BoxingSupreme

'Rampage' Jackson considers Boxing career after UFC

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 21:57:00 +0000

Quinton "Rampage" Jackson would like to remind fans that the UFC isn't the first major promotion he's fallen out with. "I'm a fighter," he said. "I fight everything. That's my problem. I don't win all my fights; I fight everything. I just say, 'You know what, forget it.'" Seven years ago, he said as much to PRIDE, which at the time was a major competitor to the UFC and a platform that made stars out of fighters like him. Jackson felt disrespected by the now-defunct promotion and in 2006 signed with the World Fighting Alliance. So began a new chapter in his career.

Now on the verge of starting another, Jackson believes he's burned his bridge with UFC parent Zuffa, which acquired his contract after the WFA quickly went belly up. Jackson (32-10 MMA, 7-4 UFC) and Zuffa have publicly agreed that his final octagon appearance comes on Saturday at UFC on FOX 6, which takes place at Chicago's United Center. In a FOX-televised co-main event, he meets Brazilian standout Glover Teixeira (19-2 MMA, 2-0 UFC), whom he was originally slated to face this past October at UFC 153. Jackson said with the right offer, he could transition to another MMA promotion or to the boxing ring. "I think I can bring to boxing what they're lacking right now," he said. "All we really have is (Manny) Pacquiao and (Floyd) Mayweather, in my opinion. We don't have any (Evander) Holyfields and Mike Tyson right now. I think I can bring that type of energy to boxing."

But there are more than a few MMA observers who think Jackson's recent gripes are merely a ploy to ink a better contract. After all, money heals all wounds in combat sports, right? "I don't think there's anything that they could do now," Jackson said. "I've given them chances. I don't want to badmouth them. (UFC President) Dana (White), once upon a time, gave me a big break and he helped me out when he first purchased my contract. But it's no secret, ever since I did 'The A-Team' movie and I didn't fight Rashad Evans in Memphis, we've had a bad relationship." This past week, Jackson complained that the UFC had blocked him from wearing Reebok inside the octagon on Saturday. But today, he downplayed the effect of the decision. (The promotion later said it was open to working with the apparel company.)

Mayweather plans to fight Robert Guerrero

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 21:47:00 +0000

Unbeaten fighter Floyd Mayweather likely will return to the ring after a one-year layoff on May 4 in Las Vegas against fellow American Robert Guerrero, the Los Angeles Times reported.The card would also feature Mexico's undefeated Saul "Cinnamon" Alvarez, who many expect will face Mayweather later this year if both are triumphant in May. Golden Boy Promotions chief executive Richard Schaefer told the Times that a deal could be set this week to send World Boxing Council welterweight champion Mayweather, 43-0 with 26 knockouts, against Guerrero, 31-1-1 with 18 knockouts. Alvarez, 41-0 with one drawn and 30 knockouts, would defend his World Boxing Council super welterweight crown against Austin Trout, Alfredo Angulo or James Kirkland, according to the report.

Filipino star Nonito Donaire, promoted by Bob Arum, and Mexico's undefeated Abner Mares, signed with Golden Boy, are in talks for an April 13 super-bantamweight unification bout, according to the report. Mares is 25-0 with one drawn and 13 knockouts while Donaire is 31-1 with 20 knockouts. Unbeaten American Tim Bradley is in talks to defend the World Boxing Organisation title he took from Filipino icon Manny Pacquiao last year, the Times said, with undefeated Cuban Yuriorkis Gamboa as the likely opponent in suburban Los Angeles. AFP

Camacho will fight Taylor at Wembley

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 21:42:00 +0000

‘Macho Man’ Camacho faces fellow unbeaten cruiserweight China Clark for the English belt while ‘Crash Bang’ Taylor (7-0-1) meets Liam Shinkwin (5-0-1) for the Southern Area lightweight title on a crunch night of action in the capital. While Taylor is in sunny Spain in a training camp with stable mates Darren Barker, who tops the bill, and Lee Purdy, who battles Carson Jones for the IBF International welterweight title, the news that Camacho would fight Leeds’ Clark for the English strap has given the 27-year-old a huge boost in the gym.“When Eddie said I would have an English title fight on March 9 my eyes just lit up, I was so happy,” said Camacho. “I was expecting to go through the titles starting with the Southern Area title but the English title is much bigger. Anybody who wants to go and fight for the British title has to go through the national title first so once I have the English title they will have to come and fight me for it. “The best title domestically is the British title and the English title has come earlier than I planned and that is fantastic. I said when I turned professional that I wanted to make my mark on the cruiserweight division and this is all part of the plan. “I believe I have earned this. I have proved that I can blast people, I can go through a hard battle like I did with Hari Miles and I have shown that I can take a punch as well.

“The stage just keeps getting better and better. Boxing for the English title at Wembley Arena on a bill with all the Matchroom boys is going to be great, I can’t wait.” Title fights for Camacho and Taylor appear on a stacked undercard of huge fights for Barker and Purdy, a rematch of the tasty Southern Area light welterweight title bout edged by Danny Connor over Chris Evangelou when the pair clashed in September. Betfair Prizefighter champion Larry Ekundayo, unbeaten Islington middleweight John Ryder and former Team GB star Martin J. Ward are also in action in fights to be announced soon.

Bob Arum vs Oscar de la hoya

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 19 Jan 2013 14:03:00 +0000

Boxing promoters can make or break a career. They are the ones who schedule fights, handle negotiations and decide which fighters deserve a shot at the next level and those who don't. If you're in, it can be a tremendously lucrative relationship, if you're out, it can go sour really, really fast. Just as promoters can make fights happen, they can also prevent them from happening. Cross-promotional fights have always been something of a tricky business in the sport. Each company looks to protect their big moneymakers and would rather see them lose to someone in their stable, who can then be marketed, than to a rival fighter. The two biggest dogs in the yard of boxing promotion these days are Bob Arum's Top Rank and Oscar De La Hoya's Golden Boy Promotions.

