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Contributing Writers
Australia:
Tony Nobbs
Srithar Visuasam
Asia:
Benjie Varella
Canada: Shawn O'Donnell
Paul McCreath
Europe:
James Slater
Mike Casey
Andrew Harrison
Christine Maynard
Adeyinka Makinde
Michael Klimes
Jim Dorney
Andrew Walker
John Wight
United States:
Vivek Wallace Geoffrey Ciani
Ted Sares
Coach Tim Walker Frank Gonzalez Jr
Wray Edwards
Pavel Yakovlev
Scott Kraus
Robert Jackson
Errol Hyppolite
Thomas Scherr
Charles White
Yero Moody
Trish Kilcullen
P.H. Burbridge
Paul Strauss
Taj Eubanks
Karl E. H. Seigfried
Mike Dunn
YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO (November 24, 2009) – World Middleweight Champion KELLY “The Ghost” PAVLIK returns home, to Youngstown State University’s Beeghly Center, on Saturday, December 19, to defend his titles against top-rated contender MIGUEL ESPINO. Promoted by Top Rank, the Pavlik-Espino world title tilt will headline an all-action two-country world championship doubleheader, produced and distributed Live on Pay-Per-View, beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET / 6:00 p.m. PT. The suggested retail price is $39.95. continue l
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DEERFIELD BEACH, Fla.—Don King Productions issued a press release yesterday stating the company had a valid promotional contract with heavyweight boxer John Ruiz. Upon further review, Don King has learned that Ruiz’s contract with DKP has expired. “My boxing department had advised me my contract was still active, which turned out to be incorrect,” King said. “I apologize to John, his representatives, boxing fans and members of the media for making this mistake.. continue l
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Exclusive Interview by James Slater - 34-year-old Brian "The Beast" Minto, 34-2(21) will fight the biggest fight of his pro career on December 5th in Atlantic City, N.J, as he will square off with fellow tough guy Chris Arreola. Fighting in an important heavyweight bout that could propel the winner into a world title shot, the #5 ranked WBO contender knows how hard the fight will be.
28-year-old Arreola, 27-1(24) is coming back after a brave loss to WBC heavyweight king Vitali Klitschko, while Minto, a warrior who has never been stopped, is hungry for his first crack at a world title.
Very kindly taking time out to speak with me over the phone from the offices of his manager Pat Nelson earlier today, Minto gave the following answers to my questions:
James Slater: It's great to speak with you, Brian. I know you have this big fight coming up. Your fight with Chris Arreola is obviously a big opportunity for you, you feel you have the style to beat him - what with your speed and your tenacity?
Brian Minto: Right. I will have to use my quickness, I'm sure he'll come out fast, trying to take me out the first couple of rounds. I know I'll have to be careful early. I have to make sure my defence is tight, and I have to make him miss. Make him miss and make him pay. continue l
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by James Slater - The upcoming WBC heavyweight title defence by Vitali Klitschko against the unbeaten Kevin Johnson will be supported by two other heavyweight bouts, according to BoxRec.com. Fighting in the opening bouts on the Switzerland show, will be former top-rated cruiserweight-turned heavyweight Jonathon Banks against Germany's Marcel Zeller, and unbeaten Russian giant Alexander Ustinov against former world title challenger Monte Barrett. continue l
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by James Slater - Huge unbeaten British heavyweight hope Tyson Fury gets back into the ring this coming Saturday night, as he faces durable Bulgarian journeyman Yavor Marichev over a scheduled six rounds. Boxing on the under-card of the Darren Barker-Wayne Elcock British middleweight title fight, the 21-year-old will be having his first fight since injuring his hand in his September 26th points win over Tomas Mrazek. continue l
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Michael Herron - The month of May can not seem further away yet that is how long the boxing world will wait before the most anticipated fight of the decade is upon us. For fight fans however time is not a factor when it comes to comparing, contrasting, and debating which fighter will ultimately reign supreme. Though a definitive answer will be provided in the near future the battle for now will wage on the accomplishments and merits of each fighter’s past. What roads did each fighter travel; what choices did they make along the way; what obstacles did they overcome to get where they are today; though they may seem like polar opposites, Mayweather and Pacquiao’s paths toward each other are more alike than we might imagine.
Floyd Mayweather, Jr’s reputation as the Pretty Boy suggests that his career has taken the path of least resistance. A former Olympian, Mayweather it is assumed, simply followed the golden brick road of great fighters like Sugar Ray Leonard and Oscar De La Hoya before him. continue l
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EUROPEAN super-bantamweight champion Rendall Munroe has thrown a lifeline to the fading career of Bernard Dunne. The Leicester binman is willing to risk next year's world title challenge against WBC 8st 10lb champion Toshiaki Nishioka and face the Irishman first. Munroe (20-1) is ranked second in the world by the WBC and underlined his world title credentials outpointing Simone Maludrottu last week. It was the fifth title defence by the southpaw who took the title from Kiko Martinez - who had flattened Dunne in 86 seconds. continue l
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November 24, 2009 (Chicago, IL)- The family of fallen Chicago boxer Francisco “Paco” Rodriquez have announced that through organ donation, Paco’s tragic death will save the lives of at least eight people, including his own uncle. “We just learned that Paco and our uncle are a match,” said Alex Rodriguez, Paco’s brother.
“Our uncle has been on the waiting list for a kidney transplant for a long, long time,” Alex continued. “So although we’ve tragically lost Paco, we’re able to give this incredible gift of life to another family member.. continue l
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by Andrew Harrison, safesideoftheropes.com - Photo by: Tom Casino / SHOWTME
Whoever put this together knew what they were doing.
The Super Six is proving to be everything Showtime’s bigwigs were hoping it would be, especially after Andre Ward’s startling weekend victory over tournament favourite Mikkel Kessler. As the dust begins to settle on the first round of matches, we are perhaps better placed to assess each man’s chances heading into the second stage of the tournament, with implications and permutations abound.
Here are a few key points from the opening three fights: Home advantage looks indispensable, with all three victors having had their gloves raised in front of their own fans. It may just have had a bearing on the widely criticised refereeing in the Froch-Dirrell and Ward-Kessler bouts, as well as on the judges, with many observers cocking an eyebrow at Froch’s decision victory in Nottingham. In hindsight, how shrewd were Ward’s people in securing him all three openers in the States? continue l
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Paul Hyland believes that Dublin could be heading for an all Dublin World title fight if Bernard Dunne can regain his World title status. The 25-year-old Tallaght native defends his Irish Super Bantamweight title against Eugene Heagney on the undercard to the Matthew Macklin – Rafa Sosa Pintos clash on the Sierra Fight Night at the National Stadium, Dublin on Saturday, December 5th and he believes that an all Dublin World title showdown could come sooner than people think. continue l
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LAS VEGAS (Nov. 23, 2009) – Team Ruiz Press Release: Team Ruiz has responded to false allegations made in two press releases by promoter Don King, who erroneously stated that, “John Ruiz is my fighter,” as well as falsely claiming the World Boxing Association (WBA) had sanctioned an “Interim” title fight between one of King’s fighters, Kali Meehan, and former champion Ruslan Chagaev.
Ruiz’ contract with Don King Productions (DKP) expired last month, prior to his Nov. 7 fight against Adnan Serin, legally allowing Ruiz to become a promotional free agent. continue l
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by James Slater - The fans want it, the two fighters appear to want it, and now the two key promoters are to begin talks to try and get the fight done. I'm talking, of course, about the eagerly anticipated would be mega-fight between pound-for-pound rivals Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Junior.
Dan Rafael over at ESPN.com confirmed in a recent news article that promoters Bob Arum, representing Pacquiao and Richard Schaefer, representing Mayweather, will meet today in Las Vegas and begin talks that they hope will result in a deal being thrashed out for what could well be the fight of the decade.
This is obviously great news, even if the beginning of preliminary talks doesn't mean it will be in any way easy making the fight. But, fingers crossed, Schaefer and Arum WILL be able to reach a deal.
