By The Associated Press
LAS VEGAS – Former heavyweight champion John Ruiz is retiring.
The 38-year-old boxer said in a statement Monday he's leaving after an 18-year career. He was the WBA champ two times and finished with a record of 44-9-1, including 30 knockouts.
Ruiz was knocked down four times in a loss to David Haye this month. He hit the canvas twice in the first round, and his trainer ended the fight in the ninth.
Ruiz defeated three world champions — Evander Holyfield, Hasim Rahman and Tony Tucker. He fought in 12 championship bouts and became the first Latino heavyweight champion.
He plans to move his family from Las Vegas to his home in the Boston area and open a boxing gym in the city.
Source: news.yahoo.com
Tampilkan postingan dengan label David Haye. Tampilkan semua postingan
Tampilkan postingan dengan label David Haye. Tampilkan semua postingan
Senin, 26 April 2010
Amir Khan Already Talking Retirement, Says He'll Be Gone By Age 28 - But Not Before Having His Share Of Big Fights -- Eastside Boxing
By James Slater, Eastside Boxing
Ask some fighters, or fight experts, and they will tell you that as soon as a boxer starts to even talk openly about retiring, he is already halfway towards quitting the ring. Fans of Amir Khan, the reigning WBA light-welterweight champion, had better hope this is not true in the case of the 23-year-old..
Yet while Khan is only 23 and a mere 23 fights into his pro career, he has been talking already about how and when he plans to quit the ring. Speaking with popular British newspaper The News of The World yesterday, Khan said he will call it a day at the age of 28, in the year 2015. However, the former Olympian also made it clear how he wants to take on the best fighters his 140-pound weight class has to offer before he's through - and that, according to the Bolton man, means fights against Floyud Mayweather Junior and Manny Pacquiao.
"In the next four years I will have all my big fights, so in five years time I will be gone," Khan said to the paper. "When I hit my peak I will be fighting men like Floyd Mayweather Junior and Manny Pacquiao. They will be my last few fights. There are so many big fights in my division, but my body will tell me when to call it a day."
Khan, who faces the slick Paulie Malignaggi on May 15th, in what will be his U.S debut and second defence of his WBA 140-pound belt, may well be out of luck if he really believes he will be facing either Mayweather or Pacquiao in 2014 or 2015. Mayweather, still unbeaten at 40-0, is 33 years-old now, and will almost certainly be retired himself long before 2014. While Pacquiao, who has ambitions, as we know, of a political nature, is currently aged 31 and will also surely be retired and in The Hall of Fame long before Khan hits his peak.
It's strange that Khan is even talking about when he will call it a day, because, despite his not inconsiderable accomplishments, he has not made his mark on the world scene quite yet, nor has he convinced the critics he is the real deal. Shouldn't Khan be focused on proving how good he is instead of mapping out his retirement plan? Then again, fellow Brit and WBA heavyweight champ David Haye has also made it clear how he has made up his mind about when he will retire; so maybe modern day fighters are simply better equipped than their predecessors when it comes to planning their later years.
Still, Khan should certainly be worrying more about Malignaggi and less about his exit from the sport. For if "King Khan" is looking past "The Magic Man" and if he loses as a result, his exit from the upper echelons of the sport could come much sooner than he thinks!
Source: eastsideboxing.com
Ask some fighters, or fight experts, and they will tell you that as soon as a boxer starts to even talk openly about retiring, he is already halfway towards quitting the ring. Fans of Amir Khan, the reigning WBA light-welterweight champion, had better hope this is not true in the case of the 23-year-old..
Yet while Khan is only 23 and a mere 23 fights into his pro career, he has been talking already about how and when he plans to quit the ring. Speaking with popular British newspaper The News of The World yesterday, Khan said he will call it a day at the age of 28, in the year 2015. However, the former Olympian also made it clear how he wants to take on the best fighters his 140-pound weight class has to offer before he's through - and that, according to the Bolton man, means fights against Floyud Mayweather Junior and Manny Pacquiao.
"In the next four years I will have all my big fights, so in five years time I will be gone," Khan said to the paper. "When I hit my peak I will be fighting men like Floyd Mayweather Junior and Manny Pacquiao. They will be my last few fights. There are so many big fights in my division, but my body will tell me when to call it a day."
Khan, who faces the slick Paulie Malignaggi on May 15th, in what will be his U.S debut and second defence of his WBA 140-pound belt, may well be out of luck if he really believes he will be facing either Mayweather or Pacquiao in 2014 or 2015. Mayweather, still unbeaten at 40-0, is 33 years-old now, and will almost certainly be retired himself long before 2014. While Pacquiao, who has ambitions, as we know, of a political nature, is currently aged 31 and will also surely be retired and in The Hall of Fame long before Khan hits his peak.
It's strange that Khan is even talking about when he will call it a day, because, despite his not inconsiderable accomplishments, he has not made his mark on the world scene quite yet, nor has he convinced the critics he is the real deal. Shouldn't Khan be focused on proving how good he is instead of mapping out his retirement plan? Then again, fellow Brit and WBA heavyweight champ David Haye has also made it clear how he has made up his mind about when he will retire; so maybe modern day fighters are simply better equipped than their predecessors when it comes to planning their later years.
Still, Khan should certainly be worrying more about Malignaggi and less about his exit from the sport. For if "King Khan" is looking past "The Magic Man" and if he loses as a result, his exit from the upper echelons of the sport could come much sooner than he thinks!
Source: eastsideboxing.com
Rabu, 21 April 2010
Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather must happen says WBA heavyweight champ David Haye -- Telegraph
By Gareth A Davies, Telegraph.co.uk
David Haye has revealed to The Telegraph that he had been intending to go to the defunct March fight between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather, and was desperately disappointed when the superfight failed to materialise.
Haye, holder of the World Boxing Association heavyweight crown, believes that the contest between Pacquiao, currently running for election in the May 10 Congressional Seat elections in the province of Sarangani, and Mayweather must go ahead later this year – for the good of boxing worldwide.
Mayweather must first defeat Shane Mosley at the MGM Grand, Las Vegas on Saturday week, for that to become a reality. The landscape may also change if Pacquiao is successful in the election, 19 days away.
“It is definitely a fight which needs to happen, for the state of boxing. It is one that has to be made. I was itching to see that fight, and was ready to go over for it at one point. When they made the fight so quickly, over as week in December, I couldn’t help feeling that someone would find a way for it not to happen.”
“With fights as big as that, there is always some drama. What has happened could hype the whole situation just to make it even bigger later this year or next year. I’m desperate to watch that fight. The skill levels of the two fighters make it unmissable. I truly enjoy watching Pacquiao fight whenever he steps into a ring. I admire boxers who come to fight, and he is thrilling when he steps inside the ropes. He is an ambassador for the sport. That fight has to be made. It is a massive fight that has to happen soon or later. Clottey was a tough fight, but the hype and build up around a Mayweayher-Pacquiao fight could be the fight of a generation.”
It is also the type of hype which could surround a Haye-Klitschko contest, but Adam Booth, Haye’s trainer, revealed to me yesterday that no negotiations are set to take place for at least a month.
Meanwhile, Craig McEwan, the Scottish middleweight who trains under Freddie Roach at the Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood, has revealed it was he who taught Pacquiao his convincing Scottish accent.
I was fortunate enough to gain exclusive access to travel from London to Manchester on the train last year in the build-up to Pacquiao-Ricky Hatton, with the Filipino’s fighters entourage (which included Bob Arum and Richard Schaefer that day), and filmed/interviewed Pacman on the train.
In the first minute of the interview, he emerged, surprisingly, with a strong Scottish accent. In conversation with McEwan (18-0, and four years with Roach at the Wild Card), the Edinburgh man revealed to me recently that he had been coaching Pacman on Scots burr.
“We were in the gym one day, and I taught him the stuff about William Wallace. Then we were away talking about the Scots fighting for their freedom against the English. He’s a fast learner, and aye, it was a wee bit of fun. I saw the video last year, and thought…oh yes, that’s Manny.”
“I got him a ‘See You Jimmy’ hat and I have a photo of him with it on.”
McEwan also explained that he is learning so much rubbing shoulders with Pacquiao in the gym. “He has great footwork…just look at how he knocked Ricky Hatton out, by switching his feet, and throwing those devastating punches. I like seeing how he lets his combinations go, and I try to follow that. I’m tall and rangy and he is short and explosive with a lot of power, but it never hurts to pick things up from the best. It’s all about adapting things, really. I go running with him, too. It’s a great place to be any time, but when Manny is there in camp, it is always a lift.”
Source: blogs.telegraph.co.uk
David Haye has revealed to The Telegraph that he had been intending to go to the defunct March fight between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather, and was desperately disappointed when the superfight failed to materialise.
Haye, holder of the World Boxing Association heavyweight crown, believes that the contest between Pacquiao, currently running for election in the May 10 Congressional Seat elections in the province of Sarangani, and Mayweather must go ahead later this year – for the good of boxing worldwide.
Mayweather must first defeat Shane Mosley at the MGM Grand, Las Vegas on Saturday week, for that to become a reality. The landscape may also change if Pacquiao is successful in the election, 19 days away.
“It is definitely a fight which needs to happen, for the state of boxing. It is one that has to be made. I was itching to see that fight, and was ready to go over for it at one point. When they made the fight so quickly, over as week in December, I couldn’t help feeling that someone would find a way for it not to happen.”
“With fights as big as that, there is always some drama. What has happened could hype the whole situation just to make it even bigger later this year or next year. I’m desperate to watch that fight. The skill levels of the two fighters make it unmissable. I truly enjoy watching Pacquiao fight whenever he steps into a ring. I admire boxers who come to fight, and he is thrilling when he steps inside the ropes. He is an ambassador for the sport. That fight has to be made. It is a massive fight that has to happen soon or later. Clottey was a tough fight, but the hype and build up around a Mayweayher-Pacquiao fight could be the fight of a generation.”
It is also the type of hype which could surround a Haye-Klitschko contest, but Adam Booth, Haye’s trainer, revealed to me yesterday that no negotiations are set to take place for at least a month.
Meanwhile, Craig McEwan, the Scottish middleweight who trains under Freddie Roach at the Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood, has revealed it was he who taught Pacquiao his convincing Scottish accent.
I was fortunate enough to gain exclusive access to travel from London to Manchester on the train last year in the build-up to Pacquiao-Ricky Hatton, with the Filipino’s fighters entourage (which included Bob Arum and Richard Schaefer that day), and filmed/interviewed Pacman on the train.
In the first minute of the interview, he emerged, surprisingly, with a strong Scottish accent. In conversation with McEwan (18-0, and four years with Roach at the Wild Card), the Edinburgh man revealed to me recently that he had been coaching Pacman on Scots burr.
“We were in the gym one day, and I taught him the stuff about William Wallace. Then we were away talking about the Scots fighting for their freedom against the English. He’s a fast learner, and aye, it was a wee bit of fun. I saw the video last year, and thought…oh yes, that’s Manny.”
“I got him a ‘See You Jimmy’ hat and I have a photo of him with it on.”
McEwan also explained that he is learning so much rubbing shoulders with Pacquiao in the gym. “He has great footwork…just look at how he knocked Ricky Hatton out, by switching his feet, and throwing those devastating punches. I like seeing how he lets his combinations go, and I try to follow that. I’m tall and rangy and he is short and explosive with a lot of power, but it never hurts to pick things up from the best. It’s all about adapting things, really. I go running with him, too. It’s a great place to be any time, but when Manny is there in camp, it is always a lift.”
Source: blogs.telegraph.co.uk
Senin, 19 April 2010
David Haye: Can He Save the Heavyweight Division? -- Ringside Report
By Geno McGahee, RingsideReport.com
In the 1990s, boxing was good for the heavyweights and for the fans. Lennox Lewis would come along and clean it out and when there were no other worthy challengers, he retired and left a gap. The gap has been filled by the Klitschko Brothers, Wladimir and Vitali.
Vitali actually had the chance to square off against Lewis in 2003. It was a good fight that Lewis was beginning to win when Vitali suffered a serious cut and fell victim to a TKO stoppage in the sixth round. The courageous performance made Vitali the champ when Lewis retired. The WBC quickly placed him into a title match with Corrie Sanders, a fight he won via TKO in 8. He would vacate the title, retire, and then come back and reclaim it from an uninspired and fat Sam Peter.
Vitali has a record of 39-2, 37 KO’s, a 90% KO rate, and fights regularly, but he has not captured the imagination of the American public. It’s a combination of things. One, the opposition is weak. Vitali benefits and is also hurt by the current crop of heavyweights. Secondly, Vitali fights in a safety first style, controlling the fight and battering his opponents until they quit or collapse. Americans were accustomed to Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield…guys like that, that would go in there and go to war, but Vitali presents something different. It’s similar to the style that Lennox Lewis brought, but Lewis seemed to have more of a heart for ring wars.
The younger brother, Wladimir, has a record of 54-3, 48 KO’s, has an 84% KO rate, and fights regularly. He has also not brought in the masses from the states. His last title fight against the capable Eddie Chambers wasn’t even picked up by HBO, which is basically the home for the Klitschko brothers.
A big part of the reason why the Klitschkos are not as popular as they would be in a competitive division is that nobody thinks that they can lose. They don’t leave anything to chance. They work from the distance, and eventually their power shots will land and end the fight. Sultan Ibragimov, the former WBO Champ, that lost his title to Wlad via UD, wanted to fight but he was so much smaller and wasn’t allowed inside. That is the storyline with many of the Klitschko opponents.
The contenders nowadays lack charisma and with the networks not broadcasting any fights, they enter the ring as unknowns and leave the ring as the same. Tony Thompson, Calvin Brock, Eddie Chambers, Kevin Johnson, Sultan Ibragimov, and Chris Arreola have not inspired the fans and did not put up any effort in the ring to stimulate interest. They didn’t have the charisma or the fighting heart to go after the champions, but there is one man that apparently does.
The WBA Heavyweight Champion, David “Hayemaker” Haye, 24-1, 22 KO’s, ruled the cruiserweight division and then made his way up to the heavyweights, taking out Monte Barrett and earning a crack at the gigantic champion at the time, Nikolay Valuev. Although most were disappointed with the performance of Haye, he did come away with a win and put forth an effective game plan. He moved and did enough to win the title. Valuev is a tough opponent for anyone because of his size and courage and Haye was able to use skill and ring smarts to overcome that.
Recently, Haye took on former 2-Time Champion John Ruiz. Ruiz was 3-3 in his last six fights going into the fight with Haye but could have easily been 6-0 and many contend that he was robbed clearly against Valuev and Ruslan Chagaev. Whether he was or wasn’t, Ruiz was only stopped once in 1996 against David Tua. He altered his style and became a puzzle that most could not solve. Ruiz is a gritty brawler that was a very live dog in the Haye fight…but we found out a lot about the British Champion in his first defense.
Very early in the first round, a one-two put Ruiz on the floor and in serious trouble. Over anxious, Haye fouled Ruiz, hitting him with a rabbit punch. Haye’s excitement may cost him, especially if he gets Wlad into trouble. The last thing that he would want would be to lose an opportunity to stop one of the Klitschkos because of a foul.
Haye would stop Ruiz in nine rounds and that has sent a message. Haye is charismatic, quick, and hits very hard. He has gotten under the skin of both Wlad and Vitali with his antics, including presenting artwork with Haye holding both severed heads of the Klitschko brothers.
Prior to his defense against Tony Thompson, Wladimir was confronted by Haye and told that he was fighting nobodies. Wlad agreed to fight Haye but the Brit would pull out due to promotional problems. Haye would then come close to signing with Vitali but would pull out as well and take on Valuev as well.
The point of all of this is to psychological warfare and it worked. Both brothers seem irritated with Haye, especially Vitali. Another part of the reason why the fights fell apart in the first place was the rumored demands of the Klitschkos. With the WBA belt around his waist, Haye has more bargaining power. It is something that both brothers want in the family and now it’s just a question of which one will go for it.
