By AMANDA LEE MYERS, Associated Press Writer
PHOENIX (AP)—The near-fatal strangulation of boxer Mike Tyson’s 4-year-old daughter appears to be a “tragic accident,” police say.
Exodus Tyson was on life support Tuesday after apparently accidentally hanging herself on a cord dangling from a treadmill in her modest central Phoenix home.
“Somehow she was playing on this treadmill, and there’s a cord that hangs under the console—it’s kind of a loop,” police Sgt. Andy Hill said. “Either she slipped or put her head in the loop, but it acted like a noose, and she was obviously unable to get herself off of it.”
Exodus’ 7-year-old brother found her Monday and told their mother, who was in another room. She took Exodus off the cord, called 911 and tried to revive her.
Responding officers and firefighters performed CPR on Exodus as they rushed her to a nearby hospital, where she was in “extremely critical condition” and on life support, Hill said.
Hill said former heavyweight champion Tyson, 42, had been in Las Vegas but flew to Phoenix immediately after learning of the accident.
“The Tyson family would like to extend our deepest and most heartfelt thanks for all your prayers and support, and we ask that we be allowed our privacy at this difficult time,” the boxer said in a statement.
Brief footage from local TV station KTVK showed Tyson arriving at the hospital in a white button-up and black pants, and looking around with a frown before going inside.
Hill said everything in the investigation pointed to a “tragic accident,” adding that calls involving children is an officer’s most difficult duty.
“Those are the things that stay with you in your career,” he said. “We always hope for a miracle—not to have the worst happen to a child.”
Neighbors said they were surprised and saddened when they heard what had happened.
“It’s terrible,” said Abby St. Jermain, who grew up in the neighborhood and is house-sitting for her parents down the street. “The kids are so sweet. We always see them riding their bikes, playing. They’ve just been wonderful people.”
Dinka Radic, who lives across the street, described Exodus as smart and sweet.
“The little girl, she says ‘You got chocolate in your house?”’ Radic said. “I say ‘Yes,’ and she says, ‘OK, give me some.”’
When she gives the girl the chocolate, Radic said “she just kisses me on my knees. Kiss, kiss, kiss. Very nice.”
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Police: Mike Tyson’s daughter on life support
By AMANDA LEE MYERS, Associated Press Writer
PHOENIX (AP)—Boxer Mike Tyson’s 4-year-old daughter is on life support after she was found with her neck caught in a cord of a treadmill machine Monday, police said.
Exodus Tyson’s 7-year-old brother found her on a treadmill with her neck in the cord that dangles from the console of the exercise machine at their Phoenix home, police Sgt. Andy Hill said, calling it a “tragic accident.”
The boy told Exodus’ mother, who was in another room. She took Exodus off the cord, called 911 and tried to revive her.
Responding officers and firefighters performed CPR on Exodus as they rushed her to a nearby hospital, where she was in “extremely critical condition” and on life support, Hill said.
“Somehow she was playing on this treadmill, and there’s a cord that hangs under the console—it’s kind of a loop,” Hill said. “Either she slipped or put her head in the loop, but it acted like a noose, and she was obviously unable to get herself off of it.”
Hill said former heavyweight champion Tyson had been in Las Vegas but flew to Phoenix immediately after learning of the accident. Police didn’t release the girl’s name.Tyson could not immediately be reached for comment but 42West, a New York City public relations firm representing him, released a statement on the family’s behalf.
“The Tyson family would like to extend our deepest and most heartfelt thanks for all your prayers and support, and we ask that we be allowed our privacy at this difficult time,” the statement said.
Brief footage from local TV station KTVK showed Tyson arriving at the hospital in a white button-up and black pants, and looking around with a frown before going inside.
Hill said everything in the investigation pointed to an accident. “There’s nothing in the investigation that revealed anything suspicious,” he said.
He added that responding to calls involving children is an officer’s most difficult duty.
“Those are the things that stay with you in your career,” he said. “We always hope for a miracle—not to have the worst happen to a child.”
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Naito’s fight against Xiong moved to Tokyo
TOKYO (AP)—Daisuke Naito’s fifth defense of his WBC flyweight title against China’s Xiong Zhaozhong next week has been moved to Tokyo.
The fight was originally to be held in Shanghai on Tuesday, but will now take place in Tokyo on the same day, the Nikkansports newspaper reported Sunday.
Officials at Naito’s Miyata gym were quoted as saying the move was due to a “promoter-related problem.”
Miyata gym had been approached about staging the fight in China by the WBC, which is looking to make inroads in the world’s most populous nation.
Naito, 34, stopped compatriot Shingo Yamaguchi in the 11th round to retain his crown at Tokyo in December, improving his record to 34 wins—22 of them by knockout—two defeats and three draws.
The fight was originally to be held in Shanghai on Tuesday, but will now take place in Tokyo on the same day, the Nikkansports newspaper reported Sunday.
Officials at Naito’s Miyata gym were quoted as saying the move was due to a “promoter-related problem.”
Miyata gym had been approached about staging the fight in China by the WBC, which is looking to make inroads in the world’s most populous nation.
Naito, 34, stopped compatriot Shingo Yamaguchi in the 11th round to retain his crown at Tokyo in December, improving his record to 34 wins—22 of them by knockout—two defeats and three draws.
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Champ of underdogs: Douglas healthy, happy at 49
By RUSTY MILLER, AP Sports Writer
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP)—Every now and then a few words in a newspaper or on TV take James “Buster” Douglas back 19 years to a Tokyo boxing ring.
He smiles at that memory, and everything he has survived since.
“It’s like I made my mark, it’s proof that I existed on this planet,” he said. “That’s a good thing. I’m really, really proud about that.”
A happy family man, healthy after nearly dying during a diabetic coma 15 years ago, Douglas spends his days in the present. Still, what took place inside the ropes on Feb. 10, 1990, continues to amaze and confound. Even those who lived it have difficulty believing it.
“To tell you the truth, it’s almost something that didn’t happen,” said J.D. McCauley, Douglas’ uncle and corner man. “Then I look at the championship rings on my fingers. It’s funny, it didn’t seem like it happened. You know what I mean? But it did.”
On that winter night in Japan, the largely unknown and mostly ignored Douglas had a broken heart when he touched gloves with the unbeaten and seemingly invincible Mike Tyson.
Iron Mike, long before a spell in prison sent his career and life into a tailspin, was considered a knockout machine. He had a 37-0 record—decking opponents 33 times. The oddsmakers took one look at Douglas’ erratic career and established Tyson as a 42-to-1 favorite. Even that didn’t draw much action on the underdog.
Nicknamed “Buster” by his grandmother because of his youthful spunk, Douglas came into the fight shaken by the death of his beloved, doting mother, Lula Pearl, who had died while he was training for the fight.
Douglas, an athletic 6-foot-4 and 230 pounds, had shown flashes of skill in compiling a 29-4-1 record, but most observers felt he was too passive—some even called him too “nice”—to stay upright for long against the vicious, hard-charging and violent Tyson.
They were so wrong. Instead, Douglas pulled off one of the greatest upsets in sports history.
He fought on even terms with Tyson for the first five rounds, gradually gaining in confidence. Then, in the eighth, Tyson caught him with a thunderous uppercut that leveled him. But he got up an instant before the 10 count.
Tyson, overconfident, unfocused or maybe not in top shape, seemed as surprised as the grizzled scribes and announcers at ringside when Douglas continued to hold him at bay. Even those closest to Douglas wondered if he would have the stamina, let alone the heart, to stand up to Tyson because he had had the flu 24 hours before the fight.
Then, in the 10th, it was all over.
Douglas, five inches taller and 11 pounds heavier, flicked jabs in Tyson’s face to keep him from pounding away at his midsection and taking head shots, then countered with punches that dizzied the champ. The lingering image is of Tyson crawling on the mat while struggling to find his mouthpiece as referee Octavio Meyran counted down the final seconds of Tyson’s invincibility.
Amid the chaos in the ring, Douglas was asked how he had pulled off the massive upset. “My mother,” he said, fighting back tears. “My mother.”
