by Jim Slater
LAS VEGAS, Nevada, (AFP) - Undefeated boxer Floyd Mayweather Jnr reportedly will announce his return from a 17-month layoff just hours before Manny Pacquiao and Ricky Hatton meet Saturday to decide which is his top rival.
Stealing the thunder from a long-awaited showdown for the pound-for-pound throne that Mayweather abdicated by retiring in December of 2007, the Los Angeles Times and ESPN reported that the 32-year-old American will fight again in July.
Golden Boy Promotions chief executive Richard Schaefer has scheduled an afternoon news conference only six hours before Britain's Hatton and Filipino star Pacquiao fight for the Englishman's junior welterweight title.
The announcement is expected to be the return of Mayweather, 39-0 with 25 knockouts, on July 18 against Mexico's Juan Manuel Marquez, 50-4 with one draw and 37 knockouts at the same MGM Grand arena where Pacquiao will face Hatton.
ESPN reported that talks concluded Friday with a deal struck to stage the bout at a catch weight of 144 pounds, less than Mayweather's former undisputed 147-pound division crown but well above 135-pound champion Marquez's weight.
During the week leading up to Hatton-Pacquiao, Mayweather was a looming shadow. His return diminishes Pacquiao's claim as pound-for-pound champion and follows a 10th-round stoppage of Hatton 17 months ago.
"I would love another crack at him," Hatton said before news of Mayweather's return. "It would be a different outcome."
Mayweather's father, Floyd Mayweather Snr., serves as Hatton's trainer and had said last week that his son was back in the gym. A major question will be if father will help defeat son, something Mayweather Snr would not do when his son fought Oscar de la Hoya in 2007.
"This is a business," Mayweather Snr said. "He doesn't take care of me, so I have to take care of myself."
Pacquiao, seen as pound-for-pound king in Mayweather Jnr's absence after beating de la Hoya last December, said this week he would welcome a chance to fight Mayweather, also likely to come at a catch weight.
"I would fight him if he decided to fight again," Pacquiao said. "I can fight at different weights. It depends on the fighter."
Mayweather Snr taunted Freddie Roach, Pacquiao's trainer, with his take on the prospect of a Mayweather-Pacquiao fight should Hatton lose Saturday.
"I know Freddie Roach does not want Manny Pacquiao fighting my son. He knows what's going to happen," Mayweather Snr said. "You know he ain't going to see Floyd. He's going to get knocked out by Ricky. Trust me."
Roach said he had no problem with the idea.
"Manny is not afraid of anyone," Roach said. "Whatever comes next comes next. If Floyd comes out of retirement, OK."
Mayweather played the loud-mouth role to the hilt against de la Hoya to help spark the richest fight in boxing history and also against Hatton in another huge pay-per-view moneymaker.
De la Hoya's large Hispanic following and Hatton's loyal British supporters were the financial engines driving the bouts.
But the challenge of Mayweather spurred profits and his return could help the sport now that de la Hoya has retired to focus on promotion and economic conditions worse than before.
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Friday, May 1, 2009
Pacquiao weighs in at 138, Hatton at 140 for title showdown
LAS VEGAS, Nevada (AFP) - Manny Pacquiao weighed in at 138 pounds, his second-largest weight ever for a bout, while Ricky Hatton was at the 140-pound limit Friday ahead of their junior welterweight fight Saturday.
Filipino hero Pacquiao, seeking a title in his sixth different weight class, tipped the scales at 145 pounds when he stopped Oscar de la Hoya in the eighth round last December in the only heavier weight he has recorded.
English star Hatton, seeking the pound-for-pound crown as he defends his International Boxing Organization junior welterweight title, has not weighed more since 2000 except for welterweight bouts in 2006 and 2007, both of those when he was also on the limit at 147 pounds.
In the only other world title bout on the card, World Boxing Council super featherweight champion Humberto Soto of Mexico weighed in at 130 pounds, one pound heavier than Canadian challenger Benoit Gaudet.
Filipino hero Pacquiao, seeking a title in his sixth different weight class, tipped the scales at 145 pounds when he stopped Oscar de la Hoya in the eighth round last December in the only heavier weight he has recorded.English star Hatton, seeking the pound-for-pound crown as he defends his International Boxing Organization junior welterweight title, has not weighed more since 2000 except for welterweight bouts in 2006 and 2007, both of those when he was also on the limit at 147 pounds.In the only other world title bout on the card, World Boxing Council super featherweight champion Humberto Soto of Mexico weighed in at 130 pounds, one pound heavier than Canadian challenger Benoit Gaudet.
A big underdog last time, Pacquiao is now favored
By TIM DAHLBERG, AP Boxing Writer
LAS VEGAS (AP)—The last time Manny Pacquiao displayed his many talents he stopped Oscar De La Hoya in a fight no one thought he could win. The beating he administered that night not only sent De La Hoya into retirement, but cemented Pacquiao’s status as boxing’s newest star.
Pacquiao returns to the ring Saturday night much the same fighter he was five months ago, taking on Ricky Hatton in a lucrative 140-pound fight matching two guys who love to brawl. The big difference now, though, is that everybody expects him to win.
One big fight can create a lot of expectation, and the biggest task for Pacquiao may be managing them in the ring.
His trainer isn’t worried. Pacquiao, says Freddie Roach, is more focused than ever.
“The win over Oscar just gave him more confidence,” Roach said. “So many people said he couldn’t do it but he did. Oscar could still beat a lot of guys, but he didn’t win a second of that fight.”
Once again, Pacquiao will be facing a fighter who is bigger than him as he fights for only the third time above 130 pounds. Pacquiao weighed in at 138 pounds Friday while Hatton was at the class limit of 140 pounds.
But oddsmakers who saw him dismantle an even bigger De La Hoya make him a 2-1 favorite to beat the once-beaten Hatton and win a title in his sixth weight class since turning pro. Coming off a rugged training camp that Pacquiao believes was his best ever, he’s not about to argue the point.
“I believe that I am improving and everybody knows and can see that by my last few performances,” Pacquiao said.
Those last few performances have made Pacquiao (48-3-2, 36 knockouts) a fighter in demand in a sport desperate for stars. He’s such a hero in his native Philippines that he talks about one day running for president there, but the win over De La Hoya in particular catapulted Pacquiao into rarified status in the sport.
He’ll make $12 million to square off for a minor title against Hatton, who will earn $8 million in a fight that sold out the MGM Grand hotel’s arena and will be televised on HBO pay-per-view with the main event beginning about 11:30 p.m. EDT.
“I do feel different now than before I fought Oscar,” Pacquiao said. “There is a big difference in my popularity now and I think that was because Oscar was popular too.”
Hatton, who will be backed by his usual throng of singing and chanting English fans, is coming off a knockout win over Paulie Malignaggi that seemed to help him regain any confidence lost in the only loss of his career, a 10th round stoppage in December 2007 at the hands of Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Still, he knows there are a lot of people in boxing that look at him as little more than a tough guy brawler who likes to party a bit too much between fights.
“People say (I’m) over-hyped, overprotected, a fat, beer-drinking Englishman,” Hatton said at the final prefight press conference. “Well, I’m going to shock the world again.”
Though both fighters love to mix it up, they go about it in different ways. Hatton (45-1, 32 knockouts) tends to throw wide punches while moving constantly forward and trying to smother his opponent, while Pacquiao fights down the middle with hands held high from his southpaw stance.
Both say they plan to box more in this bout, but both have been known to simply start trading punches when they get hit.
“I don’t see it being a tickling contest,” Hatton said. “I see it being an absolute war because we’re both fighters by nature.”
A Pacquiao win could lead to an even bigger fight sometime later in the year. With rumors buzzing about Mayweather coming out of retirement for a July fight, there’s a possibility the two could meet in the fall in a clash of the holder of the current mythical title of best pound-for-pound fighter in the world against the man who used to have that title.
Pacquiao is only 30, but he has been fighting professionally since making his debut as a 106-pounder in the Philippines in 1995, and he has engaged in slugfests over the years.
Roach said he would like to see him fight just two more times, then move on to other things.
