NEW YORK (AP)—Welterweight champion Andre Berto will defend his WBC belt for the third time when he takes on junior welterweight titleholder Juan Urango next month.
The fight will be May 30 at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Fla., but was announced Wednesday at NYY Steak at the new Yankee Stadium. The restaurant is a joint venture between the Yankees and the Seminole tribe.
Berto is a 2004 U.S. Olympian with a 24-0 record, including 19 knockouts. He is coming off a unanimous decision over Luis Collazo.
Urango is 21-1 with 16 KOs. The left-hander from Colombia has won four straight since losing his junior welterweight belt to Ricky Hatton in 2007. Urango won back the vacant IBF title by beating Herman Ngoudjo in January.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
DEANDRE LATIMORE READY FOR CORY SPINKS ON APRIL 24TH
LAS VEGAS, NV (April 13, 2009) Just eleven days out from the biggest fight of his life, Deandre “THE BULL” Latimore was cool as the breeze Monday afternoon after a sparring session under the watchful eye of master trainer Kenny Adams, in addition to the best strength coach in boxing, Ray Franklin, at the Top Rank gym in Las Vegas.
Latimore will battle Cory "THE NEXT GENERATION” Spinks on Friday, April 24th for the vacant International Boxing Federation junior middleweight championship at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis, Missouri. Their long awaited cross-town showdown will be broadcast on Shobox “The New Generation” beginning at 11pm ET/PT (delayed on the west coast).
“It’s been ten months since I last fought, but I’m ready to go. Coach Kenny and I really turned things up in the last couple of months when the fight was being finalized. I’ve wanted to fight Cory for a long time, he was one of my idols growing up, and I’m thrilled to be facing him with the world title on the line” said the 23 year old Latimore.
“Growing up in St. Louis, he was someone I always knew about when I was in the amateurs. But we’re from different parts of the city, I’m from the South side where the Peabody projects are at, he’s from the North side. So for the fans, it’s very much of a city rivalry, like a St. Louis high school football championship.”
Latimore, 19-1-0 (16KO’s), was last seen on June 11th finishing off the IBF #1 ranked junior middleweight at the time, Sechew Powell, in the seventh round of their ESPN2 televised battle at the Hard Rock Times Square in New York City.
In Spinks’ last bout, the 31 year old lost the IBF junior middleweight title to Verno Phillips by split decision on March 27, 2008 at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis. Spinks, 36-5-0, (11KO’s), believes that his vast world championship level of experience will work in his favor against his younger foe.
Said Latimore, “I know what he’s saying ‘Who have I beat’ and ‘What have I done to get in the ring with him’. Hopefully after the fight he’ll think differently.”
Latimore is managed by Jerry Giuliano of Sandman Boxing Management LLC.
“We’ve wanted this fight for almost a year, since he knocked out Powell. This is the same type of scenario, he wasn’t supposed to win then and he’s being overlooked here also. That’s okay, let them sleep on Deandre, he’ll take care of business in the ring” said Giuliano.
Tickets, all in the lower bowl, priced at $100 ringside, $60, $40, $25 and $10 (with a limited number of Golden Circle seats available at $300) are on sale now at Scottrade Center Box Office, all Ticketmaster Ticket Centers, by phone at 1-800-745-3000, or online at ticketmaster.com. A per ticket facility fee will be added to all tickets purchased at all locations, including at the Scottrade Center Box Office. Additional Ticketmaster service charges and handling fees apply. For disabled seating, call 314-622-5420. The fight is promoted by Don King Productions, presented in association with Rumble Time Promotions and DiBella Entertainment.
Latimore will battle Cory "THE NEXT GENERATION” Spinks on Friday, April 24th for the vacant International Boxing Federation junior middleweight championship at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis, Missouri. Their long awaited cross-town showdown will be broadcast on Shobox “The New Generation” beginning at 11pm ET/PT (delayed on the west coast).
“It’s been ten months since I last fought, but I’m ready to go. Coach Kenny and I really turned things up in the last couple of months when the fight was being finalized. I’ve wanted to fight Cory for a long time, he was one of my idols growing up, and I’m thrilled to be facing him with the world title on the line” said the 23 year old Latimore.
“Growing up in St. Louis, he was someone I always knew about when I was in the amateurs. But we’re from different parts of the city, I’m from the South side where the Peabody projects are at, he’s from the North side. So for the fans, it’s very much of a city rivalry, like a St. Louis high school football championship.”
Latimore, 19-1-0 (16KO’s), was last seen on June 11th finishing off the IBF #1 ranked junior middleweight at the time, Sechew Powell, in the seventh round of their ESPN2 televised battle at the Hard Rock Times Square in New York City.