When Douglas looks back on that magical year, he fast-forwards through the next nine months. There were appearances on late-night TV, lengthy magazine pieces, countless photo ops and business proposals. In the days when a heavyweight champion was among the most recognized faces in the world, Douglas enjoyed himself and lost his focus. He was out of shape and uninspired when he collected $24.5 million in his title defense against Evander Holyfield, who KO’d him in the third round on Oct. 25, 1990, in Las Vegas.
The years after were not kind. He ate and drank too much and the former high school and college basketball player ballooned to more than 400 pounds, nearly dying after going into diabetic shock in the summer of 1994.
He made it through that trauma, but continued to drift. His once close relationship with manager John Johnson, who had guided his boxing career, ended badly.
His little brother, 35-year-old Robert, was killed in a gunfight in a parking lot outside the Orchid Cleaning Center on Columbus’ Cleveland Avenue in December of 1998. Less than a year later, his father and mentor, former middleweight Bill “Dynamite” Douglas, died of colon cancer at the age of 59.
It took time, but Douglas again got up off the mat.
He and Johnson have mended fences, occasionally meeting to remember the good days. Douglas and his wife, Bertha, moved to Johnstown, a small town not far from Columbus, to raise sons Cardae, known better as B.J., and Artie. Both play football and run track, while B.J., who is about to graduate from high school, also wrestled. Artie, like his dad, was a basketball player as a freshman.
Now 49, Douglas is content watching his kids’ games. He also has a development company that he said will begin construction of retail and housing units next month not far from where he grew up in a tough, downtrodden neighborhood East of Columbus’ thriving downtown.
Douglas said he is happy that his one-time adversary, Tyson, has gotten his due with a recent documentary and a prominent cameo in a soon-to-be-released film. He wishes him nothing but the best.
He’s also regained his health. He weighs only 20 pounds or so more than he did in Tokyo, and tries to fit in time on a treadmill each day. He even has his diabetes under control and has recently co-written a cookbook, “Buster’s Backyard Bar-B-Q Knockout Diabetes Diet.”
Nineteen years later, Douglas’ remarkable upset of Tyson continues to be mentioned as proof that anything’s possible.
“It’s been so long ago, but then you look at those rings and you know it happened,” McCauley said. “As long as you live, they can never take that away from you.”
Occasionally his kids will see a clip of boxing’s biggest upset. It’s a teaching moment for their father.
“I always tell them, ‘You know what? There’s nothing that you can’t do. Whatever you want to try, try, do it. Because you never know,”’ Douglas said with a laugh. “I’m a prime example of that. Never say never, right?”
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP)—Every now and then a few words in a newspaper or on TV take James “Buster” Douglas back 19 years to a Tokyo boxing ring.
He smiles at that memory, and everything he has survived since.
“It’s like I made my mark, it’s proof that I existed on this planet,” he said. “That’s a good thing. I’m really, really proud about that.”
A happy family man, healthy after nearly dying during a diabetic coma 15 years ago, Douglas spends his days in the present. Still, what took place inside the ropes on Feb. 10, 1990, continues to amaze and confound. Even those who lived it have difficulty believing it.
“To tell you the truth, it’s almost something that didn’t happen,” said J.D. McCauley, Douglas’ uncle and corner man. “Then I look at the championship rings on my fingers. It’s funny, it didn’t seem like it happened. You know what I mean? But it did.”
On that winter night in Japan, the largely unknown and mostly ignored Douglas had a broken heart when he touched gloves with the unbeaten and seemingly invincible Mike Tyson.
Iron Mike, long before a spell in prison sent his career and life into a tailspin, was considered a knockout machine. He had a 37-0 record—decking opponents 33 times. The oddsmakers took one look at Douglas’ erratic career and established Tyson as a 42-to-1 favorite. Even that didn’t draw much action on the underdog.
Nicknamed “Buster” by his grandmother because of his youthful spunk, Douglas came into the fight shaken by the death of his beloved, doting mother, Lula Pearl, who had died while he was training for the fight.
Douglas, an athletic 6-foot-4 and 230 pounds, had shown flashes of skill in compiling a 29-4-1 record, but most observers felt he was too passive—some even called him too “nice”—to stay upright for long against the vicious, hard-charging and violent Tyson.
They were so wrong. Instead, Douglas pulled off one of the greatest upsets in sports history.
He fought on even terms with Tyson for the first five rounds, gradually gaining in confidence. Then, in the eighth, Tyson caught him with a thunderous uppercut that leveled him. But he got up an instant before the 10 count.
Tyson, overconfident, unfocused or maybe not in top shape, seemed as surprised as the grizzled scribes and announcers at ringside when Douglas continued to hold him at bay. Even those closest to Douglas wondered if he would have the stamina, let alone the heart, to stand up to Tyson because he had had the flu 24 hours before the fight.
Then, in the 10th, it was all over.
Douglas, five inches taller and 11 pounds heavier, flicked jabs in Tyson’s face to keep him from pounding away at his midsection and taking head shots, then countered with punches that dizzied the champ. The lingering image is of Tyson crawling on the mat while struggling to find his mouthpiece as referee Octavio Meyran counted down the final seconds of Tyson’s invincibility.
Amid the chaos in the ring, Douglas was asked how he had pulled off the massive upset. “My mother,” he said, fighting back tears. “My mother.”
When Douglas looks back on that magical year, he fast-forwards through the next nine months. There were appearances on late-night TV, lengthy magazine pieces, countless photo ops and business proposals. In the days when a heavyweight champion was among the most recognized faces in the world, Douglas enjoyed himself and lost his focus. He was out of shape and uninspired when he collected $24.5 million in his title defense against Evander Holyfield, who KO’d him in the third round on Oct. 25, 1990, in Las Vegas.
The years after were not kind. He ate and drank too much and the former high school and college basketball player ballooned to more than 400 pounds, nearly dying after going into diabetic shock in the summer of 1994.
He made it through that trauma, but continued to drift. His once close relationship with manager John Johnson, who had guided his boxing career, ended badly.
His little brother, 35-year-old Robert, was killed in a gunfight in a parking lot outside the Orchid Cleaning Center on Columbus’ Cleveland Avenue in December of 1998. Less than a year later, his father and mentor, former middleweight Bill “Dynamite” Douglas, died of colon cancer at the age of 59.
It took time, but Douglas again got up off the mat.
He and Johnson have mended fences, occasionally meeting to remember the good days. Douglas and his wife, Bertha, moved to Johnstown, a small town not far from Columbus, to raise sons Cardae, known better as B.J., and Artie. Both play football and run track, while B.J., who is about to graduate from high school, also wrestled. Artie, like his dad, was a basketball player as a freshman.
Now 49, Douglas is content watching his kids’ games. He also has a development company that he said will begin construction of retail and housing units next month not far from where he grew up in a tough, downtrodden neighborhood East of Columbus’ thriving downtown.
Douglas said he is happy that his one-time adversary, Tyson, has gotten his due with a recent documentary and a prominent cameo in a soon-to-be-released film. He wishes him nothing but the best.
He’s also regained his health. He weighs only 20 pounds or so more than he did in Tokyo, and tries to fit in time on a treadmill each day. He even has his diabetes under control and has recently co-written a cookbook, “Buster’s Backyard Bar-B-Q Knockout Diabetes Diet.”
Nineteen years later, Douglas’ remarkable upset of Tyson continues to be mentioned as proof that anything’s possible.
“It’s been so long ago, but then you look at those rings and you know it happened,” McCauley said. “As long as you live, they can never take that away from you.”
Occasionally his kids will see a clip of boxing’s biggest upset. It’s a teaching moment for their father.
“I always tell them, ‘You know what? There’s nothing that you can’t do. Whatever you want to try, try, do it. Because you never know,”’ Douglas said with a laugh. “I’m a prime example of that. Never say never, right?”
Rigondeaux wins pro debut
MIAMI BEACH, Fla. (AP)—Two-time Olympic gold medalist Guillermo Rigondeaux won his professional debut with a third-round technical knockout over Juan Noriega on Friday night.
Rigondeaux, who defected from Cuba in February, was not as busy with his punches but still wore down Noriega in their junior featherweight bout at the Fontainebleau Hotel and Resort.
In fact, referee Sam Burgos stopped the fight at 1:09 of the third round after Rigondeaux landed a right to the head without any follow-up shots. Noriega, of Danville, Ark., didn’t dispute Burgos’ call.
