LAS VEGAS – On and off the scale, Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Victor Ortiz played their assigned roles. Ortiz was where he was supposed to be and who he was supposed to be. Then, there was Mayweather, light on the scale, yet heavy in every other way.
Mayweather grabs Ortiz by the throat, but Victor smiles instead of chokes
September 16, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Another new foe found for Benavidez
September 16, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Finding an opponent for Phoenix prospect Jose Benavidez Jr. is little bit like searching for a blind date. You never know who’s going to show up.
Ortiz trainer warns Joe Cortez about Mayweather’s sharp elbows
September 15, 2011 By Leave a Comment
LAS VEGAS – Referee Joe Cortez’ job of being in the ring yet out of the spotlight Saturday night for Floyd Mayweather Jr.-Victor Ortiz at the MGM Grand got tougher with further comments from Ortiz trainer Danny Garcia, who Thursday called some of Mayweather’s tactics illegal.
Benavidez forced to wait on a new foe after a Commission rule KOs Pimentel
September 15, 2011 By Leave a Comment
LAS VEGAS – An experienced opponent for prospect Jose Benavidez, Jr., Saturday night at BlueWater Resort & Casino in Parker, Ariz., was forced off the FOX-televised card Wednesday because he suffered successive stoppages in his last three bouts.
Who’s lying? Mayweather and Ortiz exchange words before they plan to trade punches
September 14, 2011 By Leave a Comment
LAS VEGAS – The news conference Wednesday included a meal and two mouthfuls of a lot more from Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Victor Ortiz. Who ate whose lunch? Doesn’t matter. There are no scorecards at a formal news conference. No winners either.
For everything you want to know, just look at Mayweather’s 0
September 9, 2011 By Leave a Comment
There are almost as many interpretations of the zero on the losing side of Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s ledger as there are victories in the column that betting odds say is about to go from 41 to 42. That 0 is a blank canvas. What adds up to nothing can amount to anything, maybe everything about Mayweather.
Victor Ortiz is many things, but insecure isn’t one of them
September 1, 2011 By Leave a Comment
He’s either a surfer who happens to fight or a fighter who happens to be a surfer, snowboarder, golfer and tri-athlete. I have no idea. I’m not always sure Victor Ortiz does either. But Ortiz doesn’t waste time agonizing over perceptions about who he is or should be. He’ll leave the self-analysis to the media or perhaps Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Atlas is good behind the microphone, but better in a corner
August 25, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Conference calls are a necessary task, perhaps, which also means they are often stuck between ho-hum and hum-drum on the interest meter. But then along comes Teddy Atlas. This Atlas doesn’t just shrug when asked a question. Word-for-word – and there were a lot of them Wednesday, Atlas knocked out the mundane with insight, a little schtick, genuine opinion and some real news.
A known ref is a bad ref, but where was Agbeko when he needed to retaliate?
August 18, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Referees know they have done a good job if nobody remembers their name. Poor Russell Mora. Mora lost his anonymity and gained some infamy for his work, or lack of it, in Abner Mares’ majority decision over Joseph Agbeko.
AZ casino says no more Bare-Knuckle boxing, but Commission Association is still angry and still has questions
August 11, 2011 By Leave a Comment
The Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation told the Association of Boxing Commissions (ABC) that it will not host another Bare-Knuckle fight promoted by FelKO, which last Friday staged the controversial bout featuring Bobby Gunn at its casino on Native American land not subject to the Arizona State Boxing & MMA Commission’s jurisdiction.
Bare-knuckle bout in Arizona stirs up opposition as promoter promises enhanced safeguards
August 5, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Promoters for a bare-knuckle fight featuring former cruiserweight contender Bobby Gunn Friday night at a casino on Native American land near Phoenix are promising enhanced safety measures for a controversial bout that the Arizona State Boxing & MMA Commission would cancel if it had the power to do so.
Pavlik’s fight to get back on top starts with the battle to beat back distractions
July 28, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Distractions are an ally or an annoyance or a dirty word. Manny Pacquiao can’t get enough of them. Floyd Mayweather, Jr. sneers at them, then moves on to the next one. Kelly Pavlik doesn’t know what to do with them. Not yet, anyway
Khan’s body shot gets an argument and victory over Judah
July 23, 2011 By Leave a Comment
LAS VEGAS – It was a career on the borderline. Zab Judah always walked it. Amir Khan knocked him off of it Saturday night with a body punch. There will be controversy about the punch. Legal? Illegal? Below-the-belt? Right on it?
Hopkins talks Calzaghe rematch, but is Joe listening?
July 23, 2011 By Leave a Comment
LAS VEGAS – Bernard Hopkins tried to stir up some interest Saturday in a rematch with Joe Calzaghe by mentioning the possibility and then telling UK reporters to speak to Calzaghe about it.
