Smith vs Dodson winner to fight Brian Magee
11.03.10
Frank Warren has indicated that he has been in talks with Brian Magee's team about the winner of the forthcoming Paul Smith vs Tony Dodson fight being lined up for a shot at the Belfast man's European title.
Magee, who knocked out Mads Larsen in Denmark to capture the vacant strap would look to defend his belt in the Echo arena in Liverpool in the summer at a date to be agreed.
"I’ve been talking with Brian Magee’s father and he’s quite interested." Said Warren.
"I know Paul doesn’t like speaking about fights until he’s dealt with the one in front of him and I’m not too sure about Tony’s feelings on that issue but it’s a big carrot for both of the guys. The fact of the matter is that it’s a big fight that when one of these guys comes through we’d like to put on back here in Liverpool."
Discuss in FORUM HERE
Ricky Hatton says No Mas
09.03.10
As his number one idol, Roberto Duran, reputedly once said - Ricky Hatton has being reported as saying "No Mas" or to us English-speaking folk "no more", to close pals on the sunny Island of Tenerife yesterday, where the 2-weight champion is currently partaking in a friend's stag week.
Long since rumoured to be back-tracking on his decision to fight on, it has not come as a surprise to many that the 140lb fighter has decided to call time on a lucrative and highly decorated professional boxing career. It would seem the comback path is too long and steep following a year of inactivity.
Weighing around 14 stone at present, the 'Hitman' would need to shift 40% of his bodyweight in the next couple of months before then engaging in a ten week training camp to get anywhere close to the fitness he would need to compete at the highest level where he has became accustomed too.
Even the ferocious intensity that Hatton usually sets himself in camp, would struggle with that amount of excess weight, largely attributed to a relaxed lifestyle of late. The ever sociable boxer must get a free pint placed on every bar him and his friends ever walk into - and after several years of hardcore training, in an amazing career which earned him anywhere between £20 to £40 million, he can now partake in as many social activities as he chooses.
Elsewhere it has been reported that Hatton has refuted his own interview from yesterday, declaring that he is "Training 3 times a week" which is hard to be believe given his busy promoting activity of late, his after dinner speaking commitments and more importantly, his overall relaxed appearance. Maybe he is training, but is it for a fight ?
The public can only speculate that this denial might be in relation to his promotional company's discussions of TV dates for his shows. Perhaps the idea of a Ricky Hatton comeback, promoted by Hatton Promotions is spearheading it? we can only speculate, but it would seem that even the bookmakers have publicly announced they will not entertain any more wagers for 'Ricky to retire for good in 2010'.
Whatever the PR spin or media view is on this matter, Ricky can hold his head up high amongst the boxing greats produced by these isles in recent times. Nobody will ever dispute his courage for taking on the likes of Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao.
Even in defeat, he was respectful and complimentary to his conquerors. This attitude has endeared him to his army of loyal fans. Who can forget the 30,000 who travelled over to see Ricky attempt a raid on Mayweather's welterweight title ?
Over the coming weeks we are bound to be seeing a lot of 'The Career of Ricky Hatton' topics debated across forms and news blogs - but for now, we will just report the news that one of the most exciting fighters to come from the UK has decided to hang up the gloves.
Candian prospect Logan McGuinness has 10th straight win
08.03.10
MONTREAL, CANADA (March 8, 2010) Montreal fight fans were treated to another outstanding performance from sensational junior lightweight prospect Logan McGuinness as he battled Mexican veteran Pedro Navarrete in an eight round war on Saturday afternoon.
Fighting at the Montreal Casino for the fifth time in his young professional career, the 22 year old McGuinness improved his unbeaten record to 10-0-0 (4KO’s) as the Orangeville, Ontario native displayed toughness belying his youth.
Starting off evenly in the first couple of rounds, McGuinness had a brief tough patch in the early going but was able to turn the tide as the battle raged on.
After a hard fought five rounds in which both combatants scored at will, McGuinness proved he had the tougher mettle, taking over the rumble in the sixth round with devastating power shots, while walking through the earlier damaging combinations from the Mexican warrior.
Firing away with brutal intensity in the final two rounds, McGuinness proved that he was equal to the large step up in competition.
Final scores at the end of rumble were 77-75, 77-75 and 79-74. With the loss, Navarrete moved to 24-7-3 (13KO’s).
Hatton vs Marquez talks to commence
08.03.10
Richard Schaefer, the CEO of Golden Boy promotions has indicated that he intends to talk to Ricky Hatton's team shortly about a fight this autumn between Ricky vs Marquez.
Speaking to Lem Satterfield at Fanhouse, Richard had the following to say:
"I talked, yesterday, with Juan Manuel Marquez." said Schaefer.