“Everything turned out fine,” Rigondeaux said. “My shots landed exactly where I wanted them.
Rigondeaux, 28, immediately showed his dominance when he dropped Noriega with a right to the head 30 seconds into the bout for the fight’s only knockdown.
Rigondeaux carefully measured his punches and the bout had its moments of inaction.
“I didn’t rush my shots but I believe they were effective,” Rigondeaux said. “It was a brief fight and there were no injuries. Hopefully I can fight again very soon.”
Rigondeaux weighed 122 pounds, two more than Noriega.
An Olympic champion in 2000 and 2004, Rigondeaux, 28, left Cuba with Yudel Johnson and Yordanis Despaigne, teammates on the country’s amateur team. Johnson and Despaigne also fought their first professional bouts Friday night.
Johnson barely broke a sweat, scoring a first-round knockout over Greg Weathers of Louisville. Johnson dropped Weathers with a left to the head soon after the opening bell and didn’t let up his attack and floored Weathers with a right-left combination to the head.
Weathers (3-1) failed to shake off the knockdown’s effects and Burgos stopped the middleweight fight at 52 seconds.
Rigondeaux, who defected from Cuba in February, was not as busy with his punches but still wore down Noriega in their junior featherweight bout at the Fontainebleau Hotel and Resort.In fact, referee Sam Burgos stopped the fight at 1:09 of the third round after Rigondeaux landed a right to the head without any follow-up shots. Noriega, of Danville, Ark., didn’t dispute Burgos’ call.
“Everything turned out fine,” Rigondeaux said. “My shots landed exactly where I wanted them.
Rigondeaux, 28, immediately showed his dominance when he dropped Noriega with a right to the head 30 seconds into the bout for the fight’s only knockdown.
Rigondeaux carefully measured his punches and the bout had its moments of inaction.
“I didn’t rush my shots but I believe they were effective,” Rigondeaux said. “It was a brief fight and there were no injuries. Hopefully I can fight again very soon.”
Rigondeaux weighed 122 pounds, two more than Noriega.
An Olympic champion in 2000 and 2004, Rigondeaux, 28, left Cuba with Yudel Johnson and Yordanis Despaigne, teammates on the country’s amateur team. Johnson and Despaigne also fought their first professional bouts Friday night.Johnson barely broke a sweat, scoring a first-round knockout over Greg Weathers of Louisville. Johnson dropped Weathers with a left to the head soon after the opening bell and didn’t let up his attack and floored Weathers with a right-left combination to the head.
Weathers (3-1) failed to shake off the knockdown’s effects and Burgos stopped the middleweight fight at 52 seconds.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Ochoa Looks To Stay Undefeated On "Tinley Park Rumble"
Ochoa Takes Next Step At "Tinley Park Rumble" Towards Reaching GoalMay 21 (Merrillville, In) - On Friday, June 12th at the fight card dubbed "Tinley Park Rumble," welterweight Ed "2 Fast 2 Furious" Ochoa (8-0, 8 KOs) will square off against a rugged ring Jesse Davis (11-12, 8 KOs).
Ochoa vs. Davis is one of the electric fights scheduled for the "Tinley Park Rumble" with Michael "Midnight Stalker" Walker (19-2-2, 12 KOs) vs. "Iron" Orphius Waite (5-0, 3 KOs) as the main event, but it has been Ochoa stealing the shows with his devastating knockouts lately."This is definitely an incredible card to follow up the instant classic that was 'Date With Destiny' card," said Octavius James, C.E.O. of One In A Million Inc. "(Ed) Ochoa is definitely going to be in for a war with Savannah, Tennessee's Davis, but this is just one of those steps he has to take to become the next world champion."
The 27 year-old Hobart resident is coming off a destructive 1st round knockout (2:10) of Chris Hill at "Date With Destiny" that rattled the Hammond Civic Center, but Ochoa looks to bring down Davis and the Tinley Park Convention Center to their foundations.
"We want to step it up every time and Davis has been in there with some really good fighters including Derrick Findley," said Ochoa. "I just know what I possess and what I'm capable of, if fighters want to go through six rounds and they want a beating that long- fine. It takes a lot more to take my zero (in the loss column) away."
Ochoa's dream of eventually becoming a world champion got a shot in the arm when fellow O.I.A.M. stable mate "Merciless" Mary McGee staked claim to her second world title at "Date With Destiny." "It gives me a little more motivation and inspiration and puts a boot under your butt, I just thank Octavius for the opportunity" added Ochoa of seeing McGee win another title.Also scheduled as part of another sensational undercard are Chicago's Bobby Jaskierny (3-1, 2 KOs), the unbeaten Josh Crouch (4-0, 4 KOs), Female Sensation Evette Collazo (4-0, 2 KOs), the always exciting Angel Hernandez (12-3, 10 KOs), and middleweight Meegal Harper (1-0, 1 KO).
Tickets "Tinley Park Rumble" 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 (800)745-3000, (866) 438-7372 or www.TicketMaster.com.
The Tinley Park Convention Center, which is just 25 minutes from Northwest Indiana, doors will open at 7 p.m. with the first bout at 8 p.m.
Exclusive Interviews with Undefeated Heavyweight Ashani Jordan
Photos by Laura De La Torre
Exclusive Podcast Interview
Undefeated Heavyweight Ashanti Jordan
8countNews.com ~ Brad Cooney
8CountNews sat down with Golden Boy Promotions undefeated heavyweight prospect, Ashanti Jordan. This young heavyweight will step back into the ring on May 21st, against David Johnson. Jordan is definitely a fighter that everybody needs to be keeping a close eye on, his future in the heavyweight division is looking very bright. Jordan looks to keep very busy in 2009 and has high hopes of one day becoming the heavyweight champion of the world. Join 8CN and Ashanti Jordan in this exclusive podcast interview! Listen Now.
Interview with Ashanti Jordan
MightyGloves.com ~ Sylvana Ambrosanio and Katschiri Schwalm
Ashanti Jordan is an exciting heavyweight from San Francisco, California who turned pro in March of 2007 after compiling an amateur record of 36-6 and attaining a ranking of number two among heavyweight amateurs nationwide while also competing in the National Golden Gloves tournament. Read More..
Mario Serrano
Publicist
boxingpublicist@aol.com
Exclusive Podcast Interview
Undefeated Heavyweight Ashanti Jordan
8countNews.com ~ Brad Cooney
8CountNews sat down with Golden Boy Promotions undefeated heavyweight prospect, Ashanti Jordan. This young heavyweight will step back into the ring on May 21st, against David Johnson. Jordan is definitely a fighter that everybody needs to be keeping a close eye on, his future in the heavyweight division is looking very bright. Jordan looks to keep very busy in 2009 and has high hopes of one day becoming the heavyweight champion of the world. Join 8CN and Ashanti Jordan in this exclusive podcast interview! Listen Now.
Interview with Ashanti Jordan
MightyGloves.com ~ Sylvana Ambrosanio and Katschiri Schwalm
Ashanti Jordan is an exciting heavyweight from San Francisco, California who turned pro in March of 2007 after compiling an amateur record of 36-6 and attaining a ranking of number two among heavyweight amateurs nationwide while also competing in the National Golden Gloves tournament. Read More..
Mario Serrano
Publicist
boxingpublicist@aol.com
UNDERCARD FEATURES UNDEFEATED WORLD CLASS PROSPECTS IN DANNY GARCIA, TWINS CARLOS AND JUAN VELASQUEZ, ASHANTI JORDAN AND ELOY PEREZLOS ANGELES, MAY 20 - The pride of Gilroy, California, former two-time world featherweight champion Robert "The Ghost" Guerrero, returns to HP Pavilion at San Jose on June 12th to fight in front of his Northern California fans in the main event of ESPN's "Friday Night Fights" against Johnnie Edwards.
"We are excited to bring Robert back to his loyal hometown fans," said Oscar de la Hoya, President of Golden Boy Promotions. "He has a huge fan base there and I know they're going to come out in force to cheer him on."
"It's always nice to fight close to home and when I hear those fans roar, it feels like I can knock out anyone," said Guerrero. "I'm looking to make a statement and I expect to put on a great show for my fans on June 12th."
