Undefeated former two division champion Zsolt Erdei injured his hand and has been forced to withdraw from his New Years eve showdown with IBF Light Heavyweight champion Tavoris Cloud according to Dan Rafael of espn.com.

“He’s been waiting for this opportunity, so he is not a happy camper,” said Erdei’s promoter Lou DiBella of Erdei. “He’s upset, but if you can’t fight, you can’t fight, and the doctor is telling him he can’t fight.

“We are looking at all options and hope to have an answer by Monday,” Showtime’s Gordon Hall told ESPN.com.

At todays’s weigh in for the big rematch between Miguel Cotto and Antonio Margarito, WBA Lightweight champion Brandon Rios was about a pound and a half over the mandated 135 pound limit and was forced to relinquish his belt. His opponent John Murray can beome champion with a victory over Rios on Saturday night’s mega card at Madison square Garden.

According to espn.com, Murray’s team threatened to call off the fight, but eventually extracted concessions from Rios. He will pay Murray $20,000 from his $325,000 purse, a nice increase for Murray, who is due $50,000 plus a piece of British television revenue.

Also, to prevent Rios from blowing up in weight overnight, Murray’s camp insisted that Rios not weigh more than 147 pounds at 9 a.m. ET Saturday. If he is over 147, the fight could be called off.

“I think that may play to my advantage, but I’m just going to concentrate on myself,” Murray said. “I’ll let him worry about himself. I’m just going to stay on my game and do my business. I’m not upset at all. I’m just focused on doing my business (Saturday) night.

“We had already prepared to take him into the deep waters. This is a great opportunity for a guy like me. Fights like this are the fights that I want. I want to be in the center of the ring, hammering away to see who is going to be left standing, him or me.”

“He’s been in a colder climate than he’s used to and that probably hurt him trying to make weight,” Carl Moretti of Top Rank, Rios’ promoter, said of the Southern California fighter. “He’s a big 135-pounder. He just couldn’t get down. The question is what happens Saturday night and in the future? I think it’s too soon to say that he’s done at 135 but he could be. We’ll have to talk about with him and his team, see if maybe he went about making weight the wrong way. But he looked drained, very drained.”

Saul Alvarez made the third defense of the WBC Super Welterweight title with a fifth round stoppage over former Welterweight belt holder Kermit Cintron in Mexico City.

Alvarez boxed well over the first three-plus rounds as Cintron was content on jabbing against the power punches of Alvarez. In round four, Alvarez landed a hard right that sent Cintron back and onto his knee. for a knockdown. At the end of the frame, Alvarez landed a hard left on the ropes that froze Cintron on the ropes and the challenger looked like he was ready to go. In the fifth, Alvarez withstood a brief final stand from Cintron and landed a blistering combination that had the referee jump in and stop the fight at 2:53 of round five.

Alvarez, 154 lbs of guadalajra, MX is now 39-0-1 with twenty-nine knockouts. Cintron, 154 lbs of Reading, PA is now 33-5-1

Adrien Broner won the vacamt WBO Jr. Lightweight title with a third round stoppage over Martin Rodriguez at the U.S. Bank Arena in Cincinnati.

The first two round were competitive as Rodriguez tried to make it a rough and sloppy fight and had some success. In round three, Broner landed a big uppercut that set off a flurry of punches which was highlighted by a body shot that was followed by a big left hook that sent Rodriguez down on the bottom rope. With blood trickling out of his nose, Rodriguez did not even try to beat referee Frank Garza’s ten count and the bout was halted at 1:43 of round three.

Broner, 128 1/2 lbs of Cincinnati is now 22-0 with eighteen knockouts. Rodriguez, 129 1/2 lbs of Argentina is now 34-3-1.

Super prospect Gary Russell Jr. scored a sensational first round stoppage over veteran Heriberto Ruiz in a scheduled ten round Featherweight bout.

Russell landed a perfect right hook to the body then a blistering right hook to the head and Ruiz plummeted to the canvas and the fight was stopped.

Russell of Capital Heights, MD is 19-0 with eleven knockouts. Ruiz of Los Mochis, MX is now 48-12-2.

Dan Rafael of espn.com is reporting that former world champions Victor Ortiz & Andre Berto will rematch their 2011 Fight of the Year candidate on either January 28th or February 11th with this bout landing on Showtime rather than HBO where the first bout was televised.

Lou DiBella, Berto’s promoter, would not confirm the figures, but acknowledged that Showtime had bought the fight and was the highest bidder.

“Showtime’s offer was the highest in the marketplace,” DiBella told ESPN.com on Thursday night. “It’s good to know that they’re in the game and that a fight of this quality had interest from both networks. Competition in the marketplace is a good thing. As Andre Berto’s promoter, I am very grateful for the loyalty and investment HBO made in Berto over the years, and I know Andre is also.”

“The first fight was one of the best, most crowd-pleasing fights of the year and it’s the best thing for boxing fans that it’s going to happen again in 2012,” DiBella said. “This fight represents a good start to the year for Showtime, although I believe HBO made a good faith offer to get the fight.”

“This is something the people want and I want as well,” Berto told ESPN.com on Thursday night. “I gave up a world title for this to happen. You know how serious this is for me. I’ve been with HBO my whole career but Showtime stepped up to the plate money-wise to have it. Surprised HBO didn’t, but this is a business. So I am just looking forward (to) bringing the people the best fight possible to jump off the 2012 year with a bang.”

Dan Rafael of espn.com reports that Antonio Margarito has been approved for his boxing License and will take on Miguel Cotto on December 3rd in New York’s Madison Square Garden.

Margarito was originally denied a license after it was revealed his eye was not cleared by the omission after surgery for a cataract. The figures to be a lot of boxing betting on this fight. To bet on this fight click here

“There is a fight. This gotta be a chapter in my book,” Top Rank promoter Bob Arum exclaimed after watching the commission hearing on a live webcast. The commission had reservations about licensing Margarito because of a serious eye injury he suffered in a lopsided decision loss to Manny Pacquiao last November. Margarito suffered a badly broken orbital bone in his face and developed a cataract in his right eye.

“We went through a lot and Antonio saw every doctor he was asked to see and all of them gave us the same news — that everything was great and that there was no reason for him not to be approved,” Sergio Diaz, Margarito’s co-manager, said. “When we told Antonio he was licensed, he was screaming and he was happy. Now he is saying he has to take care of business come Dec. 3.

“We understood New York was trying to cover themselves and get assurances from the doctor they picked. But we felt confident all this time,” said Margarito’s co-manager Sergio Diaz.

“Evidence has been introduced, including an affidavit from the applicant himself, detailing the rehabilitation steps taken to ensure that all of the rules of the commission will be followed,” Torres said. “After due consideration of the evidence of rehabilitation the commission finds the issuance of a license to the applicant not to be contrary to the best interests of boxing.”

“Further, following the thorough examination performed by Dr. Goldstein and his testimony that it is his opinion that the condition of Mr. Margarito’s eye is such that he is fit to be in the ring, the commission rules that Mr. Margarito’s petition for licensure in New York is granted.”
Moretti, who was at Tuesday’s meeting with Top Rank president Todd duBoef, and Margarito’s attorneys, David Moroso and Daniel Petrocelli, said they were all pleased with the commission vote.