“He wants to get into politics, but I told him you can’t do both,” Roach said. “Maybe if he could get Floyd out of retirement that would be it. No sense in going any further after that.”
LAS VEGAS (AP)—The last time Manny Pacquiao displayed his many talents he stopped Oscar De La Hoya in a fight no one thought he could win. The beating he administered that night not only sent De La Hoya into retirement, but cemented Pacquiao’s status as boxing’s newest star.
Pacquiao returns to the ring Saturday night much the same fighter he was five months ago, taking on Ricky Hatton in a lucrative 140-pound fight matching two guys who love to brawl. The big difference now, though, is that everybody expects him to win.
One big fight can create a lot of expectation, and the biggest task for Pacquiao may be managing them in the ring.
His trainer isn’t worried. Pacquiao, says Freddie Roach, is more focused than ever.
“The win over Oscar just gave him more confidence,” Roach said. “So many people said he couldn’t do it but he did. Oscar could still beat a lot of guys, but he didn’t win a second of that fight.”
Once again, Pacquiao will be facing a fighter who is bigger than him as he fights for only the third time above 130 pounds. Pacquiao weighed in at 138 pounds Friday while Hatton was at the class limit of 140 pounds.But oddsmakers who saw him dismantle an even bigger De La Hoya make him a 2-1 favorite to beat the once-beaten Hatton and win a title in his sixth weight class since turning pro. Coming off a rugged training camp that Pacquiao believes was his best ever, he’s not about to argue the point.
“I believe that I am improving and everybody knows and can see that by my last few performances,” Pacquiao said.
Those last few performances have made Pacquiao (48-3-2, 36 knockouts) a fighter in demand in a sport desperate for stars. He’s such a hero in his native Philippines that he talks about one day running for president there, but the win over De La Hoya in particular catapulted Pacquiao into rarified status in the sport.
He’ll make $12 million to square off for a minor title against Hatton, who will earn $8 million in a fight that sold out the MGM Grand hotel’s arena and will be televised on HBO pay-per-view with the main event beginning about 11:30 p.m. EDT.
“I do feel different now than before I fought Oscar,” Pacquiao said. “There is a big difference in my popularity now and I think that was because Oscar was popular too.”
Hatton, who will be backed by his usual throng of singing and chanting English fans, is coming off a knockout win over Paulie Malignaggi that seemed to help him regain any confidence lost in the only loss of his career, a 10th round stoppage in December 2007 at the hands of Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Still, he knows there are a lot of people in boxing that look at him as little more than a tough guy brawler who likes to party a bit too much between fights.
“People say (I’m) over-hyped, overprotected, a fat, beer-drinking Englishman,” Hatton said at the final prefight press conference. “Well, I’m going to shock the world again.”
Though both fighters love to mix it up, they go about it in different ways. Hatton (45-1, 32 knockouts) tends to throw wide punches while moving constantly forward and trying to smother his opponent, while Pacquiao fights down the middle with hands held high from his southpaw stance.
Both say they plan to box more in this bout, but both have been known to simply start trading punches when they get hit.
“I don’t see it being a tickling contest,” Hatton said. “I see it being an absolute war because we’re both fighters by nature.”
A Pacquiao win could lead to an even bigger fight sometime later in the year. With rumors buzzing about Mayweather coming out of retirement for a July fight, there’s a possibility the two could meet in the fall in a clash of the holder of the current mythical title of best pound-for-pound fighter in the world against the man who used to have that title.
Pacquiao is only 30, but he has been fighting professionally since making his debut as a 106-pounder in the Philippines in 1995, and he has engaged in slugfests over the years.
Roach said he would like to see him fight just two more times, then move on to other things.
“He wants to get into politics, but I told him you can’t do both,” Roach said. “Maybe if he could get Floyd out of retirement that would be it. No sense in going any further after that.”
Thursday’s Fights
By The Associated Press
BANGKOK, Thailand (AP)—Poonsawat Kratingdaenggym, Thailand, stopped Rafael Hernandez, Venezuela, 9, to win the interim WBA super bantamweight title; Kwanthai Chor Nor Pattalung, Thailand, stopped Little Roseman, Indonesia, 4, to retain the PABA minimumweight title.
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP)—Gonzalo Omar Basile, Argentina, stopped Hugo Anibal Abad, Ecuador, 2, to retain the WBO Latino heavyweight title.
BANGKOK, Thailand (AP)—Poonsawat Kratingdaenggym, Thailand, stopped Rafael Hernandez, Venezuela, 9, to win the interim WBA super bantamweight title; Kwanthai Chor Nor Pattalung, Thailand, stopped Little Roseman, Indonesia, 4, to retain the PABA minimumweight title.
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP)—Gonzalo Omar Basile, Argentina, stopped Hugo Anibal Abad, Ecuador, 2, to retain the WBO Latino heavyweight title.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Pascal to challenge Diaconu for title
MONTREAL (AP)—Jean Pascal will challenge Adrian Diaconu for the WBC light heavyweight title on June 19 at the Bell Centre.
Diaconu (26-0) won the interim WBC title with a 12-round decision over Chris Henry in April 2008 and later was given the full title when it was vacated by Chad Dawson.
Two scheduled defenses against Silvio Branco were canceled, and Diaconu’s only fight in the past year was an eight-round decision in a tune up bout over David Whittom.
The Pascal fight will be the first time he has put the title on the line, and happened only after rival promoters InterBox and Groupe Yvon Michel agreed to work together
Pascal (22-1) lost a bid for the WBC super middleweight title in December to Carl Froch in England, but came back with a fifth-round knockout of Pablo Nievas in April.
Diaconu (26-0) won the interim WBC title with a 12-round decision over Chris Henry in April 2008 and later was given the full title when it was vacated by Chad Dawson.
Two scheduled defenses against Silvio Branco were canceled, and Diaconu’s only fight in the past year was an eight-round decision in a tune up bout over David Whittom.
The Pascal fight will be the first time he has put the title on the line, and happened only after rival promoters InterBox and Groupe Yvon Michel agreed to work together
Pascal (22-1) lost a bid for the WBC super middleweight title in December to Carl Froch in England, but came back with a fifth-round knockout of Pablo Nievas in April.
Soto makes quick comeback in second title defense
by Jim Slater
LAS VEGAS, Nevada (AFP) - Six weeks after making his first title defense, Mexico's Humberto Soto climbs back into the ring on Saturday to risk his super featherweight crown again against Canada's Benoit Gaudet.
Soto's World Boxing Council (WBC) championship bout tops the undercard of the blockbuster world junior welterweight championship bout between Filipino hero Manny Pacquiao and British star Ricky Hatton.
"It's a big card and I'm happy to be on it," Soto said. "This is a big fight for me. I know I have to do well. I'm well prepared to go 12 rounds."
Soto, 47-7 with two drawn and 30 knockouts, faces Gaudet, 20-1 with seven knockouts, after stopping Antonio Davis in the fourth round in March at Tijuana.
"I know Gaudet very well," Soto said. "I know his style is to box but I hope he decides to fight with me so we give the fans something exciting to talk about."
There was only a light nod to the swine flu outbreak that has caused deaths and sparked worldwide concern but produced only one confirmed case in Nevada, that in Reno and well away from the entertainment mecca.
"Mexicans be sure to wear their masks," promoter Bob Arum said.
Soto, 28, won the vacant title last December when he took a 12-round unanimous decision over Francisco Lorenzo.
Gaudet, 29, has won 11 fights in a row and was brought in to face Soto after another planned title bout for the card was scrapped.
"I know I'm the underdog but I'm here to reach another big point in my career," Gaudet said.
The 2004 Olympian, who makes his US debut, trains in the same Montreal gym as light heavyweight world champion Adrian Diaconu and super middleweight world champion Lucian Bute.
"I'm a technical boxer. I will use my speed a lot more than my power. My power comes from my speed. I throw a lot of punches. I move a lot. I have good defense. I prepare my attacks. I'm a very smart boxer."
England's Matthew Hatton, Ricky's younger brother who is 35-4 with one drawn record and 13 knockouts, has an eight-round welterweight undercard bout against Mexico's Ernesto Zepeda, 39-11 wioth four drawn and 34 knockouts.