The co-featured bout pits rising junior welterweight star Danny Garcia against Pavel Miranda in an eight round clash. Also in action in separate bouts on June 12th will be hot undefeated prospects Carlos Velasquez, Juan Velasquez, San Francisco's Ashanti Jordan, Eloy Perez of Salinas and San Jose's Anthony Johnson.
Guerrero vs. Edwards, a 10 round junior lightweight bout that headlines a hard-hitting night of world-class boxing, is presented by Golden Boy Promotions. The ESPN "Friday Night Fights" livetelecast beginning at 10pm ET / 7pm PT will be broadcast on ESPN2, ESPN Deportes and ESPN360.com.
Tickets, priced at $100.00, $75.00, $50.00 and $25.00, go on sale to the public on Friday, May 22nd at 10 AM PT at the HP Pavilion Ticket Office, all Ticketmaster locations, by phone at 800-745-3000 or online at www.ticketmaster.com.
Unbeaten since 2005, Robert "The Ghost" Guerrero (23-1-1, 16 KO's) has been getting better and better with each passing fight. A two-time owner of the IBF World Featherweight Championship, the 26-year-old defended his title twice before deciding to test the waters at 130 pounds in 2009. In his two 2009 bouts, he stopped Edel Ruiz in 43 seconds and had a no decision rendered in his March contest with Daud Yordan when an accidental clash of heads cut Guerrero, making him unable to continue. On June 12th, Guerrero aims to show a national television audience that he's ready for a title shot at junior lightweight.
A native of Aiken, South Carolina, former United States Marine Johnnie Edwards (15-4-1, 8 KO's) has the talent and discipline to go far in the fight game. For proof, just look at his big wins over former world champions Eric Aiken and Freddie Norwood. After some ups and downs in his pro career, the 29-year-old is back on track and looking for big things in 2009 and beyond.
One of Philadelphia's finest, 21-year-old Danny Garcia (12-0, 7 KO's) has the fight world waiting in anticipation every time he steps between the ropes. Unbeaten in 12 pro fights, the former U.S. Olympic team alternate has been upping his level of competition with each bout and is ready for the next test in his career in the form of Tijuana, Mexico's Pavel Miranda (16-3, 8 KO's). The 21-year-old Miranda has kept up a frantic pace in the fight game since turning pro at 16 and on June 12th, the former WBC Youth champion plans on pushing Garcia harder than he's ever been pushed before.
"We are excited to bring Robert back to his loyal hometown fans," said Oscar de la Hoya, President of Golden Boy Promotions. "He has a huge fan base there and I know they're going to come out in force to cheer him on."
"It's always nice to fight close to home and when I hear those fans roar, it feels like I can knock out anyone," said Guerrero. "I'm looking to make a statement and I expect to put on a great show for my fans on June 12th."
The co-featured bout pits rising junior welterweight star Danny Garcia against Pavel Miranda in an eight round clash. Also in action in separate bouts on June 12th will be hot undefeated prospects Carlos Velasquez, Juan Velasquez, San Francisco's Ashanti Jordan, Eloy Perez of Salinas and San Jose's Anthony Johnson.
Guerrero vs. Edwards, a 10 round junior lightweight bout that headlines a hard-hitting night of world-class boxing, is presented by Golden Boy Promotions. The ESPN "Friday Night Fights" livetelecast beginning at 10pm ET / 7pm PT will be broadcast on ESPN2, ESPN Deportes and ESPN360.com.
Tickets, priced at $100.00, $75.00, $50.00 and $25.00, go on sale to the public on Friday, May 22nd at 10 AM PT at the HP Pavilion Ticket Office, all Ticketmaster locations, by phone at 800-745-3000 or online at www.ticketmaster.com.
Unbeaten since 2005, Robert "The Ghost" Guerrero (23-1-1, 16 KO's) has been getting better and better with each passing fight. A two-time owner of the IBF World Featherweight Championship, the 26-year-old defended his title twice before deciding to test the waters at 130 pounds in 2009. In his two 2009 bouts, he stopped Edel Ruiz in 43 seconds and had a no decision rendered in his March contest with Daud Yordan when an accidental clash of heads cut Guerrero, making him unable to continue. On June 12th, Guerrero aims to show a national television audience that he's ready for a title shot at junior lightweight.
A native of Aiken, South Carolina, former United States Marine Johnnie Edwards (15-4-1, 8 KO's) has the talent and discipline to go far in the fight game. For proof, just look at his big wins over former world champions Eric Aiken and Freddie Norwood. After some ups and downs in his pro career, the 29-year-old is back on track and looking for big things in 2009 and beyond.One of Philadelphia's finest, 21-year-old Danny Garcia (12-0, 7 KO's) has the fight world waiting in anticipation every time he steps between the ropes. Unbeaten in 12 pro fights, the former U.S. Olympic team alternate has been upping his level of competition with each bout and is ready for the next test in his career in the form of Tijuana, Mexico's Pavel Miranda (16-3, 8 KO's). The 21-year-old Miranda has kept up a frantic pace in the fight game since turning pro at 16 and on June 12th, the former WBC Youth champion plans on pushing Garcia harder than he's ever been pushed before.
Champ of underdogs: Douglas healthy, happy at 49
By RUSTY MILLER AP Sports Writer
COLUMBUS, Ohio(AP)—Every now and then a few words in a newspaper or on TV take James “Buster” Douglas back 19 years to a Tokyo boxing ring.
He smiles at that memory, and everything he has survived since.
“It’s like I made my mark, it’s proof that I existed on this planet,” he said. “That’s a good thing. I’m really, really proud about that.”
A happy family man, healthy after nearly dying during a diabetic coma 15 years ago, Douglas spends his days in the present. Still, what took place inside the ropes on Feb. 10, 1990, continues to amaze and confound. Even those who lived it have difficulty believing it.
“To tell you the truth, it’s almost something that didn’t happen,” said J.D. McCauley, Douglas’ uncle and corner man. “Then I look at the championship rings on my fingers. It’s funny, it didn’t seem like it happened. You know what I mean? But it did.”
On that winter night in Japan, the largely unknown and mostly ignored Douglas had a broken heart when he touched gloves with the unbeaten and seemingly invincible Mike Tyson.
Iron Mike, long before a spell in prison sent his career and life into a tailspin, was considered a knockout machine. He had a 37-0 record - decking opponents 33 times. The oddsmakers took one look at Douglas’ erratic career and established Tyson as a 42-to-1 favorite. Even that didn’t draw much action on the underdog.
Nicknamed “Buster” by his grandmother because of his youthful spunk, Douglas came into the fight shaken by the death of his beloved, doting mother, Lula Pearl, who had died while he was training for the fight.
Douglas, an athletic 6-foot-4 and 230 pounds, had shown flashes of skill in compiling a 29-4-1 record, but most observers felt he was too passive - some even called him too “nice” - to stay upright for long against the vicious, hard-charging and violent Tyson.
They were so wrong. Instead, Douglas pulled off one of the greatest upsets in sports history.
He fought on even terms with Tyson for the first five rounds, gradually gaining in confidence. Then, in the eighth, Tyson caught him with a thunderous uppercut that leveled him. But he got up an instant before the 10 count.
Tyson, overconfident, unfocused or maybe not in top shape, seemed as surprised as the grizzled scribes and announcers at ringside when Douglas continued to hold him at bay. Even those closest to Douglas wondered if he would have the stamina, let alone the heart, to stand up to Tyson because he had had the flu 24 hours before the fight.
Then, in the 10th, it was all over.
Douglas, five inches taller and 11 pounds heavier, flicked jabs in Tyson’s face to keep him from pounding away at his midsection and taking head shots, then countered with punches that dizzied the champ. The lingering image is of Tyson crawling on the mat while struggling to find his mouthpiece as referee Octavio Meyran counted down the final seconds of Tyson’s invincibility.
Amid the chaos in the ring, Douglas was asked how he had pulled off the massive upset. “My mother,” he said, fighting back tears. “My mother.”
When Douglas looks back on that magical year, he fast-forwards through the next nine months. There were appearances on late-night TV, lengthy magazine pieces, countless photo ops and business proposals. In the days when being the heavyweight champion made you one of the most recognized faces in the world, Douglas enjoyed himself and lost his focus. He was out of shape and uninspired when he collected $24.5 million in his title defense against Evander Holyfield, who KO’d him in the third round on Oct. 25, 1990, in Las Vegas.
