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 … [Read more...]
A known ref is a bad ref, but where was Agbeko when he needed to retaliate?
August 18, 2011 By
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. … [Read more...]
AZ casino says no more Bare-Knuckle boxing, but Commission Association is still angry and still has questions
August 11, 2011 By
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 … [Read more...]
Bare-knuckle bout in Arizona stirs up opposition as promoter promises enhanced safeguards
August 5, 2011 By
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 … [Read more...]
Pavlik’s fight to get back on top starts with the battle to beat back distractions
July 28, 2011 By
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 … [Read more...]
Khan’s body shot gets an argument and victory over Judah
July 23, 2011 By
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? … [Read more...]
Hopkins talks Calzaghe rematch, but is Joe listening?
July 23, 2011 By
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. … [Read more...]
Predictable weigh-in precedes unpredictable Khan-Judah fight
July 22, 2011 By
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. … [Read more...]
Last Chance: Judah promises he’ll knock out the past and Amir Khan
July 22, 2011 By
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, … [Read more...]
Keeping score: New Jersey suspensions are timely, but a word or three short of being complete
July 14, 2011 By
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, … [Read more...]
Jesus Gonzales’ return to the scene of his lone loss is bloody sweet
July 8, 2011 By
PHOENIX – There was blood this time instead of tears. … [Read more...]
Gonzales’ foe fails to make weight, takes himself out of contention for NABF title
July 8, 2011 By
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. … [Read more...]
Gonzales fighting to reclaim the promise that an Ernie had
July 8, 2011 By
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, … [Read more...]
Shuffle means new foe, bigger risk for Jesus Gonzales
July 6, 2011 By
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 … [Read more...]
There’s plenty of opportunity in Haye’s trashing of Klitschko
June 30, 2011 By
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 … [Read more...]
Alexander hopes to use lessons in a fight to recreate The Great expectations
June 23, 2011 By
Hype, inevitable as it is dangerous, accompanies Devon Alexander into the ring Saturday against Lucas Mattysse as ally or enemy. … [Read more...]
Real questions loom as Alvarez moves beyond the red hair and into range
June 17, 2011 By
Introductions were fun, yet cosmetic. Saul Alvarez knows that. … [Read more...]
Benavidez a knockout in his Phoenix homecoming
June 12, 2011 By
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. … [Read more...]
Benavidez ready for Alarcon tonight in Phoenix
June 11, 2011 By
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. … [Read more...]
Coming home: Benavidez confident he can
June 9, 2011 By
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. … [Read more...]
Ortiz means more $$ for Money Mayweather, but don’t bet on the Pacquiao possibility
June 9, 2011 By
Floyd Mayweather Jr.-versus-Victor Ortiz: Tune-up or tease? … [Read more...]
Benavidez gets an opponent for hometown debut
June 8, 2011 By
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. … [Read more...]
In trying to create some of his own history, Chavez, Jr., stays in the family business
June 2, 2011 By
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. … [Read more...]
Froch’s genuine confidence targets two: Glen Johnson, then Andre Ward
May 26, 2011 By
Confidence, too often a bully’s mask or manufactured by insecurity, can sometimes be genuine. Thanks, Carl Froch. From Froch, it sounds like the real thing. … [Read more...]
Healthy dose of defiance has always been the key ingredient in the Hopkins diet
May 19, 2011 By
Bernard Hopkins’ diet apparently has never included a single potato chip or one of George Foreman’s cheeseburgers. Meanwhile, Jean Pascal sounds as if he has his own suspicions about what might be in the Hopkins diet. I’m only certain of one … [Read more...]
In the Mosley aftermath, Pacquiao-Marquez would be a tough sell
May 12, 2011 By
Fight fans, an endangered species, will applaud if Golden Boy Promotions does not match Top Rank’s offer to Juan Manuel Marquez, thereby ensuring a Marquez-Manny Pacquiao trilogy. For Pacquiao, it makes sense, which is another way of saying that … [Read more...]
Boos for Mosley as Pacquiao makes it look easy in a one-sided decision
May 7, 2011 By
LAS VEGAS – For Manny Pacquiao, there is only more waiting and more speculating about Floyd Mayweather, Jr. For Shane Mosley, there are boos. … [Read more...]
Roach will try to restore America’s Olympic gold in 2012
May 7, 2011 By
LAS VEGAS – Freddie Roach will try to put America’s Olympic boxing back on the gold standard. USA Boxing and Roach announced Saturday morning that the Hall of Fame trainer will help select and train the U.S. team for the 2012 London Games. … [Read more...]
Nothing off the scale yet, but drama awaits if Mosley’s power can rewrite a story that favors Pacquiao
May 6, 2011 By
LAS VEGAS – The scales tipped in favor of Shane Mosley by three pounds. The noise meter favored Manny Pacquiao by untold decibels, all deafening. The odds grow, but never really change. They always add up to Pacquiao. … [Read more...]
Odds for Pacquiao say one thing, but Mosley trainer Naazim Richardson says a lot more
May 5, 2011 By
LAS VEGAS – Manny Pacquiao has angles. Naazim Richardson has analogies. … [Read more...]
