TAMPA, Fla. (AP)—Jeff Lacy, St. Petersburg, Fla., outpointed Otis Griffin, Sacramento, Calif., 10, light heavyweights.
DONETSK, UKRAINE (AP)—Vyacheslav Senchenko, Ukraine, outpointed Yuriy Nuzhnenko, Ukraine, 12, to claim the WBA welterweight title.
TUCSON, Ariz. (AP)—David Lopez, Mexico, outpointed Ossie Duran, Providence, R.I., 10, junior middleweights; Hector Sanchez, Puerto Rico, outpointed DeMarcus Corley, Washington, 8, junior welterweights.
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Former champ Lacy beats Griffin by decision
TAMPA, Fla. (AP)—Former super middleweight champ Jeff Lacy won a close majority decision over Otis Griffin on Friday night in front of a hometown crowd, his first fight since losing to Jermain Taylor last year.
Lacy started strong and opened a small cut over Griffin’s eye in the second round with a strong overhand right, but Griffin appeared to take control over the middle rounds.
Lacy (25-2) had to overcome swelling around both his eyes the final three rounds, closing the eighth and ninth with strong flurries. In the 10th, both fighters landed big punches, with Griffin (19-5-2) closing the round with two uppercuts and Lacy connected with a straight right.
Two judges scored the fight 96-94 and 97-93 for Lacy, while the third had it a draw.
“I have to give it up to Griffin for a tough fight,” Lacy said.
Afterward, Lacy called out former pound-for-pound champ Roy Jones Jr., who was sitting in attendance but didn’t give an immediate answer.
“I would love to fight Roy Jones Jr., anytime, here in Tampa,” Lacy said.
Griffin thought he was the winner and lobbied for himself to fight Jones this summer.
“It’s a shame that in this sport you can get robbed in somebody’s hometown,” Griffin said. “I was landing the harder, cleaner punches throughout the fight. Roy should be fighting me.”
Lacy started strong and opened a small cut over Griffin’s eye in the second round with a strong overhand right, but Griffin appeared to take control over the middle rounds.
Lacy (25-2) had to overcome swelling around both his eyes the final three rounds, closing the eighth and ninth with strong flurries. In the 10th, both fighters landed big punches, with Griffin (19-5-2) closing the round with two uppercuts and Lacy connected with a straight right.
Two judges scored the fight 96-94 and 97-93 for Lacy, while the third had it a draw.
“I have to give it up to Griffin for a tough fight,” Lacy said.
Afterward, Lacy called out former pound-for-pound champ Roy Jones Jr., who was sitting in attendance but didn’t give an immediate answer.
“I would love to fight Roy Jones Jr., anytime, here in Tampa,” Lacy said.
Griffin thought he was the winner and lobbied for himself to fight Jones this summer.
“It’s a shame that in this sport you can get robbed in somebody’s hometown,” Griffin said. “I was landing the harder, cleaner punches throughout the fight. Roy should be fighting me.”
Exclusive Webcasts From GFL!!!
THE FIGHT'S ON US
NEWS: Watch Manny Pacquiao gets his award “Live” on GFL at the Broadcast Boxing Writers Assoc. Awards on June 12th.
GFL will be broadcasting worldwide the Boxing Writers Awards - Manny Pacquiao has been voted winner of the BWAA's Edward J. Neil "Fighter of the Year" award for 2008. In 2008, Pacquiao fought and won three fights. He began in March by winning his rematch against Juan Manuel Marquez. Pacqiuao moved up to lightweight in June and stopped champion David Diaz in nine rounds. Then Pacquiao moved up to welterweright to defeat Oscar De La Hoya in December. Pacquiao also won the Neil award in 2006.
BWAA awards winners are chosen in ballots cast by full members of the writers' organization, which has been bestowing honors upon the sport's best athletes, trainers and other participants since the 1930s. Pacquiao will be honored along with other recipients at the 84th Boxing Writers Association of America's annual awards dinner, to be held June 12, 2009 at the Capitale, 130 Bowery, New York , N.Y. Additional information such as price and hotel availability will be made known in the coming weeks.
GFL Makes History Tonight!!
TWO Simultaneous Streams
for the first time EVER!!
2 LIVE SHOWS:
NEW BREED - XXI and ICF - BREAKOUT
NEW YORK —Tonight!
New Breed Fighters - XXI
MMA
The worldwide leader in boxing and Mixed Martial Arts content will once again break new ground as http://www.gofightlive.tv/ will present a first anywhere in the world as not one but two Internet webcasts will run simultaneously.
New Breed Fighters Mixed Martial Arts return to Resorts Casino Hotel, with Four title bouts that will headline a 20-bout fight card. This action-packed evening will be presented by the New Breed Fighters fight league. The fight card will feature a minimum of 20 bouts, each scheduled for three, three-minute rounds. Fighters will square off inside the 24-foot caged hexagon using a variety of techniques, including jujitsu, boxing, wrestling, and kickboxing. In a Super Middleweight Title, (Tom Phillipi, 4-1, Team Balance) attempts to avenge his only loss against James Vanderbeek (3-1, Renzo Gracie/ P.A. John Hassett and Rich Latta) The NBF Light Heavyweight Champion will be determined in another grudge match. David McMahon, (5-1, X-Treme Miletich) has been waiting a long time to prove his only loss was a fluke. Frank Mullen (3-0, Team Balance) is looking to snatch our Title while establishing who is the best of the best. Evan Chmieleski (3-1, X-Treme Miletich) is dropping down to Super Lightweight in an attempt to snare his first New Breed Title. Jeremy Pompei (4-1, Renzo Gracie/ P.A.) may have a surprise in store for Mr. Chmnielsski. In the fourth Championship bout. Ryan Lutz, 2-0 (The Snake Pit MMA/ The Garage) will be bringing his knockout power in an attempt to silence.
ICF BREAKOUT - LIVE FROM CINCINNATI -
ICF - Breakout Brawl at the Boardwalk
Boxing
8pm from Cincinnati , ICF will present a night of championship Mixed Martial Arts. UFC fighter Forrest Petz. Petz, who holds wins over Charles 'Crazy Horse' Bennett, Sam Morgan, and Luigi Fioravanti, will face undefeated Victor O’Donnell in the co-main event. The last time Petz fought in Cincinnati was against Joshua Burkman at UFC 77 at U.S. Bank Arena in 2007.
In the co-main event, Dan 'The Sandman' Christison (14-6), a competitor on 'The Ultimate Fighter 2,' and the UFC, takes on fellow heavyweight Marcio Cruz (4-2), a jiu-jitsu expert who defeated current UFC interim heavyweight champ Frank Mir in 2006.
