- by Michael Swann on 30 May 2008
RULES ARE RULES, FOR THE MOST PART
On June 21, HBO’s Boxing After Dark presents unbeaten welterweight contender Andre Berto, ranked #1 by the WBC, facing Miguel Angel Rodriguez, ranked #2, in what is said to be a title eliminator. Berto, 21-0 (18), is the more highly touted participant, having gained considerable TV time after an amateur career of 200 fights and [...]
Read more- by Michael Swann on 28 May 2008
HEAD TO HEAD ON JUNE 7
Showtime and HBO go head to head on the first Saturday of June with each network providing intriguing cards. The HBO card, which we’ll address on a later date, features a superstar, Kelly Pavlik, 33-0 (29), against a virtual unknown, Gary Lockett, 30-1 (21), for the WBC/WBO/Ring Magazine titles. The co-main event might be a [...]
Read more- by Robert Morales on 28 May 2008
A statue that goes beyond the record
A newspaper colleague recently wrote a scathing story regarding the statue of Oscar De La Hoya that is scheduled to be erected on Star Plaza at Staples Center in Los Angeles.
Read more- by Michael Swann on 26 May 2008
PREVIEW OF THE INEVITABLE
Boxing careers have a shelf life comparable to an automobile. A well conditioned, properly maintained vehicle will be running like a top for years, while a roughly handled, hard driven car that has been abused since it left the lot will likely be a clunker before its time.
Read more- by Bart Barry on 25 May 2008
A vulnerable Hitman
After having the fight beaten out of him five months ago, Ricky “The Hitman” Hatton faced plenty of questions about his commitment and confidence in returning to the ring last week. He answered those questions satisfactorily. He’s still pretty confident. Still fairly committed. He’s just no longer as competitive.
Read more- by Marc Abrams on 24 May 2008
Briggs-Koval more then worth the price
With all the fuss today about the cost Pay-Per-View boxing being one of the main reasons for the apparent decline in the sport, a new concept with debut later tonight as Cedric Kushner launches his new promotional company, Gotham Boxing that will take place just off broadway at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City.
Read more- by Michael Swann on 23 May 2008
TRASH TALK OR JUST PLAIN GARBAGE?
I’m basically a live and let live guy. For example, when Ellen asks [...]
Read more- by Robert Morales on 21 May 2008
Timothy Bradley willing to take on all comers
It was Tuesday, about 6:45 p.m. on the West Coast. On the telephone line was Timothy Bradley, the new World Boxing Council super lightweight champion from the beautiful desert town of Palm Springs, Calif.
Read more- by Michael Swann on 21 May 2008
WHAT’S NEW IN MANCHESTER?
This Saturday superstar and British icon Ricky “The Hitman” Hatton, 43-1 (31), returns to his home of Manchester in the United Kingdom for his first appearance since suffering his first defeat by 10th round TKO to Floyd Mayweather Jr. last December. Hatton will face Mexican Juan “The Hispanic Causing Panic” Lazcano, 37-4-1 (27), at the [...]
Read more- by Michael Swann on 19 May 2008
UNDEFEATED CONTENDERS SCORE BIG ON BAD
Last Saturday in Primm, Nevada, HBO introduced three undefeated contenders on Boxing After Dark, and by night’s end the trio had proven that young prospects, matched tough, could quite conceivably create a more entertaining evening than a star champion paired with a relative cupcake. The concept of a tripleheader of tough, hungry, young fighters in [...]
Read more- by Bart Barry on 18 May 2008
Cristian Mijares’ knowing smirk
As Cristian Mijares walks to the ring, trades punches with an opponent or conducts an interview, one side of his mouth rises higher than the other. His eyes twinkle. Mijares’ expression says everything is OK. Nothing has happened here that I didn’t plan.
Read more- by Michael Swann on 14 May 2008
KIRKLAND HAS SOMETHING TO PROVE
This Saturday Boxing After Dark features a premier trio of prospects in their HBO debut in a tripleheader of 10 round bouts. The fights will be shown live from Terrible’s Primm Valley Casino Resorts in Primm, Nevada, beginning at 9:45 ET/PT, delayed on the West coast.
Read more- by Robert Morales on 14 May 2008
Pacquiao, Pavlik, Cotto-Margarito ; Arum has a lot on his mind
Unless there is a last-minute snafu, it appears the July 26 welterweight title unification fight between Antonio Margarito and Miguel Cotto is going to be contested in Las Vegas, promoter Bob Arum told us Tuesday.
Read more- by Michael Swann on 12 May 2008
IS BRITISH BOXING GOING BELLY UP?
It wasn’t that long ago that British boxing was white hot, with a stable of champions and a fan core of some of the most rabid fans on the planet. Last Saturday night 34 year old Junior Witter, 36-2-2 (21), lost his WBC super lightweight belt to Timothy “Desert Storm” Bradley, 22-0 (11), to become [...]
Read more- by Bart Barry on 11 May 2008
An American, Chicago born
“I am an American, Chicago born — Chicago, that somber city — and go at things as I have taught myself, free-style . . .” So begins The Adventures of Augie March, Saul Bellow’s heralded American novel. Augie March was a Jewish character, created by a Jewish author, but March’s identity came from Chicago.
Read more- by Michael Swann on 9 May 2008
THE CEREBRAL MR. BYRD
For a fighter who has literally made his career by devising methods to remedy an opponent’s advantage in size, power, and in some cases perhaps even talent, Chris Byrd at 37 has once again come upon an ingenious plan to extend his career and further his legacy. Byrd, 40-4-1 (21), a former two time heavyweight [...]
Read more- by Michael Swann on 8 May 2008
CHARMING CORRESPONDENCE
If you missed it this week, many sites, including this one, published a vitriolic press release entitled, “An Open Letter from Nate Campbell to Richard Schaeffer.” Campbell, the talented, new IBF/ WBO/ WBA lightweight champion is identified as the author. (Click here)
Read more- by Robert Morales on 7 May 2008
Who is David Diaz?
Employees at Time Warner Cable in San Antonio on Tuesday were lined up to get the autograph of a particular boxer. He faced television cameras and print reporters as well during his day in Texas.
Read more- by Michael Swann on 5 May 2008
DID OSCAR ACHIEVE WHAT HE WANTED?
I’m somewhat torn on this issue. On one hand Oscar De La Hoya did much of what he set out to do by winning a convincing decision over undersized, overmatched Steve Forbes at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California before 27,000 in his “Homecoming” fight. The scores of 119-109 (twice) and 120-108 for Oscar [...]
Read more- by Bart Barry on 4 May 2008
Relax your jabs; a September rematch is coming either way
Oscar de la Hoya and Floyd Mayweather will fight a rematch in September. Enough of the world awaited “The World Awaits” that one can assume a million or so of the world’s inhabitants will await some more. That is what Golden Boy Promotions, Mayweather and HBO all assume.
Read more- by Michael Swann on 2 May 2008
FROZEN OUT?
Recently it was announced that the Peterson brothers, Lamont and Anthony, had signed a contract with Top Rank, after previously being promoted by Prize Fight Promotions in Memphis. The move made sense in many ways. The young men, both undefeated, have been impressive in their rise to the top and now are bona fide contenders. [...]
Read more- by Mario Ortega Jr. on 1 May 2008
Promising Prospect: Danny Garcia
Using the term “promising” to describe unbeaten Danny “Young Swift” Garcia may actually be doing the young upstart a disservice. Garcia is the professional boxing equivalent of a high first round NBA draft pick in basketball. Already, just five bouts into his professional career, he seems to have everything a young prospect could ask for. [...]
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