Also on the card is Filipino lightweight Bernabe Concepcion, 28-1 with one draw and 17 knockouts, who will face Colombian Yogli Herrera, 21-8 with 15 knockouts.
LAS VEGAS, Nevada (AFP) - Six weeks after making his first title defense, Mexico's Humberto Soto climbs back into the ring on Saturday to risk his super featherweight crown again against Canada's Benoit Gaudet.
Soto's World Boxing Council (WBC) championship bout tops the undercard of the blockbuster world junior welterweight championship bout between Filipino hero Manny Pacquiao and British star Ricky Hatton.
"It's a big card and I'm happy to be on it," Soto said. "This is a big fight for me. I know I have to do well. I'm well prepared to go 12 rounds."
Soto, 47-7 with two drawn and 30 knockouts, faces Gaudet, 20-1 with seven knockouts, after stopping Antonio Davis in the fourth round in March at Tijuana.
"I know Gaudet very well," Soto said. "I know his style is to box but I hope he decides to fight with me so we give the fans something exciting to talk about."
There was only a light nod to the swine flu outbreak that has caused deaths and sparked worldwide concern but produced only one confirmed case in Nevada, that in Reno and well away from the entertainment mecca.
"Mexicans be sure to wear their masks," promoter Bob Arum said.
Soto, 28, won the vacant title last December when he took a 12-round unanimous decision over Francisco Lorenzo.
Gaudet, 29, has won 11 fights in a row and was brought in to face Soto after another planned title bout for the card was scrapped.
"I know I'm the underdog but I'm here to reach another big point in my career," Gaudet said.
The 2004 Olympian, who makes his US debut, trains in the same Montreal gym as light heavyweight world champion Adrian Diaconu and super middleweight world champion Lucian Bute.
"I'm a technical boxer. I will use my speed a lot more than my power. My power comes from my speed. I throw a lot of punches. I move a lot. I have good defense. I prepare my attacks. I'm a very smart boxer."
England's Matthew Hatton, Ricky's younger brother who is 35-4 with one drawn record and 13 knockouts, has an eight-round welterweight undercard bout against Mexico's Ernesto Zepeda, 39-11 wioth four drawn and 34 knockouts.
Also on the card is Filipino lightweight Bernabe Concepcion, 28-1 with one draw and 17 knockouts, who will face Colombian Yogli Herrera, 21-8 with 15 knockouts.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Pacquiao and Hatton ready for big fight
By TIM DAHLBERG, AP Boxing Writer
LAS VEGAS (AP)—There’s only one Ricky Hatton, as his admirers constantly sing to anyone who will listen. Good thing, because if there were any more Ricky Hattons his devoted followers in England might never have time to do anything but sing.
The problem for Hatton is there’s also only one pound-for-pound champion in boxing. His name is Manny Pacquiao, and all he did his last time out was give Oscar De La Hoya such a beating that De La Hoya decided it was time to retire.
That fight not only introduced Pacquiao to a lot of casual boxing fans, but prompted oddsmakers to make him a 2-1 favorite when he and Hatton meet Saturday night in a 140-pound fight that is the first big bout of the post-De La Hoya era. Despite the lopsided odds, both Hatton and his fans fervently believe he will be the one with his gloves raised when the fight finally ends.
“I’ve been here before,” Hatton said. “People say (I’m) over-hyped, overprotected, a fat, beer-drinking Englishman. Well, I’m going to shock the world again.”
A Hatton win might not be quite enough to shock the world, but it would deal a blow to the Philippines, where Pacquiao is such a national hero that there is talk about him running for president when he gets out of boxing. But while the Pacman was always huge at home, it wasn’t until he stopped De La Hoya that many in boxing began giving him his due as the best pound-for-pound fighter in the game.
It’s a mythical title, but Pacquiao has won enough real titles to justify his coronation. Though the Hatton fight is for a lightly regarded crown, winning at 140 pounds will mean Pacquiao has won titles in six weight divisions, beginning at 112 pounds.
“If that happens, people will want to put my name in boxing history and that will be my legacy,” Pacquiao said.
The two fighters got together Wednesday for the final pre-fight press conference at the MGM Grand hotel-casino, where both had spectacular performances the last time they were in the ring. For Pacquiao it was the win over De La Hoya, but Hatton showed off some himself a few weeks earlier by stopping Paulie Malignaggi in front of thousands of his ever-singing fans.
Hatton’s only loss came when he was stopped by Floyd Mayweather Jr. in the 10th round of their December 2007 fight, and his record and fan base were enough to get him a guarantee of $8 million for the scheduled 12-round bout.
“Manny has not fought anybody that’s going to put as much pressure on him with as much force and strength and power and hand speed,” Hatton said. “I’d like to think I’ll be too much for him, but I think it’s going to a wonderful fight.”
Promoters claim the fight has already sold out the 15,000-seat arena at the MGM and are selling closed circuit viewing at other Las Vegas hotels. They’re also hopeful that even an ailing economy won’t stop people from spending 50 bucks to order the fight on pay-per-view, perhaps with a few friends.
But the two fighters have largely avoided the kind of trash talk that normally happens before big fights, leaving that to others in their camps. For Pacquiao that means trainer Freddie Roach, and for Hatton it’s his new trainer, Floyd Mayweather Jr., the estranged father of the only fighter to beat him.
Mayweather read a poem he wrote about the fight Wednesday and did his best to taunt Roach. But Roach maintained his manners, for what promoter Bob Arum said was a good reason.
It wasn’t just because Pacquiao’s mother was in attendance in her first trip to the United States to see her son fight for the first time. No, even in boxing sometimes there must be some decorum of sorts.
“The trainer (Roach) is training a future president of the Philippines,” Arum said. “The people sitting here are already campaigning to be in the cabinet.”
LAS VEGAS (AP)—There’s only one Ricky Hatton, as his admirers constantly sing to anyone who will listen. Good thing, because if there were any more Ricky Hattons his devoted followers in England might never have time to do anything but sing.
The problem for Hatton is there’s also only one pound-for-pound champion in boxing. His name is Manny Pacquiao, and all he did his last time out was give Oscar De La Hoya such a beating that De La Hoya decided it was time to retire.
That fight not only introduced Pacquiao to a lot of casual boxing fans, but prompted oddsmakers to make him a 2-1 favorite when he and Hatton meet Saturday night in a 140-pound fight that is the first big bout of the post-De La Hoya era. Despite the lopsided odds, both Hatton and his fans fervently believe he will be the one with his gloves raised when the fight finally ends.
“I’ve been here before,” Hatton said. “People say (I’m) over-hyped, overprotected, a fat, beer-drinking Englishman. Well, I’m going to shock the world again.”
A Hatton win might not be quite enough to shock the world, but it would deal a blow to the Philippines, where Pacquiao is such a national hero that there is talk about him running for president when he gets out of boxing. But while the Pacman was always huge at home, it wasn’t until he stopped De La Hoya that many in boxing began giving him his due as the best pound-for-pound fighter in the game.It’s a mythical title, but Pacquiao has won enough real titles to justify his coronation. Though the Hatton fight is for a lightly regarded crown, winning at 140 pounds will mean Pacquiao has won titles in six weight divisions, beginning at 112 pounds.
“If that happens, people will want to put my name in boxing history and that will be my legacy,” Pacquiao said.
The two fighters got together Wednesday for the final pre-fight press conference at the MGM Grand hotel-casino, where both had spectacular performances the last time they were in the ring. For Pacquiao it was the win over De La Hoya, but Hatton showed off some himself a few weeks earlier by stopping Paulie Malignaggi in front of thousands of his ever-singing fans.
Hatton’s only loss came when he was stopped by Floyd Mayweather Jr. in the 10th round of their December 2007 fight, and his record and fan base were enough to get him a guarantee of $8 million for the scheduled 12-round bout.
“Manny has not fought anybody that’s going to put as much pressure on him with as much force and strength and power and hand speed,” Hatton said. “I’d like to think I’ll be too much for him, but I think it’s going to a wonderful fight.”
Promoters claim the fight has already sold out the 15,000-seat arena at the MGM and are selling closed circuit viewing at other Las Vegas hotels. They’re also hopeful that even an ailing economy won’t stop people from spending 50 bucks to order the fight on pay-per-view, perhaps with a few friends.