The frontrunner now is Wladimir. It makes more sense for Haye. Wlad has some weaknesses that could be capitalized on and the public would see it as a risky fight. Rumor has it that they will be fighting in the fall, should they be able to seal the deal. Wlad may be forced to face Alexander Povetkin first, a good heavyweight under the guidance of Teddy Atlas, but he is expected to get through that outing. If Haye becomes a reality, there is a chance of step aside money for Team Povetkin to make the fight possible with the winner being forced to face him in their next fight.
David Haye is what this division needs. He’s charismatic, quick, and hits hard with both hands. He has the style and power to possibly upset the Klitschko brothers and reshape the division. The win against Ruiz reinforced what many thought when he moved up to heavyweight. Haye may go on to rule the division.
Source: ringsidereport.com
In the 1990s, boxing was good for the heavyweights and for the fans. Lennox Lewis would come along and clean it out and when there were no other worthy challengers, he retired and left a gap. The gap has been filled by the Klitschko Brothers, Wladimir and Vitali.
Vitali actually had the chance to square off against Lewis in 2003. It was a good fight that Lewis was beginning to win when Vitali suffered a serious cut and fell victim to a TKO stoppage in the sixth round. The courageous performance made Vitali the champ when Lewis retired. The WBC quickly placed him into a title match with Corrie Sanders, a fight he won via TKO in 8. He would vacate the title, retire, and then come back and reclaim it from an uninspired and fat Sam Peter.
Vitali has a record of 39-2, 37 KO’s, a 90% KO rate, and fights regularly, but he has not captured the imagination of the American public. It’s a combination of things. One, the opposition is weak. Vitali benefits and is also hurt by the current crop of heavyweights. Secondly, Vitali fights in a safety first style, controlling the fight and battering his opponents until they quit or collapse. Americans were accustomed to Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield…guys like that, that would go in there and go to war, but Vitali presents something different. It’s similar to the style that Lennox Lewis brought, but Lewis seemed to have more of a heart for ring wars.
The younger brother, Wladimir, has a record of 54-3, 48 KO’s, has an 84% KO rate, and fights regularly. He has also not brought in the masses from the states. His last title fight against the capable Eddie Chambers wasn’t even picked up by HBO, which is basically the home for the Klitschko brothers.
A big part of the reason why the Klitschkos are not as popular as they would be in a competitive division is that nobody thinks that they can lose. They don’t leave anything to chance. They work from the distance, and eventually their power shots will land and end the fight. Sultan Ibragimov, the former WBO Champ, that lost his title to Wlad via UD, wanted to fight but he was so much smaller and wasn’t allowed inside. That is the storyline with many of the Klitschko opponents.
The contenders nowadays lack charisma and with the networks not broadcasting any fights, they enter the ring as unknowns and leave the ring as the same. Tony Thompson, Calvin Brock, Eddie Chambers, Kevin Johnson, Sultan Ibragimov, and Chris Arreola have not inspired the fans and did not put up any effort in the ring to stimulate interest. They didn’t have the charisma or the fighting heart to go after the champions, but there is one man that apparently does.
The WBA Heavyweight Champion, David “Hayemaker” Haye, 24-1, 22 KO’s, ruled the cruiserweight division and then made his way up to the heavyweights, taking out Monte Barrett and earning a crack at the gigantic champion at the time, Nikolay Valuev. Although most were disappointed with the performance of Haye, he did come away with a win and put forth an effective game plan. He moved and did enough to win the title. Valuev is a tough opponent for anyone because of his size and courage and Haye was able to use skill and ring smarts to overcome that.
Recently, Haye took on former 2-Time Champion John Ruiz. Ruiz was 3-3 in his last six fights going into the fight with Haye but could have easily been 6-0 and many contend that he was robbed clearly against Valuev and Ruslan Chagaev. Whether he was or wasn’t, Ruiz was only stopped once in 1996 against David Tua. He altered his style and became a puzzle that most could not solve. Ruiz is a gritty brawler that was a very live dog in the Haye fight…but we found out a lot about the British Champion in his first defense.
Very early in the first round, a one-two put Ruiz on the floor and in serious trouble. Over anxious, Haye fouled Ruiz, hitting him with a rabbit punch. Haye’s excitement may cost him, especially if he gets Wlad into trouble. The last thing that he would want would be to lose an opportunity to stop one of the Klitschkos because of a foul.
Haye would stop Ruiz in nine rounds and that has sent a message. Haye is charismatic, quick, and hits very hard. He has gotten under the skin of both Wlad and Vitali with his antics, including presenting artwork with Haye holding both severed heads of the Klitschko brothers.
Prior to his defense against Tony Thompson, Wladimir was confronted by Haye and told that he was fighting nobodies. Wlad agreed to fight Haye but the Brit would pull out due to promotional problems. Haye would then come close to signing with Vitali but would pull out as well and take on Valuev as well.
The point of all of this is to psychological warfare and it worked. Both brothers seem irritated with Haye, especially Vitali. Another part of the reason why the fights fell apart in the first place was the rumored demands of the Klitschkos. With the WBA belt around his waist, Haye has more bargaining power. It is something that both brothers want in the family and now it’s just a question of which one will go for it.
The frontrunner now is Wladimir. It makes more sense for Haye. Wlad has some weaknesses that could be capitalized on and the public would see it as a risky fight. Rumor has it that they will be fighting in the fall, should they be able to seal the deal. Wlad may be forced to face Alexander Povetkin first, a good heavyweight under the guidance of Teddy Atlas, but he is expected to get through that outing. If Haye becomes a reality, there is a chance of step aside money for Team Povetkin to make the fight possible with the winner being forced to face him in their next fight.
David Haye is what this division needs. He’s charismatic, quick, and hits hard with both hands. He has the style and power to possibly upset the Klitschko brothers and reshape the division. The win against Ruiz reinforced what many thought when he moved up to heavyweight. Haye may go on to rule the division.
Source: ringsidereport.com
Sabtu, 17 April 2010
B.J Flores Wants To Prove Danny Green And His Trainer Wrong, Is Willing To Face Green In Australia! -- Eastside Boxing
By James Slater, Eastside Boxing
Right after his recent 3rd-round win over Manny Siaca, Danny Green said how there are no cruiserweights out there capable of competing with him, and that any fighter from that weight class would be KO'd should they face him (at least Green's trainer Angelo Hyder made these comments). Well, one man who is eager to put it all on the line so as to prove "The Green Machine" wrong is unbeaten 200-pounder contender B.J Flores.
Very kindly giving me the following interview, in which he fired back at the Australian and his trainer's ultra-confident remarks, 31-year-old Flores, 24-0-1(15) made it clear he is more than willing to go over to Australia to call the 37-year-old's bluff..
James Slater: Thanks once again for speaking with me, B.J. Straight to business - you want to fight Danny Green and you disagree strongly with what his trainer had to say about how no cruisers can live with Green?
B.J. Flores: I think they're unbelievable comments, James (laughs). I mean, Green is a good light-heavyweight, but to say he will KO any cruiserweight he fights when he hasn't fought one yet! It's okay him having confidence if he believes this, but there are a lot of cruiserweights out there willing to prove him wrong, and I'm at the top of the list.
J.S: Did you see Green's win over Siaca?
B.J.F: Only on You Tube. Siaca is basically a gatekeeper; a guy who was never a great champion or a big name, with all due respect. I think he was brought in as the opponent. I've seen Green fight before - I saw his fight with [Julio Cesar] Dominguez in Mississippi, which was a tough fight for Green; very much back and forth until Green got the TKO (in the 5th-round). Green is a good fighter, like I say, but he's a good light-heavyweight - he has to face a young, hungry fighter at cruiserweight to prove he's the real deal at cruiserweight. And I'm totally willing to go to Australia to fight him.
J.S: Is this the fight you and your team will go after then?
B.J.F: Absolutely. I'll be back in the ring in June - I need to get myself back - and then, after that, in either July or August or September, it doesn't matter, I'll go over to fight Green. He has no fight coming up, we've been in touch with his team and they are interested, so this is the perfect fight for him. Green needs to make a statement at cruiserweight - not just fight old guys who have been on the shelf, like Roy Jones and Antonio Tarver - and he would make a big statement if he beat me. But I don't think he can do it. I'm willing to lay it all on the line to find out, though!
J.S: You'd have no problems going to Australia?
B.J.F: None at all. I don't care how he wraps his hands (in reference to the Roy Jones fight), he'll be fighting a 200-pound man and I think I'll be stronger than him. I think I'll be too strong and too skilled for him. It would be a big attraction in Australia, too. It wouldn't be so much of a big fight over here, but Danny Green is a big star in Australia and the fight would be a bid deal over there.
J.S: He's fought as high as 185-pounds, but no higher. Is that why you think you'd be stronger than him - what with you being a genuine 200-pounder?
B.J.F: Yeah, he's fought at 184, and if he'd fought guys who were 200-pounds that would have been okay, but he fought guys who were smaller [than full cruiser] also. I just don't see any time he'd be able to dominate the fight. He has more experience than me, but I've had 25 fights myself and I've fought guys who punch harder than Green does. Okay, Green is a more proven all-round fighter than the guys I've fought, but I have fought some good guys who hit harder than Green does.
J.S: Do you think you will get the fight, though? I mean, you were unable to get that fight with Marco Huck, and Green is talking Antonio Tarver, Evander Holyfield and even David Haye (at least his trainer did in a recent article)
B.J.F: Well, he can forget all about David Haye, David's not even thinking about Green, I can guarantee that! And Holyfield and Tarver, you know, I have respect for both guys - and in his prime Tarver beats Green or gives him problems - but Green needs to get off that whole Roy Jones, Antonio Tarver thing. We get it that he can defeat older guys who have been on the shelf - but what is that proving? Like I say, he needs to invite a young and hungry contender like me to his country if he's to make a statement.
J.S: Who will you fight in June, and how many rounds will you box?
B.J.F: I think it will be 8 or ten rounds as I don't like to box less than that. We've spoke to a couple of people but I'm not sure who it will be yet. It's just time to get back in the ring; to dig myself out of the hole I've been put in with me not having had a fight since August. I'm very excited about getting back. The priority for me now is to get the fight with Green and prove him wrong. I'm sure he can't beat me, and I'm willing to go to Australia to prove it. And I've been in camp all this time - don't think I haven't been getting good work! I've been working with some of the best heavyweights in the world.
J.S: Well, I hope you get the Green fight, B.J. For whatever reasons you were unable to get the fight with Huck; let's hope you have more luck here. One final question please - I read that you looked into going into MMA. Is that still a possibility?
B.J.F: It was a possibility. The thing is, I was so frustrated at not being able to get any fights in boxing and I did wrestle [as a youngster]. People were throwing ideas at me, saying I should do MMA. It's still something I would entertain, as I'm still young and I'm athletic. But the June tune-up and then the Green fight take precedent right now. And with regards to that [the Green fight], not too many guys would be willing to go to Australia. But I'm confident that whenever my big shot comes, I'll come though it with flying colours. And I must also say, Danny Green's a great guy. He's charming and funny and I liked him a lot when I met him. But that doesn't mean he beats me! Let's make the fight, in Australia, and let's lay it on the line!
Source: eastsideboxing.com
Right after his recent 3rd-round win over Manny Siaca, Danny Green said how there are no cruiserweights out there capable of competing with him, and that any fighter from that weight class would be KO'd should they face him (at least Green's trainer Angelo Hyder made these comments). Well, one man who is eager to put it all on the line so as to prove "The Green Machine" wrong is unbeaten 200-pounder contender B.J Flores.
Very kindly giving me the following interview, in which he fired back at the Australian and his trainer's ultra-confident remarks, 31-year-old Flores, 24-0-1(15) made it clear he is more than willing to go over to Australia to call the 37-year-old's bluff..
James Slater: Thanks once again for speaking with me, B.J. Straight to business - you want to fight Danny Green and you disagree strongly with what his trainer had to say about how no cruisers can live with Green?
B.J. Flores: I think they're unbelievable comments, James (laughs). I mean, Green is a good light-heavyweight, but to say he will KO any cruiserweight he fights when he hasn't fought one yet! It's okay him having confidence if he believes this, but there are a lot of cruiserweights out there willing to prove him wrong, and I'm at the top of the list.
J.S: Did you see Green's win over Siaca?
B.J.F: Only on You Tube. Siaca is basically a gatekeeper; a guy who was never a great champion or a big name, with all due respect. I think he was brought in as the opponent. I've seen Green fight before - I saw his fight with [Julio Cesar] Dominguez in Mississippi, which was a tough fight for Green; very much back and forth until Green got the TKO (in the 5th-round). Green is a good fighter, like I say, but he's a good light-heavyweight - he has to face a young, hungry fighter at cruiserweight to prove he's the real deal at cruiserweight. And I'm totally willing to go to Australia to fight him.
J.S: Is this the fight you and your team will go after then?
B.J.F: Absolutely. I'll be back in the ring in June - I need to get myself back - and then, after that, in either July or August or September, it doesn't matter, I'll go over to fight Green. He has no fight coming up, we've been in touch with his team and they are interested, so this is the perfect fight for him. Green needs to make a statement at cruiserweight - not just fight old guys who have been on the shelf, like Roy Jones and Antonio Tarver - and he would make a big statement if he beat me. But I don't think he can do it. I'm willing to lay it all on the line to find out, though!
J.S: You'd have no problems going to Australia?
B.J.F: None at all. I don't care how he wraps his hands (in reference to the Roy Jones fight), he'll be fighting a 200-pound man and I think I'll be stronger than him. I think I'll be too strong and too skilled for him. It would be a big attraction in Australia, too. It wouldn't be so much of a big fight over here, but Danny Green is a big star in Australia and the fight would be a bid deal over there.
J.S: He's fought as high as 185-pounds, but no higher. Is that why you think you'd be stronger than him - what with you being a genuine 200-pounder?
B.J.F: Yeah, he's fought at 184, and if he'd fought guys who were 200-pounds that would have been okay, but he fought guys who were smaller [than full cruiser] also. I just don't see any time he'd be able to dominate the fight. He has more experience than me, but I've had 25 fights myself and I've fought guys who punch harder than Green does. Okay, Green is a more proven all-round fighter than the guys I've fought, but I have fought some good guys who hit harder than Green does.
J.S: Do you think you will get the fight, though? I mean, you were unable to get that fight with Marco Huck, and Green is talking Antonio Tarver, Evander Holyfield and even David Haye (at least his trainer did in a recent article)
B.J.F: Well, he can forget all about David Haye, David's not even thinking about Green, I can guarantee that! And Holyfield and Tarver, you know, I have respect for both guys - and in his prime Tarver beats Green or gives him problems - but Green needs to get off that whole Roy Jones, Antonio Tarver thing. We get it that he can defeat older guys who have been on the shelf - but what is that proving? Like I say, he needs to invite a young and hungry contender like me to his country if he's to make a statement.
J.S: Who will you fight in June, and how many rounds will you box?
B.J.F: I think it will be 8 or ten rounds as I don't like to box less than that. We've spoke to a couple of people but I'm not sure who it will be yet. It's just time to get back in the ring; to dig myself out of the hole I've been put in with me not having had a fight since August. I'm very excited about getting back. The priority for me now is to get the fight with Green and prove him wrong. I'm sure he can't beat me, and I'm willing to go to Australia to prove it. And I've been in camp all this time - don't think I haven't been getting good work! I've been working with some of the best heavyweights in the world.
J.S: Well, I hope you get the Green fight, B.J. For whatever reasons you were unable to get the fight with Huck; let's hope you have more luck here. One final question please - I read that you looked into going into MMA. Is that still a possibility?
B.J.F: It was a possibility. The thing is, I was so frustrated at not being able to get any fights in boxing and I did wrestle [as a youngster]. People were throwing ideas at me, saying I should do MMA. It's still something I would entertain, as I'm still young and I'm athletic. But the June tune-up and then the Green fight take precedent right now. And with regards to that [the Green fight], not too many guys would be willing to go to Australia. But I'm confident that whenever my big shot comes, I'll come though it with flying colours. And I must also say, Danny Green's a great guy. He's charming and funny and I liked him a lot when I met him. But that doesn't mean he beats me! Let's make the fight, in Australia, and let's lay it on the line!