In Spinks’ last bout, the 31 year old lost the IBF junior middleweight title to Verno Phillips by split decision on March 27, 2008 at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis. Spinks, 36-5-0, (11KO’s), believes that his vast world championship level of experience will work in his favor against his younger foe.
Said Latimore, “I know what he’s saying ‘Who have I beat’ and ‘What have I done to get in the ring with him’. Hopefully after the fight he’ll think differently.”
Latimore is managed by Jerry Giuliano of Sandman Boxing Management LLC.
“We’ve wanted this fight for almost a year, since he knocked out Powell. This is the same type of scenario, he wasn’t supposed to win then and he’s being overlooked here also. That’s okay, let them sleep on Deandre, he’ll take care of business in the ring” said Giuliano.
Tickets, all in the lower bowl, priced at $100 ringside, $60, $40, $25 and $10 (with a limited number of Golden Circle seats available at $300) are on sale now at Scottrade Center Box Office, all Ticketmaster Ticket Centers, by phone at 1-800-745-3000, or online at ticketmaster.com. A per ticket facility fee will be added to all tickets purchased at all locations, including at the Scottrade Center Box Office. Additional Ticketmaster service charges and handling fees apply. For disabled seating, call 314-622-5420. The fight is promoted by Don King Productions, presented in association with Rumble Time Promotions and DiBella Entertainment.
Oscar De La Hoya quits boxing at age 36
By BETH HARRIS, AP Sports Writer
LOS ANGELES (AP)—Oscar De La Hoya stopped battling himself Tuesday, deciding after much internal turmoil to retire and end a career in which he won 10 world titles in six divisions and became boxing’s most popular fighter.
He made his announcement at an outdoor plaza across the street from Staples Center, where a 7-foot bronze statue of the 36-year-old Golden Boy stands.
“I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s over,” the East Los Angeles native said before hundreds of fans, including comedian George Lopez and Oscar-nominated actor and former fighter Mickey Rourke. “It’s over inside the ring for me.”
De La Hoya retired four months after he was thoroughly beaten by Manny Pacquiao, his fourth loss in his last seven fights. He has not defeated a formidable opponent since Fernando Vargas in 2002. Age and diminished skills led to losses in recent years to Felix Trinidad, Shane Mosley, Bernard Hopkins and Floyd Mayweather Jr.
He won his last title in May 2006, beating Ricardo Mayorga in six rounds for the WBC 154-pound belt. He finished with a record of 39-6 and 30 knockouts.
“This is the love of my life, boxing is my passion, boxing is what I was born to do,” De La Hoya said. “When I can’t do it anymore, when I can’t compete at the highest level, it’s not fair. It’s not fair to me, it’s not fair to the fans, it’s not fair to nobody.”
De La Hoya transcended his sport, generating crossover appeal among Latinos and whites. He was especially popular among women, who filled his news conferences and fights while screaming their approval of the boxer blessed with a magnetic smile and movie-star looks.
Unlike many fighters, De La Hoya walks away with his mind and his face intact. But he wavered often in making a final decision, and he credited his wife Millie Corretjer and business partner Richard Schaefer in helping him “realize what life is all about.”
“Even this morning, I said, `Are you sure?’ and he said, `Yes, I am ready,”’ said Corretjer, a Puerto Rican singer. “I knew after that fight in December, but it took him four more months to make his decision.”
De La Hoya said he didn’t want to let down his fans or himself.
“Now I understand why athletes have such a tough time retiring from something that you feel so passionate about, from your sport that you’re always thinking you can try one more time,” he said.
“I can still train hard and I can still compete, but when you’re an athlete that has competed on the highest level for a lot of years, it’s not fair. It’s not fair to step inside the ring and not give my best.”
Although the second half of his career wasn’t as successful, De La Hoya was a champ at the ticket window. His bouts were guaranteed pay-per-view successes, and he was a cash cow for HBO, which broadcast 32 of his fights—most of any boxer—and generated millions in profits for the cable network.
De La Hoya’s last title bout was in May 2007, when he lost to Mayweather for the WBC 154-pound title in Las Vegas, the site of most of his bouts.
De La Hoya kept a serious expression during his announcement, his voice breaking only when he thanked his father, Joel, who sat on the stage with the boxer’s wife.
“I remember the times when he would take me to the gym and never gave up on me,” De La Hoya said. “We’ve lived some tough moments inside the ring, we’ve been through everything, but my father was always there for me. Thank you for pushing me as hard as you can.”
De La Hoya began boxing at age 5, following in the path of his grandfather and father. He won an Olympic gold medal at the 1992 Barcelona Games, delivering on a promise to his late mother, Cecilia, who died of breast cancer two years earlier. It was the performance that launched his pro career after he was 223-5 with 163 knockouts during his amateur days.
