Live Boxing News Results Reviews, Previews, Stats, & Schedules

noreply@blogger.com (panther) — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 18:47:00 +0000

Fancy A Bet On The Big Fight £25.00 Free Bet From Betfair Click Here!

Wladimir Klitschko stopped Hasim Rahman in the seventh round to retain his IBF, IBO and WBO heavyweight titles at the SAP-Arena in Mannheim, Germany. Rahman, who famously beat Lennox Lewis to become heavyweight champion of the world in 2001, barely landed a punch as the Ukrainian dominated the encounter from start to finish...Full Story.

Amir Khan took the first step to restoring his reputation by completing a devastating second-round stoppage of Oisin Fagan at the London ExCeL on Saturday night. Fagan required oxygen treatment in his corner after a brutally one-sided contest was stopped by referee Mickey Vann one minute and 37 seconds into the round...Full Story.

Carl Froch ended years of frustration in exhilarating fashion in Nottingham on Saturday night when he claimed the WBC super-middleweight title in a manner which will stand comparison with some of Britain's greats. Memories of ring wars involving the likes of Nigel Benn and Chris Eubank came flooding back as Froch pounded out a unanimous 118-110, 117-111, 116-112 victory over brave Canadian Jean Pascal...Read More.

Manny Pacquiao produced an astonishing display to stop Oscar De La Hoya after eight rounds of their superfight in Las Vegas on Saturday night. The reigning P4P king disproved the old adage that size matters by moving up three weight divisions in just eight months to hand out a sustained beating to the faded 'Golden Boy'.In March this year Pacquiao was plying his trade at super-featherweight, while De La Hoya...Read More.

Manny Pacquiao says he's ready for Ricky Hatton once he's fought Oscar De La Hoya. Pacman, the current P4P king, takes on De La Hoya in what promises to be the richest fight of the year in Las Vegas on Saturday week.The winner is being lined up for a megabucks showdown with Hatton next summer, possibly at Wembley Stadium in London. Pacquiao, who confirmed he's likely to fight in Hatton's....Full Story.

David Haye slammed Monte Barrett's press conference antics, calling him a prima dona and insisting that he will be throwing bombs from the first bell. Barrett complained about the size of his room, his daily allowance and a rematch clause in his contract - which Haye's manager Adam Booth insists will now be taken out. Haye believes this behaviour shows that Barrett is not in the right frame of mind to step into the ring...Full Story.

Juan Diaz and Juan Manuel Marquez have confirmed they will fight for the Ring Magazine lightweight title on February 28. Mexican Marquez, a three-weight world champion, will travel to Diaz's home city of Houston for what promises to be an explosive fight. Oscar de la Hoya, president of Golden Boy Promotions, said: "This fight between Marquez and Diaz will shake the lightweight division to its core and truly determine....Read More.

David Haye Defeats Nikolai Valuev

noreply@blogger.com (panther) — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 23:12:00 +0000

David Haye produced a punch-perfect performance to cut Russian giant Nikolai Valuev down to size and win the WBA heavyweight title in Germany tonight with a majority decision points victory.

The Englishman was attempting to the fill the boots left empty by Lennox Lewis's retirement in 2003 by winning a portion of the one-time 'richest prize in sport' at the Arena Nurnberger Versicherung.

And Haye executed his gameplan perfectly, keeping out of Valuev's range while picking the champion off when the opportunity presented itself to cruise to a seemingly clear victory - with two of the judges awarding him the win by four rounds but the other somehow seeing it a draw.

Haye, 29, carried a record of 22 wins (21KOs) and one defeat into the contest against the 7ft 2ins champion, who had also suffered just one defeat in his 52 fights with a total of 34 knockouts.

A fevered build-up to the fight in Britain saw hopes of a Haye victory increase significantly but in reality it was a daunting task against a man who yesterday weighed in seven stone heavier than the Englishman at 22st 8lbs.

Valuev stalked Haye from the centre of the ring from the first bell with the Englishman looking to land quick shots and get out of harm's way. Haye landed a few single blows and took little from Valuev, landing a nice left hook and later a solid left-right double.

Despite Valuev's huge reach advantage, it was Haye landing the point-scoring punches as a left hook - thrown upwards to reach Valuev's head - hit home cleanly while a right hand also connected in the second session.

Valuev finally landed a punch of note with a stiff jab in the third only for Haye to sting him with another perfectly-executed left-right before moving out of range again.

Haye, with his hands held typically low, was happy to let Valuev be the aggressor and continued to slip and slide out of trouble with another arcing left hook catching Valuev sweetly in the fourth.

The Englishman continued to edge the rounds and a solid three-punch combination seemed to have an effect on Valuev, who landed a strong right of his own before the fifth round was over.

While the challenger seemed to be enjoying more success, the ringside judges were not necessarily giving him the rounds as the sixth saw another left lead from Haye find the spot.

Valuev had by far his best round in the seventh and it was arguably the first he had won, landing the jab regularly and connecting with a left hook and moments later a good right hand.

However, Haye stole a quiet ninth round by feinting with the left before driving a big right down the middle straight onto Valuev's non-plussed face.

Haye was back to his best in the 10th, boxing off the back foot and landing the left hook, by far his best weapon all night. A right to the body gave Valuev something to think about and in the closing stages of the round another powerful right seemed to hurt the Russian.

Haye's neat footwork denied Valuev the chance to grapple as he would normally do, while the champion appeared more tentative in the 11th - perhaps being discouraged by the stinging shots coming the other way.

Heading into the final round, Haye appeared to have a clear lead. Valuev was typically predictable and slow while Haye executed his gameplan perfectly.

He upped the ante in style, however, landing another left-right but it was two huge left hooks which seriously rocked Valuev for the first time in the fight as the champion wobbled.

Haye could not find the early finish but was happy to raise his arm in celebration with the final bell imminent.

And when the scores of 114-114 (even) and 116-112 twice for Haye were read out, the new champion's childhood dreams were realised with a majority points decision.

Earlier, American John Ruiz - the mandatory challenger for the WBA title being contested by Haye and Valuev - stopped Germany's Adnan Serin with a seventh round retirement.

Manny Pacquiao Knocks The Shit Out Of Hatton

noreply@blogger.com (panther) — Sun, 03 May 2009 04:02:00 +0000

Manny Pacquiao was surprised by the ease of his second-round defeat of Ricky Hatton on Saturday night.

The reigning P4P king dropped Hatton twice in the first before ending proceedings with a stunning left hook in the second.