Source: eastsideboxing.com
Jumat, 16 April 2010
Wladimir Klitschko: “Haye bitched out twice from me and my brother” -- Eastside Boxing
By Geoffrey Ciani, Eastside Boxing
This week’s edition of On the Ropes Boxing Radio featured exclusive interviews with reigning IBF/WBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko, Hall of Fame boxer Carmen Basilio, and reigning WBC welterweight champion Andre Berto. Highlighting this week’s episode was the exclusive interview with Wladimir Klitschko, who recently stopped American contender “Fast” Eddie Chambers by twelfth round knockout. Here are some excerpts from that interview:
On his performance against “Fast” Eddie Chambers:
“I feel great about my last performance and there was another title defense and Eddie Chambers is actually much better than people think. He was a great contender, he was very fast. His nickname is “Fast Eddie” and he was really fast. I should say that eventually I did make the final shot that was very important to win this fight by KO. I think that Eddie Chambers was really just trying to survive actually in the late rounds and as we in the heavyweight division say, ‘You have to pay attention every second of the fight because only one punch can make the final decision and the fight’s going to be over very fast’ so that was exactly what happened in the fight with Eddie and I hope he’s doing well. I think that he’s probably going to beat any other contender in the division because of his amazing boxing skills.”
On Emanuel Steward urging him to go for the knockout in the later rounds of the Chambers fight:
“We saw also one week before my fight with Pacquiao, he was running after a guy for twelve rounds and he couldn’t really finish him because if a person doesn’t want to get knocked out, you can chase him forever. In the last two rounds, actually the last three rounds—the 10th, 11th, and 12th rounds—I was really trying to catch Eddie and I couldn’t. When Emanuel was in the corner raising his voice and saying, ‘Come on! Do it!’, I was actually arguing with him. I said, ‘Dude, I will try! You know, just relax. Don’t push me too much, relax. I know what I’m doing. I’m trying.’ In the last two rounds, the 11th and 12th, I was really chasing Eddie and eventually stopped him in the 12th..”
His views on trainer Emanuel Steward:
“I also recently talked to Emanuel, and I said, ‘Emanuel, something is amazing about your professional courier. You took Lennox Lewis, as an example, at his worst and you brought him to his best. The same thing is kind of happening with me. We started to work when I lost, and then we actually got the titles and got the Ring Magazine championship getting back the respect from my opponents that I lost in ’04.’ It is amazing to see what Emanuel is able to do and what a coach he is. I think he is a genius in the ring. He is a genius in the ring, and I definitely enjoy to work with him because it’s great work. It’s not just the relationship between an athlete and a coach like between a dog and the owner of a dog. You’re just getting commands and you do what your coach is telling you to do. That’s going to not work with me and Emanuel, so we’re creative. We respect the experiences that each of us has inside and outside of the ring and it’s just such enjoyable work.”
Regarding his next fight:
“Hopefully David Haye is going to be my next opponent. We’re working on this right now. In boxing there’s a lot of things in negotiations with the promoters and to find a site to get the deal first, so hopefully we’ll get David Haye as another unification fight. That’s the only the title, the WBA title that David Haye has, the Klitschko brothers don’t have. So we have all of the titles but the WBA. So I’m looking forward to getting David Haye in the ring and fight him, and I wish and I hope that this year it is going to happen.”
His views on David Haye as a fighter:
“David Haye says a lot about the Klitschkos being boring. Have you seen his fight with Nicolay Valuev? It was twelve rounds, it was decision win, but he was scared to death and I don’t understand why you can be scared to death from Nicolay Valuev. It’s actually absurd for saying it, but this man is a giant. I mean, he’s huge and in certain ways a freak show, and he’s as slow as an elephant. David Haye was just dancing around and trying not to be hit and winning the fight on points.”
Regarding Haye’s victory over John Ruiz:
“So with John Ruiz, I have to give respect to John Ruiz because it was like another title shot, and he had really a lot of title shots, but it was his ninth loss—let’s face it. But David Haye did well, he won the fight. I am very thankful to David that he won the fight because I would be very upset if he had lost the fight, and now we can talk about our fight. He bitched out twice from me and from my brother Vitali, and I think he owes it to the fans to get in the ring with one of the Klitschko brothers and fight—and not just speak and show the cartoons with decapitated bodies and blood and whatever else he presents himself as a clown. I think he owes it to the fans that he has to fight one of the Klitschko brothers. Not to talk, let’s make it and not bitch out again.”
His views on the upcoming mega fight between Shane Mosley and Floyd Mayweather:
“Well, to be honest with you I would love to see Floyd Mayweather against Manny Pacquiao. I would love to see that fight. I know I’m not really answering your question, but I think that fight would be really exciting. That’s what I’m looking forward to. Who’s going to win in this fight between Mayweather and Mosley? I think, yeah, well…each of them could lose or could win. Am I really excited about this fight? It could be a good fight, but Pacquiao-Mayweather could be a better fight.”
***
Andre Berto
We also had the chance to speak with Andre Berto fresh off his title defense against Carlos Quintana. Here are some excerpts from what Berto had to say:
Regarding his eighth round stoppage over Carlos Quintana:
“I feel I was alright. I was a little rusty. I had to get in a groove a little bit and actually I injured my arm in like the second round. In the second round I injured my arm so I was pretty much fighting with one arm. My overall performance was just okay.”
On whether he was surprised he was able to knock Quintana out:
“No, because I thought I had the power to do it. He’s a crafty guy, like a lot of people seem to forget, he’s a crafty southpaw and those are always the worst ones to fight. He also has a win over Paul Williams, so I knew he was going to be crafty but I knew if I was able to land a few solid punches on him that he was going to notice it and I was going to be able to slow him down.”
On the decision to pull out of his January fight with Sugar Shane Mosley:
“You know, it was a tough situation with the decision that I made. I mean it was for a good reason. I lost a few family members in the earthquake.”
Regarding how he thinks he would have done against Sugar Shane Mosley:
“Oh, I think I would have done good. I mean, you had seen the other night it wasn’t my best performance, because like I said, I was a little rusty, but my speed and my power and me just imposing that type of pace early on in the ring. I was just going to get stronger as the rounds continue to go and I it probably would have caused a little problem for Shane—to have somebody in there just as fast as he is, just as strong as he is, but young and to continue bringing that pace. I think the fight was going to be a little difficult for him.”
His views on the upcoming May 1 clash between Shane Mosley and Floyd Mayweather:
“Realistically, I think Floyd is going to outpoint him. I see that at the beginning of the fight, Shane Mosley is going to be there and he’s going to impose his will, he’s going to impose his strength and the speed, but I think after a couple of rounds Floyd will pretty much figure him out once Shane slows down a little. That’s when Floyd is really going to get into his rhythm and start picking him apart a little bit and just do what he does and come out with the victory.”
Regarding who he would prefer to fight, Mosley or Mayweather:
“Oh man, it doesn’t matter, either one of them. I mean Floyd Mayweather, Shane Mosley, or (Manny) Pacquiao, you know it would just be an honor to be in the ring with those guys. These guys are future Hall of Famers. I grew up at the gym watching these guys and mimicking a lot of these guys, so I’d be honored just to be in the same ring with them so it doesn’t matter at all.”
On how he believes he would match-up with Manny Pacquiao:
“I believe it would be a very entertaining fight because, unlike with Joshua Clottey and a lot of people, I would definitely let my hands go. It’s definitely going to be an entertaining fight. I mean have the hand speed, I have the power, and as the action gets turned up I get turned up. I think that’s the thing with Manny Pacquiao that a lot of people really just don’t understand. Manny Pacquiao has a lot of energy, he has really great legs, but then again, you have to fight fire with fire. He lacks defense. He’s easy to hit, but he sets a pace that’s a little too much for his opponents and he’s incredibly strong, also, so he always tend to outwork and outpunch his opponents, but if I get in the position I know it will be an entertaining fight because I know I’ll be able to touch him whenever I wanted to touch him and get in there with some power and I think it will be able to stop a lot of that jumping around and stuff. It would be an entertaining fight.”
***
To read the entire transcript of the Carmen Basilio interview please CLICK HERE
If you missed last week’s special edition of On the Ropes, be sure to tune in and listen now!
***
Join the On the Ropes Mailing List!
If you want to keep up with the latest OTR news, why not join our mailing list? You can sign up by sending an email to ontheropes@eastsideboxing.com with the subject heading “SIGN ME UP!”
Be sure to tune in!
***
For more information about On the Ropes Boxing Radio please visit our website:
http://www.ontheropesboxingradio.com
To contact Geoffrey Ciani or Jenna J:
ontheropes@eastsideboxing.com
To read more by Ciani or Jenna please visit The Mushroom Mag:
http//www.eatthemushroom.com/mag
Source: eastsideboxing.com
This week’s edition of On the Ropes Boxing Radio featured exclusive interviews with reigning IBF/WBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko, Hall of Fame boxer Carmen Basilio, and reigning WBC welterweight champion Andre Berto. Highlighting this week’s episode was the exclusive interview with Wladimir Klitschko, who recently stopped American contender “Fast” Eddie Chambers by twelfth round knockout. Here are some excerpts from that interview:
On his performance against “Fast” Eddie Chambers:
“I feel great about my last performance and there was another title defense and Eddie Chambers is actually much better than people think. He was a great contender, he was very fast. His nickname is “Fast Eddie” and he was really fast. I should say that eventually I did make the final shot that was very important to win this fight by KO. I think that Eddie Chambers was really just trying to survive actually in the late rounds and as we in the heavyweight division say, ‘You have to pay attention every second of the fight because only one punch can make the final decision and the fight’s going to be over very fast’ so that was exactly what happened in the fight with Eddie and I hope he’s doing well. I think that he’s probably going to beat any other contender in the division because of his amazing boxing skills.”
On Emanuel Steward urging him to go for the knockout in the later rounds of the Chambers fight:
“We saw also one week before my fight with Pacquiao, he was running after a guy for twelve rounds and he couldn’t really finish him because if a person doesn’t want to get knocked out, you can chase him forever. In the last two rounds, actually the last three rounds—the 10th, 11th, and 12th rounds—I was really trying to catch Eddie and I couldn’t. When Emanuel was in the corner raising his voice and saying, ‘Come on! Do it!’, I was actually arguing with him. I said, ‘Dude, I will try! You know, just relax. Don’t push me too much, relax. I know what I’m doing. I’m trying.’ In the last two rounds, the 11th and 12th, I was really chasing Eddie and eventually stopped him in the 12th..”
His views on trainer Emanuel Steward:
“I also recently talked to Emanuel, and I said, ‘Emanuel, something is amazing about your professional courier. You took Lennox Lewis, as an example, at his worst and you brought him to his best. The same thing is kind of happening with me. We started to work when I lost, and then we actually got the titles and got the Ring Magazine championship getting back the respect from my opponents that I lost in ’04.’ It is amazing to see what Emanuel is able to do and what a coach he is. I think he is a genius in the ring. He is a genius in the ring, and I definitely enjoy to work with him because it’s great work. It’s not just the relationship between an athlete and a coach like between a dog and the owner of a dog. You’re just getting commands and you do what your coach is telling you to do. That’s going to not work with me and Emanuel, so we’re creative. We respect the experiences that each of us has inside and outside of the ring and it’s just such enjoyable work.”
Regarding his next fight:
“Hopefully David Haye is going to be my next opponent. We’re working on this right now. In boxing there’s a lot of things in negotiations with the promoters and to find a site to get the deal first, so hopefully we’ll get David Haye as another unification fight. That’s the only the title, the WBA title that David Haye has, the Klitschko brothers don’t have. So we have all of the titles but the WBA. So I’m looking forward to getting David Haye in the ring and fight him, and I wish and I hope that this year it is going to happen.”
His views on David Haye as a fighter:
“David Haye says a lot about the Klitschkos being boring. Have you seen his fight with Nicolay Valuev? It was twelve rounds, it was decision win, but he was scared to death and I don’t understand why you can be scared to death from Nicolay Valuev. It’s actually absurd for saying it, but this man is a giant. I mean, he’s huge and in certain ways a freak show, and he’s as slow as an elephant. David Haye was just dancing around and trying not to be hit and winning the fight on points.”
Regarding Haye’s victory over John Ruiz:
“So with John Ruiz, I have to give respect to John Ruiz because it was like another title shot, and he had really a lot of title shots, but it was his ninth loss—let’s face it. But David Haye did well, he won the fight. I am very thankful to David that he won the fight because I would be very upset if he had lost the fight, and now we can talk about our fight. He bitched out twice from me and from my brother Vitali, and I think he owes it to the fans to get in the ring with one of the Klitschko brothers and fight—and not just speak and show the cartoons with decapitated bodies and blood and whatever else he presents himself as a clown. I think he owes it to the fans that he has to fight one of the Klitschko brothers. Not to talk, let’s make it and not bitch out again.”
His views on the upcoming mega fight between Shane Mosley and Floyd Mayweather:
“Well, to be honest with you I would love to see Floyd Mayweather against Manny Pacquiao. I would love to see that fight. I know I’m not really answering your question, but I think that fight would be really exciting. That’s what I’m looking forward to. Who’s going to win in this fight between Mayweather and Mosley? I think, yeah, well…each of them could lose or could win. Am I really excited about this fight? It could be a good fight, but Pacquiao-Mayweather could be a better fight.”
***
Andre Berto
We also had the chance to speak with Andre Berto fresh off his title defense against Carlos Quintana. Here are some excerpts from what Berto had to say:
Regarding his eighth round stoppage over Carlos Quintana:
“I feel I was alright. I was a little rusty. I had to get in a groove a little bit and actually I injured my arm in like the second round. In the second round I injured my arm so I was pretty much fighting with one arm. My overall performance was just okay.”
On whether he was surprised he was able to knock Quintana out:
“No, because I thought I had the power to do it. He’s a crafty guy, like a lot of people seem to forget, he’s a crafty southpaw and those are always the worst ones to fight. He also has a win over Paul Williams, so I knew he was going to be crafty but I knew if I was able to land a few solid punches on him that he was going to notice it and I was going to be able to slow him down.”
On the decision to pull out of his January fight with Sugar Shane Mosley:
“You know, it was a tough situation with the decision that I made. I mean it was for a good reason. I lost a few family members in the earthquake.”
Regarding how he thinks he would have done against Sugar Shane Mosley:
“Oh, I think I would have done good. I mean, you had seen the other night it wasn’t my best performance, because like I said, I was a little rusty, but my speed and my power and me just imposing that type of pace early on in the ring. I was just going to get stronger as the rounds continue to go and I it probably would have caused a little problem for Shane—to have somebody in there just as fast as he is, just as strong as he is, but young and to continue bringing that pace. I think the fight was going to be a little difficult for him.”
His views on the upcoming May 1 clash between Shane Mosley and Floyd Mayweather:
“Realistically, I think Floyd is going to outpoint him. I see that at the beginning of the fight, Shane Mosley is going to be there and he’s going to impose his will, he’s going to impose his strength and the speed, but I think after a couple of rounds Floyd will pretty much figure him out once Shane slows down a little. That’s when Floyd is really going to get into his rhythm and start picking him apart a little bit and just do what he does and come out with the victory.”
Regarding who he would prefer to fight, Mosley or Mayweather:
“Oh man, it doesn’t matter, either one of them. I mean Floyd Mayweather, Shane Mosley, or (Manny) Pacquiao, you know it would just be an honor to be in the ring with those guys. These guys are future Hall of Famers. I grew up at the gym watching these guys and mimicking a lot of these guys, so I’d be honored just to be in the same ring with them so it doesn’t matter at all.”
