Khan spars Pacman and returns December
30.10.08
"It's been great out here, I'm not distracted with anything outside of boxing and all I do is train and learn," said Khan. "I'm working on so much stuff with Freddie that I'm going home more mentally tired than physically tired.
"Although the loss to Prescott was a big blow, it was perhaps the best thing that could have happened to me because it made me realise I had to change things and I've made the right move to Freddie.
"I'm really looking forward to my comeback fight and showing everyone that I am back and have even more determination to reach the top."
Former Irish light-welterweight champion Oisín Fagan has been selected as Amir Khan's next opponent.
The Dubliner now lives in Oklahoma and has a record of 22-5 (13 KOs) since turning professional in 2003, will fight Khan in London's Excel Arena on December 6. He recently fought Paul Spadafora to a split decision and will provide Amir with a tough assignment.
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Ricky Hatton starts Vegas training camp PICTURES
29.10.08
Hi everybody this is Ricky.
Well I have landed in Vegas and the weather is hot. Big change from the rain of Manchester. I settled into my house and the team made all the arrangements for training and sparring.
I am staying off the strip as the air conditioning doesn't agree with me in the hotels. I have a chef coming in everyday and he prepares the meals for the team. His name is Rick so he is Rick the chef. Not to be confused with Ricky Fatton the boxer. In this instance Ricky Fatton is long gone and my weight is good in fact I am probably ahead of myself and in terrific condition.
I always take a couple of days to adapt to the change in climate so I take it easy and just do a light run when I get here. So over the weekend I did a little shopping in the mall to kill time. I got a new puzzle (That's an outfit for the after fight party) and I got 5 pair of jeans. I love it here as I can get 33" waist jeans. You don't get that in Manchester.
I did the NUTS TV show over the weekend and my old mate Wayne McCullough came over to co host the show, it was nice to see him with his wife Cheryl and daughter Wynona (check spelling) Wayne has been here 15 years now and he loves it. I think I could get used to it the more I come over. It’s nice to get away from the strip and see the real Las Vegas.
Our Matthew arrived Sunday and it was nice to see a familiar face. He will hopefully be sorting his opponent in the next couple of days.
Monday morning saw the first day of proper training in Vegas. I was up at 5.30am and we went up to Mount Charleston to run. I started with a four mile run just to acclimatise myself as the air is thinner in the mountains. It was nice that Floyd and lee were both there with me whilst I did the run. Even though they were in the car driving alongside me...
After the run it was back home for a kip before the gym. I am sparring at private gym in Las Vegas and I brought in a guy called Timothy Coleman for sparring. He is a very strong guy and I had a good spar with him. Tim has sparred with Oscar De La Hoya and Paulie Malignaggi in the past. I was please with my first spar considering I had been up early and done a four mile run beforehand.
I spoke with Floyd and lee and they are both happy with the way my training has gone so far. It’s been good learning new things. I think over the last couple of years I hadn't worked on new things. So I am really enjoying this training camp. It’s true to say that I am in great shape and things couldn't be better.
Update - Thursday
As the days move on the training is getting harder. After running at the bottom of mount Charleston on Monday today I started to do some running on the steep hill road. Floyd had me buy some proper boots for running, old school. The wind is bitter and you need a hat and gloves the air is so thin it’s a killer to breath.
It’s amazing to think that we are in the desert. Sparring went well again today with timothy Coleman. He is a very tough kid from Baltimore.
Once I finish training its straight down to Starbucks for an Americano.
I have been keeping up with the football scores and noticed city drew the other day. When I can I like to watch soccer on the TV. Evenings are spent watching DVD's in my room. Mostly comedies.
I had planned to release my own song in time for Christmas but with all the training I couldn't find the time so I have decided to leave it until the new year. I read I was 14-1 for a number one single at Christmas after Take that and Rick Astley. I bet Rick is chuffed I pulled out; still he never was one to give up.
All images copyright and courtesy of Paul Speak of Team Hatton
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Froch shows Calzaghe the money
29.10.08
Mick Hennessy has tabled a £5m offer to Joe Calzaghe to face his undefeated Super Middleweight star Carl 'the Cobra' Froch in 2009 should they both do the business against their opponents in November & December this year.
Froch has to first see off his Canadian rival, Jean Pascal for the vacant WBC Super Middleweight title in Nottingham in December. Meanwhile Calzaghe has a scheduled fight with a elderly Roy Jones at Madison Square Garden later in November.
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Mikkel Kessler wins by KO in Germany
25.10.08
Mikkel Kessler (41-1,31KO) successfully defended his WBA world Super middleweight title tonight in Germany against Danilo Haussler (29-4, 7KO) by 3rd round KO.
Kessler was different class and dominated the German with hard accurate combinations until the finish came.
Video courtesy of Youtube:-
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Giacobbe Fragomeni wins WBC cruiserweight title
25.10.08
Former David Haye opponent and sparring partner, the Italian Giacobbe Fragomeni (26-1, 10KO) has won the title vacated by Londoner Haye, against formerly unbeaten Rudy Kraj (14-1, 10KO) a German-based Czech at the Palalido in Milan, Italy.
The bout was stopped in the eighth due to a cut suffered by the 39-year-old Fragomeni in round seven from an accidental headbutt.
Fragmoeni was ahead 77-74 on all cards and won via technical decision.
