Pacman vs De La Hoya becoming reality
31.07.08
Bob Arum has revealed himself and Golden Boy supremo Richard Schaefer will meet next week to discuss making the fight that many dismissed as fantasy a few months ago.
Dec. 6 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas marks the grand finale to Oscar's career and Pacquiao is right in the mix to be the opponent for that date.
Arum was keen to stress that if the proposed Oscar bout does not materialise then he will immeadiately open negotiations with Humberto Soto and Edwin Valero instead.
"Soto and Valero are Plans B and C," said Arum to the Manilla Bulletin "If the De La Hoya fight doesn’t happen, we will talk about Soto or Valero."
It has also been confirmed that Pacquiao lawyer Franklin Gacal will include a clause in the contract that De La Hoya will have to shell out $ 750,000 for every pound over the limit of 147lb.
"Oscar might weigh in at 150 and he’s just too big for Manny,"
Pacman's trainer, Freddie Roach has gone on record requesting the fight is made the same day as the weigh in to make it more viable to his man.
He has also stated that not only does he think Manny can win, but also that he could knock De La Hoya out.
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Lacy v Taylor on again.. Retirement over
28.07.08
According to Lacy's attorney Jim Wilkes, following more discussions over the weekend, Jeff will not be retiring as reported last week and will fight Jermain Taylor as oriningally planned on November 15th this year on HBO.
"I'm telling you, as Jeff's attorney, a deal has been reached," Wilkes said to the St Petersburg Times.
"It took a lot of work, a lot of effort, a lot of discussion, but we got it done," Wilkes said.
Upon learning that Lacy was back on for the scheudled fight, Taylor's promoter Lou Dibella made this cryptic comment "This was an issue between Golden Boy and Lacy,"
"The deal between my fighter and Golden Boy is the same as it was last week."
The bout is rumoured to be staged at either at Miami or New York.
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Margarito Stops Cotto in Classic
27.07.08
MARGARITO STOPS COTTO IN CLASSIC
By Matthew Sanderson
Antonio Margarito went to enormous lengths to take away both Miguel Cotto's WBA welterweight title and unbeaten record at Las Vegas' MGM Grand last night. Behind on points, and having shrugged off one stunning head shot after another, Mexico’s Margarito wore down his Puerto Rican rival, who, battered and exhausted, was rescued at 2:05 of round 11 after two visits to the canvas.
It was an epic encounter, equal to the recent Vazquez-Marquez battles in terms of sustained intensity and back-and-forth action. If Cotto took the role of Marquez – the power punching, but vulnerable counter puncher – then Margarito played the Vazquez part to perfection. Overcoming Cotto’s advantages in skill and precision, Margarito simply marched through the pain to mete out a savage beating.
While Cotto was in control for much of the first half, he was seldom comfortable in there. Cotto, 147 (like Margarito), snapped Margarito’s head back throughout and rattled off combos before spinning artfully away, but was forced to work three minutes of every round, something he has never liked doing.
During the heated second session, Margarito crowded the favorite on the ropes, surrounding the champion with uppercuts, rights and body shots – a portent of things to come. Cotto, 27, responded well, zapping his challenger with headshots and making Margarito miss amateurishly through the third, fourth and fifth.
But there would be no rests for the classy Cotto, who used up a lot of energy, and who could never dictate the action from the centre of the ring.
As demonstrated in his rematch against an improved Kermit Cintron last April (on the Cotto-Alfonso Gomez undercard), Margarito’s chin is granite, enabling him to walk in and get payback after taking the most hurtful of shots. The 30-year-old from Tijuana was in trouble in the sixth, when Cotto toyed with him and had the space to do as he pleased.
However, Margarito broke through in a riveting seventh, shaking Cotto at the end of the session, payback for the shots that snapped his head back several times. Round eight turned the tables, as Margarito hassled Cotto for over two minutes, before the proud, but struggling, champion replied with a heavy salvo.
Cotto had faded late against a 36-year-old Shane Mosley last year and was dragged in the deep end by Margarito, whose high output never ceased. As well as tiring, Cotto was also marking up. Bleeding from the nose since the middle rounds, he was gasping for breath, and Margarito made things worse with body shots and left uppercuts.