But the two fighters have largely avoided the kind of trash talk that normally happens before big fights, leaving that to others in their camps. For Pacquiao that means trainer Freddie Roach, and for Hatton it’s his new trainer, Floyd Mayweather Jr., the estranged father of the only fighter to beat him.
Mayweather read a poem he wrote about the fight Wednesday and did his best to taunt Roach. But Roach maintained his manners, for what promoter Bob Arum said was a good reason.
It wasn’t just because Pacquiao’s mother was in attendance in her first trip to the United States to see her son fight for the first time. No, even in boxing sometimes there must be some decorum of sorts.
“The trainer (Roach) is training a future president of the Philippines,” Arum said. “The people sitting here are already campaigning to be in the cabinet.”
Promoter De la Hoya sees no flu fears for Pacquiao-Hatton
by Jim Slater
LAS VEGAS, Nevada (AFP) - The swine flu outbreak that has caused seven deaths and worldwide concern is not a worry for Saturday's boxing showdown between England's Ricky Hatton and Filipino Manny Pacquiao.
"There's no concern about it here now," retired Mexican-American boxing star and fight co-promoter Oscar De la Hoya said on Wednesday. "All signs are we're going to have a successful promotion."
Nevada's first confirmed swine flu infection was detected on Wednesday, making 10 states in all where the outbreak which has been presumed to cause more than 150 deaths in Mexico has been identified.
"Swine flu is a huge concern," De la Hoya said. "It's a health issue and nobody wants to catch it. It's in the back of people's minds.
"I think we're going to provide some great entertainment on Saturday. That's what boxing is all about. I don't think people for that hour are going to be thinking about the swine flu."
A potential pandemic is especially troubling in an entertainment mecca like Las Vegas and there do figure to be fans from Mexico in the sellout crowd of more than 15,000 as well as global visitors for the junior welterweight fight.
Mexico's Humberto Soto, 47-7 with two drawn and 30 knockouts, will defend his World Boxing Council super featherweight crown on the Hatton-Pacquiao undercard against Canada's Benoit Gaudet, 20-1 with seven knockouts.
Two other Mexican fighters are in undercard bouts and Mexicans are typically part of the fan base for major fights in Las Vegas. Two top Mexican fighters will sign autographs on Thursday at a fan session for a Mexican beer sponsor.
Pacquiao, a Filipino hero, seeks a title in his sixth different weight class to match a boxing record while Hatton wants the pound-for-pound greatest tag now carried by Pacquiao after a victory over De la Hoya.
"Every Mexican, Mexican-American and Hispanic person I talk to said they have to watch this fight because of what Manny did to me," De la Hoya said.
Philippines health officials reportedly advised some not to attend the fight because of uncertainty about the swine flu and claimed Pacquiao must be checked for signs of the flu after he flies home to Manila on Sunday.
Whether or not Hatton might use the flu as an excuse is already a topic on Filipino boxing web sites.
LAS VEGAS, Nevada (AFP) - The swine flu outbreak that has caused seven deaths and worldwide concern is not a worry for Saturday's boxing showdown between England's Ricky Hatton and Filipino Manny Pacquiao.
"There's no concern about it here now," retired Mexican-American boxing star and fight co-promoter Oscar De la Hoya said on Wednesday. "All signs are we're going to have a successful promotion."
Nevada's first confirmed swine flu infection was detected on Wednesday, making 10 states in all where the outbreak which has been presumed to cause more than 150 deaths in Mexico has been identified.
"Swine flu is a huge concern," De la Hoya said. "It's a health issue and nobody wants to catch it. It's in the back of people's minds.
"I think we're going to provide some great entertainment on Saturday. That's what boxing is all about. I don't think people for that hour are going to be thinking about the swine flu."A potential pandemic is especially troubling in an entertainment mecca like Las Vegas and there do figure to be fans from Mexico in the sellout crowd of more than 15,000 as well as global visitors for the junior welterweight fight.
Mexico's Humberto Soto, 47-7 with two drawn and 30 knockouts, will defend his World Boxing Council super featherweight crown on the Hatton-Pacquiao undercard against Canada's Benoit Gaudet, 20-1 with seven knockouts.
Two other Mexican fighters are in undercard bouts and Mexicans are typically part of the fan base for major fights in Las Vegas. Two top Mexican fighters will sign autographs on Thursday at a fan session for a Mexican beer sponsor.
Pacquiao, a Filipino hero, seeks a title in his sixth different weight class to match a boxing record while Hatton wants the pound-for-pound greatest tag now carried by Pacquiao after a victory over De la Hoya.
"Every Mexican, Mexican-American and Hispanic person I talk to said they have to watch this fight because of what Manny did to me," De la Hoya said.
Philippines health officials reportedly advised some not to attend the fight because of uncertainty about the swine flu and claimed Pacquiao must be checked for signs of the flu after he flies home to Manila on Sunday.
Whether or not Hatton might use the flu as an excuse is already a topic on Filipino boxing web sites.
Trainers provide war of words for Hatton-Pacquiao fight
by Jim Slater
LAS VEGAS, Nevada (AFP) - Verbal sparring between trainers Floyd Mayweather Snr and Freddie Roach has provided a provocative sideshow prior to Saturday's junior welterweight match-up between Ricky Hatton and Manny Pacquiao.
Mayweather, the father of now-retired boxing star Floyd Mayweather who works with English star Hatton, and Roach, the usually mild-mannered trainer who guides Filipino hero Pacquiao, have traded taunts and bad-mouthed each other at will.
"He's Freddie 'The Joke Coach' Roach," Mayweather said. "Who has he really worked with? He had lots of big fighters. He hasn't done anything with them. What fighter has he ever made? He hasn't made nobody. It's that simple.
"I know Freddie is scared right now. He will probably crawl in some hole somewhere. He's the roach."
Roach, the verbal counter-puncher to his outspoken rival, has said Pacquiao has the talent to knock Hatton out in three rounds and shrugged off Mayweather's insults about his training skills and former boxing career.
"You look at who it's coming from. It doesn't bother me," Roach said. "I don't like him. His second-grade insults. Sometimes he gets under my skin so I fire back at him. But it's not going to make any difference in the fight.
"I've got the better fighter."
Each fighter has been respectful to the other even as each expresses confidence that he will come out on top on Saturday.
"That's just what they say. I don?t want to enter into that conversation," Pacquiao said. "I don?t want to talk too much before the fight. I don?t want to think about what they say. Those are their opinions.
"I don?t care about that conversation. My goal is to focus and concentrate on the fight."
That leaves the trash exchanges common at many big fights to the trainers.
"You got whupped so much Freddie," Mayweather said. "You're a bum."
"You're the expert on that," Roach replied.
"I'm already in your head. You ain't got me. I've got you," Mayweather said.
"Get a translator, will you?" Roach said.
"I've got you Freddie. I've got you."
The trainers' spat could serve as a distraction to allow both fighters to focus on their tasks in the ring rather than hyping a fight that stands well on its own based on the success of the men wearing the gloves.
"I don't have nothing against Freddie, but this is warfare," Mayweather said. "I'm looking out for my fighter and I'm going to do whatever it takes for him to win."
Hatton, like Pacquiao, shrugs off the hype aspects.
"I don't pay too much attention to it. Floyd is like that seven days a week and twice on Sunday," Hatton said. "It's Floyd being Floyd. I'll let Floyd do the talking. I know what I?m capable of doing.
"A lot of what we?ve seen is trash talk but I don?t think he?s going to publicly stick his neck on the line as much as he has if he didn?t believe I could back it up.
"I do still believe every word Floyd says. Floyd wouldn't put his reputation on the line and say it if he didn't think I could do it and appear to be a (fool)."
Hatton does think that Mayweather might have had an impact on Roach, however.
"This is maybe the most I've heard Freddie Roach. He is usually very quiet. Now he's talking about three rounds and done," Hatton said.
"When you start acting a little bit out of character, maybe he?s not quite as confident as he says. Maybe he has taken the bait from Floyd."