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Andrade robbed of KO victory - VIDEO
Last night Librado Andrade was robbed of a KO victory over defending champion Lucian Bute in the 12th round of their IBF Super middleweight world title fight in Canada last night.
In a fight that panned out as expected (Andrade offensive, Bute slick and defensive)the majority of the rounds were awarded to the home-town fighter, whom used his southpaw stance and speed to deal with the plodding Andrade.
But by the 12th round Bute was looking extremely tired. Andrade knew a KO would be the only way to secure victory at this point and aggressively hunted Bute down.
With around 20 seconds of the round left, Bute was all at sea - his legs had gone and he was falling around the ring as Andrade tried to nail him with one last big shot. Then with moments of the round left, Andrade was pulled off Bute by the interfering referee, only for Bute to stumble backwards before Andrade caught up with him and landed a crunching right hand which sent the shattered Bute sagging to the floor.
As the referee Marlon Wright got to 6 or 7 on the count, he stopped the count to turn and tell Andrade to 'get in the neutral corner' despite apparently being already in it. Some 6 seconds was wasted before he resumed the count just as Bute coincidentally rose to his feet.
Andrade's trainer, furiously leapt into the ring to began shoving the referee, knowing full well what had occurred in his mind.
The judges, as expected, were unanimous with scores of 117-109, 115-111 and 115-110 all for Bute, who astonishgly remains undefeated and still with his IBF title.
Lucian Bute's record now stands at 23-0 (18KO) whilst a disgruntled Librado Andrade slips to 27-2 (21KO).
Video courtesy of youtube:-
Adamek vs Cunningham press quotes
23.10.08
NEWARK, N.J. - International Boxing Federation cruiserweight world champion Steve "USS" Cunningham and former world champion Tomasz Adamek foreshadowed their Dec. 11 meeting at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. at a press conference today at the one-year-old venue.
"I work very hard because boxing is my job," Cunningham, from Philadelphia, said. "My goal is to be the greatest of all time. I know it's a lofty goal but I want to the best I possibly can be.
"I want Adamek to bring his best on December 11 in Newark. He's a family man like me but it's my job to put my hands on him and that's what I'm going to do.
"I'm a true world champion. I've fought in South Africa, Germany and in Poland, twice. I'm more popular in Europe than I am in America right now but that's about to change. I want to give the world a true cruiserweight world champion that will stay in the division and defend his titles for years to come."
Adamek, from Poland now living and training in Jersey City, N.J., says he will bring his vaunted right-hand punching power from light heavyweight to the 200-pound limit.
"Steve's a nice guy but I'm going to beat him, Adamek, the IBF No. 1-ranked cruiserweight, said. "He's a world champion and I respect him but I will win. Steve's quick and dynamic. It will be a great fight.
"It made me weak to make 175 pounds against Chad Dawson and I was still able to knock him down. My right hand is bigger at cruiserweight. I'll be stronger and carry my punch to the 200-pound limit."
The press conference was co-hosted by event promoters Don King Productions and Main Events. Both Don King and Kathy Duva, as well as New Jersey Boxing Hall of Fame President Henry Hascup, spoke of the fact this marks the first time since Tony Zale and Rocky Graziano met in Newark for the third and final time in 1948 that a world-championship boxing match has been staged in the city.
Steve Cunningham: "I do what I do because I'm born again through Jesus Christ.
"I would like Newark to know they have a great person in IBF President Marian Muhammad. I went to box in Poland and got robbed. She flew over for the immediate rematch to make sure it would be a fair fight. She's all about the rules and giving fighters a fair shake. The IBF will only be better with the addition of Larry Hazzard.
"I work very hard because boxing is my job. My goal is to be the greatest of all time. I know it's a lofty goal but I want to the best I possibly can.
"I want Adamek to bring his best on December 11 in Newark. He's a family man like me but it's my job to put my hands on him and that's what I'm going to do.
"I'm a true world champion. I've fought in South Africa, Germany and in Poland, twice. I'm more popular in Europe than I am in America right now but that's about to change. I want to give the world a true cruiserweight world champion that will stay in the division and defend his titles for years to come."
Tomasz Adamek: "Steve's a nice guy but I'm going to beat him. He's a world champion and I respect him but I will win. Steve's quick and dynamic. It will be a great fight.
"It made me weak to make 175 pounds against Chad Dawson and I was still able to knock him down. My right hand is bigger at cruiserweight. I'll be stronger and carry my punch to the 200-pound limit."
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Kessler vs Haussler to be shown online
23.10.08
Mikkel Kessler's WBA defence against Danilo Haussler will be streamed by German TV online * HERE *
Mikkel Kessler and Danilo Haussler both participated in an open workout ahead of Saturday´s WBA super-middleweight title fight in Oldenburg, Germany.
“I never underestimate my opponents,” said Kessler (40-1, 30 KOs)
“Danilo Haussler is physically very strong but I have advantages when it comes down to reach and footwork. I have trained very hard in Monaco and Denmark. I feel in great shape.”
“I am prepared for the possibility of going 12 rounds, but I have no doubts that I will leave the ring victorious!”
Meanwhile Haussler (29-3, 7 KOs) had other ideas on the outcome “I have been working many, many years to get the chance to fight for the world title"
“I will make the most of it and want to win. Kessler might be taller than I am, but I have a huge heart and will show my tremendous fighting spirit.”
Here is Mikkel Kessler doing a light pad work earlier :-
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