Bad Left Hook

Quillin vs Wright: Fight Will Have USADA Drug Testing

2012-05-23T16:30:13Z

Though it's pretty late in the game for this to suddenly become a factor, Peter Quillin tells The Boxing Lab that Winky Wright has requested extra drug testing for their June 2 fight, which will air on Showtime. Quillin has accepted the request, and USADA will oversee the testing.

To date, USADA has done only Floyd Mayweather's fights in boxing, so this will be something new for them. Other fights with extra drug testing in the States have gone through VADA, which has recently led to canceled fights when Lamont Peterson and Andre Berto failed drug tests.

Here's part of what Quillin had to say about it:

"You know at first I was kind of like ‘What is this guy doing!?’. Two weeks before the fight? Why not early in the camp? Why now? But at the end of the day, with all this stuff going on, why not. Let’s do it. I want to show my fans what kind of fighter I am. I’m a clean fighter," said Quillin.

I say good on both guys for this one. I'm one of those who thinks that the fighters, the promoters, the commissions (ha!), and everyone needs to push for more drug testing for major fights.

The two failed tests could have led to folks in boxing becoming reluctant to pursue the testing. But instead, Wright appears to have decided it was a good reason for it to happen for his fight, and Quillin has agreed.

Pacquiao vs Bradley: Tim Bradley Says It's Great to Face Manny, Will Be Even Better to Beat Him

2012-05-23T16:00:53Z

Timothy Bradley faces Manny Pacquiao on June 9 in Las Vegas, live on HBO pay-per-view, in the biggest fight of the 28-year-old American's career to date. In the weeks leading up to the fight, we'll have Q&A sessions with the fighters, courtesy HBO. Here's Bradley's second entry. See Also: Bradley's best and worst memories in boxing and Bradley on what he does away from boxing.

* * * * *

How does it feel getting this fight after being criticized for not taking the Amir Khan fight. Did you know this fight was coming at the time? Where you willing to take all that negativity just to get this fight with Pacquiao?

"In boxing criticism is part of the game. You hear it before, during and after very fight. I have learned to let it roll off me like water off a duck's back. Experience told me that the timing for the Amir Khan fight was wrong. I had already fought and won two world title unification fights against Kendall Holt and Devon Alexander. Both were big victories but because of the timing of when they took place I didn't realize the full financial potential that I feel I should have.

"When the Amir Khan world title unification fight was presented I was determined not to be pushed into it. Business as usual was no longer acceptable and certain changes had to be made. I went over all the details with my team, debated the merits and decided it was not the best deal. I heard the criticism. I read the criticism. But deep down I knew, based on what was being offered to me, it was not the right deal. It was a business decision. And if it's one thing I have learned as a professional boxer it's this, sometimes the deal you don't make is the best deal you do make.

"I am thrilled beyond compare that I am challenging Manny Pacquiao. I was at the right place at the right time. But I'm also deserving of this fight. I have been a world champion since 2008. I have unified the titles twice. I'm undefeated. I'm the best in my division. I feel I made the right decision not only for my career but for my life - for my family. Looking back at it I can say that it was definitely worth enduring all the negativity directed toward me. I am now in a place where I will be able to accomplish another one of my goals in life and that is to fight the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world. This is a huge challenge for me personally and professionally.

"It feels great to get the fight with Manny Pacquiao. It's going to feel even better when I beat him. You can take that to the bank."

Pacquiao Blogs
Week 1: Concerns About Bradley's Headbutts
Week 2: Problems With Marquez, Danger in Bradley

More on Pacquiao-Bradley
24/7 Recap / Judges Named / Face Off Transcript

Juan Manuel Marquez Back July 21 or 28 in Mexico, Will Face Southpaw

2012-05-23T15:31:55Z

Juan Manuel Marquez will return to the ring on either July 21 or 28 in Mexico, in a fight promoted by Zanfer, as his July 14 date at Cowboys Stadium has been officially scrapped.

