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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
Mark Gregory
Adeyinka Makinde
Michael Klimes
Jim Dorney
Andrew Walker
John Wight
Neil Goodman
United States:
Frank Gonzalez Jr
Wray Edwards
Vivek Wallace Geoffrey Ciani
Ted Sares
Coach Tim Walker
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
The Super Six World Boxing Classic weigh-in between WBA super middleweight champion Mikkel "Viking Warrior'' Kessler (42-1, 32 KOs) and undefeated Andre "S.O.G.'' Ward (20-0, 13 KOs) will be shown live on ESPNews TODAY at 6:10 p.m. ET/3:10 p.m. PT. Kessler will defend his title against Ward in the first Super Six Group Stage 1 bout on America soil tomorrow/Saturday, Nov. 21, at the Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif., live on SHOWTIME® (10 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast).
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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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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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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 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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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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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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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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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 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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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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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 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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By Srithar Visuasam: Sunday 20 December will see a WBC world title on the line at the Malvern Town Hall in Victoria, Australia. The night will be a joint promotion between Victoria’s leading promoter Peter Maniatis and Michael Yang, the premier boxing promoter in China.
The for the WBC female middleweight world title will be on the line with undefeated champion Wang Ya Nan (7-0, 3 KOs) of China against number two contender Kenya, “Crazy” Charity Mukami (4-2-1) from Kenya over 10 rounds. 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 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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LAS VEGAS (Nov. 19, 2009) – IBF No. 6 rated junior middleweight Sechew “Iron Horse” Powell (25-2, 15 KOs) plans to take full advantage of the exposure and cache associated with headlining the “World’s Greatest Ever Boxing Show,” Dec. 12 at the Paris Las Vegas Hotel & Casino, as part of a spectacular “World’s Greatest Ever Boxer” promotion that weekend at the same venue. 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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OAKLAND, Calif. (Nov. 18, 2009) — World Boxing Association (WBA) super middleweight champion Mikkel “Viking Warrior” Kessler of Denmark and undefeated Andre “S.O.G” Ward of Oakland participated in the free public press conference Wednesday for their Super Six World Boxing Classic Group Stage 1 showdown this Saturday, Nov. 21, at the Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif. live on SHOWTIME® (10 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the west coast).
The presser, which emanated from the Frank Ogawa Plaza at downtown Oakland City Hall, included a performance from the cheerleaders and band of Ward’s alma mater, Hayward High School, and a presentation by Hayward High Vice Principal Andrea Hayes, who gave Ward a Hayward High T-Shirt and an “honorary diploma’’ for his outstanding work in and out of the ring “on behalf of the students and staff at Hayward.’’
Kessler will enter the ring for the 12-round match in three days with a record of 42-1 with 32 knockouts. Ward is 20-0 with 13 knockouts. continue l
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by James Slater - As has been previously reported, 31-year-old former world light-welterweight champion Ricky Hatton is currently in talks with Mexico's Juan Manuel Marquez, and a possible 2010 fight between the two is being discussed. And while the fans appear to be something close to split down the middle when it comes to either being in favour of Hatton's planned comeback or against it, two experts definitely are of a differing opinion about the idea.
Promoter Frank Warren, who used to promote "The Hitman," is against the idea of Hatton fighting again, telling The Mirror that in his opinion, the popular Manchester warrior is finished at world level. Warren also questioned whether Hatton would be able to get down to 140-pounds for a return. continue l
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Paul Strauss - Apparently Manny's mother, like all loving mothers, wants her son to quit the violent sport in which he has reached hall of fame heights. Not surprisingly she worries about the welfare of her son, and wants what is best for him. She has witnessed his success, and sees the love his Filipino people have for him. She sees the comfortable life that he has earned for himself and his family. She takes pride in the fact that he has been able to help so many. She also understands that by continuing to fight, he jeopardizes all of that.
Manny's fans unquestionably want him to keep fighting........preferably forever! They want their hero to conquer all challengers, and continue to bring pride to their country. 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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by James Slater - According to BoxRec, a decent heavyweight match-up will take place on the under-card of the upcoming Paul Williams-Sergio Gabriel Martinez clash - the middleweight non-title bout already being supported by another heavyweight bout between Chris Arreola and Brian Minto. Once-beaten hope Chazz Witherspoon is down as facing former IBF and WBO heavyweight title challenger Tony Thompson on Dec. 5th in Atlantic city, N.J. continue l
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By Michael Montero - Regardless of which man you have ranked number one, everybody in the world sees Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather as the top two fighters at welterweight right now. It’s unanimous, and for good reason. These two must clash in the ring next year, there’s simply no other logical match for either of them. But other than these two all times greats, there are big names at welter and junior welter that would make for intriguing matches next year. I decided to analyze a few possibilities…
Ricky Hatton versus Juan Manuel Marquez:
This fight makes too much sense, in fact I predicted it in the beginning of the year when Marquez signed on to fight Pretty Boy Floyd. The outcome of that bout was known by most before the contracts were even signed. continue l
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By "KINGPIN' KEVIN JOHNSON: Let me start off by thanking you for rescuing the WBA title from that colossal waste of time and circus sideshow freak Nicolay Valuev. Now that I got that out of the way, I have to say that your fight with Nicolay was the worst fight that I ever witnessed in my life. You proved again that you are nothing more than an over hyped cruiserweight with a big mouth. Both you and Valuev give boxing a bad name. With all of that running that you did, I thought I was watching a damn marathon. I just love the way that you jumped the line and got an opportunity to fight Valuev before I did, especially since I was ranked ahead of you for months but that’s OK, I understand the politics of this sport.
