Boxing discussion thread

[TheAdmiral]

Juanma Gets Encouragement From Trinidad, Miguel Cotto

Former champion Juan Manuel Lopez (31-1, 28KOs) received words of encouragement from two of the biggest stars in Puerto Rico, Felix 'Tito' Trinidad and Miguel Cotto. Lopez is training for his March 10th rematch with WBO featherweight king Orlando Salido (37-11-2, 25KOs). Last April, a shocking upset took place when Salido stopped Juanma in eight rounds.

"Tito Trinidad and Miguel Cotto told not to worry [about the loss], and that I have to demonstrate to the public that I simply had a bad night [with Salido]. Salido is a fighter who beat me and I have to deal with [that fact]. Boxing is a sport where you are only as good as [your last fight]. I wasn't focused in that fight and Salido took advantage of that," Juanma told Carlos Gonzalez.

For this training period, Juanma stayed away from the press and secluded himself in training camp. In the past, Juanma's main motivation was making good money to provide for his family, but that has now changed with Salido.

"What motivated me [in past fights] was that I had to make good money to support my family. Today I have a different motivation for this fight [against Salido]. It's been a long time since I felt such a desire to have a fight and I am overjoyed that it will be against Salido again. [This fight] is for me. We want to prove to a lot of people, to the promoter and the public and the WBO, that I had a bad night and I will be world champion again for a long time," Juanma said.

Pacquiao Moving Closer To God, Roach is Concerned

WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao is moving closer to God. The boxer has always been religious, but in the last few months the Filipino superstar has taken huge steps to follow his religious beliefs. The Catholic Church recently named Pacquiao as an ambassador.

Pacquiao is already sensing a conflict with his full devotion to God and the brutal sport of boxing. He fully admits that his boxing career is quickly coming to end.

He returns on June 9th against undefeated Timothy Bradley at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

"I'm not saying [Bradley] is the last fight. Maybe I can fight one more. I don't know. I have a casino and sold it and all my roosters, stopped drinking alcohol and everything that's not good for following the commandments of God. Boxing, for me, hitting each other is not good. So I was thinking I'm not going to stay long in boxing," Pacquiao told USA Today.

Freddie Roach, who trains Pacquiao, is a bit concerned with his boxer's new lifestyle changes. He doesn't know how the lifestyle changes will affect Pacquiao in the gym.

"I haven't seen Manny yet, but I know he's got a very strong faith in God. But I haven't seen him so I haven't seen any changes or anything like that. We'll get ready for the fight. If it's not there, it's not there, and I'll probably tell him to retire," Roach told USA Today.

Photos: Salido Ripped and Ready For Juanma Rematch

Photos: Alexander Povetkin, Marco Huck Open Workouts

 

[TheAdmiral]

Yuriorkis Gamboa, Brandon Rios to meet

Former unified featherweight titlist Yuriorkis Gamboa will jump up two weight classes and face former lightweight titleholder Brandon Rios in a fight that matches two of boxing's most crowd-pleasing fighters.

They will meet April 14 at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas for a vacant lightweight title. It will be televised on HBO's "World Championship Boxing."

The fight, for which HBO is paying a little more than $2 million for, is easily the biggest in the careers of both fighters and the winner likely will be propelled into even bigger events.

 

[TheAdmiral]

Todays Results:

Nathan Cleverly W 12 Tommy Karpency (Cleverly defends WBO Light Heavyweight title)
Alexander Povetkin W 12 Marco Huck

More to come, HBO card tonight

 

[TheAdmiral]

Andy Lee Officially Challenges Julio Cesar Chavez Jr For June 16 Fight

Middleweight contender Andy Lee, who is seemingly being snubbed by Julio Cesar Chavez Jr after the fight was thought to be a target for June, has made an official challenge to Chavez via press release, and wants to face the WBC middleweight titlist in June. Chavez returns to the ring on June 16, live on HBO from El Paso, Texas.

