TalkingBoxing Spotlight
The Other American Middleweight
THU July 3, CLIFF ROLD - For the second time in the last three weeks, a thrilling Middleweight bout that ended with as many questions as answers gets a sequel. The last big sequel earned a passport stamp by way of some Florida geography form Arthur Abraham-Edison Miranda II and some Showtime love. Unfortunately for American fans, none of the cable outlets keeping the sport in the public consciousness are picking this one up. Instead, it falls to the 'net savvy to catch Felix Sturm-Randy Griffin II. [Link Requires You To Become a Member at MaxBoxing.com]
Duddy Gets Decision, Title Fight Looms
MON June 30, JAMES STILLERMAN, Ringside - The mostly Irish and Bostonian boxing fans who crowded into the Castle in downtown Boston were all smiling Saturday night as their fighters - John Duddy, Donny Orr, Edwin Rodriquez, and Mark Clancy - all emerged victorious in dominating fashion. Fan favorite, Ireland's Duddy, looked remarkable under the tutelage of new trainer, Pat Burns, as he dominated former WBC Middleweight challenger, Charlie Howe on his way to a ten round unanimous decision.
> Yahoo!: Pacquiao KOs Diaz for WBC Lightweight Title
Pacquiao's Fighting Who? For How Much?
WED June 25, CLIFF ROLD - Serious Boxing lovers know the following conversation. They've all had some version of it with the names changing, the sentiments often the same. "Manny Pacquiao is fighting this weekend."
"Really? On HBO?"
"No. On Pay-Per-View."
"Oh, okay. Who's he fighting? Marquez again?"
"No. David Diaz."
"Who?" [Link Requires You To Become a Member at MaxBoxing.com]
Abraham Wipes Out Miranda
MON June 23, ANTONIO ANDRES CARRIEDO - The third weekend of June was a big one for Showtime and the 160/68 lb. weight range. Despite facts that prove otherwise, many within the boxing community claim that the weight range is relatively barren of formidable opposition for Undisputed 160 lb. champion Kelly Pavlik. Pavlik recently dismissed the immediate possibility of facing the likes of, among others, German based Armenian born IBF 160 lb. titlist Arthur Abraham in part because of his anonymity here in the US...
> Ward Preaches Patience, Practices Wild Punishment
Abraham TKO's Miranda in Four!
SUN June 22, FRANK GONZALEZ JR. - If you remember the first time Edison "Pantera" Miranda (30-3, 26 KO's) and "King" Arthur Abraham (27-0, 22 KO's) fought (back in September of 2006 for the IBF Middleweight title), Miranda broke Abraham's jaw and bullied him for most of the fight but lost a controversial decision because Miranda was penalized for a total of five points during the course of the fight...
> ESPN: Marquez Earns Mandatory Shot with Upset Win
Jerson Ravelo: On a Date with Destiny
THU June 19, DANNY SERRATELLI - Expect a fight of the year candidate this Friday on Showtime when undefeated 2004 Olympic gold medalist Andre "S.O.G." Ward, 15-0, 10 KO's takes on The Brick City's best, 200 Olympian, Jerson "SuperJerz" Ravelo 18-2, 12 KO's. Promoter Dan Goossen recently said, "Ravelo is a fighter who's still on the upswing in his own career, so it's another good matchup...
Berto Era? The Andre Era? Or just a New Era?
WED June 18, ANTONIO ANDRES CARRIEDO - Lou DiBella was recently quoted proclaiming that the Andre Berto era may begin this weekend. Should Berto win his fight this Saturday night at the FedEx Forum in Memphis, TN against Miki Rodriguez he�ll claim the WBC 147 lb. crown recently vacated by Floyd Mayweather Jr. A win on Saturday night could, potentially, thrust Berto into the limelight. It would also be the first major title claimed by a U.S. based 2004 Olympian.
Mayweather Top Fifty All-Time? Not so fast!