On how he believes he would match-up with Manny Pacquiao:
“I believe it would be a very entertaining fight because, unlike with Joshua Clottey and a lot of people, I would definitely let my hands go. It’s definitely going to be an entertaining fight. I mean have the hand speed, I have the power, and as the action gets turned up I get turned up. I think that’s the thing with Manny Pacquiao that a lot of people really just don’t understand. Manny Pacquiao has a lot of energy, he has really great legs, but then again, you have to fight fire with fire. He lacks defense. He’s easy to hit, but he sets a pace that’s a little too much for his opponents and he’s incredibly strong, also, so he always tend to outwork and outpunch his opponents, but if I get in the position I know it will be an entertaining fight because I know I’ll be able to touch him whenever I wanted to touch him and get in there with some power and I think it will be able to stop a lot of that jumping around and stuff. It would be an entertaining fight.”
***
To read the entire transcript of the Carmen Basilio interview please CLICK HERE
If you missed last week’s special edition of On the Ropes, be sure to tune in and listen now!
***
Join the On the Ropes Mailing List!
If you want to keep up with the latest OTR news, why not join our mailing list? You can sign up by sending an email to ontheropes@eastsideboxing.com with the subject heading “SIGN ME UP!”
Be sure to tune in!
***
For more information about On the Ropes Boxing Radio please visit our website:
http://www.ontheropesboxingradio.com
To contact Geoffrey Ciani or Jenna J:
ontheropes@eastsideboxing.com
To read more by Ciani or Jenna please visit The Mushroom Mag:
http//www.eatthemushroom.com/mag
Source: eastsideboxing.com
Kelly Pavlik has risen from the dead and now waits for Matt Macklin -- The Guardian
By Kevin Mitchell, Guardian.co.uk
Matthew Macklin is at that stage of his career where he could stick or twist. The soft option is to hunt down John Duddy in America for what would be a lucrative Irish gig, in Boston or New York, and which he would surely win – although the Belfast man first has a fight against ulio César Chávez at the Alamodome in Texas in June.
Macklin, meanwhile, is aiming higher. He wants Kelly Pavlik. This is a high-risk option, but one I hope he goes for. The European middleweight champion might be just the sort of boxer-fighter who could replicate what Bernard Hopkins did to Pavlik one weight up.
A couple of years ago, the Americans were telling us Pavlik was the next big thing in boxing. I didn't buy it then and I'd have to be a bona fide idiot to buy it now. In 2007 and 2008, he was, according to the fight game's self-regulating publicity machine, the king of the middleweights. He was so bursting with confidence, power and ambition he was calling out Joe Calzaghe at 12 stones. It would have been a massacre.
So Kelly stayed at 160lb, where he thrashed Gary Lockett in three rounds, convincing the smart Welshman to retire for good – and the cheerleaders continued to paint Pavlik as the original throwback, blue-collar hero.
He was just that, too, a personable and open young man who stayed close to his roots in struggling Youngstown, Pennsylvania. Who couldn't warm to a fighter like that? He had a loud army of supporters ready to follow him anywhere – well, to Atlantic City, at least – in their many thousands. Pavlik was going to save boxing, said the optimists.
Their guy hit hard and often, he'd twice beaten a reasonably live Jermain Taylor and anybody else they put in front of him. Before that, he'd stopped the tough Edison Miranda in seven. For a while, Pavlik was The Man.
But what the cheerleaders refused to acknowledge (and still fail to see) was that he is a straight-backed, unsubtle slugger, a thousand-mile-an-hour beast with clear technical flaws. He fights with his head in the air and his fists cocked, throwing punches in volume but without a lot of craft or thought. The guy in the bar could see them coming, but the opponents, none of them exactly Sugar Ray Robinson, couldn't get out of the way. So the myth persisted.
The one pure boxer who could expose his deficiencies was Hopkins, and the old boy did it on the Boardwalk in October 2008, in what turned out to be his last great fight. He'd just lost to Calzaghe and he was desperate to take his frustrations out on someone.
It was a pretty ordinary piece of match-making. On a night when Pavlik put on 9lbs to take on the bigger Hopkins but was clearly out of sorts, B-Hop beat him up like a cop giving a kid a slap around the ears. The Pavlik Express crashed.
There were reports of subsequent drinking and wild nights. He had injuries and infections. Twice he pulled out of fights with "the man nobody wants to fight", Paul Williams. The love affair with the fans he grew up with went sour. How familiar is this story?
But Pavlik, "The Youngstown Ghost", is back. He's sobered up and he's fit, they say. Tomorrow night in Atlantic City (where else?) he fights tough, awkward Sergio Martinez. This is another piece of brave match-making. It won't be easy against Martinez, a tricky southpaw who gave Williams hell just before Christmas and drew with Kermit Cintron last year when good judges reckon he might have won.
But if Pavlik can find something from the past, if he is still as good as his friends are hoping, he will come through. If he doesn't, it's a long drive home, where he might just take a phone call from Matt Macklin.
WHERE NEXT FOR THE GHOST?
Edison Miranda, meanwhile, has gone another route since losing to Pavlik three years ago. He's won five and lost two (against Arthur Abraham, TKO 4, and Andre Ward, points 12) in that time, and tomorrow night gets one last shot.
The willing Colombian is 29 but getting old fast. How old and how fast we will discover when he gets in the ring with Lucian Bute in Montreal tomorrow night to challenge for the Canadian's IBF super-middleweight title.
Bute, many say, would win the Showtime Super Six 12-stone tournament (which is wheezing a bit even before the half stage), except he's a HBO fighter. They could be right. I've not seen enough of him to say. But his 25-0 (20 stoppages) record has some decent names on it: Sakio Bika, who gave Calzaghe a tough night, and William Joppy, who was too good for Howard Eastman. But Bute has only twice ventured abroad, for learning fights against nobodies.
The evidence of his pedigree will be in the performance rather than the result, because he surely will win. If he doesn't look a lot better against a fading Miranda than Pavlik did in 2007, however, all talk of him taking on the Super Six winner next year some time will evaporate.
Pavlik would probably fancy his chances of moving up in weight again to take on Bute. That could be why they are on the same two-city bill on HBO, as a pre-fight sell. There's plenty of activity around this weight right now. It's all about being in the right place at the right time.
HEY, HAYE, GET IT ON
So, the wheels are turning for David Haye and Wladimir Klitschko. Let's hope they don't come off like they did last year. Adam Booth is talking to the Germans a lot lately. "Viel Glück!" as they say – or will it be Auf Wiedersehen, pet, and hello Audley?
Source: guardian.co.uk
Matthew Macklin is at that stage of his career where he could stick or twist. The soft option is to hunt down John Duddy in America for what would be a lucrative Irish gig, in Boston or New York, and which he would surely win – although the Belfast man first has a fight against ulio César Chávez at the Alamodome in Texas in June.
Macklin, meanwhile, is aiming higher. He wants Kelly Pavlik. This is a high-risk option, but one I hope he goes for. The European middleweight champion might be just the sort of boxer-fighter who could replicate what Bernard Hopkins did to Pavlik one weight up.
A couple of years ago, the Americans were telling us Pavlik was the next big thing in boxing. I didn't buy it then and I'd have to be a bona fide idiot to buy it now. In 2007 and 2008, he was, according to the fight game's self-regulating publicity machine, the king of the middleweights. He was so bursting with confidence, power and ambition he was calling out Joe Calzaghe at 12 stones. It would have been a massacre.
So Kelly stayed at 160lb, where he thrashed Gary Lockett in three rounds, convincing the smart Welshman to retire for good – and the cheerleaders continued to paint Pavlik as the original throwback, blue-collar hero.
He was just that, too, a personable and open young man who stayed close to his roots in struggling Youngstown, Pennsylvania. Who couldn't warm to a fighter like that? He had a loud army of supporters ready to follow him anywhere – well, to Atlantic City, at least – in their many thousands. Pavlik was going to save boxing, said the optimists.
Their guy hit hard and often, he'd twice beaten a reasonably live Jermain Taylor and anybody else they put in front of him. Before that, he'd stopped the tough Edison Miranda in seven. For a while, Pavlik was The Man.
But what the cheerleaders refused to acknowledge (and still fail to see) was that he is a straight-backed, unsubtle slugger, a thousand-mile-an-hour beast with clear technical flaws. He fights with his head in the air and his fists cocked, throwing punches in volume but without a lot of craft or thought. The guy in the bar could see them coming, but the opponents, none of them exactly Sugar Ray Robinson, couldn't get out of the way. So the myth persisted.
The one pure boxer who could expose his deficiencies was Hopkins, and the old boy did it on the Boardwalk in October 2008, in what turned out to be his last great fight. He'd just lost to Calzaghe and he was desperate to take his frustrations out on someone.
It was a pretty ordinary piece of match-making. On a night when Pavlik put on 9lbs to take on the bigger Hopkins but was clearly out of sorts, B-Hop beat him up like a cop giving a kid a slap around the ears. The Pavlik Express crashed.
There were reports of subsequent drinking and wild nights. He had injuries and infections. Twice he pulled out of fights with "the man nobody wants to fight", Paul Williams. The love affair with the fans he grew up with went sour. How familiar is this story?
But Pavlik, "The Youngstown Ghost", is back. He's sobered up and he's fit, they say. Tomorrow night in Atlantic City (where else?) he fights tough, awkward Sergio Martinez. This is another piece of brave match-making. It won't be easy against Martinez, a tricky southpaw who gave Williams hell just before Christmas and drew with Kermit Cintron last year when good judges reckon he might have won.
But if Pavlik can find something from the past, if he is still as good as his friends are hoping, he will come through. If he doesn't, it's a long drive home, where he might just take a phone call from Matt Macklin.
WHERE NEXT FOR THE GHOST?
Edison Miranda, meanwhile, has gone another route since losing to Pavlik three years ago. He's won five and lost two (against Arthur Abraham, TKO 4, and Andre Ward, points 12) in that time, and tomorrow night gets one last shot.
The willing Colombian is 29 but getting old fast. How old and how fast we will discover when he gets in the ring with Lucian Bute in Montreal tomorrow night to challenge for the Canadian's IBF super-middleweight title.
Bute, many say, would win the Showtime Super Six 12-stone tournament (which is wheezing a bit even before the half stage), except he's a HBO fighter. They could be right. I've not seen enough of him to say. But his 25-0 (20 stoppages) record has some decent names on it: Sakio Bika, who gave Calzaghe a tough night, and William Joppy, who was too good for Howard Eastman. But Bute has only twice ventured abroad, for learning fights against nobodies.
The evidence of his pedigree will be in the performance rather than the result, because he surely will win. If he doesn't look a lot better against a fading Miranda than Pavlik did in 2007, however, all talk of him taking on the Super Six winner next year some time will evaporate.
Pavlik would probably fancy his chances of moving up in weight again to take on Bute. That could be why they are on the same two-city bill on HBO, as a pre-fight sell. There's plenty of activity around this weight right now. It's all about being in the right place at the right time.
HEY, HAYE, GET IT ON
So, the wheels are turning for David Haye and Wladimir Klitschko. Let's hope they don't come off like they did last year. Adam Booth is talking to the Germans a lot lately. "Viel Glück!" as they say – or will it be Auf Wiedersehen, pet, and hello Audley?
Source: guardian.co.uk
Heavyweight Excitement: No longer an Oxymoron? -- Ringside Report
By Jeff Stoyanoff, RingsideReport.com
When David Haye stopped John Ruiz on April 3rd in Manchester it was both expected and an upset. Most observers expected Haye to win the fight, but quite a few also figured that the experienced and cagey Ruiz would make it a most competitive fight. That Haye won was expected. That Haye dominated Ruiz and became the first man in over a decade to earn a stoppage against him? That can accurately be characterized as somewhat of an upset.
Naturally, with the spectacular nature of Haye’s win there will be the all too predictable suggestion that Ruiz was old and shot or perhaps simply overrated as a top fighter. Ruiz has never been blessed with fantastic gifts in the ring. He is not extraordinarily fast nor does he have tremendous power. Yet, Ruiz is an intelligent fighter, an excellent tactician, and he knows how to use those qualities in the ring. If there is a legacy to the career of John Ruiz it is that he was possessed of a special ability to be competitive in fights; a level of competitiveness that belied his natural gifts. For one of the rarest and most glaring times in a long and distinguished career, John Ruiz was overmatched in a fight and David Haye deserves all the credit in the world for that.
Yet, now the conversation will turn to David Haye and the brothers Klitschko. Haye has already made no bones about the fact that he can’t wait to get either (and eventually both) of them in the ring. And, for their part, the Klitschkos seem pretty keen on the idea as well. While it may be wrong to dismiss Haye’s win over Ruiz as merely what should have taken place, it would also be wrong to overlook the fact that either Klitschko is anything less than a giant step up for Haye. And speaking of giants…
Images of Valuev
We certainly got a glimpse of how dangerous it can be to follow David Haye around in the ring. In fact, we got that glimpse about fifteen seconds into the fight when John Ruiz was caught flat footed by a lightning fast right hand from Haye and was promptly deposited on the canvas. It was a shocking display of just how talented Haye can be. From that point on, Haye demonstrated repeated flashes of brilliance as he methodically, yet inexorably dismantled Ruiz over nine one sided rounds. Ruiz gamely continued to take the fight to Haye and was not without some offensive success, but ultimately the speed mismatch was too much to overcome. However, one must wonder if the same active and utterly destructive Haye that decimated Ruiz would be the one that shows up for either Klitschko. The genesis of this question lay not in the conjecture of a potential matchup, but in the certitude of history. Haye often looked befuddled in his fight with former WBA Champion, Nikolay Valuev.
In the first six rounds of the Haye-Valuev fight, Haye threw only 84 punches. The fact of the matter is, Haye was clearly unsure of how to proceed against the taller and longer Valuev. Both Klitschko brothers are far more in line with Valuev than Ruiz in terms of a matchup of styles. It is undoubtedly true that Haye won against Valuev and even staggered him badly in the twelfth and final round. On the other hand, it is also true that both Klitschkos are better fighters than Valuev and present a much greater challenge both offensively and defensively as potential opponents for Haye.
So, David Haye will probably be considered a rightful underdog when he eventually squares off with Wlad or Vitali. The ring records and fighting styles will dictate that. However, this is still a hugely exciting and intriguing potential matchup. There is something in this potential bout that differs greatly from the previous fights involving either Kltischko. David Haye is not just good, he is live; he has something. He has speed, he has power, and he has a big mouth…
The Talking Game
The Klitschko’s are avid chess players; and it shows. They are both cerebral tacticians in and out of the ring. In the ring, both are remarkably disciplined as they patiently set up their opponent before often brutally taking them out sometime in the mid to later stages of a fight. Quite often, the end comes quite awhile after the competitive aspects of the fight have long since been decided. In other words, they don’t feel any urgency to finish a guy as soon as they sense their advantage. Why rush in and run into a checkmate? Or, in boxing parlance, run into a huge shot that can turn a fight. Recently, nobody has been able to avoid their inevitable doom in a match with the Klitschko’s as both of them seem to come out set up their shots and eventually destroy their often beleaguered opponent; the disciplined attack wreaking havoc on overmatched fighters.
But, David Haye is going about things in a different way. Haye has already angered both Klitschkos. The talking seems to be a ploy designed to enrage them and throw them off their deliberate yet devastating game. In a recent interview, Freddie Roach said that the feud between Pacquiao and Mayweather wasn’t simply hype and that Pacquiao really does hate Mayweather. However, Roach quickly cautioned that he needed to steer Manny away from that because fighting angry would severely undermine his chances for success in that fight. Pacquiao being angry would be exactly what Mayweather would want as it would greatly increase the chances that Pacquiao would make mistakes in the ring.
David Haye would no doubt love for the Klitschkos to be angry and make those same mistakes. Haye is the smaller man. He needs the Klitschkos to take chances. He needs them to want to fight not simply box. Haye can’t afford for them to be too disciplined. For all his talent, Haye struggled at times to get going against Valuev and that doesn’t bode well when a Klitschko is throwing punches at you. But, if that discipline slips; if the opponent reaches just a little; leans in and fights a little less tall; opens himself up too early, perhaps the explosive talent of Haye can produce the seismic upset.