LAS VEGAS, Nevada (AFP) - Verbal sparring between trainers Floyd Mayweather Snr and Freddie Roach has provided a provocative sideshow prior to Saturday's junior welterweight match-up between Ricky Hatton and Manny Pacquiao.
Mayweather, the father of now-retired boxing star Floyd Mayweather who works with English star Hatton, and Roach, the usually mild-mannered trainer who guides Filipino hero Pacquiao, have traded taunts and bad-mouthed each other at will.
"He's Freddie 'The Joke Coach' Roach," Mayweather said. "Who has he really worked with? He had lots of big fighters. He hasn't done anything with them. What fighter has he ever made? He hasn't made nobody. It's that simple.
"I know Freddie is scared right now. He will probably crawl in some hole somewhere. He's the roach."
Roach, the verbal counter-puncher to his outspoken rival, has said Pacquiao has the talent to knock Hatton out in three rounds and shrugged off Mayweather's insults about his training skills and former boxing career."You look at who it's coming from. It doesn't bother me," Roach said. "I don't like him. His second-grade insults. Sometimes he gets under my skin so I fire back at him. But it's not going to make any difference in the fight.
"I've got the better fighter."
Each fighter has been respectful to the other even as each expresses confidence that he will come out on top on Saturday.
"That's just what they say. I don?t want to enter into that conversation," Pacquiao said. "I don?t want to talk too much before the fight. I don?t want to think about what they say. Those are their opinions.
"I don?t care about that conversation. My goal is to focus and concentrate on the fight."
That leaves the trash exchanges common at many big fights to the trainers.
"You got whupped so much Freddie," Mayweather said. "You're a bum."
"You're the expert on that," Roach replied.
"I'm already in your head. You ain't got me. I've got you," Mayweather said.
"Get a translator, will you?" Roach said.
"I've got you Freddie. I've got you."
The trainers' spat could serve as a distraction to allow both fighters to focus on their tasks in the ring rather than hyping a fight that stands well on its own based on the success of the men wearing the gloves.
"I don't have nothing against Freddie, but this is warfare," Mayweather said. "I'm looking out for my fighter and I'm going to do whatever it takes for him to win."
Hatton, like Pacquiao, shrugs off the hype aspects.
"I don't pay too much attention to it. Floyd is like that seven days a week and twice on Sunday," Hatton said. "It's Floyd being Floyd. I'll let Floyd do the talking. I know what I?m capable of doing.
"A lot of what we?ve seen is trash talk but I don?t think he?s going to publicly stick his neck on the line as much as he has if he didn?t believe I could back it up.
"I do still believe every word Floyd says. Floyd wouldn't put his reputation on the line and say it if he didn't think I could do it and appear to be a (fool)."
Hatton does think that Mayweather might have had an impact on Roach, however.
"This is maybe the most I've heard Freddie Roach. He is usually very quiet. Now he's talking about three rounds and done," Hatton said.
"When you start acting a little bit out of character, maybe he?s not quite as confident as he says. Maybe he has taken the bait from Floyd."
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Retired champ Calzaghe rules out Froch fight
NEWPORT, Wales (AP)—Joe Calzaghe has no interest in coming out of retirement to fight Carl Froch, saying the WBA super middleweight champion is not in the same class.
The 37-year-old Welshman retired in February after winning all 46 of his fights and said that he had no interest in facing Froch, who knocked out Jermain Taylor with 14 seconds left in their fight Saturday night in Mashantucket, Conn.
“Enough is enough with Carl Froch calling me out,” Calzaghe told the South Wales Argus. “I can tell you categorically that I will not fight the guy even if I did come out of retirement, which I am not going to do.”
Froch called on Calzaghe to return to the ring after beating Taylor, even though he trailed most of the fight. But Calzaghe, who won his last two fights at 175 pounds against former world champions Bernard Hopkins and Roy Jones Jr., said the English fighter was not good enough to lure him from retirement.
“I am sick to death of him drumming up free publicity for himself by using my name,” Calzaghe said. “No one who watched the fight can believe he’s in my class. He’s my stalker.
“For the first eight rounds against Taylor he was like a goalkeeper with no defense. He was being outclassed and outfought by a middleweight who’s seen better days.”
The 37-year-old Welshman retired in February after winning all 46 of his fights and said that he had no interest in facing Froch, who knocked out Jermain Taylor with 14 seconds left in their fight Saturday night in Mashantucket, Conn.
“Enough is enough with Carl Froch calling me out,” Calzaghe told the South Wales Argus. “I can tell you categorically that I will not fight the guy even if I did come out of retirement, which I am not going to do.”
Froch called on Calzaghe to return to the ring after beating Taylor, even though he trailed most of the fight. But Calzaghe, who won his last two fights at 175 pounds against former world champions Bernard Hopkins and Roy Jones Jr., said the English fighter was not good enough to lure him from retirement.
“I am sick to death of him drumming up free publicity for himself by using my name,” Calzaghe said. “No one who watched the fight can believe he’s in my class. He’s my stalker.
“For the first eight rounds against Taylor he was like a goalkeeper with no defense. He was being outclassed and outfought by a middleweight who’s seen better days.”
And now, Mike Tyson the movie!
By TIM DAHLBERG, AP Sports Columnist
If anyone needed to be reminded about the danger in boxing, the death Monday of former heavyweight champion Greg Page illustrated it in a terribly sad way. Page went quietly at the age of 50, having never really recovered from a fight eight years ago that was to be his last.
Boxing, as Mike Tyson used to always tell us, is a hurt business. Tragically, it sometimes becomes even more than that.
But it can also deliver us some of the most compelling athletes of the time. And if anyone needs to be reminded of that, well, go and watch the new Tyson documentary that made its debut on the big screen over the weekend.
It’s Tyson unplugged, and it’s supposed to be good. Very good, if you believe several credible reviewers who were taken with how disarming, candid, and even vulnerable the former baddest man on the planet now appears to be.
I can’t say, because I haven’t seen it. Probably won’t, either, but don’t let that stop you.
I won’t see it because I’ve seen it all before. For the better part of 25 years I’ve watched as Tyson swerved from one train wreck to another until, finally, his star burned out and he retreated into retirement with little left to show for his career other than one very strange tattoo on his face.
Little did I know that one day he would have a movie where it would all be condensed into 88 minutes. Could have saved myself a lot of time and grief by simply waiting for the DVD.
Actually, the surprising thing isn’t that Tyson has a movie out. From the time he began knocking fighters out for a living in 1984 until his final fight he’s provided enough material for 10 movies.
No, the surprising—make that shocking—thing is that at the age of 43 he’s still alive and, seemingly, well. For a long time it looked like he would never make 40, something Tyson himself admits having never expected.
He’s surprisingly intact, too, if you can get past the tattoo and the weathered look that all boxers have. Though Tyson has always had a speech impediment, he shows no signs of any damage from getting hit too much in the ring when he talks and gives no indication that all the drugs and alcohol robbed him of too many brain cells.
He survived one prison term and a couple of other jail sentences without being harmed, and a lot of long nights in strip clubs without getting knifed by someone trying to put a notch on their belt. The strip clubs were where I always thought he would meet his end, or else in the bedroom of someone else’s wife.
He claims to be behaving and that’s good, because he’s still on probation from his guilty plea for possessing cocaine in Arizona, where he was staring at a long prison sentence. Tyson hasn’t had a lot of luck in the courts over the years, but he finally ran into a judge who believed him when he said he took responsibility for his mistakes.
Whether moviegoers believe what Tyson has to say is up to them. I did find over the years that Tyson would usually say what he believed, unless, of course, he was trying to con people into buying tickets for fights even he was no longer interested in.
Whether anyone still cares is another matter. For many years people couldn’t get enough of this larger-than-life figure, but the more time passes the more people like Tyson become yesterday’s news. And documentaries are a particularly tough sell, as noted by the fact that the movie grossed just $86,000 in 11 theaters over the weekend.
Tyson was once a great heavyweight, but his greatness didn’t last long. After losing the heavyweight title in a shocking knockout to James “Buster” Douglas in Tokyo in 1990, his heyday was over. He could still make money and make headlines, but largely he just went through the motions in the ring and his record reflected it.
