Golden Boy Planning June Title Tripleheader
March 18, 2009
Golden Boy is working on something, and that something could be a very special night of boxing.
According to Michael Rosenthal at Ring Magazine, Golden Boy is planning a triple-header for June 27 that would feature three fights that could all be considered headliners in a different time and place (see: HBO, 2008).
The card would take place at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, featuring a rematch between Chris John and Rocky Juarez, James Kirkland vs. WBO junior middleweight titlist Sergei Dzindziruk (assuming a Kirkland May 2 win), and Victor Ortiz against WBA junior welterweight titlist Andreas Kotelnik.
Kirkland and Ortiz shared a Boxing After Dark card in February, beating Joel Julio and Mike Arnauotis , respectively. John and Juarez fought to a close, but disputed draw on the undercard of the Juan Manuel Marquez vs. Juan Diaz fight in Houston. Most observors felt that John won the fight, but it was close enough, especially the final three rounds, to merit a rematch.
For Kirkland and Ortiz, this would be their first title shots.
“I’m working on it like crazy,” Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer told Ring. “If I pull it off, it’ll be huge.”
If this card comes together as planned, and airs on regular, non-PPV HBO, then this will be just another example of what boxing is doing right in the last year. HBO and Showtime have both stepped up with quality non-PPV cards recently, and for the past two years we have seen a drastic increase in quality fights being made by top fighters and promoters.
Here’s hoping for more of the same.
Mayweather “Announcement” This Week?
March 12, 2009
According to Norm Clark of the Las Vegas Review-Journal (HT: Fanhouse), Floyd Mayweather, Jr. pulled out of a gala and fundraiser in Ohio this week, and it will be clear why after an “announcement” that he will make this week.
Clarke is the eye and ears of the Las Vegas nightlife scene, documenting who’s where in the City of Sin on a nightly basis. If you’re famous and in Las Vegas, Norm knows what you’re up to.
Rumors of Mayweather’s return to the ring have been going full speed since the day he announced his retirement. Since Floyd left boxing, Manny Pacquiao has turned into a legitimate potential opponent, as has Juan Manuel Marquez possibly. There is also an option of a rematch with Ricky Hatton, should Hatton beat Pacquiao in May, and of course, Shane Mosley, if Mayweather really wants to claim boxing supremacy.
Finding an opponent is the easy part. Getting Floyd to fight said oppenent would be the hard part. More than likely, any return to the ring by Mayweather would be to find the perfect marriage between big-money and low-risk. That puts Pacquiao, Hatton and Marquez far ahead of real welterweights like Mosley or Miguel Cotto.
TheSweetScience.com reported this week that Mayweather was spotted sparring in his Las Vegas gym, another sign of Mayweather’s impending return.
There has been no official word from Mayweather’s camp about a possible return, but following Pacquiao’s destruction of Oscar De La Hoya in December, it was said that Mayweather instructed his team to size up potential fights.
Promoters said as recently as late February that Mayweather was asking for $20 million to get back in the ring, an unrealistic expectation in today’s economy.
Most insiders believe that it is only a matter of time before Mayweather returns to boxing, so the only real question will be against whom?
Pacquiao is the logical opponent, should he beat Ricky Hatton. If Pacquiao doesn’t beat Hatton, then a rematch with Hatton is possible, but there wouldn’t be any huge money fights. Fights with Marquez or Mosley would be huge in the boxing world, but likely do mediocre business in the mainstream. A rematch with Hatton will make money thanks to the British fans, but would likely not be a big seller in the U.S., and a fight with Cotto could be big, but would be very tough to make, based on what we know of the fighters (New York vs. Las Vegas, glove size, promoters, money, etc.)
If there is in fact an announcement this week about boxing from Mayweather, I expect it to be no more than announcing his future return to the ring against an opponent to be named after that Hatton-Pacquiao fight. Exciting for the fans who want to see Floyd return, but nothing in the actual announcement to get excited about.
It’s all speculation for now, but there may be more to this as it develops.
Pavlik to Fight Mora, Not Abraham
March 11, 2009
Kelly Pavlik will defend his middleweight title for the third time when he meets up with Sergio Mora this summer, most likely in Atlantic City, Bob Arum told BoxingScene.com.