After I put Vitali Klitschko away on December 12, in Switzerland, and trust me, I will, I’m going to look you up and we are going to get it on for real. You can pick the time and place. Doesn’t mean a damn thing to me. Just don’t run from me like you did last year when you pulled out of our agreed upon fight. Oh, and watch my fight with Vitali on December 12, and you’ll see how real heavyweights conduct themselves in the ring. l
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By Joey Mills - Dean Pithie is a unique native of the city of Coventry. He remains the only man from the city to fight for a professional boxing world championship, an achievement that has just enjoyed its ninth anniversary.
Pithie was defeated when his moment in the sun came, but it was not without valour. And it is this valour that has kept “The Pitbull” in the hearts and minds of local residents to this day. “Everyone knows who I am.” says Pithie. “Just now I’ve been in town, I had a coffee in Starbucks and people were saying “There’s Dean Pithie there! He beat Naseem Hamed!” continue l
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SIMONE MALUDROTTU has vowed to do an Italian job on Rendall Munroe tomorrow (Fri). The Leicester bin man (19-1) makes the fifth defence of his European super-bantamweight title against number one contender Maludrottu (30-2) at Nottingham's Harvey Hadden Leisure Centre. Maludrottu, 31, made six successful defences as European bantamweight champion and gave WBC 122lb Hozumi Hasegawa a terrific tussle before losing on points.
He has won four on the trot since his world title challenge in January 2008 and says: "Munroe is just a stepping stone to another world title fight, this time against WBC super-bantamweight title holder Toshiaki Nishioka. "Munroe is ranked second for his championship and I will take that place and get another challenge." The Sardinian outpointed Ian Napa on a previous visit to England and added: "Munroe is not as good as him or many of my opponents.
"Munroe might be strong and a southpaw, but he does not have the slickness and movement of Napa who is world class. continue l
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by James Slater - As respected by fight fans more than any other set of rankings - whether they be those of an organisation or those of another publication - Ring magazine's ratings of fighters are unbiased and based solely on merit. As such, 30-year-old Manny Pacquiao will be feeling great right now, as he has just been propelled to the number-one spot in Ring magazine's welterweight rankings.
Primarily due to the way he dismantled the incredibly brave Miguel Cotto this past Saturday, "Pac-Man" is now recognised by "The Bible Of Boxing" as the world's premiere 147-pounder. Not bad at all for a fighter who turned pro down at 106-pounds, and who has fought just twice at welterweight!
And though some people will no doubt disagree with Ring's selection, it's tough to place any other fighter ahead of Pacquiao at welterweight. Former holder of the top spot (the Ring championship is vacant at 147) Shane Mosley has a loss to the man Pacquiao beat up, in Cotto and "Sugar" has also been inactive since his January win over Antonio Margarito. continue l
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LOS ANGELES, November 18 – After a whirlwind journey that led him to the top of the boxing world on October 31st, the night he took the IBF bantamweight title from Joseph Agbeko, Yonnhy Perez is rightfully enjoying the fruits of his labor while being celebrated back home in his country of Colombia all week. The week begins for Perez on November 19th, as WBA President Gilberto Mendoza recognizes Perez as a Colombian hero and invites him to the general assembly of the organization’s 88th convention in Medellin. continue l
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Team Sauerland believes there was nothing wrong with picking David Haye as an opponent for Nikolai Valuev. The Russian Giant lost his WBA Heavyweight Title on November 7 when the British challenger clinched a majority decision in front of a sell-out crowd of 8,000 fans in Nuremberg. The fight also drew a TV market share of more than 40 percent in Germany. “After negotiations with Vitali Klitschko had fallen through because he would not get back to us, we were looking for a new opponent for Niko,” Team Sauerland General Manager Chris Meyer said. continue l
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In the aftermath of last Saturday nights triumphant moment for fightin' Filipino Manny Pacquiao, many things have become blatantly clear. Perhaps the major one of them all is the fact that Manny Pacquiao is clearly as good as advertised, and has cemented his position in the historical landscape of the sport. The old adage says that a good big man beats a good little man. That holds true, however, in this case it was a good big man versus an amazing little man, and that amazing performance left no room to question precisely how amazing Pacquiao really is. Now that the fight is over, the focus shifts. This time against a totally different type of puzzle. That puzzle being none other than master stylist Floyd Mayweather jr. March 13th appears to be the approximate date, although cornerman Freddie Roach has already stated that he will need more time to prepare Pacquiao, citing in all honesty that he feels the style of Mayweather could very well pose some very difficult problems to dissect for his star pupil. That extra time will be well suited, because in reality, Mayweather will need to adjust to Pacquiao's ability as well. continue l
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by James Slater - 22-year-old New Yorker Willie Monroe Junior - who fights the also undefeated Troy Ortis tomorrow night in Rochester, NY - is a young fighter who feels boxing is his destiny and that the sport is well and truly in his blood. His father, Willie Monroe Senior was a top class middle and super-middleweight in the 1990s, and his great uncle, Willie "The Worm" Monroe was one of Philadelphia's toughest middleweights of the 1970s. But it is Willie Junior's grandfather that gets the credit from the 6-0(2), 154/160-pound prospect as being the boxing mastermind of the Monroe family. Listing his grandfather as his "sole inspiration" when it comes to boxing, the deeply religious up-and-comer is proud of the fighting heritage of his family. continue l
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By Dan Fitz-Simons - During a conference before his “less than spectacular” win against Affif Belghechem, Andy Lee emphasized that three middleweight belts were held in Germany (Sturm, Zbik, and Sylvester). The statement showed where Lee is focusing his attention. Andy also said the reason he took the Belghecham fight was that he wanted to move up in the EBU ratings. Andy’s win places him at number 8, with Swiss fighter, Yves Studer (23-0) ahead of him at number 7. Studer, with only 6 KOs and no rated opponents, could be Andy’s next victim.
