Last Saturday night at the Mandalay Events Center in Las Vegas, Manny Pacquiao won the WBC lightweight title by TKO at 2:24 of round nine over a game, but outclassed, David Diaz. At the post fight press conference, Manny was asked if he thought he was the best lightweight in the world. “I don’t compare… [Continue Reading]
Pac-Monster is no lightweight
June 29, 2008 by
While promoting his next title defense, WBC lightweight champion David Diaz joked he had a strategy for combating Manny Pacquiao’s best weapon: “I think the best thing I can do is meet his left hand with my face.” Diaz was too modest by half. Certainly, he arranged meetings between his face and Pacquiao’s left hand…. [Continue Reading]
15rounds.com welcomes Norm Frauenheim
June 26, 2008 by
There’s a saying in Arizona boxing: “It’s not a press conference till Norm Frauenheim shows up.” Someday they might say the same thing about boxing websites.
THE SHAW-SHANK REDEMPTION
June 25, 2008 by
On Tuesday we ran a story, “Saw it Coming a Mile Away,” about the defections of flyweight titlist Nonito Donaire and junior middleweight contender James Kirkland from the Gary Shaw stable. We theorized as to the possible reasons and future implications of their signing new promotional contracts. It was a fair and balanced report, I… [Continue Reading]
Roach would like Hatton after Diaz for Manny
June 24, 2008 by
Freddie Roach sat down with reporters at a table inside a restaurant at the end of the Santa Monica Pier on Monday. He was there for a news conference promoting Saturday’s fight between Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines and lightweight champion David Diaz of Chicago at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. By the time Roach… [Continue Reading]
Promising Prospect: Ana Julaton
June 23, 2008 by
The sport of women’s boxing has come a long way since Christy Martin first appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated in 1996. Many fight fans and pundits did not know what to think at first, as Martin, and soon others, began drawing attention to themselves on televised undercards. In the early stages of women’s… [Continue Reading]
SAW IT COMING A MILE AWAY
June 23, 2008 by
There is no doubt in my mind that flyweight titleholder Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire and junior middleweight contender James “Mandingo” Kirkland are both destined to become very successful stars on the boxing horizon for years to come. However, barring a legal reversal, they’ll be doing it without Gary Shaw as their promoter. The two… [Continue Reading]
In celebration of what’s good for us
June 22, 2008 by
How much fun has it been getting to know WBC lightweight champion David Diaz? For the first time in years Manny Pacquiao has had an opponent who is happy to help him carry a promotion. No language barrier, no off-putting manager, no dissembling about the importance of a rematch victory. Pacquiao remains the favorite, of… [Continue Reading]
THE BEST OF THE WEEKEND PICKS
June 20, 2008 by
This past Thursday we reviewed the events of the “King” Arthur Abraham-Edison Miranda fight of September 23, 2006, held in Abraham’s back yard of Germany. The Berlin resident and undefeated IBF middleweight titlist Abraham was beat to a pulp but escaped with a unanimous decision, with the help of some questionable officiating. Tonight, the two… [Continue Reading]
ABRAHAM-MIRANDA I REPRISED
June 18, 2008 by
This Saturday Showtime features a 12 round non-title bout featuring IBF middleweight titlist “King” Arthur Abraham, 26-0 (21), and Edison “Pantera” Miranda, 30-2 (26), in the rematch of their controversial fight of September 23, 2006. The broadcast, from the fan friendly venue of the Seminole Hard Rock Live Resort and Casino in Hollywood, Florida, begins… [Continue Reading]
BREAKING EVERY STEREOTYPE
June 16, 2008 by
Last Friday at the Isleta Casino and Resort in Albuquerque, New Mexico, there was a very entertaining night of boxing that highlighted female fighters. “Finally,” as the card was billed, was a PPV event that featured Holly Holm vs. Mary Jo Sanders in a main event for the Woman’s Boxing Archive Network (WBAN) pound for… [Continue Reading]
Orr’s quest: To be the best man in shamrocks
June 15, 2008 by
What if you were taught humility is a high virtue but your job requires sometimes reckless self-promotion? What if a loss could make you a more attractive opponent but remaining unbeaten is the only way to be relevant? What if you are too good to take silly chances but your fans want you to bleed?