Schaefer does sound a touch more upbeat than does Arum.
"Floyd and me want to see if we can get the fight done," Schaefer told ESPN.com. "The fact that I am flying to Las Vegas to meet with Bob shows you how serious our side is about making the fight. Bob and I will approach this without egos and try to get it done under fair terms. Floyd gave me his marching orders and I will see today how it goes and report back.. continue l
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by Dan Lewis - On the 19th September this year at the MGM Grand, Floyd Mayweather beat up Juan Manuel Márquez for twelve rounds. A fight when billed almost everyone thought Mayweather would win, Marquez a fighter who has won five World titles at three different weights was not given a real chance by the boxing media. At the end of the fight Marquez nursed a swollen face and bloody nose whilst Mayweather looked as if he hadn’t even broken in to a sweat. It was easy for Mayweather that night he didn’t move out of second gear, his defence was impeccable and his accuracy was equally impressive. continue l
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By Coach Tim Walker – It’s gonna be huge! Sure I know “gonna” isn’t an actual word but it speaks volumes as to the potential potency and possibly backlash of the Roy Jones Jr. verses Danny Green matchup scheduled December 2, 2009 in the Acer Arena, Sydney, Australia.
It speaks volumes because we all want to know if Roy Jones still has the goods to be on the world stage of the truly, truly elite boxers. Can he still throw 5 rapid-fire left hooks in a row? Can he dodge punches in an instant? Is his chin really as vulnerable as many have felt in recent years? Is he, for lack of a better way of saying it, still Superman?
Questions that his recent competition has not offered up enough fire power to provide the type of answers fight fans want. But that is typical Jones Junior. He makes fighters, even those who are eventual world champions, look slow, predictable and unworthy of being in the same ring with him.
Will the Acer Arena sell out? Probably. But whether it sells out or not is not the point for boxing fans. Why? Roy Jones was unequivocally the world’s best boxer throughout the 90’s and much of the 2000’s. continue l
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by James Slater - We aren't sure exactly when the fight will take place, but new WBA heavyweight champion David Haye WILL meet John Ruiz some time next year, in his first defence of the belt. Mandatory challenger and former two-time WBA champ Ruiz has already began talking about the fight, and he told The Times recently how he feels Haye is a "runner," and that his style is good for him. For his part, Haye said shortly after his points win over Nikolai Valuev that he plans to knock Ruiz out. But doing this has proven a tough job for every single opponent "The Quiet Man" has met. Except one. continue l
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-- Click here to listen to the show -- by Jenna J - As always, this week's 2 hour edition of On the Ropes will start at its regularly scheduled time, 6pm Eastern Time. You can listen live by clicking “play” on the player or enter our chat on the blogtalk message board; you can also call into the show at (646)716-5404.
On the Ropes is back to bring you the latest and greatest in the world of boxing! Join me Jenna J, the Hostess, along with my talented Producer, the amazing Geoffrey Ciani (aka-Rummy) and my Co-Host Nick Powers.
Topics for Discussion
• Andre Ward's upset win over Mikkel Kessler
• Super 6 stage 2 upcoming bouts for both Ward & Kessler
• Pacquiao vs Cotto ppv numbers and Mayweather fight talks
• Marcos Maidana & Zsolt Erdei title bout wins
• Evander Holyfield vs. Francois Botha announcement for Jan. 16th. continue l
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DKP Press Release: The World Boxing Association held meetings at their recent annual convention in Medellin, Colombia, where they ordered an interim heavyweight championship between WBA No. 1-ranked mandatory challenger Kali Meehan and former WBA heavyweight champion Ruslan Chagaev. Meehan earned the WBA No. 1 position in October 2007 by scoring a sixth-round technical knockout over DaVarryl Williamson at Madison Square Garden, and he has been patiently waiting to fight for the WBA heavyweight championship ever since. "I am grateful Don King has maintained his faith in me, and I will become the WBA interim heavyweight champion," Meehan said. "I look forward to meeting and defeating Ruslan Chagaev and then facing the winner of David Haye versus John Ruiz.. continue l
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Los Angeles, CA (November 23, 2009) – On Saturday night December 5th, in the main event at Atlantic City’s Boardwalk Hall, Three-time World Champion Paul Williams, the “Most Feared Fighter in the World,” will face his latest challenge, this coming from WBC Super Middleweight Champion Sergio Martinez, in a scheduled 12-round middleweight bout. In the 10-round co-featured bout, Cristobal Arreola will see his first action since a courageous loss at the hands of WBC heavyweight Champion Vitali Klitschko, when he battles bruiser Brian Minto.
Goossen Tutor Promotions and Caesars Atlantic City in association with DiBella Entertainment are presenting this evening of boxing and Williams vs. Martinez and Arreola vs. Minto will be broadcast on HBO’s World Championship Boxing beginning at 9:30 PM ET/6:30 PM PT. continue l
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by James Slater - It's perhaps fitting that 47-year-old Evander Holyfield and 41-year-old Frans Botha will clash on January 16th next year, for exactly 20 years (and one day) ago on that very date, two other veteran heavyweights met in a bout that was perceived as nothing much more than a "fun" fight. George Foreman, then 41, and Gerry Cooney, then a mere lad of 33, are the two big names who clashed in Atlantic City, and their fight was somewhat sarcastically dubbed "Two Geezers At Caesars.. continue l
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by Yero Moody - With the buzz of Manny Pacquiao's superb performance against Miguel Cotto last Saturday dwindling it's a perfect time to address some key issues concerning Manny Pacquiao, Floyd Mayweather, Jr and the man I call the X factor, Shane Mosley. Manny is listed as the number one pound for pound fighter in the world followed by Floyd and then Shane Mosley listed as number 3.
Both Pacquiao and Mayweather passed on fighting Mosley. As we know Pacquiao chose Miguel Cotto and Mayweather chose Juan Manuel Marquez. Mayweather was ripped for turning down Mosley while Manny was given a pass. I'll address this double standard later in the article. continue l
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By Michael R. Cumberbatch - If you did not get an opportunity to catch the Floyd Mayweather Jr. exclusive interview with Sky Sports’ Adam Smith you are probably in the minority amongst boxing fans. Mayweather, whose words are often dismissed by his legion of critics those include fight fans and writers alike for reasons well chronicled. It doesn’t mean that Moneys statements are void of truth.
Boring Fights Because of His Superior Defense
Mayweather can control and dictate the pace and the manner in which his fights play out because of his defensive prowess. This is a gift that few fighters have. continue l
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When Star Boxing's IBF #3 rated welterweight Delvin Rodriguez (24-3-2, 14KO) steps into the ring against Poland's IBF #4 rated Rafal "Braveheart" Jackiewicz (34-8-1, 18KO) for the #1 spot in the IBF World Ratings in an official IBF Welterweight Title eliminator in Elk, Poland on Friday November 27th, Rodriguez doesn't intend to leave any questioning in the outcome of the fight. "I'm going to look to knock him out, or give him a beating for the entire twelve rounds we are in that ring together, so in the end there will be no question who the winner of the fight actually is." stated Rodriguez. continue l
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Richard H. (Toronto, CA): You have been very huge on Andre Ward, and one of the few to give him a chance against Kessler. What did you see in the past that me (and I'm sure others) failed to?