Between these companies are the biggest stars in the sport including Floyd Mayweather, Manny Pacquiao, Canelo Alvarez and Nonito Donaire. But unfortunately for boxing fans, the two companies simply do not, and will not, get along. Fights between fighters on opposite sides of the promotional war have become a virtual impossibility. The bad blood that runs here is deeper than traditional rivalry and has already contributed to the derailing of several high-profile fights. None, of course, have been bigger than the long talked about, but to this date never fulfilled, dream match between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao. While the promotional rivalry is not the only cause, though it's a large one, the lack of this fight being made in the past four years is a stain for the sport.The money and hype for boxing it would've generated would've likely surpassed record numbers and provided the sport with the type of huge, transcending event it's lacked in recent years. But short of this superfight, it seems that the effect on the sport of the rivalry has been a bit overblown. The main source of acrimony between the companies stems from the personal relationship between the two main men behind each company. Simply put, Arum and De La Hoya don't like one another, and that is not likely to change any time soon. The rivalry stems from when De La Hoya was a fighter, and promoted for much of his early career by Arum, and the two had a highly publicized and ugly split.

Both sides leveled accusations against the other, including charges of racism and throwing fights, that have remained a toxic impediment to this day.

Bernard Hopkins is still world class at 48

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 19:27:00 +0000

No professional athlete, let alone a boxer, can last for 24 years at the pinnacle of the business without great genes, good fortune and a competitive streak that runs deeper than any normal person could possibly understand. Former middleweight and light heavyweight champion Bernard Hopkins turned 48 on Tuesday, the same day he announced he would fight Tavoris Cloud on March 9 in Brooklyn, NY, for a 175-pound title. The bout with Cloud will come nearly two full years after Hopkins set perhaps the most unbreakable record in sports when he became, at 46 years, four months and six days, the oldest world champion in boxing history. But if, as expected, Hopkins beats Cloud, he will regain a world title at 48 years, one month and 23 days.

Hopkins' training discipline is legendary. When he was released from a Pennsylvania prison in 1988 after serving a bit more than five years on a strong-arm robbery conviction, he vowed he would never go back and would turn his life around. He has done each, and actually has been on the good side longer than he was on the bad side. It is his disdain for losing, though, that drives him to greatness at even such an advanced age. He dropped a majority decision to Chad Dawson last April in a highly competitive fight. It was an extraordinary performance by a 47-year-old against one of the sport's young elites, but Hopkins took no joy in coming close.

"That was so tough for me to take that I didn't have sex with my wife for six months," Hopkins said. "I didn't want to do anything. It's just a thing where, I hate to lose. I hate to lose at anything. I'm a guy who is very competitive. To lose, to me, is devastating. It was especially so knowing I could have done things I had worked on and trained for." He's one of the great fighters of this, or any era, and has accomplished more than he had any reason to believe when he lost his pro debut a month before George H.W. Bush was elected president. He concedes he's no longer the athlete he once was and has to make concessions to his age. As he plowed through his 30s and rolled past his 40th birthday, he growled at anyone who would suggest he may be limited by his age. He openly admits that he isn't the same physically, which makes his success in the ring all the more remarkable.

I was close to taking my own life, admits Ricky Hatton

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 10:58:00 +0000

Ricky Hatton has revealed just how close he came to committing suicide during his three-year retirement from boxing. The 34-year-old said his girlfriend often had to prise a knife from his hand as depression took its toll on his life. Hatton, who has had well-publicised battles with drink, drugs and depression after his loss to Manny Pacquiao in his last fight since May 2009, will return to the ring against Ukraine’s Vyacheslav Senchenko next month. He told Radio Five Live’s Sportsweek programme: “I was near to a nervous breakdown, depression, suicidal. Most mornings my girlfriend would have to come downstairs and take a knife out of my hand. I had a knife at my wrists, I was in a really bad way, just hysterically crying for no reason.

“I’ve always liked a little bit of a drink, but my drinking had gone way off the Richter scale, I was having blackouts. “And even if I was stone cold sober I was trying to kill myself. The real lowest point was when my little girl came along, who is one-year-old now. Hatton’s sonCampbell had the misfortune to see his dad in such a bad way, I am not going to do it any more to my kids and I’m not going to put my family though it any more.” Hatton claims his life now is “really rosy”, but admitted in his eyes he was returning to the ring “ashamed” and as a “failure”.
“I feel sad because I feel ashamed of myself,” he said. “It doesn’t matter how many people say, ‘Ricky, everyone has problems and you got beaten my (Floyd) Mayweather (Jr) and Pacquiao who are the two best fighters of our generation, you did the country proud’. “That’s very kind of people to say, but they don’t have to deal with this little fella who sits on my shoulder every day telling me that I’m a failure and I’ve let my family and my fans down and British sport, British boxing down. I feel a failure and it doesn’t matter how many people say, ‘Don’t be too hard on yourself’, that’s how I feel and that’s how I’m coming back. I feel I’ve got to redeem myself.
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Vitali Klitschko Enters Parliment

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 29 Oct 2012 13:09:00 +0000

Vitali Klitschko, the reigning world heavyweight boxing champion, is about to engage in a different kind of fight. He is set to enter Ukraine's parliament as a lawmaker and the head of the UDAR party, following Sunday's parliamentary elections. UDAR stands for Ukrainian Democratic Alliance for Reforms. The word also means “punch” in Ukrainian. The over 2-meters-tall athlete conducted a campaign in which he was critical of corruption and cronyism in the government of Ukraine President Viktor Yanukovych. Klitschko said after preliminary voting results that he would join the opposition alliance.

