Bobby’s manager, Lou Duva wanted Bobby to resign a long-term contract but Bobby was mistrustful and began working on a fight to fight basis.
Coming Soon to a Theatre Near You … The Bobby Czyz Story, Part Two of Three
March 29, 2007 By Leave a Comment
Angelo and Sugar Ray
March 28, 2007 By 1 Comment
You think great trainers in history, and the name Angelo Dundee quickly comes to mind. He has worked with some 15 world champions, such as Muhammad Ali, Sugar Ray Leonard, Carmen Basilioand George Foreman
COMING SOON TO A THEATER NEAR YOU…THE BOBBY CZYZ STORY, PART ONE OF THREE: FAMILY TIFFS AND TRAGEDY
March 27, 2007 By Leave a Comment
Unbeknown to most, the life of three-time world titlist and broadcaster Bobby Czyz has all the elements of an award winning major motion picture. It has elements of pathos and tragedy, incredible personal triumphs by a flawed protagonist, violent physical and mental abuse, riches and rejection, boy meets girl, and self destruction. You might actually see it on the big screen some day. Three times there has been a signed contract to film a Czyz bio-pic, once with Universal, and twice with Independents.
Telefutura and Jhonny Gonzalez: Spanish for “Refuge”
March 26, 2007 By Leave a Comment
Included in every boxing fan’s Top 100 goals are the following: See as many competitive fights as I can, and learn Spanish. Admittedly, the first goal is higher up the list than the second. Of course, there are also a few bilingual fans who are exceptions. But such exceptional fans are offset by many others who wasted high school elective classes on French and Latin and now need to catch up.
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Guest Columnist and the 900 Words
March 21, 2007 By Leave a Comment
Three weeks ago we published a two part series that outlined the Complaint for Damages for Defamation and False Light brought by referee/judge Patrick Russell against Pedro Fernandez, and the resulting settlement by stipulated judgment, effective January 17, 2007. Fernandez’ lawyers negotiated conditions for Russell to dismiss claims against their client, including an apology to be written on Fernandez’ website within 30 days and publication of a “guest column” to be written by Russell within 60 days of the agreement. He was also to make payment of $500 within 30 days and $50 a month thereafter until the $18,000 judgment was satisfied.
Manfredo and Sugar Ray are ready for Calzaghe
March 21, 2007 By Leave a Comment
Peter Manfredo Jr. is the first to admit that a large part of rising to the top of the boxing profession is cerebral.
WARRIORS AND WIENERS
March 19, 2007 By Leave a Comment
WARRIORS
Marco Antonio Barrera and Juan Manuel Marquez engaged in a dramatic, action filled war last Saturday night at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. In a fight spiced with controversy, Marquez won a unanimous decision and with it the WBC super featherweight title, 118-109, and 116-111 (twice). But forget the scores – they don’t portray the fight correctly anyway – this was a possible Fight of the Year candidate, certainly the best we’ve seen so far this year. And if everything goes according to plan, we can look forward to the rematch on September 16 on the week of Mexican Independence Day.
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Never Mind the Judges; It Was a Great Fight
March 18, 2007 By Leave a Comment
Before this year is over, boxing will have several championship fights violent as Marco Antonio Barrera versus Juan Manuel Marquez was. Boxing will have one fight more tactical, too. But there is little chance that boxing will again enjoy as complete a celebration of prizefighting as what Barrera and Marquez just put together.
STEAK, MASHED POTATO, JUICE AND DESSERT
March 14, 2007 By Leave a Comment
You have to hand it to the folks at Golden Boy. When the highly anticipated matchup with Marco Antonio Barrera and Manny Pacquaio fell through because of legal problems concerning Pacquiao’s contract, (and some heavy handed wheeling and dealing over the terms of the promotion), they matched Barrera with Juan Manuel Marquez. The two, who are both promoted by Golden Boy, meet Saturday night on HBO PPV for Barrera’s WBC 130 pound title at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.
Juan Manual Marquez fighting for respect
March 14, 2007 By Leave a Comment
Juan Manuel Marquez has been a prize fighter since May 1993. Which means that when he squares off with Marco AntonioBarrera on Saturday at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, it will have taken Marquez nearly 14 years to arrive at a career-defining fight.
MANNY PACQUIAO: ALL THAT GLITTERS ISN’T GOLD
March 12, 2007 By Leave a Comment
The Manny Pacquiao story began with a childhood of typical Philippine poverty in General Santos City, having to drop out of elementary school to sell donuts in the city streets to help provide for his family, and then finally stowing away on a ship to Manila at age 16 in hopes of pursuing a boxing career. Today Manny is a cultural icon in the Philippines, the ultimate fairy tale.
Victor, Marco and Juan
March 12, 2007 By Leave a Comment
Victor Burgos remains in critical condition at Harbor UCLA Medical Center because of wounds he suffered two Saturdays ago in his fight with IBF flyweight champion Vic Darchinyan. Burgos’s corner failed him by not stopping the fight in time. That was easy. Blame assigned.
Not so fast. Such an explanation for this tragedy, while symmetrical, ignores the economics of prizefighting. Ours is a sport of free agents – free agents promoting free agents, free agents training free agents, free agents fighting free agents. This economics, then, is too important to ignore.
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Oscar and Floyd: Two Months away and getting heated
March 9, 2007 By Leave a Comment
Oscar De La Hoya had that look last Wednesday. The same look he had during Los Angeles news conferences promoting his respective fights with Fernando Vargas and Ricardo Mayorga.
SATURDAY NIGHT FIGHTS
March 7, 2007 By Leave a Comment
Following a Saturday night without boxing, both premium cable networks weighed in this week. Showtime featured Vic Darchinyan vs. Victor Burgos for the IBF flyweight strap, followed by the much anticipated Israel Vazquez-Rafael Marquez showdown for the 122 pound championship. HBO countered with an intriguing Edison Miranda-Allan Green matchup, followed by Miguel Cotto-Oktay Urkal for Cotto’s WBA welterweight belt.
FRIDAY NIGHT FIGHTS
March 5, 2007 By Leave a Comment
ESPN 2’s Friday Night Fights and ShoBox: The New Generation are not direct competitors, yet you can’t help but to compare the two since they both air on Friday nights. ESPN 2 offers the earlier programming, shown weekly at usually 9 p.m. ET, earlier in the West, and ShoBox airs faithfully at 11 p.m. ET/PT, once or twice a month, so there is never a conflict on viewing time. You can watch and enjoy both.
“I Can’t Anymore”
March 5, 2007 By Leave a Comment
Israel Vazquez versus Rafael Marquez was winning 2007’s Fight of the Year honors on all judges’ scorecards. It was glorious; not since Diego Corrales knocked-out Jose Luis Castillo in 2005 had so many pundits aligned ourselves so correctly. Marquez buckled Vazquez in the first round, Vazquez dropped Marquez in the third round, and each man perpetrated much violence on the other. Then Israel Vazquez told his corner, “I can’t anymore.” [Read more...]