The reviewers who praised the new movie wrote about how tormented of a soul Tyson seems to be and how conflicted he remains with his life. They express surprise that he can quote philosophers, and seem astonished that this high school dropout with such a troubled past is more intelligent than they might have thought.
I don’t because I’ve been listening to him from the time I found him crying outside of Caesars Palace after losing a bid for the 1984 Olympic team. Along the way I’ve listened to long hours of the same kind of stream of consciousness talk that is the core of the movie.
Some of it was fascinating, some just odd. Tyson could be charming and revolting in the same breath, and part of the fun was that you never knew what he would say next.
He’s still that way, which should make for a good movie.
And who would have ever thought you could see Iron Mike for just 10 bucks?
Tim Dahlberg is a national sports columnist for The Associated Press. Write to him at tdahlberg@ap.org
If anyone needed to be reminded about the danger in boxing, the death Monday of former heavyweight champion Greg Page illustrated it in a terribly sad way. Page went quietly at the age of 50, having never really recovered from a fight eight years ago that was to be his last.
Boxing, as Mike Tyson used to always tell us, is a hurt business. Tragically, it sometimes becomes even more than that.
But it can also deliver us some of the most compelling athletes of the time. And if anyone needs to be reminded of that, well, go and watch the new Tyson documentary that made its debut on the big screen over the weekend.
It’s Tyson unplugged, and it’s supposed to be good. Very good, if you believe several credible reviewers who were taken with how disarming, candid, and even vulnerable the former baddest man on the planet now appears to be.
I can’t say, because I haven’t seen it. Probably won’t, either, but don’t let that stop you.
I won’t see it because I’ve seen it all before. For the better part of 25 years I’ve watched as Tyson swerved from one train wreck to another until, finally, his star burned out and he retreated into retirement with little left to show for his career other than one very strange tattoo on his face.
Little did I know that one day he would have a movie where it would all be condensed into 88 minutes. Could have saved myself a lot of time and grief by simply waiting for the DVD.
Actually, the surprising thing isn’t that Tyson has a movie out. From the time he began knocking fighters out for a living in 1984 until his final fight he’s provided enough material for 10 movies.
No, the surprising—make that shocking—thing is that at the age of 43 he’s still alive and, seemingly, well. For a long time it looked like he would never make 40, something Tyson himself admits having never expected.
He’s surprisingly intact, too, if you can get past the tattoo and the weathered look that all boxers have. Though Tyson has always had a speech impediment, he shows no signs of any damage from getting hit too much in the ring when he talks and gives no indication that all the drugs and alcohol robbed him of too many brain cells.
He survived one prison term and a couple of other jail sentences without being harmed, and a lot of long nights in strip clubs without getting knifed by someone trying to put a notch on their belt. The strip clubs were where I always thought he would meet his end, or else in the bedroom of someone else’s wife.
He claims to be behaving and that’s good, because he’s still on probation from his guilty plea for possessing cocaine in Arizona, where he was staring at a long prison sentence. Tyson hasn’t had a lot of luck in the courts over the years, but he finally ran into a judge who believed him when he said he took responsibility for his mistakes.
Whether moviegoers believe what Tyson has to say is up to them. I did find over the years that Tyson would usually say what he believed, unless, of course, he was trying to con people into buying tickets for fights even he was no longer interested in.
Whether anyone still cares is another matter. For many years people couldn’t get enough of this larger-than-life figure, but the more time passes the more people like Tyson become yesterday’s news. And documentaries are a particularly tough sell, as noted by the fact that the movie grossed just $86,000 in 11 theaters over the weekend.
Tyson was once a great heavyweight, but his greatness didn’t last long. After losing the heavyweight title in a shocking knockout to James “Buster” Douglas in Tokyo in 1990, his heyday was over. He could still make money and make headlines, but largely he just went through the motions in the ring and his record reflected it.
The reviewers who praised the new movie wrote about how tormented of a soul Tyson seems to be and how conflicted he remains with his life. They express surprise that he can quote philosophers, and seem astonished that this high school dropout with such a troubled past is more intelligent than they might have thought.
I don’t because I’ve been listening to him from the time I found him crying outside of Caesars Palace after losing a bid for the 1984 Olympic team. Along the way I’ve listened to long hours of the same kind of stream of consciousness talk that is the core of the movie.
Some of it was fascinating, some just odd. Tyson could be charming and revolting in the same breath, and part of the fun was that you never knew what he would say next.
He’s still that way, which should make for a good movie.
And who would have ever thought you could see Iron Mike for just 10 bucks?
Tim Dahlberg is a national sports columnist for The Associated Press. Write to him at tdahlberg@ap.org
Monday, April 27, 2009
TICKET ALERT!!!!!!!!!!!!
JAIME SANDOVAL VS. JUAN CARLOS MARTINEZ
“WINDY CITY FIGHT NIGHT 2”
FRIDAY, MAY 29TH AT THE UIC PAVILION
CHICAGO, IL (April 27, 2009) World class professional boxing returns to the UIC Pavilion on Friday, May 29th, as Dominic Pesoli’s 8 Count Productions, HOME OF THE BEST IN CHICAGO BOXING, presents “WINDY CITY FIGHT NIGHT 2”..
Tickets for “WINDY CITY FIGHT NIGHT 2”, starting at $31, are on sale now through the 8 Count Productions office at 312-226-5800 and through Ticketmaster at 312-559-1212 or http://www.ticketmaster.com/.
Doors on the evening of the event will open at 7pm with the first bell at 8pm. The UIC Pavilion is located at 525 S. Racine , just one block south of the Eisenhower Expressway. For further information, please visit their website at http://www.uicpavilion.com/
“WINDY CITY FIGHT NIGHT 2” is headlined by an outstanding ten round main event between Chicago based lightweight Jaime “SUPERFLY” Sandoval and Juan Carlos “EL PEZ” Martinez of San Luis Potosi, Mexico for the World Boxing Foundation Americas Lightweight Championship.
The Sandoval/Martinez bout is a rematch of their terrific battle on October 19, 2007 at Cicero Stadium, won by Martinez in an epic eight round bout that saw both warriors bruised and battered as they fought to a very close finish in front of their legions of loyal fans. Martinez was declared the victor by scores of 78-74, 78-74 and 77-75.
Said Pesoli, “I’ve wanted to make this rematch for over a year and I’m thrilled that Jaime and Juan Carlos have agreed to fight again on May 29th. The fans in Cicero saw an outstanding bout between these two warriors and we’re confident the rematch will be even better. They’ve both fought on our shows a number of times and have huge fan bases.”
“This is our third event at the UIC Pavilion and we’re very happy to see the large crowds turn out at our new home. The Sandoval/Martinez rematch extends our commitment to our fans, now in our 12th year, to putting on great events with terrific fights” continued Pesoli.
Since beating Sandoval, the 27 year old Martinez has fought five times, most recently battling former world champion Guty Espadas Jr. in an excellent ten round war, losing a close split decision by scores of 94-97, 94-96 and 98-92 on April 4th in Tamaulipas , Mexico .
In his six year career, he has compiled a record of 15-10-1 with seven knockouts.
The 27 year old Sandoval, younger brother of former world champion Jesus Chavez, has built a record of 15-3-1 with 12 knockouts since turning professional five years ago.
Long a staple of the Chicago boxing scene, Sandoval is coming off a hard fought ten round draw with undefeated Rashad Ganaway in Harlingen , Texas on March 28th.
Prior to that, Sandoval won a career best eight round decision over highly regarded and undefeated Dominican prospect Argenis Mendez on October 3rd in Denver , Colorado .
The co-main event will feature sensational super bantamweight prospect Eric “EL LOCO” Estrada in a six round bout. The 21 year Chicago native, 7-0-0 (3KO’s) has impressed local fight fans with his outstanding boxing skills and aggressive all-action style since turning professional in September 2007.
Estrada is coming off an impressive fifth round stoppage of Steve Cannell on January 23rd at Cicero Stadium.