The Valero Effect
Much is made of the loss David Haye suffered to Carl Thompson. While it is true that Haye was in fact knocked out in the fight, the loss nevertheless occurred nearly six years ago. Haye is a different fighter now; a decidedly better fighter. Similarly, much is made of perceived defensive lapses by Haye, specifically a tendency to have his hands down even while in the punching range of his opponents. Admittedly, the lack of discipline can get him in some trouble. Haye has been down in two of his last five fights. However, fighters are certainly aware of who they are fighting in the ring on a given night.
A rudimentary search on youtube will yield several rounds against different opponents in the career of Edwin Valero. In the video, Valero is often wild on his punches, his hands are often down, he is regularly squared up to his opponent, and he is routinely off balance. In short, based on those rounds, Valero’s vaunted record to that point looked like a strong case of padding; a case of a talented, but thoroughly undisciplined fighter feasting on inferior opposition. Then, Valero took on Antonio Demarco. Demarco, another rising star, presented a more formidable challenge. Somewhat surprisingly, Valero fought extraordinarily well demonstrating an as yet unseen level of fundamental discipline as he systematically took apart a solid young fighter in Demarco. Valero undoubtedly knew of Demarco’s acumen in the ring and he had an innate understanding of what he could not afford to do in the ring that night. Valero had it in him all along. He just brought it out when he needed it. Despite Haye’s bluster, it seems inconceivable that he would not recognize the abilities of the Klitschkos. Haye will be sharp; he can’t afford not to be. Unfortunately for either brother, they will almost certainly be getting the best version of David Haye they could possibly meet.
Beyond the Wins and Losses
In the end, it really doesn’t matter what happens in a fight between one of the Klitschkos and Haye. The result is secondary because the significance of this fight lay not in the result so much as in the perception of the fans. People are going to wonder just how Haye might fare. They will wonder if the movement will be problematic. There will be a curiosity about how the brothers will deal with the speed and power. And, curiosity will abound about just how much damage Haye can do with his awkward, darting style.
Much has been made of the lack of talent in the heavyweight division. Last year, most of the writers on this site for instance couldn’t even nominate a heavyweight fight of the year. Are the Klitschko’s overrated because they fight in such a weak division? Or, is it that the Klitschko’s are underrated in an all time sense as they have the misfortune of dominating what is only apparently a weak division? Those are hard questions to answer definitively, but, beyond the questions of talent and the dearth of quality fights, what is missing most of all in the heavyweight division in recent years, is wonder.
Haye’s scintillating performance may not prove to be the opening salvo in an ascent that will eventually take him passed the Kltischko’s and to the top of the division, but it doesn’t necessarily have to. The most exciting thing about Haye’s performance is that any boxing fan has to be just a little bit curious. Chris Arreola, Eddie Chambers, Ruslan Chagaev, Kevin Johnson, Ray Austin, Tony Thompson, Sam Peter, and really every Klitschko opponent in the past several years, they all have had a similar feel. They have all been good, solid fighters who earned their chance and deserve our respect. But, none of them made us wonder. The reality is, one way or another they were simply not capable of beating the Klitschko’s and we all knew it. But, Haye is a little bit different. Maybe it’s the speed, or maybe it’s just the brash talking, but the energy he brings is different. There remains ample reason to think he may be in over his head when he steps in against either Wlad or Vitali. But, with the speed and the style and the ego, he does bring one more thing that none of the others could, excitement. One can’t help but wonder and it’s been awhile since we could say that.
Source: ringsidereport.com
When David Haye stopped John Ruiz on April 3rd in Manchester it was both expected and an upset. Most observers expected Haye to win the fight, but quite a few also figured that the experienced and cagey Ruiz would make it a most competitive fight. That Haye won was expected. That Haye dominated Ruiz and became the first man in over a decade to earn a stoppage against him? That can accurately be characterized as somewhat of an upset.
Naturally, with the spectacular nature of Haye’s win there will be the all too predictable suggestion that Ruiz was old and shot or perhaps simply overrated as a top fighter. Ruiz has never been blessed with fantastic gifts in the ring. He is not extraordinarily fast nor does he have tremendous power. Yet, Ruiz is an intelligent fighter, an excellent tactician, and he knows how to use those qualities in the ring. If there is a legacy to the career of John Ruiz it is that he was possessed of a special ability to be competitive in fights; a level of competitiveness that belied his natural gifts. For one of the rarest and most glaring times in a long and distinguished career, John Ruiz was overmatched in a fight and David Haye deserves all the credit in the world for that.
Yet, now the conversation will turn to David Haye and the brothers Klitschko. Haye has already made no bones about the fact that he can’t wait to get either (and eventually both) of them in the ring. And, for their part, the Klitschkos seem pretty keen on the idea as well. While it may be wrong to dismiss Haye’s win over Ruiz as merely what should have taken place, it would also be wrong to overlook the fact that either Klitschko is anything less than a giant step up for Haye. And speaking of giants…Images of Valuev
We certainly got a glimpse of how dangerous it can be to follow David Haye around in the ring. In fact, we got that glimpse about fifteen seconds into the fight when John Ruiz was caught flat footed by a lightning fast right hand from Haye and was promptly deposited on the canvas. It was a shocking display of just how talented Haye can be. From that point on, Haye demonstrated repeated flashes of brilliance as he methodically, yet inexorably dismantled Ruiz over nine one sided rounds. Ruiz gamely continued to take the fight to Haye and was not without some offensive success, but ultimately the speed mismatch was too much to overcome. However, one must wonder if the same active and utterly destructive Haye that decimated Ruiz would be the one that shows up for either Klitschko. The genesis of this question lay not in the conjecture of a potential matchup, but in the certitude of history. Haye often looked befuddled in his fight with former WBA Champion, Nikolay Valuev.
In the first six rounds of the Haye-Valuev fight, Haye threw only 84 punches. The fact of the matter is, Haye was clearly unsure of how to proceed against the taller and longer Valuev. Both Klitschko brothers are far more in line with Valuev than Ruiz in terms of a matchup of styles. It is undoubtedly true that Haye won against Valuev and even staggered him badly in the twelfth and final round. On the other hand, it is also true that both Klitschkos are better fighters than Valuev and present a much greater challenge both offensively and defensively as potential opponents for Haye.
So, David Haye will probably be considered a rightful underdog when he eventually squares off with Wlad or Vitali. The ring records and fighting styles will dictate that. However, this is still a hugely exciting and intriguing potential matchup. There is something in this potential bout that differs greatly from the previous fights involving either Kltischko. David Haye is not just good, he is live; he has something. He has speed, he has power, and he has a big mouth…
The Talking Game
The Klitschko’s are avid chess players; and it shows. They are both cerebral tacticians in and out of the ring. In the ring, both are remarkably disciplined as they patiently set up their opponent before often brutally taking them out sometime in the mid to later stages of a fight. Quite often, the end comes quite awhile after the competitive aspects of the fight have long since been decided. In other words, they don’t feel any urgency to finish a guy as soon as they sense their advantage. Why rush in and run into a checkmate? Or, in boxing parlance, run into a huge shot that can turn a fight. Recently, nobody has been able to avoid their inevitable doom in a match with the Klitschko’s as both of them seem to come out set up their shots and eventually destroy their often beleaguered opponent; the disciplined attack wreaking havoc on overmatched fighters.
But, David Haye is going about things in a different way. Haye has already angered both Klitschkos. The talking seems to be a ploy designed to enrage them and throw them off their deliberate yet devastating game. In a recent interview, Freddie Roach said that the feud between Pacquiao and Mayweather wasn’t simply hype and that Pacquiao really does hate Mayweather. However, Roach quickly cautioned that he needed to steer Manny away from that because fighting angry would severely undermine his chances for success in that fight. Pacquiao being angry would be exactly what Mayweather would want as it would greatly increase the chances that Pacquiao would make mistakes in the ring.
David Haye would no doubt love for the Klitschkos to be angry and make those same mistakes. Haye is the smaller man. He needs the Klitschkos to take chances. He needs them to want to fight not simply box. Haye can’t afford for them to be too disciplined. For all his talent, Haye struggled at times to get going against Valuev and that doesn’t bode well when a Klitschko is throwing punches at you. But, if that discipline slips; if the opponent reaches just a little; leans in and fights a little less tall; opens himself up too early, perhaps the explosive talent of Haye can produce the seismic upset.
The Valero Effect
Much is made of the loss David Haye suffered to Carl Thompson. While it is true that Haye was in fact knocked out in the fight, the loss nevertheless occurred nearly six years ago. Haye is a different fighter now; a decidedly better fighter. Similarly, much is made of perceived defensive lapses by Haye, specifically a tendency to have his hands down even while in the punching range of his opponents. Admittedly, the lack of discipline can get him in some trouble. Haye has been down in two of his last five fights. However, fighters are certainly aware of who they are fighting in the ring on a given night.
A rudimentary search on youtube will yield several rounds against different opponents in the career of Edwin Valero. In the video, Valero is often wild on his punches, his hands are often down, he is regularly squared up to his opponent, and he is routinely off balance. In short, based on those rounds, Valero’s vaunted record to that point looked like a strong case of padding; a case of a talented, but thoroughly undisciplined fighter feasting on inferior opposition. Then, Valero took on Antonio Demarco. Demarco, another rising star, presented a more formidable challenge. Somewhat surprisingly, Valero fought extraordinarily well demonstrating an as yet unseen level of fundamental discipline as he systematically took apart a solid young fighter in Demarco. Valero undoubtedly knew of Demarco’s acumen in the ring and he had an innate understanding of what he could not afford to do in the ring that night. Valero had it in him all along. He just brought it out when he needed it. Despite Haye’s bluster, it seems inconceivable that he would not recognize the abilities of the Klitschkos. Haye will be sharp; he can’t afford not to be. Unfortunately for either brother, they will almost certainly be getting the best version of David Haye they could possibly meet.
Beyond the Wins and Losses
In the end, it really doesn’t matter what happens in a fight between one of the Klitschkos and Haye. The result is secondary because the significance of this fight lay not in the result so much as in the perception of the fans. People are going to wonder just how Haye might fare. They will wonder if the movement will be problematic. There will be a curiosity about how the brothers will deal with the speed and power. And, curiosity will abound about just how much damage Haye can do with his awkward, darting style.
Much has been made of the lack of talent in the heavyweight division. Last year, most of the writers on this site for instance couldn’t even nominate a heavyweight fight of the year. Are the Klitschko’s overrated because they fight in such a weak division? Or, is it that the Klitschko’s are underrated in an all time sense as they have the misfortune of dominating what is only apparently a weak division? Those are hard questions to answer definitively, but, beyond the questions of talent and the dearth of quality fights, what is missing most of all in the heavyweight division in recent years, is wonder.
Haye’s scintillating performance may not prove to be the opening salvo in an ascent that will eventually take him passed the Kltischko’s and to the top of the division, but it doesn’t necessarily have to. The most exciting thing about Haye’s performance is that any boxing fan has to be just a little bit curious. Chris Arreola, Eddie Chambers, Ruslan Chagaev, Kevin Johnson, Ray Austin, Tony Thompson, Sam Peter, and really every Klitschko opponent in the past several years, they all have had a similar feel. They have all been good, solid fighters who earned their chance and deserve our respect. But, none of them made us wonder. The reality is, one way or another they were simply not capable of beating the Klitschko’s and we all knew it. But, Haye is a little bit different. Maybe it’s the speed, or maybe it’s just the brash talking, but the energy he brings is different. There remains ample reason to think he may be in over his head when he steps in against either Wlad or Vitali. But, with the speed and the style and the ego, he does bring one more thing that none of the others could, excitement. One can’t help but wonder and it’s been awhile since we could say that.
Source: ringsidereport.com
Rabu, 14 April 2010
Tomasz Adamek Mulls 'Tragedy' Against Chris Arreola -- FanHouse
By Lem Satterfield, FanHouse
A week prior to November's 12th-round, knockout of former three-time world champion, Miguel Cotto, WBO welterweight (147 pounds) king,Manny Pacquiao, delivered food as part of disaster relief in his native Manila, Philippines during a murderous typhoon.
Last Saturday, Haitian-American, WBC welterweight titlist, Andre Berto, of Winter Haven, Fla., scored an eighth-round knockout of southpaw former world champion, Carlos Quintana, of Puerto Rico.
Berto did so with a heavy heart in a clash that ended an 11-month ring absence during which eight of Berto's family members were killed in the mid-January earthquake that rocked Haiti, and during which Berto made several trips to provide everything from financial support to burying the dead.
On Saturday, April 24, at Citizens Business Bank Arena, Ontario, Calif., the nearly 6-foot-2, Polish-born former light heavyweight (175 pounds) and cruiser weight (200 pounds) champion, Tomasz Adamek, of Jersey City, will be facing similar adversity when he takes on 6-foot-4, heavyweight contender, Chris Arreola, who, weighed 263 pounds for his last fight and represents the largest man the 33-year-old Adamek has ever fought.
And Adamek (40-1, 27 knockouts) will be doing so while thinking about the 96 passengers and crew who died in Saturday's plane crash in Russia near Smolensk, including Polish President, Lech Kaczynski, and several political, military and religious leaders.
"Team Adamek is dedicating this fight to all of the people who died there and to their families. This was a tragedy which has never, ever happened in the history of the world. We basically lost the president, the First Lady. There's nobody there. It's a big void. How those people will be replaced, I have no idea. Just the outpouring of grief and sympathy," said Adamek, during a conference call that included Arreola on Wednesday.
"Today, just to see the coffin of the president, you have to stay in a line which is about five miles long. This is what is happening right now in Poland," said Adamek, who has won nine straight fights with six knockouts during the run. "This is a great tragedy on a personal and political level. Every Pole is feeling the grief, and every Pole is touched, because we don't know how we're going to rebuild it."
Adamek debuted in boxing's largest division with October's fifth-round knockout of former world heavyweight title contender, Andrew Golota (41-8-1, 33 KOs), whom Adamek dropped in the first, and, fifth rounds, despite being out-weighed, 214-to-256.
In his second heavyweight bout in February, Adamek earned a 12-round, unanimous decision over former U.S. Olympian, Jason Estrada, who out-weighted Adamek, 237-to-220.5.
But the 28-year-old Arreola (28-1, 25 knockouts) weighed a career-high, 263-pounds for his last bout, which was which was December's fourth-round knockout of Brian Minto (34-3, 21 KOs), who was stopped for the first time in his career by Arreola.
Nicknamed, "The Nightmare," Arreola's victory helped him to bounce back from September's 10th-round knockout loss to WBC king, Vitali Klitschko (39-2, 37 KOs) heading into the clash with Adamek, who is dedicating the fight to those who died in the airplane crash.
"I was invited to have breakfast with President Kaczynski [to happen in May,] who died in the accident, and it was supposed to happen just after the fight with Chris," said Adamek, whose match with Golota, a native of Warsaw, Poland, who lives in Chicago, took place in Atlas Arena in Lodz, Poland, before a large crowd there.
"I know that the president was as big fan of boxing. A bigger fan than he was of soccer. So this is the one person that I will never ever get to see. I have a very deep faith, and I am strong because of this faith," said Adamek. "I understood what happened, and I am grieving, but I can seperate my personal feelings and draw from my religious experiences and strength to not be distracted before this fight. I am very motivated."
Adamek has not lost a fight since February of 2007, when he was dethroned as WBC, light heavyweight champion via unanimous decision against Chad Dawson.
"The light heavyweight championship was a nightmare, no pun intended. Being that I had to lose 15-and-20 pounds every time, I was basically exhausted all of the time," said Adamek.
"So I couldn't wait to get out of the light heavyweight division and start doing something as a cruiser weight," said Adamek. "And I decided to fight the best at that weight from the beginning. I fought Steve Cunningham, who was the No. 1 boxer and I beat him in my first really tough cruiser weight fight."
Adamek won the IBF cruiser weight belt by split-decision over Steve Cunningham in December of 2008, and defending it twice before facing Golota.
"The Bible said that David won versus Goliath. So the size in the ring will not matter. It never mattered to me. I draw my inspiration from God. I won two titles in two different divisions. Nobody thought I could win those, and I want a third one," said Adamek.