It was a sensational end to a fight that many experts had found tough to call beforehand,
Pacquiao said: "I'm surprised that it's kind of easy. I thought it would be hard because he can punch - he has a strong left hand.

"Our strategy was one punch - hook by hook - left hook and right hook - was going to be the key of the fight.

"The first round I expected my right hook was going to be dangerous for him because he was going to be coming forward with his hands down. I have a new technique, the right hook.

"On the first knockdown, the right hook we tried every day in the gym. If you saw 24/7 you saw it." Next up for Pacquiao could be his predecessor as P4P king - Floyd 'Money' Mayweather. He announced his ring return earlier on Saturday and will lock horns with Juan Manuel Marquez at 144lbs on July 18.

Pacquiao said: "I can fight everybody - it depends on my promoter. I'm a fighter and I'm just doing my job."

Freddie Roach said hours of careful work in the gym set up Manny Pacquiao's awesome destruction of Ricky Hatton on Saturday night.

Hatton was bidding to take Pacman's crown as reigning P4P king in their huge showdown at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.But he was cut down by a blistering swarm of right and left hooks from the Filipino icon en route to a second-round defeat. Right hooks did the damage in the first as the Hitman went to the canvas twice. And a thudding left hook ended proceedings emphatically a round later.

Once the action was over, Roach explained: "Every time Ricky throws his left hand he pulls it back and cocks it and he's wide open for a short right hook on the inside from a southpaw stance."We worked on it every day in the gym - the timing shot - and it worked beautiful."

Roach said although Hatton made it to the bell for the end of the first, he knew the fight was as good as won. "I knew it was over because it seems like Ricky doesn't have the ability to adjust," he said.

"He fights the same way over and over again. I've watched him for the last two-and-a-half months. I know him pretty well." A fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr - pitting the current P4P king against his predecessor - seems a logical step now for Pacquiao. And Roach agrees.

"I think it's a very good possibility - everybody wants to see it. It's a natural fight, the two best fighters in the world. I think it would be a great fight."

Round By Round

Round 2: Jim Watt ringside says "Where is the new Ricky Hatton?" - maybe Floyd Mayweather Sr is asking the same question in the corner. Out for the second and will the break between rounds have steadied Ricky's legs. If you're looking for a good omen Pacquiao had Marquez down three times in the first round of their first fight and only came out with a draw. Good right from Ricky - good sign for the man from Manchester. Hatton too open still at present though. Manny looking confident and relaxed. Ricky looking almost giddy. Manny loads up again and scores again with a left. Great right from Manny stiffens Hatton's legs again. Ricky just has to survive for the next few minutes and get back to boxing. He's stalking Manny but being hit with counters. Pacquiao hits home with two left hands. HATTON DOWN AGAIN - sensational left hook. No way he gets up. THIS ONE IS OVER AND HATTON IS KNOCKED OUT IN ROUND TWO. Sad end for Ricky - totally one-sided. Let's just hope he's okay. Mum and girlfriend in tears ringside. That was a very heavy knockdown and Ricky looks very very groggy. The good news is now that Hatton appears to be okay. Back up and on his stool.

Round 1: They come out for the first - how will this one shape up in the early stages? Manny fires a left that misses and darts out of range. Ricky coming forward and probing. Bayless in quickly to get them to break out of a clinch. Ricky trying to impose himself inside. Pacman scores with a right hook. Right scores from Manny. Speed against power - as we thought. Manny having to work hard to keep Ricky off, but he produces a nice flurry off the back foot and Ricky has to hold. Another right hook from Manny and then a big flurry and HATTON IS DOWN from a massive right hand. He's looking naive again. Up after the eight count and on the ropes and trying to survive. He's in massive trouble. HATTON DOWN AGAIN in the last five seconds of the round. Can he survive? Bell goes and he somehow makes it to the end of the first. Major trouble for the Hitman.

Klitschko Goes For Gomez Over David Haye

noreply@blogger.com (panther) — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 08:29:00 +0000

Vitali Klitschko has signed a contract to defend his WBC heavyweight title against mandatory challenger Juan Carlos Gomez instead of Londoner David Haye.

Haye recently agreed terms to fight Klitschko in London this summer having previously expected to take on his younger brother, IBF and WBO champion Wladimir.

But it emerged earlier this week Vitali, 37, had decided to fulfil a mandatory defence against Cuban Gomez with Haye therefore likelier to face Wladimir after all.

And the WBC have confirmed Vitali has signed on to fight Gomez in March.

"The World Boxing Council president, Jose Sulaiman, announced today that the heavyweight world champion, Vitali Klitschko, and official challenger, Juan Carlos Gomez, have reached a definitive agreement, and have signed for their mandatory fight," a statement said.

The governing body confirmed purse bids - which were due today - were not necessary after both sides agreed terms between themselves.

"Mr Shelly Finkel, on behalf of Klitschko, and Ahmet Oener, on behalf of Gomez, directly had communication with the WBC president to provide him with such information.

"The fight will be held in German locality, within the first two weeks of March 2009," the statement continued.

Talks are ongoing between Haye's camp and the Klitschkos about a fight against Wladimir. The chances of that fight happening were boosted by reports the Ukrainian was considering facing the Londoner instead of going through with his anticipated defence against Chris Arreola.

Haye made the permanent move up to heavyweight in November with an explosive stoppage victory over American veteran Monte Barrett in front of the watching Vitali.

Juan Marquez v Juan Diaz Heads Up It's A Ripper

noreply@blogger.com (panther) — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 22:09:00 +0000

Juan Diaz and Juan Manuel Marquez have confirmed they will fight for the Ring Magazine lightweight title on February 28.

Mexican Marquez, a three-weight world champion, will travel to Diaz's home city of Houston for what promises to be an explosive fight.

Oscar de la Hoya, president of Golden Boy Promotions, said: "This fight between Marquez and Diaz will shake the lightweight division to its core and truly determine the best 135-pounder in the world.

"As a fan, I can't wait to see this fight." Marquez claimed the Ring Magazine title in September when he became the first man to stop Cuban star Joel Casamayor.

"Juan Diaz is a talented young fighter with a bright future," he said. "But this is still my time and I am not about to let Diaz take my belt away from me."

However, Diaz, the current IBO champion who held the WBA, WBO and IBF versions of the title before suffering the only defeat of his career against Nate Campbell in March, has vowed to do just that.