The ICF’S own Chad The “H-Bomb”Hinton, owner of Cincy MMA & Fitness Team Extreme, will be fighting UFC, Adrenaline MMA and King of the Cage vet Jeff Cox on April 11th at U.S. Bank Arena. Hinton is undefeated both as an amateur and as a pro holding a 3-0 professional record and is also currently a Lightweight Champion. Another Cincinnati local and 'Ultimate Fighter 7' star Luke Zachrich will take on Robert Thompson. Thompson has a record of 7-3 while Zachrich is 8-1.
“This is a just the thing that gofightlive.tv got in the business for and that is to give fans choices to watch some great events and on Saturday night we look forward to bringing two big events to all the great fans all over the world”, said David Klarman, vice-president of http://www.gofightlive.tv/
Friday, April 10, 2009
De La Hoya to announce his boxing future Tuesday
By GREG BEACHAM, AP Sports Writer
VEGAS (AP)—If Oscar De La Hoya had dodged Manny Pacquiao’s punches as well as he deflected questions about his future Friday, the next step in the Golden Boy’s boxing career wouldn’t be in doubt.
De La Hoya will announce whether he’ll fight again on Tuesday afternoon— and not a moment earlier, he insists—during a news conference in Los Angeles at Staples Center, where a statue of him stands watch outside.
During a lengthy chat on the day before his promotions company stages Winky Wright’s middleweight fight with Paul Williams, De La Hoya insisted he has firmly made up his mind about his future. Yet boxing’s most popular fighter is still thinking about both courses of action, with compelling arguments both for retiring and for staying in the ring.
“My decision is solely based on how I feel, not on how (business partner) Richard (Schaefer) feels, and not on how my wife feels,” De La Hoya said. “I’ve had input from tons of people. Obviously I’m going to pay more attention to people who are closest to me, but I literally was asking people in the street: ‘Should I retire or should I continue?’ It was split.
“‘Enjoy your family.’ That was my No. 1 response from most people.”
Judging by the scattered boos greeting De La Hoya during his duties as a promoter in San Jose and Las Vegas in recent weeks, many fight fans apparently hope Pacquiao put him into retirement. The Filipino pound-for-pound king stopped De La Hoya after eight rounds Dec. 6 in a thorough thrashing.
The loss was De La Hoya’s fourth in his last seven fights, and he hasn’t beaten a truly daunting opponent in several years. De La Hoya (39-6, 30 KOs) seems well aware of his limitations, yet he still hasn’t quenched the competitive fire that drove him to win Olympic gold and enough title belts to cover both of his outstretched arms.
Although retirement seems logical for a fighter who had long vowed to quit in late 2008 before hedging his intentions, some boxing observers also wonder whether De La Hoya-the-promoter can allow De La Hoya-the-fighter to retire.
He is his company’s most valuable asset, with every fight generating multiple millions in revenue and providing an undercard showcase for his top young fighters. Golden Boy Promotions sits with Bob Arum’s Top Rank atop the sport, yet Golden Boy’s most marketable fighters—De La Hoya, Bernard Hopkins, Sugar Shane Mosley and Juan Manuel Marquez—are all in their mid-30s or older.
“There’s no pressure whatsoever,” De La Hoya insisted of his business concerns. “Golden Boy Promotions is a machine on its own. It’s a company that is paving the way towards the future of the sport, and we don’t need the Hopkinses or the Mosleys or the De La Hoyas to rely on.”
De La Hoya can’t explain exactly why he looked so bad against Pacquiao, although he claims he lost a surprising amount of muscle mass while making the 147-pound weight limit. He still hasn’t watched the fight again, saying he has it on TiVo, but can’t bring himself to push “Play.”
Although De La Hoya says he had no power behind his punches at the slim weight, he walked around Mandalay Bay on Friday weighing just 152 pounds.
“If I’m weighing 154 up in that ring, I can be a beast,” he said, his eyes flashing at the thought. “I’m not trying to be 152. I’m eating great. I just lost a lot of muscle mass. Something went wrong (against Pacquiao).”
De La Hoya insists he’s wary of sticking around his sport too long. He has contemplated the cautionary tale of Brett Favre, who ruined a graceful end to his career in Green Bay for one tedious campaign with the New York Jets.
“If I did decide to retire, I’m content with my career,” De La Hoya said. “I’m content with what I’ve accomplished. As an athlete who’s very competitive, you always want more, but in the back of your mind you start thinking about all the wins and what you’ve accomplished for the sport. That’s what makes it so difficult. You think, ‘I can still do this.”’
VEGAS (AP)—If Oscar De La Hoya had dodged Manny Pacquiao’s punches as well as he deflected questions about his future Friday, the next step in the Golden Boy’s boxing career wouldn’t be in doubt.
De La Hoya will announce whether he’ll fight again on Tuesday afternoon— and not a moment earlier, he insists—during a news conference in Los Angeles at Staples Center, where a statue of him stands watch outside.
During a lengthy chat on the day before his promotions company stages Winky Wright’s middleweight fight with Paul Williams, De La Hoya insisted he has firmly made up his mind about his future. Yet boxing’s most popular fighter is still thinking about both courses of action, with compelling arguments both for retiring and for staying in the ring.
“My decision is solely based on how I feel, not on how (business partner) Richard (Schaefer) feels, and not on how my wife feels,” De La Hoya said. “I’ve had input from tons of people. Obviously I’m going to pay more attention to people who are closest to me, but I literally was asking people in the street: ‘Should I retire or should I continue?’ It was split.
“‘Enjoy your family.’ That was my No. 1 response from most people.”
Judging by the scattered boos greeting De La Hoya during his duties as a promoter in San Jose and Las Vegas in recent weeks, many fight fans apparently hope Pacquiao put him into retirement. The Filipino pound-for-pound king stopped De La Hoya after eight rounds Dec. 6 in a thorough thrashing.
The loss was De La Hoya’s fourth in his last seven fights, and he hasn’t beaten a truly daunting opponent in several years. De La Hoya (39-6, 30 KOs) seems well aware of his limitations, yet he still hasn’t quenched the competitive fire that drove him to win Olympic gold and enough title belts to cover both of his outstretched arms.
Although retirement seems logical for a fighter who had long vowed to quit in late 2008 before hedging his intentions, some boxing observers also wonder whether De La Hoya-the-promoter can allow De La Hoya-the-fighter to retire.
He is his company’s most valuable asset, with every fight generating multiple millions in revenue and providing an undercard showcase for his top young fighters. Golden Boy Promotions sits with Bob Arum’s Top Rank atop the sport, yet Golden Boy’s most marketable fighters—De La Hoya, Bernard Hopkins, Sugar Shane Mosley and Juan Manuel Marquez—are all in their mid-30s or older.