TUE June 17, JAMES STILLERMAN - A week ago, Floyd "Pretty Boy" Mayweather announced his retirement and this time it actually seemed sincere, unlike the other half hearted attempts following the Oscar Da La Hoya and Carlos Baldomir fights. At those press conferences he tearfully said he was done with boxing, but returned each time. This move to retire surprised me and probably many other fight fans considering how much money was left on the table (possibly $30 million) for the rematch fight against Oscar Da La Hoya...
154 lb. Tailspin
WED June 11, ANTONIO ANDRES CARRIEDO - Vernon Forrest landed a hard right cross on Sergio Mora in the waning seconds of their WBC 154 lb. title match on Saturday night at the Mohegan Sun Casino & Resort and grimaced as the East Los Angeles native took the shot. Mora, threw his hands up in the air as if to say,"Let's go another 12 rounds," thus, amplifying the difference in the fight. Mora won the fight by modest margins of 116-112 and 115-113 on two cards...
How �bout Some Chicks and Midgets?
WED June 11, CLIFF ROLD - There are upsides and downsides to rainmakers, fighters whose drawing power is, or is perceived to be, a lottery ticket for potential opponents. The upside occurs when the rainmaker is a Sugar Ray Leonard, Muhammad Ali, or Oscar De La Hoya, fighters who accepted the responsibility... [Link Requires You To Become a Member at MaxBoxing.com]
10 Great Fights that Must Happen
TUE June 10, JAMES STILLERMAN - There are numerous critics who believe boxing is a dying sport and while it has fallen on some hard times these critics can�t be further from the truth. Over the last year and a half boxing has had many high profile match ups most notably the Oscar De La Hoya-Floyd Mayweather fight which helped them become the top three paid athletes last year. There were several other exciting fights including Mikkel Kessler vs. Joe Calzaghe, Miguel Cotto vs. Shane Mosley, Carlos Quintana vs. Paul Williams, Antonio Margarito vs. Kermit Cintron, Jermain Taylor vs. Kelly Palvik, and Bernard Hopkins vs. Joe Calzaghe just to name a few.
Pavlik and Lopez Score Early Knockouts
SUN June 8, FRANK GONZALEZ JR. - Saturday night in Atlantic City, Kelly "The Ghost" Pavlik improved his record to 34-0, with 30 KO's after making easy work of Gary Lockett (30-2, 21 KO's). Lockett landed a few good shots and put on his best menacing face but he took a knee twice in the second round after being tagged a few good times by Pavlik, then again in the third, after a series of unanswered punches in the third found Lockett on his knee yet again, his corner (Enzo Calzaghe) threw in the towel. Lockett couldn't handle the power and quality of Pavlik.
Reflecting on Mayweather�s Retirement
SUN June 8, FRANK GONZALEZ JR. - As we've heard by now, Floyd Mayweather Jr. is retiring from boxing again. Most of us are sure he�ll be back. The question is when? The answer is simple; when it's safe to come back. This is not about love or hate. This is about logically assessing the value of a fighter who was crowned the best in the business.
Is Mosley the Latest Victim of His Own Lies?
FRI June 6, ANTONIO ANDRES CARRIEDO - Shane Mosley knows what he did and what he didn't do. He says he took steroids, but that he didn't know they were steroids when he was taking them. Infamous BALCO founder Victor Conte and former Mosley conditioning coach Derryl Hudson say otherwise. If the Trevor Graham and Marion Jones trials are any indication of how former BALCO witnesses (Mosley is among this group) will fare in US District Court against the San Francisco District Attorney's Office then Mosley may be in for a much tougher fight than any he expected to have this year.
When Only One Fight Matters
THU June 5, ANTONIO ANDRES CARRIEDO - Creating great match ups and big events in boxing are not always a mutually exclusive propositions; it just seems that way sometimes. Part of this stems from the disproportionate popularity of Oscar De la Hoya within mainstream culture compared to every other figure in boxing. Anything involving De la Hoya or his Golden Boy Promotions outfit carries added mainstream significance which usually leads to more money and mainstream recognition.