Klitschko is not an entire newcomer to the political process. He has twice staged unsuccessful runs to become the mayor of Kiev. In a statement on his website, he says he has entered politics because he wants to help his country “toward a better future.” He says his country continues to lag behind its Eastern European neighbors. Ukraine is the second largest nation after Russia to emerge from the former Soviet Union. Klitschko is only the fourth boxer – besides Muhammad Ali, Evander Holyfield and Lennox Lewis – to win a heavyweight belt for the third time.

Emanuel Steward devastates Lenox Lewis

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 26 Oct 2012 13:22:00 +0000

Lewis is one of many top fighters to have had his career shaped by Steward, whose passing was last night confirmed by his sister. He was 68 and had recently undergone surgery for a stomach illness. He trained more than 40 world champions during his illustrious career, with Lewis being one of them. He went to Steward's Kronk Gym in Detroit after losing his WBC heavyweight title to Oliver McCall in 1994, reclaimed his title in 1997 and went on to have a spell as the undisputed champion before retiring in 2004. "I'm completely devastated by the passing of my long-time friend, mentor and trainer Emanuel "Manny" Steward," Lewis wrote on his official website."Manny has helped me get through some of the biggest fights in my career and I only regret that I couldn't return the favour and see him through his biggest fight. "We've maintained a close relationship and the last time we spoke he seemed his usual upbeat self so it was very disturbing to hear about his illness and rapid decline.

"It is with a heavy heart that realisation of what I hoped were just rumours are now in fact true. Manny always told me I was the best, but the truth is, HE was the best and I'm grateful, privileged and honoured to be counted among his many historic successes." Steward was inducted to the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1996 and rose to prominence as a corner man owing to his work with Detroit fighter Thomas Hearns. Hearns, who became Steward's first professional fighter along with another Detroit native, Hilmer Kenty, in 1977, won his first world title in 1980 and went on to engage in a series of all-time classics with Sugar Ray Leonard, Roberto Duran and Marvin Hagler. "This has been a very tragic year for the boxing world, but today we've truly lost one of its crown jewels," Lewis added.

"Comanche boy" is ready

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 28 Sep 2012 18:50:00 +0000

NEW YORK: (July 11, 2012) Star Boxing has signed undefeated middleweight contender George “Comanche Boy” Tahdooahnippah to an exclusive promotional contract, it was announced today by Joe DeGuardia, its President.“We’re very excited to bring George aboard to Star Boxing’s extensive team of world class fighters. He’s an undefeated middleweight who fits into the mix very well of highly ranked contenders in the division” said DeGuardia of Tahdooahnippah who sports a record of 30-0-1 (22KO’s). A proud Native American Indian and member of the Comanche Nation, Tahdooahnippah is based in Lawton, Oklahoma with his wife and four children.

Known for his heavy hands and fan friendly style, Tahdooahnippah celebrates each of his fight appearances and victories with the pounding of the Native American drums, the breathtaking display of Native American Fancy War Dancers and the hip hop sounds of his Native American rappers. “I’m very excited to work with Joe DeGuardia and the team at Star Boxing to take my career to a higher level. I’m ready to take the next step to fight the best at 160 and look forward to returning to action in the very near future.”

Last July 16th, Tahdooahnippah won the WBC Continental Americas Middleweight Title with an impressive first round knockout of Jimmy Holmes at the Comanche Nation Casino in his hometown of Lawton, Oklahoma. In 2012, Tahdooahnippah has had two fights thus far; a first round knockout of Tyrel Brown on February 25th and a six round decision win over Rahman Yusubov on April 26th. Details of Tahdooahnippah’s debut under the Star Boxing banner will be announced shortly.

Alex "The brick city Bullet" Perez vs Antonin Decaire

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 28 Sep 2012 18:46:00 +0000

Alex “The Brick City Bullet” Perez, 16-0, 9 KOs, is a tough and exciting fighter from Newark, NJ. Decarie, 26-1, 7 KOs, is also an action fighter, who has fought top competition and has been very successful. While neither fighter is a household name, both are top welterweights on the brink of stardom. When DiBella announced the fight he said, “It is a fight that people are legitimately excited about. Alex Perez is one of my best prospects and I think it’s going to be a great fight with Antonin Decarie.”

Since turning professional in 2004, Perez has experienced many ups and downs outside of the ring, but he has always trained hard and remained focused when in the ring under the tutelage of trainer/manager Jose Rosario. He is selective with his company and he travels with a small circle of close friends and family that form “Team Perez”. He is in the best shape of his life and is more than ready for Saturday, recently saying, “I always fight my heart out because I want to give my three sons a life that I always dreamed of and I also know my grandmother who passed away recently is watching over me.”

After an impressive amateur career, Alex successfully turned pro but was shot in the chest just weeks later. He recovered, returned to the sport and quickly found success back in the ring. However, just when things started to progress in his career again, Alex found himself looking at 30 years in prison while facing gun and aggravated assault charges. Perez, who prides himself on his faith and loyalty to his family and friends had that loyalty repaid when Danny Serratelli, a close friend who had trained with Perez since he was a teenager took the case pro bono. With the help of “Team Perez” the truth was brought to light and he was exonerated on all charges. At that point Perez returned to the ring with a vengeance and after picking up a couple of wins he signed with promoter Lou DiBella.