He said: "Juan Manuel is one of the greats in the game and it's an honour to fight him, but I will be victorious on February 28."

Wladimir Klitschko v Hasim Rahman News & Results

noreply@blogger.com (panther) — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 09:44:00 +0000

Fraudley Harrison - I Couldn't Fight Me Way Out A Bag

noreply@blogger.com (panther) — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 11:35:00 +0000

Fraudley Harrison's unlikely heavyweight world title aspirations were left in tatters after Belfast cabbie Martin Rogan beat him on points in London on Saturday night.

The Olympic gold medalist paid the price for a negative and lazy display that handed the aggressive and crudely effective Rogan victory on a plate.

Harrison landed freely with his right hand in the second round but Rogan began roughing him up and stunned the Wembley southpaw with a crisp left hook in the fourth.

Occasionally scoring with the jab, Harrison invited the winner of Prizefighter One to hit him in the sixth but barely threw a single punch in the seventh with Rogan connecting with a right uppercut.

The same shot sent Harrison, whose caution and constant holding prompted jeers from the crowd, reeling a round later and Rogan did enough to stretch his flawless record to 11 victories.

Audley Harrison Quote

Fraudley - 'I will use my skills to tame and neutralize him before I end it in brutal fashion'....hahaha...'Ordinary' presumably referring to his Sunday dinner...before getting twated by a Belfast cabbie.

Amir Khan's Moral Boosting Win

noreply@blogger.com (panther) — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 10:48:00 +0000

Amir Khan took the first step to restoring his reputation by completing a devastating second-round stoppage of Oisin Fagan at the London ExCeL on Saturday night.

Fagan required oxygen treatment in his corner after a brutally one-sided contest was stopped by referee Mickey Vann one minute and 37 seconds into the round.

The victory, Khan's 19th in 20 fights, secured the Olympic silver medalist the vacant WBA international lightweight championship and was hugely impressive.

Khan, with his hands glued to his chin, used the ring to make himself an elusive target in the opening round as he found Fagan freely with his jab.

A strong right hand floored Fagan and the Irishman, operating on shaky legs, looked in serious trouble as Khan continued to land at will.

Fagan went down for a second time amid a flurry of punches and although he was saved by the bell, more punishment followed in an utterly one-sided second and the fight was over.

Khan's career suffered a significant setback with his first-round demolition by unknown Colombian puncher Breidis Prescott in September.

Flattened in just 54 seconds, it was the sixth time the 21-year-old had been knocked down and confirmed the worst fears over his vulnerable chin.

The defeat slammed the breaks on his world title aspirations and raised doubts over his ability to challenge for a major belt.

A bold next step saw Khan head to Los Angeles to seek the help of the highly-regarded trainer Freddie Roach to begin the rebuilding process.

Wary of the damage Prescott had inflicted, Khan's next opponent was picked with care.
Oklahoma-based Irishman Oisin Fagan had just 13 knockouts from his 22 victories and was not expected to provide too vigorous an examination of Khan's chin.

And so it proved as the 34-year-old was sent tumbling to the canvas twice before Mickey Vann had seen enough.

Reflecting on his morale-boosting win, Khan told Sky Box Office: "I knew where I went wrong against Breidis Prescott.

"Fagan is a fighter who doesn't go down. Look at his record, I don't think anyone has done that to him.

"My team told me to pace myself, not to go for the knockout, that it would come itself. That's what I did."

"I said whoever I was going to fight, that I was going to be the worst opponent they can have.

"I was a bit more nervous than normal but I was relaxed and chilled out.

"It was another at the office...I know how good I am and I'm not going to make the same mistakes again."

Carl Froch v Jean Pascal

noreply@blogger.com (panther) — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 10:30:00 +0000

Carl Froch ended years of frustration in exhilarating fashion in Nottingham on Saturday night when he claimed the WBC super-middleweight title in a manner which will stand comparison with some of Britain's 12-stone greats.

Memories of ring wars involving the likes of Nigel Benn and Chris Eubank came flooding back as Froch pounded out a unanimous 118-110, 117-111, 116-112 victory over brave Canadian Jean Pascal.

From the first bell to the last the Nottingham 31-year-old threw caution to the wind and teed off on his previously unbeaten opponent, who replied with right hands at will in a contest where the pace never let up.

While Froch stepped up the pace in the later rounds to make his scorecard victory seem a formality, the reality was that he had had to remain on his guard for every second to secure his stunning win.

Froch had opened the fight in front of 6,000 partisan home fans by blasting Pascal back into a neutral corner and also had him in trouble in rounds five and nine to name but two.

But Pascal frequently drew gasps from the fans by reacting to moments of danger by coming out swinging, landing his right hand all night long, and he continued to do so until the crowd rose to acclaim the action at the final bell.

Froch's searing talent had been much in evidence during his previous 23 consecutive victories but all he had lacked was the suitable big stage on which to impress his credentials.

For two years he had called out Joe Calzaghe to little effect and was delivered a snub prior to being matched with Pascal when former middleweight king Jermain Taylor shrugged off the notion of a clash with the Nottingham man.

Taylor may be forced to think differently with Froch now the proud holder of the most prestigious 12-stone title and a showdown at Madison Square Garden next summer now already being mooted.

Suddenly Froch's career is no longer a hard-luck story of beating the best available contenders like Brian Magee and Robin Reid to little fanfare and struggling to set up the meaningful bouts to make him a star.

The millions of viewers on terrestrial television cannot fail to have been impressed by the manner of Froch's victory and it is to be hoped he can now go on to carve out his own niche in Britain's proud 12-stone history.

Pascal, a former Commonwealth Games gold medallist, had certainly come with classy credentials having scored 19 consecutive wins of his own, and he was cheered into the ring by a double-figure entourage.

The Canadian was reknowned as a slick counter-puncher with the capability to give Froch the toughest night of his career and he certainly looked confident as he awaited the pre-fight introductions.

Pascal settled after the high-octane start but with Froch's shots carrying much more venom it was the Nottingham man who seized the initiative and clearly went on the hunt for an early finish.

The slower pace of the third suited Pascal, who landed with two big looping rights, but the Canadian's chin was not in question after he shrugged off a Froch right early in round four.

Froch troubled the Canadian again early in the fifth but the round ended in drama when Pascal teed up another big right and sparked a furious exchange which the referee had trouble separating when the bell sounded.

By the half-way stage it was Froch who looked like he had the edge and a big right hand clearly hurt Pascal for the first time in the sixth round, and a follow-up uppercut had the Canadian holding on again.