The years after were not kind. He ate and drank too much and the former high school and college basketball player ballooned to more than 400 pounds, nearly dying after going into diabetic shock in the summer of 1994.
He made it through that trauma, but continued to drift. His once close relationship with manager John Johnson, who had guided his boxing career, ended badly.
His little brother, 35-year-old Robert, was killed in a gunfight in a parking lot outside the Orchid Cleaning Center on Columbus’ Cleveland Avenue in December of 1998. Less than a year later, his father and mentor, former middleweight Bill “Dynamite” Douglas, died of colon cancer at the age of 59.
It took time, but Douglas again got up off the mat.
He and Johnson have mended fences, occasionally meeting to remember the good days. Douglas and his wife, Bertha, moved to Johnstown, a small town not far from Columbus, to raise sons Cardae, known better as B.J., and Artie. Both play football and run track, while B.J., who is about to graduate from high school, also wrestled. Artie, like his dad, was a basketball player as a freshman.
Now 49, Douglas is content watching his kids’ games. He also has a development company that he said will begin construction of retail and housing units next month not far from where he grew up in a tough, downtrodden neighborhood East of Columbus’ thriving downtown.
Douglas said he is happy that his one-time adversary, Tyson, has gotten his due with a recent documentary and a prominent cameo in a soon-to-be-released film. He wishes him nothing but the best.
He’s also regained his health. He weighs only 20 pounds or so more than he did in Tokyo, and tries to fit in time on a treadmill each day. He even has his diabetes under control and has recently co-written a cookbook, “Buster’s Backyard Bar-B-Q Knockout Diabetes Diet.”
Nineteen years later, Douglas’ remarkable upset of Tyson continues to be mentioned as proof that anything’s possible.
“It’s been so long ago, but then you look at those rings and you know it happened,” McCauley said. “As long as you live, they can never take that away from you.”
Occasionally his kids will see a clip of boxing’s biggest upset. It’s a teaching moment for their father.
“I always tell them, ‘You know what? There’s nothing that you can’t do. Whatever you want to try, try, do it. Because you never know,”’ Douglas said with a laugh. “I’m a prime example of that. Never say never, right?”
COLUMBUS, Ohio(AP)—Every now and then a few words in a newspaper or on TV take James “Buster” Douglas back 19 years to a Tokyo boxing ring.
He smiles at that memory, and everything he has survived since.
“It’s like I made my mark, it’s proof that I existed on this planet,” he said. “That’s a good thing. I’m really, really proud about that.”
A happy family man, healthy after nearly dying during a diabetic coma 15 years ago, Douglas spends his days in the present. Still, what took place inside the ropes on Feb. 10, 1990, continues to amaze and confound. Even those who lived it have difficulty believing it.
“To tell you the truth, it’s almost something that didn’t happen,” said J.D. McCauley, Douglas’ uncle and corner man. “Then I look at the championship rings on my fingers. It’s funny, it didn’t seem like it happened. You know what I mean? But it did.”
On that winter night in Japan, the largely unknown and mostly ignored Douglas had a broken heart when he touched gloves with the unbeaten and seemingly invincible Mike Tyson.
Iron Mike, long before a spell in prison sent his career and life into a tailspin, was considered a knockout machine. He had a 37-0 record - decking opponents 33 times. The oddsmakers took one look at Douglas’ erratic career and established Tyson as a 42-to-1 favorite. Even that didn’t draw much action on the underdog.
Nicknamed “Buster” by his grandmother because of his youthful spunk, Douglas came into the fight shaken by the death of his beloved, doting mother, Lula Pearl, who had died while he was training for the fight.
Douglas, an athletic 6-foot-4 and 230 pounds, had shown flashes of skill in compiling a 29-4-1 record, but most observers felt he was too passive - some even called him too “nice” - to stay upright for long against the vicious, hard-charging and violent Tyson.
They were so wrong. Instead, Douglas pulled off one of the greatest upsets in sports history.
He fought on even terms with Tyson for the first five rounds, gradually gaining in confidence. Then, in the eighth, Tyson caught him with a thunderous uppercut that leveled him. But he got up an instant before the 10 count.
Tyson, overconfident, unfocused or maybe not in top shape, seemed as surprised as the grizzled scribes and announcers at ringside when Douglas continued to hold him at bay. Even those closest to Douglas wondered if he would have the stamina, let alone the heart, to stand up to Tyson because he had had the flu 24 hours before the fight.
Then, in the 10th, it was all over.
Douglas, five inches taller and 11 pounds heavier, flicked jabs in Tyson’s face to keep him from pounding away at his midsection and taking head shots, then countered with punches that dizzied the champ. The lingering image is of Tyson crawling on the mat while struggling to find his mouthpiece as referee Octavio Meyran counted down the final seconds of Tyson’s invincibility.
Amid the chaos in the ring, Douglas was asked how he had pulled off the massive upset. “My mother,” he said, fighting back tears. “My mother.”
When Douglas looks back on that magical year, he fast-forwards through the next nine months. There were appearances on late-night TV, lengthy magazine pieces, countless photo ops and business proposals. In the days when being the heavyweight champion made you one of the most recognized faces in the world, Douglas enjoyed himself and lost his focus. He was out of shape and uninspired when he collected $24.5 million in his title defense against Evander Holyfield, who KO’d him in the third round on Oct. 25, 1990, in Las Vegas.
The years after were not kind. He ate and drank too much and the former high school and college basketball player ballooned to more than 400 pounds, nearly dying after going into diabetic shock in the summer of 1994.
He made it through that trauma, but continued to drift. His once close relationship with manager John Johnson, who had guided his boxing career, ended badly.
His little brother, 35-year-old Robert, was killed in a gunfight in a parking lot outside the Orchid Cleaning Center on Columbus’ Cleveland Avenue in December of 1998. Less than a year later, his father and mentor, former middleweight Bill “Dynamite” Douglas, died of colon cancer at the age of 59.
It took time, but Douglas again got up off the mat.
He and Johnson have mended fences, occasionally meeting to remember the good days. Douglas and his wife, Bertha, moved to Johnstown, a small town not far from Columbus, to raise sons Cardae, known better as B.J., and Artie. Both play football and run track, while B.J., who is about to graduate from high school, also wrestled. Artie, like his dad, was a basketball player as a freshman.
Now 49, Douglas is content watching his kids’ games. He also has a development company that he said will begin construction of retail and housing units next month not far from where he grew up in a tough, downtrodden neighborhood East of Columbus’ thriving downtown.
Douglas said he is happy that his one-time adversary, Tyson, has gotten his due with a recent documentary and a prominent cameo in a soon-to-be-released film. He wishes him nothing but the best.
He’s also regained his health. He weighs only 20 pounds or so more than he did in Tokyo, and tries to fit in time on a treadmill each day. He even has his diabetes under control and has recently co-written a cookbook, “Buster’s Backyard Bar-B-Q Knockout Diabetes Diet.”
Nineteen years later, Douglas’ remarkable upset of Tyson continues to be mentioned as proof that anything’s possible.
“It’s been so long ago, but then you look at those rings and you know it happened,” McCauley said. “As long as you live, they can never take that away from you.”
Occasionally his kids will see a clip of boxing’s biggest upset. It’s a teaching moment for their father.
“I always tell them, ‘You know what? There’s nothing that you can’t do. Whatever you want to try, try, do it. Because you never know,”’ Douglas said with a laugh. “I’m a prime example of that. Never say never, right?”
Cuban defector Rigondeaux to make pro debut
MIAMI (AP)—Former heavyweight contender Jorge Luis Gonzalez blazed the trail 18 years ago.
Gonzalez was the first noteworthy member from the Cuban amateur boxing system to defect in search of professional titles. Since Gonzalez abandoned Cuba following his second Pan American Games gold medal, the list of high-profile defectors has become lengthy, with mixed professional results.
Now it is Guillermo Rigondeaux’s turn to show whether his amateur accomplishments will parlay into professional success. Rigondeaux, 28, is the latest and perhaps most accomplished Cuban amateur boxer to leave the island.
Rigondeaux, who defected in February along with two other national team members, will make his pro debut Friday night at the Fontainebleau Hotel in Miami Beach. He is scheduled to face Juan Noriega of Danville, Ark. in a four-round super-bantamweight bout.