Ricky hatton will fight Vyacheslav Senchenko

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 28 Sep 2012 18:42:00 +0000

Ricky Hatton’s opponent on his return to the ring at the MEN Arena on Nov 24 will be will be 35-year-old Ukrainian Vyacheslav Senchenko in a 10-round welterweight bout. The match-up puts him on a perfect path to a potential world title fight with Paulie Malignaggi, the World Boxing Association welterweight champion, in the first quarter of next year. In spite of Hatton’s self-imposed 3½-year exile from the ring, his popularity is clearly undiminished. The 16,500 tickets sold out in 48 hours before opponent Senchenko had even been announced. However, it is understood that some of those close to the boxer-turned-promoter may be unhappy about his decision to fight again

Police were called when Hatton’s father, Ray, had an altercation with his son the day before the boxer announced his comeback. It is unclear whether the two events are related. Former two-weight world champion Hatton, who last fought in May 2009 when he was knocked out in Las Vegas by Manny Pacquiao, announced his return to the ring earlier this month. He has been in strict training for several months.
Senchenko has lost just one of his 33 professional fights and is a former world champion. After a decorated amateur career at world level, Senchenko won the WBA welterweight title in 2009, defending it three times before being stopped by former Hatton victim Malignaggi in April this year. It was one of Malignaggi’s finest performances, and Hatton is targeting the Brooklynite for the belt early next year, provided he comes through this.

‘The Hitman’, who will celebrate his 34th birthday next week, retired from the sport last year but admitted he was itching to get back into the ring. “I’m sure that Vyacheslav Senchenko will give me a good fight. It’s one that I am confident I can win though,” he said. “I believe this was as good an opponent as I could have had. I’m in great shape, I’m feeling good and I know I can put on a performance.” The undercard features Hatton-promoted Scott Quigg and Rendell Munroe, who will compete in a re-match for the WBA interim world title at super bantamweight – their first meeting was stopped when Munroe suffered a huge cut above his eye after a clash of heads – while Sergey Rabchenko will fight Cedric Vitu for the European light-middleweight title. I can’t wait to get in the ring now,” said the 33-year-old.

Kevin Mitchell vs Ricky Burns

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 22 Sep 2012 13:48:00 +0000

It seems that nobody is convinced about the outcome of tonight's brilliant fight in Glasgow between Kevin Mitchell, the travelling challenger, and Ricky Burns, the hometown champion, that is arguably the best English-against-Scottish fight since 1968. Burns will be defending his WBO lightweight title for the second time and trying to get the recognition that has so far eluded his efforts, which have been both impressive and overlooked. Mitchell is on a simple mission of redemption after his wayward tendencies ruined his last world-title fight and started a free fall of destruction that came close to ending his career.

Burns famously celebrates his world-title victories with a trip to Nandos and a few hours on his Xbox while Mitchell, in his darkest hours, was out of control, collapsing between bars, one-night stands, violence and confrontations with the police. "I feared for him," admitted Burns, who has been a friend since amateur days. In 2010 Mitchell was given his dream fight when Frank Warren delivered a WBO lightweight title chance against Michael Katsidis at Upton Park, home of Mitchell's team, West Ham, and a shrine to the young Dagenham fighter. It was all set in place for the local boy, but a breakdown in his relationship with his wife, a crazy streak and some pure stupidity ruined his chances.

Pacquiao vs Marques IV + Chaves Jr fails Drug test

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 22 Sep 2012 13:45:00 +0000

Pacquiao-Marquez IV is on: Ten thousand fans packed the Mexico City arena Friday to see Manny Pacquiao and native son Juan Manuel Marquez for the third stop o their media tour announcing their fourth meeting, set for Saturday, December 8 at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas. Pacquiao has beaten Marquez twice, and they fought to a draw in a third fight. Many observers including this columnist believe Marquez won the last fight with Pacquiao in 2011. Although many people hoped Pacquiao would scheduled a rematch with Timothy Bradley after Bradley’s controversial decision over Pacquiao, the Marquez matchup is a bigger fan draw. He is by far the most popular boxer in Mexico. Marquez and Pacquiao have both said they will be going for a knockout to end the debate about their series once and for all.

Chavez Jr. fails drug test: It explains a whole lot about Julio Caesar Chavez, Jr., don’t you think? Such as getting up for the day around 6 p.m., and having trouble making weight. As reported by several media including Ring Magazine and CBSSports.com, the Nevada State Athletic Commission informed Chavez Jr.’s promoter Top Rank that he failed the test following his fight with Sergio Martinez on Tuesday. If a second test confirms the first, Chavez Jr. faces a suspension from boxing, as much as a year. He could also lose his $3 million purse for the fight. Chavez Jr. tested positive for a banned diuretic in 2009. He received a seven month suspension and the victory was changed to a no decision. This past January, he was arrested for drunk driving in Los Angeles, two weeks before his bout against Marco Antonio Rubio.

Floyd Mayweather's comeback delayed by legal troubles

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 16:10:00 +0000

Floyd Mayweather was recently released from prison, but a violation in his probation could send him right back. The undefeated boxer pleaded guilty to domestic violence charges and served two months of a six-month sentence. He was released on good behavior, and according to Francis McCabe and Brian Haynes of the Las Vegas Review-Journal, he was on probation that included "staying out of trouble." Unfortunately, Mayweather was unable to do that, as police were needed to investigate an altercation that took place earlier this month. McCabe and Haynes explain that the incident occurred at the home of Melissa Brim, the mother of Mayweather's daughter. The boxer reportedly stole an unknown possession from her after having a loud argument. Michael McCann, Sports Illustrated's law expert, believes there is a real possibility this could force Mayweather to return to prison.