Vivek W. (ESB): Truthfully, there are two things that I think have to remain a focal point when looking at Ward. First off, you never underestimate the heart of champion. That sounds so cliche-ish, but I truly believe that. This guy won a Gold in the Olympic games for a reason, and when you look at that type pedigree (Ali, Oscar, Whitaker, Patterson, Leonard, Spinks, etc), there's no question, categorically, something great is bound to happen when you land on that side. Secondly, (this is gonna sound cliche-ish as well), the guy has simply never learned how to lose. This is a fighter who had a 6 year stretch as an amateur in which he NEVER LOSS ONE FIGHT. He followed that effort by stepping on an Olympic stage and didn't lose one fight against the best competition in the world, either. continue l
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Promoter Eddie Bazira and Baltic Pro Box Promotions, in association with Real Deal Events LLC, SES Boxing, Fight Production and Risum Boxing, are proud to announce that contracts has been signed for legendary former four-time heavyweight champion of the world Evander “The Real Deal” Holyfield to challenge Francois Botha for the South Africans World Boxing Federation World title on January 16 at Nelson Mandela Memorial Stadium in Kampala, Uganda.A sell-out crowd of 80.000 spectators is expected, and details are being finalized for world-wide Pay-Per-View distribution. Sweden-based Baltic Pro Box Promotions will host several press conferences in the coming days in Kampala to kick off the promotion of what will be the biggest fight ever in Uganda. continue l
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Mikkel Kessler has vowed to bounce back stronger than ever after his 11th round technical decision defeat against Andre Ward. The Viking Warrior was trailing on all three scorecards when the fight was stopped due to a cut caused by an unintentional headbutt. “I have lost the world title once and won it straight back so I know how to do it,” Kessler said. “With the support of my home fans in Denmark I will beat Carl Froch and become world champion again. That is why this tournament is great – I have the chance to make amends immediately.”
Kessler admitted it was tough to fight Ward. “He was very fast and very good. He ruined my style,” he said. “It was not my day. Now I will go home, watch the tape and then bounce back stronger than ever.”
Said Wilfried Sauerland: “Congratulations to Andre Ward, he fought a great fight and deserved to win. I was impressed by his speed and his technical abilities. However, the referee should have stopped the holding and headbutting, but we do not want to take anything away from his performance and his victory. Mikkel will come back and do very well in this tournament, no doubt about that.. continue l
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LAS VEGAS (Nov. 23, 2009) – Latinos have had a profound influence on boxing, particularly in smaller-weight divisions, evident by 21 nominees in the ongoing “World’s Greatest Ever Boxer” (“WGEB”) promotion. Eighteen of the 21 Latino “WGEB” nominees are in the International Boxing Hall of Fame and the remaining three – Oscar De La Hoya, Julio Cesar Chavez and Marco Antonio Barrera – are surefire locks for induction as soon as they’re eligible. continue l
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Brendan Galbraith - The highly rated Irish-based Cuban sensation Alexei ‘The Hurricane’ Acosta (8 stone 9 IIbs) recorded a second round TKO over the tough and experienced former Commonwealth and British Title contender, Sean ‘Short Fuse’ Hughes (8 stone 10 IIbs) at the Holiday Inn, Belfast, Northern Ireland. For the 21-year-old Cuban, now based full-time at the Kronk Gym in Belfast under the guidance of trainer, Tony Dunlop, this was his first appearance in front of a Belfast crowd.
Bantamweight, Alexei Acosta stirs hype and expectation in equal amounts and this emanates from his pedigree as a former World Amateur Champion and his explosive introduction to the pro ranks. Going into the Hughes fight, the 21 year old had impressively concluded all of his 8 pro fights inside the distance and all within 3 rounds.
Acosta’s challenger for his 9th pro fight was a very good step in class. Sean Hughes is a former English Super Bantamweight Champion. He lost in the 10th round of a competitive challenge to Jason Booth for the Commonwealth Title last year and shares a win and loss with Esham Pickering – the latter being a failed attempt for the British Title. continue l
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Brendan Galbraith - Belfast flyweight Luke ‘Winky’ Wilton (8 stone 1 Ilb) continued his winning streak with a clinical first round KO of Latvian Muharem Osmanov (7 stone 11 Ilbs) in a scheduled four rounder on the undercard of the Alexei Acosta – Sean Hughes bill the Holiday Inn, Belfast, Northern Ireland. Local favourite Wilton, sporting the trademark Team Alio claret and blue colours entered the ring with his father and trainer – Alan Wilton, to a rapturous reception by the packed house of 400 fight fans.
A fortnight earlier, Wilton scored an impressive points win over Kevin Coglan in the Rogan-Sexton II bill and there were similarities in the opening scenes of both performances. continue l
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Brendan Galbraith - Grigor Sarohanian (1-0) vs Paddy McDonagh (debut) (4 x 3 minute rounds) - McDonagh (12 stone 11 Ilbs) made his pro debut against a very tough and durable Latvian opponent Grigor Sarohanian (12 stone 8 Ilbs). The first round was pretty even, with both men landing good shots. The Latvian native probably shaded the opener with impressive countering and sporadic flurries. McDonagh came into the fight more in the 2nd and 3rd rounds by pressing the fight and have some success, particularly with his left hand. Both men hit a lot of gloves and missed wild shots.
The final round was McDonagh’s best round - pressing well to land several good lefts to the head. He countered well and again had success. Feeling a little more confident towards the end of the fight, McDonagh introduced a couple of uppercuts that failed to make the desired impact. Overall, an impressive debut for McDonagh who faced a tough and dangerous opponent in Sarohanian. The ref raised McDonagh’s hand at the end and he won 39-37 on the scorecards. continue l
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by James Slater, photo by Peter Mark Heintzelman -- Ahead of his fighter Paul "The Punisher" Williams' December 5th middleweight fight with 34-year-old fellow southpaw Sergio Martinez, 44-1-2(24), trainer George Peterson very kindly gave me the following interview yesterday evening (UK time).
Speaking about the fight his 28-year-old warrior, 37-1(27) will have in Atlantic City, his thoughts on a possible Williams-Manny Pacquiao fight and other things, George gave me the following answers to my questions:
James Slater: It's great to speak with you again, Sir. First of all, how has camp been going for the Sergio Martinez fight?
George Peterson: Camp has been great. We've had a pretty short camp to get ready for a lefthander, but other than that it's been great. continue l
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by James Slater - Unbeaten former Olympian Andre Ward did far more than just win his opening fight in the hugely exciting "Super-Six" tournament last night in his hometown of Oakland, California; he also scored the first big upset of the tourney and he also restored American pride by becoming the first U.S fighter to have won a bout in the tourney.
Stopping the defending WBA 168-pound champion and one of the tourney's overall favourites in the mighty Mikkel Kessler, Ward must now be looked at, along with Germany's Arthur Abraham, as the leader of the talented group.
Certainly, and no disrespect to Jermain Taylor, Ward will be a pretty big favourite to win his next fight in the Show Time tourney, against the former middleweight king. Knocked out badly by Abraham in his "Super-Six" opener, Taylor made us wonder if he'd even carry on in the tourney. He is going to, though, and now he faces an uphill task of the highest order against the 21-0(13) 25-year-old. continue l
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Bill Patrice Jones - The major talk around boxing circles prior to the much anticipated super six tournament was that the European fighters involved would take the glory hands down. The majority of comments flying around were heavily in favour of: Arthur Abraham, Carl Froch and Mikkel Kessler. Almost no one gave Andre Dirrell, Andre Ward and Jermain Taylor a chance of winning their bouts except some American pundits and those in the know when it comes to boxing. So in the aftermath of the first round of the event European fighters have a lead with two victories to one, Arthur Abraham’s coming by way of stoppage. Now before any of the aforementioned bouts are analysed I want to point out that I am not writing this article with the intention of stirring up hatred and anger between nations or between Europe and America. Bias in boxing comes in many forms and has numerous causes. I only write this article to highlight a strange case of hysteria and gross miscalculation over just how good specifically two of the fighters in the super six actually . continue l
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By Paul Strauss - Andre S.O.G Ward dominated Mikkel Kessler from start to finish at the Oracle Arena in Oakland, CA, on Saturday. Now Showtime's Super Six is two for Europe and one for the USA. Ward could arguably feel he deserves two points for the win and one point for stopping Kessler, but Referee Jack Reiss' ruling that the cut (one of many) that ended the fight was caused by an unintentional head-butt prevented that from happening. Instead of being a technical knockout (TKO), the fight went to the judges' scorecards for a technical decision. Two judges scored the fight 98-92, and the third had it 97-93. For now Ward is content win the upset victory over the tournament favorite Kessler, and capturing of the World Boxing Association (WBA) Super Middleweight Title belt.