"I would now relish the opportunity to fight for a world title. A title shot against Julio Cesar Chavez Jr would be a challenge I would rise to. It is every boxer’s ambition to be a world champion," says Lee (27-1, 19 KO).

"I would love to fight Julio for the WBC title on June 2 or 16, it would be a tough fight but I believe I have the skills to beat him. The Irish and Mexican people like a good fight, so let’s get it on."

 

[TheAdmiral]

Adrian Broner KO 4 Eloy Perez (Broner defends WBO Super Featherweight title)

 

[TheAdmiral]

Main event about to start...

 

[TheAdmiral]

Devon Alexander W 10 Marcos Maidana
(100-90 x2, 99-91)

 

[TheAdmiral]

Eloy Perez is already planning to come back on July 28

 

[TheAdmiral]

Pacquiao in Talks With Nike, Pairing With Michael Jordan

In 2008, Manny Pacquiao, boxing world champion in eight different weight divisions, arrived in Chicago to promote his fight against David Diaz. On his arrival, one of the first sights Pacquiao requested to see was the statue of Michael Jordan outside of the United Center.

Four years later, and with a few more world titles under his belt, Pacquiao is thrilled that following many months of deliberation and exhaustive planning between the principals of Creative Talent & Advisory Group, LLC (‘CTAG’), Pacquioa’s Filipino legal counsel, Franklin Gacal and a few of Pacquiao’s closest confidants, CTAG, on Pacquioa’s behalf is finally in advanced stages of talks with Nike, Inc. (‘Nike’) to facilitate moving all of Pacquiao’s future endorsement from “Nike’s Classic Swoosh” to Jordan Brands.

In describing some of the main reasons for Pacquiao’s desire to make the switch, Antony Gordon, President and Co-Founder of CTAG, who has been responsible for spearheading all of the ‘off-line’ discussions with Nike on behalf of Manny Pacquiao, noted that:

“… as I explained to one of the key decision makers who deals with global marketing and branding at Nike, it became clear to Manny several months ago that there was a cultural disconnect between his enormous Asian fan base who literally follow Manny’s every move on the one hand, and the generic cache’ Nike brand that is one of the most well recognized logos in the world. For Manny, the fact that the hundreds of fans who came to express their support for him after the Mosley fight were wearing Manny Pacquiao T-shirts and Jordan sneakers was more impactful than any ‘focus group’ could have been. Finally, the infatuation of sports fans in the Philippines and surrounding areas in Asia with basketball finally hit a ‘marketing tipping point’ when the local media began branding Pacquiao as the so-called ‘Michael Jordan of boxing ...”

For Pacquiao, the desire to forge a symbiotic marketing relationship with Michael Jordan and Jordan Brand goes even deeper. Suffice it to say, Pacquiao owns his own basketball team in the Philippines and, for some time has included basketball in his training routine.

From Jordan Brand’s perspective, while this would not be the first time they have endorsed a professional boxer - cases in point being Andre Ward and Roy Jones - the marketing potential of having one of the most beloved and talented athlete in the Western Hemisphere - in Michael Jordan - teaming up with arguably the most beloved and talented athlete in the Eastern Hemisphere in Manny Pacquiao is unprecedented, gives each of these sports icons a global reach that is clearly historical and, from a marketing perspective, creates a huge transcultural paradigm shift. From an economic perspective, since Jordan Brands is a subsidiary of Nike, the true beneficiaries of the proposed transition are really Nike and company’s shareholders.

Mr. Gordon, on behalf of CTAG and Pacquiao articulated his sincere kudos to Nike for the candor and tone of all communications to date as well as the general goodwill that has been cultivated by the key player at CTAG and Nike respectively which ultimately will surely inure to the benefit of their mutual client, Manny Pacquiao.

A spokesman for CTAG indicated that the appropriate protocol has followed at all times in order to ensure that the transfer to Jordan Brand would be effectuated in the most seamless manner, including complete transparency and full disclosure to the appropriate Nike representatives in the Philippines on the one hand, to ensuring that once the appropriate steps had been duly completed, that Manny Pacquiao would be given a warm welcome from ‘the highest possible echelons’ at Jordan Brand on the other hand.