He goes on to explain that this incident could qualify as violating his probation. Surprisingly, this was not the only legal issue that Mayweather has had to deal with recently. He was also forced to pay $113,774 in fees for avoiding questioning by lawyers of Manny Pacquiao regarding defamation (via ESPN).

The case is based around the fact that Mayweather has accused Pacquiao of using performance-enhancing drugs, a claim that is completely baseless. This money will not make a dent in the fortune of one of the world's most wealthy athletes, but it indicates that a fight between the two superstars is likely a long way away.Fans have been waiting to see Mayweather back in the ring since he defeated Miguel Cotto in May. Unfortunately, this wait might end up being longer than anticipated. He is arguably the best pound-for-pound boxer in the world today. However, it will be interesting to see if the champ has lost a step or two by the time he returns to the sport after all his legal troubles are behind him.

50 cent has business plans with Manny Pacquiao

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 22:07:00 +0000

Eight-Division world boxing champion boxer Manny Pacquiao handles his business both inside and outside of the ring. On Wednesday (September 19) Pac-Man was in New York City promoting his December 8 fight with his heated rival Juan Manuel Márquez, but also addressed his in-the-works promotion company with rap mogul 50 Cent. "I love music, and he likes boxing also," Pacquiao told MTV News about the G-Unit head honcho just minutes before his big press conference at the Edison Ballroom in New York promoting the Márquez match. "We're talking about that and we're discussing. We didn't finalize yet because I'm so busy right now and he's busy right now."

Manny made it clear that he was focused on his December 8 bout with Márquez, a man who he is fighting for the fourth time in his career, but Pacquiao's business adviser Michael Koncz was able to give us much more detail. "We've very close to it, I've been talking to 50 Cent now for over a month and a half, close to two months. It's becoming a reality, more than a possibility," Koncz said of the deal which will bring Fif and Pac together to promote big-time boxing matches. "I think we're going to end up doing something together before the year is out." This is not 50's first venture into the sport. The multiplatinum rapper has a close friendship with boxing champ Floyd Mayweather — they call themselves the Money Team — but in a recent interview, Fif spoke on a rift between the longtime buddies. It is now being speculated that because Fif is gearing up to do business with Mayweather's rival Pacquiao, it has caused problems between the friends. During a radio interview on September 14 with Power 105's Breakfast Club in NYC, 50 said he and Floyd were still friends, and today, Koncz completely shot down the notion that Manny came between them.

Mike Tyson makes a life after boxing

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 01 Sep 2012 18:15:00 +0000

IT WAS the ultimate dog act, one of the most heinous moments ever in sport as Mike Tyson spat out his mouthguard, sank his long, thick canines into Evander Holyfield's ear, wrenched away a piece of flesh and spat it out on to the canvas. Tyson's reputation was already lower than a sewer rat's but in that frightful moment in a 1997 fight for the world heavyweight title, his standing as a human being sunk to an all-time low. Despite his rape conviction, his drug use, his profanity and his unpredictable mood swings, Tyson had always commanded a grudging respect in the sporting world as the ultimate fighting machine, a boxer of freakish speed and power who, in his prime, dominated the heavyweight division like few champions in history. But with this act of cannibalism, reviled even in the red-light district of sports that is boxing, he was exposed as nothing more than a cheap bully and a coward who could not take the sort of punishment he had dished out for years. And it got worse. Over the next decade the cycle of drugs, depression and rage reduced him to a sad, fat, bloated punching-bag. With a tattooed face.

In 2005 in a Washington restaurant, a couple of days before his last defeat, Tyson had leaned over to me and lamented that his whole life had been "a waste of time". One of the few friends who has always stuck by him, Australian boxing great Jeff Fenech, remembers visiting Tyson in Las Vegas six years ago and thinking he would never see him again. "He was so down and depressed, " Fenech said. "I thought it would be the last time I'd see my great friend. We've had so many heart-to-heart talks over the years. We understand each other. We were both really wild as young guys and he used to tell me that he didn't think he'd live to be 40. I knew exactly how he felt." So what the hell happened? How is it that Mike Tyson, now 46, a vegan looking as fit as the heavyweight who terrorised the sport in the late 1980s, was talking to the Australian media on Thursday by video link from Las Vegas about his new career as a motivational speaker and comedian? How did the self-styled "baddest man in the world" become all warm, and fuzzy and funny? Tyson's image loomed large on TV, filling the video screen with those huge shoulders that once hoisted all the heavyweight championship belts the world had to offer. He was laughing, joking clapping almost insanely - drumming his fingers impatiently at questions about his rape conviction and saying that boxing was just a bad memory. At one point he broke into a bad rendition of George Michael's Careless Whisper. At suggestions he was a superstar, he replied: "I don't know about that, but I've been called a lot worse." Tyson grew up in a particularly bleak slum in New York, mugging and bag-snatching while still a child, doing armed robberies by his early teens.

He became the youngest world heavyweight boxing champion aged 20 in 1986, was in jail between 1992 and 1995 for raping beauty queen Desiree Washington and spent nine months in jail in 1999 for what a judge described as a "potentially lethal" road rage assault on two men. He was banned from boxing for a year after biting Holyfield and squandered a $400 million fortune. These days he makes his living from a one-man stage show directed by Oscar nominee Spike Lee that is part confessional, part comedy, part kitsch. It has played Las Vegas and Broadway, and on his week-long tour of Australia in November, Tyson promises to give audiences an insight into what has lifted him from the depths of despair. "To be honest with you, in my show I don't talk a lot about my fights, " he said. "I only talk about two fighters, Mitch Green and Trevor Berbick. I didn't even know boxing existed any more. Boxing is so 19th-century now. "The show is more about my life, about evolving as a person, reaching that paradigm shift in life that we have to change or no longer exist." Of his days as the most feared fighter in the world, he said: "Those days are over, man. I just want to do my show, enjoy my life and have some fun. I forgot about most of my fights. Sometimes I look at films of myself and I think who is that guy? Man, what's all that about?" Fenech says Tyson's third wife Kiki, 35, born Lakiha Spicer, who he married in 2009, is the person who transformed his friend into a new man.