However, Manny Steward might decide to move Lee up a few notches to face more highly rated EBU opponents, including Amin Asikainen, Jamie Moore, Darren Barker, Domenico Spada, or Mahir Oral. continue l
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WBC Super Middleweight Champ Carl “The Cobra” Froch says he’ll be keeping a close eye on proceedings in Oakland this weekend as the final bout in Group Stage 1 of the Super Six World Boxing Classic takes place between Mikkel “Viking Warrior” Kessler and Andre “S.O.G.” Ward.
Saturday night’s bout which will also see Kessler’s WBA Super Middleweight title on the line is live in the UK and Ireland on Primetime (Sky channel 480) and Froch admits that he’ll be cheering on Kessler for selfish reasons. “I’m looking forward to it because it’s a fight that has major implications for me in the Super Six tournament,” said Froch who opened his own Super Six account with a win over previously undefeated American Andre Dirrell in Nottingham last month.
“I’m hoping that Kessler wins because then he’ll still have the WBA belt. I’m fighting him in my next fight in the Super Six so if he beats Ward then it means that our fight becomes a massive WBC and WBA unification clash and I can get my hands on his belt.. continue l
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Gentleman Boxing, or White Collar Boxing as it is better known, is becoming one of the most popular pastimes for City of London workers. There doesn’t seem to be a month pass without at least one major White Collar Boxing event taking place in the capital. On Wednesday the 25th November 2009 London is the setting for what must rate as one of the most high profile of all White Collar Boxing events to date, Judgement Day II, which takes place just a stones throw away from the landmark Tower Bridge at Cable night club in Southwark. continue l
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By Brendan Galbraith - Friday Fight Night - An action-packed evening of international boxing – headlined by exciting Cork-based Cuban Bantamweight Alexei ‘The Hurricane’ Acosta will take place this coming Friday - 20th November 2009 at the Holiday Inn, Belfast, Northern Ireland. This event is presented by Belfast Promotions in Association with Team Alio and 1st Team Promotions. Also, featuring on the bill is Northern Ireland’s popular flyweight prospect – Luke ‘Winky’ Wilton – who is coming off an impressive win over Kevin Coglan in the recent undercard of Rogan-Sexton II and looking to take another step towards a shot at the British Title.
The headliner will see former World Junior Champion and World Cadet Champion, Alexei Acosta, contest an 8 rounder with southpaw, Sean Hughes. The highly-rated Acosta has over 200 amateur fights under his belt and the 21 year old Cork-based Cuban has impressively concluded all of his 8 pro fights inside the distance and all within 3 rounds. Former English Super Bantamweight Champion, Sean Hughes has pedigree - he lost 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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Finland, Vaasa-based Caramelito Promotions – professional boxing stable arranged on last Saturday combined amateur and professional boxing show at its hometown Vaasa. There were three professional matches which were fought in front of a bit more than 200 spectators in the legendary local sports hall as a exceptional day-time show. In the first pro fight of the show the 33-years old Aki ”Boogieman” Selesmaa squared off with Latvian Jevgenijs Fjodorovsin in a match which was scheduled for 6 rounds. continue l
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Forty-two years have passed since the last world championship fight occurred in Oakland, a tradition-rich boxing city that calls one of the world’s top super middleweights Andre “S.O.G.” Ward their own. “Oakland has a pretty storied history of boxing, mostly in the pre- to post-war era,” says Monte Poole, a longtime columnist for the Oakland Tribune who has covered boxing in Oakland for 25 years. “I would venture to say you would find dozens of world title fights between the 1920s and the 1960s. We have had some good fighters come out of Oakland, but I have to say Andre Ward has got to be considered the best.” The 2004 Olympic Gold medal winning Ward will try to take away Mikkel “Viking Warrior” Kessler’s World Boxing Association (WBA) 168-pound title come Saturday night in the final Group Stage 1 matchup of SHOWTIME Sports Super Six World Boxing Classic, this Saturday, Nov. 21, at the Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif. (live on SHOWTIME® at 10 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the west coast).
You’d have to go all the way back to the evening of Oct. 10, 1967, for the last time a world title fight was held in Oakland. On that night at Oracle Arena, then known as the Oakland Arena, WBA and WBC welterweight world champion Curtis Cokes from Dallas, Texas, beat Mississippi-born Charlie Shipes of Oakland with an eight-round knockout after flooring him three other times during the fight. continue l
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By Bill Patrice Jones - Manny Pacquiao has made one of the most dramatic transitions in world boxing over the last two years. Floyd Mayweather for the wrong reasons has in many people’s eyes done the same. In terms of popularity, fan appeal and excitement Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao are moving in opposite directions fast. Ever since Floyd Mayweather’s retirement from boxing and comeback against Juan Manuel Marquez he has found an increasing number of writers, journalists and fans throwing hefty criticism at him for losing his edge. (The Notable example being Brian Kenny).
It’s hard to not get swept up in these tirades against Floyd, since he does himself no favours with his money talking bravado and flashy displays of arrogance. The general trend among boxing fans now is to think of Mayweather as an immensely talented fighter who has become so obsessed with his image and undefeated record that he no longer takes risks against legitimate welterweights. continue l
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Twenty months since her last fight and eight after she became a mother for the first time, 4-time world champion Jaime “The Hurricane” Clampitt starts her comeback Friday night in “Autumn Classic,” presented by Jimmy Burchfield’s Classic Entertainment and Sports, Inc. (CES), at the Twin River Event Center in Lincoln, R.I. New England and EBA super middleweight champion, “Irish” Joey McCreedy (11-3-1, 6 KOs) takes on “The Next Great Champ” winner, Otis “Triple OG” Griffin (20-6-2, 8 KOs), in the 8-round, non-title main event on the Irish-themed pro boxing card. continue l
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By Coach Tim Walker – When there is nothing more to say, shut up! Fortunately, eastsideboxing.com readers are never short on things to say, feelings to express or ideas to present. When it comes to the sport of boxing and its participants our comments go on and on, and on AND on. Those we like, we truly and wholeheartedly love. Those we don’t like, we despise with a passion equally as harsh. This is the case for the not yet official albeit combustible clash between Floyd Mayweather Junior and Manny Pacquiao. Epic in its nature, the quintessential villain and hero matchup.