"He called me from Mexico City. He's going to be coming to my office next week, and we'll be sitting down with Juan Manuel Marquez to try to put together his next fight," said Schaefer.
"He really wants Ricky Hatton, and so I'll be talking to Ricky's people. And maybe both of those guys will do a fight, and then fight each other in the fall. That's what Juan Manuel Marquez wants to do.
Ricky Hatton's people indicated to me that they would love to have a Marquez fight, and Marquez confirmed to me, yesterday, that he would love to fight Ricky Hatton."
discuss in FORUM HERE
Joe Murray vs Yuri Voronin March 26th
08.03.10
Undefeated Olympian Joe Murray will fight for the seventh time as a professional when he faces Yuri Voronin on March 26th at Dagenham’s Goresbrook Leisure Centre.
Now in his second year as a pro, ‘the forgotten Olympian’ will fight in the capital for the first time and it is an opportunity he is relishing.
“I’m really excited. I’m always looking to show people around England that my talent is as good as the other Olympians,” said Murray. “People say I’m the forgotten Olympian so to go to London it’s going to show my talent and I can’t wait for it.”
His opponent Yuri Voronin (27-10-2) is no stranger to these shores, having fought Nicky Cook for the European title in 2006 and Scott Quigg in Wigan last November. He also took Bernard Dunne the distance, and will prove to be a significant step up in class for the 23-year-old.
“He’s a tough durable kid and I’m sure he’ll come to win. This will be his third visit to England and I’m sure he’ll try and make the upset. That’s why I’ve got to be in the gym and ready for him,” said the young Mancunian.
Murray has been training under the stewardship of the renowned Joe Gallagher, based in the Manchester suburb of Denton.
“This will be his seventh fight and it has been a great first year,” acknowledged Gallagher. “In his last few fights he’s had great stoppages over Barrington Brown and George Mchedlishvili. They’ve been fantastic performances so I’m looking forward to Joe putting on a good performance and coming away with the win on March 26th”
Ticket Prices for the event are £30.00 for General Admission and £75.00 VIP Ringside, and can be bought by ringing 0161 775 7500, Ticketmaster on 0844 847 2500 or by visiting www.ticketmaster.co.uk.
Boxing Truth Radio: Arum on Pacquiao-Clottey
08.03.10
Boxing Truth Radio: Pacquiao-Clottey, Devon Alexander and Everything in Between
The Boxing Truth Radio was joined by numerous fight fans to discuss "The Event" that is Manny Pacquiao vs. Joshua Clottey. It's a fight that's been heavily anticipated by all the knowledgeable followers of the sport that understand the difficult task that the Ghanaian fighter presents to the "Pacman".
Top Rank CEO, Bob Arum joined the show to discuss the bout as well as continuing to bring top quality fights to major stadiums across the country in addition to the way the Filipino media members were treated at the Mayweather-Mosley press conference.
The duo of Ricardo Lois and John Chavez recapped this past week's bouts and transpirations ranging from Devon Alexander's eye-opening performance over Juan Urango to ESPN's Friday Night Fight's telecast.
Listen to the SHOW HERE
A crossroads year for Nonito Donaire
08.03.10
by Pete Bamforth
It has to be one of boxing’s biggest injustices that a fighter with the technical brilliance and all round talent of Nonito Donaire should be so undervalued and unknown to the casual fan. It irks even more considering that Vic Darchinyan, a former victim and bitter rival of Donaire, has gone from strength to strength since he was crushed by the Filipino Flash almost three years ago.
Darchinyan, making the 7th defence of his IBF Flyweight title, was riding high on the crest of a successful string of knockout wins and had a fearsome reputation in the 112lb division. Since winning the title he had halted everybody in his path including Nonito’s brother Glenn.
The general consensus then, was that the relatively unknown Filipino was going to be another victim of the trash talking “Raging Bull” yet two minutes into the fight It became clear that Donaire wasn’t just there to bump up Darchinyan’s KO percentage, he looked relaxed, focused and had an air of confidence that even the cocky Darchinyan would be proud of.
Vic threw his long looping bombs, Donaire casually blocked it and stepped away. He saw everything coming before Vic threw it. By the end of the second round this wasn’t looking like the gimme fight many thought it would be, Darchinyan included.
Then, midway through the 5th it happened, Darchinyan dramatically loaded up for one of his haymakers and In an instant, Donaire threw a perfect short counter left hook. It was a punch that earned the accolades of Knockout of the year and Upset of the year. It was the destruction of Vic Darchinyan's aura. The birth of Nonito Donaire, boxing star.
The stunning 5th round KO over the unbeaten Armenian should have been Donaire’s coming out party instead it seems fate has dealt a cruel hand to the Filipino as a string of late substitute opponents, promotional changes and inactivity have held back a fighter who, by now, should be high up on everybody’s P4P list.