“There’s no pressure whatsoever,” De La Hoya insisted of his business concerns. “Golden Boy Promotions is a machine on its own. It’s a company that is paving the way towards the future of the sport, and we don’t need the Hopkinses or the Mosleys or the De La Hoyas to rely on.”
De La Hoya can’t explain exactly why he looked so bad against Pacquiao, although he claims he lost a surprising amount of muscle mass while making the 147-pound weight limit. He still hasn’t watched the fight again, saying he has it on TiVo, but can’t bring himself to push “Play.”
Although De La Hoya says he had no power behind his punches at the slim weight, he walked around Mandalay Bay on Friday weighing just 152 pounds.
“If I’m weighing 154 up in that ring, I can be a beast,” he said, his eyes flashing at the thought. “I’m not trying to be 152. I’m eating great. I just lost a lot of muscle mass. Something went wrong (against Pacquiao).”
De La Hoya insists he’s wary of sticking around his sport too long. He has contemplated the cautionary tale of Brett Favre, who ruined a graceful end to his career in Green Bay for one tedious campaign with the New York Jets.
“If I did decide to retire, I’m content with my career,” De La Hoya said. “I’m content with what I’ve accomplished. As an athlete who’s very competitive, you always want more, but in the back of your mind you start thinking about all the wins and what you’ve accomplished for the sport. That’s what makes it so difficult. You think, ‘I can still do this.”’
GARCIA TO FACE NEW OPPONENT
Humberto Tapia 143.5 lbs.
Photos by Marlene Marquez
Golden Boy Promotions hard hitting undefeated Jr. Welterweight prospect, Danny "Swift" Garcia (11-0, 7 KO's), was scheduled to fight Puerto Rico's Edwin Algarin, but will now face Humbero Tapia who hails from Tijuana Mexico. Both fighters made weight today as Garcia tipped the scales at 143lbs while Tapia weighed in at 143.5lbs. Garcia vs Tapia will take place at the Mandaly Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas NV, on the Winky Wright vs Paul Williams card set to take place this Saturday, televised live on HBO.Tickets for the explosive matchup, priced at $300, $200, $150, $100 and $50 are now on sale and available for purchase at all Las Vegas Ticketmaster locations (select Smith's Food and Drug Centers and Ritmo Latino). Ticket sales are limited to eight (8) per person. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster at (702) 745-3000. Tickets also will be available for purchase at http://www.mandalaybay.com/ or http://www.ticketmaster.com/.Wright vs. Williams, a 12 round middleweight bout which is presented by Golden Boy Promotions, Goossen Tutor Promotions and Winky Promotions and sponsored by Southwest Airlines. The bout will air live on HBO World Championship Boxing beginning at 10:00pm ET / 7:00pm PT.
Mario Serrano
Publicist ~ Shelly Finkel Management
http://us.mc376.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=boxingpublicist@aol.com
(408) 607-5756
Photos by Marlene Marquez
Golden Boy Promotions hard hitting undefeated Jr. Welterweight prospect, Danny "Swift" Garcia (11-0, 7 KO's), was scheduled to fight Puerto Rico's Edwin Algarin, but will now face Humbero Tapia who hails from Tijuana Mexico. Both fighters made weight today as Garcia tipped the scales at 143lbs while Tapia weighed in at 143.5lbs. Garcia vs Tapia will take place at the Mandaly Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas NV, on the Winky Wright vs Paul Williams card set to take place this Saturday, televised live on HBO.Tickets for the explosive matchup, priced at $300, $200, $150, $100 and $50 are now on sale and available for purchase at all Las Vegas Ticketmaster locations (select Smith's Food and Drug Centers and Ritmo Latino). Ticket sales are limited to eight (8) per person. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster at (702) 745-3000. Tickets also will be available for purchase at http://www.mandalaybay.com/ or http://www.ticketmaster.com/.Wright vs. Williams, a 12 round middleweight bout which is presented by Golden Boy Promotions, Goossen Tutor Promotions and Winky Promotions and sponsored by Southwest Airlines. The bout will air live on HBO World Championship Boxing beginning at 10:00pm ET / 7:00pm PT.
Mario Serrano
Publicist ~ Shelly Finkel Management
http://us.mc376.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=boxingpublicist@aol.com
(408) 607-5756
Wright vs Williams in bout of much-avoided boxers
By GREG BEACHAM, AP Sports Writer
LAS VEGAS (AP)—When Paul Williams tells the sad, frustrating story of his last few years in boxing, it’s clear he feels like he’s on the same lonely career path traveled by Winky Wright about 10 years ago.
Almost everybody thinks Williams is one of the most impressive fighters in boxing, and absolutely nobody wants to let him prove it on their skulls. From welterweight to middleweight, the top fighters won’t take his calls.
But it’s tough to blame them. Williams’ 6-foot-1 frame, seemingly effortless ability to switch weight classes without losing power, and a much smaller man’s mobility make him an awful matchup for a champion hoping to keep his belts.
While others move up the boxing ladder to big fights and bigger paydays, Williams (36-1, 27 KOs) has been working his way through second-tier bouts on undercards and at Indian casinos, even after beating Antonio Margarito two years ago.
“I’m tired of calling out guys and asking for the biggest fights,” Williams added, the frustration evident in his tone. “If they want me now, they’re going to have to call me out from now on.”
That’s because when Williams called Wright, somebody finally picked up the phone. Their middleweight matchup happens at Mandalay Bay on Saturday night.
“I’m grateful for the opportunity that Winky’s giving me,” Williams said. “If I wasn’t fighting him, I don’t know if I’d be fighting at all. I know what he’s gone through, because I’ve gone through the same thing.”
Although the 37-year-old Wright (51-4-1, 25 KOs) had multiple reasons for taking a tremendously tough comeback fight, he sympathizes with Williams’ frustration. He fought mostly overseas for several years in his 20s, when he was perceived as a nightmare matchup for any quality 154-pounder with the sense to avoid his defensive prowess and sneaky power.
“Like Paul said, it’s tough when nobody wants to fight you, and you see all these other fighters getting fights,” Wright said. “I know how Paul feels about being avoided. We’ve got two fighters here that are grateful to fight each other. … It’s always frustrating when you can’t get a fight, especially when you see the best fighters in your weight class avoiding you like the plague, avoiding you by any means necessary.”
Rising heavyweight Chris Arreola (26-0, 23 KOs), touted by his promoters as the first Mexican-American with a good shot to become heavyweight champion, will meet Jameel McCline (39-9-3, 23 KOs) in the co-main event of the HBO card.
Wright’s nearly two-year absence from the ring wasn’t entirely because he couldn’t find a fight. After his upset loss to Bernard Hopkins in July 2007, Wright took an extended break to raise his newborn son and enjoy the life of a retired star. He often could be found on the casino floor on the night of a major fight, but he claims he was much more eager to be in the ring.