But Froch's eagerness to grab a stunning win meant he neglected the jab which was scoring him plenty of success, and by the end of the ninth round he had a small nick around his left eye for his troubles.

Froch continued bombing away in the final rounds but Pascal, who surely knew he needed a knockout to win, swung with increasing desperation as they headed into the 12th.

Pascal remained confident right until the verdict was announced. But that was unmistakably a night for Froch to impress himself onto the world scene and he did it in a classic fashion which will linger long in the memory.

Manny Pacquiao Beats The Crap Outta De La Hoya

noreply@blogger.com (panther) — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 10:15:00 +0000

Manny Pacquiao produced an astonishing display to stop Oscar De La Hoya after eight rounds of their superfight in Las Vegas on Saturday night.

The reigning P4P king disproved the old adage that size matters by moving up three weight divisions in just eight months to hand out a sustained beating to the faded 'Golden Boy'.

In March this year Pacquiao was plying his trade at super-featherweight, while De La Hoya was a light-middle.

Here they met at welterweight, and Oscar was expected to hold all the aces in terms of size and reach.

But once the hype was over and they finally got in the ring, it was speed that mattered as the Filipino icon first befuddled De La Hoya, and then battered him.

Manny started the bout by boxing well from the outside, and even in the early going he just couldn't miss with his straight left lead through the De La Hoya guard.

Oscar meanwhile, who came in at his lightest weight in 11 years (145lbs), appeared tense and sluggish, struggling to get his punches off with any speed or power.

He had trouble landing ,anything as Pacquiao continued his smash-and-grab raid by hitting and moving with bewildering speed.
By the halfway stage De La Hoya's left eye was starting to swell, and Pacquaio was pitching a virtual shutout on the scorecards.

In the seventh it was time for Manny to move in for the kill, and with De La Hoya seemingly powerless to get off the ropes, the Filipino icon scored at will with sustained attacks.

De La Hoya signalled that he wanted to go on despite his struggles, and did keep Pacquiao at bay for the first two minutes of round eight.

But in the dying seconds of the round he was back on the ropes a broken man as Pacquiao handed out more punishment. It was like Ali v Holmes back in 1980 - a once-great fighter faded beyond recognition acting as a virtual punch bag.

With his eye virtually shut, Oscar was told by referee Tony Weeks between rounds that if he kept eating punches the fight would be stopped.

More punishment wasn't necessary though, as De La Hoya's corner pulled him out before the ninth could get under way.

For Pacquiao it brought to a close one of the most brilliant performances in ring history. And next up could be a showdown with Ricky Hatton.

For De La Hoya meanwhile, it surely signalled the end of a golden age.

Erik Morales News Results Bio & Stats

noreply@blogger.com (panther) — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 09:20:00 +0000

Erik Morales produced a masterful performance to beat Carlos Hernandez in Las Vegas and unify the super-featherweight titles. 'El Terrible', a modern great and three-weight world champion, showed his full repetoire of skills as he brawled and then boxed his way to a unanimous points victory.The fight was exciting throughout, with the game and very dangerous Hernandez...Full Story.

At the age of 30, Erik has been successful at the highest levels of competition for almost a decade, and universally recognized as one of the best boxers in the world at any weight, "pound-for-pound." He has also been one of the most exciting, and fought in several of the most sensational battles of recent years.The former WBC super bantamweight, two-time featherweight, and super featherweight world...Full Story.

Erik Morales v Carlos Hernandez

noreply@blogger.com (panther) — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 09:16:00 +0000

Erik Morales produced a masterful performance to beat Carlos Hernandez in Las Vegas and unify the super-featherweight titles.

'El Terrible', a modern great and three-weight world champion, showed his full repetoire of skills as he brawled and then boxed his way to a unanimous points victory.

The fight was exciting throughout, with the game and very dangerous Hernandez coming forward at every opportunity and mixing it up with his Mexican foe.

However Morales was always the boss, and had a big crowd at the MGM Grand's Garden Arena on its feet several times as he showed just why he is regarded as one of the premier 'pound-for-pound' fighters in the sport.

Scores were 119-109 (twice) and 115-113, all in favour of Morales, who improves to 47-1 (34) as a result.

Hernandez gave his all in the bout and certainly went out on his shield, and few in attendance will forget the way the two warriors embraced as the bell sounded at the start of the 12th.

Morales has now established himself as the top man at super-feather, yet nobody should ruled out a 'rubber' match with compatriot Marco Antonio Barrera after this.

Enzo Maccarinelli v Francisco Alvarez News & Results

noreply@blogger.com (panther) — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 09:08:00 +0000

Enzo Maccarinelli intends to take out nine months of frustration on Francisco Alvarez at the ExCeL London on Saturday night.

The pair meet for the vacant WBO cruiserweight title, which Maccarinelli held until he was blasted out in two rounds by David Haye in March.

The 28-year-old from Swansea has been stewing on his second defeat in 30 fights ever since and hopes to end the soul-searching by crushing Alvarez.

"I lost to Haye and that happens in boxing. I didn't get it right and I got punished. What am I going to do, cry about it?" he said.

"I've had to deal with it. People are doubting me now and putting my back against the wall, but I want to show that I've still got it.

"People want to know if I'm gun-shy now, but I'm going to take control of the centre of the ring and throw bombs from the start.

"I like proving people wrong. I had a dream to unify the division before I fought Haye, and it's the same now.

"It's a long time since I fought and I've been angry for nine months now."

Little-known Puerto Rican Alvarez, who has completed nine of his 11 wins early, is a late stand-in for Johnathon Banks who was forced to withdraw with an ankle injury.

Herbie Hide had been lined up to replace Banks but the former WBO heavyweight title holder became uncontactable on Wednesday night after initially agreeing to the fight.

"I was happy when I heard it was Herbie Hide because he's the only man I really can't stand in boxing," said Maccarinelli.

"He's been saying a lot of things about me so it would have been nice to shut his mouth up. But he didn't want it."

Kelly Pavlik v Gary Lockett

noreply@blogger.com (panther) — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 08:54:00 +0000

Gary Lockett was no match whatsoever for Kelly Pavlik, who made quick work of the Welshman in Atlantic City.

Making his first defence of the WBC and WBO middleweight titles, Pavlik scored a technical knockout of Lockett at one minutes 40 seconds of the third round at Boardwalk Hall.