Poet Ralph Waldo Emerson is one of my favorite writers. His works have stood time’s test and resonate needful even today. Though his writings are plentiful two of his quotes seem to perfectly describe this blockbuster of a match. One seems to represent Pacquiao, the other, maybe Mayweather. continue l
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LAS VEGAS (November 17, 2009) – Two-time World Boxing Association (WBA) heavyweight champion John “The Quietman” Ruiz is a promotional free agent for the first time this century as he looks ahead to his 12th world title fight, mandated by the WBA, next year against new champion David “Hayemaker” Haye. WBA No. 1 contender Ruiz (44-8-1, 30 KOs), the first and only world heavyweight champion of Latino heritage, is open to discussions with interested promoters. Some had already contacted Ruiz’ manager/legal advisor, Atty. Tony Cardinale, before he left to represent Team Ruiz at the ongoing WBA convention in Colombia. continue l
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“Boxeo Telemundo” closes its 2009 season at Miccosukee December 4 Miami, FL: All Star Boxing, Inc “The New Generation”, Tuto Zabala, Jr and Boxeo Telemundo will close its 2009 season on Friday, December 4 at the Miccosukee Resort and Gaming.
In the main event veteran Cosme “Chino” Rivera of Culiacan, Mexico will make his 5th Miccosukee and Telemundo appearance when he faces hot prospect Euri “Million” Gonzalez of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic in a bout schedule for 12 Rounds with the WBO Latin Welterweight vacant title at stake. continue l
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by James Slater - There's no doubt about it, the next man we want to see the superb Manny Pacquiao get in the ring with is the boxer he took over from at the top of the pound-for-pound charts; Floyd Mayweather Junior. Enough has already been written about how much boxing needs this mega, mega-fight. All we can do now is hope the fight gets made.
However, if for any reason (and there could well be a few) the fight doesn't happen, Pacquiao and Mayweather will have to move on and find someone else to fight. In regards to the man of the moment, Pacquiao, who would he possibly be interested in, and who would you be interested in, him fighting instead of "Money?"
An intriguing welterweight unification bout will take place in January, as WBA champion "Sugar" Shane Mosley and his WBC counterpart, Andre Berto will clash in Las Vegas, the site of Pacquiao's great fight with and even greater win over Miguel Cotto. continue l
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by James Slater - 36-year-old Lamon Brewster, the former WBO heavyweight champion, is set to continue his comeback this December 5th, when he will meet unbeaten 25-year-old German-based Italian southpaw Franceso Pianeta over a scheduled eight-rounds. "Relentless" was closely out-pointed by the little-known Nigerian Gbenga Oloukun back in August, while the 6'5" Pianeta is coming off a looks-good-on-paper corner retirement win over Britain's Matt Skelton. continue l
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By Per Ake Persson - Is Mikkel Kessler WBA superchamp or not and is Dimitri Sartison vs Stepjan Bozic on Saturday in Kiel, Germany, for the WBA "standard" title or is it for an interim title? There are conflicting reports from the WBA itself but word from Medellin where the WBA have their convention is that Kessler is superchamp and that Sartison vs Bozic is for the interim crown. There is however also a report in the Danish press where they quote Gilberto Mendoza as saying that Kessler is the WBA champ and that Sartison vs Bozic is for an interim title. Does it matter? Yes, down the road it does as the winner of Kessler vs Ward on Saturday in Oakaland will have mandatory defences outside of the Super Six Tournament to take care of. continue l
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Dan Goossen: There are a little different dynamics coming into this fight. As everyone knows and I won’t go into much detail but Paul was supposed to fight Pavlik in Atlantic City on October 3 and again on December 5 in Atlantic City and it was cancelled again. We are just happy that we were able to put everything together with Paul and Sergio Martinez. More importantly, I think Paul Williams has always been an east coast fighter but he has fought so much on the west coast, mainly because he has west coast promoters. I have told Ken Condon and the people at Caesars that Paul is going to be the biggest star that Atlantic City is going to get behind for the next few years. I believe he is the most exciting fighter in the sport today. It’s been a few years since we promoted in Atlantic City and it is great to have this fight there especially to showcase Paul Williams in it.
Lou DiBella: I would like to take umbrage in what you just saud, that this is a showcase for Paul Williams…I think he is the most avoided fighter between 147 and 168 pounds. I think he is a threat to everyone with his imposing physical size and his work rate…the guy is a great fighter. continue l
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-- click here to watch the Al Bernstein Boxing Channel on ESB -- Hall of Fame Showtime Broadcaster Al Bernstein calls the November 21st Mikkel Kessler-Andre Ward Super Six World Boxing Classic match, “potentially one of the best of the tournament.” Bernstein, who will be at ringside with Gus Johnson and Antonio Tarver to call the action on Showtime, believes that this first round Super Six match-up features the two best ring technicians in the tourney. “Mikkel Kessler is close to a textbook boxer and he has power added into that mix. Andre Ward has a vast amateur background and has moved carefully through the pro ranks, so he has fully developed as a fighter. They both have a high skill level and I believe they will produce a terrific fight,” Bernstein said. continue l
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Press Release - BOXING legend Floyd Mayweather will perform the draw for Prizefighter Light-Welterweights. Mayweather, widely regarded as the greatest fighter on the planet and the World pound for pound Champion, will be shown on Friday making the draw for the next Prizefighter event. He will become another boxing legend to become involved in Prizefighter after Mike Tyson, Ricky Hatton and Chris Eubank, who have all performed draws in the past. No boxers will be seeded for the draw so anyone could face anyone. It could lead to a number of mouth-watering fights as the competitors include some of the biggest British names in the division. continue l
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Amir Khan says Manny Pacquiao's amazing victory over Miguel Cotto on Saturday night in Las Vegas has inspired him ahead of his clash with Dimitry Salita. Khan - who like Pacquiao is trained by Freddie Roach - tackles his mandatory challenger on December 5 at the Metro Radio Arena in Newcastle. The fight marks the first defence of his WBA World Light-Welterweight title that he won against Andreas Kotelnik in July. And Khan says Roach and co are buzzing following Pacquiao's 12th round stoppage win against Cotto, a victory which strengthens his claim to be P4P number one.