Predictable weigh-in precedes unpredictable Khan-Judah fight
July 22, 2011 By Leave a Comment
LAS VEGAS – The scale might as well have been a stage. The weigh-in played out as though it had been written and rehearsed. It was a non-event. The fight doesn’t figure to be.
Last Chance: Judah promises he’ll knock out the past and Amir Khan
July 22, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Zab Judah speaks like a preacher these days. He has to believe, even if few in the gambling congregation do anymore. The proverbial last stand sometimes brings out the prophet in a man. Against Amir Khan Saturday night at Las Vegas’ Mandalay Bay, that’s where Judah finds himself.
Keeping score: New Jersey suspensions are timely, but a word or three short of being complete
July 14, 2011 By Leave a Comment
If it isn’t the biggest upset in many years, New Jersey’s suspension of the three scorekeepers in the decision given to Paul Williams and stolen from Erislandy Lara is a stunner that is laudable for its immediacy, yet incomplete in its scope, language and accountability.
Jesus Gonzales’ return to the scene of his lone loss is bloody sweet
July 8, 2011 By Leave a Comment
PHOENIX – There was blood this time instead of tears.
Gonzales’ foe fails to make weight, takes himself out of contention for NABF title
July 8, 2011 By Leave a Comment
PHOENIX – Mexican super-middleweight Francisco Sierra can’t win the North American Boxing Federation’s 168-pound title against Jesus Gonzales of Phoenix in an ESPN2-televised bout Friday night, because he failed to make weight Thursday.
Gonzales fighting to reclaim the promise that an Ernie had
July 8, 2011 By Leave a Comment
PHOENIX – Jesus Gonzales wears a Fifties’ style hat that is everywhere these days. Old-school is new-century chic. Everybody has a hat and a Twitter account. But Gonzales has been wearing the hat for as long as anybody in Phoenix has known him, which means his hometown still calls him Ernie.
Shuffle means new foe, bigger risk for Jesus Gonzales
July 6, 2011 By 1 Comment
PHOENIX – A taller opponent and a potentially bigger risk confronts Phoenix super-middleweight Jesus Gonzales, who faces Francisco Sierra of Mexico instead of Henry Buchanan of Maryland Friday night at U.S. Airways Center in an ESPN2-televised fight for the North American Boxing Federation’s version of the 168-pound title.
There’s plenty of opportunity in Haye’s trashing of Klitschko
June 30, 2011 By Leave a Comment
For years, Wladimir Klitschko has been the solitary chess master against a field full of guys who should be playing checkers. He’s been winning with a stoic efficiency that earns polite applause, yet without any of the passion that captures the public imagination.
Alexander hopes to use lessons in a fight to recreate The Great expectations
June 23, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Hype, inevitable as it is dangerous, accompanies Devon Alexander into the ring Saturday against Lucas Mattysse as ally or enemy.
Real questions loom as Alvarez moves beyond the red hair and into range
June 17, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Introductions were fun, yet cosmetic. Saul Alvarez knows that.
Benavidez a knockout in his Phoenix homecoming
June 12, 2011 By Leave a Comment
PHOENIX — The right wrist was hurting. The left knuckle was bruised. The fight was painful. But the homecoming was sweet. Jose Benavidez Jr. made sure of it.
Benavidez ready for Alarcon tonight in Phoenix
June 11, 2011 By Leave a Comment
PHOENIX — Junior-welterweight prospect Jose Benavidez Jr. looked at the scale and saw a familiar number Friday at the formal weigh-in for his homecoming Saturday night against Corey Alarcon at Wild Horse Pass Hotel and Casino in suburban Chandler.
Coming home: Benavidez confident he can
June 9, 2011 By Leave a Comment
PHOENIX – It’s a line as old as a jab. It’s about going home. It says that you can’t. But Jose Benavidez, Jr., can look around and know that he can.
Ortiz means more $$ for Money Mayweather, but don’t bet on the Pacquiao possibility
June 9, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Floyd Mayweather Jr.-versus-Victor Ortiz: Tune-up or tease?
Benavidez gets an opponent for hometown debut
June 8, 2011 By Leave a Comment
PHOENIX – Phoenix junior-welterweight prospect Jose Benavidez Jr. learned Wednesday that he is scheduled to fight well-traveled Corey Alarcon Saturday night at Chandler’s Wild Horse Pass Hotel & Casino in Benavidez’ home-state debut as a pro.
In trying to create some of his own history, Chavez, Jr., stays in the family business
June 2, 2011 By 2 Comments
Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr., says he wants to create his own history, which means he will try to re-write a chapter as old as any in the family business.