Pavlik will fight the former “Contender” reality television winner in June or July, marking the third defense for Pavlik and the second title shot for Mora. The fight will reportedly take place on June 20, July 18 or July 25.
Mora upset Vernon Forrest last year to win a title at 154 pounds, but was soundly beaten in a rematch, Mora’s only career loss. Now he will climb back up to middleweight to take on the lineal champion, in a fight that is being rightly criticized by many boxing fans.
Pavlik won the middleweight titles from Jermain Taylor with a knockout win in late 2007. He beat Taylor by decision in a rematch above the middleweight limit, meaning his only defenses of the title so far at middleweight have been against Gary Lockett and Marco Antonio Rubio. Pavlik moved up in weight between those two defenses and was beaten by Bernard Hopkins in a light heavyweight bout in 2008.
Making Mora the third defense is not the fight that fans want to see. Boxing fans around the world all want to see Pavlik fight Germany’s Arthur Abraham, a fight that shouldn’t be this difficult to make.
Both Pavlik and Abraham have repeatedly said that they want to make the fight happen, and Abraham came to America for his rematch with Edison Miranda as a sign of good-faith, that he would return to fight Pavlik.
The two sides have talked over the course of the last year, but it seems to be becoming more and more clear that Pavlik has no interest in fighting Abraham. Whatever the reason may be, Abraham’s people are more convincing of their desire to fight Pavlik than Pavlik’s team is of their willingness to entertain the offer.
Pavlik made it clear after the loss to Hopkins that he was done chasing paychecks and taking the wrong fight, but once again, he has chosen the wrong opponent. If it weren’t about the money, a fight with Abraham could be made.
Abraham consistently talks of fighting Pavlik, while Pavlik’s team talk up fighters like Mora and John Duddy. Fighting marketable opponents who are not talented enough to compete will only get you so far. Perhaps Duddy or Mora could upset Pavlik, but that’s not the point. The point is there is one fighter that a fight needs to be made with and Pavlik has repeatedly shown no interest in getting in the ring with him. I’m sure Pavlik doesn’t fear Abraham, but he sure is starting to make people believe that.
Abraham is already considered a king where he fights. He really doesn’t need Pavlik. But for Pavlik to be the star that people are expecting him to be, he needs Abraham.
Sergio Mora is no Arthur Abraham.
Klitschko-Haye Reportedly Falls Apart Again
March 10, 2009
Contrary to recent reports, both here and elsewhere, the proposed fight between Wladimir Klitschko and David Haye is still not done. Not only is it not done, but it may be off the table.
Talks had broken down previously, with Haye’s team apparently bungling the negotiations so badly that they enlisted the help of Golden Boy’s Richard Schaefer to try to salvage their title shot.
As recently as last week, we were led to believe that everything was agreed to and contracts were being exchanged, only to find out that once again, things don’t look good.
According to BoxingScene.com, negotiations are back to square one and the Klitschko camp is already eyeing a new opponent — Chris Arreola.
Arreola recently had scheduled to fight Jameel McCline on the April 11 undercard of Winky Wright and Paul Williams, but a press conference to announce that fight was postponed. This has led to some speculation that Arreola and Klitschko may be meeting up, rather than David Haye.
Klitschko had stated in the past that he had a deal in place with Arreola if the Haye fight didn’t go through, so it wouldn’t be surprising to see a deal get made rather quickly for this fight.
The only thing that is certain seems to be that Haye is dealing with a team around him that is not prepared to negotiate on his behalf at the level they need to. Haye is a promising young heavyweight, and it would be a shame to see him mis-managed like some other great fighters. Just ask Mikkel Kessler what that’s all about.
Either fighter is an acceptable fight for Wladimir. Let’s just hope that a fight with one of them is agreed to with the quickness.
Hopkins Still Looking For a Fight
March 5, 2009
At 44 years old, Bernard Hopkins is still good enough to compete with the best that boxing has to offer.
He proved that in 2008, with a close decision loss to Joe Calzaghe, then putting on a clinic in thoroughly defeating Kelly Pavlik.