Mike Tyson frustrated about New Zealand visa issue

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 30 Aug 2012 14:48:00 +0000

Your probably expecting Mike to have done something crazy knowing what he used to be like but he may be a changed man now!

The Mike Tyson circus edged closer to New Zealand today but whether he is granted a visa for his planned November show in Auckland remains in the balance. Former world heavyweight boxing champion Tyson took part in a teleconference streamed live from Las Vegas to reporters in Auckland, Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth in a publicity drive for his "Day of the Champions" show in the Australasian cities. The visa issue loomed large among the early questions - he was convicted of rape and spent three years in prison 20 years ago - and Tyson's frustration was obvious as his promoter Max Markson gave an update on his dealings with Immigration New Zealand. Under the Immigration Act, anyone who has been sentenced to five years or more in prison is to be denied a visa to enter the country. Tyson was sentenced to six years, but was released early for good behaviour. "We've applied for the visa and asked for a special direction from the minister, so we're waiting patiently for a visa," Markson said, without explaining which minister he was dealing with. Markson, sitting alongside Tyson, suggested the former boxer's tattoo over and around his left eye, which has suggestions of Maori art, made him an "honorary New Zealander". "He's a great ambassador and he really does have a tremendous story which he has to tell to the people of New Zealand and it would be a tragedy if the show that he's been doing on Broadway for the last few weeks can't be told," he said.

"Tragedy, huh?" Tyson replied, before appearing to lose his sense of humour when the visa questions continued. "I'm not going to sit here and cower and beg to come to your country. I'm sorry, but if I can't come, I can't come. It will be my misfortune but I don't want to feel like I'm on trial to come to your country," Tyson said. Markson added: "He's not a danger to New Zealand, he'll be there for one day." Tyson said: "I haven't been to New Zealand. Man it must be a serious country if I can't go there." His promoter read off a long list of countries Tyson had visited, suggesting the former self-styled "Baddest Man on the Planet" hadn't had problems entering them. Tyson, who was extremely animated at times during the teleconference, shouting "New Zealand!" and "Auckland!" during the 34 minutes he received questions, hasn't always been one to bear such inconveniences lightly. Apart from his prison sentence, Tyson, who was heavyweight champion of the world as a 20-year-old and was known for his powerful, aggressive style in the ring, bit the ears of fellow heavyweight and American Evander Holyfield during a notorious 1997 fight in Las Vegas.Now aged 46, he also threatened to eat the children of his opponents and was forced to attend rehabilitation due to a cocaine addiction. More recently he has attempted to redefine himself as an actor, playing himself in The Hangover movies, which make light of his notorious past. Tyson today refused to go into detail about his past, saying he was saving it for his show. However, he did reveal that he believes boxing is stuck in the "18th century" ("people don't want to hurt each other no more"), he no longer has a tiger for a pet ("you can't keep a tiger for free!"), and he could categorically rule out a return to the ring. "No way, I'm not that person any more. If I was that person, I wouldn't have my family." Tyson said he didn't design his tattoo on Maori art, and appeared slightly confused about a question relating to the All Blacks. "I've always been black. I've been playing black all my life." "I can't believe you've got me doing this s**t!", he added, laughing and slapping the table. When it was all over he exited stage right, eating an apple.

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noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 18:40:00 +0000

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The home where Muhammad Ali grew up is up for sale

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 15:51:00 +0000

The house where boxing legend Muhammad Ali spent his childhood is up for sale. The one-story white house comes complete with a sagging front porch overhang and is said to be the place where the future boxing champion's "values were instilled". The house, which is situated along a tree-lined street in Louisville, is badly in need of repair. It's valued at $23,260, according to the Jefferson County Property Value Administrator's website. Owner Steve Stephenson is putting the property, which has become a popular tourist attraction over the years, up for sale at $50,000, according to reports. In front of the home is a state historical marker recognizing the residence as Ali's boyhood home, when he was known as Cassius Clay. The marker says Ali lived in the mostly black neighborhood with his parents and brother and attended local public schools. Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer said the city has an interest in preserving the home of a world-famous native son. "Anything we can do to preserve and expand his legacy, we want to do that. "His home serves as an inspiration for people to look at that and say, 'If this young guy, why not me?'"

The three-time world heavyweight champion remains one of the most recognizable figures on the planet, even though his public appearances have become sporadic as he fights Parkinson's disease. Ali's influence extended far beyond the boxing ring. He retired from the ring in 1981 and devoted himself to social causes. He traveled the world on humanitarian missions and received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President George W. Bush in 2005. Through it all, Ali kept his ties to his hometown. The Muhammad Ali Center, a museum and education center in downtown Louisville, is one of the city's prime tourist attractions. Ali came home for a 70th birthday bash early this year. Donald Lassere, president and CEO of the Ali Center, said officials there have "every hope that Muhammad's former home is preserved in a way that makes both Muhammad Ali and the city proud." A few houses down from the home, neighbor James Calloway reminisced how his mother saw the boxing great's generosity early on, when a young Ali carried her laundry basket to a neighborhood Laundromat. "He was real neighborly," the 63-year-old Calloway said. It was at his childhood home where Ali began dreaming of boxing greatness. Ali took up boxing at age 12, when his bike was stolen and he wanted to find and whip the culprit.