According to Showtime Announcers Al Bernstein, Gus Johnson and Antonio Tarver, there were five unintentional head-butts over the course of the fight; although Tarver expressed an opinion that the fight was dominated by Ward and so one-sided that he deserved the extra point for a stoppage, which would have placed him in a tie with Arthur “King” Abraham for a lead in the Super Six Tournament. However, Al Bernstein quickly pointed out that the referee was very specific as to which cut of several to Kessler's face was what he deemed responsible for the stoppage. It was the cut above the right eye, which was caused by a butt that occurred in the eighth round. continue l
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By Srithar Visuasam: The Elite Cranes Cup was held at the Malvern Town Hall on Friday November 20, hosted by Peter Maniatis Promotions. The main event saw Shannon ‘The Man’ McMahon (16-5-1, 6 KOs) take on Eddie ‘Psycho’ Delic (16-9-2, 3 KOs) for the vacant WBF Intercontinental light middleweight title over 10 rounds. The bout was an edge of your seat encounter with toe to toe action for the full ten rounds. McMahon was impressive with his multi-punch combinations, taking the fight to Delic. However, it was Delic who fought the superior fight. His counter punching was very effective with his counter right hand proving the key weapon over the course of the fight. The bout went the full distance and after a heated battle, it was Delic who prevailed with scorecards reading 97-93, 98-92, 98-92 all in his favour. continue l
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by: Edgar Macabasa - The beating that Cotto endured at the hands of Antonio Margarito made many people believe that Cotto was already damaged goods in boxing. The fact that he KO’ed Michael Jennings in five rounds during his next fight did little to change that perception since Jennings was nowhere near the class of the elite fighters in the welterweight division. This view also gained more momentum when Cotto struggled and nearly lost a split decision to Joshua Clottey in a fight where many people saw Clottey as the winner and in which the difference between winning and losing may have been the knockdown Cotto scored in the first round of the fight. continue l
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OAKLAND, Calif. (Nov. 21, 2009) — The United States is alive and well in the Super Six World Boxing Classic.
In a scintillating performance, undefeated hometown favorite Andre Ward (21-0, 13 KOs) captured the World Boxing Association (WBA) super middleweight title with a dominant 11th-round technical decision over Denmark’s Mikkel Kessler (42-2, 32 KOs) in the Group Stage 1 Super Six World Boxing Classic bout for both boxers Saturday on SHOWTIME®.
An exciting, one-sided match was stopped at 1:42 of the 11th round by the ringside physician, Dr. Smith Ketchum, due to cuts around both of Kessler’s eyes. After 10 completed rounds, Ward was ahead by the scores of 98-92 on two of the scorecards and 97-93 on the other.
A raucous, pro-Ward crowd of 10,277, which included Heisman Trophy winner and NFL Hall of Famer Herschel Walker, Metallica drummer and Kessler fan, fellow Dane Lars Ulrich, Super Six fighter Andre Dirrell and Strikeforce Mixed Martial Arts stars Scott Smith, Josh Thompson and Gilbert Melendez, turned out at the Oracle Arena for what became a virtuoso performance by Ward. continue l
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By Michael Amakor - Zsolt Erdei (31- 0, 17 kos) seized the WBC Cruiserweight belt from defending champion Giacobbe Fragomeni (26-2 -1, 10 kos) in a 12 round competitive contest in front of a boisterous crowd at the in Sparkassen-Arena, Kiel, Schleswig-Holstein in Germany.
Although Erdei got the decision I believe Fragomeni deserved the nod as the defending champion and he certainly proved his point by pressuring Erdei from the middle rounds to the bell. The judges acknowledged his efforts, but scored the fight 115-113, 114-114 and 115-113 razor thinly against the 40 year old Italian. continue l
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By Ted Sares - The Prediction - On paper, this one would appear easy to predict, but given Ward’s athleticism and speed, he could well make this a far more difficult fight for the WBA World super middleweight tile holder. Nevertheless, Mikkel Kessler is the super star and Andre Ward is the upstart challenger.
That said, I can see Ward staying on the outside with good movement content to jab and use his body shots and occasional hooks to keep Kessler at bay. If he can do this, he can win a decision. Joe Calzaghe laid out the blueprint, but Ward is no Calzaghe. And Kessler didn’t become a champion by winning easy fights. Sooner or later, I see him closing the gap as he stalks Ward (who has never before been in such a pressure-filled fight) from the outset using his patented one-two. If he is able to catch him in a corner or on the ropes (or even in the middle of the ring), he will, in my opinion, buzz him--and if Kost and Boone can hurt Ward, Kessler will wax him in the same manner as he did Markus Beyer. continue l
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Tunica, MS - Supported by a large crowd at Fitzgeralds Casino in Tunica, MS, junior middleweight sensation Shawn “Showtime” Porter kept his perfect intact after scoring a fourth round TKO over upset specialist Jerome Ellis. Headlining “Boxing’s Future Champions III”, Porter badly rocked Ellis with a solid left hook in the second, forcing the rugged Floridian to hold on. The 2008 US Olympic Alternate continued to have success in the third, attacking Ellis with quick, crisp combinations while using outstanding defensive movement to avoid return shots. With the fight in his control, The Akron, OH native tagged Ellis with strong combinations to both the body and head, proving that a clash of heads early in the round could not deter him. Following the fourth round, Ellis refused to leave his stool, forcing Referee Randy Phillips to stop the contest. continue l
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By Coach Tim Walker – Boxing fans get answers tonight! Andre Ward, the last and most recent American Olympic gold medalist, will get the opportunity to answer many questions on Saturday, November 21, 2009 when he faces Mikkel Kessler in his home town of Oakland, California. Questions such as: Is he legitimate? And, Can he really compete with the current crop of European champions? And, was winning Olympic Gold the panicle of his career?
Though heralded following the Olympics, Ward and his team were forced onto the path less traveled though not necessarily by choice. This happened when Ward, who might have been feeling the Showtime pro jitters, faced off against Kenny Kost. Kost, an 8-0-0 fighter at the time, donned a good record but was viewed by most analysts to not have the tools to deal with the Olympian over the long hall. Ward won round one easily and it appeared that a short night was in the works. Then came round 2. Kost landed a well-timed left hook that badly hurt Ward. Getting his wasn't such a big deal. Fighters take shots. It’s part of the business. What was bit unexpected was that the shot seemed to affect Ward for the remainder of the fight. He seemed to never fully recover. continue l
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by Andrew Hall- What is it with the name "Sugar" in the world of boxing? We've had "Sugar" Ray Robinson and "Sugar" Ray Leonard and now we have "Sugar" Shane Mosley. Today, however, the "Sugar" man is kind of being overlooked. He seems to be an afterthought in the world of pugilism. This is sad because he just may be the best fighter out there.
After dismantling Miguel Cotto, Antonio Margarito made a huge mistake in picking Shane Mosley as his next opponent. When I heard that this fight was going to happen I thought that Antonio was in a world of trouble. continue l
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By Robert Jackson: The subject of Manny Pacquiao's rising status has everybody on the bandwagon, the bus per-se, words like GOAT are being thrown around. NOT SO FAST!! Right after the Pacquiao/Cotto fight Money Mayweather who had been silent after and since his dominating victory over Juan Manuel Marquez resurfaced with some choice words of his own directed towards Cotto conqueror Manny Pacquiao who in Mayweather's estimation REFUSED to challenge him or call him out post fight.
Subsequent media releases involving Mayweather had him saying in a Dangerfieldesque tone "I don't get no RESPECT"! Currently a 70/30 split in Pacquiao's favor is on the table for a Pacquiao/Mayweather bout tenatively scheduled for May 2010!! Cotto was at least able to get a 65.25/34.75 split in Pacquiao's favor! continue l
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by James Slater - The year 2009 has surely been the best yet in the incredible career of the astonishing Manny Pacquiao! Although he had just two bouts - stopping Ricky Hatton in 2-rounds in May, and stopping an amazingly brave Miguel Cotto in the 12th-rounds just one week ago - Pacquiao showed us most vividly how great he really is this year.