BoxingScene.com has quotes from Bob Arum on why the fight fell through, and it's really pretty simple: Marquez wanted big money to fight someone like Mercito Gesta, who has no name value in the States yet, in a fight that most likely would have badly bombed at the massive football stadium and on pay-per-view. Because Top Rank didn't have a southpaw for him -- negotiations for a fight with Zab Judah fell apart when Judah felt lowballed -- they tried to offer him Brandon Rios and Erik Morales.

Marquez, though, is firm about fighting a southpaw in July, as he is confident he'll be landing a fourth fight with Manny Pacquiao late this year. So Arum has bailed on the Marquez business, at least for now, and it's hard to blame him.

It's two sides doing what they feel they have to do, basically. Marquez believes he must face a southpaw next. Top Rank does not have one that they feel is going to bring a return on a large investment in the type of purse that Marquez wants for a fight.

And so, we'll have Marquez fighting in Mexico for the third time in four fights, after not fighting in his native country since 1994, until returning last summer against Likar Ramos.

Most likely he's not going to face the sort of southpaw that will really prepare him for Pacquiao anyway, and though the tactic does make all the sense in the world on paper, one wonders if there's really a lot to gain for the 38-year-old Marquez by fighting, say, Cesar Cuenca or the like.

With Marquez out of the July 14 date, HBO will feature Amir Khan vs Danny Garcia that night, with Seth Mitchell facing Johnathon Banks in the co-feature. Pacquiao has to get by Timothy Bradley on June 9 to ensure that Marquez even has a shot at facing him this year, as a loss to Bradley would likely lead to a rematch in November.

The Bad Left Hook Pick'em Game: Season 12 - Week 1

2012-05-23T11:01:00Z

Everyone is back on level terms as a new season of pick'em action starts this week.

For those that haven't played before, welcome to the best pick'em game going. Please join right in and start playing (just make sure to check out the rules - we promise they are very simple).

An explanation of how to fill out your selections appears at the bottom of this post - please follow these instructions as it makes it easier for us to tabulate the results quickly each week.

Topping the bill for week 1 are a pair of the world's best 168lb fighters, with unbeaten southpaw Lucian Bute traveling to Nottingham for a showdown with Super-Six runner-up Carl Froch. As there isn't too much else happening in the boxing world this weekend, we've thrown an over-under in as well for this one.

The show's main supporting bout has promising Carl Frampton taking on Raul Hirales of Mexico in a 12-round super-bantamweight clash.

An interesting Friday Night Fights match-up rounds out this week's action, with Alisher Rahimov taking on Ji-Hoon Kim in Missouri.

You can check out last season's final standings here.

Let’s get to the week 1 line-up…

**** Remember you do not need to make a selection on every fight. If you are unfamiliar with any of the fighters, and don't want to risk points, you are free to PASS on any pick. You must make at least one selection to receive the 10 point participation bonus****

A. Pick the winner - Lucian Bute vs Carl Froch (Saturday, May 26)

1. Bute to win – risk 10 points to win 6.
2. Froch to win – risk 6 points to win 10.

B. Pick the winner / Method of victory - Lucian Bute vs Carl Froch (technical decision counts as decision, DQ counts as stoppage - Saturday, May 26)

1. Bute by stoppage – risk 2.5 to win 7.5.
2. Bute by decision – risk 3.5 to win 6.5.
3. Froch by stoppage – risk 1 to win 9.
4. Froch by decision – risk 3 to win 7.

C. *Over/Under - Lucian Bute vs Carl Froch (Saturday, May 26)

1. Over 8 1/2 – risk 8 points to win 2.
2. Over 11 1/2 – risk 6.5 points to win 3.5.
3. Under 8 1/2 – risk 2 points to win 8.
4. Under 11 1/2 – risk 3.5 points to win 6.5.

*Over 8 1/2 = 8 full rounds completed, plus 1/2 round - fight must go past the 1:30 mark of Round 9.

D. Pick the winner / Method of victory - Carl Frampton vs Raul Hirales (technical decision counts as decision, DQ counts as stoppage - Saturday, May 26)

1. Frampton to win (any method) – risk 8.5 to win 0.5.
2. Frampton by stoppage – risk 5 to win 4.
3. Frampton by decision – risk 4.5 to win 4.5.
4. Hirales (any method) – risk 0.5 to win 8.5.