“Many of us remember watching him during the Olympics, feeling the pride and seeing one of our sons accomplish everything he did,” Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said. “This wasn’t a young man that was born with a silver spoon. He struggled and fought for everything he had. This entire city is proud of what you’ve done.”
De La Hoya will stay involved in the sport as a promoter with his successful Golden Boy Promotions company. He had been juggling the roles of boxer and promoter in the last few years, preparing for his eventual retirement.
His varied business interests include ownership stakes in the Houston Dynamo of Major League Soccer and the sugar substitue Equal. He has dabbled in singing and hosting a reality boxing show.
De La Hoya began his pro career against Lamar Williams on Nov. 23, 1992, at the Forum in nearby Inglewood, winning with a first-round knockout while fighting at 133 pounds. When he lost to Pacquiao in Las Vegas on Dec. 6, De La Hoya fought at 147.
His last victory came against Steve Forbes on May 3, 2008, in Los Angeles, where he won in 12 rounds at 150.
“I am very happy for Oscar and his family,” Pacquiao said in a statement. “I think he made the correct decision. Fighters of my generation owe him a great debt. I wish him nothing but the best.”
In keeping with his Mexican roots, De La Hoya followed his announcement with comments in Spanish.
De La Hoya has donated money to fund a cancer hospital wing named for his late mother in East Los Angeles and a charter high school downtown that bears his name.
“It hurts me that he’s not going to fight no more,” said Dian Romero, a 16-year-old student who heard about the boxer’s retirement on the school’s campus. “I really appreciate him in my life. Because of him, I’m hopefully going to college.”
LOS ANGELES (AP)—Oscar De La Hoya stopped battling himself Tuesday, deciding after much internal turmoil to retire and end a career in which he won 10 world titles in six divisions and became boxing’s most popular fighter.
He made his announcement at an outdoor plaza across the street from Staples Center, where a 7-foot bronze statue of the 36-year-old Golden Boy stands.
“I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s over,” the East Los Angeles native said before hundreds of fans, including comedian George Lopez and Oscar-nominated actor and former fighter Mickey Rourke. “It’s over inside the ring for me.”
De La Hoya retired four months after he was thoroughly beaten by Manny Pacquiao, his fourth loss in his last seven fights. He has not defeated a formidable opponent since Fernando Vargas in 2002. Age and diminished skills led to losses in recent years to Felix Trinidad, Shane Mosley, Bernard Hopkins and Floyd Mayweather Jr.
He won his last title in May 2006, beating Ricardo Mayorga in six rounds for the WBC 154-pound belt. He finished with a record of 39-6 and 30 knockouts.
“This is the love of my life, boxing is my passion, boxing is what I was born to do,” De La Hoya said. “When I can’t do it anymore, when I can’t compete at the highest level, it’s not fair. It’s not fair to me, it’s not fair to the fans, it’s not fair to nobody.”
De La Hoya transcended his sport, generating crossover appeal among Latinos and whites. He was especially popular among women, who filled his news conferences and fights while screaming their approval of the boxer blessed with a magnetic smile and movie-star looks.
Unlike many fighters, De La Hoya walks away with his mind and his face intact. But he wavered often in making a final decision, and he credited his wife Millie Corretjer and business partner Richard Schaefer in helping him “realize what life is all about.”
“Even this morning, I said, `Are you sure?’ and he said, `Yes, I am ready,”’ said Corretjer, a Puerto Rican singer. “I knew after that fight in December, but it took him four more months to make his decision.”
De La Hoya said he didn’t want to let down his fans or himself.
“Now I understand why athletes have such a tough time retiring from something that you feel so passionate about, from your sport that you’re always thinking you can try one more time,” he said.
“I can still train hard and I can still compete, but when you’re an athlete that has competed on the highest level for a lot of years, it’s not fair. It’s not fair to step inside the ring and not give my best.”
Although the second half of his career wasn’t as successful, De La Hoya was a champ at the ticket window. His bouts were guaranteed pay-per-view successes, and he was a cash cow for HBO, which broadcast 32 of his fights—most of any boxer—and generated millions in profits for the cable network.
De La Hoya’s last title bout was in May 2007, when he lost to Mayweather for the WBC 154-pound title in Las Vegas, the site of most of his bouts.
De La Hoya kept a serious expression during his announcement, his voice breaking only when he thanked his father, Joel, who sat on the stage with the boxer’s wife.
“I remember the times when he would take me to the gym and never gave up on me,” De La Hoya said. “We’ve lived some tough moments inside the ring, we’ve been through everything, but my father was always there for me. Thank you for pushing me as hard as you can.”