As such, is there possibly any other fighter in with a shot at winning the Fighter of the Year award when Ring magazine and various other publications select their winner? It sure looks doubtful, even though a few fighters have also had a good 12 months in 2009. Also, the year isn't over yet. But all the remaining fights of this year have been scheduled, and there isn't a fight that can be won by any fighter that would propel him anywhere close to having had as fine a year as "Pac-Man.. continue l
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by James Slater - Unbeaten 30-year-old Russian heavyweight Alexander Povetkin won an IBF final eliminator and with it a shot at Ring magazine, IBF and WBO heavyweight ruler Wladimir Klitschko back in January of this year, when he out-pointed "Fast" Eddie Chambers. However, due to an injury, Povetkin had to withdraw from a fight with "Dr. Steel Hammer" and now, almost a year later, his title assault is still awaited.
Now being trained by Teddy Atlas, the 17-0(12) contender has recently had his name connected with a possible interim IBF title fight with Samuel Peter, the former WBC champ. continue l
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By: Coach “K” - November 20th, Twin River Event Center, Lincoln, Rhode Island Jimmy Burchfield’s Classic Entertainment and Sports Inc. presented “Autumn Classic” saw the leather flying like Autumn leaves falling in a Nor Easter.
The action started with Roxbury, Massachusetts Maceo Crowder the brother of 2008 U.S. Olympian Demetrius “Boo Boo” Andrade making his pro debut picking apart, buckling then putting to rest Reidsville North Carolina’s Duane King also making his pro debut. Crowder out boxed and dropped King in the opener, buckled his knees with a heavy lead right hand in the second before finishing him with a clean 1-2 at 1:48 of round three. continue l
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Undefeated Andre “S.O.G” Ward of Oakland flexes after weighing in at 166 1/2 pounds Friday at the Oakland Airport Hilton Hotel.
WBA super middleweight champion Mikkel “Viking Warrior” Kessler of Denmark poses after tipping scale at 167 pounds, one pound under the division limit.
Tomorrow/Saturday on SHOWTIME® (10 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast), Kessler (42-1, 32 KOs) and Ward (20-0, 13 KOs) will clash for Kessler's WBA 168-pound title in the first Super Six World Boxing Classic Group Stage 1 bout for each boxer. The scheduled 12-rounder will emanate from the Oracle Arena in Oakland.
Kessler-Ward is the first Super Six fight on American soil. The Europeans held serve in the opening Group Stage 1 fights Oct. 17 on SHOWTIME, Arthur Abraham knocking out Jermain Taylor and Carl Froch outpointing Andre Dirrell in Germany and England, respectively. continue l
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By Juan Carlos Castillo: The last fight of the first part of the Super Six Tournament is perhaps the best fight in terms of Boxing Skills. Denmark's Mikkel Kessler (42-1, 32 KO's) is an excellent boxer, counter-puncher who has shown his talent and quality over big opponents, and his lone loss came to an undefeated Champion who made more than 20 succesfull defenses in a very good fight, that is Joe Calzaghe. continue l
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by James Slater - All set to meet in Germany on Saturday night, WBC cruiserweight champion Giacobbe Fragomeni and challenger Zsolt Erdei have officially weighed-in. As reported by FightNews.com, Italy's Fragomeni tipped in at 195.8-pounds, while long-reigning WBO light-heavyweight champion Erdei of Hungary weighed-in at the significantly lower weight of just 178.8-pounds.
Does this advantage in poundage mean the older man at age 40 will be the physically stronger man, who is able to bully his 35-year-old challenger come fight time? Giving so much weight away, Erdei, who has also been inactive since his January win over Yuri Barashian (when he made the eleventh retention of his WBO 175-pound belt), looks the underdog in the fight in my eyes now. continue l
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Jaime Castro-Núñez - This is the kind of articles I write with enthusiasm. And the reason is very simple: here I am introducing to a large, English-speaking audience a complete unknown boxer who I am sure will be on top of the lightweight division in the years to come. We already have excellent papers on Pacquiao, Froch, Haye, Kessler and Mayweather, so I am under the impression that I don’t have much to say about these exciting, world-class fighters. That’s why I spend most of my time with undivulged boxers, those nameless kids coming from Colombia, virtually out of nowhere, who often times upset huge folks such as Amir Khan. Please don’t get me wrong: I enjoy boxing and know who is who. And yes, I like Pacquiao, even though I wanted Cotto to claim the victory.
The unique intention of this paper is to introduce ESB readers an athlete who I believe has the skills, talent, desire and power to become a serious contender in a couple of years, if not this coming 2010. I might be right, I might be wrong. Only time will tell! My purpose here is to get you acquainted with 2008 Olympian Darley Pérez of San Pedro de Urabá, Colombia, who defeated Argentinean Patricio Pedrero to win the vacant WBA Fedelatín lightweight title on November 19th in a bout that took place in Medellín, Colombia, during the 88th WBA annual convention. continue l
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FORMER WBA World Champion Gavin Rees will take on ex-European title holder Ted Bami in the quarter-finals of Prizefighter Light-Welterweights.
Boxing legend Floyd Mayweather Jnr, widely regarded as the best pound-for-pound boxer in the world, performed the draw, which was broadcast on Sky Sports on Friday night. Prizefighter Light-Welterweights takes place on Friday, December 4 at the National Hall, Olympia, London with eight of the best British light-welterweights competing for a top prize of £32,000. Rees and Bami were two of the bookmakers' favourites but one of them will be eliminated at the first phase after they were paired together in a mouth-watering clash. continue l
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LINCOLN, R.I. (Nov. 20, 2009) – Otis “Triple OG” Griffin outlasted Joey McCreedy to win a unanimous 8-round decision tonight in the main event on the “Autumn Classic” pro boxing card, presented by Jimmy Burchfield’s Classic Entertainment & Sports, Inc., at Twin River Event Center in Lincoln, Rhode Island. Griffin (21-6-2), best known for winning the “Next Great Champ, displayed his ring savvy and experience, successfully counter-punching McCreedy (11-4-1). “I’ve won in other fighter’s backyards, but I was concerned about the decision because I got robbed against Jeff Lacy. McCreedy fought his best. I thought I clearly won. He brought his A-game and really stepped-up. He wasn’t the same fighter we watched on tape. He obviously can take a good shot because I hit him with some good ones. Joey is a brawler and the plan was to make him pay when he missed and stay clear of trouble. It was Boxing 101. Next, I’d like to come back here and fight Joey Spina.. continue l
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by Geoffrey Ciani - I was recently afforded the opportunity t o have a nice discussion with future Hall of Famer, Bernard Hopkins. Bernard is currently preparing for his fight against Enrique Ornelas which is slated to take place December 2 at the Liacouras Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Here is what Bernard had to say:
Audio:
Q: How are preparations going for your December 2 fight with Enrique Ornelas?