E. Pick the winner - Alisher Rahimov vs Ji-Hoon Kim (Friday, May 25)

1. Rahimov to win – risk 6.5 points to win 3.5.
2. Kim to win – risk 3.5 points to win 6.5.

Please fill out your selections as follows:

Enter the LETTER of the fight first, then whether it’s a single (1), double (2) or triple (3) followed by the NUMBER of your pick and the NAME of the FIGHTER and METHOD of victory (where applicable).

**** You have 10 doubles and 5 triples to use over the 10 week season ****

For Selection A, if you want to use one of your doubles on Bute to win via any method...

A. (2) – 1 – Bute to win

For Selection B, if you want to pick Froch by decision without using a double or triple...

B. (1) – 4 - Froch by decision

For Selection C, if you want to use one of you triples on the fight going over 11 1/2 rounds...

C. (3) – 2 - Over 11 1/2 rounds

For Selection D, if you wish to pass...

D. Pass

Good luck!

Nonito Donaire vs Jeffrey Mathebula, Brandon Rios vs Mauricio Herrera Headed to July 7 on HBO

2012-05-23T03:54:08Z

It was a big day for fight announcements, as we previously mentioned the Khan vs Garcia and Mitchell vs Banks double-header set for July 14, plus the finalization of Canelo Alvarez vs Paul Williams for September 15. Top Rank has also gotten into the act, setting a card for July 7 at Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif., with the returns of Nonito Donaire and Brandon Rios in a pair of fights that should guarantee action, and one that could be incredibly risky.

BoxingScene.com reports that the card was headed to either June 30 or July 7, but with Khan taking July 14, July 7 is the likely date.

Brandon Rios (30-0-1, 22 KO) will officially move up to the 140-pound division to face Mauricio Herrera (18-2, 7 KO), who lost to Mike Alvarado on April 14 in an early Fight of the Year contender.

Though it's a good matchup action-wise, reality is likely that Herrera will again find himself overpowered in much the same way he was against Alvarado. Rios needs kind of a rehab win right now, though, following his robbery win over Richard Abril, so the fight is entirely understandable, and if he does win impressively, it's certainly no stretch to think that Rios would face Alvarado next in a fight that could be truly incredible.

The main event in Carson, however, will see Nonito Donaire facing Jeffrey Mathebula in what could be a big-time trap fight for the pound-for-pound contending Filipino super bantamweight.

Donaire (28-1, 18 KO) won the vacant WBO title in his last fight on February 4, outpointing Wilfredo Vazquez Jr in San Antonio. Mathebula (26-3-2, 14 KO) will bring the IBF title to this fight, and is a definite superior opponent to the original idea for Donaire's July fight, Cristian Mijares. The 32-year-old Mathebula isn't an exceptional fighter, but at 5'10" is very tall for the weight and will have a real height advantage on Donaire, which will be a change of pace for Nonito.

It's a very good main event with a co-feature that at worst should provide plenty of action. I've got no arguments with this card. Frankly, I've got no arguments with anything we're seeing announced right now. (No serious arguments, anyway.)

Amir Khan vs Danny Garcia Set For July 14, Seth Mitchell to Face Johnathon Banks

2012-05-23T03:35:36Z

RingTV.com reports that Amir Khan will face Danny Garcia on July 14, live on HBO, and that the co-feature bout will pit Seth Mitchell against Johnathon Banks in a heavyweight fight that should have plenty of action.

Khan (26-2, 18 KO) and Garcia (23-0, 14 KO) have been rumored to be headed for a showdown since Khan's May 19 fight with Lamont Peterson was scrapped, with only Erik Morales rumored as another possible opponent for Khan, which never seemed all that serious.

Garcia, who holds the WBC junior welterweight title, said he would only fight Khan if it were a unification bout. Khan and Golden Boy are trying to get the WBA and/or IBF to return the titles he lost to Peterson in December, a win now tainted by Peterson's admission of taking testosterone pellets before the bout.

Nothing official has been stated by any of the sanctioning bodies, but given the WBC's habit of making up rules as they go, it wouldn't be surprising to see Garcia given an exemption and allowed to skip a mandatory title defense against Ajose Olusegun, who has been waiting since September of last year, months before Garcia dethroned Morales.