"So in this case, the size of Chris Arreola, whether he's 6-8, 6-9, 6-5, it really makes no difference," said Adamek. "Because you're winning the fight, and this is what I strongly believe, with what's in your heart, and not the size of your body. This is a natural progression for me to be a heavyweight, and I've believed that from the beginning. I realize how tough Chris Arreola is, but the tougher it is, the better I am."
Arreola, however, believes that his size and experience will be too much for Adamek.
"Honestly, I don't think that Adamek's going to come and try to fight me the way that he's fought in the light heavyweight division and in the cruiser weight division. If he didn't come to fight against Estrada, then there's no way that he's going to come and try to fight me, because Estrada can't pop a grape," said Arreola.
"If he comes to fight me, then he's going to get knocked out. Personally, I'm hoping that he comes to fight, but you know I don't expect him to fight the way that he used to fight," said Arreola.
"Do I hope that it's going to be an exciting fight? Yes, on my part, I'm going to give my all to make it an exciting fight," said Arreola. "As far as quickness, I don't care about his quickness. People don't think that I'm quick, so there are some stuff that I might have to show people in this fight."
Arreola caused a stir by saying that he considered Adamek to be a "medicated heavyweight" until later clarifying that he did not mean that Adamek had used steroids to increase his strength and weight.
"I consider Adamek to be a cruiser weight who doesn't have to cut down. To me, he's a medicated heavyweight. As far as him being a full-blown heavyweight, I don't believe that he is. I believe that he's a blown up cruiser weight. After this, he's going to have to go back to cruiser weight. My job in this fight is to show him that he doesn't belong in the heavyweight division," said Arreola.
"Tomasz Adamek was saying that David versus Goliath type of crap, but I just don't care about that. I'm there to fight," said Arreola. "I'm not there to preach the Bible. I don't care. I'm there to fight, and I'm a fighter, and that's what I do. The main thing about this camp is that everything's moving along and everything is a lot easier than it used to be."
Arreola said that he believes that he will have to chase Adamek before cornering him and finishing him.
"Tomasz Adamek is a proven champion, and my respect goes out to him in that sense. But one thing is that I know that he's going to run away from me, and I know that I'm going to have to try to cut the ring off," said Arreola.
"And once I get him against the ropes, I'm going to have to bang away -- bang his arms, bang his body, and do whatever I have to do," said Arreola. "I just think that losing to Vitali Klitschko, that fight should have been mine. I feel like I have a lot to prove. But Tomasz is no Vitali Klitschko. Vitali was big and rangy and he knew how to run, but eventually, I'm going to catch up to him, and then, it's going to be over."
But Adamek said that he will out box Arreola.
"My strategy in a fight is to move around and not get hit," said Adamek. "But believe me, Chris Arreola will get hit."
Source: boxing.fanhouse.com
A week prior to November's 12th-round, knockout of former three-time world champion, Miguel Cotto, WBO welterweight (147 pounds) king,Manny Pacquiao, delivered food as part of disaster relief in his native Manila, Philippines during a murderous typhoon.
Last Saturday, Haitian-American, WBC welterweight titlist, Andre Berto, of Winter Haven, Fla., scored an eighth-round knockout of southpaw former world champion, Carlos Quintana, of Puerto Rico.
Berto did so with a heavy heart in a clash that ended an 11-month ring absence during which eight of Berto's family members were killed in the mid-January earthquake that rocked Haiti, and during which Berto made several trips to provide everything from financial support to burying the dead.
On Saturday, April 24, at Citizens Business Bank Arena, Ontario, Calif., the nearly 6-foot-2, Polish-born former light heavyweight (175 pounds) and cruiser weight (200 pounds) champion, Tomasz Adamek, of Jersey City, will be facing similar adversity when he takes on 6-foot-4, heavyweight contender, Chris Arreola, who, weighed 263 pounds for his last fight and represents the largest man the 33-year-old Adamek has ever fought.
And Adamek (40-1, 27 knockouts) will be doing so while thinking about the 96 passengers and crew who died in Saturday's plane crash in Russia near Smolensk, including Polish President, Lech Kaczynski, and several political, military and religious leaders.
"Team Adamek is dedicating this fight to all of the people who died there and to their families. This was a tragedy which has never, ever happened in the history of the world. We basically lost the president, the First Lady. There's nobody there. It's a big void. How those people will be replaced, I have no idea. Just the outpouring of grief and sympathy," said Adamek, during a conference call that included Arreola on Wednesday.
"Today, just to see the coffin of the president, you have to stay in a line which is about five miles long. This is what is happening right now in Poland," said Adamek, who has won nine straight fights with six knockouts during the run. "This is a great tragedy on a personal and political level. Every Pole is feeling the grief, and every Pole is touched, because we don't know how we're going to rebuild it."
Adamek debuted in boxing's largest division with October's fifth-round knockout of former world heavyweight title contender, Andrew Golota (41-8-1, 33 KOs), whom Adamek dropped in the first, and, fifth rounds, despite being out-weighed, 214-to-256.
In his second heavyweight bout in February, Adamek earned a 12-round, unanimous decision over former U.S. Olympian, Jason Estrada, who out-weighted Adamek, 237-to-220.5.
But the 28-year-old Arreola (28-1, 25 knockouts) weighed a career-high, 263-pounds for his last bout, which was which was December's fourth-round knockout of Brian Minto (34-3, 21 KOs), who was stopped for the first time in his career by Arreola.
Nicknamed, "The Nightmare," Arreola's victory helped him to bounce back from September's 10th-round knockout loss to WBC king, Vitali Klitschko (39-2, 37 KOs) heading into the clash with Adamek, who is dedicating the fight to those who died in the airplane crash.
"I was invited to have breakfast with President Kaczynski [to happen in May,] who died in the accident, and it was supposed to happen just after the fight with Chris," said Adamek, whose match with Golota, a native of Warsaw, Poland, who lives in Chicago, took place in Atlas Arena in Lodz, Poland, before a large crowd there.
"I know that the president was as big fan of boxing. A bigger fan than he was of soccer. So this is the one person that I will never ever get to see. I have a very deep faith, and I am strong because of this faith," said Adamek. "I understood what happened, and I am grieving, but I can seperate my personal feelings and draw from my religious experiences and strength to not be distracted before this fight. I am very motivated."
Adamek has not lost a fight since February of 2007, when he was dethroned as WBC, light heavyweight champion via unanimous decision against Chad Dawson.
"The light heavyweight championship was a nightmare, no pun intended. Being that I had to lose 15-and-20 pounds every time, I was basically exhausted all of the time," said Adamek.
"So I couldn't wait to get out of the light heavyweight division and start doing something as a cruiser weight," said Adamek. "And I decided to fight the best at that weight from the beginning. I fought Steve Cunningham, who was the No. 1 boxer and I beat him in my first really tough cruiser weight fight."
Adamek won the IBF cruiser weight belt by split-decision over Steve Cunningham in December of 2008, and defending it twice before facing Golota.
"The Bible said that David won versus Goliath. So the size in the ring will not matter. It never mattered to me. I draw my inspiration from God. I won two titles in two different divisions. Nobody thought I could win those, and I want a third one," said Adamek.
"So in this case, the size of Chris Arreola, whether he's 6-8, 6-9, 6-5, it really makes no difference," said Adamek. "Because you're winning the fight, and this is what I strongly believe, with what's in your heart, and not the size of your body. This is a natural progression for me to be a heavyweight, and I've believed that from the beginning. I realize how tough Chris Arreola is, but the tougher it is, the better I am."
Arreola, however, believes that his size and experience will be too much for Adamek.
"Honestly, I don't think that Adamek's going to come and try to fight me the way that he's fought in the light heavyweight division and in the cruiser weight division. If he didn't come to fight against Estrada, then there's no way that he's going to come and try to fight me, because Estrada can't pop a grape," said Arreola.
"If he comes to fight me, then he's going to get knocked out. Personally, I'm hoping that he comes to fight, but you know I don't expect him to fight the way that he used to fight," said Arreola.
"Do I hope that it's going to be an exciting fight? Yes, on my part, I'm going to give my all to make it an exciting fight," said Arreola. "As far as quickness, I don't care about his quickness. People don't think that I'm quick, so there are some stuff that I might have to show people in this fight."
Arreola caused a stir by saying that he considered Adamek to be a "medicated heavyweight" until later clarifying that he did not mean that Adamek had used steroids to increase his strength and weight.
"I consider Adamek to be a cruiser weight who doesn't have to cut down. To me, he's a medicated heavyweight. As far as him being a full-blown heavyweight, I don't believe that he is. I believe that he's a blown up cruiser weight. After this, he's going to have to go back to cruiser weight. My job in this fight is to show him that he doesn't belong in the heavyweight division," said Arreola.
"Tomasz Adamek was saying that David versus Goliath type of crap, but I just don't care about that. I'm there to fight," said Arreola. "I'm not there to preach the Bible. I don't care. I'm there to fight, and I'm a fighter, and that's what I do. The main thing about this camp is that everything's moving along and everything is a lot easier than it used to be."
Arreola said that he believes that he will have to chase Adamek before cornering him and finishing him.
"Tomasz Adamek is a proven champion, and my respect goes out to him in that sense. But one thing is that I know that he's going to run away from me, and I know that I'm going to have to try to cut the ring off," said Arreola.
"And once I get him against the ropes, I'm going to have to bang away -- bang his arms, bang his body, and do whatever I have to do," said Arreola. "I just think that losing to Vitali Klitschko, that fight should have been mine. I feel like I have a lot to prove. But Tomasz is no Vitali Klitschko. Vitali was big and rangy and he knew how to run, but eventually, I'm going to catch up to him, and then, it's going to be over."
But Adamek said that he will out box Arreola.
"My strategy in a fight is to move around and not get hit," said Adamek. "But believe me, Chris Arreola will get hit."
Source: boxing.fanhouse.com
'I'm old school, Haye would be a simple fight,' says Holyfield -- The Independent
Independent.co.uk
It was the most disturbing and remarkable win in a career that has never been short of "did that just happen?" moments. On Saturday night, at the Thomas & Mack Centre in Las Vegas, Evander Holyfield recorded his 43rd win as a professional boxer to claim the WBF heavyweight title. And so the man who famously fought with Mike Tyson twice (his opponent taking a bite out of his ear in the second bout), and Lennox Lewis another two times, became a world champion at 47 years of age.
Holyfield refuses to throw in the towel and take up a position behind a microphone. It was a simple victory, over fellow veteran South Africa's Frans Botha, himself 41, fighting on "the retirement circuit". But there is no safe retreat in the brutal business of boxing for old men – no veterans' "friendlies". Instead, the latest turn in the story of Holyfield, who first won the world heavyweight title in 1990, has confirmed his place at the top of a tragic and often tainted heap of recent American heavyweights.
"I'm back, back in the heavyweight business and ready to fight any of the champions," said Holyfield, whose visits to hospital in victory and defeat have become legend. "I look at the champions and I know ways to beat them. I'm from the old school and they are not. David Haye would be a simple fight for me." It is possible, incredibly, that the two may yet fight.
Holyfield is the only active boxer to have fought the old 15-round distance, which he had to do in his first world title fight back in 1986. For the record he was just 23 and having his 12th fight when he won a split a decision over Dwight Muhammad Qawi for the World Boxing Association cruiserweight title. It was a brutal fight and both boxers ended up in hospital needing time to recover from the savagery.
At present it is possible to argue with some force that there are just three Americans in the top 20 heavyweights and the trio are not much to write home about. There is Tony "Tiger" Thompson, Chris Arreola and "Fast" Eddie Chambers and they have all been knocked out by one of the Klitschko brothers, Wladimir and Vitali. Thompson lost every round against Vitali before jumping on the floor in the 11th round in 2008, Chambers never threw a punch at Wladimir and collapsed in the 12th a few months ago, and Arreola survived 10 against Vitali but never won a round last year.
Yet the truth is that Holyfield is more marketable at his age because there is no talent coming through in America. But even now, in the American media following the fight at the weekend, there are growing calls for him to stop. "Holyfield once was a true warrior and champion," said Colin Linneweber of the website Bleacher Report. "Now, 'The Real Deal' is everything that is wrong with boxing and he is making a mockery out of his legacy." The Las Vegas Review-Journal called Saturday's fight "a geriatric wrestling match".
Holyfield has never really been far from the top during the last 20 years and in late 2008 he travelled to Switzerland to fight Nikolai Valuev for the WBA heavyweight title. He came close, dropping a majority decision; less than 12 months later Haye beat Valuev by split decision to win the title. Holyfield, in many ways, showed Haye how to beat the Russian giant. The Briton admitted as much after his safety-first victory.
Holyfield has been involved in a world heavyweight fight in 14 of the last 20 years and some of his 19 title fights are recognised as the best of all generations of heavyweights. His trio with Riddick Bowe in the early 1990s, which included the night in Las Vegas when the "Fan Man" parachuted into the ring and was knocked unconscious by Bowe's henchmen, is the best triple in history. The final Bowe fight was particularly brutal, with both on the floor before Bowe won in round five. A few years later Bowe was made to retire because of brain damage he was meant to have suffered. After the Bowe hat-trick Holyfield was winning and losing world titles in epic scraps with Tyson and Lewis when Bowe had long since retired.
"I knew that I could beat Tyson," Holyfield said again and again. "Lennox was much harder." Holyfield and Tyson had come close to blows during an amateur training camp before the 1984 Olympics when it is claimed that Holyfield got in Tyson's face and forced the bully to back down. In the ring 12 years later Holyfield did the same thing and broke Tyson's heart in the first fight. In the rematch, known forever now as "The Bite of the Century", Holyfield took more than Tyson's heart, he took his dignity and forced him to foul his way to permanent ignominy. Holyfield was back in hospital, $30m (£19.5m) richer and part of his severed ear was stuffed in ice. I saw the pair embrace a few years ago and remember catching Tyson eyeing the gap in Holyfield's ear. Tyson insists that Holyfield was the best man he ever fought. Holyfield, a sometime Christian preacher, refuses to accuse.
The two Lewis fights were simple toe-to-toe encounters and both results divided the fans. The first was a draw in Madison Square Garden and when we sat for the return eight months later in Las Vegas I was reminded of just how big a world heavyweight championship fight could and should be. America was watching, Vegas stopped and the two walked to the centre of the ring. It was 1999 and the old magic was back; it was a fight for the history boys and it was also the last really great heavyweight title fight to take place involving an American in America.
Holyfield is still flying that damaged American flag and there is nobody on the American boxing horizon to take it from his clenched fists.
Too many champions: Heavyweight headache
Wladimir Klitschko The world No 1 is WBO, IBF, IBO and The Ring magazine champion.
David Haye The British WBA champion has covincingly won all four of his heavyweight bouts.
Vitali Klitschko The 6ft 7in Ukrainian has held the WBC belt since 2004.
Evander Holyfield At the age of 47 the "Real Deal" became the oldest boxer to win a heavyweight title in history on Saturday when he won the lightly-regarded WBF belt.
Sheldon Hinton The Canadian, holder of the minor WBB strap is currently ranked 204th in the world.
Hector Ferreyro Won the IBC title in March, beating Arron Lyons.
It was the most disturbing and remarkable win in a career that has never been short of "did that just happen?" moments. On Saturday night, at the Thomas & Mack Centre in Las Vegas, Evander Holyfield recorded his 43rd win as a professional boxer to claim the WBF heavyweight title. And so the man who famously fought with Mike Tyson twice (his opponent taking a bite out of his ear in the second bout), and Lennox Lewis another two times, became a world champion at 47 years of age.
Holyfield refuses to throw in the towel and take up a position behind a microphone. It was a simple victory, over fellow veteran South Africa's Frans Botha, himself 41, fighting on "the retirement circuit". But there is no safe retreat in the brutal business of boxing for old men – no veterans' "friendlies". Instead, the latest turn in the story of Holyfield, who first won the world heavyweight title in 1990, has confirmed his place at the top of a tragic and often tainted heap of recent American heavyweights.