A: Everything is going great, man. We had a media day, it’s packed in here. This is the first time I had an open work out where they can actually tape some of the sparring. I completed ten rounds today, I completed ten rounds two days ago—Saturday rather, three days ago. So everything then is good. I’m taking this fight just as seriously as if I was getting $10 million compared to—I don’t know what I’m getting, because just based on a lot of things that you have read about, heard about, and been told about—that we are going to talk about briefly in this conversation—is that this is to me a warm-up, but not a warm-up to the point of being disrespectful that I’m going to not train or I’m not going to take this fight like any other fight. You’ve been writing about boxing and I assume about my career for more than a year, and I never take anybody lightly. You know I’m always in shape. continue l
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One of the hardest-hitting prospects in the lightweight division will make his main event debut on Saturday, November 28 in an NABF Championship bout in the Grand Ballroom of the Pechanga Resort and Casino in Temecula, California. Undefeated knockout artist John Molina, Jr. (18-0, 14 KO), of nearby Covina, CA, will battle Mexico’s Martin Honorio (26-4-1, 14 KO) in the scheduled 10-round headliner of the ShoBox: The New Generation telecast on SHOWTIME. The Molina-Honorio NABF Lightweight Championship bout is the featured fight on a rising star-studded, boxing card presented by Goossen Tutor Promotions. continue l
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Nov. 20, 2009 – NEW YORK -- HBO Sports reported today that 1.25 million pay-per-view buys were generated from last Saturday’s welterweight title fight between Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto at the sold-out MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. The fight was promoted by Top Rank, Inc..The 1.25 million buy total represents the highest performing boxing pay-per-view event in 2009, generating $70 million in pay-per-view revenue. The figure includes 650,000 buys from cable homes and 600,000 from satellite and telco homes. A record 110,000 buys from Puerto Rico, Cotto’s home market, are included. It is the second time that an event featuring Manny Pacquiao, a worldwide superstar, has passed the one million mark in pay-per-view buys. continue l
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Geoffrey Ciani - When the participants for the Super Six super middleweight tournament were first announced one name stood out amongst the rest—Mikkel Kessler. Of all the pugilists involved, Kessler was the one who was widely recognized as the favorite going into the tournament and rightfully so. After all, the reigning two time champion has good skills, tremendous power, and ample experience in big fight situations. Prior to the start of the first round match-ups, Kessler was perceived as the most consistent and talented of the six. Arthur Abraham was moving up in weight, Jermain Taylor was damaged goods, Carl Froch was one dimensional, and the two Andres from the United States were “too green”. This made Kessler the favorite by process of elimination.
Despite his experience, skills, and talent, Mikkel Kessler is not unbeatable. This was already proven when he was soundly defeated by Joe Calzaghe. Despite being seven years younger, Kessler was outworked, outhustled, and outsmarted by his older foe. After four competitive rounds it was all Calzaghe. Kessler was befuddled by his high work rate and his unique blend of tactics and angles. Of course, there is no shame in losing to a fighter of Calzaghe’s caliber. At the same time, when a fighter’s standing is elevated following a loss, as was the case when Kessler lost to Calzaghe, it gives reason for suspicion. Kessler has exhibited vulnerabilities in the past so it should come as no surprise when they are once again put on display. continue l
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NOTTINGHAM (November 20th ,2009) – WBC Super Middleweight Champ Carl “The Cobra” Froch believes that Mikkel Kessler has what it takes to complete a clean sweep for Europe in the final bout of Group Stage 1 in the Super Six World Boxing Classic this weekend. With Froch having ended the unbeaten run of American hotshot Andre Dirrell last month and German based Armenian Arthur Abraham scoring a final round KO over Jermain Taylor it’s currently 2 – 0 to Europe ahead of Kessler’s clash with Andre Ward in the U.S. this weekend. continue l
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by James Slater - Shortly after he'd relieved Russian Giant Nikolai Valuev of his WBA heavyweight title, new ruler David Haye spoke about how he would entertain the idea of a second fight with the 7'2" colossus. Putting the nice things Haye had to say about Valuev down to the respect fighters tend to show one another after having been in a fight, I never actually thought we would ever see a Haye-Valuev II. And let's be honest, who would want to see a rematch? The November 7th clash, though no complete bore, was hardly a classic. continue l
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by Geoffrey Ciani - This week’s forty-eighth edition of On the Ropes featured exclusive interviews with Andre Ward and “Iceman” John Scully. Highlighting this episode was the very interesting interview with Super Six tournament participant, Andre Ward. Andre is slated to take on WBA super middleweight champion Mikkel Kessler this Saturday in Oakland, California. Here are some excerpts from the interview:
On his preparations for the upcoming fight with Kessler:
“It’s training as usual, it’s hard work, it’s sometime monotonous, but I’ve fighting long enough to understand that you got to pay the price now to celebrate later.”
On his fight with Edison Miranda:
“It was a twelve round fight that was very hard fought. Even though Miranda didn’t win many rounds, it was very physical. We just showed ourselves well in all the necessary categories, but I definitely don’t think that’s the best Andre Ward that the world will see. November 21 will be the best that everyone has seen so far.. continue l
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by James Slater - Though he was badly busted up and beaten inside three-rounds by Denis Lebedev in his last fight back in July of this year, 29-year-old Enzo Maccarinelli is to give it one more go, and will return to action against a TBA on the Amir Khan-Dmitriy Salita bill in Newcastle on December 5th. After having fought off ideas of retirement, the big-hitting Welshman says he wants to get a couple of confidence-restoring wins under his belt, before stepping back up to world championship level next year. The loser in three of his last four fights, with all three defeats coming via stoppage, the 29-year-old has heard many people tell him he should be doing something else for a living, but Enzo says he has the buzz back. continue l
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The great “Smokin’” Joe Frazier has joined a growing list of confirmed boxing legends attending the Dec. 11-13 “World’s Greatest Ever Boxer” (WGEB) festivities, highlighted by an awards dinner and U.S. vs. The World pro boxing show, at The Paris Casino & Hotel in Las Vegas. Frazier joins a red-carpet list of “WGEB” nominees traveling to Las Vegas Vegas for the spectacular celebration of boxing legends, including Mike Tyson, Jeff Fenech, Carlos Ortiz, Aaron Pryor, Roberto Duran, Bob Foster, Tommy Hearns, Wilfredo Gomez and others. continue l
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By Vivek Wallace - Last week, the world of boxing sat in utter silence as perhaps the biggest story in the sport unfolded right before its eyes. An arduous process that took months and months to materialize finally came to fruition, and only moments after, one of the most recognized voices in boxing (Larry Merchant) sat in a still visibly stunned media room and asked the rhetorical question, "where do we go from here"? At the time, the marvel of Manny Pacquiao would appear to be a rather impossible act to follow, but now that the dust has settled, the collective attention of those around the sport shifts back to what clearly stands as perhaps the most inventive and ground-breaking project born of the sport in decades, if not all-time. In the first wave of this project, we saw the likes of Arthur Abraham, Jermain Taylor, Carl Froch, and Andre Dirrell. As we conclude that first leg of the tour, we get the opportunity to see arguably the two most talented figures in the competition compete. The two men who have traveled vastly different paths, yet somehow ended up on the same road to relevance. Those two men, none other than American Olympic Gold Medalist Andre Ward (20-0, 13KO's), and Denmark native Mikkel Kessler (42-1, 32KO's).
When you place these two combatants under the microscope, clearly, there's more to be seen than normally meets the eye. In the case of Andre Ward, some recollect his amazing Olympic performance, but beyond that point, the Oakland, California native has been somewhat under the radar. On a global scale, few speak his name, but a lengthy conversation with those aware reveals precisely how talented this "S.O.G." really is. continue l
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BERNARD HOPKINS: "This guy (Enrique Ornelas) is not a cream puff. This guy is not anyone that you pick for a tune-up or a softy. Enrique and his brother are well respected and have given everyone they fought a fight, win lose or draw. That's the type of guy I am, I duck no one. I take no one lightly. Again, I didn't want to be a part of the matchmaking part. A fight is a fight, no matter if you're in Vegas or you're in Philadelphia.
"I'm feeling good. I've trained a little bit more reserved because when you're young, you have a lot more energy. I know the media is trying to figure out when the hell this guy is going to look like he's 45. I have a future, even at 44. continue l
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By Andrew Hall - After watching the Pacquiao vs Cotto fight I have become a fan of Money Mayweather. Many of my friends were shocked and dismayed to hear this. You see, I generally favor the puncher. I like watching the fights where there is a sensational knockout. I like to see some blood, I like to see some carnage. Why did I become a Mayweather fan? I have come to realize the guy's absolute genius in the fight game. I have come to appreciate him for what he is. He does more for the sport of boxing than any puncher ever could. Money Mayweather is an absolute genius and I have 3 reasons why this is so.
There is no doubt that the fight between Cotto and Pacquio was more exciting than any of Floyd's fights. continue l
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LAS VEGAS (Nov. 19, 2009) – Boxing has traditionally been driven by heavyweights and many of the sport’s most recognizable figures through the years have fought in the highest-profile division. The Heavyweight Division in the “The World’s Greatest Ever Boxer” promotion has two more nominees than the other seven divisions because the nominating committee was unable to limit the number to 10.