Pavlik (34-0, 30 KOs) knocked down Lockett (30-2) twice in the second round before sending him to the canvas again in the third.

Upon returning to his feet, Lockett watched as his corner threw in the towel, ending the bout before the challenger suffered any more serious damage.

Pavlik overcame a second-round knockdown against Jermain Taylor last September to score a shocking seventh-round technical KO.

The 26-year-old proved the victory was not a fluke by posting a unanimous decision in a non-title rematch five months later.

Hoping to pull off a surprising triumph of his own, Lockett proved he was not in the same league as Pavlik.

After sustaining a hard right hand to the head with one minute 20secs remaining in the first round, the challenger went down to one knee after receiving a pair of punishing rights to the head midway through the second.

Back on his feet as referee Eddie Cotton's count reached eight, Lockett was rocked with another crushing right hand with 17 seconds remaining in the round, again dropping to one knee but returning to an upright position at the count of eight.

With blood trickling from his nose as well as from under his left eye, Lockett gamely answered the bell for round three but saw his dream of producing an upset win quickly ended.

Lockett said: "I just couldn't see the punches coming.

"He's a fabulous fighter. Every time he threw punches, it felt like he was making me pay for it."

Pavlik said: "I was catching him with good shots. He was smart to take a knee when I hurt him. I knew each time he took a knee, I had buzzed him."

On the undercard, Juan Manuel Lopez captured the WBO junior featherweight crown with a first-round technical knockout of Daniel Ponce de Leon in a battle of southpaws.

Making his seventh defence of the title he claimed in October 2005, Ponce de Leon (34-2) landed just six punches before the bout was stopped at 2:25 of the opening round.

The 24-year-old Lopez (22-0, 20 KOs) knocked down his opponent with a right hook less than two minutes into the match, then sent the Mexican to the canvas a second time when he completed a flurry of punches with another right hook.

Ponce de Leon, 27, got back to his feet but staggered and fell back into the corner, prompting referee Mike Ortega to stop the fight.

With his WBO Intercontinental super featherweight belt on the line, England's Kevin Mitchell recorded a fifth-round technical KO of Walter Estrada in his American debut.

The 23-year-old from Dagenham knocked his Colombian opponent to the canvas with a body shot at the end of the fifth, and Estrada (34-6) - who was visibly dazed - was deemed unable to continue.
With the triumph, Mitchell remained unbeaten at 27-0 with 20 knockouts.

Kelly Pavlik News & Results

noreply@blogger.com (panther) — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 08:44:00 +0000

Bernard Hopkins outclassed Kelly Pavlik with a virtuoso performance to win their big clash in Atlantic City on Saturday night. The 43-year-old 'Executioner' rolled back the years to score a convincing unanimous points victory in the catchweight match at 170lbs.He made light of a 17-year age gap to hand middleweight king Pavlik the..Full Story.

Gary Lockett was no match whatsoever for Kelly Pavlik, who made quick work of the Welshman in Atlantic City. Making his first defence of the WBC and WBO middleweight titles, Pavlik scored a technical knockout of Lockett at one minutes 40 seconds of the third round at Boardwalk Hall.Pavlik (34-0, 30 KOs) knocked down Lockett (30-2) twice in the second round before sending him to the canvas again in the third...Full Story.

Kelly Pavlik produced an astonishing turnaround to dethrone world middleweight champion Jermain Taylor in Atlantic City on Saturday. The man from Youngstown, Ohio was on the brink of an embarrassing early defeat in round two.But he roared back to stop the champion in round seven after finally blasting his way into the fight...Full Story.

Jermain Taylor’s middleweight title defence against Cory Spinks is HBO’s main event but the fight everyone is looking forward to seeing on Saturday is the scheduled 12-round elimination match between the 160-pound division’s two biggest punchers, Edison "Pantera" Miranda and Kelly Pavlik. This is the way they did it in the old days, two young, dangerous fighters meeting to decide which one...Full Story.

Known as "The Ghost", Kelly Pavlik grew up on Youngstown's south side, in the traditional ethnic neighborhood of Lansingville. He graduated from Lowellville High School and Mahoning County Joint Vocational School in 2000. Pavlik has been trained by Jack Loew of Youngstown's South Side Boxing Gym for his entire career. Another assist goes to Dunner, Sepp, Ricky McFadden and Mark Metzka...Full Story.

Arturo Gatti Considering Comeback

noreply@blogger.com (panther) — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 08:16:00 +0000

Former boxing star Arturo Gatti is considering a comeback more than a year after his retirement.
"He hasn't said he will fight and will make a comeback," promoter Yvon Michel said Wednesday.

"He's training, but not in a boxing gym. "He hasn't made up his mind completely. If he ever decided to go that route, we'd be thrilled to work with him."

Gatti (40-9), the former IBF super-featherweight and WBC light welterweight champion, is considering a comeback against Montreal welterweight Antonin Decarie (19-0), the Canadian and North American Boxing Organization champion, perhaps in early 2009.

The 36-year-old Montreal native is believed to covet a Canadian title, which he never held while spending his entire professional career in New Jersey.

Gatti, who turned pro in the United States in 1991, moved back to Montreal after his retirement. His girlfriend recently gave birth to a son, Arturo Jr., their second child.

He last fought on July 14, 2007, a seventh-round loss to Alfonzo Gomez.

In his career, Gatti battled many of the best in the lower and middle weight classes, including Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Oscar de la Hoya. His three fights with Mickey Ward are considered classics.

Five times his often bloody brawls were voted fight of the year.

The 25-year-old Decarie, who is ranked as the No. 7 contender by the WBO, is to make a first defence of his NABO title against American Hector Munoz (18-1-1) on Oct. 4 at the Montreal Casino.

Michel said that if Gatti returns, he wants it to be "a telling fight, and Decarie would be a telling fight."

Also on the Oct. 4 card, highly regarded amateur Kevin Bizier of Quebec City is to make his pro debut.

Arturo Gatti Knocks Out Leonard Dorin

noreply@blogger.com (panther) — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 08:03:00 +0000

Arturo Gatti knocked out Leonard Dorin in round two in Atlantic City to retain his WBC light-welterweight title.

Gatti floored his opponent with a single body shot to improve his record to 38-6.

The win was unusual for Gatti, who ended it without shedding any of his own blood.

"It's more than a victory to me, not going to the hospital after the fight," he told ESPN.

Dorin (22-1-1), a former lightweight champion, was suffering his first defeat.