When Wright finally got serious about continuing his career, he claims nobody wanted a piece of him except Williams.
“I’m glad I’ve got a great opponent,” Wright said. “It’s hard to get up for a fight when you’re fighting a nobody, when there’s a chance you might not win. Paul brings that excitement to the fight. I know he wants the opportunity, and I’m glad to find a young fighter with heart who’s willing to get out here and fight and get what he wants.”
The matchup is intriguing for more than the matchup of two fighters passing each other on their lonely career paths. Wright’s defensive skills, if they haven’t rusted during his absence, will get a brutal test from Williams, who’s likely to pepper him with something like 100 punches per round.
Wright and Williams clearly appreciate each other for the opportunity to headline a Las Vegas card—Williams’ first main-event fight in boxing’s capital city. At Friday’s weigh-in, they both laughed when lining up eye-to-eye—or eye-to-chin, given Williams’ height advantage.
They even shared a quick hug. It’s a big change from Wright’s last weigh-in, when Hopkins shoved him in the face and instigated a scuffle that cost him $200,000 in fines, but undeniably sparked interest in the pay-per-view card.
Neither man was up for any such shenanigans. They’ve worked too hard for too long to endanger the rewards they’ll finally get a chance to claim Saturday night.
“If you’re a fighter, that’s what you do,” Wright said. “You’ve got to come in and fight the best, and my whole career I’ve tried to fight the best. I’m putting my money where my mouth is. I didn’t come out and fight another guy who’s been out for two years.”
LAS VEGAS (AP)—When Paul Williams tells the sad, frustrating story of his last few years in boxing, it’s clear he feels like he’s on the same lonely career path traveled by Winky Wright about 10 years ago.
Almost everybody thinks Williams is one of the most impressive fighters in boxing, and absolutely nobody wants to let him prove it on their skulls. From welterweight to middleweight, the top fighters won’t take his calls.
But it’s tough to blame them. Williams’ 6-foot-1 frame, seemingly effortless ability to switch weight classes without losing power, and a much smaller man’s mobility make him an awful matchup for a champion hoping to keep his belts.While others move up the boxing ladder to big fights and bigger paydays, Williams (36-1, 27 KOs) has been working his way through second-tier bouts on undercards and at Indian casinos, even after beating Antonio Margarito two years ago.
“I’m tired of calling out guys and asking for the biggest fights,” Williams added, the frustration evident in his tone. “If they want me now, they’re going to have to call me out from now on.”
That’s because when Williams called Wright, somebody finally picked up the phone. Their middleweight matchup happens at Mandalay Bay on Saturday night.
“I’m grateful for the opportunity that Winky’s giving me,” Williams said. “If I wasn’t fighting him, I don’t know if I’d be fighting at all. I know what he’s gone through, because I’ve gone through the same thing.”
Although the 37-year-old Wright (51-4-1, 25 KOs) had multiple reasons for taking a tremendously tough comeback fight, he sympathizes with Williams’ frustration. He fought mostly overseas for several years in his 20s, when he was perceived as a nightmare matchup for any quality 154-pounder with the sense to avoid his defensive prowess and sneaky power.
“Like Paul said, it’s tough when nobody wants to fight you, and you see all these other fighters getting fights,” Wright said. “I know how Paul feels about being avoided. We’ve got two fighters here that are grateful to fight each other. … It’s always frustrating when you can’t get a fight, especially when you see the best fighters in your weight class avoiding you like the plague, avoiding you by any means necessary.”
Rising heavyweight Chris Arreola (26-0, 23 KOs), touted by his promoters as the first Mexican-American with a good shot to become heavyweight champion, will meet Jameel McCline (39-9-3, 23 KOs) in the co-main event of the HBO card.
Wright’s nearly two-year absence from the ring wasn’t entirely because he couldn’t find a fight. After his upset loss to Bernard Hopkins in July 2007, Wright took an extended break to raise his newborn son and enjoy the life of a retired star. He often could be found on the casino floor on the night of a major fight, but he claims he was much more eager to be in the ring.
When Wright finally got serious about continuing his career, he claims nobody wanted a piece of him except Williams.
“I’m glad I’ve got a great opponent,” Wright said. “It’s hard to get up for a fight when you’re fighting a nobody, when there’s a chance you might not win. Paul brings that excitement to the fight. I know he wants the opportunity, and I’m glad to find a young fighter with heart who’s willing to get out here and fight and get what he wants.”
The matchup is intriguing for more than the matchup of two fighters passing each other on their lonely career paths. Wright’s defensive skills, if they haven’t rusted during his absence, will get a brutal test from Williams, who’s likely to pepper him with something like 100 punches per round.
Wright and Williams clearly appreciate each other for the opportunity to headline a Las Vegas card—Williams’ first main-event fight in boxing’s capital city. At Friday’s weigh-in, they both laughed when lining up eye-to-eye—or eye-to-chin, given Williams’ height advantage.
They even shared a quick hug. It’s a big change from Wright’s last weigh-in, when Hopkins shoved him in the face and instigated a scuffle that cost him $200,000 in fines, but undeniably sparked interest in the pay-per-view card.
Neither man was up for any such shenanigans. They’ve worked too hard for too long to endanger the rewards they’ll finally get a chance to claim Saturday night.
“If you’re a fighter, that’s what you do,” Wright said. “You’ve got to come in and fight the best, and my whole career I’ve tried to fight the best. I’m putting my money where my mouth is. I didn’t come out and fight another guy who’s been out for two years.”
AP Interview: Joe Frazier still simmering over Ali
By DAVE SKRETTA, AP Sports Writer
NEW YORK (AP)—Muhammad Ali described his third and final fight with Joe Frazier as “death, closest thing to dyin’ that I know of.”
Frazier recalls their brutal matchup outside Manila as something much less grandiose.
“We just did our job,” he said.
The two great heavyweights always have been the ying and yang of boxing. Why should things change nearly 35 years later?
Now 65 and walking with the use of a cane, the slightly stooped Frazier reflected on the iconic fight in Quezon City in 1975 during a wide-ranging interview with The Associated Press. He also talked about the contentious relationship between the starring characters, which is the subject of the new HBO documentary “Thrilla in Manila” premiering Saturday night.“I don’t think Manila was my greatest fight,” Frazier said forcefully.
He ticks off several others in vivid detail, from the Golden Gloves to his gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics, to the “Fight of the Century”—when he beat Ali at Madison Square Garden in 1971 to retain the heavyweight title.
“The greatest fight was ’71, when we were all undefeated,” he said. “There was more money, more people. I don’t know why they make this one out to be the biggest fight.”