“The tension in the room, you could cut it with a knife,” he said. “I’m drained because all Todd and I wanted, and what all of us wanted, was for this fight to happen in New York because it’s important for the sport. You have a Madison Square Garden that is almost sold out — and I bet it will be sold out in the next day or two — with electricity running through it. If we had to move the show, it wouldn’t have had the same impact. Just the fact that we got the license and it came down to the 11th and half hour, it’s unreal.”

Said Diaz, “It’s been a real pain in the neck but it was something we had to go through. We couldn’t run. Antonio has been fighting for this. There wasn’t anything any of us were trying to hide about his injury. We were open to any kind of exam.”

Arum was glad the saga was over.

“I think you got to commend the commission that they were thoughtful and deliberative and that having Margarito fly in to be examined by a doctor designated by them, while an inconvenience, I think was something that was good to do because you can have doctors opining about this and that, but if they don’t examine the patient you can’t get a full feel,” Arum said. “That being said, the criticism I have is why wasn’t this done before the press conference (to announce the fight) in September? One way or another it would alleviated all the problems.

“If he had passed at that time none of this would have occurred. If not, we would have moved on to another state because we felt that having had him treated by Crandall, the leading (eye) doctor in the country, maybe the world, and having a retinal specialist check him out, morally we were on the high ground. We believed his eye was as good as anyone’s based on Crandall’s treatment.”

Jr. Middleweight prospect Eddie Gomez stopped Antonio Infante in round five of a scheduled six round bout in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Gomez landed a hard left-right combination and then landed a crushing uppercut and the bout was stopped at 2:16 of round five.

Gomez, 154 lbs of Bronx, NY is now 7-0 with six knockouts. Infante, 150 lbs of Miami, FL is now 6-2-1.

Roberto Acevedo scored a six round majority decision over previously undefeated O’Neill Negron in a Jr. Welterweight bout.

Acevedo, 138 lbs of Moca, PR is now 11-12-1. Negron, 138 lbs of Vega Baja, PR is now 8-1-1.

In a battle of pro debuting Super Welterweights, Keith Tapia stopped Andrus Kuilan in the first round of a scheduled four round bout.

Tapia scored one knockdown and finished off Kuilan with a wild flurry at 1:50

Starling Cordero made a successful pro debut by scoring a first round stoppage over Luis Duclet in a scheduled four round Bantamweight bout.

The time was 2:31 of round one for Cordero, 118 lbs of Carolina, PR. Duclet, 119 lbs is 0-3

Rafael Marquez (2-1) scored a four round unanimous decision over William Lorenzo (1-6) in a jr. Welterweight bout.

Former three-time former world champion Joan Guzman scored a one punch first round knockout over Florencio Castellano in a scheduled twelve round Welterweight bout in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

Guzman landed a devastating uppercut that sent Castellano down for the count and the fight was over.

Guzman is now 31-0-1 with eighteen knockouts. Castellano is now 16-6

In his first fight since losing a hotly disputed world title fight, Argenis Mendez stopped late replacement Alex Perez in round two of a scheduled eight round Jr. Lightweight bout.

Mendez dropped Perez with a hard left hook in round two. Perez got to his feet only to take a pounding over the next minute and the fight was stopped.

Mendez is 19-2 with ten knockouts. Perez is now 23-43-4.

IBF Jr. Lightweight champion, Amanda Serrano remained perfect by stopping Grecia Nova after round three of a scheduled ten round bout.

Serrano dropped Nova with a combination in round one and battered her over the next two rounds before the fight was stopped.

Serrano is now 13-0-1 with nine knockouts

Julio De jesus remained perfect by stopping Ramon Duran in round two of a scheduled eight round Jr. Welterweight bout.

De Jesus landed a hard right that dropped Duran in round two and then finished him off with a flurry on the ropes that had the referee stop the fight.

De Jesus is now 13-0 with twelve knockouts. Duran is now 21-5.

HOUSTON – Mexican Julio Cesar Chavez may never win fighter of the year, but if the Boxing Writers Association of America gave out a Most Improved Fighter award, Chavez would likely be a perennial finalist.

Saturday night at Reliant Arena in a WBC middleweight title fight broadcast on HBO’s “Boxing After Dark” program, Chavez (44-0-1-1, 32 KOs) outworked, outboxed and ultimately outslugged Rhode Islander Peter Manfredo Jr. (37-7, 20 KOs), stopping him at 1:52 of round 5.

After a fairly even open, one that saw Chavez employ a snapping left jab that was not part of his arsenal when his career began eight years ago, in round 2, Chavez began to show improved footwork to complement his improved physique, gliding away from Manfredo and landing left hooks and right crosses. The third round saw Chavez drop his hands and nudge backwards, luring Manfredo towards him then lacing him with right-hand leads.

After having his best round in the fourth, Manfredo came out his corner in the fifth and began to pressure an uncharacteristically relaxed Chavez. At the midway point of the round, Manfredo caught Chavez with a right cross that knocked the sweat of the young Mexican’s head. That effective aggressiveness proved to be a mistake by Manfredo.

A moment later, an angered Chavez launched a right hand that straightened Manfredo up and made him blink. And in the time it took to complete those blinks, Chavez swarmed Manfredo, causing referee Lawrence Cole to rush to Manfredo’s rescue and wave the match off after 30 seconds of sustained abuse.

Afterwards, an inspired Chavez, watched by recognized middleweight world champion Sergio Martinez from ringside, said, “I want to fight the best.”

Manfredo, who said before the fight that he would retire if he lost, looked and sounded dismayed in a postfight interview that was likely the last of his career.

JOSE PINZON VS. LARRY SMITH
If Mexican Jose Pinzon expected to look good against a guy who goes by the cognomen “Too Slow,” he ended up as disappointed as the evening’s partisan-Mexican crowd.

In Saturday’s final undercard bout, one that proved a weak appetizer for what was to follow, Pinzon (21-2-1, 13 KOs) applied a workmanlike pace to Dallas super welterweight Larry Smith (10-8, 7 KOs) and grinded out a win all three official judges scored 79-72 in his favor.

To a chorus of his countrymen’s boos, Pinzon moved forward and engaged Smith, even when it appeared neither man was much interested in a confrontation. Throwing tentative left hooks at Smith’s high and tight guard, Pinzon stayed busy enough to deserve his victory if not fans’ adoration.

LUCKY BOY OMOTOSO VS. LANARDO TYNER
Detroit welterweight Lanardo “Pain Server” Tyner is one of boxing’s rarest sorts: A trashtalker who has a chin and is unafraid to prove it. He fights with a smile and other antics and wins over the crowd, regardless of his matches’ final tallies.

Saturday’s performance – a fight he ultimately lost to undefeated Nigerian Lucky Boy Omotoso (20-0, 17 KOs) by unanimous scores of 79-73, 79-73 and 78-74 – was no exception for Tyner (25-5-2, 15 KOs), who had even former world champion Roy Jones Jr. laughing from his ringside seat.

Tyner employed hip rolls instead of shoulder rolls and collected some hellish right crosses from the longer and sharper Nigerian. But Tyner also entertained the Houston crowd, ensuring he’ll be back for future undercard performances.

ALEX SAUCEDO VS. CEDRIC SHEPPARD
Professional debuts can be tricky things, especially when they happen in a rival state that shares a border with one’s own. Oklahoma welterweight Alex Saucedo, though, made his look easy.

Saucedo (1-0, 1 KO) kept a measured pace till he saw openings against Austin’s Cedric Sheppard (0-2), and once those openings were found, Saucedo attacked and stopped the Texan at 2:28 of round 1.