Rounding out eight bout “WINDY CITY FIGHT NIGHT 2” event will be newcomers; welterweight Tony Maldonado, junior welterweight Ramiro Carrillo, featherweight Sergio Montes De Oca, lightweights Russell Fiore and Jose Hernandez and super bantamweights Sergio Cristobal and Juan Carlos Fernandez.
Additional information on this card will be announced shortly.
8 Count Productions, HOME OF THE BEST IN CHICAGO BOXING, was started by Dominic Pesoli in 1998 and has consistently presented the highest quality professional boxing events in Chicagoland.. In 2003, Pesoli along with former featherweight contender Mike Garcia, opened JABB Boxing Gym, a 6,000 square foot venue dedicated to the finest Chicagoland boxers of all talent levels.
For more information on 8 Count Productions and JABB Boxing Gym, please visit http://www.8countproductions.com/ and http://www.jabbboxing.com/
JAIME SANDOVAL VS. JUAN CARLOS MARTINEZ
“WINDY CITY FIGHT NIGHT 2”
FRIDAY, MAY 29TH AT THE UIC PAVILION
CHICAGO, IL (April 27, 2009) World class professional boxing returns to the UIC Pavilion on Friday, May 29th, as Dominic Pesoli’s 8 Count Productions, HOME OF THE BEST IN CHICAGO BOXING, presents “WINDY CITY FIGHT NIGHT 2”..
Tickets for “WINDY CITY FIGHT NIGHT 2”, starting at $31, are on sale now through the 8 Count Productions office at 312-226-5800 and through Ticketmaster at 312-559-1212 or http://www.ticketmaster.com/.Doors on the evening of the event will open at 7pm with the first bell at 8pm. The UIC Pavilion is located at 525 S. Racine , just one block south of the Eisenhower Expressway. For further information, please visit their website at http://www.uicpavilion.com/
“WINDY CITY FIGHT NIGHT 2” is headlined by an outstanding ten round main event between Chicago based lightweight Jaime “SUPERFLY” Sandoval and Juan Carlos “EL PEZ” Martinez of San Luis Potosi, Mexico for the World Boxing Foundation Americas Lightweight Championship.
The Sandoval/Martinez bout is a rematch of their terrific battle on October 19, 2007 at Cicero Stadium, won by Martinez in an epic eight round bout that saw both warriors bruised and battered as they fought to a very close finish in front of their legions of loyal fans. Martinez was declared the victor by scores of 78-74, 78-74 and 77-75.
Said Pesoli, “I’ve wanted to make this rematch for over a year and I’m thrilled that Jaime and Juan Carlos have agreed to fight again on May 29th. The fans in Cicero saw an outstanding bout between these two warriors and we’re confident the rematch will be even better. They’ve both fought on our shows a number of times and have huge fan bases.”
“This is our third event at the UIC Pavilion and we’re very happy to see the large crowds turn out at our new home. The Sandoval/Martinez rematch extends our commitment to our fans, now in our 12th year, to putting on great events with terrific fights” continued Pesoli.
Since beating Sandoval, the 27 year old Martinez has fought five times, most recently battling former world champion Guty Espadas Jr. in an excellent ten round war, losing a close split decision by scores of 94-97, 94-96 and 98-92 on April 4th in Tamaulipas , Mexico .
In his six year career, he has compiled a record of 15-10-1 with seven knockouts.
The 27 year old Sandoval, younger brother of former world champion Jesus Chavez, has built a record of 15-3-1 with 12 knockouts since turning professional five years ago.
Long a staple of the Chicago boxing scene, Sandoval is coming off a hard fought ten round draw with undefeated Rashad Ganaway in Harlingen , Texas on March 28th.
Prior to that, Sandoval won a career best eight round decision over highly regarded and undefeated Dominican prospect Argenis Mendez on October 3rd in Denver , Colorado .
The co-main event will feature sensational super bantamweight prospect Eric “EL LOCO” Estrada in a six round bout. The 21 year Chicago native, 7-0-0 (3KO’s) has impressed local fight fans with his outstanding boxing skills and aggressive all-action style since turning professional in September 2007.
Estrada is coming off an impressive fifth round stoppage of Steve Cannell on January 23rd at Cicero Stadium.
Rounding out eight bout “WINDY CITY FIGHT NIGHT 2” event will be newcomers; welterweight Tony Maldonado, junior welterweight Ramiro Carrillo, featherweight Sergio Montes De Oca, lightweights Russell Fiore and Jose Hernandez and super bantamweights Sergio Cristobal and Juan Carlos Fernandez.
Additional information on this card will be announced shortly.
8 Count Productions, HOME OF THE BEST IN CHICAGO BOXING, was started by Dominic Pesoli in 1998 and has consistently presented the highest quality professional boxing events in Chicagoland.. In 2003, Pesoli along with former featherweight contender Mike Garcia, opened JABB Boxing Gym, a 6,000 square foot venue dedicated to the finest Chicagoland boxers of all talent levels.
For more information on 8 Count Productions and JABB Boxing Gym, please visit http://www.8countproductions.com/ and http://www.jabbboxing.com/
Former boxing champ Greg Page dies
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP)—Greg Page, a former heavyweight boxing champion who suffered a severe brain injury in a 2001 fight, has died at his Louisville home. He was 50.
His wife, Patricia Page, said she found the one-time World Boxing Association champion in his bed Monday morning. Patricia Page said he died of complications related to injuries he suffered in the fight.
Page told The Associated Press her husband “is in a better place now.”
The March 9, 2001, fight left Page in a coma for nearly a week. He then had a stroke during post-fight surgery. He was paralyzed on his left side and received intensive physical therapy.
Page won a $1.2 million settlement in 2007 with Kentucky boxing officials over the lack of medical personnel at the fight. Boxing officials also agreed to establish a medical review panel for the Kentucky Boxing and Wrestling Authority to check the health conditions of people involved in the sport who may be at risk for injury.
Page started fighting while growing up in Louisville and was sparring with Muhammad Ali by the time he was 15. He became the National Golden Gloves heavyweight champion in 1978 at age 20.
He turned to professional boxing and lost his first shot at the WBA heavyweight championship in 1984 to Tim Witherspoon. In December of that year, Page knocked out Gerrie Coetzee in the eighth round of their bout in South Africa to claim the title, but lost on points to Tony Tubbs five months later.
Page continued boxing through 1993, then took two years off after being knocked out by Bruce Seldon. He started again in 1996.
Page was 42 and had a 58-16-1 career record going into the $1,500 fight against Dale Crowe at Peels Palace in Erlanger, Ky., near Cincinnati. Crowe was 24 and an up-and-coming boxer. Page went down after 10 rounds and didn’t get up.
Patricia Page said Monday that funeral arrangements were pending.
His wife, Patricia Page, said she found the one-time World Boxing Association champion in his bed Monday morning. Patricia Page said he died of complications related to injuries he suffered in the fight.
Page told The Associated Press her husband “is in a better place now.”
The March 9, 2001, fight left Page in a coma for nearly a week. He then had a stroke during post-fight surgery. He was paralyzed on his left side and received intensive physical therapy.
Page won a $1.2 million settlement in 2007 with Kentucky boxing officials over the lack of medical personnel at the fight. Boxing officials also agreed to establish a medical review panel for the Kentucky Boxing and Wrestling Authority to check the health conditions of people involved in the sport who may be at risk for injury.
Page started fighting while growing up in Louisville and was sparring with Muhammad Ali by the time he was 15. He became the National Golden Gloves heavyweight champion in 1978 at age 20.
He turned to professional boxing and lost his first shot at the WBA heavyweight championship in 1984 to Tim Witherspoon. In December of that year, Page knocked out Gerrie Coetzee in the eighth round of their bout in South Africa to claim the title, but lost on points to Tony Tubbs five months later.
Page continued boxing through 1993, then took two years off after being knocked out by Bruce Seldon. He started again in 1996.
Page was 42 and had a 58-16-1 career record going into the $1,500 fight against Dale Crowe at Peels Palace in Erlanger, Ky., near Cincinnati. Crowe was 24 and an up-and-coming boxer. Page went down after 10 rounds and didn’t get up.
Patricia Page said Monday that funeral arrangements were pending.