It would be safe to say that the Manny Pacquiao - Michael Jordan combination surely takes the concept of a ‘global brand’ to an entire new level.

 

[TheAdmiral]

Rios vs Gamboa, Alvarado vs Herrera Ticket Information

LAS VEGAS, NEV. -- Boxing fans can expect many happy returns this tax season. Former world lightweight champion BRANDON “Bam Bam” RIOS and former featherweight champion YURIORKIS GAMBOA will collide in a battle of the undefeated for the vacant World Boxing Association (WBA) lightweight championship, Saturday, April 14, at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. The fight will be televised live on HBO as the main event of World Championship Boxing, beginning at 10:15 p.m. ET. The telecast will open with 10-round junior welterweight collision between top-10 contenders “Mile High” MIKE ALVARADO and MAURICIO HERRERA.

These four warriors boast a combined record of 100-1-1 (68 KOs) – a winning percentage of 98%.

Promoted by Top Rank, in association with Arena Box U.S. and AT&T, tickets priced at $250, $150, $100, $50 and $25, not including applicable service charges, go on sale This Friday! March 2 at 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT and will be available at all Ticketmaster locations (select Smith’s Food and Drug Centers and Ritmo Latino). Ticket sales are limited to eight (8) per person. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Mandalay Bay at (877) 632-7400 or Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000. Tickets also will be available for purchase at www.mandalaybay.com or www.ticketmaster.com .

Rios (29-0-1, 22 KOs), the former WBA lightweight champion, from Oxnard, Calif., enters this fight having won 10 of his previous 11 fights by knockout. Gamboa (21-0, 16 KOs), the former world featherweight champion who won Olympic gold in 2004 for his native Cuba and now resides in Miami, Fla., will return to the ring having won eight of his previous 11 by stoppage. In short, these warriors have never met a chin they didn’t want to smash.

Alvarado (32-0, 23 KOs) of Denver, has won 10 of his last 12 bouts by stoppage en route to a career-high No. 3 world rating, in the World Boxing Organization (WBO). Notable knockout victims include Breidis Prescott, Ray Narh, Emmanuel Clottey and Cesar Bazan. Herrera (18-1, 7 KOs), from Lake Elsinore, Calif., enters this fight riding a two-year, five-bout winning streak, highlighted by victories over Ruslan Provodnikov (17-0) and Mike Dallas, Jr. (17-1-1). Herrera is currently world-rated No. 7 by the International Boxing Federation (IBF).

"Rios and Gamboa are two young and hungry fighters in their prime looking to make a leap to stardom," said Todd duBoef, president of Top Rank.

“Gamboa has been constantly referred to as a ‘rising Cuban star’ throughout his career. But on April 14, the word ‘rising’ will finally be eliminated. Gamboa will be a superstar,” said Ahmet Öner, president of Arena Box US. “Gamboa is so special and though he has been fighting at 126 pounds, 135 pounds is where he belongs. He will be so much stronger fighting at lightweight.”

"Brandon Rios versus Yuriorkis Gamboa is a spectacular fight and we're excited to present this showdown live on HBO World Championship Boxing," said Kery Davis, Senior Vice President, Programming, HBO Sports. "Both fighters deserve recognition for stepping up and saying 'let's do it.' "

 

[TheAdmiral]

The Fall of Megaupload - The End of a Golden Age for Boxing Fans

I admit it, I used it alot. Shame to see it go.

 

[Bloodshot Scott]

The Fall of Megaupload - The End of a Golden Age for Boxing Fans

I admit it, I used it alot. Shame to see it go.

Losing Megaupload is a massive fucking loss to those of us that used it, on so many levels.

 

[TheAdmiral]

Yeah, it sucks.

 

[TheAdmiral]

Totally forgot the other Klitschko is fighting today

 

[Bloodshot Scott]

And again not on HBO or any other American channel. Top ranked heavyweight and still not on American TV. wtf.

 

[Johan]

Go Jeran-Marc !!!