When it comes to his longtime foil, Frazier is sympathetic to the suffering Parkinson’s disease has caused Ali. But as a Christian, Frazier said, he isn’t surprised by it, either.
“I’m sorry that he is the way he is, but I didn’t have too much to do with it. It was the good man above,” Frazier said. “Maybe I did have a little to do with it, but God judges, you know what I’m saying? We don’t have the power to judge that the man has above.”
Frazier believes that Ali’s arrogant boasts of “I am the greatest!” were “a slap in the Lord’s face,” and that he did the same to his family when he changed his name from Cassius Clay to reflect his Muslim beliefs.
“I respect him as a guy who did a fine job in the fight game,” Frazier said. “I don’t think he really loves me. I didn’t like nothing he done, you know?”
That lingering tension can be traced to their epic trilogy, which turned former friends into enemies and culminated with an event that became as much about politics as prizefighting.
Filipino President Ferdinand Marcos actively sought their 1975 bout to divert attention from the social turmoil that was raging in his country, and promoter Don King—ever one to put on a spectacle—consented to holding the fight at the Araneta Coliseum.
It was the rubber match between two bigger-than-life heavyweights on the decline, Ali having beaten Frazier in their 1974 rematch. Following that bout, the tongue-whipping Ali regained the title by beating George Foreman in Zaire, the famed “Rumble in the Jungle.”
Frazier was hanging on for one more shot at the title—and one more at Ali.
The animosity that grew over the pair’s first two fights reached a climax when, after the Philippines bout was announced, Ali pulled out a black rubber gorilla and famously launched into a poem: “It will be a killa and a chilla and a thrilla, when I get the gorilla in Manila.”
“He kept saying, ‘Joe Frazier, I’m going to whup you,”’ Frazier recalled, still pained by the race-baiting attacks. “I said, ‘Alright, I’m going to wrap your butt up.’ People loved him on the basis of his noise.”
The fight was scheduled for 10:45 a.m. to accommodate television in the United States, and the morning broke hot and humid. Thousands of people packed the arena, filling even the aisles, and for 14 rounds the two titans clashed— Ali winning the early rounds, Frazier asserting himself over the middle rounds.
Ali staggered Frazier in the 12th, then again in the 13th, one clean punch knocking his mouthpiece into the crowd. Frazier’s left eye was swollen shut, his right eye closing. Even though the scorecards were virtually tied, and against Frazier’s objections, his trainer Eddie Futch called a stop to the fight.
After throwing his arms up in celebration, an exhausted Ali collapsed to the canvas.
Ali later tried to make amends, calling the mocking use of a gorilla a promotional ploy, and said if “God ever calls me to a holy war, I want Joe Frazier fighting beside me.”
But the wounds ran deep, and while the two men have alternated apologies with attacks over the years, their relationship is still raw.
“I don’t mind people want to think Muhammad is the greatest fighter around,” Frazier said. “Everybody wants to make him great because of his mouth, that he was the best. He was good, but that doesn’t make him great. I proved that.”
While the aftermath of a career spent inside the ring left Ali a broken man physically, it left Frazier broken financially.
He lost much of his hard-won fortune in real estate dealings gone awry, and gave away untold thousands of dollars, generous to a fault. While contemporaries like Foreman and Larry Holmes—and yes, Ali—are living comfortably, Frazier has only a humble Philadelphia apartment.
He hangs around the gym and spends time with young fighters, but he’s no longer interested in the sport at its highest level. There are too many so-called champions in too many weight divisions, and the heavyweights—long considered the most glamorous—have become a joke.
The sport’s popularity has waned considerably from the days of his historic battles with Ali, when the “sweet science” was forefront in newspapers and the American psyche. Now, boxing has become a niche sport followed mostly by the devoted.
“It just doesn’t interest me anymore, the guys aren’t exciting anymore,” Frazier said, while holding out hope that its luster might one day be restored.
“Sure it bothers me. I’m going to wait until (President Barack) Obama gets a little quiet in Washington, and then I’m going to see if he has a meeting with me, or take a few guy with me, and seen and be heard about it.
“Let’s see if we can get this back to where it needs to be.”
Perhaps back to where it was in 1975.
NEW YORK (AP)—Muhammad Ali described his third and final fight with Joe Frazier as “death, closest thing to dyin’ that I know of.”
Frazier recalls their brutal matchup outside Manila as something much less grandiose.
“We just did our job,” he said.
The two great heavyweights always have been the ying and yang of boxing. Why should things change nearly 35 years later?
Now 65 and walking with the use of a cane, the slightly stooped Frazier reflected on the iconic fight in Quezon City in 1975 during a wide-ranging interview with The Associated Press. He also talked about the contentious relationship between the starring characters, which is the subject of the new HBO documentary “Thrilla in Manila” premiering Saturday night.“I don’t think Manila was my greatest fight,” Frazier said forcefully.
He ticks off several others in vivid detail, from the Golden Gloves to his gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics, to the “Fight of the Century”—when he beat Ali at Madison Square Garden in 1971 to retain the heavyweight title.
“The greatest fight was ’71, when we were all undefeated,” he said. “There was more money, more people. I don’t know why they make this one out to be the biggest fight.”
When it comes to his longtime foil, Frazier is sympathetic to the suffering Parkinson’s disease has caused Ali. But as a Christian, Frazier said, he isn’t surprised by it, either.
“I’m sorry that he is the way he is, but I didn’t have too much to do with it. It was the good man above,” Frazier said. “Maybe I did have a little to do with it, but God judges, you know what I’m saying? We don’t have the power to judge that the man has above.”
Frazier believes that Ali’s arrogant boasts of “I am the greatest!” were “a slap in the Lord’s face,” and that he did the same to his family when he changed his name from Cassius Clay to reflect his Muslim beliefs.
“I respect him as a guy who did a fine job in the fight game,” Frazier said. “I don’t think he really loves me. I didn’t like nothing he done, you know?”
That lingering tension can be traced to their epic trilogy, which turned former friends into enemies and culminated with an event that became as much about politics as prizefighting.
Filipino President Ferdinand Marcos actively sought their 1975 bout to divert attention from the social turmoil that was raging in his country, and promoter Don King—ever one to put on a spectacle—consented to holding the fight at the Araneta Coliseum.
It was the rubber match between two bigger-than-life heavyweights on the decline, Ali having beaten Frazier in their 1974 rematch. Following that bout, the tongue-whipping Ali regained the title by beating George Foreman in Zaire, the famed “Rumble in the Jungle.”
Frazier was hanging on for one more shot at the title—and one more at Ali.
The animosity that grew over the pair’s first two fights reached a climax when, after the Philippines bout was announced, Ali pulled out a black rubber gorilla and famously launched into a poem: “It will be a killa and a chilla and a thrilla, when I get the gorilla in Manila.”