Weekend Fights
BAYAMON, Puerto Rico (AP)—Juan Manuel Lopez, Puerto Rico, stopped Gerry Penalosa, Philippines, 9, to retain the WBO super bantamweight title; Lamont Peterson, Memphis, Tenn., stopped Willy Blain, Germany, 7, to win the interim WBO light welterweight title.
MASHANTUCKET, Conn. (AP)—Carl Froch, Britain, stopped Jermain Taylor, Little Rock, Ark., 12, to retain the WBC super middleweight title; Allan Green, Tulsa, Okla., stopped Carlos De Leon Jr., Puerto Rico, 2, super middleweights; Dominick Guinn, Houston, stopped Johnnie White, St. Martinsville, La., 1, heavyweights.
KREFELD, Germany (AP)—Felix Sturm, Germany, stopped Koji Sato, Japan, 12, to retain the WBA Ordinary middleweight title; Karoly Balzsay, Hungary, stopped Maselino Masoe, New Zealand, 11, to retain the WBO super middleweight title.
CEBU CITY, Philippines (AP)—Rolando Magbanua, Philippines, stopped Wanpadejseuk Sithsaithong, Thailand, 3, to win the interim WBO Oriental bantamweight title; Edren Dapudong, Philippines, stopped Bert Batawang, Philippines, 7, to win the WBO Oriental light flyweight title.
MASHANTUCKET, Conn. (AP)—Carl Froch, Britain, stopped Jermain Taylor, Little Rock, Ark., 12, to retain the WBC super middleweight title; Allan Green, Tulsa, Okla., stopped Carlos De Leon Jr., Puerto Rico, 2, super middleweights; Dominick Guinn, Houston, stopped Johnnie White, St. Martinsville, La., 1, heavyweights.
KREFELD, Germany (AP)—Felix Sturm, Germany, stopped Koji Sato, Japan, 12, to retain the WBA Ordinary middleweight title; Karoly Balzsay, Hungary, stopped Maselino Masoe, New Zealand, 11, to retain the WBO super middleweight title.
CEBU CITY, Philippines (AP)—Rolando Magbanua, Philippines, stopped Wanpadejseuk Sithsaithong, Thailand, 3, to win the interim WBO Oriental bantamweight title; Edren Dapudong, Philippines, stopped Bert Batawang, Philippines, 7, to win the WBO Oriental light flyweight title.
ESCALANTE KO'S STARK ON ESPN2 IN CHICAGO!
ESPN2 FRIDAY NIGHT FIGHTSGOLDEN BOY PROMOTIONS and
8COUNT PROMOTIONS
UIC PAVILION, CHICAGO, IL
FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2009
Anyone who enjoys the fights in Chicagoland knows that 8Count Promotions puts on the best shows around. Well, throw ESPN2's Teddy Atlas and Joe Tessitore into the mix with some hungry, spirited boxing talent, and you've got the recipe for success that other promotions have strived for, but few can actually produce.
The night's opening bout showcased the professional debut of "The Nigerian Gentleman" (not to be confused with The Nigerian Nightmare, Sam Peter), Enobong Umohette, who clearly possesses power throughout his heavily-muscled body. His opponent, Theron Johnson (Chicago, IL) likes to throw "punches in bunches" and his combinations bothered Umohette a couple of times throughout the four-round fight, but Umohette kept lumbering away, throwing huge telegraphed left hooks, prompting me to hope that defense becomes a priority for this young man soon in his boxing training. In the end, the judges saw it 39-37 (all three) for Umohette, moving him to 1-0, and Johnson down to 2-2.
Up second was one of the most exciting fights of the night, pitting Ivan Popoca (Chicago, IL) against Sebastian Hamel (Montreal, Canada) in a six-rounder. Popoca has thrilled Chicagoland boxing fans for the last few years with his forward-only style, and tonight was no different. While bleeding consistently from an accidental headbutt sustained in the opening seconds of the first round, Popoca owned the majority of the exchanges, utilizing his jab and "stay low" approach to dominate the visitor from the North. Plenty of back-and-forth action got the audience on their feet, but it was Popoca who was running the show, and the judges awarded him a unanimous decision with scores of 59-55, 58-56, and 60-54. Popoca's record improves to 10-0-1, and Hamel moves down to 10-18-1.
Now the ESPN2 Friday Night Fights cameras started rolling, just in time to see 2008 USA Olympic bronze medalist Deontay Wilder (Tuscaloosa, AL) continue his undefeated pro career with a quick stoppage of Joseph Rabotte (Myrtle Beach, SC). The much taller Wilder scored THREE knockdowns in the first round, prompting the referee to wave the fight off at 2:33 of round one, moving Wilder's profesional record to 4-0, with all 4 wins coming by way of knockout. In the interest of full disclosure, Deontay Wilder is trained by none other than 1984 Olympic gold medalist Mark Breland, who shared the podium with the likes of Evander Holyfield, Pernell Whitaker, Meldrick Taylor,and Tyrell Biggs on that legendary USA boxing team. So far, it looks like Breland's got a real winner in Wilder, and we'll all be tuned in to see what type of pro heavyweight he becomes.
Next up was Daniel Jacobs, known as "The Golden Child", who jabbed his way to success against Jose del Carmen Varela (Los Angeles, CA) until he lowered the boom and landed a picture-perfect straight right hand right between Varela's defense, knocking Varela down for a stunning knockout. Jacobs (Brooklyn, NY) moves to 15-0, and is currently rumored to be facing Michael "Midnight Stalker" Walker on the Pacquiao-Hatton undercard this coming Saturday night. Walker was originally slated to be fighting James Kirkland, who had to pull out of the fight for undisclosed legal issues. One thing is for sure: if Jacobs is going to be Walker's opponent, the fight will end in a knockout, since both men are capable of ending the fight with one punch.
In an absolute mess of a swing fight, Noe Perez (Chicago, IL) knocked out overmatched Ronnie "Da Future" Howell (Cincinnati, OH). Howell was hit with a beautiful overhand right in the first round, and after a full five-second delay chose to go down to the canvas to avoid any more punishment. The crowd voiced it's contempt for Howell's lack of "warrior spirit", prompting one ringside fan, Mr. Javier Esquivel, to say, "Da Future looks bleak!", referring to the Cincinnati native's nickname.
The main televised event was the most octane-enriched fight of the night, complete with toe-to-toe action, a bit of smack talk, and lots of hard-hitting exchanges from both fighters. Antonio Escalante (El Paso, TX by way of Mexico) was paired up with Gary Stark, Jr. (Staten Island, NY) in a scheduled 10-rounder. From the opening bell, it was hard to imagine this fight getting into the later rounds, simply due to the output numbers these two warriors were putting out. Escalante's speed and power were matched up well with Stark's in-punching to the body and excellent chin. Escalante was successful in the first round with his jab and body work, but Stark let his fans know that none of it bothered him.
The second round saw a bit more Stark success, but he eventually got trapped against the ropes, and developed a bloody left cheek from repeated overhand right hands from Escalante. Suddenly, Stark ate a vicious uppercut to the chin and was sent to the canvas for a six-count. Stark made it to his feet, retreated away from Escalante, but was hit with another overhand right, and put down for the final count, ending the fight in grand fashion. The Chicago fight fans expressed their ear-pounding satisfaction, and Escalante got a spectacular win on national television, moving his pro record to 19-2. Stark moves down to 22-3.
It is to be noted that the stars were really out for this momentous event at the UIC Pavilion. Former Olympian and former WBC lightweight champion David Diaz, Chicago heavyweights Mike Mollo, Michael Bennet, and Fres Oquendo, veteran UFC champion Andre Arlovski were all present, not to mention the star power of ESPN2's own veteran commentators Teddy Atlas and Joe Tessitore. All in all, it was an outstanding night of fights that simply was not to be missed.
***Special thanks to Mr. Dominic Pesoli and Mr. Bernie Bahrmasel of 8Count Promotions for issuing Bolo Punch the credentials to cover this event. This ringside report was written entirely by Chris Guzman, who has hosted The Bolo Punch Boxing Hour since 2002. All ringside photography was taken by Emil Kegebein, and all of his handiwork can be viewed at www.legupphotos.com, available for download and purchasing of prints.
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