Now, Hopkins wants to get back in the ring again. The only question is against who?
ESPN’s Dan Rafael reported recently that Hopkins has been sizing up cruiserweight champion Tomasz Adamek, and Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer says that Hopkins is still trying to lure Calzaghe out of retirement for a rematch.
One reason that an Adamek fight is intersting is that Hopkins would be attempting to win another title in another weight class, and looking to win the Ring Magazine title in a third class. After dominating the middleweight division for much of his career, Hopkins moved up to light heavyweight in 2006 to take that title from Antonio Tarver.
He may be just 3-3 in his last six fights, but all three losses were close enough that even at 44 he is listed by most people as one of the top five pound-for-pound fighters in the world.
He’s been seeking a rematch with Calzaghe for the last year, but Calzaghe announced his retirement earlier this year, seemingly putting an end to those talks.
But Hopkins won’t take no for an answer.
Schaefer told Setanta TV recently that he is still trying to make a rematch happen, even if it means going to Wales to do it.
“I’ll be talking to Joe because I can see a huge event if he wants to do one last fight in Wales. Bernard specifically told me that he would come to Wales to fight Joe Calzaghe. This would be the biggest challenge for Joe. I think there’s some unfinished business between them. I haven’t given up hope. Never give up hope.”
Outside of those two, there aren’t many options remaining for Hopkins. A fight with Chad Dawson would be huge in the boxing world, but wouldn’t satisfy Hopkins or the masses.
If he were to pass on Dawson, and a fight can’t be made with Calzaghe or Adamek, there is a good chance that Kelly Pavlik will go down as Hopkins final professional boxing opponent.
Since I don’t see Calzaghe fighting him and I don’t see Hopkins fighting Dawson, it looks like Adamek is the last chance for Hopkins to get back in the ring.
Please Mr. Hearns, Don’t Do It
February 23, 2009
In a sport where no one is ever really retired, and there is always one more shot at glory, it should come as no surprise when an over-the-hill former star wants to get back in the ring again.
No, we’re not talking about Roy Jones or Evander Holyfield, we’re talking about Thomas “The Hitman” Hearns. That’s right, Hearns wants one more shot in the ring.
Hearns, now 50, has continued to drag his career out over the years. Hearns fought at least once a year from the start of his career in 1977 until his first “retirement” in 2000. Since then, he fought twice, once in 2005 and once in 2006, but has been MIA since then.
Now he is looking to reunite with his former trainer, Emanuel Steward for one “last” fight.
Hearns told the Detroit Free Press that one last fight is going to happen, it’s just a matter of whether or not Steward comes on board or if he has to go it alone.
“The more I think about it, the more I want to fight. It’s always on my mind. Manny knows how I feel about boxing — to have one final bout.”
…
I want to do it. … I will do it. I think people will support me, and I know what I’m capable of. I’ve had plenty of calls from Europe to come over there and fight.”
…
“If Manny doesn’t agree with me, I’ll go around and make it happen myself. It’s got to happen … to complete my career … have one final title fight. I respect what Manny thinks, but I have my thoughts. Everyone has a right to make a decision when he or she is finished. When God gives you a blessing, you have to use it through. God has this plan. It’s all in the plan.”
Steward has made it clear that he will not support Hearns’ attempt to get back in the ring and has said that he doesn’t want the former five-division champ in any more fights.
It really is an epidemic — boxers refusing to retire. I don’t know what it is about boxing, but fighters just don’t know when to walk away for good.
From all of us here in boxing world, please Mr. Hearns, don’t do this.
Cotto to Leave Top Rank?
February 19, 2009
The fallout over the Antonio Margarito suspension has hit Miguel Cotto. Cotto, being the classy individual that he is, refused to say anything negative about Margarito’s win over him in 2008, but showed some disappointment at Margarito’s actions, choosing to take the high road instead.
Arum has disgraced himself in the last few weeks since the ruling, claiming that Margarito did nothing wrong and that he will seek to get him a fight in Mexico, where Jose Sulaiman and friends wait with open arms.
Cotto was disappointed in Arum’s decision to do this and has expressed himself accordingly.