“He kept saying, ‘Joe Frazier, I’m going to whup you,”’ Frazier recalled, still pained by the race-baiting attacks. “I said, ‘Alright, I’m going to wrap your butt up.’ People loved him on the basis of his noise.”
The fight was scheduled for 10:45 a.m. to accommodate television in the United States, and the morning broke hot and humid. Thousands of people packed the arena, filling even the aisles, and for 14 rounds the two titans clashed— Ali winning the early rounds, Frazier asserting himself over the middle rounds.
Ali staggered Frazier in the 12th, then again in the 13th, one clean punch knocking his mouthpiece into the crowd. Frazier’s left eye was swollen shut, his right eye closing. Even though the scorecards were virtually tied, and against Frazier’s objections, his trainer Eddie Futch called a stop to the fight.
After throwing his arms up in celebration, an exhausted Ali collapsed to the canvas.
Ali later tried to make amends, calling the mocking use of a gorilla a promotional ploy, and said if “God ever calls me to a holy war, I want Joe Frazier fighting beside me.”
But the wounds ran deep, and while the two men have alternated apologies with attacks over the years, their relationship is still raw.
“I don’t mind people want to think Muhammad is the greatest fighter around,” Frazier said. “Everybody wants to make him great because of his mouth, that he was the best. He was good, but that doesn’t make him great. I proved that.”
While the aftermath of a career spent inside the ring left Ali a broken man physically, it left Frazier broken financially.
He lost much of his hard-won fortune in real estate dealings gone awry, and gave away untold thousands of dollars, generous to a fault. While contemporaries like Foreman and Larry Holmes—and yes, Ali—are living comfortably, Frazier has only a humble Philadelphia apartment.
He hangs around the gym and spends time with young fighters, but he’s no longer interested in the sport at its highest level. There are too many so-called champions in too many weight divisions, and the heavyweights—long considered the most glamorous—have become a joke.
The sport’s popularity has waned considerably from the days of his historic battles with Ali, when the “sweet science” was forefront in newspapers and the American psyche. Now, boxing has become a niche sport followed mostly by the devoted.
“It just doesn’t interest me anymore, the guys aren’t exciting anymore,” Frazier said, while holding out hope that its luster might one day be restored.
“Sure it bothers me. I’m going to wait until (President Barack) Obama gets a little quiet in Washington, and then I’m going to see if he has a meeting with me, or take a few guy with me, and seen and be heard about it.
“Let’s see if we can get this back to where it needs to be.”
Perhaps back to where it was in 1975.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Taylor hoping for another breakthrough
By NOAH TRISTER, AP Sports Writer
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP)—For a few years, Jermain Taylor had Arkansas buzzing about boxing. After beating Bernard Hopkins in 2005 for the middleweight title, Taylor’s home state greeted him with the type of adulation often reserved for its college football and basketball teams.
Now, Taylor’s no longer a champion, and it’s been a while since his hometown of Little Rock had a chance to celebrate one of his big victories. The 30-year-old hopes to change that when he fights Britain’s Carl Froch on April 25 in Mashantucket, Conn., for Froch’s WBC super middleweight belt.
“It brings back a lot of memories,” Taylor said. “I know how to take the belts from somebody.”
Taylor’s first championship was memorable—he ended Hopkins’ streak of 20 consecutive title defenses with a split decision. Taylor was then welcomed back to Little Rock with a parade, an appropriate honor for an athlete who has gone out of his way to show appreciation for Arkansas.
After beating Hopkins in a rematch, Taylor fought to a draw with Winky Wright and beat Kassim Ouma and Cory Spinks. None of those fights were all that noteworthy—Taylor did enough to hold on to his title but was having a hard time putting opponents away.
When a slugfest finally materialized in September 2007, Taylor was on the wrong end of it. Kelly Pavlik stopped the champion in the seventh round to take the middleweight (160-pound) title.
That was it for Taylor as a middleweight. He fought Pavlik again at a catch weight of 166 pounds and lost a unanimous decision. He then took a nine-month break before moving up to the 168-pound (super middleweight) division and beating Jeff Lacy in an eliminator fight last November.
Next up is Froch, the champion from overseas who is trying to enhance his own career with a big win in the United States.
“I want to establish myself on American soil,” Froch said. “That’s what this fight is for. I’ll be coming over there and defending my title in style.”
Froch (24-0) has a belt and is seeking more recognition. Taylor’s had plenty of recognition, but he wants this belt. Taylor’s camp feels he can resurface as one of boxing’s stars if he wins this fight.
“I think Jermain has always reached out for a challenge and always wanted to fight someone who meant something to him,” said Lou DiBella, Taylor’s promoter. “He wasn’t familiar with Carl’s name, but I think Jermain … views the WBC belt as the biggest prize and he wanted to get that belt back. That’s why this fight is happening.”
Taylor (28-2-1) admits he was at a crossroads after the two losses to Pavlik.
“I wanted to see if I still wanted to do this,” he said.
He decided to press on, and now he’s earned a shot at another title. Taylor has been training in Miami for this fight, his third in a row with Ozell Nelson as his trainer. After the second fight with Hopkins, Taylor began training under Hall of Famer Emanuel Steward, but the results weren’t all that impressive. After losing to Pavlik the first time, Taylor switched to Nelson, his amateur coach and mentor.
Taylor went the distance with Pavlik in their rematch and was impressive in the win over Lacy.
“I’m back where it all started,” Taylor said. “With Ozell Nelson, who’s been there all my life.”
This month, Taylor has a chance to look back on that moment when his career took off—and see if he can repeat it. With a win, Taylor can establish himself again as one of boxing’s top fighters in any division.
“Those few fights I lost, I not only let myself down, I let my fans down, I let my hometown down,” Taylor said. “I just want to get these belts back and all of it will be erased. Now, I have a chance to do that.”
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP)—For a few years, Jermain Taylor had Arkansas buzzing about boxing. After beating Bernard Hopkins in 2005 for the middleweight title, Taylor’s home state greeted him with the type of adulation often reserved for its college football and basketball teams.
Now, Taylor’s no longer a champion, and it’s been a while since his hometown of Little Rock had a chance to celebrate one of his big victories. The 30-year-old hopes to change that when he fights Britain’s Carl Froch on April 25 in Mashantucket, Conn., for Froch’s WBC super middleweight belt.
“It brings back a lot of memories,” Taylor said. “I know how to take the belts from somebody.”
Taylor’s first championship was memorable—he ended Hopkins’ streak of 20 consecutive title defenses with a split decision. Taylor was then welcomed back to Little Rock with a parade, an appropriate honor for an athlete who has gone out of his way to show appreciation for Arkansas.