"I've worked with Manny for the last year or so and I have learnt so much from him," said Khan.
"For me, he is definitely the best fighter in the world at the moment and just watching him in the gym, let alone when he is fighting, is an inspiration. continue l
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WORCESTER, Mass. (Nov. 17, 2009) – Undefeated Dominican sensation Edwin “La Bomba” Rodriguez, rated No. 13 by the NABA, headlines Thursday night’s pro boxing card in Rochester (NY). Rodriguez (12-0, 8 KOs), fighting out of Worcester (MA), takes on veteran super middleweight Brian “The Assassin” Norman (17-9, 5 KOs) in the 8-round main event. The 24-year-old Rodriguez will be fighting in Rochester for the second time in three months. Norman, who went the distance with current WBC light heavyweight champion Jean Pascal and unbeaten world title contender Joe Greene, figures to be Rodriguez’ stiffest test to date. continue l
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by James Slater - Ricky Hatton, last seen being knocked out inside two-rounds by the amazing Manny Pacquiao, has spoken a few times recently about how he has been getting "the urge" to want to fight again. Despite looking a good 30 or more pounds above his best fighting weight of 140-pounds, the former world light-welterweight king has admitted he misses the ring action and that he may well have a fight next year some time - after he's had Christmas and the New Year to give things a serious think. continue l
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OAKLAND, Calif. (Nov. 16, 2009) — Five days before they collide in the first Super Six World Boxing Classic Group Stage 1 bout in America, World Boxing Association (WBA) super middleweight champion Mikkel “Viking Warrior” Kessler of Denmark and undefeated Andre “S.O.G” Ward of Oakland participated in a free public workout Monday at King’s Gym in Oakland.
Kessler, whose WBA super middleweight title will also be on the line, will enter the ring for the 12-round match at the Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif. live on SHOWTIME® (10 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the west coast), with a record of 42-1 with 32 knockouts . Ward is 20-0 with 13 knockouts
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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LAS VEGAS (Nov. 17, 2009) – Puerto Rican great Carlos Ortiz, 4-time world champion in two weight classes, is still fighting but now it’s for global votes in the Lightweight Division of the “World’s Greatest Ever Boxer” (WGEB) promotion. Ortiz presently is in heated competition for top honors in arguably the most stacked “WGEB” weight class with nine other official Lightweight candidates: Joe “The Old Master” Gans, Benny “The Ghetto Wizard” Leonard, Tony “Canzi” Canzoneri, Henry “Homicide Hank” Armstrong, Ike Williams, Roberto “Hands of Stone” Duran, Julio Cesar “JC” Chavez, Pernell “Sweet Pea” Whitaker and Floyd “Money” Mayweather, Jr. continue l
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(November 17, 2009) When DiBella Entertainment (“DBE”) and Resnick Productions (“RP”) team up to present War at the Armory this Thursday, November 19, at the Main Street Armory in Rochester, NY, it will be the continuation of a relationship that extends far beyond just one event. Thursday’s show will be the first in a four card series to take place at the Main Street Armory, and will feature a triumvirate of talent recently signed to co-promotional deals by DBE and RP. Headlining Thursday will be DBE’s top-flight middleweight prospect Edwin “La Bomba” Rodriguez (12-0, 8 KOs) taking on tough veteran Brian Norman (17-9, 5 KOs). Rodriguez, hailing from Worcester, Mass, will be making his second trip up to Rochester this year. In August, he wowed the Frontier Field crowd with a second round knockout over Angel David Rodriguez. continue l
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-- Click here to listen to the show -- by Jenna J - As always, this week's 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 is back to bring you the latest and greatest in the world of boxing! Join me Jenna J, the Hostess, along with my charming Producer/co-host, the classy Geoffrey Ciani (aka-Rummy) and also Co-host Nick Powers..
Topics for Discussion
• Manny Pacquiao TKO12 Miguel Cotto recap and analysis
• The prospects of a mega fight between Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr.
• Pacquiao’s all time standing and legacy
• Mike Tyson’s latest arrest following a scuffle at L.A. airport. continue l
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Olympic Champion James DeGale will look to carry on his devastating run of KO performances against granite-jawed Welshman Nathan King in Newcastle. DeGale, who won gold in Beijing last year, has won his last three fights by stoppage and is eying his first title fight in 2010. But first he has to past King in a six rounder at the Metro Radio Arena on December 5, where he will form part of the under-card to Amir Khan's WBA World Light-Welterweight title defence against Dimitry Salita. And hot-shot DeGale, still only 23, has vowed to become only the third man to stop King, who has kept good company. "He's going to be dangerous because he's fought for titles before, including a version of the world super-middleweight crown," said DeGale. continue l
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By Stuart Young - After a decade (1993-2003) at the higher echelons of everyone’s P4P list you would think any fighter would be more than happy with that resume, but we aren't talking about a 'normal' fighter here, we are talking about Roy Jones Jr - aka Superman. Should he have done more, with the talent which he was blessed?