 

[TheAdmiral]

Mormeck didnt even show up tonight

Wladimir Klitschko Demolishes Mormeck in Four Rounds

ESPRIT arena, Düsseldorf, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany - Wladimir Klitschko (57-3, 50KOs) demolished former cruiserweight king Jean Marc Mormeck (36-5, 22KOs) in four one-sided rounds to retain the WBA/IBO/IBF/WBO heavyweight titles.

Mormeck, IBF #9 and WBA/WBO #10, had virtually no shot against the giant Ukrainian since the moment he signed the contract. At 39-years-old, he was much shorter than Wladimir, 12 pounds lighter, and four years older.

From the starting bell, he crouched down and moved forward with his head dangerously low, thus making himself a much smaller target. However, Wladimir wisely kept him at firing range with his power jab. There were many clinches in the first round, as Mormeck held and hugged Wladimir at almost every possible moment on the inside. Mormeck landed no punches in the opening stanza, while eating a couple of thudding shots.

The first half of the second was almost similar - too many clinches - but then Wladimir threw a huge one-two, and Momeck went down heavily. He beat the count but was very lucky to survive until the bell. Round three was more quiet, as Wladimir took his time to toy with the Frenchman. It didn't last long though.

Early into the fourth, the champion met his opponent in the center of the ring and landed a consecutive left jab, right hand and a left hook to send the challenger down hard, as French movie stars Jean-Paul Belmondo and Jean Renault looked on. Mormeck barely beat the count, but referee Luis Pabon waved the fight off at 1:12 of the round, as Frenchman's legs were too unstable.

 

[Slaughtersun]

Hahahahahahahahahahaha...that was a fucking joke! No, correction, that french pussy was a fucking joke, who would've thought! That was pretty much one of the most pathetic, ridiculous and embarrassing things I have ever seen in boxing. What a fucking waste of time.

And now I actually feel sorry for both Jean Reno and Jean-Paul Belmondo who attended the fight to show support for their compatriot.

Wladimir actually tried to prolong the fight to put at least some sort of show on for the fans, but that French loser was just so bad, four rounds was the maximum we got.

At least Vitali and David Haye kinda agreed to step into the ring together. Well, let's see if that happens, but what the fuck, if it does, Haye is gonna run his mouth over and over again and then gets slapped around by the better boxer.

For me, the heavy weight division is dead and gone, and it sure ain't the Klitschko's fault like some might want to think.

Anyhow, if someone's interested, the Klitschko movie is pretty good.

 

[TheAdmiral]

Team Klitschko says Vitali has not agreed to anything with Haye.

 

[Bloodshot Scott]

Hahahahahahahahahahaha...that was a fucking joke! No, correction, that french pussy was a fucking joke, who would've thought! That was pretty much one of the most pathetic, ridiculous and embarrassing things I have ever seen in boxing. What a fucking waste of time.

And now I actually feel sorry for both Jean Reno and Jean-Paul Belmondo who attended the fight to show support for their compatriot.

Wladimir actually tried to prolong the fight to put at least some sort of show on for the fans, but that French loser was just so bad, four rounds was the maximum we got.

At least Vitali and David Haye kinda agreed to step into the ring together. Well, let's see if that happens, but what the fuck, if it does, Haye is gonna run his mouth over and over again and then gets slapped around by the better boxer.

For me, the heavy weight division is dead and gone, and it sure ain't the Klitschko's fault like some might want to think.

Anyhow, if someone's interested, the Klitschko movie is pretty good.

Joke? I don't know. The Mile Tyson era, where every fight ended before the first round bell, that was pretty much a joke. It's a little light (no pun intended) right now, but I enjoy watching some of them. Much more exciting thought is more like light heavyweight and below, I think. I love watching the Paul The Punisher, Pavlik, Martinez group the most right now. That is the best group, although a number of weights below are very interesting as well. Cool thing is the lower weights can move up or down, if certain boxers decide to change.


Our lack of rivalries and the politicization of the sport (players, agents, MONEY) are the biggest drag to the sport.