Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero vs. Andre Berto, Nov 24th on HBO

09/14/201610/18/2012 ESB

Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero vs. Andre Berto, Nov 24th on HBO By Joseph Herron: On Thanksgiving weekend at the Citizens Bank Arena in Ontario, California, four division world champion Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero (30-1-1, 18 KOs) will face his toughest test to date when he defends his interim WBC Welterweight title against former 147 pound world champion Andre Berto (28-1, 22 KOs) on the biggest stage of boxing, HBO.

Despite being an avoided fighter throughout the majority of his career in the Featherweight, Super Featherweight, and Lightweight divisions, the 11 year fight veteran has patiently waited for his big moment to face a marquee fighter and a legitimate champion on a big HBO event.

Now that he finally has his golden opportunity against a two-time Welterweight Champion, “The Ghost” is at long last ready to make his mark as an elite level fighter in the sport of boxing.

Manager Luis DeCubas Jr. spoke out on this week’s edition of “The Pugilist KOrner” concerning Guerrero’s long overdue opportunity on November 24th.

“Robert is very excited for this fight,” insists the lifelong boxing proponent. “For eleven years, Robert has been working towards this moment. While fighting in the lower weight divisions, none of the other title holders wanted to take on “The Ghost” because they felt he was too big and too skilled. That’s why we ultimately made the jump up to 147.”

Haye thinks Vitali will want to fight him next year

10/18/201210/17/2012 ESB

By Michael Collins: Former WBA heavyweight champion David Haye gave an interview on Wednesday where said that an agreement has already been made with WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko in 2013. Whether Haye is on the level with this is still unknown because we’re only hearing Haye say it and not Vitali.

Haye said to Sky Sports News “”The fight has already been agreed, the contract’s done – the money, the split, everything. We don’t need a new contract…In my opinion next year he will want to fight again at some stage and he will want a big fight. I’m the biggest fight out there and he knows that, he’s not stupid.”

Vitali is running for office in Ukraine and he could retire from boxing if elected. As for a fight against Haye, Vitali hasn’t been acting all that interested in fighting him despite having said in the past that he wanted to knock Haye out and improve upon the performance his younger brother IBF/IBO/WBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko made a year ago when he easily beat Haye by a 12 round unanimous decision in a one-sided fight.

Kell Brook putting pressure on himself to beat Salidivia on Saturday

10/18/201210/17/2012 ESB

By Marcus Richardson: Undefeated welterweight contender Kell Brook (28-0, 18 KO’s) recently chose not to take an important fight against WBO welterweight champion Tim Bradley in order to fight Argentinian Hector Saldivia (41-2, 32 KO’s) in an IBF welterweight eliminator bout on October 20th at the Motorpoint Arena, Sheffield, Yorkshire, United Kingdom. Brook unbelievably chose not to fight Bradley for his WBO title just so that Brook could fight in risky IBF eliminator with the winner of that fight getting a shot against the winner of this Saturday’s fight between Randall Bailey and Devon Alexander.

Brook is talking about wanting to retire if he doesn’t win this fight on Saturday night against Saldivia. Of course, Brook obviously wouldn’t retire if he were to get beaten by Saldivia and even if he did retire, it would likely be one of those boxing retirements that mean absolutely nothing because the fighter or fighters often come back months later out of boredom or a need for money.

Brook said to thesun.co.uk “People keep saying I have talent, so if I can’t get rid of guys like Saldivia then I don’t deserve to be at this level.”

Nonito Donaire…you have just entered the “Pacquiao Zone”

09/14/201610/17/2012 ESB

By Joseph Herron – Since bursting onto the big stage of boxing with one crushing left hook to the chin of the most feared Flyweight in the world circa 2007, Nonito Donaire has been one of the most dominant fighters in boxing. With lightning fast reflexes and freakish power for a lower weight division fighter, “The Filipino Flash” has made twenty nine consecutive victories look like an easy month at the office.

But like many dominant fighters of years past, Nonito Donaire currently finds himself in somewhat of a boxing quandary.