It’s hard to be critical of a man who's the only person since Bob Fitzsimmons over 100 years ago to go from Middleweight Champion right up to Heavyweight Champion (albeit only picking up an alphabet strap rather than the linear title) but let us not understate his feat of excellence because lets be honest here – no one else has managed to do it. continue l
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Mario I. (Los Angeles, CA): Now that Pacquiao has defeated the biggest/best welterweight in the world, do you change your previous opinion that he isn't an all-time top 10 great of the sport?
Vivek W. (ESB): I think there are two appropriate answers for this question. The absolute best answer that I can give, as it relates to my personal position is yes, categorically, he can't be denied as a pure element of that group. Where one chooses to place him is another story, but to me, the question relative to whether or not he belongs is no longer a question. His ability to elevate his game each fight, regardless of the level of competition is what puts him into that pantheon. Where the second spin on this question comes in is that to put it quite frankly, there's no true way to identify that he does or doesn't. At the tender age of 33, although I watch a ton of fight footage from over the years, I didn't live in the era of Joe Louis, 'Sugar' Ray Robinson, Marciano, and others. What I do know is that the same conviction that you have about the greatness of Pacquiao, the old-schoolers from back in the day with first hand knowledge have about their choices. continue l
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NEW YORK (November 17, 2009) – The Mikkel Kessler vs. Andre Ward fight will be televised live on SHOWTIME from Oracle Arena, in Oakland, California, on Saturday, Nov. 21, beginning at 10p.m. (ET/PT) (delayed on the West Coast). The Kessler-Ward fight is part of the historic inaugural Super Six World Boxing Classic, a six fighter, round-robin tournament featuring the class of the Super Middleweight division from home and abroad. Five of the world's top boxing promoters have collaborated with SHOWTIME Sports® to facilitate this epic tournament. Lou DiBella of DiBella Entertainment, Dan Goossen of Goossen Tutor Promotions, Mick Hennessy of Hennessy Sports, Gary Shaw of Gary Shaw Productions LLC and Wilfried and Kalle Sauerland of Sauerland Event will promote the tournament which began October 17th and runs through spring 2011. continue l
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On the 27th November, at the Robin Park Centre in Wigan, Anthony 'The Scream' Small (22 (KO 16)-1-0) defends his British and Commonwealth Light Middleweight titles for the first time, against former WBU International Light Middleweight Champion Thomas 'Storm Boy' McDonagh (34 (KO7)-2-3). Back in July '09, at the M.E.N. Arena in Manchester, Small stopped Matthew 'El Torito' Hall in the 8th round of a fight he spectacularly dominated from start to finish. His game plan, of hit and clinch, clearly frustrated the much larger Mancunian who became quite negative as the fight progressed. So much so that by the fifth round Hall began looking dazed and confused, his work rate dropping dramatically, as if he already knew the fight was slipping away from him. continue l
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‘When Alexander saw the breadth of his domain, he wept for there were no more worlds to conquer.’
By John Wight - The above quote, describing the great Macedonian king and warrior of antiquity, Alexander the Great, you can’t help but feel will apply to the undisputed and current king of boxing, Manny Pacquiao, when he finally meets and vanquishes Floyd Mayweather Jnr, the last of the pretenders to his crown, sometime next year.
When that day comes the sport of boxing will gain a massive boost in its continuing resurgence and increased popularity, proving beyond doubt that it is the most exciting and dynamic sport in the world. It will also lose not only the greatest fighter of the present era, but one of the greatest that the sport has ever produced in the shape of The Phillipines’ Manny Pacquiao, who will most probably retire afterwards.
What is there to say about this man that has not already been said? In the wake of his latest - and for me most impressive - victory over Puerto Rico’s formidable Miguel Cotto, praise and eulogy has flowed from every corner of the world. continue l
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by James Slater - Floyd "Money" Mayweather would have us all believe he is not in any way as excited about the possibility of a showdown with pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao as the rest of us are. At least this is the impression Mayweather gave while speaking on the subject of a lucrative clash with the sensational Filipino hero.
Speaking exclusively with Sky Sports at the weekend, the 32-year-old boxing master said he is more than willing to fight Pacquiao, but that after he has done so, and beaten him as he is sure he will, he will not get any genuine credit for having done it. Amazingly, Mayweather, one of the most self assured prize fighters of all-time, has referred to "Pac Man" as a one-dimensional fighter who has been KO'd before, therefore he himself will get no plaudits if he manages to stop the southpaw dynamo. continue l
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by Geoffrey Ciani - Late last week I was afforded the chance to have a nice chat with undefeated junior middleweight contender Austin “No Doubt” Trout. Here is what he had to say:
Q: In your last fight you pitched a shutout against Taronze Washington where all three judges scored the fight 120-108. Can you tell us a little about this dominant performance?
A: It was a good performance on my part I think. I did try to go for the knockout but he was on survive mode after like the sixth round and when they don’t give you much to work with, to put something up, he was very defensive. I stalked him, walked him down, and I felt as though it was a good performance. I was sharp and slick, and I was hitting him pretty hard. continue l
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by Geoffrey Ciani - The original Pac-Man Fever took the United States by storm in the early 1980s. Of course, I’m referring to the arcade game whose popularity was so immense that it culminated in the release of the 1982 album ‘Pac-Man Fever’ by Buckner & Garcia. In addition to the title track, the album also featured a variety of other arcade inspired songs such as “Ode to the Centipede” and “Do the Donkey Kong”. Only in the 80s!
Pac-Man Fever is once again infecting millions of people throughout the United States. This time, however, it has nothing to do with a chomping yellow mouth or colorful ghosts named Inky, Blinky, Pinky, or Clyde. The fever that now sweeps across the nation is the direct result of the massive intrigue created by superstar Filipino pugilist Manny Pacquiao. With last night’s complete domination of Miguel Cotto, Pacquiao’s popularity has reached an all-time high. He has been on an absolutely amazing run since first defeating Marco Antonio Barrera six years ago today.