“I am happy that my debut will be here, where there are many Cubans supporting me,” Rigondeaux said. “Now we will see if I am as good as people anticipate of me. I came here to be a world champion.”
Rigondeaux, a veteran of more than 300 amateur bouts, was the top bantamweight in the world over a five-year span. He won Olympic gold medals in 2000 and 2004 and world championships in 2001 and 2005.
Before the 2008 Olympics, Rigondeaux was favored to join countrymen Teofilo Stevenson and Felix Savon as three-time Olympic gold medalists. Rigondeaux instead attempted an ill-fated defection with teammate Erislandy Lara during the 2007 Pan American Games in Brazil.
Both boxers were repatriated to Cuba. Lara, now unbeaten in five professional fights, defected in March 2008.
Banned from the country’s amateur system when he returned from Brazil, Rigondeaux successfully left Cuba with Yudel Johnson and Yordanis Despaigne in February.
Johnson, a 2004 Olympic silver medalist, and Despaigne also will make their professional debuts Friday.
“I came to the United States to realize a dream and accomplish great results as a professional fighter,” said Despaigne, bronze medalist in the 2001 and 2003 world championships. “Something which motivates me is that (unbeaten super-middleweight) Andre Dirrell, someone I faced as an amateur, has accomplished much. That shows me I can also make it big in professional boxing.”
Despaigne’s first professional opponent will be Reshawn Scott of Philadelphia. Johnson will face Greg Weathers of Louisville in his inaugural bout.
Rigondeaux and his teammates hope to follow Joel Casamayor, Juan Carlos Gomez, Diobelys Hurtado and Yuriorkis Gamboa as Cuban defectors turned professional world champions.
Casamayor, a 1992 Olympic gold medalist in Barcelona, won professional world titles in two separate weight classes. Gomez and Hurtado, who defected in 1994, also captured belts in the cruiserweight and super-lightweight divisions, respectively.
In only two years since defecting, Gamboa already has a world title. Gamboa, a 2004 Olympic gold medalist, won a super-featherweight belt April 24.
But for all the heights reached by the early defectors and Gamboa, there are Cuban boxers who couldn’t replicate their amateur accomplishments as professionals. Even Gonzalez fell short of his goal.
Although he landed a title fight against then-heavyweight champion Riddick Bowe in 1995, Gonzalez failed to capitalize on his opportunity. Bowe stopped Gonzalez in six rounds and Gonzalez quickly descended from the heavyweight rankings.
Gonzalez was the first noteworthy member from the Cuban amateur boxing system to defect in search of professional titles. Since Gonzalez abandoned Cuba following his second Pan American Games gold medal, the list of high-profile defectors has become lengthy, with mixed professional results.
Now it is Guillermo Rigondeaux’s turn to show whether his amateur accomplishments will parlay into professional success. Rigondeaux, 28, is the latest and perhaps most accomplished Cuban amateur boxer to leave the island.
Rigondeaux, who defected in February along with two other national team members, will make his pro debut Friday night at the Fontainebleau Hotel in Miami Beach. He is scheduled to face Juan Noriega of Danville, Ark. in a four-round super-bantamweight bout.
“I am happy that my debut will be here, where there are many Cubans supporting me,” Rigondeaux said. “Now we will see if I am as good as people anticipate of me. I came here to be a world champion.”
Rigondeaux, a veteran of more than 300 amateur bouts, was the top bantamweight in the world over a five-year span. He won Olympic gold medals in 2000 and 2004 and world championships in 2001 and 2005.
Before the 2008 Olympics, Rigondeaux was favored to join countrymen Teofilo Stevenson and Felix Savon as three-time Olympic gold medalists. Rigondeaux instead attempted an ill-fated defection with teammate Erislandy Lara during the 2007 Pan American Games in Brazil.
Both boxers were repatriated to Cuba. Lara, now unbeaten in five professional fights, defected in March 2008.
Banned from the country’s amateur system when he returned from Brazil, Rigondeaux successfully left Cuba with Yudel Johnson and Yordanis Despaigne in February.
Johnson, a 2004 Olympic silver medalist, and Despaigne also will make their professional debuts Friday.
“I came to the United States to realize a dream and accomplish great results as a professional fighter,” said Despaigne, bronze medalist in the 2001 and 2003 world championships. “Something which motivates me is that (unbeaten super-middleweight) Andre Dirrell, someone I faced as an amateur, has accomplished much. That shows me I can also make it big in professional boxing.”
Despaigne’s first professional opponent will be Reshawn Scott of Philadelphia. Johnson will face Greg Weathers of Louisville in his inaugural bout.
Rigondeaux and his teammates hope to follow Joel Casamayor, Juan Carlos Gomez, Diobelys Hurtado and Yuriorkis Gamboa as Cuban defectors turned professional world champions.
Casamayor, a 1992 Olympic gold medalist in Barcelona, won professional world titles in two separate weight classes. Gomez and Hurtado, who defected in 1994, also captured belts in the cruiserweight and super-lightweight divisions, respectively.
In only two years since defecting, Gamboa already has a world title. Gamboa, a 2004 Olympic gold medalist, won a super-featherweight belt April 24.
But for all the heights reached by the early defectors and Gamboa, there are Cuban boxers who couldn’t replicate their amateur accomplishments as professionals. Even Gonzalez fell short of his goal.
Although he landed a title fight against then-heavyweight champion Riddick Bowe in 1995, Gonzalez failed to capitalize on his opportunity. Bowe stopped Gonzalez in six rounds and Gonzalez quickly descended from the heavyweight rankings.
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Hatton-Pacquiao superfight report
This week we celebrate the success of the underdog as Sam Sexton triumphs over Martin Rogan and a partisan crowd to take the Commonwealth title in Belfast, while big outsider Ovill McKenzie shocks plenty of observers by winning the Prizefighter cruiserweight tournament.
We also look ahead to big fights involving young British stars, as Darren Barker defends his Cmmonwealth title against Daren McDermott, with a British title chance going to the victor, plus Nathan Cleverly meeting Billy Boyle with one eye on rival Danny McIntosh..Click here for much more
ON THE WEB
Flex Speaks... to Colin Lynes – Hornchurch's former British and European light-welterweight champion talks about why he lost his domestic title and what he plans to to with his future. The likeable Essex man also finds time to give us his predictions on McCloskey-MBaye and Olusegun-Morrison.
'Fury is beatable' – Northern Ireland's Scott Belshaw, the forgotten man of the heavyweight division has stepped in to face unbeaten Tyson Fury at short notice this weekend. He tells us why he can upset the odds.
Flex Speaks... to Colin Lynes – Hornchurch's former British and European light-welterweight champion talks about why he lost his domestic title and what he plans to to with his future. The likeable Essex man also finds time to give us his predictions on McCloskey-MBaye and Olusegun-Morrison.
'Fury is beatable' – Northern Ireland's Scott Belshaw, the forgotten man of the heavyweight division has stepped in to face unbeaten Tyson Fury at short notice this weekend. He tells us why he can upset the odds.
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TELEMUNDO'S STORY ON CARINA MORENO HAS BE RESCHEDULED TO MAY 22, 2009.
Due to network rescheduling, Telemundo's story on the life of four-time world champion, Carina "La Reina" Moreno, will now be televised this Friday May 22, 2009. All times remain the same. The story will air in the San Francisco, Fresno and Las Vegas during Telemundo's (Channel 48) "Conteo De Noticias" at 6:00 PM and again at 11:00 PM. In other cities such as, Tucson, Phoenix, Dallas, San Antionio and Houston, the story will appear at 5:00 PM and 10:00 PM.
Bruce æLionheartÆ Scott Vows To Come Back After Shock Loss At Prizefighter 7 - The Cruiserweights.
Following his shock points loss (29-28 twice and 28-27) to John æBusterÆ Keeton in the quarter final of TuesdayÆs spectacular Prizefighter 7 - The Cruiserweights tournament, at EarlÆs Court 2 in West London, former British, Commonwealth and WBU International Cruiserweight Champion, Bruce æLionheartÆ Scott is to continue with his planned comeback, after a three year sabbatical, regardless.