"I'm back, back in the heavyweight business and ready to fight any of the champions," said Holyfield, whose visits to hospital in victory and defeat have become legend. "I look at the champions and I know ways to beat them. I'm from the old school and they are not. David Haye would be a simple fight for me." It is possible, incredibly, that the two may yet fight.
Holyfield is the only active boxer to have fought the old 15-round distance, which he had to do in his first world title fight back in 1986. For the record he was just 23 and having his 12th fight when he won a split a decision over Dwight Muhammad Qawi for the World Boxing Association cruiserweight title. It was a brutal fight and both boxers ended up in hospital needing time to recover from the savagery.
At present it is possible to argue with some force that there are just three Americans in the top 20 heavyweights and the trio are not much to write home about. There is Tony "Tiger" Thompson, Chris Arreola and "Fast" Eddie Chambers and they have all been knocked out by one of the Klitschko brothers, Wladimir and Vitali. Thompson lost every round against Vitali before jumping on the floor in the 11th round in 2008, Chambers never threw a punch at Wladimir and collapsed in the 12th a few months ago, and Arreola survived 10 against Vitali but never won a round last year.
Yet the truth is that Holyfield is more marketable at his age because there is no talent coming through in America. But even now, in the American media following the fight at the weekend, there are growing calls for him to stop. "Holyfield once was a true warrior and champion," said Colin Linneweber of the website Bleacher Report. "Now, 'The Real Deal' is everything that is wrong with boxing and he is making a mockery out of his legacy." The Las Vegas Review-Journal called Saturday's fight "a geriatric wrestling match".
Holyfield has never really been far from the top during the last 20 years and in late 2008 he travelled to Switzerland to fight Nikolai Valuev for the WBA heavyweight title. He came close, dropping a majority decision; less than 12 months later Haye beat Valuev by split decision to win the title. Holyfield, in many ways, showed Haye how to beat the Russian giant. The Briton admitted as much after his safety-first victory.
Holyfield has been involved in a world heavyweight fight in 14 of the last 20 years and some of his 19 title fights are recognised as the best of all generations of heavyweights. His trio with Riddick Bowe in the early 1990s, which included the night in Las Vegas when the "Fan Man" parachuted into the ring and was knocked unconscious by Bowe's henchmen, is the best triple in history. The final Bowe fight was particularly brutal, with both on the floor before Bowe won in round five. A few years later Bowe was made to retire because of brain damage he was meant to have suffered. After the Bowe hat-trick Holyfield was winning and losing world titles in epic scraps with Tyson and Lewis when Bowe had long since retired.
"I knew that I could beat Tyson," Holyfield said again and again. "Lennox was much harder." Holyfield and Tyson had come close to blows during an amateur training camp before the 1984 Olympics when it is claimed that Holyfield got in Tyson's face and forced the bully to back down. In the ring 12 years later Holyfield did the same thing and broke Tyson's heart in the first fight. In the rematch, known forever now as "The Bite of the Century", Holyfield took more than Tyson's heart, he took his dignity and forced him to foul his way to permanent ignominy. Holyfield was back in hospital, $30m (£19.5m) richer and part of his severed ear was stuffed in ice. I saw the pair embrace a few years ago and remember catching Tyson eyeing the gap in Holyfield's ear. Tyson insists that Holyfield was the best man he ever fought. Holyfield, a sometime Christian preacher, refuses to accuse.
The two Lewis fights were simple toe-to-toe encounters and both results divided the fans. The first was a draw in Madison Square Garden and when we sat for the return eight months later in Las Vegas I was reminded of just how big a world heavyweight championship fight could and should be. America was watching, Vegas stopped and the two walked to the centre of the ring. It was 1999 and the old magic was back; it was a fight for the history boys and it was also the last really great heavyweight title fight to take place involving an American in America.
Holyfield is still flying that damaged American flag and there is nobody on the American boxing horizon to take it from his clenched fists.
Too many champions: Heavyweight headache
Wladimir Klitschko The world No 1 is WBO, IBF, IBO and The Ring magazine champion.
David Haye The British WBA champion has covincingly won all four of his heavyweight bouts.
Vitali Klitschko The 6ft 7in Ukrainian has held the WBC belt since 2004.
Evander Holyfield At the age of 47 the "Real Deal" became the oldest boxer to win a heavyweight title in history on Saturday when he won the lightly-regarded WBF belt.
Sheldon Hinton The Canadian, holder of the minor WBB strap is currently ranked 204th in the world.
Hector Ferreyro Won the IBC title in March, beating Arron Lyons.
Selasa, 13 April 2010
Wladimir Klitschko takes off gloves talking about Haye -- Los Angeles Times
By Lance Pugmire, Los Angeles Times
We're used to the dignified, articulate Wladimir Klitschko, not the version of the world heavyweight champion who emerged Tuesday, talking about WBA heavyweight champ David Haye over lunch at a Los Angeles cafe.
"He's been nasty," Klitschko said of Haye, who has twice previously retreated from fighting both Wladimir and his brother Vitali, who also owns a heavyweight belt. "He's saying we should go fight in our mother's backyard, and that he'll fight the winner."
Klitschko proceeded to label Haye some words unfit for print, adding, "I have nothing good to say about the guy. I've told Vitali, 'Bro, this is my fight.' I don't like anything about this guy."
"To get respect, [Haye] owes it to the sport to get this fight made now," Wladimir said.
Klitschko, coming off another one-sided victory over a heavyweight, this time Eddie Chambers, who thought he could solve the 6-foot-6 Ukrainian, said he's cleared September for a bout, and that negotiations with Haye's people began Tuesday.
Haye, coming off an impressive dismantling of former champ John Ruiz, is a brash, charismatic Brit who would help liven up a division that has gone dormant during the string of Klitschko dominance.
Klitschko said he's willing to fight Haye anywhere -- Wembley Stadium or somewhere in Haye's mother country would be compelling -- and expressed willingness to embrace what he called his own "signature fight."
"I care about the sport, the fan base, the heavyweight division," Klitschko said. "To be heavyweight champion used to be the most impoortant title in the world. I don't care where we fight. I just want David Haye in front of my face. No obligations can stop him from making this fight."
Money always interferes, but Klitschko assures "there's plenty for both of us ... there's a time to talk, and a time to deliver. He's called me out. I'm holding him responsible for his actions."
Klitschko, chatting over a lunch of a chicken salad and cranberry juice, said he opted to become more vocal because"people start to believe the things this person is saying. I decided I need to get over my conservative style of handling things and bring out my real opinions. I had enough. We don't need promoters. I'm managing myself. I want this fight."
Source: latimesblogs.latimes.com
We're used to the dignified, articulate Wladimir Klitschko, not the version of the world heavyweight champion who emerged Tuesday, talking about WBA heavyweight champ David Haye over lunch at a Los Angeles cafe.
"He's been nasty," Klitschko said of Haye, who has twice previously retreated from fighting both Wladimir and his brother Vitali, who also owns a heavyweight belt. "He's saying we should go fight in our mother's backyard, and that he'll fight the winner."
Klitschko proceeded to label Haye some words unfit for print, adding, "I have nothing good to say about the guy. I've told Vitali, 'Bro, this is my fight.' I don't like anything about this guy."
"To get respect, [Haye] owes it to the sport to get this fight made now," Wladimir said.
Klitschko, coming off another one-sided victory over a heavyweight, this time Eddie Chambers, who thought he could solve the 6-foot-6 Ukrainian, said he's cleared September for a bout, and that negotiations with Haye's people began Tuesday.
Haye, coming off an impressive dismantling of former champ John Ruiz, is a brash, charismatic Brit who would help liven up a division that has gone dormant during the string of Klitschko dominance.
Klitschko said he's willing to fight Haye anywhere -- Wembley Stadium or somewhere in Haye's mother country would be compelling -- and expressed willingness to embrace what he called his own "signature fight."
"I care about the sport, the fan base, the heavyweight division," Klitschko said. "To be heavyweight champion used to be the most impoortant title in the world. I don't care where we fight. I just want David Haye in front of my face. No obligations can stop him from making this fight."
Money always interferes, but Klitschko assures "there's plenty for both of us ... there's a time to talk, and a time to deliver. He's called me out. I'm holding him responsible for his actions."
Klitschko, chatting over a lunch of a chicken salad and cranberry juice, said he opted to become more vocal because"people start to believe the things this person is saying. I decided I need to get over my conservative style of handling things and bring out my real opinions. I had enough. We don't need promoters. I'm managing myself. I want this fight."
Source: latimesblogs.latimes.com
Odlanier Solis-Nikolay Valuev Talks Begin -- FanHouse
By Lem Satterfield, FanHouse
The promoters of Cuban-born, former Olympic gold medalist, Odlanier Solis (pictured at left, throwing punch), and former WBA heavyweight champion, Nikolay Valuev, of Russia, are in talks to set up an eliminator bout that has been ordered by the WBC.
The winner would be the mandatory challenger for WBC champion, Vitali Klitschko (39-2, 37 knockouts), of the Ukraine.
"This is a great honor for Odlanier and [Arena Promotions]. To become the [WBC's] no. 1 contender with only 16 pro fights means something," said Ahmet Öner, Solis' promoter with Arena Promotions. "Odlanier has been an amateur standout and also proved his extraordinary qualities since turning pro in 2007."
Long range goals for Solis are either Vitali Klitschko or his brother, Wladimir, who owns the WBO, IBF and IBO crowns.
"I am convinced that he is the only serious threat to the Klitschko brothers today," said Ohner, "and I hope that he will get the chance to prove me right very soon."
The 29-year-old Solis is coming off of last month's third-round knockout over Costa Rica's 35-year-old Carl Davis Drummond (26-3, 20 KOs), earning his 12th knockout, and, his sixth consecutive stoppage to improve to 16-0.
A two-time titlist, the 36-year-old Valuev (50-2, 34 knockouts) is coming off of November's 12-round, unanimous decision loss to England's David Haye (24-1, 22 KOs), who dethroned him as champion.
Ohner and Top Rank's CEO, Bob Arum, who handle Solis, and Don King and Sauerland Promotions, who deal with Valuev, have until April 30 to make the fight and avoid a purse bid.
"I talked to King. King called me about that fight with Solis and Valuev, and I told him that we're ready to make the deal," said Arum. "And he has a partner, Sauerland Promotions, and, hopefully, we'll be able to get something done this week if Valuev is going to go ahead go into this eliminator."
The eliminator is desired by Solis' manager, Tony Gonzalez.
"A box-offf between Solis and Valuev, that's probably the route we'll wind up taking. That's really Ahmet and Bob's job to do," said Gonzalez. "They've got to pretty much square away whatever deal they can put together, and then, if not, then it goes to purse bids. At that point, we know the routine. So, whoever wins the purse bid is the one who takes the fight."
Valuev-Solis would be a match up of two, massive fighters, with Valuev having been the largest heavyweight champion in the sport's history.
The seven-foot Valuev weighed 316 pounds for his last bout, with the nearly 6-foot-2 Solis tipping the scales at 269.
"I am sure that this fight will be an epic battle. The whole world will watch when those two tanks collide in the ring," said Oner. "Solis is bringing the excitement back to the heavyweight division. He will end the Klitschko's reign and on the way there, hopefully, become the first man to knock out the Russian giant."
Whether the fight would take place in America or Germany remains to be seen.
"The Klitschkos have a lot of name both in Europe and over here," said Gonzalez, "But if the American television, HBO, or Showtime hasn't shown too much interest in the Klitschkos, why would they show more interest in a Valuev-Solis fight than the would a Wladimir Klitschko-Eddie Chambers?"
Gonzalez was referring to the fact that Klitschko's recent 12th-round stoppage of Chambers was not televised in America, even as it was a big hit in Europe, and, particularly, the sold out, ESPRIT Arena, in Düsseldorf, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany where the fight took place.
Valuev and Solis have some loyalty in Germany as well, the latter, having fought many of his early bouts there.
"Valuev and Solis have built followings in Germany," said Gonzalez. "So all logic and reasoning lean toward the fight being in Germany, but crazier things have happened in our sport."
Source: boxing.fanhouse.com
The promoters of Cuban-born, former Olympic gold medalist, Odlanier Solis (pictured at left, throwing punch), and former WBA heavyweight champion, Nikolay Valuev, of Russia, are in talks to set up an eliminator bout that has been ordered by the WBC.
The winner would be the mandatory challenger for WBC champion, Vitali Klitschko (39-2, 37 knockouts), of the Ukraine.
"This is a great honor for Odlanier and [Arena Promotions]. To become the [WBC's] no. 1 contender with only 16 pro fights means something," said Ahmet Öner, Solis' promoter with Arena Promotions. "Odlanier has been an amateur standout and also proved his extraordinary qualities since turning pro in 2007."
Long range goals for Solis are either Vitali Klitschko or his brother, Wladimir, who owns the WBO, IBF and IBO crowns.
"I am convinced that he is the only serious threat to the Klitschko brothers today," said Ohner, "and I hope that he will get the chance to prove me right very soon."
The 29-year-old Solis is coming off of last month's third-round knockout over Costa Rica's 35-year-old Carl Davis Drummond (26-3, 20 KOs), earning his 12th knockout, and, his sixth consecutive stoppage to improve to 16-0.
A two-time titlist, the 36-year-old Valuev (50-2, 34 knockouts) is coming off of November's 12-round, unanimous decision loss to England's David Haye (24-1, 22 KOs), who dethroned him as champion.
Ohner and Top Rank's CEO, Bob Arum, who handle Solis, and Don King and Sauerland Promotions, who deal with Valuev, have until April 30 to make the fight and avoid a purse bid.
"I talked to King. King called me about that fight with Solis and Valuev, and I told him that we're ready to make the deal," said Arum. "And he has a partner, Sauerland Promotions, and, hopefully, we'll be able to get something done this week if Valuev is going to go ahead go into this eliminator."
The eliminator is desired by Solis' manager, Tony Gonzalez.
"A box-offf between Solis and Valuev, that's probably the route we'll wind up taking. That's really Ahmet and Bob's job to do," said Gonzalez. "They've got to pretty much square away whatever deal they can put together, and then, if not, then it goes to purse bids. At that point, we know the routine. So, whoever wins the purse bid is the one who takes the fight."
Valuev-Solis would be a match up of two, massive fighters, with Valuev having been the largest heavyweight champion in the sport's history.
The seven-foot Valuev weighed 316 pounds for his last bout, with the nearly 6-foot-2 Solis tipping the scales at 269.
"I am sure that this fight will be an epic battle. The whole world will watch when those two tanks collide in the ring," said Oner. "Solis is bringing the excitement back to the heavyweight division. He will end the Klitschko's reign and on the way there, hopefully, become the first man to knock out the Russian giant."
Whether the fight would take place in America or Germany remains to be seen.
"The Klitschkos have a lot of name both in Europe and over here," said Gonzalez, "But if the American television, HBO, or Showtime hasn't shown too much interest in the Klitschkos, why would they show more interest in a Valuev-Solis fight than the would a Wladimir Klitschko-Eddie Chambers?"
Gonzalez was referring to the fact that Klitschko's recent 12th-round stoppage of Chambers was not televised in America, even as it was a big hit in Europe, and, particularly, the sold out, ESPRIT Arena, in Düsseldorf, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany where the fight took place.
Valuev and Solis have some loyalty in Germany as well, the latter, having fought many of his early bouts there.
"Valuev and Solis have built followings in Germany," said Gonzalez. "So all logic and reasoning lean toward the fight being in Germany, but crazier things have happened in our sport."
Source: boxing.fanhouse.com
Senin, 12 April 2010
YOU'RE A BOTTLER -- Mirror
By Nick Parkinson, Mirror.co.uk
BOXING CHALLENGE
Wladimir Klitschko has accused David Haye of running scared and told him to get it on in the ring.
Haye, 29, had to pull out of fighting Wladimir last June at short notice due to a back injury and then opted to fight Russian Nikolai Valuev in November instead of Wladimir's brother and WBC champion, Vitali.