Ten of the Heavyweight Division nominees are in the International Boxing Hall of the Fame and the only non-members of this elite group, Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield, are sure locks as soon as they’re eligible for nomination.
London boxing icon Lennox Lewis is the lone non-American heavyweight nominee, a division that has many of boxing’s most colorful and popular figures, dating all the way back to the end of the 19th century with legends John L. Sullivan and Jack Johnson.
The winners in the eight divisions, plus “The World’s Greatest Ever Boxer,” will be announced Sunday, December 13, the final day of a three-day celebration of these outstanding boxers in The Paris Las Vegas. continue l
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Reigning WBO Junior Bantamweight champion “Marvelous” Marvin Sonsona (14-0, 12 KO’s) and his opponent Alejandro “Payasito” Hernandez (22-7-1, 11 KO’s) of Mexico City promised a war this Saturday night as the main event of Rumble at Rama X at Casino Rama, in Rama, Ontario. The 19 year-old Sonsona, who captured the crown against Jose “Carlito” Lopez this past September via thrilling 12 round unanimous decision, promised to once again treat Ontario fight fans to another scintillating performance. “When I first fought here in September, I was treated so well, and welcomed so warmly that I wanted to deliver a great performance to my new fans in Ontario.. continue l
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Former WBO World Cruiserweight king Enzo Maccarinelli is on his third and final mission to reclaim his world title. The big-hitting Welshman lost his crown last year to David Haye, but the Swansea puncher is aiming for a fresh start on December 5 in Newcastle when he fights in a six rounder on the undercard of Amir Khan's clash with Dmitriy Salita. And he reckons that by this time next year he's going to back in title contention. "After my last fight against Denis Lebedev there was talk of me retiring," said Enzo. "I had a long think about where my career was going, but I've got my hunger back now. "Being a world champion meant a lot to me and it hurt so much losing my world title. continue l
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By Coach Tim Walker - That's the fun of it all. Waiting and watching to see it all unfold. Universally we all feel that Manny Pacquiao is absolutely next to fight Floyd Mayweather Jr. It represents the most money on the table for both fighters. That's seems to be absolute (still in boxing anything can happen). So who might be next after a fight with Pac. Excluding a Pacquiao-Mayweather blockbuster event that is so dynamic that it warrants a part two here is a list of possibilities. All of these suggestions take into consideration the 5 fight deal he forged with Golden Boy and him making this proclamation prior to the Marquez fight, “If they want it, they can get it!”
Miguel Cotto
Don't discount Miguel Cotto. Yes he is fresh off the heels of being scrapped by the Pac Man and in the eyes of many might be damaged goods with only a few fights left in him. continue l
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Top Manchester trainer Anthony Farnell will put his boxers that are featuring on the huge Newcastle show on December 5 through a power-packed media work-out this Monday. Former two-time WBU World Middleweight Champion, know as the "The Warrior" during his career, now runs a highly successful gym and trains some of the best young talent in Britain today, including Frankie Gavin, Tony Bellew and new pro Ronnie Heffron, plus Stephen Bell who challenges for the Commonwealth Featherweight title. continue l
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by James Slater - Richard Schaefer of Golden Boy has given a short but very interesting interview with Lance Pugmire of The LA Times. Schaefer spoke about how he has never known so much interest in a fight like there is for the wanted Manny Pacquiao-Floyd Mayweather clash, and he also told the publication's writer about a fight that is almost a done deal.
According to the promoter, as long as both Roy Jones Junior and Bernard Hopkins win their next fights - Jones' against Australia's Danny Green, on December 2nd, Hopkins' against Mexico's Enrique Ornelas on the same date - then the two legends will meet in a long awaited rematch on March 13th next year, in Las Vegas. continue l
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When Star Boxing's top rated undefeated heavyweight Kevin "Kingpin" Johnson (22-0-1, 9KO) (WBC #6, WBA #6, WBO #8, IBF #12) steps into the ring on December 12th to challenge Vitali Klitschko (38-2, 37KO) for Klitschko's coveted WBC Heavyweight Championship, he will not only be fighting for himself, but fighting for our entire country.
When Star Boxing's top rated undefeated heavyweight Kevin "Kingpin" Johnson (22-0-1, 9KO) (WBC #6, WBA #6, WBO #8, IBF #12) steps into the ring on December 12th to challenge Vitali Klitschko (38-2, 37KO) for Klitschko's coveted WBC Heavyweight Championship, he will not only be fighting for himself, but fighting for our entire country. continue l
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NEW YORK (Nov. 19, 2009) — The two Europeans boxers – victorious over their American opponents in the first round of the Super Six World Boxing Classic – are predicting Mikkel “Viking Warrior” Kessler will beat Andre “S.O.G.” Ward in the final Group Stage 1 matchup this Saturday, Nov. 21, at the Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif. live on SHOWTIME® (10 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the west coast).
One of the two Americans – Andre Dirrell – likes Ward while Jermain Taylor calls Saturday’s showdown a “toss-up.’. continue l
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By Ted Sares: This Thai is still active but for the most part, has fought terrible opposition. He duked with Jorge Arce on December 1, 2007 for the WBC Latino bantamweight title. He was 53-4 coming in but was demolished by a brutal body shot courtesy of “Travieso” in 47 seconds. 3-K is now 63 (KO 44) - 6 (KO 6) in 69 outings, but that record is deceiving. continue l
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by Geoffrey Ciani - "I think after watching this fight we have to start talking about the all time great status of Manny Pacquiao. Does he now fall within the top ten? Or does a fight with Mayweather have to take place and does he have to win that fight in order to reach that top ten status? That’s my question for you guys.”—CALLER
This question was asked by one of our callers in the special post-fight edition of On the Ropes following Manny Pacquiao’s impressive effort against Miguel Cotto. There can be no doubt that Manny Pacquiao has firmly established his legacy as an all-time great. Top ten, though? Top fifteen, even? That seems awfully high. The question is inherently unfair because Pacquiao’s career is not over yet. Despite claims that he will only box for another year or so, it is conceivable that his career is far from over. The caller’s question inspired a somewhat heated exchange between me and the show’s Hostess, the lovely Miss Jenna J. The discussion evolved into a debate over whether Pacquiao is currently worthy of a top fifteen spot in an all time pound for pound sense. Jenna J thinks he is, I respectfully disagree. continue l
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Exclusive Interview by James Slater - 34-year-old Brian "The Beast" Minto, 34-2(21) will fight the biggest fight of his pro career on December 5th in Atlantic City, N.J, as he will square off with fellow tough guy Chris Arreola. Fighting in an important heavyweight bout that could propel the winner into a world title shot, the #5 ranked WBO contender knows how hard the fight will be.
Michael Herron - The month of May can not seem further away yet that is how long the boxing world will wait before the most anticipated fight of the decade is upon us. For fight fans however time is not a factor when it comes to comparing, contrasting, and debating which fighter will ultimately reign supreme. Though a definitive answer will be provided in the near future the battle for now will wage on the accomplishments and merits of each fighter’s past. What roads did each fighter travel; what choices did they make along the way; what obstacles did they overcome to get where they are today; though they may seem like polar opposites, Mayweather and Pacquiao’s paths toward each other are more alike than we might imagine. 
by Andrew Harrison, safesideoftheropes.com - Photo by: Tom Casino / SHOWTME 
by James Slater - The fans want it, the two fighters appear to want it, and now the two key promoters are to begin talks to try and get the fight done. I'm talking, of course, about the eagerly anticipated would be mega-fight between pound-for-pound rivals Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Junior.
By Coach Tim Walker – It’s gonna be huge! Sure I know “gonna” isn’t an actual word but it speaks volumes as to the potential potency and possibly backlash of the Roy Jones Jr. verses Danny Green matchup scheduled December 2, 2009 in the Acer Arena, Sydney, Australia.