Boxing fans cannot get enough of him. Message boards and boxing forums the world over provide indisputable evidence. East Side Boxing is home to the greatest boxing forum on the web, and the number of Pacquiao threads started in their General Boxing Forum following Pacquiao’s victory has been absolutely mind-boggling. continue l
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PROVIDENCE, R.I. (Nov. 17, 2009) – Unbeaten junior welterweight prospect Danny O’Connor fights Friday night for the first time as a professional in Rhode Island, continuing the native New Englander’s tour that also includes appearances in Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Connecticut. Danny has also fought in Florida and Montreal, Canada. New England and EBA super middleweight champion, “Irish” Joey McCreedy (11-3-1, 6 KOs) takes on “The Next Great Champ” winner, Otis “Triple OG” Griffin (20-6-2, 8 KOs), in the 8-round, non-title main event on the Irish-themed “Autumn Classic” card, presented by Jimmy Burchfield’s Classic Entertainment and Sports, Inc. (CES), at the Twin River Event Center in Lincoln, R.I. continue l
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by James Slater - I think it's fair to say, that unless he is made of even sterner stuff than his bravery this past Saturday showed him to be cast from, Miguel Cotto will never be the same fighter after what Manny Pacquiao did to him in Las Vegas. Taking a monstrous and prolonged beating that finally came to an end when referee Kenny Bayless stopped the fight in the 12th-round, Cotto looked like he'd been though hell after the loss, which, of course, he had.
The question now is, will the 29-year-old who has only been beaten twice as a pro, ever fight again? The beating the amazingly brave Puerto Rican took on Saturday was the type of hiding that ruins a fighter. continue l
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By Coach Tim Walker - It was an old fashioned whipping. The kind you got for taking a piece of candy out the store that wasn't paid for or for making your mamma tell you something more than once. In just under 12 rounds Manny Pacquiao, the new WBO welterweight champion and current most amazing fighter I've ever seen, did that and more to Miguel Cotto. Cotto had his moments but in the end he was thoroughly outgunned, out-boxed and out-willed.
I wrote an article just a few days ago and tagged it with the headline Cotto Pacs Manny. I felt it prudent to pay tribute to the man who in my mind now is truly one of the greatest fighters to ever put on boxing gloves, Manny Pacquiao, by reversing that title to something much more appropriate.
In choosing Cotto to win I analyzed what the PacMan did against Oscar De La Hoya and Ricky Hatton by scaling his success against the premise that he dismantled two fighters who were not up to par because of circumstances. First, both in their previous fights suffered losses to Floyd Mayweather Junior and second, both might have been weight drained from getting down to 147 and 140 respectively. I felt that those obstacles gave Manny significant advantages. Advantages that he wouldn't enjoy against a thick, powerful fully developed 147-pounder like Cotto. I was wrong. continue l
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It began as a war of words fought on internet websites and on Saturday, Jan. 30, welterweight superstars Sugar Shane Mosley and Andre Berto will take their dispute from cyberspace to the ring at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nev.. The 12-round bout will air live on HBO's World Championship Boxing and will determine once and for all the King of the 147-pound weight class.
"Andre Berto's a good young fighter but he's bitten off more than he can chew with all the talking he's been doing," said WBA Welterweight Super World Champion Mosley. "I've forgotten more about the fight game than he knows and the world will see that in January.. continue l
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It’s a special edition of WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® when HBO Sports presents MANNY PACQUIAO VS. MIGUEL COTTO, the exclusive replay of their highly anticipated welterweight title showdown, this SATURDAY, NOV. 21 (10:00 p.m. ET/ PT) on HBO. The HBO Sports team, which was ringside for the live event at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, will call all the action. The replay will be available in HDTV. Manny Pacquiao, the sport’s reigning pound-for-pound king, and welterweight title-holder Miguel Cotto met in a Nov. 14 mega-fight carried live on HBO Pay-Per-View®. Pacquiao scored a 12th round TKO victory. HBO® and related channels and service marks are the property of Home Box Office, Inc. continue l
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By Paul Strauss - Manny Pacquiao is such an oddity. There's isn't anyone fighting now like him, and it's a safe bet there never has been anyone like him, including Hammering Hank. The Pac Man can do things no one else in boxing can do, and probably shouldn't try to do. His ability isn't just skill. It's more of gift, something with which only he has been rewarded.
Initially in his matchup with Miguel Cotto it appeared Cotto might be able to give Manny a going over. Cotto was able to land a good solid jab and some hard body shots. He looked bigger, stronger and menacing. He seemed to be very confident and comfortable in the early going. Manny landed some shots as well, but Miguel avoided most and countered well.
Then just when it seemed like Cotto had decided to step things up a bit more in the third round......bam! He got nailed with a right hook. The punch didn't even land on the chin. It connected more to the side of the head, but Manny's heavy handed punch still put down the stocky Miguel. Cotto seemed more surprised than hurt, but he was a bit more cautious with his aggressiveness in the remaining moments of the round. 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.
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: 
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.
OAKLAND, Calif. (Nov. 18, 2009) — World Boxing Association (WBA) super middleweight champion Mikkel “Viking Warrior” Kessler of Denmark and undefeated Andre “S.O.G” Ward of Oakland participated in the free public press conference Wednesday for their Super Six World Boxing Classic Group Stage 1 showdown this Saturday, Nov. 21, at the Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif. live on SHOWTIME® (10 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the west coast).