After beating Hopkins in a rematch, Taylor fought to a draw with Winky Wright and beat Kassim Ouma and Cory Spinks. None of those fights were all that noteworthy—Taylor did enough to hold on to his title but was having a hard time putting opponents away.
When a slugfest finally materialized in September 2007, Taylor was on the wrong end of it. Kelly Pavlik stopped the champion in the seventh round to take the middleweight (160-pound) title.
That was it for Taylor as a middleweight. He fought Pavlik again at a catch weight of 166 pounds and lost a unanimous decision. He then took a nine-month break before moving up to the 168-pound (super middleweight) division and beating Jeff Lacy in an eliminator fight last November.
Next up is Froch, the champion from overseas who is trying to enhance his own career with a big win in the United States.
“I want to establish myself on American soil,” Froch said. “That’s what this fight is for. I’ll be coming over there and defending my title in style.”
Froch (24-0) has a belt and is seeking more recognition. Taylor’s had plenty of recognition, but he wants this belt. Taylor’s camp feels he can resurface as one of boxing’s stars if he wins this fight.
“I think Jermain has always reached out for a challenge and always wanted to fight someone who meant something to him,” said Lou DiBella, Taylor’s promoter. “He wasn’t familiar with Carl’s name, but I think Jermain … views the WBC belt as the biggest prize and he wanted to get that belt back. That’s why this fight is happening.”
Taylor (28-2-1) admits he was at a crossroads after the two losses to Pavlik.
“I wanted to see if I still wanted to do this,” he said.
He decided to press on, and now he’s earned a shot at another title. Taylor has been training in Miami for this fight, his third in a row with Ozell Nelson as his trainer. After the second fight with Hopkins, Taylor began training under Hall of Famer Emanuel Steward, but the results weren’t all that impressive. After losing to Pavlik the first time, Taylor switched to Nelson, his amateur coach and mentor.
Taylor went the distance with Pavlik in their rematch and was impressive in the win over Lacy.
“I’m back where it all started,” Taylor said. “With Ozell Nelson, who’s been there all my life.”
This month, Taylor has a chance to look back on that moment when his career took off—and see if he can repeat it. With a win, Taylor can establish himself again as one of boxing’s top fighters in any division.
“Those few fights I lost, I not only let myself down, I let my fans down, I let my hometown down,” Taylor said. “I just want to get these belts back and all of it will be erased. Now, I have a chance to do that.”
IT'S A BOY!
TIM PATERSON WELCOMES SON!
In observance of Trevor's birth, Bolo Punch will resume on Thursday, April 16th at 8PM CT (9ET). Thanks, we'll see you then. . . .and remember. . . SAVE US A RINGSIDE SEAT!
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Police: Miguel Cotto and uncle exchange blows
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP)—Puerto Rican police say they are investigating an alleged fight between WBO welterweight champion Miguel Cotto and his trainer, who have had a sometimes combative relationship in the past.
A statement issued by the police says the elite boxer and Evangelista Cotto, the fighter’s uncle, exchanged blows Wednesday after a heated argument about training at a gym in the champ’s hometown of Caguas.
After the bruising scrap, Evangelista Cotto allegedly threw a cement block on his nephew’s 2009 Jaguar, shattering a right-side window.
Cotto’s spokeswoman did not immediately return calls seeking comment.
Puerto Rican detectives are investigating the incident even though neither of the men has filed a complaint.
A statement issued by the police says the elite boxer and Evangelista Cotto, the fighter’s uncle, exchanged blows Wednesday after a heated argument about training at a gym in the champ’s hometown of Caguas.
After the bruising scrap, Evangelista Cotto allegedly threw a cement block on his nephew’s 2009 Jaguar, shattering a right-side window.
Cotto’s spokeswoman did not immediately return calls seeking comment.
Puerto Rican detectives are investigating the incident even though neither of the men has filed a complaint.
Khan to challenge Kotelnik for WBA title
LONDON (AP)—Amir Khan will make his first world title challenge when he moves up to light-welterweight to challenge WBA champion Andreas Kotelnik on June 27.
The big-punching 22-year-old British lightweight, who beat three-time world champion Marco Antonio Barrera in his last fight March 14, will face the 31-year-old German-based Ukrainian, although promoter Frank Warren said Wednesday the venue is still to be decided.
Kotelnik (31-2-1) earned a split decision over Argentina’s Marcos Rene Maidana to hold on to his title Feb. 7.
“This is the best news that I could have received,” said Khan, who is 20-1. “To fight for the world title in only my 22nd fight and at the age of just 22 is fantastic.”
Khan first made an impact when he won an Olympic silver medal at the 2004 Athens Olympics as a 17-year-old, and has shown his potential as a pro with a series of spectacular knockouts.
But he also revealed a suspect chin when he was knocked out in 54 seconds by Colombia’s Breidis Prescott in September last year, and needed the fifth round stoppage victory over the highly respected but veteran Barrera to restore some credibility.
“I’ve seen Kotelnik a few times and I’ve always been impressed by him,” Khan said. “Once my trainer Freddie Roach works out the game plan to beat him, it’s my job to execute it on the night as I did effectively against Barrera.”
Warren said the venue will be confirmed shortly, although it is expected to be in Britain.
“This is the moment that Amir has been waiting for and I’m delighted to deliver him the opportunity,” the promoter said. “Amir put in a sensational performance against a three-time world champion in Barrera in only his 21st fight, and now he has to produce the same form against Kotelnik, who is a good hard fighter.”
Khan has fought once at the heavier weight, scoring a unanimous decision over Rachid Drilzane of France in December 2006.
Kotelnik has fought three times in England. He lost his European title to Junior Witter four years ago, drew with WBA champion Souleymane M’Baye in 2007, and beat Gavin Rees to win the WBA crown last year.
Since beating Rees, he has outpointed Norio Kimura and Maidana to hold onto his title.
The big-punching 22-year-old British lightweight, who beat three-time world champion Marco Antonio Barrera in his last fight March 14, will face the 31-year-old German-based Ukrainian, although promoter Frank Warren said Wednesday the venue is still to be decided.
Kotelnik (31-2-1) earned a split decision over Argentina’s Marcos Rene Maidana to hold on to his title Feb. 7.
“This is the best news that I could have received,” said Khan, who is 20-1. “To fight for the world title in only my 22nd fight and at the age of just 22 is fantastic.”
Khan first made an impact when he won an Olympic silver medal at the 2004 Athens Olympics as a 17-year-old, and has shown his potential as a pro with a series of spectacular knockouts.
But he also revealed a suspect chin when he was knocked out in 54 seconds by Colombia’s Breidis Prescott in September last year, and needed the fifth round stoppage victory over the highly respected but veteran Barrera to restore some credibility.