LA Boxing honors Allen Shellenberger with funds, food, fun and Flores
June 14, 2008 by
PHOENIX — Turnout was good. Boxing classes were full. Local merchants did fine. Allen was pleased. And BJ Flores looked sharp. On Saturday, LA Boxing-Ahwatukee hosted the “Allen Shellenberger KO Brain Cancer Fundraising Event.” The parking lot of Bashas’ Plaza changed from a quiet shopping center to a busy tribute for one of rock ‘n’… [Continue Reading]
FLOYD’S HONORABLE DISCHARGE
June 14, 2008 by
I must confess that I was among the cynics who questioned Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s motives for retirement. No sooner had I read his retirement letter addressed to the media than I began to believe that he was simply posturing for a better deal for his now aborted September 20 rematch with Oscar De La Hoya…. [Continue Reading]
Some things you didn’t know about the drummer from Lit
June 12, 2008 by
PHOENIX — “So are you the rock star?” the girl asked. It was 16 months ago, and LA Boxing-Ahwatukee was having its grand opening. Allen Shellenberger — the gym’s co-owner — was dutifully manning the front desk. There were professional boxers, mixed martial artists, local trainers and a former world champion milling about. But none… [Continue Reading]
INTEGRITY TEST
June 11, 2008 by
Well, what do you know? Who was that sitting at the commission table, flush against the ring apron at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville Connecticut Saturday night to enjoy a night of championship boxing? It turns out to be none other than Armando Garcia, the Executive Director of the California State Athletic Commission, almost… [Continue Reading]
With Floyd retired, What’s Oscar to do?
June 10, 2008 by
Another fight between Oscar De La Hoya and Floyd Mayweather Jr. would probably resemble their rather boring fight in May 2007 won by Mayweather via split decision. Mayweather was never going to go toe-to-toe with De La Hoya in that fight and would not have done so in a rematch. That said, De La Hoya’s… [Continue Reading]
SHOCKING MORA WIN LEAVES THIS WRITER EMBARRASSED
June 9, 2008 by
From its inception on the NBC network, admittedly I’ve been generally unkind to “The Contender” fighters, and particularly to Sergio “The Latin Snake” Mora. And up until Mora upset Vernon Forrest for the WBC junior middleweight title by majority decision, 114-114, 115-113, and 116-112 on Saturday night, my instincts have been proven correct. The “Contender”… [Continue Reading]
Saturday night meritocracy
June 8, 2008 by
Kelly Pavlik did exactly what he had to do to continue his takeover of American prizefighting. Juan Manuel Lopez proved himself better than even his most ardent supporters thought he was. And Paul Williams emphatically returned to the welterweight conversation. But the night belonged to Sergio Mora. Saturday in Mohegan Sun Casino, Mora, the winner… [Continue Reading]
Is Calzaghe running from Kelly Pavlik?
June 8, 2008 by
Wales’ Joe Calzaghe finally did what he always said he wanted to do – come to the U.S. and show his stuff. When he won a split decision over Bernard Hopkins in April in Las Vegas, it was mission accomplished. Now, Calzaghe is wimping out of a proposed super middleweight fight with middleweight champion and… [Continue Reading]
ELITE XC SUCCESS ON CBS
June 5, 2008 by
If you haven’t picked up the July issue of Boxing Digest as yet, (the one with Pacquiao vs. Diaz on the cover and a brilliantly written article on the fight on pages 18-21), there is a fascinating story by Zach Arnold regarding the debut of EliteXC on CBS last Saturday. I highly recommend that you… [Continue Reading]
Paul Williams looking to get his groove back
June 4, 2008 by
It’s almost perplexing to hear Paul Williams talk about his upset loss to Carlos Quintana on Feb. 9 in Temecula, Calif. “I just didn’t get in my rhythm last time,” Williams said last week during a conference call promoting his rematch with Quintana on Saturday in Uncasville, Conn. Showtime will televise. Williams, a 6-foot-2 southpaw,… [Continue Reading]
POINT AND COUNTERPOINT
June 2, 2008 by
To begin, first and foremost, we extend Get Well Soon wishes to Shelly Finkel who is having angioplasty surgery on Tuesday morning. Despite the upcoming surgery, he graciously agreed to this interview. We didn’t toss out softballs as you might see in some interviews with influential figures in boxing, and whether you agree with him… [Continue Reading]
Channeling the remote control
June 2, 2008 by
Four championship fights in 210 minutes. If each fight goes the distance, that means 192 minutes of boxing. Delightful. Settle in, give each fight your attention, let its texture be revealed and enjoy a wonderful evening. That’s this weekend’s view from the West. You live in the East? Well, then it’s going to be trickier…. [Continue Reading]