Gatti boxed effectively in the opening round, yet midway through the second Dorin started to land his left hook, prompting Gatti to respond with more serious firepower.

That was a mistake for Dorin, who was sent to the canvas with a perfectly placed left hook.

Arturo Gatti News Fight Stats & Bio

noreply@blogger.com (panther) — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 07:55:00 +0000

Former boxing star Arturo Gatti is considering a comeback more than a year after his retirement."He hasn't said he will fight and will make a comeback," promoter Yvon Michel said Wednesday. "He's training, but not in a boxing gym. "He hasn't made up his mind completely. If he ever decided to go that route, we'd be thrilled to work with him."..Full Story.

American star 'Pretty Boy' Floyd Mayweather sent out a chilling warning to Ricky Hatton as he captured the WBC light-welterweight crown from Canadian tough-guy Arturo Gatti in Atlantic City.The 28-year-old, touted as a future opponent for Britain's 140lb kingpin, produced a masterclass of boxing to force Gatti to retire on his stool at the end of the sixth round...Full Story.

Arturo Gatti knocked out Leonard Dorin in round two in Atlantic City to retain his WBC light-welterweight title. Gatti floored his opponent with a single body shot to improve his record to 38-6. The win was unusual for Gatti, who ended it without shedding any of his own blood. "It's more than a victory to me, not going to the hospital after the fight," he told ESPN...Full Story.

He has been coined "the human highlight film." He participated in the "Fight of the Year" for three consecutive years: 1996-1998. His three epic bouts against Micky Ward are recognized as one of the greatest trilogies in boxing history.And although his nickname is "Thunder," Arturo Gatti has risen from the ashes on so many occasions that it would be more appropriate to designate him "The Phoenix."...Full Story.

Shane Mosley v Ricardo Mayorga

noreply@blogger.com (panther) — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 00:23:00 +0000

Shane Mosley thrilled his hometown crowd at the Home Depot Center in Los Angeles with a sensational late stoppage of Ricardo Mayorga.

The American stopped his opponent with exactly one second to go in the 12th round of the non-title light middleweight bout to earn his 45th victory.

A flurry of punches proved enough to deny the judges any need decide the outcome. After 11 rounds, they had Mosley in front, albeit by a split decision.

The stunning finish came as something of a surprise after the two veterans had seemed to tire in the second half of the fight.

Fighting for the first time in LA since he got the better of Oscar De La Hoya eight years ago, Mosley landed the more telling blows throughout.

However, he had to wait until the closing minute to put Mayorga down, hitting him with a flurry of blows that sent the Nicaraguan tumbling to the floor.

Although he managed to lift himself in time to beat referee David Mendoza's mandatory eight count, a thumping left sent him on a quick return to the canvas.

This time the official didn't carry on his count, waving the fight off right before the final bell was about to sound.

"I could feel him getting weaker," said Mosley, who is now hoping to meet the winner of the rematch between WBA welterweight champion Antonio Margarito and Miguel Cotto.

"He was trying to play like he was strong. He might have stole some rounds here and there but I wanted to go for the knockout."

While his rival contemplates his next outing the 35-year-old Mayorga may well be considering retirement having fought just twice in more than two years.

Although he did manage a majority decision over Fernando Vargas last November, he was soundly beaten by De La Hoya back in 2006 when challenging for the WBC light middleweight title.

"I thought I was doing well and I came out to win in the 12th round and he caught me," said the chain-smoking Mayorga.

"I will tell you one thing. He hit harder than I thought he would."

Shane Mosley v Luis Collazo

noreply@blogger.com (panther) — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 00:06:00 +0000

Shane Mosley clinched the interim WBC welterweight title with a unanimous points decision over Luis Collazo in Las Vegas.

Collazo, who recently lost his IBF belt to Britain's Ricky Hatton won just one round as 35-year-old Mosley was awarded a comfortable victory thanks to judges' scores of 118-109 118-109 119-108.

He also put his fellow American down in the 11th round, with Collazo given only the second round by the judges.

Mosley previously held the title from 2000-02 and will progress to full champion status when Floyd Mayweather Jr fights Oscar De La Hoya for the light middleweight crown in May.

Nicknamed 'Sugar', Mosley had also been competing primarily in the light middleweight division in recent years and has held titles at both that weight and lightweight.

But he said after the fight: "It feels good to be a welterweight again. I felt light on my feet."

The undercard saw Guyana's Vivian Harris become number one contender for Junior Witter's WBC light welterweight crown with a unanimous decision points decision over Juan Lazcano.

Briton Witter successfully defended his title against Arturo Morua last month.

Shane Mosley v Fernando Vargas

noreply@blogger.com (panther) — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 00:01:00 +0000

Shane Mosley claimed a 10th-round stoppage of Fernando Vargas in a WBA light middleweight elimination bout in Las Vegas.

Mosley and Vargas have each had impressive reigns as champions - Mosley three times - and had fought a handful of common opponents, only to miss each other in the ring.

In what Mosley called his last fight at 154 pounds before a return to the welterweight class, where he once was champion, the 34-year-old opened in aggressive fashion but was in a virtual standstill until the swelling over one of Vargas' eyes became an issue.

The swelling first appeared in the second before becoming visible from a distance by the sixth. Vargas bled from his mouth in the eighth and was visited by the ringside doctor after the ninth, a round in which Mosley scored three successive shots to the body and continued to sneak right hands on Vargas' face.

While Vargas never backed off from the action he forced through the middle rounds, he was prone to more damage as the fight wore on and the swelling increased. After taking another glancing shot to the face he never saw, referee Joe Cortez called an end to the fight one minute 22seconds into the 10th.

Vargas, who is noted for dramatic weight fluctuations in between fights, may have missed an opportunity to take on the winner of May's match between Oscar de la Hoya and Ricardo Mayorga for the WBC light middleweight crown.

Shane Mosley News Results & Bio

noreply@blogger.com (panther) — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 23:50:00 +0000

Shane Mosley thrilled his hometown crowd at the Home Depot Center in Los Angeles with a sensational late stoppage of Ricardo Mayorga. The American stopped his opponent with exactly one second to go in the 12th round of the non-title light middleweight bout to earn his 45th victory...Full Story.

WBA Welterweight champion Miguel Cotto retained his title and his unbeaten record at Madison Square Garden as he held off a spirited challenge from four-time former world champion Sugar Shane Mosley on Saturday night.Cotto, 27, scored an unanimous victory over the American, whose record slipped to 44-5 (37KOs)...Read More.