“I’ve seen Kotelnik a few times and I’ve always been impressed by him,” Khan said. “Once my trainer Freddie Roach works out the game plan to beat him, it’s my job to execute it on the night as I did effectively against Barrera.”
Warren said the venue will be confirmed shortly, although it is expected to be in Britain.
“This is the moment that Amir has been waiting for and I’m delighted to deliver him the opportunity,” the promoter said. “Amir put in a sensational performance against a three-time world champion in Barrera in only his 21st fight, and now he has to produce the same form against Kotelnik, who is a good hard fighter.”
Khan has fought once at the heavier weight, scoring a unanimous decision over Rachid Drilzane of France in December 2006.
Kotelnik has fought three times in England. He lost his European title to Junior Witter four years ago, drew with WBA champion Souleymane M’Baye in 2007, and beat Gavin Rees to win the WBA crown last year.
Since beating Rees, he has outpointed Norio Kimura and Maidana to hold onto his title.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Haye to fight Klitschko at German soccer stadium
FRANKFURT (AP)—Wladimir Klitschko’s defense of his heavyweight title against David Haye on June 20 will be staged at Schalke’s soccer stadium, which has a capacity of more than 60,000.
The arena in Gelsenkirchen, where Schalke plays its Bundesliga matches, seats 61,673 for soccer matches and has a retractable roof that can be closed in 20 minutes. It will be the first fight to be staged there.
“I’ve always wanted to fight in a football stadium before such a large audience,” said Klitschko, who holds both the IBF and WBO titles.
Bernd Boente, managing director of Klitschko’s management group, called it one of the “most attractive and modern” stadiums in Europe, a “gigantic arena.”
Haye is a British former cruiserweight world champion who could win the heavyweight title in only his second fight at that class.
Klitschko stopped Hasim Rahman in seven rounds in his last defense in December and hasn’t lost in more than four years to build a 52-3 record to Haye’s 22-1.
Haye moved up a division more than a year ago after unifying the cruiserweight titles by knocking out Enzo Maccarinelli in two rounds. He has had only one fight as a heavyweight, knocking out Monte Barrett in five rounds in November.
Confident that he will beat Klitschko, Haye has vowed to then go after his older brother Vitali, the WBC champion, in an attempt to unify the heavyweight titles.
Circle City To Host McGee - Follmar Press Conference
Both Fighters Prepared To Sit Down One More Time Before Their "Date With Destiny" - Tickets On Sale Now!
(Pictured above: One In A Million CEO Octavius James presents NABC Lightweight Champion "Merciless" Mary McGee (left) and WBF Light Welterweight Champion Kristy "Rose" Follmar (right) to the fans in Northwest Indiana where McGee and Follmar met for the first time.) 
( Mary McGee and Kristy Follmar pictured during their first staredown to "Date With Destiny")
(McGee Trainer Carlos Jones (left) and Follmar Trainer Mark Lemerick (right) have more of a friendly encounter than their fighters also meeting for the first time for "Date With Destiny")
(Scott Milligan represented Northcoast Distributing at the Press Conference saying a couple words as Miller Lite proudly supports One In A Million Boxing Events.)
( The Miller Girls were an additional fan favorite during the Press Conference.)
April 7(Indianapolis, In) - On Friday, April 10th at 2 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, NABC Lightweight Champion of the World "Merciless" Mary McGee (16-0, 10 KOs) and the WBF Light Welterweight Champion of the World Kristy "Rose" Follmar (16-1, 9 KOs) will invade Indianapolis, Indiana when the pair of champions sit down for a press conference at the Rock Steady Boxing Training Facility, 2002 Wellesley Blvd., just weeks before they step into the ring for "Date With Destiny" at the Hammond Civic Center, on Saturday, April 25th. Gary, IN's McGee and Indianapolis, IN's Follmar will be aiming for two of the biggest prizes in boxing when they meet in the ring, McGee's NABC Lightweight World Championship and the vacant WBC Lightweight Welterweight World Championship, but at the Rocky Steady Training Facility they will sit down together for just the second time.
At their most recent press conference at Hooters in Schererville, McGee declared that a loss would end her career. "Nobody's coming out of retirement to beat me, not Kristy Follmar, not Eva, nobody," said McGee. "If I lose to Kristy, I'm quitting."
Follmar, who is the executive director at Rock Steady Boxing, shot right back at McGee. "It's everybody's time to lose at some point," said Follmar. "I have one loss on my record and if it's Mary's time to lose, she'll bounce back."
(Fans filled the Hooters Restaurant in Schererville to see McGee and Follmar meet for the first time.)
(Also in attendance at the event from left: OIAM Site Coordinator Ty Ortiz, Trainer Carlos Jones, OIAM COO Artez Aytch, Northcoast Rep. Scott Milligan, Fighter Michael Walker, OIAM CEO Octavius James, Fighter Ed Ochoa, Trainer Mark Lemerick, and OIAM Chief Matchmaker John Winfred) Octavius James, C.E.O. of One In A Million, Inc., could feel the electricity in the air when these two world class athletes met at their first press conference. "If someone in attendance at that press conference couldn't tell that these two world champions wanted to get things started right there, then I don't know what to tell you," said James."We just want to thank the wonderful people at Rock Steady for the opportunity to give these two warriors one more chance to tell the world their intentions come "Date With Destiny" before they get a chance to lace it up and put together one of the best fights the world has to offer," added James.The two young world champions will also be stopping by the Indiana Golden Gloves on Thursday, April 9th at the Tyndall Armory in Indianapolis. "Without Golden Gloves, boxing wouldn't have world class fighters like McGee and Follmar, both of which have won Golden Gloves titles and we just want to show some appreciation for Golden Gloves," said James.Also featured on the "Date With Destiny" card is a brother and sister pair "The Pit Bull" Jimmy Perez Jr. (4-1, 1 KOs) and Tiffany Perez as they make their first appearance on the same fight card and the Co-Main Event will showcase Michael "Midnight Stalker" Walker (19-1-2, 12 KOs) vs. Orphius Waite (4-0, 3 KOs), Ed "2 Fast 2 Furious" Ochoa (7-0, 7 KOs), Josh Crouch (3-0, 3 KOs), Angel Hernandez (11-3, 9 KOs), "Big" Ty Ortiz (Debut) will also be in action.Tickets for this spectacular "Date with Destiny" are on sale now. Tickets can be purchased at VIP $100, VIP ringside $75, ringside $50, and general admission $30 and they are available from any Ticket Master location at (219) 791-1234, (312) 559-1212, (866) 438-7372 or http://www.ticketmaster.com/ and at the Hammond Civic Center box office (219) 853-6378.The Hammond Civic Center, 5825 Sohl Ave. just 20 minutes from downtown Chicago will open doors at 6 p.m. with the first bout at 8 p.m.
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