It seems the 29 year old fighter’s reputation has preceded his presence in the ring since placing a dent in the face of Fernando Montiel on HBO last year; not only to his opposition, but to the fans of boxing as well.

Since destroying the three division world champion on February 19th, 2011, most of Nonito’s opponents have receded into a timid and unwilling shell while standing in the ring with the pound for pound fighter. Although it’s an amazing testament to the talents of the proud Filipino pugilist, it doesn’t make for a very eventful evening of boxing.

After Donaire’s third championship victory in the Super Bantamweight division on Saturday, October 13th, his opponent admitted that his reluctance in the ring was intentional.

“The difference in the fight was the speed and I had to be careful,” stated Toshiaki Nishioka. “I had never faced a fighter with the speed of Donaire.”

East Side Boxing Adopts The Transnational Boxing Rankings

09/14/201610/16/2012 ESB

by Matt McGrain: The WBA currently recognises two heavyweight world champions. The WBA “Super” champion (you read that right) is Wladimir Klitschko. For most people, Wladimir is recognised as the best heavyweight on the planet currently. The second best is his brother, Vitlali Klitschko.

Vitali is not ranked amongst the WBA’s top contenders, because Vitali is the world champion for a rival organisation.

Meanwhile, the second champion the WBA recognises is Alexander Povetkin. He is the “World” champion (remember when that meant something?). Povetkin is Wladimir’s most notorious serial-ducker. His own people have not been shy about advertising the theory that Povetkin is not yet ready for Wladimir.

In other words, the WBA’s World champion and “Super” champion are unlikely to meet. The WBA gave Povetkin the shot at Chagaev knowing that this was likely to be the case, and when it indisputably became the case, instead of stripping Povetkin, they lined up Cedric Boswell, Marco Huck and Hasim Rahman for him as “title” defences and continued to merrily collect their sanctioning fees. Rahman, ranked as the #1 contender for Povetkin’s last defence, struggled badly with the arena steps due to shot knees and offered absolutely no resistance in an embarrassing capitulation once he had hauled his once impressive frame through the ropes. Rahman attained his #1 status by beating such luminaries as Galen Brown (2-2 in his last four), Marcus Magee (2-1-0-1 in his last four), Damon Reed (2-2 in his last four) and Shannon Miller (2-1-0-1 in his last four). He hadn’t been scheduled to box twelve rounds since his 2008 destruction at the hands of, you’ve guessed it, “Super” champion Wladimir Klitschko.

Clear? As mud.

Anthony Mundine puts his USA dream on hold to fight WBA and IBF Middleweight Champion Daniel Geale!

09/14/201610/16/2012 ESB

By Brendan George: Just announced Anthony “The Man” Mundine 44-4 (26 KO’S) will take on WBA and IBF Middleweight Champion Daniel “The Real Deal” Geale 28-1(15 ko’s)in Australia January 2013.

This will be the second time the pair have fought after the first fight ended in a split decision win to Mundine in May 2009. While the venue and date are not confirmed the fight will take place around late January in Australia 2013.

Speaking to Anthony Mundine’s American Agent Brendan Bourke he had the following to say; “We had a great 2 fight deal on the table for Anthony to fight in Los Angeles as the main event November this year and February next year against two great opponents however we have put all that on hold to fight the WBA and IBF Middleweight Champion Daniel Geale in Australia.” Mr Bourke continued; “Anthony wants to fight the best and we agreed fighting Geale who has won the WBA and IBF titles represents the best opportunity available at the moment.”

Rios vs. Alvarado: Brandon takes a ton of punishment in winning; Pacquiao could be next

09/14/201610/14/2012 ESB

By Reni M. Valenzuela: How can you not fall for boxing as a Sweet Science after having just watched the classic Rios-Alvarado yesterday?

The fight was truly classic in the sense that it lasted only seven rounds but there was more than enough action the fans needed to see to be awed and spellbound. Much unlike the hide-and-seek Halloween baccarat in the main card, Brandon Rios and Mike Alvarado pursued each other for a non-stop head-on collision in the ring, and with so much heart and boxing skill on display coming from both of them.