MICKEY BEY VS. HECTOR VELAZQUEZ
Cleveland’s Mickey Bey may have Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s dad in his corner, but he sure doesn’t have Mayweather’s defense.

Matched against Tijuana lightweight Hector Velazquez (51-17-3-1, 35 KOs) in Saturday’s fifth fight, Bey (18-0-1, 9 KOs) kept his lead hand low and his leaping left hooks predictable but still managed to prevail by unanimous decision scores of 76-75, 78-73 and 77-74. The Reliant Arena crowd was animated in its disapproval of the official result.

Velazquez caught a wild-cocked Bey left hook with a well-timed hook of his own in the second minute of round 2, sending the undefeated Ohioan to the blue mat, from which Bey rose at a count of seven to weather the next 60 seconds of Velazquez’s assault. From there on, Bey kept his distance and got through a fight that could easily have been scored for Velazquez.

IVAN OTERO VS. GINO ESCAMILLA
In a well-contested and close four-round featherweight match between two Texans, undefeated local favorite Ivan Otero (7-0, 1 KO) and Laredo’s Gino Escamilla (5-11-1, 2 KOs), Houston’s Otero prevailed, much to the crowd’s delight, by majority decision scores of 38-38, 39-37 and 40-36.

A score of 38-38 might have been a bit too close and 40-36 was absolutely too wide, but the light-hitting Otero made an entertaining match with Escamilla, ensuring future appearances for him in this city.

JOSHUA CLOTTEY VS. CALVIN GREEN
Ghanaian Joshua “Grand Master” Clottey (36-4-0-1, 22 KOs) used the nickname “Hitter” for most of his career. He changed to “Grand Master” shortly before his abortive 2010 scrap with Manny Pacquiao in Cowboys Stadium. Saturday, he returned “Hitter” form against Texas super welterweight Calvin Green (21-7-1, 13 KOs), blasting him out with a left-hook lead at 1:56 of round 2.

Texas fans who’d last seen Clottey playing timid turtle behind a shell defense against Pacquiao had to be surprised by the more aggressive fighter they saw Saturday. Clottey was all business, attaining his first victory since 2008 in impressive fashion.

LUIS ZARAZUA VS. RICARDO AVILA
In a four-round battle of Texas featherweights, Edinburg’s Luis Zarazua (2-0, 1 KO) had former champion Jesus “El Matador” Chavez in his corner. That was appropriate, because against San Antonio’s outmatched Ricardo Avila (1-6), Zarazua was all bull, charging Avila relentlessly and winning a unanimous decision all three judges scored 40-36.

From the opening 30 seconds – a half minute Avila was lucky to finish on his feet – Zarazua established a superiority of class and power, blitzing Avila with left hooks galore to the body and a few to the protective cup, even dropping Avila with a low blow in round 2. But Avila displayed a noteworthy chin and heart, winging right crosses and somehow enduring to the match’s closing bell.

MARCUS JOHNSON VS. WILLIAM BAILEY
Saturday’s action began with a six-round light heavyweight match between undefeated Texas boxer-puncher “Too Much” Marcus Johnson (21-0, 15 KOs) and California brawler William Bailey (10-13, 4 KOs), a match Johnson won easily by unanimous decision scores of 60-53, 60-53 and 60-52.

After establishing his superiority of reflex early, Johnson caught Bailey with enough force to knock his mouthpiece out in the fourth round. The referee then allowed Bailey to bend and drag his glove across the blue mat in an effort to retrieve the fallen mouthpiece. Technically, it was a knockdown, but since little that Bailey did in Saturday’s opener was technical, no one stood on formality. The remaining two rounds were a formality of their own, as Bailey cruised to an easy victory.

Opening bell rang on an echo-filled Reliant Arena at 6:16 PM local time. Saturday’s attendance was estimated at 5,000.

Dan Rafael of espn.com is reporting that after Friday’s special license hearing for Antonio Margarito, that Margarito must see a New York State approved doctor to see if he can be licensed due to an eye injury sustained in his loss to Manny Pacquiao last November.

Earlier in the week it was rumored that the show would be moved out of New York’s Madison Square Garden, scheduled for December 3rd if the former Welterweight champion could not be granted the license to fight in the state.

Saying that the commission’s “primary objective is to safeguard the health and safety of all the athletes who compete under its jurisdiction,” Said New York Commission Chairperson Melivina Lathan the commission is “noting our multiple concerns” about Margarito’s right eye. Margarito could have sought assistance from a great Canadian Pharmacy

She said the commission was directing Margarito to submit “as soon as possible” to an eye exam in New York.

Top Rank promoter Bob Arum said Margarito would submit to the exam and was pleased with the decision.

“That’s good. That’s fine,” Arum told ESPN.com. “That means he is not going to be automatically disqualified because he had the cataract surgery. The surgery was performed by the best possible doctor (Crandall). As long as it’s a competent doctor in New York who does the exam, fine. It’s better than a denial.”

Arum said he is happy with the plan.

“We offered to do this six weeks ago and we are happy to do it now,” he said. “They are arranging how the exam will take place and we will fly Margarito and the doctor in.”

Arum suggested that the exam should take place in Salt Lake City at Crandall’s office, so all of the necessary equipment will be available.

“Whichever doctor the commission selects, he will examine Margarito and find the same thing our doctor has found, that he is OK,” Arum said.

If New York denies the license, Arum said he will move the fight on short notice to another venue with places such as Denver, Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, and venues in Mississippi possible.

Photo By Chris Farina / Top Rank

Dan Rafael of espn.com is reporting that former world champion Joel Casamayor tested positive for Marijuana for this past Saturday’s title bout with Timothy Bradley

“It’s unfortunate. If the commission finds him in violation of the drug-testing regulations, they could fine him or suspend him, or a combination thereof,” Nevada Commission head Keith Kizer said Thursday.

Dan Rafael of espn.com is reporting that famed cutman Joe Souza passed away Monday due to Prostate Cancer. he was 77.

In recent years, Souza was known as the man who kept Arturo Gatti fights despite massive cuts around Gatti’s eyes in just about every one of his fights.

Souza, also an amateur boxing coach in San Antonio, worked with numerous top professionals during his career. His first champion was San Antonio star James Leija, who won a junior lightweight title with Souza in his corner in 1994. Souza, who learned from mentor Ace Marotta, worked with numerous star fighters, including Evander Holyfield, Pernell Whitaker, Fernando Vargas and Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko, among many others.

Many of the fighters Souza worked with were promoted by Main Events.

“Joe worked with just about every fighter that fought under the Main Events banner for a very long time,” Main Events’ Kathy Duva said. “I remember first meeting him in Texas around 1980. Ace Marotta took him under his wing early on and taught Joe all of his secrets. After Ace’s passing, Joe became Main Events’ go-to guy in the corner.

“He was such a sweet man. Kind, considerate and sincerely caring. Everyone at Main Events loved him and will miss him.”

“Joe was James’ amateur coach and asked me to manage him,” said Lester Bedford, who was friends with Souza for about 30 years. “I wasn’t interested in managing fighters, but Joe talked me into it. When I saw James fight I was more enthusiastic about it. Joe got his name and experience working James’ corner. When he won the title against Azumah Nelson, Joe probably saved James in the fight because he had a really bad cut. He saved him in many fights. James was probably cut 40 times in his career. You can imagine how many times he could have lost meaningful fights if he didn’t have Joe in the corner.”