According to the LA Times, Cotto told San Juan’s Primera Hora:
“I find it unbelievable that a company like Top Rank would put money ahead of the well-being of a human. [Top Rank] knows that Margarito and his group knew what they were putting on the hands. Boxers climb into the ring to demonstrate our physical and athletic abilities and it’s a lack of consideration to play with the health of another.”
Cotto’s contract with Top Rank, who he has been with his whole career, runs through 2009. After that, Cotto said he will sit and talk with them about his future, but he said he will certainly be looking at his other options.
Arum defended his actions by saying that he would stand by any of his fighters in the same way, and he feels that this will all pass over.
Cotto has always been a level-headed fighter outside of the ring, seemingly emotionless at times, and I would have a hard time seeing him forgive Arum for this treatment of a fighter who not only got caught cheating, but may have in fact done the same thing against Cotto when they fought.
I have a hard time seeing Cotto forgiving and forgetting. He’s sure to have a big fight in the summer, and if he wins it, he’ll be a very big free agent in the boxing world.
Taylor vs. Froch Nearly Done
February 11, 2009
A super-middleweight showdown between former undisputed middleweight champion Jermain Taylor and current WBC super-middleweight titlist Carl Froch is nearly done, Froch told the BBC.
Froch says that the fight will take place in mid to late April, and in the United States. Showtime has already said on the air that they will broadcast the fight.
Taylor and Froch have been going back and forth in a war of words, ever since the fight became a possibility. The fight has been taken off the table and put back on on multiple occasions, leading Froch to initiate a verbal campaign calling Taylor out.
Last week, when Joe Calzaghe retired, Froch took it as an opportunity to rip Calzaghe and his career. Taylor’s comments about Calzaghe’s retirement praised the champion for his career, while blasting Froch for the disrespect he showed Calzaghe.
That led to Froch firing back and the cycle continues.
Froch won the vacant WBC belt in December and insists that he is doing Taylor a favor by not making him come to Europe for the fight.
“I could say ‘I’m the champion, come to me’. But being who I am and the fighter I am, I want to go over to the States and there’s no time like the present.”
Froch also spent the better part of the last year calling out Calzaghe, insisting that the champion fight him to win the title that Calzaghe himself abandoned. With exactly one meaningful fight on his resume, Froch seems to have some delusional views on where he stands in the grand scheme of things.
Taylor has proven his status in boxing with his two wins over Bernard Hopkins. Froch needs to beat a fighter on Taylor’s level before he can start calling the shots.
Hopefully this all comes together and we will be treated to a quality super-middleweight matchup on Showtime in April.
Vitali Klitschko and David Haye Wrestle in Restaurant, Sign Fight
December 17, 2008
The Vitali Klitschko – David Haye fight may not happen in the ring until June, but the fireworks have already begun.
After an 18 hour marathon negotiating session to reach terms for the fight, Haye and Klitschko arrived to shake hands over the deal, only to have Haye come armed with a magazine photo of himself holding a photoshopped image of his brother Wladimir’s decapitated head.
Apparently Dr. Ironfist doesn’t take kindly to folks insulting Dr. Steelhammer.
At the sight of the photo, Vitali went after Haye, wrestling with him briefly before shoving him, sending Haye to the ground. Haye played it off and tempers calmed, but the fight has begun.
Haye insists that he’s already won the first stage of this battle by breaking the Klitschkos mentally. The other side of that is that Haye may be the first guy to ever get in the ring with an angry Klitschko. And considering they have combined to knockout 81 of the 88 fighters they have beaten, I don’t think it’s the best idea to make them angry. Especially when you have shown to be quite chinny against much smaller fighters.
David Haye may be an exciting, young heavyweight, but he has a grand total of one fight at the heavyweight limit, against an average-to-bad Monte Barrett. Prior to that, he was knocked out by a journeyman cruiserweight and dropped in two of his last three fights against Jean Marc Mormeck and Barrett. I have no doubt that Haye will provide entertainment at the heavyweight level and is a formidable opponent for most, but pissing off the Klitschkos is not a good idea.