Mitchell (25-0-1, 19 KO) received a scare in his last fight on April 28, badly buzzed by light-hitting Chazz Witherspoon in the first round, but did coming raging back to stop the Philly fighter in the third round.

Banks (28-1-1, 18 KO) is a Kronk fighter, though not trained by Emanuel Steward, who has made a career the last few years of sparring with the Klitschko brothers and then featuring on their undercards. The Detroit native is a solid fighter, but not a serious contender, and a logical next step for Mitchell. The 29-year-old Banks does have some pop, and right now there is some concern over Mitchell's defense and chin, so it's a fight worth making, I believe. There's more to it than may meet the eye, and it's part of Mitchell's continuing on-the-job training. I do like it more than the previous rumored opponents, Michael Grant and Chauncy Welliver.

This does make one wonder about the Juan Manuel Marquez card at Cowboys Stadium, which has been rumored for July 14 for a while now. That card always seemed about half-real, and with Brandon Rios losing all momentum as a possible opponent, things didn't get any less complicated. Marquez wants to face a lefty, but Zab Judah pulled out of negotiations, and Bob Arum says Mercito Gesta isn't a worthwhile opponent.

Erik Morales has been rumored as a Marquez opponent, but that would require Golden Boy and Top Rank working together. This time, that may be actual good news: If the companies are seriously discussing that fight, they could move it back to early August, and perhaps not foolishly stick it in the cavernous and surely empty stadium where it doesn't really belong. There are some nice-sized venues that could host that fight and be much better fits. We'll see what happens there.

He Who Would Be King: Why Tim Bradley Beating Manny Pacquiao Would Be Good For Boxing

2012-05-23T03:11:57Z

He Who Would Be King: Why Tim Bradley Beating Manny Pacquiao Would Be Good For Boxing

For some, Pacquiao’s polarizing gay marriage stance is probably expediting this change in sentiment. To parse the issue in its entirety is more than is required for purposes here. Suffice to say that one’s position on gay marriage is is fundamentally personal. To disagree with Pacquiao is to hold him in opposition to your worldview, your understanding of human worth. Given the ontological significance of the debate, Pacquiao’s opposition to gay marriage is a tipping point, grounds for repositioning oneself in opposition to him. Even those ambivalent about the sport may find themselves forced to choose sides when informed of Pacquiao’s stance. Given that Pacquiao has entered an existential debate, a Bradley victory could be unjustifiably celebrated as a triumph of a particular worldview. From The Cruelest Sport

Canelo Alvarez vs Paul Williams: Fight Done For September 15

2012-05-23T03:10:19Z

Canelo Alvarez will be facing Paul Williams on September 15 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, with Oscar De La Hoya of Golden Boy Promotions saying the fight is "done," and that both Showtime and HBO will have the opportunity to make offers for the pay-per-view event.

Alvarez (40-0-1, 29 KO) is coming off of a destruction of veteran Shane Mosley on May 5, while Williams (41-2, 27 KO) last fought on February 18, easily routing Nobuhiro Ishida on Showtime.

Unlike past situations where we've heard that both networks could bid on a PPV or other major fight, Showtime may actually have a serious chance at landing the fight this time.

Though Canelo is a star fighter for the HBO boxing brand, Golden Boy has ties at Showtime with Stephen Espinoza now running their sports programming, and Williams is managed by Al Haymon, who has developed a very, very close relationship with Showtime and Espinoza this year, with the majority of his fighters having featured on their network rather than HBO in 2012.

It would be a surprise if HBO let a Canelo fight slip away, particularly after investing so much time into airing worse matchups than this one, but Showtime could see this as a big opportunity and a good reason to invest serious money.

As I said before, I like this fight a lot. Canelo could be tested stylistically by Williams, and given the styles of the two fighters, I doubt we get less than a good action fight, and we could possibly get something great, or at least very exciting. There's a chance that Williams' length and workrate really give Alvarez fits, but Williams' porous defense could also allow the young Mexican superstar openings to land hard shots in counter, something that has troubled Williams in the past, of course.