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Richard H. (Toronto, CA): You have been very huge on Andre Ward, and one of the few to give him a chance against Kessler. What did you see in the past that me (and I'm sure others) failed to?
Mikkel Kessler has vowed to bounce back stronger than ever after his 11th round technical decision defeat against Andre Ward. The Viking Warrior was trailing on all three scorecards when the fight was stopped due to a cut caused by an unintentional headbutt. “I have lost the world title once and won it straight back so I know how to do it,” Kessler said. “With the support of my home fans in Denmark I will beat Carl Froch and become world champion again. That is why this tournament is great – I have the chance to make amends immediately.”
Brendan Galbraith - The highly rated Irish-based Cuban sensation Alexei ‘The Hurricane’ Acosta (8 stone 9 IIbs) recorded a second round TKO over the tough and experienced former Commonwealth and British Title contender, Sean ‘Short Fuse’ Hughes (8 stone 10 IIbs) at the Holiday Inn, Belfast, Northern Ireland. For the 21-year-old Cuban, now based full-time at the Kronk Gym in Belfast under the guidance of trainer, Tony Dunlop, this was his first appearance in front of a Belfast crowd.
Brendan Galbraith - Grigor Sarohanian (1-0) vs Paddy McDonagh (debut) (4 x 3 minute rounds) - McDonagh (12 stone 11 Ilbs) made his pro debut against a very tough and durable Latvian opponent Grigor Sarohanian (12 stone 8 Ilbs). The first round was pretty even, with both men landing good shots. The Latvian native probably shaded the opener with impressive countering and sporadic flurries. McDonagh came into the fight more in the 2nd and 3rd rounds by pressing the fight and have some success, particularly with his left hand. Both men hit a lot of gloves and missed wild shots.
by James Slater, photo by Peter Mark Heintzelman -- Ahead of his fighter Paul "The Punisher" Williams' December 5th middleweight fight with 34-year-old fellow southpaw Sergio Martinez, 44-1-2(24), trainer George Peterson very kindly gave me the following interview yesterday evening (UK time).
by James Slater - Unbeaten former Olympian Andre Ward did far more than just win his opening fight in the hugely exciting "Super-Six" tournament last night in his hometown of Oakland, California; he also scored the first big upset of the tourney and he also restored American pride by becoming the first U.S fighter to have won a bout in the tourney.
OAKLAND, Calif. (Nov. 21, 2009) — The United States is alive and well in the Super Six World Boxing Classic.
By Ted Sares - The Prediction - On paper, this one would appear easy to predict, but given Ward’s athleticism and speed, he could well make this a far more difficult fight for the WBA World super middleweight tile holder. Nevertheless, Mikkel Kessler is the super star and Andre Ward is the upstart challenger. 
By Coach Tim Walker – Boxing fans get answers tonight! Andre Ward, the last and most recent American Olympic gold medalist, will get the opportunity to answer many questions on Saturday, November 21, 2009 when he faces Mikkel Kessler in his home town of Oakland, California. Questions such as: Is he legitimate? And, Can he really compete with the current crop of European champions? And, was winning Olympic Gold the panicle of his career?
by James Slater - The year 2009 has surely been the best yet in the incredible career of the astonishing Manny Pacquiao! Although he had just two bouts - stopping Ricky Hatton in 2-rounds in May, and stopping an amazingly brave Miguel Cotto in the 12th-rounds just one week ago - Pacquiao showed us most vividly how great he really is this year.
Undefeated Andre “S.O.G” Ward of Oakland flexes after weighing in at 166 1/2 pounds Friday at the Oakland Airport Hilton Hotel.
Jaime Castro-Núñez - This is the kind of articles I write with enthusiasm. And the reason is very simple: here I am introducing to a large, English-speaking audience a complete unknown boxer who I am sure will be on top of the lightweight division in the years to come. We already have excellent papers on Pacquiao, Froch, Haye, Kessler and Mayweather, so I am under the impression that I don’t have much to say about these exciting, world-class fighters. That’s why I spend most of my time with undivulged boxers, those nameless kids coming from Colombia, virtually out of nowhere, who often times upset huge folks such as Amir Khan. Please don’t get me wrong: I enjoy boxing and know who is who. And yes, I like Pacquiao, even though I wanted Cotto to claim the victory.
by Geoffrey Ciani - I was recently afforded the opportunity t o have a nice discussion with future Hall of Famer, Bernard Hopkins. Bernard is currently preparing for his fight against Enrique Ornelas which is slated to take place December 2 at the Liacouras Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Here is what Bernard had to say: 
Geoffrey Ciani - When the participants for the Super Six super middleweight tournament were first announced one name stood out amongst the rest—Mikkel Kessler. Of all the pugilists involved, Kessler was the one who was widely recognized as the favorite going into the tournament and rightfully so. After all, the reigning two time champion has good skills, tremendous power, and ample experience in big fight situations. Prior to the start of the first round match-ups, Kessler was perceived as the most consistent and talented of the six. Arthur Abraham was moving up in weight, Jermain Taylor was damaged goods, Carl Froch was one dimensional, and the two Andres from the United States were “too green”. This made Kessler the favorite by process of elimination.
by Geoffrey Ciani - This week’s forty-eighth edition of On the Ropes featured exclusive interviews with Andre Ward and “Iceman” John Scully. Highlighting this episode was the very interesting interview with Super Six tournament participant, Andre Ward. Andre is slated to take on WBA super middleweight champion Mikkel Kessler this Saturday in Oakland, California. Here are some excerpts from the interview:
By Vivek Wallace - Last week, the world of boxing sat in utter silence as perhaps the biggest story in the sport unfolded right before its eyes. An arduous process that took months and months to materialize finally came to fruition, and only moments after, one of the most recognized voices in boxing (Larry Merchant) sat in a still visibly stunned media room and asked the rhetorical question, "where do we go from here"? At the time, the marvel of Manny Pacquiao would appear to be a rather impossible act to follow, but now that the dust has settled, the collective attention of those around the sport shifts back to what clearly stands as perhaps the most inventive and ground-breaking project born of the sport in decades, if not all-time. In the first wave of this project, we saw the likes of Arthur Abraham, Jermain Taylor, Carl Froch, and Andre Dirrell. As we conclude that first leg of the tour, we get the opportunity to see arguably the two most talented figures in the competition compete. The two men who have traveled vastly different paths, yet somehow ended up on the same road to relevance. Those two men, none other than American Olympic Gold Medalist Andre Ward (20-0, 13KO's), and Denmark native Mikkel Kessler (42-1, 32KO's).
LAS VEGAS (Nov. 19, 2009) – Boxing has traditionally been driven by heavyweights and many of the sport’s most recognizable figures through the years have fought in the highest-profile division. The Heavyweight Division in the “The World’s Greatest Ever Boxer” promotion has two more nominees than the other seven divisions because the nominating committee was unable to limit the number to 10.
By Coach Tim Walker - That's the fun of it all. Waiting and watching to see it all unfold. Universally we all feel that Manny Pacquiao is absolutely next to fight Floyd Mayweather Jr. It represents the most money on the table for both fighters. That's seems to be absolute (still in boxing anything can happen). So who might be next after a fight with Pac. Excluding a Pacquiao-Mayweather blockbuster event that is so dynamic that it warrants a part two here is a list of possibilities. All of these suggestions take into consideration the 5 fight deal he forged with Golden Boy and him making this proclamation prior to the Marquez fight, “If they want it, they can get it!”
When Star Boxing's top rated undefeated heavyweight Kevin "Kingpin" Johnson (22-0-1, 9KO) (WBC #6, WBA #6, WBO #8, IBF #12) steps into the ring on December 12th to challenge Vitali Klitschko (38-2, 37KO) for Klitschko's coveted WBC Heavyweight Championship, he will not only be fighting for himself, but fighting for our entire country.
by Geoffrey Ciani - "I think after watching this fight we have to start talking about the all time great status of Manny Pacquiao. Does he now fall within the top ten? Or does a fight with Mayweather have to take place and does he have to win that fight in order to reach that top ten status? That’s my question for you guys.”—CALLER