The first defence of his newly acquired IBF Flyweight title was against the unspectacular Mexican Luis Maldonado a solid fringe world level contender. Immediately after the fight Donaire made his intentions known as he called out the other champions of the division with the intent of unifying the belts.
2008 was set to be a massive year for Nonito, a big KO win of Darchinyan had launched him onto the world stage as a big player in the Flyweight division. He first called on the WBC Champion Daisuke Naito and then the WBA Champion Takefumi Sakata but, not surprisingly considering Japan's reluctance to recognize the IBF, WBO and IBO as legitimate world titles, making these fights was improbable if not impossible.
“I want to unify but the Japanese champs and Narvaez (WBO Champ) are afraid to fight” was the response from Donaire after the only possible chance of a unification against Narvaez looked dead in the water
Time was slipping away
His second defence was to be held in Dubai against solid Australian Hussein Hussein but that was scrapped due to the economic instability in the Middle East.
Donaire then looked to the guys above him and called out Christian Mijares, considered one of the best pure boxers pound for pound.
Yet again there was more disappointment as the mooted fight against Mijares did not materialise. Donaire, quite rightly, was becoming more and more frustrated with his lack of exposure and inactivity. He left Promoter Gary Shaw and signed up with Bob Arum’s Top Rank with the hope that the big fights would come.
Arum looked to match Donaire with 115lb titlist Fernando Montiel or Jorge Arce. It almost looked like Donaire was finally about to get the big fights he deserved as Montiel seemed willing to fight and Arum pencilled it in as the main undercard fight on the Cotto Vs Margarito PPV, but yet again Donaire was left dejected as Montiel decided instead to head north to 118lbs.
Bob Arum then wanted the Donaire-Arce fight in Manila but the fight never materialised and Donaire was left with the prospect of taking care of his mandatory challenger, the unknown and frankly unspectacular Moruti Mthalane.
2008 had now all but disappeared and Donaire had been out of action for nearly a year, a year that should have been known as the year of the Filipino Flash.
Top Rank then announced a deal that matched Donaire against the undefeated Mexican, Raul Martinez. A good fight even if Martinez wasn’t Arce, Montiel, Mijares or Naito.
It was starting to feel like the momentum Donaire had was quickly waning.
Tired of waiting around, Donaire made the jump up to the Super Flyweight division and immediately made his title aspirations known as he snatched the Interim WBA Super Flyweight title and in the process placed himself in a position to challenge the current “Regular” Champion Nobuo Nashiro as well as catching the eye of the WBA “Super” Champion, none other than Vic Darchinyan.
As if following a Hollywood script, the slight high was followed by yet another low. Donaire, scheduled to face the big hitting Gerson Guerrero as the headline feature on the Pinoy Power 3 card was left short changed again as Guerrero failed his pre-fight eye exam and was replaced with Manuel Vargas, a former Strawweight, in a fight that was an even bigger mismatch than it looked on paper.
It seems that bad luck is all over Donaire, almost like the Midas touch in reverse, while ironically Darchinyan, the guy whom he knocked out is now enjoying the best boxing of his life, beating champions like Dmitri Kirilov, Christian Mijares and Jorge Arce becoming a two weight world champion in the process. Meanwhile Donaire has to look on from the side lines as Darchinyan is fighting the guys that Donaire, by rights, should already have faced.
So here we are, three years on from that breakthrough win for the little Filipino and he is still no better off. The big names and big paydays have somehow eluded him.
Nobody deserves a break in 2010 more than Nonito Donaire and if there is any justice in the world he will get one. It’s a crossroads year for Nonito, but with a packed Super Flyweight division it’s a year I think he will finally shine, if he doesn’t, I fear he could be one of boxing’s biggest waste of talents.
Greatness is on the horizon for Donaire, he just needs to grab it with both hands and refuse to let go.
Devon Alexander vs Juan Urango: Result VIDEO
07.03.10
23-year old Devon Alexander maintained his unbeaten record at 20-0 and also added the 140lb light welterweight IBF title with a unexpected KO of tough Juan Urango last night in the Mohegan Sun Casino, Uncasville, Connecticut.
Starting fast behind his southpaw jab, he controlled the fight from distance, peppering the much slower Urango, who was stalking the Saint Louis fighter.
The end came in the 8th round when Alexander landed a sweetly timed uppercut and Urango dipped in with a big hook. After Urango fell through with the punch, Alexander timed a great uppercut, dropping the Columbian.
Urango got to his feet but Alexander shook him immediately with a heavy right hand and the referee, Benji Estevez waved the fight off.
Alexander is the same age as Amir Khan who holds the WBA title at present, will now look towards the winner between Khan and Paulie Malignaggi who are set to clash on the 15th of May.