The boy was introduced to Joe Martin, a police officer who coached boxing at a local gym. Ali flourished in the ring, becoming a top amateur and Olympic gold medalist. Calloway recalled how Ali would run with boots or leg weights to build up his strength and endurance. And how Ali, after making it big in the ring, would come back to the neighborhood in his big tour bus. Another neighbor who didn't want to be identified said vehicles occasionally stop in front of the old Clay family home to read the historical marker. The home is several blocks from a main downtown thoroughfare. Now, the home is showing outward signs of disrepair. "I think it's a disgrace," said Calloway, who thinks it should be turned into a museum. Fischer said it's nothing that can't be repaired. "We all show our age ... from time to time, but we'd be able to fix that up, no problem," he said. Ali was born Cassius Clay on January 17, 1942 and changed his name to Muhammad Ali after converting to the Muslim faith in 1964. By then he had won the Olympic Gold medal in the 1960 games in Rome and gone on to "shock the world," stopping Sonny Liston to become the-then youngest ever heavyweight champion of the world, aged just 22, in 1964. He defeated Liston in a rematch the following year and defended his title a further eight times before being stripped of his titles after refusing to be drafted into the US armed forces for the Vietnam war. Three years later he returned to the ring and became a legend, taking on Joe Frazier three times and sensationally defeating George Foreman in the 1974 "Rumble in the Jungle" to reclaim the titles he never lost in the ring, ten years after he originally won them.

Timothy Bradley wants Pacquiao to fight him

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 15:46:00 +0000

In an interview with The Times yesterday, World Boxing Organisation welterweight champion Timothy Bradley revealed he would want to fight former WBO welterweight titlist Manny Pacquiao once again. Bradley, who won the title from Pacquiao on June 9 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, believes the rematch will be a bigger sell-out than their previous encounter. “I know boxing is a business and a sport, but as far as a rematch, we’ll meet a number everyone will be happy with because of the controversy: ‘This time Pacquiao will beat him.’ ‘Bradley will do better.’ People know who I am now because of the controversy. Honestly, I didn’t get crazy beat in that fight. It was competitive,” asserted Bradley. Bradley won the title via split decision, which soon became controversial, as most fighters, analysts and fans believed Pacquiao was the rightful winner of the show. Even the World Boxing Organisation conducted a review of the fight with five international judges on the panel. The results showed Pacquiao won the showdown by a wide margin. “It’s all up to Mr. Pacquiao,” added Bradley who is eager to meet the Filipino in the ring once again, as he is frustrated with all the curses and death threats he received after his victory over Pacquiao.

Bradley, right from day one, has maintained that he was not hurt by Pacquiao in the ring. According to Bradley, Pacquiao does not have enough punching power to knock him out. Right after the fight, Bradley revealed that he wants to go head to head with Pacquiao again in order to win in a more decisive manner to impress those who believe Pacquiao was robbed. Now, Bradley is waiting for Pacquiao to decide his next opponent. The Filipino is scheduled to fight either on November 10 or December 1. Bob Arum, promoter for both the fighters, met Pacquiao last week in the Philippines to talk about the situation. However, the meeting ended with no result. Arum is now hopeful that Pacquiao’s decision regarding his next opponent will come by next week. For now, Bradley can only wait and hope for the Filipino to select him as his opponent.

Don King aims for Boxing match in North Korea

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 25 Aug 2012 15:10:00 +0000

He's known for his big hair and his big personality and at 81 years old, legendary boxing promoter Don King is still hard at work trying to turn his big dreams into reality. His latest endeavor: a boxing and music event in North Korea. "This came about by me thinking about Korea and feeling that Korea, that it should be one Korea," said King. When asked about the odds of this event actually coming together, King says, "It's very difficult to believe, I understand that." Understanding King may help explain why he believes he can make this event happen. The hallways of the Don King Productions office in South Florida are lined with photographs of him posing with world leaders, celebrities and athletes. There are old boxing posters and newspaper articles framed and hanging on the walls. It feels more like a museum than an office building. For decades, King has appeared alongside boxing greats including Muhammad Ali, Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield -- promoting legendary matchups that have catapulted many boxers into lifelong fame. Boxing has always been more than a sport to King, who contemplates the photos. "Gen. David Petraeus, that was my friend," said King, pointing to a photo signed by the former Army commander, now CIA director. "I went to Iraq with him." On the other side of the room is a picture of King with a young Michael Jackson, who "told me that music is the ribbon that ties humanity together," King recalled. "And I added to that boxing is a catalyst that brings humanity together to be tied."

Boxing Champion Tapia dies of Heart attack

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 25 Aug 2012 15:03:00 +0000

The 45-year-old boxer, who was found dead at his home in Albuquerque, New Mexico on May 27, died as a result of complications from hypertensive heart disease. Prescription drugs were a contributing factor, the autopsy report said. The cause of death was an accident. Tapia's wife first released the results on Wednesday, saying her husband died of heart disease and had no illegal drugs in his system. He rose to prominence in the late 1980s, and eventually won five world boxing championships in three weight classes: super flyweight, bantamweight, and featherweight. His final professional boxing record was 59 wins, five losses, and two draws. Thirty of his wins were knock-outs. In 2007 he planned a comeback bout against Ilido Julio dubbed "The Final Fury." A month later he was found unconscious of a cocaine overdose and was eventually taken into custody for violating his parole stemming from a prior cocaine offence. Tapia was born and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico. His father was murdered when his mother was pregnant with him, and his mother was later brutally murdered when he was eight years old.