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, WBO Welterweight champion and his team are looking in another direction rather than tp face Floyd Mayweather in a bout that the whole world has been clamoring for the better part of three years.

Leonard Ellerbe, one of Mayweather’s advisors, and Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer both told ESPN.com Monday that they were notified that Pacquiao promoter Bob Arum of Top Rank was not interested in coming to the table.

“We have been informed that Bob Arum is not interested in pursuing a fight between Mayweather and Pacquiao at this time,” Schaefer said.

“I am sick and tired of Bob Arum twisting the truth. It’s another case of ‘yesterday I was lying, today I’m telling the truth,’ ” Schaefer said, invoking Arum’s most famous quote. “The truth of the matter is that we received this afternoon an email from retired federal judge Daniel Weinstein, who has informed us that Top Rank is pursuing a rematch with Marquez and, therefore, is not interested in immediate talks for a possible Mayweather-Pacquiao fight. This is obviously as clear as it can be that they have no intentions of making a Mayweather-Pacquiao fight. Therefore, Floyd Mayweather will have no other choice than to move on and identify and lock in another opponent for his ring return on May 5.”

“Judge Weinstein is respected by both parties and mediated issues between Top Rank and Golden Boy before, so the plan was to see if he could help facilitate such a fight. Floyd’s team really wanted to get this fight done,” Schaefer said. “If you just sit down with Arum, he can at any time have one of his fits, one of his ‘f— you’ attacks, and the likelihood that he would have a ‘f— you’ attack in front of a retired judge seemed less likely than if Arum and me would be alone in a room.”

“In my opinion, you have three cowards — Bob Arum, (Pacquiao trainer) Freddie Roach and Manny Pacquiao,” Ellerbe told ESPN.com. “Now we all know the truth once and for all why this fight hasn’t been made. It should be clear to everyone that they don’t care what the fans want, especially when Floyd is ready, willing and able to fight Manny Pacquiao now. Floyd said if this isn’t clear, he doesn’t know what is.

“All along we know why the fight isn’t being made. This is the perfect opportunity. Both guys just fought. This is the fight the fans want to see, and it’s a disgrace that they are not willing to give the fans what they want. In my opinion, there are three reasons why Arum doesn’t want the fight. He knows there is no way that Manny Pacquiao can win, it kills his cash cow, and he wants to do in-house fights where he controls both sides. I said all along why this fight hasn’t been made to this point. Manny Pacquiao knows, Bob Arum knows and Freddie Roach knows.”

Ellerbe said he and Schaefer would begin exploring potential May 5 opponents for Mayweather.

“We have a number of options, and we will evaluate that and give the fans the biggest fight we can give them,” he said. “But before we can get started (on a Pacquiao fight), Top Rank doesn’t even want to listen. They’re not even interested in Floyd Mayweather. They want no part of Floyd Mayweather. They have no interest in the little fella fighting Floyd. Manny Pacquiao needs to stand up, in my opinion, and tell his promoter that he wants to fight Floyd Mayweather next and stop hiding behind his promoter.”

LAS VEGAS – In the years since Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez began their rivalry, fans have debated what might have happened had Pacquiao not felled Marquez four times with left hands in the men’s first two fights. Saturday, they found out. But somebody forgot to tell the judges.

In a fight at MGM Grand likely to be remembered for Marquez’s technical mastery of Pacquiao through its second half, Pacquiao inexplicably prevailed by majority-decision scores of 114-114, 115-113 and 116-112.

The 15rounds.com ringside card did not concur, scoring the fight a clear victory for Marquez, 117-113.

After four uneventful but even rounds, 12 minutes in which each fighter showed the other perhaps too much respect, Pacquiao (54-3-2, 38 KOs) and Marquez (53-5-1, 39 KOs) began to exchange in round 5, with Marquez throwing left-uppercut leads Pacquiao surely had not seen in training-camp sparring sessions. Marquez also kept Pacquiao off-balance and somewhat confounded by his counter movement and patience.

Through the fight’s midway point, only round 5 had been decisive for either fighter. That round went Marquez’s way.

By the end of round 8, it had become apparent that Marquez understood Pacquiao better than Pacquiao understood Marquez, and that if Marquez could stay fresh and away from the left hand, he’d have the fight won. In the ninth, the fight’s best round to that point, Marquez appeared to expose the myth of Pacquiao’s improved footwork, causing the Filipino champion to swim at him, flailing wildly with both hands.

As each round passed, it became more apparent that uneventful rounds should be scored in Marquez’s favor for demonstrating the Mexican’s superior ring generalship.

Heading into the championship rounds, Pacquiao still did not have a solution for Marquez’s left uppercut lead, but Marquez had picked up every Pacquiao left cross and slipped it or ducked it, sending Pacquiao careening over his lead shoulder. As the fight ended, Marquez triumphantly raised his fist while Pacquiao turned and walked slowly away.

After the judges’ scorecards were read, fans’ disapproval grew so loud that Pacquiao’s voice could not be heard over the roar, and Pacquiao’s postfight interview yielded no new insights.

TIMOTHY BRADLEY VS JOEL CASAMAYOR
While most fights open with a contest between combatants to see who can establish his jab, California junior welterweight Timothy “Desert Storm” Bradley’s match with Cuban Joel Casamayor began with a contest to see who could establish the head.

And so it went in Saturday’s co-main event, a fight for Bradley’s titles and a foul-fest that was every bit as ugly as boxing insiders, and even outsiders, expected it to be. Referee Vic Drakulich earned his pay, warning Casamayor (38-6-1, 22 KOs) repetitively for butts and low blows and presiding over an aesthetically displeasing fight in which Bradley (28-0, 12 KOs) eventually prevailed by corner-stoppage TKO at 2:59 of round 8.

From the opening bell, Casamayor pursued a prefight strategy that could best be classified as slip-butt-hold, establishing his bald head as his best weapon. Bradley, who has often and somewhat unfairly been classified as a dirty fighter, held his own head high, keeping Casamayor at a safe distance and whacking him with accurate right hands.

The match’s result was never in doubt – with Bradley too active and Casamayor too old – which left lots of room for doubt as it concerned the making of Bradley-Casamayor in the first place. Matched correctly and given a chance by fans, Bradley could likely be a star in one of boxing’s best divisions. Matched against a cagey Cuban against whom no one has ever looked particularly good, and fighting before a partisan Filipino and Mexican crowd, Palm Springs’ Bradley had little chance to win new fans for himself.

MIKE ALVARADO VS. BREIDIS PRESCOTT

Coloradoan “Mile High” Mike Alvarado, long seeking a career-defining win that would make him popular as his undefeated record says he should be, might have gotten just such a win against Colombian Breidis Prescott.

Appearing to trail by a significant margin in the match, Alvarado (32-0, 23 KOs) rallied in the final round to bludgeon an exhausted Prescott (24-4, 19 KOs) with ferocious uppercuts till referee Jay Nady stopped the match, awarding Alvarado a knockout victory at 1:53 of round 10.

After giving away most of the match’s opening four rounds, Alvarado was bleeding from his nose, right eye and mouth but still marching forward, undissuaded, by the end of the fifth. Rounds 5 and 6 were the best Alvarado put together to that point in the match, and Prescott began to evince fatigue, fighting within Alvarado’s range and backpedaling awkwardly, after the fight’s midpoint.