Shane Mosley clinched the interim WBC welterweight title with a unanimous points decision over Luis Collazo in Las Vegas. Collazo, who recently lost his IBF belt to Britain's Ricky Hatton won just one round as 35-year-old Mosley was awarded a comfortable victory thanks to judges' scores of 118-109 118-109 119-108...Full Story.

Shane Mosley claimed a 10th-round stoppage of Fernando Vargas in a WBA light middleweight elimination bout in Las Vegas. Mosley and Vargas have each had impressive reigns as champions - Mosley three times - and had fought a handful of common opponents, only to miss each other in the ring...Full Story.

Ronald 'Winky' Wright edged 'Sugar' Shane Mosley for the second time in eight months in Las Vegas.But this time he only won by a majority decision and a third showdown for the WBA and WBC light-middleweight titles may be on the cards. Wright had dominated the first encounter back in March to claim a surprise victory.But the rematch at the Mandalay Bay Casino...Full Story.

Ronald 'Winky' Wright beat Shane Mosley on points in a world junior middleweight showdown in Las Vegas. IBF champion Wright took Mosley's WBA and WBC versions after winning on all three judges cards.Southpaw Wright dominated the contest at the Mandalay Bay Events Center despite going into the fight a 5/2 underdog...Full Story.

He's scaled every mountain there was to climb in boxing. He's fought his way to world championships at lightweight, welterweight, and junior middleweight, became known as the best pound-for-pound fighter in boxing and has become a household name to boxing enthusiasts. It would be easy for "Sugar" Shane Mosley to be a content man. But Mosley will not be content until he climbs back to the top of the mountain...Full Story.

Edison Miranda v Howard Eastman

noreply@blogger.com (panther) — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 23:35:00 +0000

The middleweight division has an exciting new contender in Edison Miranda, who showed he belongs by overpowering British veteran Howard Eastman in seven rounds in by far the Colombian’s biggest test.

Miranda’s promoter at Warriors Boxing, Leon Margules, said over the phone from Florida that going into the bout he was far from sure of the outcome: “I thought Miranda could stop Eastman, or he could get stopped, too.

You’ve got to take a shot with your fighter and see what you’ve got - or what you haven’t got."

What he has got is a heavy-handed puncher who showed good boxing instincts against the most dangerous opponent he has faced. Miranda, 25, took his time and was a more effective counter puncher than I thought he would be. I knew he had a big right hand but the left hook impressed me, too.

Although Eastman didn’t go down in the seventh his legs looked unsteady and he was under fire in a corner. He managed to duck some big punches but then he got hit by four heavy shots in a row, the last two of which were uppercuts, one from each hand. The way Eastman’s head snapped back and the manner in which his body took on a floppy look indicated to me as I watched the television coverage on ESPN2’s Friday Night Fights that he had - as we say in the business - “gone".

Referee Brian Garry’s intervention after two minutes, 33 seconds of the seventh round seemed perfectly timed although Eastman made the obligatory show of protest.

Really, this was Miranda’s fight all the way apart from a shaky couple of moments in the sixth when Eastman backed him up with right hands. Eastman seemed to have been hurt several times and was so wobbly in the fifth that two judges gave Miranda a 10-8 round even though the Guyanese veteran from south London did not go down.

There was a very confident look about Miranda, a boxer who clearly believes that he can knock out anybody he can hit — an entirely reasonable assumption as he has now halted 23 opponents in his 26 consecutive wins.

No one has ever done to Eastman what Miranda did to him, which makes this a very impressive result for the Colombian. Eastman did have a bit of an “old fighter" look about him at 35, I thought, but no one was saying before the fight that his chin had shown signs of deterioration. In his last fight he had been competitive in losing a 12-round decision to Arthur Abraham in a title bout in Germany but Miranda, apart from the sixth round, dominated him and even dropped his hands to taunt the older man in the fourth.

The victory makes Miranda the mandatory challenger for Arthur Abraham’s title and Leon Margules said he hopes to bring the fight to the Seminole Hard Rock casino setting in Hollywood, Florida where the fight with Eastman was held. He agrees that it will not be easy to get Abraham out of Germany but said: “I’ll be tough to beat in a purse bid — I’ve got some money behind me [the Seminole Nation, with its casino interests]."

He feels that Abraham is definitely beatable. “I saw the tape of Abraham and Eastman and frankly I thought Eastman gave him hell," he said. “Miranda’s trainer [the Puerto Rican Jose Bonilla] thinks Abraham is an easier fight than Eastman — less awkward, chin in the air."

It is an interesting fight to be sure, and one in which the location could be extremely important.

Eastman’s promoter, Mick Hennessy, talking over the phone from London a few days after the fight, said he thought that Eastman would have won if he had gone right after Miranda in the seventh after hurting the Colombian in the previous round.

“He was completely gone in the sixth," Hennessy said, “and at the start of the seventh Robert McCracken [Eastman’s trainer] told him: ‘You’ve got to go out there and put it straight on him and take him out,’ but Howard never done that, he was too cautious really and ended up getting tagged himself."

Hennessy and McCracken took Eastman to hospital afterwards as a precautionary measure when the fighter complained of a pain under his left chest. It was feared Eastman might have broken a rib and he had X-rays; it turned out that he had suffered heavy bruising and he was given a muscle relaxant and a pain killer.

The fact that Eastman basically trained himself in Guyana — where he has a wife and two children — instead of working with McCracken in Britain was seen by Hennessy as a definite contributory factor to his defeat. Hennessy said the fighter was clearly in great physical shape but not in great boxing shape — big difference.

“We do feel that it could have been a different fight if Howard had put the commitment in with his training," Hennessy said. “His timing wasn’t there and that’s the first sign of someone who’s not had the rounds that he needs before a fight like that. I don’t want to take nothing away from Miranda because I thought he showed big balls basically, he’s a real gutsy kid and he’s a tough kid - because Eastman is a puncher — and although he got wobbled bad he still hung in there and it was a real brave performance."

Eastman said he wants to carry on fighting but Hennessy said that both he and McCracken made it clear to him that boxing must come first — that he must work the other things in his life around his boxing.

As for the stoppage in the seventh, Hennessy said that Eastman’s explanation was that he was trying to let Miranda punch himself out on the ropes, but the promoter added: “Robert told him before the fight — and was shouting at him during the fight — that the last place that he wanted him was on the ropes."

