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 a berth on the 2004 Haitian Olympic team.
HEAD TO HEAD ON JUNE 7
May 28, 2008 By Leave a Comment
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 bit underrated with Daniel Ponce de Leon, 34-1 (30), defending his WBO bantamweight title against Juan Manuel Lopez, 21-0 (19). That one should steal the show on the HBO card.
A statue that goes beyond the record
May 28, 2008 By 42 Comments
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.
PREVIEW OF THE INEVITABLE
May 26, 2008 By 39 Comments
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.
A vulnerable Hitman
May 25, 2008 By 47 Comments
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.
Briggs-Koval more then worth the price
May 24, 2008 By Leave a Comment
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.
TRASH TALK OR JUST PLAIN GARBAGE?
May 23, 2008 By Leave a Comment
I’m basically a live and let live guy. For example, when Ellen asks John McCain to walk her down the aisle, I think he should do it as a matter of courtesy. Generally I believe that people can stand up for themselves and protect their individual rights, and still maintain a sense of propriety.
Timothy Bradley willing to take on all comers
May 21, 2008 By Leave a Comment
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.
WHAT’S NEW IN MANCHESTER?
May 21, 2008 By Leave a Comment
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 City of Manchester Stadium before an expected 55,000 fans in a fight for the IBO/Ring Magazine light welterweight titles.
UNDEFEATED CONTENDERS SCORE BIG ON BAD
May 19, 2008 By Leave a Comment
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 fights that aren’t slam dunk victories is a natural for BAD, and more of the same is encouraged here for future viewing.
Cristian Mijares’ knowing smirk
May 18, 2008 By Leave a Comment
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.
KIRKLAND HAS SOMETHING TO PROVE
May 14, 2008 By Leave a Comment
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.
Pacquiao, Pavlik, Cotto-Margarito ; Arum has a lot on his mind
May 14, 2008 By 40 Comments
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.
IS BRITISH BOXING GOING BELLY UP?
May 12, 2008 By 45 Comments
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 the latest Brit to lose a title in recent months.
An American, Chicago born
May 11, 2008 By Leave a Comment
“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.
THE CEREBRAL MR. BYRD
May 9, 2008 By Leave a Comment
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 belt holder with five defenses has reinvented himself as a light heavyweight.
CHARMING CORRESPONDENCE
May 8, 2008 By Leave a Comment
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)
Who is David Diaz?
May 7, 2008 By Leave a Comment
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.
DID OSCAR ACHIEVE WHAT HE WANTED?
May 5, 2008 By Leave a Comment
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 were an accurate accounting, although the fight itself was more competitive than the scores might indicate. Forbes had a few moments in there but overall Oscar pounded out a solid, though hardly sensational victory.
Relax your jabs; a September rematch is coming either way
May 4, 2008 By Leave a Comment
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.
FROZEN OUT?
May 2, 2008 By 41 Comments
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. In fact, about the only criticism that they have received is about their level of competition.
Promising Prospect: Danny Garcia
May 1, 2008 By Leave a Comment
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. He has a long and distinguished amateur career behind him. He has plenty of time to progress, being that he is just barely 20 years of age. He has the backing of both a high-powered manager and promoter, who together have kept him active almost exclusively on some of the largest cards in the sport. Just about every boxing major critic has praised him as one of the young, up and coming future stars of the sport. They may be high expectations to live up to, but they seem to only fuel this Philadelphia native’s fire.