Rounds 8 and 9 saw Prescott regain his stamina and reestablish distance, outboxing the heavier-punching Alvarado, who appeared at times to be fighting as if protecting a lead. But then the 10th round struck and Alvarado went for broke, leveraging uppercuts that completely changed the fight and kept him unbeaten.

JUAN CARLOS BURGOS VS. LUIS CRUZ
The first televised fight of Saturday’s undercard, Puerto Rican lightweight Luis Cruz (19-1, 15 KOs) against Mexican Juan Carlos Burgos (28-1, 19 KOs), featured two guys who appeared to want to fight each other quite desperately but just never found the rhythm needed to turn the trick.

Although caught by a number of clean punches during the 10-round match, Burgos nevertheless prevailed by majority-decision scores of 91-95, 97-93 and 98-92, in a fight with numerous tough-to-score rounds.

DENNIS LAURENTE VS. AYI BRUCE
After six rounds of even if not particularly enthralling combat, Filipino Dennis Laurente’s (38-3-4, 20 KOs) undercard match with New York’s Ayi Bruce (13-5, 6 KOs) ended abruptly with a perfectly leverage left cross from the Filipino southpaw that ended Bruce’s night. Laurente’s left-handed lightning struck with effect enough to score Saturday’s first knockout at 0:57 round 7.

JOSE BENAVIDEZ VS. SAMMY SANTANA

Phoenix super lightweight Jose Benavidez may well represent promoter Top Rank’s best shot at a superstar for the year 2020, but he is not there just yet.

Against tough but limited Puerto Rican Sammy Santana (4-5-2), Benavidez (14-0, 12 KOs), who hurt both hands during the match, moved well and struck hard but was unable to stop Santana despite dropping him three times in the fight’s opening two rounds and winning a decision all three judges scored 60-50. Benavidez, whose lanky frame and perilous right cross are a little reminiscent of a young Thomas Hearns’, still relies on reflexes too much – often dropping his hands and pulling his head back from punches, in an amateurish maneuver that needs to be remedied.

VICTOR PASILLAS VS. JOSE GARCIA
Saturday’s second bout featured a battle of California featherweights in a four-round match between Victor Pasillos (1-0) of East Los Angeles and Jose Garcia of King City (0-4). Pasillos prevailed in his professional debut by three, one-sided scores of 40-36.

FERNANDO LUMACAD VS. JOSEPH RIOS
Latino versus Filipino, the ethnic theme for Pacquiao-Marquez III, began with an entertaining and competitive eight-round scrap between Philippines super flyweight Fernando Lumacad (25-3-3, 12 KOs) and Texan Joseph Rios (10-6-2, 4 KOs). Lumacad prevailed by unanimous decision scores of 77-73, 77-74 and 78-72.

The match began uneventfully, with neither fighter risking much of himself in the opening five minutes. With little time remaining in round 2, though, Lumacad caught Rios with what appeared to be a balance-shot left hook that sent Rios stumbling straight-legged to a far corner. In round 5, Lumacad dropped Rios a second time. But in the three rounds that followed, Rios fought back admirably, even winning the sixth on two of the official judges’ three cards.

Opening bell rang on Saturday’s card at 3:23 PM local time.

Photos by Chris Farina / Top Rank

LAS VEGAS – Diego Magdaleno may not have blown through his opponent the way some hoped he would, but he made a dominant showing just the same.

Friday night at the Islander Ballroom in Mandalay Bay, a venue hard to locate but telegenic enough for promoter Top Rank’s fight-weekend-appetizer purposes, Magdaleno (21-0, 7 KOs), a local super featherweight favorite, cruised to a unanimous and well-deserved victory over New York’s Emmanuel Lucero (26-8-1, 14 KOs). Judges scored the match 100-87, 100-88 and 100-89.

After an even beginning, Magdaleno, a quick-hopping southpaw, began to hurl his straight left at the slower Lucero and find him most every time he did. Though Lucero was game throughout, often goading Magdaleno as if to seduce him into further punishment, Magdaleno was too quick and accurate with the assault he mounted.

Round 7, the most lopsided of the fight, saw Las Vegas’ Magdaleno catch Lucero with a left cross as the New Yorker bounced of the ropes and came forward. Magdaleno’s left landed with force enough to send Lucero directly back to the same ropes. Though Lucero did not drop to the canvas, he hit the ropes hard enough to get the referee’s attention and collect a 10-count. That knockdown accounted for the one-sided scorecards Nevada judges submitted.

While Magdaleno is a contender with a fair degree of class, there are concerns about his ability to hurt opponents. At some point in the near future, Magdaleno will need to start brutalizing tough but limited men like Lucero by grinding them to stoppages, if he is to become more than a local attraction.

MERCITO GESTA VS. RICARDO DOMINGUEZ
The Philippines’ Mercito “No Mercy” Gesta may not be Manny Pacquiao – no one is – but he does a workable enough cover of the southpaw champion’s style to deserve a spot in crooner Pacquiao’s band.

In Friday’s co-main event, and only other televised match, Gesta (24-0-1, 12 KOs) worked over Mexican lightweight Ricardo Dominguez (34-7-2, 21 KOs) for 10 somewhat-uninspired rounds, easing his way to a unanimous decision the official judges scored 99-91, 97-92 and 98-92.

Skipping forward from his southpaw stance and propelling an educated left hand, Gesta had Dominguez in trouble for a moment of the fourth round but ultimately allowed the Mexican to remain standing till the match’s final bell six stanzas later.

Gesta has feasted on b-level opponents in the past and seemed somewhat surprised at Dominguez’s durability. Going forward, Gesta will have to make fantastic strides to take himself from backup-player to main-event participant, with Pacquiao, in his countrymen’s minds.

Photo By Chris Farina / Top Rank

Manny Pacquiao 143 – Juan Manuel Marquez 142
Juan Carlos Burgos 129 – Luis Cruz 130
Breidis Prescott 140 – Mike Alvarado 140
Timothy Bradley 140 – Joel Casamayor 141 *
* Must lose a pound and came back to make 140

LAS VEGAS – Bob Arum threw a combination as only he can, first by praising Home Box Office for its work in the build-up to Manny Pacquiao-Juan Manuel Marquez and then ripping the network for its documentary, Thrilla in Manila, a look at the Joe Frazier-Muhammad Ali rivalry that HBO will replay Thursday and Sunday in honor of the late Frazier.

“That documentary, I find is disgusting,’’ Arum said Wednesday after HBO senior vice-president Mark Taffet announced the scheduling during a formal news conference for the third chapter in the Pacquiao-Marquez trilogy Saturday at the MGM Grand.

The 2009 film tells a story about the Muhammad Ali-Frazier rivalry through the eyes of Frazier, 67, who died Monday from liver cancer. Through most of his life, Frazier was bitter at the way he was treated by Ali, who called him “ugly”, a “gorilla,’’ and an “Uncle Tom’’ during their heavyweight trilogy.

Arum remembered Frazier as a great fighter, yet he was angry at the film’s portrayal of Ali.

“I’m 80,’’ said Arum, a former Ali promoter. “I was there. It is an unfair attack on Ali. Watch it. But don’t believe a word that is said.’’

The 90-minute documentary is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. (ET/PT) on Thursday and 5:30 p.m. (ET/PT) Sunday.

Dan Rafael of espn.com is reporting that IBF Welterweight champion Andre Berto will relinquish his belt and pursue a rematch with former WBC champion Victor Ortiz.