British fans will be able to judge for themselves how badly Miranda was hurt in the sixth and whether the referee was right to intervene in the seventh when Sky Sports shows the fight on Friday evening (March 31).

Edison Miranda v Kelly Pavlik

noreply@blogger.com (panther) — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 23:22:00 +0000

Jermain Taylor’s middleweight title defence against Cory Spinks is HBO’s main event but the fight everyone is looking forward to seeing on Saturday is the scheduled 12-round elimination match between the 160-pound division’s two biggest punchers, Edison "Pantera" Miranda and Kelly Pavlik.

This is the way they did it in the old days, two young, dangerous fighters meeting to decide which one goes forward to the title fight.
Miranda, the Colombian who trains in Puerto Rico, is the favourite, but Pavlik, the blue-collar banger from Youngstown, OH, has a lot going for him in the fight: he has the height and reach advantages, he might be the faster, better boxer, and he is one of the few middleweights who might be able to match fire with fire in an exchange of punches with Miranda and perhaps even get the better of it.

Pavlik, 25, has stopped 27 opponents in his 30 consecutive victories. His biggest wins were over another Colombian, Fulgencio Zuniga, and Mexican slugger Jose Luis Zertuche, but this is by far his toughest fight.

Miranda, with 24 KO wins in his 28-1 record, has faced the more formidable opponents — in his only loss he broke Arthur Abraham’s jaw in their title fight in Germany, and he stopped veteran world title challenger Howard Eastman in the seventh.

I think that people are sceptical of Pavlik because, no getting around it, he’s a white Midwest fighter. He told me in an interview published in Boxing Monthly in December 2005 that he has encountered the “great white hope” type of cynicism. “There are so many limited white fighters that come up that never made it,” he said, “and everybody thinks that I’m not gonna make it, the networks don’t want to deal with a white fighter because they think it’s a waste of time.”

Pavlik can fight, though. He showed it when he came off the floor from a first-round knockdown and outpunched Zuniga, who was blood-spattered from cuts over both eyes, and again in his HBO debut in Los Angeles in January when he knocked out Zertuche in the eighth round in front of a largely Mexican crowd that was cheering for his opponent. All he asked, he told me, was to be judged on his merits and given the chance to show what he can do.

Now he has that chance, and he is meeting a very strong, heavy handed, fearless aggressor who grew up in desperate circumstances, virtually abandoned as a child and obliged to fend for himself from an early age. For someone to overcome the challenges of such almost unimaginable deprivation and make something of himself indicates a great depth of character and I think that Miranda draws strength from his early life-struggle, a feeling that he has been through things that set him apart from other fighters.

Although Miranda is just a year older than Pavlik I think that some people might see this as a man against boy type of fight. Miranda just looks so tough, so menacing, so ready to fight.

Miranda can be hurt, though. We have seen it in at least three of his fights, starting in October, 2005, when he briefly grabbed the top rope to steady himself after being hit on the chin by Sherwin Davis in the second round — but he knocked out his lanky opponent in the very next round.

Howard Eastman wobbled Miranda with a right hand late in the sixth round — only to get caught and stopped in the seventh.

In his most recent fight, of course, Miranda was dropped by a left hook from Allan Green in the eighth round although, once again, he came back strongly, knocking down his previously undefeated opponent twice in the last round and coming very close to knocking him out.

If Pavlik can hit Miranda he can get him in trouble, but can he keep him in trouble? Miranda has great powers of recovery. He has a quality that I particularly like in a fighter, which is the ability to rally quickly from adversity and turn the tables on the fighter who has just nailed him with a telling blow, the attitude of: “OK, that was yours — here comes mine.”

I think that Miranda’s boxing ability has improved under his Puerto Rican trainer, Jose Bonilla. He is more patient now, using a good, stiff jab to make openings for the right hand, although his left hook is a lethal weapon, too — as Howard Eastman discovered in the seventh round. No one has ever buckled Eastman the way that Miranda did.

Yet there is a lot to like with Pavlik, too. He is capable of firing off impressive combinations. When he is in full flow he probably throws punches in greater volume than any other middleweight. Like Miranda he has the instincts of a fighter. Down from a left hook in the first round against Fulgencio Zuniga, he came back to win seven of the next eight rounds on all three judges’ scorecards before the fight was stopped at the end of the ninth due to the Colombian’s cuts. The Mexican Zertuche was throwing some bombs in the first couple of rounds but after that it was all Pavlik — I had expected him to win that fight but not to outclass his man before knocking him spark out in the eighth round.

On Saturday, Pavlik is on the biggest stage of hs career. He seems to be mentally ready, apparently unmoved by the war of nerves that Miranda wages with his borderline-Ricardo Mayorga line of trash-talking. His manager, Cameron Dunkin, tells me that Pavlik is looking forward to the fight. “It’s a dangerous fight but I have faith in my guy,” Dunkin said. “He’s a natural athlete and much stronger than people think he is. We know that Kelly can’t start slow in this fight. We want to get him good and warmed up [in the dressing room] so he’s ready to go. After the first two rounds we feel this will be Kelly’s fight.”

In Miranda’s camp they feel that they have the uncrowned champion, that anywhere but in Germany the fight with Abraham would have been stopped due to the German-Armenian’s grotesquely swollen jaw (not to mention their well-chronicled complaints about the refereeing and scoring of the contest). They feel it is inevitable that Miranda will become champion and that Jermain Taylor is on borrowed time (Saturday’s fight is to decide Taylor’s WBC mandatory challenger).

I think that Miranda’s camp could well be right about him becoming champion, but I am not sure that his time is now. I just get the impression that Miranda is still developing as a fighter, that the best is yet to come. Pavlik, I think, is in the right time and place to win this fight. I believe Pavlik has the boxing ability to survive if he gets wobbled — his “Ghost” nickname comes from elusiveness as an amateur — and he surely has the hitting power at least to get Miranda’s respect.

If each is mindful of the other’s punching power it could be a longer fight than perhaps generally expected; if the fighters come out to impose their respective wills it will most likely be over inside eight rounds one way or the other — we will not know until battle is joined.

There is always the possibility that Miranda will just be too much of an irresistible force — and if anyone gets caught cold in the early stages it will more likely be Pavlik than the Colombian. Yet as much as I respect Miranda, I have the feeling that Pavlik possesses the right blend of talent, speed, heart and punching power to upset the odds.

Edison Miranda Results News & Stats

noreply@blogger.com (panther) — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 23:05:00 +0000