It is understandable that Scott decided to continue his comeback trail as the battle with his former foe - æLionheartÆ had knocked out æBusterÆ both times in their previous meetings - was without doubt the best fight of the night, albeit controversial after the referee gave a standing count to Scott following a close encounter with the canvas following a two handed push by Keeton, as both protagonists clearly had the same game plan - early knockout. The crowd were on their feet from start to finish and no one, but no one, would dare take their eyes of the battle for a second as the heavy hitting pair locked horns in a slugfest of epic proportions. After the fight the fans gave them both a deserved standing ovation.
For the record: ScottÆs opponent, Sheffield's John æBusterÆ Keeton, went on to knockout, in just 2 minutes and 35 seconds of the first round of the semi final, tournament favourite Dean æStarÆ Francis before facing eventual Prizefighter 7 - The Cruiserweights winner, the aptly ring named, Ovill æThe UpsetterÆ McKenzie in an all action final.
London based Jamaican Scott, who retired in 2006 after losing to Hastings Rasani in a warm up fight for an IBO world title challenge against Carl æThe CatÆ Thompson, spoke of the fight, the event and future plans, ôFirstly IÆd like to congratulate Ovill (McKenzie) on his big win, If I couldnÆt win IÆm glad it being me brethren from Jamaica who did. I also want to say what a great night. The crowd were brilliant. Barry (Hearn) and the boys at Matchroom Sports put on a great show.
I really enjoyed myself, the fans were great and the atmosphere in the place and our dressing room with Darren (Corbett), Dean (Francis) and Terry (Dunstan) was electric. Yeah, IÆm disappointed I went out early, I wanted to win it bad. I thought IÆd done enough but the referee count me in the first (round). I donÆt believe he didnÆt see it was a push, not a punch.
This is not the last time youÆll see Bruce Scott, IÆm back in the gym on Tuesday and weÆll build from this. Me and John (trainer/manager John Rooney Jnr.) talked this morning and changed our plan. WeÆd been talking with Main Events about being on the Adamek-Godfrey card in New Jersey on July 10th, but now we decide weÆre gonna get a warm up fight here real soon, and then go for a British title eliminator as soon as possible.ö
John Rooney Jnr appears to have taken the loss far harder than Scott when he reiterated the plans he has for his charge, ôBruce lost the fight because of the knockdown in the first round which was a blatant two hand push. Everybody seen that ringside, IÆm very, very surprised if the referee didnÆt see it. Even if the referee hadnÆt seen it, because the referee has called a standing count, the judges can make their own decision, as it was a push, you see. ItÆs not just about the referee making his own decision. ItÆs a standing count, if the judges donÆt agree with the referee they donÆt have to class it as a two point round.
Bruce stopped him in the second round with some good punches. Third round both fighters pace dropped a little. Any quality punches were thrown by Bruce. I was proud the way Bruce performed after three years out of the ring.
WeÆre gonna get him an eight rounder, hopefully get him a final title eliminator and then weÆll go from there and see how we get along.ö
So the good news for boxing, especially the Cruiserweight division, is that one of the great ambassadors of the sport has decided to continue competing. Watch this space for news on who Bruce æLionheartÆ Scott will be facing next in his quest to add another championship belt to his already extensive collection.
It is understandable that Scott decided to continue his comeback trail as the battle with his former foe - æLionheartÆ had knocked out æBusterÆ both times in their previous meetings - was without doubt the best fight of the night, albeit controversial after the referee gave a standing count to Scott following a close encounter with the canvas following a two handed push by Keeton, as both protagonists clearly had the same game plan - early knockout. The crowd were on their feet from start to finish and no one, but no one, would dare take their eyes of the battle for a second as the heavy hitting pair locked horns in a slugfest of epic proportions. After the fight the fans gave them both a deserved standing ovation.
For the record: ScottÆs opponent, Sheffield's John æBusterÆ Keeton, went on to knockout, in just 2 minutes and 35 seconds of the first round of the semi final, tournament favourite Dean æStarÆ Francis before facing eventual Prizefighter 7 - The Cruiserweights winner, the aptly ring named, Ovill æThe UpsetterÆ McKenzie in an all action final.London based Jamaican Scott, who retired in 2006 after losing to Hastings Rasani in a warm up fight for an IBO world title challenge against Carl æThe CatÆ Thompson, spoke of the fight, the event and future plans, ôFirstly IÆd like to congratulate Ovill (McKenzie) on his big win, If I couldnÆt win IÆm glad it being me brethren from Jamaica who did. I also want to say what a great night. The crowd were brilliant. Barry (Hearn) and the boys at Matchroom Sports put on a great show.
I really enjoyed myself, the fans were great and the atmosphere in the place and our dressing room with Darren (Corbett), Dean (Francis) and Terry (Dunstan) was electric. Yeah, IÆm disappointed I went out early, I wanted to win it bad. I thought IÆd done enough but the referee count me in the first (round). I donÆt believe he didnÆt see it was a push, not a punch.
This is not the last time youÆll see Bruce Scott, IÆm back in the gym on Tuesday and weÆll build from this. Me and John (trainer/manager John Rooney Jnr.) talked this morning and changed our plan. WeÆd been talking with Main Events about being on the Adamek-Godfrey card in New Jersey on July 10th, but now we decide weÆre gonna get a warm up fight here real soon, and then go for a British title eliminator as soon as possible.ö
John Rooney Jnr appears to have taken the loss far harder than Scott when he reiterated the plans he has for his charge, ôBruce lost the fight because of the knockdown in the first round which was a blatant two hand push. Everybody seen that ringside, IÆm very, very surprised if the referee didnÆt see it. Even if the referee hadnÆt seen it, because the referee has called a standing count, the judges can make their own decision, as it was a push, you see. ItÆs not just about the referee making his own decision. ItÆs a standing count, if the judges donÆt agree with the referee they donÆt have to class it as a two point round.
Bruce stopped him in the second round with some good punches. Third round both fighters pace dropped a little. Any quality punches were thrown by Bruce. I was proud the way Bruce performed after three years out of the ring.
WeÆre gonna get him an eight rounder, hopefully get him a final title eliminator and then weÆll go from there and see how we get along.ö
So the good news for boxing, especially the Cruiserweight division, is that one of the great ambassadors of the sport has decided to continue competing. Watch this space for news on who Bruce æLionheartÆ Scott will be facing next in his quest to add another championship belt to his already extensive collection.
Mayweather set for return to ring against Marquez
By DAVE SKRETTA, AP Sports Writer
NEW YORK (AP)—When Floyd Mayweather Jr. walked away from boxing, he was widely considered the pound-for-pound king, the mythical mantle bestowed upon the best in the game.
Now that he’s back, at least one person believes Mayweather still is: lightweight champ Juan Manual Marquez, whom he’ll face in his highly anticipated return.
“I’m expecting the best Floyd Mayweather ever,” Marquez said Tuesday, at a news conference on the 80th floor of the Empire State Building to help launch the fight. “I’m putting in my mind that he never retired, so I’m expecting the best.”
The two will meet July 18 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, where tickets are scheduled to go on sale Friday. They’ll fight at a catch-weight of about 143 pounds, eight more than Marquez has ever fought and the lightest that Mayweather has been since 2005.
Neither believes the weight will make much difference.
Mayweather already has been in the gym a couple of months, ever since giving his adviser Leonard Ellerbe the green-light to screen potential opponents. Mayweather claims he’s close to 147 pounds and pronounced himself fit after a run through Central Park on Tuesday morning.
Marquez has been packing on muscle while training in the mountains of central Mexico.
He said the brutal regimen, which has included several weeks of lifting boulders, has given him confidence that he’ll be the one to finally dethrone the king.
“I always prepare myself to win,” Marquez said quietly, sitting a few feet from where the outgoing Mayweather held court with dozens of reporters. “He’s not a machine, he’s a human being, and human beings can be beat.”
Mayweather, the former five-division champ, hasn’t stepped in the ring since knocking out Ricky Hatton in December 2007, when he was still basking in the aura of his transcending victory over Oscar De La Hoya. He’d cashed in his “Pretty Boy” nickname for one more befitting his agenda—“Money”—and was showing up everywhere from “Dancing with the Stars” to WrestleMania.
That’s when Mayweather abruptly called it quits, turning his attention to show business.