It was like a novel that keeps you hold your breath until the last paragraph of the last page wherein only you get to know for sure the story line’s ending. “The War” ended uplifting as the people in the open-field Home Depot Center were exuberant and cheered like a dog with two tails, and with wide grin. They simply have fallen for everything that happened within those 19 minutes of the fight.

Brandon Rios vs. Mike Alvarado: One for the ages

09/14/201610/14/2012 ESB

By Joseph Herron: Too often in boxing, heavily publicized events fail to live up to expectation and fall short of the preceding media hype. In this era of safety first fighters and early stoppages, it’s hard to guarantee a sure fire winner.

But when the match-up of Brandon Rios versus Mike Alvarado was initially announced by Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum and company several months ago, most fight fans and media members knew that the pairing would surely strike gold at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California on October 13th.

Both fighters were undefeated going into this bout, and the two warriors desperately wanted to put forth a star making performance on the biggest stage of boxing, HBO.

Rios’ KO of Alvarado – Awesome Display of Ferocity

09/14/201610/14/2012 ESB

By Paul Strauss: It’s almost unfair. Brandon “Bam Bam” Rios not only is heavy handed, he’s also iron jawed. Mike “Mile HIgh” Alvarado hit him bunches of times with shots that would have put lesser fighters in la la land. Yet each time Rios got nailed, he would hardly take a step back, and instead would jump right back in Mike’s face. Alvarado tried to mimic him, and to many, including unofficial score keeper Harold Lederman, Mile High was being successful at the Home Depot Center, Carson, CA.

As the battle unfolded, it looked to be shaded in favor of Alvarado. He boxed well, making good use of his size advantage, his good mobility and his jab. He changed angles of his punches, managing to get around Rios’ tight guard, or split it up the middle. But, Mike’s swollen face told a different story. It revealed the power of Bam Bam’s short shots, which were not showy but devastating. Often times Rios’ unique style causes one to believe he’s back on his heels. His posture just doesn’t seem to be quite right, but the truth is he gets all of his body behind his pulverizing inside work, and he loves it. After a particularly brutal early round, he trekked back to his corner with a big smile on his face, telling trainer Robert Garcia, “I love this @#!%!”

It’s impossible to give a blow by blow description of the fight. It was more like a gang attack. On the one hand it was bam bam by Rios, and on the other it was rat ta tat tat by Alvarado. Both men had automatic weapons. There was no single shot firing by these two combat veterans. These guys were equipped with high caliber, rapid fire arsenals.

Donaire stops Nishioka in 9th round; Rios defeats Alvarado in 7th round TKO

09/14/201610/13/2012 ESB

By Rob Smith: In a really disappointing match, IBF/WBO super bantamweight champion Nonito Donaire (30-1, 19 KO’s) easily defeated 36-year-old WAY best his best Toshiaki Nishioka (39-5-3, 24 KO’s) by a 9th round TKO on Saturday night at the Home Depot Center, in Carson, California, USA. Donaire knocked the reluctant Nishioka down twice in the fight, once in the 6th and finished him off with a right to the head in the 9th. Nishioka’s corner threw in the towel after the knockdown.

It was yet another one of Donaire’s disappointing fights because he had tried to sell the aging Nishioka as the best fighter in the super bantamweight division for weeks to boxing fans, saying he’s better than the top fighters. It was painfully obvious tonight that the fading Nishioka wasn’t what Donaire had said he was, and it’s just disappointing that Donaire won’t take on the best guys in the division like Abner Mares and Guillermo Rigondeaux instead of guys like Nishioka and Jeffrey Mathebula.

***

In a toe-to-toe war, former WBA lightweight champion Brandon Rios (31-0-1, 23 KO’s) defeated previously unbeaten Mike Alvarado (33-1, 23 KO’s) by a 7th round TKO on Saturday night to claim the vacant WBO Latino light welterweight title in their WBO light welterweight title eliminator bout.