“It’s a fight that I want more than a world championship,” Berto told ESPN.com. “I love my title, but then again, I want to give the fans what they want to see.”

Lou DiBella, Berto’s promoter, told ESPN.com that Bello gave up the title begrudgingly.

“He didn’t want to and he doesn’t understand why HBO would turn down Randall Bailey as an opponent, but he also wants revenge against Ortiz,” DiBella said. “The fact is there is no American TV money to make Berto-Bailey so it couldn’t be made. We are trying to make the Ortiz rematch.”

“I wouldn’t be able to sleep at night going the other route and just skimming through,” Berto said. “Knowing who I am, and how I was brought up, and my passion for the game, that’s the route I need to go. It’s just me. I’m the type of kid that if I got in a schoolyard fight, I’m gonna see that guy and we will have to fight every day until I beat him. I know we’re going to have to scrap again.”

The report said DiBella is eyeing January 28th.

“Joe Frazier passed (Monday) night and he is remembered as a great person who fought in some of the most monumental fights,” Berto said. “He will always be remembered. I believe that’s the reason I got into the sport, by watching monumental fights. These guys have a passion for the sport and I want to continue that.

“I think that the rematch will be a tremendous fight. The first one was a fight of the year and it’s only right for me just knowing that I got into the game to be in great fights. It’s the fight everyone wants to see. We have a short time span in this game, so I every time I step in this ring I want it to be remembered, and I want people to remember me for that.”

“I definitely want it more than any other fight in my career right now,” Berto said. “I had an off night and (Ortiz) capitalized on it. It was a wake-up call for me to refocus. I’m just ready to go and lock myself in a dungeon and focus and get ready.

“Everything happens for a reason. This fight right here a second time around will be a lot bigger than the first one and a win will make me a lot bigger star. You got two fighters, Bailey and Ortiz. They are both risks, but a there’s a bigger reward to fight Ortiz, so I am ready to go.”

“My guy is coming off a title win, Ortiz is coming off a knockout loss and their first fight was terrific, so we just need to make a fair deal,” DiBella said. “It took two to make a fight of the year candidate. So I have no problem with equal footing for this fight, but I won’t be dictated to by Richard or by HBO. I’m sure when Richard and I get past the fact that we are quibbling, we can get a deal done.”

Photo by Claudia Bocanegra

Former Heavyweight champion, “Smokin” Joe Frazier passed away from Liver cancer on Monday night.

Frazier was at his home in Philadelphia.

Frazier, who basically is responsible for being coined the term “Philadelphia Fighter” is best known for his trilogy with Muhammad Ali, which most sports writers and historians believe is the greatest rivalry in sports.

Frazier won an Olympic Gold Medal in 1968.

Frazier won the title when he defeated Jimmy Ellis in 1970 and defended against Bob Foster before the first of his three bouts with Ali.

In that bout, which was the most anticipated boxing match off all time, Frazier defeated Ali via 15 round decision.

Frazier defended the title two more times before being dropped six times in two rounds in losing the crown to George Foreman.

Frazier lost the second and third fights to Ali with the third fight being the famous “Thrilla in Manila”

Frazier would receive one more shot at the title as he was sopped in five to Foreman. he took a five year hiatus and fighting to a draw with Floyd Cummings in 1981.

Frazier finished his carer with a mark of 32-4-1 with twenty-seven knockouts.

In what will go down as one of the top fights of 2011, James Kirkland stopped Alfredo Angulo in round six of a scheduled twelve round Jr. Middleweight bout in Cancun, Mexico.

It started off good for Angulo as the two came out and and just threw bombs from the opening bell. Kirkland backed Angulo against the ropes but Angulo landed a short right hand that deposited Kirkland on the canvas. The only seemed to wake up Kirkland as he came back to bludgeon Angulo for the rest of the round and event scoring a knockdown with a hard accumulation of punches just before the end of the opening stanza.

It was pretty much all Kirkland for the rest of the fight but Angulo was able to land some hard shots that momentarily gave him hope but Kirkland just kept coming and coming by landing some thudding shots.

In round six, Kirkalnd backed Angulo up and landed hard shots that had the referee stop the fight.

Kirkland, 153 1/2 lbs of Austin, TX is now 29-1 with twenty-sevn knockouts. Angulo, 154 lbs of Mexico is now 20-2.

Peter “Kid Chocolate” Quillin threw his name into the Middleweight contender ship ring as he stopped Craig McEwan in round six of a scheduled ten round Bout.

Quillin boxed decently early until he gained control by landing some good shots in round four the reddened the eyes of McEwan. In round six, Quillin landed a big over hand right and left that hurt McEwan and the fight was suddenly stopped by the referee at 2:23 of round six.

Quillin, 159 3/4 lbs of Grand rapids, MI is now 26-0 with twenty knockouts. McEwan, 160 lbs of Edinburgh, Scotland is now 19-2

Lucian Bute was flawless in defending the IBF Super Middleweight title with a twelve round unanimous decision over former Light Heavyweight king Glen Johnson at the Pepsi Colisei in Quebec City, Canada.

Bute showed why he just may the best Super Middleweight in the world as he dominated Johnson round after round with what could be the most diverse offensive arsenal in the Super Middleweight division.

Bute was consistent with everything from jabs to uppercuts. Bute kept the normally aggressive Johnson. Bute seemingly had Johnson in trouble in several rounds as he was cheered on by his massive fan base that was over 16,000.

Johnson was game but Bute has too much for the nearly forty-three year old Johnson and won by scores of 120-108; 120-108 and 119-109.

Bute, 167 1/2 lbs of Montreal, Quebac is now 30-0. Johnson, 166 1/2 lbs of Miami is now 51-16-2.

When asked if he was disappointed that he was unable to close out his seventh straight title defense via stoppage, Bute responded, “No, I’m very happy. This is a great experience. Fighting Glen Johnson is an honor for me. I needed a fight like this.”

Johnson felt the bout was closer than the statistics or the scorecards indicated. “I thought I won the fight. I don’t think he was landing anything.”

Regarding his hesitation to throw more power shots, Johnson said, “My right arm swelled up in about the fourth round so I couldn’t throw my big right hand. I basically beat him with one hand.” Johnson displayed the swelling on his upper right forearm to the SHOWTIME cameras to help support his claim.

With the looming Dec. 17 showdown between Super Six World Boxing Classic finalists Andre Ward and Carl Froch, Bute told SHOWTIME ringside reporter Jim Gray that he plans to attend the fight and predicted that Ward would win by decision. When asked if he wants to fight the tournament’s victor, Bute said, “Of course. It’s my dream.”

Pier Olivier Cote scored an emphatic second round stoppage over Jorge Teron in a scheduled twelve round Jr. Welterweight bout.

Cote rocked Teron in round one from a huge right. Cote was all over Teron only to get hit with a flush counter right that sent Cote back. Cote started round two with a perfect left right combination that sent Teron to the canvas. Teron got to his feet only to have Cote land a right to the body that was followed by a devastating left hook that plummeted a prone Teron to the canvas. Teron began squirting blood out of his nose and the fight was waved off at thirty-three seconds of round two

Cote, 140 lbs of Quebec City is now 18-0 with twelve knockouts. Teron, 139 1/4 lbs of Las Vegas is now 25-3-1.

Mariusz Wach remained perfect by scoring a sixth round stoppage over late replacement Jason Gavern in a scheduled twelve round Heavyweight bout at the Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, CT.

