated Press. “It’s just an unspeakable tragedy. I can’t even find words. It’s a horror.”

Brazilian boxer and four-time world champion Acelino “Popo” Freitas told the G1 Web site of Brazil’s largest television network Globo that he was a close friend of Gatti and his wife, and that he “knew they were having some sort of problem and were about to separate, but I didn’t know they were in Brazil.”

Francisco Assis, a local police investigator, told G1 that Gatti could have died up to eight hours before his body was found early Saturday.

AP Sports Writer Dave Skretta in New York contributed to this report.

Sturm defends WBA middleweight title

NUERBURG, Germany (AP)—Felix Sturm retained his WBA middleweight title, beating Khoren Gevor in a unanimous decision Saturday at the Ring Arena.

Sturm relied on clean, strong shots that stunned Gevor several times throughout the 12-round fight. But the Armenian challenger was aggressive and tenacious, moving Sturm around the ring and keeping him in a defensive crouch.

All three judges called the fight for Sturm, 115-113 twice and 117-111. Many in the arena were disappointed, including Gevor, who said “no one won that fight.”

Sturm (33-2-1) said he wasn’t as perturbed by Gevor’s dissent as he was by what he said were some dirty moves in the ring.

“He wants to be world champion, like everyone, but you have to do more than push with your head,” Sturm said.

The two fighters, both 30 years old, spent much of the fight locked with their gloves and heads nearly touching. At the close of the third round, Sturm fell to the mat when Gevor (30-4) took a swing while standing on his opponent’s foot.

Sturm, a German, hasn’t lost in his past nine fights, though he only mustered a draw against Randy Griffin in October 2007. He beat Griffin by unanimous decision later that year. His recent fights before Saturday been a string of easy victories.