Though Cotto was still landing big shots, nothing could keep Margarito off. Despite being ungainly, his high output, toughness and desire make the Mexican an elite class fighter, and these traits saw him shake Cotto to close a thrilling tenth round.
Cotto tied up wisely, but had to take body shots. He could no longer stand up to the attacks in the eleventh, in which he suffered two knockdowns and faced defeat for the first time.
Beaten to the canvas, Cotto had nothing left. He went down again, before Margarito’s volleys could even land – out of sheer exhaustion. Referee Kenny Bayless halted the beating after the towel came in, closing what will be a leading candidate for 2008’s fight of the year.
It was a massive result over Margarito, who has been hardened by high-risk assignments against unbeaten punchers (Kermit Cintron, Paul Williams, Hercules Kyvelos), awkward stylists (Daniel Santos, Sergio Gabriel Martinez), and hardened ex champs/contenders (Antonio Diaz, Andrew Lewis, Joshua Clottey) over three world title reigns (WBO welterweight champ twice, and a brief tenure as IBF holder).
Though he has won on the big stage, few big names will be keen to face Margarito (now 37-5, 27) who may have to settle for risky rematches with Williams – who beat him narrowly a year ago – and Clottey – who takes on Zab Judah for the IBF belt that “Tony” dropped in order to take the Cotto fight.
Cotto drops to 32-1 (26) but the mental and physical toll of the defeat will make coming back an ordeal, given how much he relies on breaking other people down. When he does return, one doubts it will be in a rematch against Margarito.
Cotto landed 43 percent of his 655 punches, but Margarito's superior work rate was reflected in his 987 total punches. Margarito landed 237 power shots to Cotto's 179 - most in the last rounds.
Video courtesy of Youtube:-
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Froch vs Pascal negotiations commence
26.07.08
Canadian Jean Pascal will face Carl Froch for the vacant World Boxing Council title it has been announced.
The fight is anticipated to be held in November, although no venue has been set at present. If a deal cannot be struck then it would be decided by purse bid.
There is speculation that either man could fight in each other's hometown depending on the purse offer to the visitor - or it could even be added to the Jermain Taylor v Jeff Lacy undercard should a deal be reached for third party Dibella to co-promote.
Froch (23-0, 19 ko) is the WBC's top-ranked contender, while Pascal (21-0, 14 KOs) is ranked number four.
"This could not have come at a better time in my career," Pascal, 25, said in a statement to the candian press "My physical condition is perfect and mentally, I'm at peace.
"My only wish is to bring the WBC belt back to Quebec."
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Cotto and Margarito make the weight VIDEO
26.07.08
Both Antonio Margarito & Miguel Cotto made the weight at exactly 147lb each ahead of their scheduled fight tonight at the MGM grand in Las Vegas.
Other weights include:-
Giovanni Segura 108 vs. Cesar Cancila 108
Cesar Bazan 141 vs. Mike Alvarado 142
Bernabe Concepcion 123.5 vs. Adam Carrera 124
Video courtesy of youtube:-
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Jeff Lacy set to Retire
26.07.08
Jeff Lacy has stated that he intends to retire following his 10 round points win over Epifano Mendoza last week.
Speaking to local newspaper, The Tampa Tribune, he was insistent that he was 'over' with boxing and there would be no HBO fight with Jermain Taylor.
"I'm retiring," Lacy said. "There will be no fight between me and Jermain. "I'm just retiring. I'm done. This business is dirty. That's all I have to say. This is a very dirty business"
"I would advise anyone who has kids not to ever let them fight in this business."
Taylor's promoter, Lou DiBella, CEO of DiBella Entertainment, was surprised at the development.
"Put it this way, I've heard nothing from anyone in his camp indicating anything other than the fight's happening," DiBella said. "We have a Nov. 15 date on HBO."
However, St. Petersburg middleweight Ronald "Winky" Wright hadn't spoken to Lacy on Friday but said he wasn't convinced his friend was through with the sport.
"He ain't done. He's probably mad, but he ain't done," Wright said. "I know he's not done."