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 
By "KINGPIN' KEVIN JOHNSON: Let me start off by thanking you for rescuing the WBA title from that colossal waste of time and circus sideshow freak Nicolay Valuev. Now that I got that out of the way, I have to say that your fight with Nicolay was the worst fight that I ever witnessed in my life. You proved again that you are nothing more than an over hyped cruiserweight with a big mouth. Both you and Valuev give boxing a bad name. With all of that running that you did, I thought I was watching a damn marathon. I just love the way that you jumped the line and got an opportunity to fight Valuev before I did, especially since I was ranked ahead of you for months but that’s OK, I understand the politics of this sport. 
by James Slater - As respected by fight fans more than any other set of rankings - whether they be those of an organisation or those of another publication - Ring magazine's ratings of fighters are unbiased and based solely on merit. As such, 30-year-old Manny Pacquiao will be feeling great right now, as he has just been propelled to the number-one spot in Ring magazine's welterweight rankings.
In the aftermath of last Saturday nights triumphant moment for fightin' Filipino Manny Pacquiao, many things have become blatantly clear. Perhaps the major one of them all is the fact that Manny Pacquiao is clearly as good as advertised, and has cemented his position in the historical landscape of the sport. The old adage says that a good big man beats a good little man. That holds true, however, in this case it was a good big man versus an amazing little man, and that amazing performance left no room to question precisely how amazing Pacquiao really is. Now that the fight is over, the focus shifts. This time against a totally different type of puzzle. That puzzle being none other than master stylist Floyd Mayweather jr. March 13th appears to be the approximate date, although cornerman Freddie Roach has already stated that he will need more time to prepare Pacquiao, citing in all honesty that he feels the style of Mayweather could very well pose some very difficult problems to dissect for his star pupil. That extra time will be well suited, because in reality, Mayweather will need to adjust to Pacquiao's ability as well. 
WBC Super Middleweight Champ Carl “The Cobra” Froch says he’ll be keeping a close eye on proceedings in Oakland this weekend as the final bout in Group Stage 1 of the Super Six World Boxing Classic takes place between Mikkel “Viking Warrior” Kessler and Andre “S.O.G.” Ward. 
By Brendan Galbraith - Friday Fight Night - An action-packed evening of international boxing – headlined by exciting Cork-based Cuban Bantamweight Alexei ‘The Hurricane’ Acosta will take place this coming Friday - 20th November 2009 at the Holiday Inn, Belfast, Northern Ireland. This event is presented by Belfast Promotions in Association with Team Alio and 1st Team Promotions. Also, featuring on the bill is Northern Ireland’s popular flyweight prospect – Luke ‘Winky’ Wilton – who is coming off an impressive win over Kevin Coglan in the recent undercard of Rogan-Sexton II and looking to take another step towards a shot at the British Title.
By Coach Tim Walker – When there is nothing more to say, shut up! Fortunately, eastsideboxing.com readers are never short on things to say, feelings to express or ideas to present. When it comes to the sport of boxing and its participants our comments go on and on, and on AND on. Those we like, we truly and wholeheartedly love. Those we don’t like, we despise with a passion equally as harsh. This is the case for the not yet official albeit combustible clash between Floyd Mayweather Junior and Manny Pacquiao. Epic in its nature, the quintessential villain and hero matchup.
by James Slater - There's no doubt about it, the next man we want to see the superb Manny Pacquiao get in the ring with is the boxer he took over from at the top of the pound-for-pound charts; Floyd Mayweather Junior. Enough has already been written about how much boxing needs this mega, mega-fight. All we can do now is hope the fight gets made.
Dan Goossen: There are a little different dynamics coming into this fight. As everyone knows and I won’t go into much detail but Paul was supposed to fight Pavlik in Atlantic City on October 3 and again on December 5 in Atlantic City and it was cancelled again. We are just happy that we were able to put everything together with Paul and Sergio Martinez. More importantly, I think Paul Williams has always been an east coast fighter but he has fought so much on the west coast, mainly because he has west coast promoters. I have told Ken Condon and the people at Caesars that Paul is going to be the biggest star that Atlantic City is going to get behind for the next few years. I believe he is the most exciting fighter in the sport today. It’s been a few years since we promoted in Atlantic City and it is great to have this fight there especially to showcase Paul Williams in it.
Amir Khan says Manny Pacquiao's amazing victory over Miguel Cotto on Saturday night in Las Vegas has inspired him ahead of his clash with Dimitry Salita. Khan - who like Pacquiao is trained by Freddie Roach - tackles his mandatory challenger on December 5 at the Metro Radio Arena in Newcastle. The fight marks the first defence of his WBA World Light-Welterweight title that he won against Andreas Kotelnik in July. And Khan says Roach and co are buzzing following Pacquiao's 12th round stoppage win against Cotto, a victory which strengthens his claim to be P4P number one.
OAKLAND, Calif. (Nov. 16, 2009) — Five days before they collide in the first Super Six World Boxing Classic Group Stage 1 bout in America, World Boxing Association (WBA) super middleweight champion Mikkel “Viking Warrior” Kessler of Denmark and undefeated Andre “S.O.G” Ward of Oakland participated in a free public workout Monday at King’s Gym in Oakland.
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Mario I. (Los Angeles, CA): Now that Pacquiao has defeated the biggest/best welterweight in the world, do you change your previous opinion that he isn't an all-time top 10 great of the sport?
by Geoffrey Ciani - The original Pac-Man Fever took the United States by storm in the early 1980s. Of course, I’m referring to the arcade game whose popularity was so immense that it culminated in the release of the 1982 album ‘Pac-Man Fever’ by Buckner & Garcia. In addition to the title track, the album also featured a variety of other arcade inspired songs such as “Ode to the Centipede” and “Do the Donkey Kong”. Only in the 80s!
By Coach Tim Walker - It was an old fashioned whipping. The kind you got for taking a piece of candy out the store that wasn't paid for or for making your mamma tell you something more than once. In just under 12 rounds Manny Pacquiao, the new WBO welterweight champion and current most amazing fighter I've ever seen, did that and more to Miguel Cotto. Cotto had his moments but in the end he was thoroughly outgunned, out-boxed and out-willed.