Talking Boxing with Vernon Forrest
WED June 4, JAMES STILLERMAN - WBC and current top rated Ring Magazine light middleweight champ Vernon "The Viper" Forrest, 40-2, is less than a week away from a showdown with former 'Contender' star Sergio Mora. Forrest, who was the 2002 fighter of the year when he beat 'Sugar' Shane Mosley twice to win the world welterweight title, is coming back from elbow surgery, which kept him out of the sport for nearly two years. Since returning, Forrest is 5-0 and along the way has beaten top fighters...
American Exceptionalism and Kelly Pavlik
WED June 4, CLIFF ROLD - His market value isn't yet what it could become, but make no mistake: those tuning into HBO this weekend to get a look at World Middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik will be getting a look at one of the two most important fighters in the United States fight market today. Sure, it'll be a look against Gary Lockett (30-1, 21 KO), an anonymous Welshman expected to lose, but he'll probably lose on his back... [Link Requires You To Become a Member at MaxBoxing.com]
Talking Boxing with Sergio Mora
MON June 2, JAMES STILLERMAN - Season one Contender winner, Sergio "The Latin Snake" Mora, 20-0-1, is less than one week away from putting his undefeated record on the line against WBC jr. middleweight champion Vernon "The Viper" Forrest on Showtime Championship Boxing, June 7th at 9PM/EST. Mora, who has had an excellent and injury free camp, faces his biggest fight of his career and will have the opportunity to win his first major belt in Connecticut at the Mohegan Sun Arena.
> Leonard on Mora's Chances vs. Forrest
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Talking Boxing with WBO Champion Carlos Quintana
FRI May 30, JAMES STILLERMAN - WBO welterweight champion Carlos Quintana, 25-1, is less than two weeks away from a highly anticipated rematch with Paul Williams on Showtime Championship Boxing, June 7th at 9PM/EST. Quintana, in his biggest win to date, won the WBO crown with a 12-round unanimous decision over Williams back on February 9th. Quintana, who feels he still isn't receiving the proper credit for his title winning effort, is gracious enough to give Williams the first crack at the title. The second fight between these top five Ring Magazine rated welterweights will be taking place in Connecticut at the Mohegan Sun Arena in what should be another great fight.
Hatton and Malignaggi survive tune-up Bouts, Almost Ruin Fall Match up
TUE May 27, ANTONIO ANDRES CARRIEDO - Ricky Hatton and Paulie Malignaggi have plans to fight each other. If they'd been ready to do so they'd have probably fought each other on HBO's World Championship Boxing series last Saturday night in what would have been a much anticipated fight pitting arguably the top two 140 lb. fighters in the world. Hatton's need for a tune-up fight, in the wake of his KO loss to Floyd Mayweather Jr. last December, and Malignaggi's contractual obligation to grant a rematch to Lovemore Ndou prevented that fight from happening just yet.
> Carriedo: Williams Suffers Loss, Estrada Gets Rare Stoppage
Hatton's Last Hurrah?
MON May 26, FRANK GONZALEZ JR. - In 2005, after retiring Kostya Tszyu after 11 rounds, Ricky Hatton was on top of the World. He was at his best. After Tszyu, Hatton fought Carlos Maussa (20-2) and won by TKO in nine. When Ricky Hatton fought Luis Collazo two years ago, he had some difficulties dealing with the technically sound Collazo. It was a close fight in many rounds. The Judges gave it to Hatton unanimously. Arguments could be made that Hatton did beat Collazo. He definitely out-hustled him...
The Angulo-Kikrland Crop: Plant Now, Harvest Later
THU May 22, CLIFF ROLD - Having seventeen weight divisions in Boxing is a blessing and a curse. It�s a curse when it waters things down, creating pockets of fighters whose incentives are not always in facing the best around them. Where once there might only have been only one champion, or even a 1970s two, every ten to fifteen pounds, now there can be upwards of twelve within the same scale span... [Link Requires You To Become a Member at MaxBoxing.com]
In with the New...
TUE May 20, ANTONIO ANDRES CARRIEDO - Yuriorkis Gamboa, Alfredo Angulo and James Kirkland all scored impressive victories on HBO's "Night of the Rising Stars" card at the Buffalo Bills Hotel in Primm, NV on Saturday night. They joined fellow undefeated prospects, contenders and titlists, Andre Dirrell, Mike Alvarado, Tim Bradley and Carl Froch in scoring televised career best victories during the month of May...