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Darren Barker looking 'sharpe'
25.07.08
Barker Looking “Sharpe” For His North American Debut
On August 15, The Venue at The River Cree Resort and Casino, in Enoch, Alberta, just outside Edmonton, plays host to one of the most intriguing match-ups of the year, as undefeated British middleweight sensation “Dazzling” Darren Barker (17-0, 11 KO’s) makes his North American debut against upset-minded veteran Larry Sharpe (22-4, 10 KO’s), of Pine Falls, Manitoba.
All the action is brought to you by Hennessy Sports Canada, and The River Cree Resort and Casino, and can be seen live, in Canada; on Super Channel (check your local listings for details.
Doors open at 6PM local time, first punch flies at 6:30.
Barker, the reigning Commonwealth Middleweight champion, has wowed UK fans with his blazing hand speed, and fighting acumen, making a seamless leap from prospect to contender with eye-popping performances in the toughest tests of his career, and is eager to make new fans on this side of the Atlantic.
“I’m so excited to be fighting in Canada,” an enthused Barker said before dismissing any notion that he might be fighting Sharpe, a Western Canadian, at a disadvantage.
“I had an extensive amateur career, and was constantly abroad. I’m quite comfortable fighting overseas. It’s really nothing new for me.”
“This is why I box and test myself, so I can travel the world and show people everywhere what I’m capable of.”
Boxing fans in the UK already know, and love, what the Barnet-born Londoner can do in a boxing ring.
In November of 2007, Barker dominated the previously undefeated Ben Crampton (20-0-1, 10 KO’s) to secure the vacant Commonwealth Middleweight crown via lopsided twelve round unanimous decision, and defended the title with a flawless TKO over Steven Bendall (28-3, 13 KO’s), battering the game Coventry southpaw before stopping him on cuts in the seventh round.
In Sharpe, Barker faces a ring-wise southpaw who, while lacking flash, carries more than his share of substance into the ring, and is riding a six fight win streak in the wake of a controversial ten round split decision setback to Bryon Mackie (27-13, 10 KO’s) in November of 2006.
Sharpe’s current run of success includes five wins inside the distance against increasingly difficult competition, culminating with a fourth round TKO over former WBC Lightweight title challenger Mauro Lucero (43-12-1, 29 KO’s) this past May.
Sharpe is perhaps best known in the UK for a brave performance against Plymouth Middleweight, Scott Dann, in February of 2006, in which Sharpe held firm until being stopped by a crunching uppercut in the ninth round.
“I’ve only ever seen Sharpe in his fight with Scott Dann, and he was holding his own for a while there until he got caught,” Barker said of his foe on August 15th.
“Clearly, he’s a guy who’s very experienced, and knows what he’s doing in the ring.
“It should be an excellent fight.”
About Super Channel
Super Channel is Canada’s only national pay television network, consisting of two new HD channels, four new SD channels, and an SVOD platform.
Super Channel’s vision is to expand the Canadian premium TV experience by offering a broad range of fresh, entertaining movies and series. Super Channel is owned by Allarco Entertainment, an Edmonton-based media company.
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Jeff Lacy wins close fight - Taylor next
24.07.08
To the delight of Jermain Taylor and Lou Dibella, Jeff Lacy laboured to a majority decision last night over Columbian Epifano Mendoza.
The Floridian looked better than other recent outings, but still looked vulnerable and not as good as 'pre-Calzaghe' by some margin.
Lacy was level on two of the three judges' scorecards heading into the ninth round, but Lacy (24-1, 17 ko) landed a late flurry of punches to win the round against a tired Mendoza.
Mendoza (28-6-1, 24 knockouts) was hit hard by a right hand in the first round and a left hand in the fourth. Mendoza almost knocked down Lacy in the second, and in the fifth round a right knocked out his mouthpiece.
Mendoza landed a right uppercut in the seventh and eigth rounds that had Lacy wobbling to his corner after the bell.
Two of the judges scored the fight for Lacy at 97-93 and 96-94. The third scored the fight 95-95.
It is now expected for Dibella to make the fight between Taylor and Lacy for November this year. Meanwhile Carl Froch will likely look to now fight #3 challenger Jean Pascal for the vacant WBC title.
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