Say what you will about the quality of today’s heavyweights, but the fact is that right now, Wladimir and Vitali are completely dominant in this weightclass. Haye was never even dominant at cruiserweight, really only fighting two quality opponents at that level. He’s the underdog, and he’s the one with something to prove.
Unless he lands a perfect punch, and by perfect I mean better than anything Lennox Lewis could land, Haye can’t beat Vitali. He can’t outbox him and the punch-to-chin ratio weighs heavily in Vitali’s favor. As does his massive size advantage. Four inches and 30-plus pounds is too much to overcome for an inferior fighter, but man will it be fun while it lasts.
Regardless of how this fight plays out in the ring, the fact that it is being signed in December and fought in June is ridiculous. These guys should be in the ring by March. There is no one making weight and they are both healthy and ready. Make the fight happen now.
Top Boxer to Take On UFC?
December 15, 2008
While the eternally asinine and mythical MMA vs. boxing argument rages on in dorm rooms around the nation, another top boxer is willing to try his hand in the Octagon, only to likely be turned down by the UFC powers.
Enzo Maccarinelli, one of the world’s top cruiserweights, has said he is interested in fighting British UFC star Michael Bisping and is confident he can knock him out.
Enzo met with UFC head-asshole Dana White last week to discuss the move, but it appears as if the UFC will pass on the move, saying that Enzo lacks the well-rounded skills that you need to survive in the Octagon.
According to UFC UK president Marshall Zelaznik, there was some talk about casting Enzo on The Ultimate Fighter.
Using typically flawed logic that often comes from UFC suits BBC Sport reported the following:
However, Zelaznik said Maccarinelli did not possess the “well-rounded skills to be successful in MMA”, let alone the tools to beat seasoned mixed martial artist Bisping.
Zelaznik said: “Enzo’s boxing career speaks for itself – he is very impressive. We were all surprised to learn that Enzo also trained between boxing bouts in both kickboxing and Brazilian jiu-jitsu, which are two of the many skills vital for any well-rounded MMA fighter.
“[But] with no wrestling experience and only keep-fit type training in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and Thai boxing, he would not have the skills that would allow him to succeed in MMA.
“As boxing fans, we would love to one day see Enzo competing in our great sport. But Enzo would really need to focus a lot of energy on the nuances of the MMA ground and striking game before we would ever see that image realised.
“If you understand the sport of MMA, you understand that any boxer, no matter how good, would not be able to effectively compete in the Octagon. It would be like a world-class sprinter entering the decathlon.
I don’t doubt that a boxer would struggle in MMA, but it’s not likely to be as drastic as they are making it sound. How often do you watch MMA and see a fighter that is trained in one aspect of the sport, then rounds out his skills with minimal training in the other disciplines. That is why some fighters are better on their feet, and others better on the ground. To discount the ability of a true world-class boxer is as insulting to boxing as it is to all of the great MMA fighters that also lean heavily on one discipline.
If put in the ring right now, Enzo would instantly become the best striker in the UFC. He may struggle on the ground, but his immense striking skills should not be discounted.
This is not the first we’ve heard of a boxing/UFC crossover. Welterweight boxer Kermit Cintron, who was an All-American wrestler, challenged Sean Sherk after Sherk called out Mayweather, only to have Sherk and Dana White say no thanks. Then, Anderson Silva wanted to fight Roy Jones in a boxing match, only to once again have Dana White put the kibosh on it.
Fighters fight, and I have no doubt that many MMAers would love to fight Enzo, win or lose. But White is so overprotective of his brand that he is not willing to risk what he would consider humiliation if a boxer beat a world-class mixed martial artist.
Of course, he couldn’t be happier that a professional wrestler with one dominant discipline came in and won the heavyweight title. Go figure.
Fans want to see interesting fights, not the same old retreads. Ninety-nine percent of UFC fans would prefer to see Bisping vs. Maccarinelli over Liddell vs. anyone. Trust me on that.
I don’t know if Enzo could hold his own or not, but wouldn’t it be great if we could make this happen someday? I think it will eventually, but never on Dana White’s watch. Once he is gone, then the UFC can prosper once again. Until then, I guess we should just get used to paying to watch the same guys mix it up a couple of times a year.