Mayweather’s year away from the ring opened the door for Manny Pacquiao to step through, and the charismatic Filipino icon did it in destructive fashion. Where Mayweather needed 12 rounds to beat De La Hoya, Pacquiao needed eight; where the flamboyant welterweight needed 10 rounds to stop Hatton, the smaller Pacquiao needed only two earlier this month.
Now, much to Mayweather’s chagrin, many consider Pacquiao the best.
“I respect him for what he does, I respect him in the fight game, but I’ve never been beat,” Mayweather said of Pacquiao, who’s lost three times, the last in 2005. “Nobody has the antidote for Floyd Mayweather.”
While most presume the two will eventually settle the pound-for-pound dispute in the ring, Mayweather (39-0, 25 KOs) must first deal with Marquez, his hand-picked opponent.
Marquez (50-4-1, 37 KOs) lost a slugfest by close split-decision to Pacquiao in 2008, a bout that Mayweather and many others believe the Mexican fighter won. Five years ago, Marquez rallied from three first-round knockdowns to earn a bloody draw with Pacquiao in their first bout.
Marquez’s stunning knockout of Joel Casamayor last year and his brutal knockout of Juan Diaz in February entrenched him as one of the most electrifying fighters available. More importantly, they produced an opponent that intrigued Mayweather enough to return to the ring.
“Marquez is a warrior,” he said, conferring rare praise upon one of his foes. “He’s a hell of a fighter. I don’t have to come here and bad-mouth anybody.”
Mayweather paused for a moment, then added: “They say to be the best, you got to beat the best. I think they got Marquez in the dark and somebody has to give him a shot. Why not me?”
NEW YORK (AP)—When Floyd Mayweather Jr. walked away from boxing, he was widely considered the pound-for-pound king, the mythical mantle bestowed upon the best in the game.
Now that he’s back, at least one person believes Mayweather still is: lightweight champ Juan Manual Marquez, whom he’ll face in his highly anticipated return.
“I’m expecting the best Floyd Mayweather ever,” Marquez said Tuesday, at a news conference on the 80th floor of the Empire State Building to help launch the fight. “I’m putting in my mind that he never retired, so I’m expecting the best.”
The two will meet July 18 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, where tickets are scheduled to go on sale Friday. They’ll fight at a catch-weight of about 143 pounds, eight more than Marquez has ever fought and the lightest that Mayweather has been since 2005.Neither believes the weight will make much difference.
Mayweather already has been in the gym a couple of months, ever since giving his adviser Leonard Ellerbe the green-light to screen potential opponents. Mayweather claims he’s close to 147 pounds and pronounced himself fit after a run through Central Park on Tuesday morning.
Marquez has been packing on muscle while training in the mountains of central Mexico.
He said the brutal regimen, which has included several weeks of lifting boulders, has given him confidence that he’ll be the one to finally dethrone the king.
“I always prepare myself to win,” Marquez said quietly, sitting a few feet from where the outgoing Mayweather held court with dozens of reporters. “He’s not a machine, he’s a human being, and human beings can be beat.”
Mayweather, the former five-division champ, hasn’t stepped in the ring since knocking out Ricky Hatton in December 2007, when he was still basking in the aura of his transcending victory over Oscar De La Hoya. He’d cashed in his “Pretty Boy” nickname for one more befitting his agenda—“Money”—and was showing up everywhere from “Dancing with the Stars” to WrestleMania.
That’s when Mayweather abruptly called it quits, turning his attention to show business.
Mayweather’s year away from the ring opened the door for Manny Pacquiao to step through, and the charismatic Filipino icon did it in destructive fashion. Where Mayweather needed 12 rounds to beat De La Hoya, Pacquiao needed eight; where the flamboyant welterweight needed 10 rounds to stop Hatton, the smaller Pacquiao needed only two earlier this month.
Now, much to Mayweather’s chagrin, many consider Pacquiao the best.
“I respect him for what he does, I respect him in the fight game, but I’ve never been beat,” Mayweather said of Pacquiao, who’s lost three times, the last in 2005. “Nobody has the antidote for Floyd Mayweather.”
While most presume the two will eventually settle the pound-for-pound dispute in the ring, Mayweather (39-0, 25 KOs) must first deal with Marquez, his hand-picked opponent.
Marquez (50-4-1, 37 KOs) lost a slugfest by close split-decision to Pacquiao in 2008, a bout that Mayweather and many others believe the Mexican fighter won. Five years ago, Marquez rallied from three first-round knockdowns to earn a bloody draw with Pacquiao in their first bout.
Marquez’s stunning knockout of Joel Casamayor last year and his brutal knockout of Juan Diaz in February entrenched him as one of the most electrifying fighters available. More importantly, they produced an opponent that intrigued Mayweather enough to return to the ring.
“Marquez is a warrior,” he said, conferring rare praise upon one of his foes. “He’s a hell of a fighter. I don’t have to come here and bad-mouth anybody.”
Mayweather paused for a moment, then added: “They say to be the best, you got to beat the best. I think they got Marquez in the dark and somebody has to give him a shot. Why not me?”
Holyfield targets September world title fight
ADDIS ABABA (AFP) - Former heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield will take another crack at the world title in September, his manager said here Tuesday.
"The September bout could either be against Nikolai Valuev or some other fighter, but it definitely will be against a world champion," Ken Sanders told AFP.
Holyfield is in Addis Ababa to prepare for a July 26 exhibition fight against Ethiopian-born American Sammy Retta to help raise funds for AIDS in what will be the Horn of Africa nation's first ever showpiece boxing bout.
Holyfield, 46, said he is not contemplating retirement despite concerns over his health from some spectators.
"It (retirement) never even crossed my mind. In fact, it reminded me of 1992 when I lost a title and came back to reclaim it," Holyfield said.
"I'll show the world how to be champion at this age."
The four-time world champion failed to clinch a fifth title late last year when he lost to Russian Valuev.
Valuev, the tallest and heaviest champion of all-time according to experts, is currently the holder of the World Boxing Association title.
Holyfield's July 26 opponent Retta is a 35-year-old with a record of 18 wins and three losses in super-middleweight bouts.
At 230 pounds, he now outweighs his more illustrious rival.
Holyfield is best remembered for having his ear bitten off by Mike Tyson in 1997 in a bout which was later coined as the "The Bite Fight".
The July 26 fight will rank as one of the highest-profile all-American boxing bouts on African soil since the legendary 1974 "Rumble in the Jungle" that pitted Muhammad Ali against George Foreman in the former Zaire.
Valuev and Uzbekistan's Chagaev are scheduled to box on May 30 for the WBA heavyweight title.
Both fighters hotly dispute the ownership of the belt after Valuev suffered his only defeat when losing to Chagaev in April 2007.
"The September bout could either be against Nikolai Valuev or some other fighter, but it definitely will be against a world champion," Ken Sanders told AFP.
Holyfield is in Addis Ababa to prepare for a July 26 exhibition fight against Ethiopian-born American Sammy Retta to help raise funds for AIDS in what will be the Horn of Africa nation's first ever showpiece boxing bout.Holyfield, 46, said he is not contemplating retirement despite concerns over his health from some spectators.
"It (retirement) never even crossed my mind. In fact, it reminded me of 1992 when I lost a title and came back to reclaim it," Holyfield said.
"I'll show the world how to be champion at this age."
The four-time world champion failed to clinch a fifth title late last year when he lost to Russian Valuev.
Valuev, the tallest and heaviest champion of all-time according to experts, is currently the holder of the World Boxing Association title.
Holyfield's July 26 opponent Retta is a 35-year-old with a record of 18 wins and three losses in super-middleweight bouts.
At 230 pounds, he now outweighs his more illustrious rival.
Holyfield is best remembered for having his ear bitten off by Mike Tyson in 1997 in a bout which was later coined as the "The Bite Fight".
The July 26 fight will rank as one of the highest-profile all-American boxing bouts on African soil since the legendary 1974 "Rumble in the Jungle" that pitted Muhammad Ali against George Foreman in the former Zaire.
Valuev and Uzbekistan's Chagaev are scheduled to box on May 30 for the WBA heavyweight title.
Both fighters hotly dispute the ownership of the belt after Valuev suffered his only defeat when losing to Chagaev in April 2007.
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