Hate campaign against Protestant Boxers

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 22 Aug 2012 16:15:00 +0000

A mainly Protestant boxing club in Belfast has claimed it has been subjected to a decade of "chronic sectarianism" in nationalist areas. The Sandy Row club has compiled a 57-page report outlining verbal and physical assaults. The Department of Culture Arts and Leisure said it was aware of the complaints. But a boxing club in a Catholic area of the city said it had not experienced bigotry. The PSNI said they had a report of boxers from the Sandy Row club in a tournament in 2010 being subjected to verbal sectarian abuse. They said the incident at North Queen Street in February of that year was being treated as a hate crime. The allegations from the Sandy Row club come in the wake of Belfast boxers Paddy Barnes and Michael Conlan winning bronze medals at the London Olympics. Sports Minister Carál Ní Chuilín has also pledged £3m towards the sport. The assaults, allegedly from followers of the sport, not participants, took place while Sandy Row boxers were fighting in places like west Belfast in the ten years to 2010. Club secretary Ian McSorley said: "When the young people from Sandy Row went along to boxing championships they suffered different forms of abuse, either physical or mental".

The first incident is said to have been in 2000 when the Sandy Row club was stoned leaving the County Antrim championships in Twinbrook. "It's a very frightening experience, for anybody to take up boxing, get in the boxing ring... never mind getting abuse or stoned," said Mr McSorley. He said in February 2010, a Chinese boxer, who was 15, had a bottle thrown at him and he was called an "Orange chink". The teenager is reported to have said: "I was really scared and I thought we weren't getting out of there. It's put me off boxing".Mr McSorley claimed a lot of promising young boxers had quit the sport because of what had happened to them, and the problem had affected other clubs from Protestant areas. "Different boxing clubs have sent us letters, came and visited us from all parts of Belfast and said that this shouldn't take place in the sport, especially when these young people are at a formative age," he said. He said the club had regularly complained to the boxing authorities, including the regulatory body, the Irish Amateur Boxing Association (IABA). However, it is not currently affiliated to this grouping. The club has put forward an eight-point plan to combat the problem including holding tournaments in neutral venues and wearing of neutral colours during events. Mr McSorley denied the club was going public on the alleged assaults because of the money pledged by the sports minister. "It's nothing to do with the money. The issues are all in the report. It took some time to compile the report. It lets everybody see what has happened," he said.

Pacquiao decides to move next fight to December

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 22 Aug 2012 16:11:00 +0000

Manny Pacquiao has decided to move the date of his next fight from Nov. 10 to Dec. 1. Pacquiao’s adviser, Mike Koncz, said Pacquiao chose to because of the "conflicting schedules with the boxing and Manny’s personal affairs.” Pacquiao, the only boxer in history to win eight world titles in as many weight divisions, is also a congressman in his native province of Sarangani. The 33-year-old Pinoy icon is into showbiz as well, running a weekly television game show, and over the past few months has been deeply associated with the bible. If Pacquiao fights on Dec. 1, that will be close to six months after his stunning and controversial loss to Timothy Bradley last June 9 in Las Vegas. Top Rank chief Bob Arum did not pick up his phone today. He was probably busy at the moment or he was not in the mood to talk after news of Pacquiao’s decision came out on the Internet. "We've informed Top Rank that we cannot go on Nov. 10," Koncz told Lem Satterfield of www.ringTV.com. The fight would have taken place at the MGM Grand.

Arum and Koncz met in New York a couple of days ago. Arum already has a lock on that date at the MGM, and now he may have to move the mountains to seal the venue for Pacquiao on the first day of December. But that’s if Pacquiao wants his next fight held at the MGM, where he took the controversial loss to the undefeated Bradley. "So [Top Rank CEO] Bob Arum has moved the date now to Dec. 1, and he's done that at our request due to conflicting schedules with the boxing and Manny's personal affairs,” Koncz said. Pacquiao has yet to choose from among the three names that Arum gave him. They are Juan Manuel Marquez, Miguel Cotto and Bradley.

But Pacquiao, jaded boxing observers say, may no longer be interested in a rematch with Bradley or Cotto or a fourth fight with Marquez. Pacquiao stressed following his loss to Bradley that he wants Floyd Mayweather next, and word is that there are people working on the superfight. Pacquiao wants Mayweather in April 2013. Perhaps the “secret negotiations” are going on well that there’s a possibility the two superstars may fight on Dec. 1. If nothing comes out of the Mayweather talks, then Pacquiao should be forced to choose from among Bradley, Marquez or Cotto for a December fight. Or he may not even fight at all the rest of the year, and instead make sure he’s 110 percent ready if a fight with Mayweather takes place in the first quarter of 2013.

Ricky Hatton set to return to Boxing

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 22 Aug 2012 16:08:00 +0000

The former WBA welterweight champion has not fought since he was outclassed by Manny Pacquiao back in 2009, and confirmed that his career was definitely over last July. But the Daily Star reports that the 33-year-old Mancunian has decided to do a U-turn, and will fight former rival Paulie Malignaggi in late November. Hatton stopped Malignaggi in the 11th round when they met back in 2008, the Hitman inflicting what was at the time just the second defeat of Malignaggi's professional career. And the New Yorker is said to be "desperate" to avenge that defeat, and will be happy to become the first opponent for Hatton as he resurrects his career. Since retiring Hatton has struggled to readjust to life, with his weight ballooning and a cocaine habit landing him in rehab. But the newspaper reports that he has lost two and a half stone and is as fit as he was at the height of his career. Hatton's return is initially set to be for two bouts, but if all goes well he is already hoping to earn a re-match with Pacquiao. The Filipino superstar destroyed the Brit in two unforgettable rounds in Las Vegas in May 2009, a result that left Hatton devastated. He later admitted that he considered suicide after the loss, and reportedly remains convinced that could do himself justice if given another chance.