De La Hoya began boxing at age 5, following in the path of his grandfather and father. He won an Olympic gold medal at the 1992 Barcelona Games, delivering on a promise to his late mother, Cecilia, who died of breast cancer two years earlier. It was the performance that launched his pro career after he was 223-5 with 163 knockouts during his amateur days.
“Many of us remember watching him during the Olympics, feeling the pride and seeing one of our sons accomplish everything he did,” Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said. “This wasn’t a young man that was born with a silver spoon. He struggled and fought for everything he had. This entire city is proud of what you’ve done.”
De La Hoya will stay involved in the sport as a promoter with his successful Golden Boy Promotions company. He had been juggling the roles of boxer and promoter in the last few years, preparing for his eventual retirement.
His varied business interests include ownership stakes in the Houston Dynamo of Major League Soccer and the sugar substitue Equal. He has dabbled in singing and hosting a reality boxing show.
De La Hoya began his pro career against Lamar Williams on Nov. 23, 1992, at the Forum in nearby Inglewood, winning with a first-round knockout while fighting at 133 pounds. When he lost to Pacquiao in Las Vegas on Dec. 6, De La Hoya fought at 147.
His last victory came against Steve Forbes on May 3, 2008, in Los Angeles, where he won in 12 rounds at 150.
“I am very happy for Oscar and his family,” Pacquiao said in a statement. “I think he made the correct decision. Fighters of my generation owe him a great debt. I wish him nothing but the best.”
In keeping with his Mexican roots, De La Hoya followed his announcement with comments in Spanish.
De La Hoya has donated money to fund a cancer hospital wing named for his late mother in East Los Angeles and a charter high school downtown that bears his name.
“It hurts me that he’s not going to fight no more,” said Dian Romero, a 16-year-old student who heard about the boxer’s retirement on the school’s campus. “I really appreciate him in my life. Because of him, I’m hopefully going to college.”
Klitschko-Haye boxing story
FRANKFURT (AP)—In an April 7 story about Wladimir Klitschko planning to defend his world heavyweight title against David Haye, The Associated Press erroneously reported that Haye had fought only once before as a heavyweight.
The former world cruiserweight champion has fought twice at the higher weight and this will be his third heavyweight contest. The same error was in a London-dated story about the fight on April 2.
The former world cruiserweight champion has fought twice at the higher weight and this will be his third heavyweight contest. The same error was in a London-dated story about the fight on April 2.
Valuev to fight Chagaev for WBA heavyweight title
FRANKFURT (AP)—Nikolai Valuev and Ruslan Chagaev will fight for the WBA heavyweight title on May 30, most likely in the Finnish capital Helsinki.
Sauerland Promotions won an auction to stage the fight by bidding $2.8 million, Sauerland managing director Chris Meyer said Tuesday.
“The fight should take place May 30 and we are looking at Helsinki as the venue,” Meyer said.
Chagaev won the WBA version of the heavyweight title by beating Valuev in Stuttgart on April 14, 2007. He had to pull out of a rematch because of a ruptured Achilles’ tendon and was declared “Champion in Recess” by the WBA. Because of his status, he has to fight Valuev by the end of June.
Valuev won the vacant title in August by beating John Ruiz, then defended it in December against former champion Evander Holyfield.
Chagaev won a technical decision over Carl Davis Drumond on Feb. 7 in the Uzbekistan-born heavyweight’s first fight in more than a year.
Chagaev was ahead of Drumond on points when the bout was stopped after the sixth round because of a cut over Chagaev’s swollen left eye.
Chagaev’s record is 25-0-1, with 17 knockouts. Valuev is 50-1, with 34 KOs.
Sauerland Promotions won an auction to stage the fight by bidding $2.8 million, Sauerland managing director Chris Meyer said Tuesday.
“The fight should take place May 30 and we are looking at Helsinki as the venue,” Meyer said.
Chagaev won the WBA version of the heavyweight title by beating Valuev in Stuttgart on April 14, 2007. He had to pull out of a rematch because of a ruptured Achilles’ tendon and was declared “Champion in Recess” by the WBA. Because of his status, he has to fight Valuev by the end of June.
Valuev won the vacant title in August by beating John Ruiz, then defended it in December against former champion Evander Holyfield.
Chagaev won a technical decision over Carl Davis Drumond on Feb. 7 in the Uzbekistan-born heavyweight’s first fight in more than a year.
Chagaev was ahead of Drumond on points when the bout was stopped after the sixth round because of a cut over Chagaev’s swollen left eye.
Chagaev’s record is 25-0-1, with 17 knockouts. Valuev is 50-1, with 34 KOs.
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