Favorites Win On HBO's Triple Header
MON May 19, FRANK GONZALEZ JR. - HBO's Boxing After Dark series featured three prospects in fights against three, "respectable opponents" Saturday night. First up was a Jr. Middleweight contest starring James Kirkland (22-0, 19 KO's), who scored a first round KO over Eromosele Albert (22-1, 10 KO's). Not much of a fight there. Albert came into the ring with....
Mijares-Munoz: Saturday's Best Fight Seeks an Audience
WED May 14, CLIFF ROLD - Two of the three best fighters in one of Boxing's two or three best divisions, gloved up and ready to throw. That should be all a Boxing fan need hear to be ready to plop down on the sofa, sacrificing another Saturday night. Sometimes, for whatever reason, it's not all that's needed. If this Saturday is one of those cases, it would be a shame because the Cristian Mijares-Alexander Munoz Jr. Bantamweight (115 lb.) unification clash... [Link Takes You To MaxBoxing.com]
Nate Campbell: Louder Than a Bomb
MON May 12, MICHAEL HERRON - Since his defeat over lightweight champion Juan "The Baby Bull" Diaz earlier this year, Nate Campbell, the new IBF, WBA, WBO lightweight champion, has been on a verbal rampage that has sent shockwaves throughout the industry. By utilizing sources mainly found on the internet, Campbell has gotten the word out that he won�t be denied the respect and priority he deserves as a champion...
Upstart Tim Bradley Takes WBC Title from Junior Witter
MON May 12, FRAMK GONZALEZ JR. - Congratulations to young Timothy Bradley (22-0, 11 KO's), who went to Nottingham England as the WBC's #1 contender and took Junior Witter's (36-2-2, 21 KO's) WBC Super Lightweight Title by a Split Decision victory. The twilight zone official scores were 115-113 for Witter, 114-113 and 115-113 for Bradley. I had it a blowout for Bradley.
Being Unbeaten Is Over Rated | Arnaoutis Beats Tyner
SAT May 10, FRANK GONZALEZ JR. - Friday night in Atlantic City N.J., formerly unbeaten Light Welterweight, Lanardo Tyner (19-1, 11 KO's) saw his 0 go after stepping up and finally facing his first respectable opponent (in his 20th professional fight) against "Mighty" Mike Arnaoutis (19-2-2, 9 KO's). This 12 round fight was for the USBA Light Welterweight Title. Tyner had never been past ten rounds as most of his fights ended by early KO's.
Ishe Smith: Too Young to Fight Old
WED May 7, MICHAEL HERRON - At the height of Michael Jordan's career in the NBA, quite a few youngsters wanted to "Be Like Mike," it can be argued that Kobe Bryant and Lebron James have been successful in emulating his style. In boxing, however, you can't always "Be Like Mike" (Tyson, or Spinks, Moorer, Carbajal, or Arnaoutis etc...); Simply put, "you got to be you and do what you do."
On Angels, Halos and Golden Parachutes
WED May 7, CLIFF ROLD - We got our infomercial; now tune in for As the World Turns or whatever it is Mayweather Beats De La Hoya II is going to be promoted as. "How will Floyd react with his Dad on the other side of the ring?" - "Will the brothers Mayweather, Roger and Floyd Sr., spill into the action?" - "Will Brenda find out about Dylan and Kelly?" [Link Takes You To MaxBoxing.com]
Andre Dirrell TKO's Tony Hanshaw in Five on ShoBox
MON May 5, FRANK GONZALEZ JR. - Friday night in Santa Ynez California, Super Middleweight contender Anthony Hanshaw (21-2-1, 14 KO's), made his return to the ring since losing a decision to Roy Jones Jr. in July of last year. Hanshaw gave a good account of himself against Jones until getting floored in the eleventh round. After a long lay off, this was an opportunity to bounce back and work his way back towards the limelight of the division.
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