Wach dropped Gavern in round’s one and two with hard left hooks in the corner. he continued to pound Gavern until the fight was stopped with Wach landing unanswered blows on the ropes.

The time of the stoppage was 1:03 of round six.

Wach, 248 lbs of North Bergen, NJ is now 26-0 with fourteen knockouts. Gavern, 248 1/4 lbs is 21-9-4

Jose Torres knocked Patrick Majewski from the ranks of the undefeated with a sixth round stoppage in a scheduled ten round Middleweight bout.

Torres flattened Majewski with a flush left-right combinations that sent Majewski, bloodied and flat on his back.

Torres, 159 1/4 lbs of Miami is now 23-5 with twenty knockouts. Majewski, 160 lbs of Atlantic City is 17-1

Borngod Washington pulled off a mild upset when he stopped previously undefeated Rick Dawson in the final scheduled round of their four round Super Middleweight bout.

Washington, 166 lbs of Queens, NY is 3-9 with one knockout. Dawson, 168 lbs of New Haven, CT is the brother of former Light Heavyweight champion Chad Dawson is 4-1

Former Super Welterweight champion Sergio Mora stopped former title challenger Jose Flores after round seven of a scheduled ten round Middleweight bout at the Fantasy Springs Resort in Indio, CA.

Mora battered Flores and was more aggressive then his usual counter punching style.  Mora landed hard combinations and battered Flores at the end of round seven and he did not come out for round eight.

Mora, 161 lbs of East Los Angeles, CA is now 23-2-2 with seven knockouts.  Flores, 158 3/4 lbs of Sonora, MX is now 43-12.

Hugo Centeno remined perfect by scoring a six round unanimous decision over Hector Orozco in a Jr, Middleweight bout.

Centeno, 151 1/2 lbs of Oxnard, CA won by scores of 59-55; 58-56; 58-56 and is now 10-0.  Orozco, 150 1/2 lbs of Minneapolis, MN is now 4-9.

Jose Vargas scored a six round unanimous decision over Oscar Chinchilla in a Lightweight bout.

Vargas, 131 1/2 lbs is now 7-1-2. Chinchilla, 131 lbs is 2-2

Former world champion Manny Siaca scored a ten round unanimous decision over George Rivera in a Middleweight bout.

Siaca is now 24-7. Rivera is 13-7

In an exciting slugfest, Anthony Sanchez defeated John Figueroa in a six round Jr. Welterweight bout.

The two waged war and rocked each other several times during the bout.

Sanchez is 6-1. Figueroa is 7-11-3.

In an exciting slugfest, Anthony Sanchez defeated John Figueroa in a six round Jr. Welterweight bout.

The two waged war and rocked each other several times during the bout.

Sanchez is 6-1. Figueroa is 7-11-3.

Dan Rafael of espn.com is reporting that Floyd Mayweather will fight May 5th and would like to the biggest fight possible and his adviser indicated a fight with Manny Pacquiao could loom for that date.

Mayweather’s opponent has not been determined but Mayweather’s adviser Leonard Ellerbe said, “We’re looking to make the biggest fight possible and everyone knows what that fight is, the little fella.”

“Floyd made it very clear that he wants to give the fans the biggest fights that are out there. He wants to stay active,” Ellerbe said. “We’re going to do everything in our power to make the biggest fight out there for the fans and we all know what the fight is.”

“We had a discussion, Floyd, me and Al,” Ellerbe said. “Floyd made it very clear to us what he wanted to do. He told us he is looking to make the biggest fight that is out there and to make it in May.”

“I’m very excited that the sport’s biggest pay-per-view star is going to be back on May 5,” Schaefer told ESPN.com. “We have informed the pay-per-view industry and I have the arena on hold. I’m excited to continue my relationship with Floyd and his team. It’s always fun to work with Floyd.”

“We have to plan any time you’re the biggest star in the sport,” Ellerbe said. “You have to plan in advance because his fights are events. In order to maximize the exposure you want to plan as far in advance as you can to make your event as big as possible. May 5, that is the date Floyd is fighting on. We have secured May 5 at the MGM. Floyd is excited to make his return.”

Dan Rafael of espn.com is reporting that the IBF has named Tony Thompson the mandatory challenger for champion Wladimir Klitschko after Eddie Chambers deemed himself unavailable to take on Thompson.

Chambers was due to fight Thompson on October 28th but couldn’t fight due to a back injury and when he could not fight on the proposed December 17th date, The IBF elevated Thompson to the top spot to rematch Klistchko of a fight that saw the champion stop Thompson in the 11th round in July of 2008.

“I was borderline sappy. I really felt I was going to start bawling like a baby because I wanted this opportunity so bad,” Thompson told ESPN.com on Monday.

“Knowing I wasn’t at 100 percent has been eating away at me for the past three years,” said Thompson, who fought with an injured knee that required surgery following the fight. “Now to have another opportunity at the ripe old age of 40, I will be at my best in terms of conditioning and my knowledge of the game. This means everything to me.”

“Eddie, in essence, forfeited his opportunity and felt he was wasn’t going to be prepared physically or mentally for the rescheduled date,” said Dan Goossen, who promotes Thompson and Chambers. “So the IBF obviously took the position, which we certainly agreed with, that there was a box-off to get to the final eliminator and anything other than naming Tony the mandatory wasn’t right. Tony did everything he was supposed to do, including prepare himself for Oct. 28 and begin preparing himself for Dec. 17 if Eddie was going to participate.

“We would have all preferred that the fight occurred to establish the mandatory, but it didn’t work out that way. I was one of the voices to Eddie telling him this was an opportunity that very few people get. I told him, ‘I would give it careful consideration to make sure you make the right decision.’ When things get down to it, it’s always up to the fighter. I’m not going to talk a fighter into it if the fighter doesn’t feel like he is physically or mentally ready for whatever reason. We are in very rough sport. You can get hurt when you are physically and mentally prepared to fight and the chances are even more so if you are not.”

“As down as Tony was when he heard Eddie wasn’t fighting, obviously he is excited for the chance to fight Wladimir again,” Goossen said. “He told me on the phone when he found out he was the mandatory, ‘Dan, I promise you I’m gonna knock out Wladimir Klitschko and become heavyweight champion of the world.’ I just have that belief that Tony can surprise a lot of people when that opportunity happens.

“He has eight kids and works his butt off to take care of them. He knows what hardship is and what’s in front of him. He’s gotten better and better as the years have gone on. He doesn’t like to talk about it, but he had a bad knee in the first fight and he never complained about it.”

“It wouldn’t be fair to me to make me fight a guy who didn’t have a preliminary fight (in the box-off), so I feel the IBF made a fair decision and I’m thankful,” Thompson said.

“He was always leery of the fight and the purse he was being offered when all this started, but to come this late in a training camp and then pull out I was surprised,” Thompson said. “But he called me and assured me he does have a legitimate injury. He wanted to assure me he wasn’t pulling the wool over my eyes and wanted to assure me as a buddy.

“Had he put me through another training camp and then pulled out (before the rescheduled date) that would have been worse. Now I can start preparing for Wladimir right now. Yes, I was angry I didn’t get to perform on Showtime (on Oct. 28) and bring a fight to the public, but I’m always a glass half-full guy. I am where I wanted to be — in position to fight Wladimir Klitschko for the heavyweight championship of the world.

Number-one ranked Super Welterweight Vanes Martirosyan scored a ten round unanimous decision over veteran Richard Gutierrez at the Winstar Casino in Thackerville, Oklahoma.

Martiosyan boxed well as he used a good jab and mixed off a good arsenal of punches that never let Gutierrez into the fight.

Martirosyan, 158 1/2 lbs of Glendale, CA won by scores of 100-90;100-90 and 99-91 and is now 31-0. Gutierrez, 153 1/2 lbs of Miami, FL is now 26-8-1-1.

Casey Ramos survived a second round knockdown to score an eight round unanimous decision over Joselito Collado in a Super Featherweight bout of undefeated fighters.

Ramos was dropped with a left hook in round two and was cut around the eye. He came back to land the the better punches over the next several rounds as the two stood toe to toe in the entertaining battle.

Ramos, 130 lbs of Austin, TX won by scores of 78-74; 78-73 and 77-74 and is now 15-0. Collado, 128 3/4 lbs of Queens, NY is now 12-1.

Luis Zarazua needed just twenty-eight seconds to dispose of Jorge Flores in Zarazua’s pro debut.

The bout was a scheduled four round Featherweight bout. Zarazua caught Flores with a straight right and followed with a perfect left hook that sent Flores down. Flores got to his feet but was wobbly and the fight was waved off.

Zarazua, 125 1/2 lbs id 1-0 with one knockout. Flores, 125 lbs is 0-3

World ranked Jr. Lightweight Eloy Perez stopped Ira Terry Jr. in round six of their scheduled ten round bout in Salinas, CA

Perez dominated and began to batter Terry before the fight was stopped.

Perez, 131 lbs of Salinas, CA is now 23-0-2 with seven knockouts. Terry, 129 lbs of Memphis, TN is now 24-7

Paul Mendez scored a six round unanimous decision over Loren Myers in a six round Light Heavyweight bout.

Scores were 60-54 on all cards for Mendez, 172 lbs of Delano, CA and is now 7-2. Myers, 174 lbs of Fresno, CA is 8-14-1.

Rudy Puga Jr. dropped Jose Hurtado twice in round one and scored a first round stoppage in a scheduled four round Light Heavyweight.

The time was 1:51 of round one for Puga Jr., 170 lbs of Salinas, CA and is now 2-0 with two knockouts. Hurtado, 172 lbs is now 3-4.

Carina Moreno scored a six round unanimous decision over Sharon Gaines in a womens Flyweight bout.

Brandon Gonzales received an eight round split decision over Ossie Duran in a Middleweight bout at Ballys in Atlantic City.

It was Duran who controlled the action off of his jab that set up a variety of punches that ranged from flush overhand rights to good body work. Duran was not known a left hook artist actually landed a decent amount of those punches. Gonzales did have some solid moments in the bout but they were sandwiched in between the more consistent output of Duran.

Gonzales, 161 1/2 lbs of Sacramento, CA won by scores of 77-75 on two cards and is now 15-0-1. Duran, 161 lbs of Accra, Ghana won the third card by a 78-74 tally but is now 26-9-2.

“We expected an all-out brawl coming in,” said Gonzales. “The 10-month layoff didn’t make it any easier. Virgil (Hunter) said I had to step it up those last three rounds and that’s exactly what I did. I listened to my corner and stayed compose and let my hands go first. I think it was a great victory tonight. I hired the best trainer in boxing in Virgil Hunter. We pulled it out.”

Artemio Reyes scored an eight round unanimous decision over previous undefeated and former U.S. Olumpian Javier Molina in a Welterweight bout.

It was evident from the second round on that it was going to be a rough night for Molina as Reyes continuously beat Molina to the punch. The two waged war inside for just about the whole fight where Reyes landed some hard body shots and was diverse with his attack by landing over hand rights and solid uppercuts. Molina fought well but Reyes was more effective in this active fight.

Reyes, 146 lbs of Colton, CA won by scores of 78-74; 77-75 and 77-75 and is now 14-1. Molina, 147 lbs of Norwalk, CA is now 9-1.

Reyes’ father has been in a coma since a tragic car accident in 2008 left him in a vegetative state. “Fighting 4 Pops” is his life statement and those words are written into his trunks.

After his emotional win, Reyes said of the fight, “We trained hard, ridiculously hard. It was insane, man. I didn’t stop punching the entire time. We knew it was going to be a long fight, you know, eight rounds. It was a good fight. We trained hard.”

Alfonso Blanco remained undefeated by scoring a six round unanimous decision over LaShon Sims in a Middleweight bout at Club Nokia in Los Angeles.

Blanco put his punches togeter and kept Sims on the outside. The two fighters had some nice exchanges in the final round with Blanco landing the better shots.

Blanco, 155 1/2 lbs of Oxnard, CA won by scores of 60-54 on all cards and is now 7-0. Sims, 155 3/4 lbs of Fontana, CA is now 5-10.

Ernest Ocon remained perfect with a six round beatdown over Ricardo Malfavon in a Jr. Middleweights bout.

Ocon was very effective with body shots, especially with the right hand.

Ocone, 149 lbs of Los Angeles, CA won by scores of 60-54 on all cards and is now 5-0. Malfavon, 148 1/2 lbs of Santa Ana, CA is now 1-7.

In a battle of pro debuting Jr. Lightweights, Santiago Guevara scored a for round round unanimous decision over Naphi Mohhmad.

Guevara landed the more telling blows against the tough Mohammad

Guevara, 131 lbs of Montebello, CA won by scores of 40-36 on all cards.

Dan Rafael of espn.com is reporting that Canadian based Middleweights David Lemieux will take on Joachim Alcine on December 10th in Montreal.

“We are finalizing the paperwork and we are supposed to have a press conference on Monday,” said Lemieux’s promoter Yvon Michel, adding that the bout will be available on pay-per-view in Quebec. “It’s not a fight that will draw 15,000, but this is a big local rivalry and we should draw around 5,000.”

“For Lemieux, he needs to prove he made a good move to change trainers,” Michel said. “He has to prove what happened against Rubio was just an accident in his career and that he has grown and learned from that. He will definitely want to show it against Alcine.”

“I let him go because I didn’t want him to fight in December,” Lemieux’s former trainer Russ Anber told ESPN.com last week following their split. “What I wanted from him was a four-month commitment to boxing. Train, get his weight down, do a lot of conditioning and then go to a training camp. We spent the last five months trying to get him to commit to training. I realized I’m banging my head against the wall. I want him to see what you need to do to be an elite middleweight, to prepare for a career, not just one fight, and we weren’t going to see eye to eye.

“We just don’t see eye to eye on the way he should be preparing for fights. Instead of him being miserable in the gym, and for my mental sanity, it’s better to go separate ways than butt heads. Marc has my blessing. He trains his fighters in my gym. So this split with David is not a hateful split or about money. It’s just we are on a different philosophical plane on what it takes to succeed in the elite world of boxing.

“Marc (Ramsay) keeps telling me everything that he asks David to do he has done with intensity and no complaint at all, that he is very dedicated and focused,” Michel said. “Maybe David and Russ, that relationship had just run its course. I know David has a lot of talent, charisma and power. He has all the tools to succeed.”

“It’s a crossroads fight, no question about it,” Said Alcine’s promoter Lou DiBella. “Lemieux is coming off the big loss and Alcine is at the stage of his career where he has to see if he can still compete. If he can pull off an upset he’s a star again in Canada and if he can’t, he can’t. It’s a fight he wanted and I was able to get him a fair purse. For the Canadian audience this is a very meaningful fight.”