Both Klitschkos are furious at Haye for his trash talk and wearing a T-shirt to a press conference showing him holding their decapitated heads.
Now Wladimir has invited Haye's camp to open talks about the clash to take place either in Germany or England and which would be the biggest world heavyweight title fight since Londonborn Lennox Lewis stopped Vitali on cuts in 2003.
He said: "I want to send this message to boxing fans and directly to David Haye.
"David, you've bitched out on fighting both Klitschko brothers twice already and now's the time to make it happen. On behalf of boxing fans around the world, I'm officially calling you out to fight me. You can't run away from me forever if you want to be respected. I'm ready. What're you waiting for?"
Wbo-IBF heavyweight champion Klitschko, 34, is due to make the next defence of his world titles against Russian Alexander Povetkin in September, but a deal has not yet been finalised. So Klitschko has switched his sights to WBA king Haye who is considering his next move after impressively stopping American John Ruiz earlier this month.
Haye is the most marketable fighter in the heavyweight division alongside the charismatic brothers, who have been treading water against poor opposition.
While Vitali faces London-based Pole Albert Sosnowski next month, Wladimir knocked out Eddie Chambers in March in the 12th round of a sterile contest.
Former European light-middleweight champion Jamie Moore has announced his retirement. The 31-year-old Salford favourite, who was on the verge of a WBC title shot last year, has called it quits on medical advice following two damaging defeats.
He lost his European crown to Sheffield's Ryan Rhodes last year before moving up to middleweight, only to lose his comeback bout against Sergey Khomitski on the David Haye undercard earlier this month.
He said: "It's time to move on in life and pack away my gloves and gumshield for good."
Source: mirror.co.uk
BOXING CHALLENGE
Wladimir Klitschko has accused David Haye of running scared and told him to get it on in the ring.
Haye, 29, had to pull out of fighting Wladimir last June at short notice due to a back injury and then opted to fight Russian Nikolai Valuev in November instead of Wladimir's brother and WBC champion, Vitali.
Both Klitschkos are furious at Haye for his trash talk and wearing a T-shirt to a press conference showing him holding their decapitated heads.
Now Wladimir has invited Haye's camp to open talks about the clash to take place either in Germany or England and which would be the biggest world heavyweight title fight since Londonborn Lennox Lewis stopped Vitali on cuts in 2003.
He said: "I want to send this message to boxing fans and directly to David Haye.
"David, you've bitched out on fighting both Klitschko brothers twice already and now's the time to make it happen. On behalf of boxing fans around the world, I'm officially calling you out to fight me. You can't run away from me forever if you want to be respected. I'm ready. What're you waiting for?"
Wbo-IBF heavyweight champion Klitschko, 34, is due to make the next defence of his world titles against Russian Alexander Povetkin in September, but a deal has not yet been finalised. So Klitschko has switched his sights to WBA king Haye who is considering his next move after impressively stopping American John Ruiz earlier this month.
Haye is the most marketable fighter in the heavyweight division alongside the charismatic brothers, who have been treading water against poor opposition.
While Vitali faces London-based Pole Albert Sosnowski next month, Wladimir knocked out Eddie Chambers in March in the 12th round of a sterile contest.
Former European light-middleweight champion Jamie Moore has announced his retirement. The 31-year-old Salford favourite, who was on the verge of a WBC title shot last year, has called it quits on medical advice following two damaging defeats.
He lost his European crown to Sheffield's Ryan Rhodes last year before moving up to middleweight, only to lose his comeback bout against Sergey Khomitski on the David Haye undercard earlier this month.
He said: "It's time to move on in life and pack away my gloves and gumshield for good."
Source: mirror.co.uk
Wladimir Klitschko On David Haye: 'I Can't Stand This Guy' -- FanHouse
By Lem Satterfield, FanHouse
Ukrainian-born WBO, IBF and IBO heavyweight champion, Wladimir Klitschko , is perturbed. And the source of his ire is England's WBA titlist, David Haye.
Wladimir Klitschko, whose 38-year-old brother, Vitali Klitschko (39-2, 37 KOs), is the WBC's champion, wants very badly to fight Haye, which would give the siblings sole supremacy of all of the heavyweight belts.
Haye angered the Klitschkos last June, when he showed up at a press conference in Germany wearing a T-shirt depicting a cartoon of himself standing in a ring while holding, aloft, their decapitated heads with their lifeless bodies at his feet.
Wladimir Klitschko, who called Haye's behavior, "Impudent," and, "Unspeakable," at the time, released this video on Monday calling out Haye.
A winner of 12 straight fights, nine of them by knockout, Wladimir Klitschko had much more to say about Haye (24-1, 22 KOs) in this Q&A.
FanHouse: Why did you choose to make this video calling out David Haye?
Wladimir Klitschko: Because this is the only fight that I want. You can read an article, but I wanted to make it personally, so that the boxing fans could actually see that I want to make this fight. We can make this fight. We've been chasing David Haye around and calling him out. But he has been bitching out on a fight against us.
But now, he can make the fight. I can make the fight. There are rules within the IBF that allows me, as the champion, if I'm going to fight a championship unification, to move the mandatory aside. I have time, and I want to show the world and the boxing fans. It's enough. Now, David Haye can make the fight as well. He knows about it, and we need to make the fight.
I will not be risking losing any title. I just made my mandatory defense of the WBO title against Eddie Chambers. The next mandatory defense is supposed to be against Alexander Povetkin, and I will do it if David Haye decides not to fight me. But I know that the IBF or any other organization will move to take the fight with David Haye if there is going to be a unification fight.
David Haye is the only title that the Klitschko brothers do not have. We have the IBF, we have the IBO, we have the WBO, we have the WBC, and The Ring Magazine championship. But we don't have the WBA. That's the only title we don't have. That's why want the unification.
I doubt that since I've been champion for such a long time that any of the organizations would stop me from making a championship unification against a David Haye.
FH: Has any other fighter every angered you as much as David Haye has?
Klitschko: Never, never, ever. I can't stand this guy. The way that he presents himself in the public, and the way that he presented my brother and myself with our heads cut off. The way that he represents the sport, I don't really like it for the public.
When he's presenting himself with our heads cut off, I can't take it, I can't stand it and I want to fight this guy. It's personal. I think that David Haye deserves to get his punishment from a real champion, and that's why I'm really pushing for it right now.
FH: Has K-2 Promotions made any attempts to contact Sauerland Promotions on behalf of David Haye to make this go forward?
Klitschko: We are in negotiations, and it's pretty complicated, because Golden Boy Promotions is involved in a certain way with David Haye, and Sauerland is involved. David has an option to fight a rematch with Nikolay Valuev, but now, probably, he will not. So, he can make it, and we are in negotiations.
But I wanted the public to know that I did not pull out of the fight last year in June. I did everything to make this fight happen, and it was David Haye who pulled out. Then, Vitali was supposed to fight him, and he bailed out again. And then, he talks so much bad things '-- that he wanted to do this and he wanted to do that.
But action speaks louder than words, and he never came forward. So it's been all talk. That's why I'm looking forward to getting him into the ring, why I want to show the public that I'm ready for him. I don't know what he's ready for. I always say that my best fight is in front of me and never in the past.
I'm always looking for my most difficult fight and expecting it in every fight, but of course, this fight with David Haye would be really exciting, because I'll get challenged. My performance is as good as the challenge. But an angry Wladimir Klitschko could be the best one.
FH: In which country would a Wladimir Klitschko-David Haye fight take place?
Klitschko: The Haye fight would be such an exciting, extraordinary fight because he's such an extraordinary talker. So he talks and promotes himself very good. So I think that this fight would be very interesting for American boxing fans and the fans around the world.
Where is the fight going to be staged? That depends on the broadcaster -- HBO or Showtime -- what they want to do. Either it's going to be a pay per view fight, or there's going to be another case to make the fight happen. We just have to have interest from American television. That's No. 1.
And then, you'd have to see which arena could make it happen. It could be in any country. Right now, it's important to make the deal with David Haye. It's not just about the money, it's about the last belt that the Klitschkos don't have, and we have a personal issue with David Haye, and that's why I want this fight so badly. I'm really pushing it and looking forward to it.
FH: How do you explain how you have gone from being knocked out by Ross Puritty, Corrie Sanders and Lamon Brewster, to winning 12 straight fights, nine of them by knockouts, with eight wins over Americans over six years?
Klitschko: I definitely feel that I thought that, like, three years ago, that that was my peak. But I keep peaking, and peaking, and peaking and I just love the sport. And I understand that I'm a professional, and I believe that I understand more about what it is to be a true athlete and a professional boxer.
I prepare for my fights so well, that my opponents actually have no chance to compete with me. I'm actually as good as my challenger is in the ring. If my challenger is not that good, then I get critiqued or criticized for kind of being boring. But let's face it, out of the 53 wins that I have, 48 of them, I've ended up with a TKO or a KO. So 48 fighters didn't make it.
I definitely can punch in the earlier rounds or the late rounds with both hands -- the right hand or the left hand. I just feel so confident so comfortable about me being in the ring, like I never ever have.
FH: How do you feel about your last performance against Eddie Chambers?
Klitschko: Eddie Chambers was just such an experienced fighter. He had around 35 fights, and he has beaten Samuel Peter and Calvin Brock, and this guy and that guy. He had beaten an unbeaten fighter, a Ukrainian, Alexander Dimitrenko, who is even taller than I am. And he did it in such an impressive way.
I think that Eddie was really, really good, and that he was very, very fast. But after the fourth or fifth round, his strategy completely collapsed, and he just lost confidence. And then, instead of trying to win the fight, he was doing the same thing that Sultan Ibragimov did against me in Madison Square Garden in New York.
He was just trying not to get punched and not get knocked out in a very defensive way. And when you have one fighter being offensive, and the other, defensive, it's very difficult to make a competitive fight, and an exciting fight. Also, one week before my fight, we saw the Manny Pacquiao fight against Joshua Clottey.
It was the same situation. Pacquiao was so dominant, but his opponent didn't give him a chance. Pacquiao couldn't finish the fight earlier. When one of the fighters is really defensive and doesn't want to fight, then you can chase him forever. So I was chasing Eddie Chambers for the last round, and [trainer] Emmanuel [Steward] was pushing me, like, 'Come on, do it.!'
And I was trying. I got even upset myself, and I was like, 'Manny, relax, I'm trying.' But, Eddie was awkward and was really fast and crazy awkward with his upper body the way he ducks from the punches and stuff like that. It wasn't that easily, but, eventually, one punch, and that was it.
But I felt really confident in that fight. I knew that he couldn't really reach me, and that he couldn't really touch me. I knew that I as winning every round. I was putting myself under pressure.
FH: What's your assessment of the American heavyweight?
Klitschko: In the U.S., people talk like the heavyweight division is dead. In Europe, we're saying the heavyweight division is alive. In two days, we have sell outs of over 60,000 people attending fights in soccer stadiums. We have ratings of 14 million people in Germany watching the fight. It doesn't matter which one of the Klitschko brothers are fighting, people are getting excited.
And we're very excited and thankful for that. In the U.S., we need the broadcasters, HBO, to broadcast the fight. Last fight, with Chambers, I was very upset that HBO didn't broadcast, because you have to give credit to the best American challenger, Eddie Chambers. He's American, and he flew overseas and he was fighting the heavyweight championship of the world.
To not show it, you're kind of disrespectful to the sport, and, ultimately, disrespectful to Eddie Chambers. Emmanuel keeps telling me, 'Wladimir, you just have to keep winning the fights, keep winning the fights, and those big fights are coming up.'
He says, 'It was the same situation with Mike Tyson, it was the same situation, with Lennox Lewis, it was the same situation with Evander Holyfield, same thing with Joe Louis.' You have to just stay focused and stay active, and the big fights in the U.S. with American contenders will come up, and it will be exciting again.
I trust Manny, and I think that he's right. I just have to keep winning, and that's what I'm doing.
FH: Finally, would you fight your brother under any circumstances?
Klitschko: There's always an exception to every rule. If the world was going to go down, and our fight could save the world, probably, we're going to make the fight.
Source: boxing.fanhouse.com
Ukrainian-born WBO, IBF and IBO heavyweight champion, Wladimir Klitschko , is perturbed. And the source of his ire is England's WBA titlist, David Haye.
Wladimir Klitschko, whose 38-year-old brother, Vitali Klitschko (39-2, 37 KOs), is the WBC's champion, wants very badly to fight Haye, which would give the siblings sole supremacy of all of the heavyweight belts.
Haye angered the Klitschkos last June, when he showed up at a press conference in Germany wearing a T-shirt depicting a cartoon of himself standing in a ring while holding, aloft, their decapitated heads with their lifeless bodies at his feet.
Wladimir Klitschko, who called Haye's behavior, "Impudent," and, "Unspeakable," at the time, released this video on Monday calling out Haye.
A winner of 12 straight fights, nine of them by knockout, Wladimir Klitschko had much more to say about Haye (24-1, 22 KOs) in this Q&A.
FanHouse: Why did you choose to make this video calling out David Haye?
Wladimir Klitschko: Because this is the only fight that I want. You can read an article, but I wanted to make it personally, so that the boxing fans could actually see that I want to make this fight. We can make this fight. We've been chasing David Haye around and calling him out. But he has been bitching out on a fight against us.
But now, he can make the fight. I can make the fight. There are rules within the IBF that allows me, as the champion, if I'm going to fight a championship unification, to move the mandatory aside. I have time, and I want to show the world and the boxing fans. It's enough. Now, David Haye can make the fight as well. He knows about it, and we need to make the fight.
I will not be risking losing any title. I just made my mandatory defense of the WBO title against Eddie Chambers. The next mandatory defense is supposed to be against Alexander Povetkin, and I will do it if David Haye decides not to fight me. But I know that the IBF or any other organization will move to take the fight with David Haye if there is going to be a unification fight.
David Haye is the only title that the Klitschko brothers do not have. We have the IBF, we have the IBO, we have the WBO, we have the WBC, and The Ring Magazine championship. But we don't have the WBA. That's the only title we don't have. That's why want the unification.
I doubt that since I've been champion for such a long time that any of the organizations would stop me from making a championship unification against a David Haye.
FH: Has any other fighter every angered you as much as David Haye has?
Klitschko: Never, never, ever. I can't stand this guy. The way that he presents himself in the public, and the way that he presented my brother and myself with our heads cut off. The way that he represents the sport, I don't really like it for the public.
When he's presenting himself with our heads cut off, I can't take it, I can't stand it and I want to fight this guy. It's personal. I think that David Haye deserves to get his punishment from a real champion, and that's why I'm really pushing for it right now.
FH: Has K-2 Promotions made any attempts to contact Sauerland Promotions on behalf of David Haye to make this go forward?
Klitschko: We are in negotiations, and it's pretty complicated, because Golden Boy Promotions is involved in a certain way with David Haye, and Sauerland is involved. David has an option to fight a rematch with Nikolay Valuev, but now, probably, he will not. So, he can make it, and we are in negotiations.
But I wanted the public to know that I did not pull out of the fight last year in June. I did everything to make this fight happen, and it was David Haye who pulled out. Then, Vitali was supposed to fight him, and he bailed out again. And then, he talks so much bad things '-- that he wanted to do this and he wanted to do that.
But action speaks louder than words, and he never came forward. So it's been all talk. That's why I'm looking forward to getting him into the ring, why I want to show the public that I'm ready for him. I don't know what he's ready for. I always say that my best fight is in front of me and never in the past.
I'm always looking for my most difficult fight and expecting it in every fight, but of course, this fight with David Haye would be really exciting, because I'll get challenged. My performance is as good as the challenge. But an angry Wladimir Klitschko could be the best one.
FH: In which country would a Wladimir Klitschko-David Haye fight take place?
Klitschko: The Haye fight would be such an exciting, extraordinary fight because he's such an extraordinary talker. So he talks and promotes himself very good. So I think that this fight would be very interesting for American boxing fans and the fans around the world.
Where is the fight going to be staged? That depends on the broadcaster -- HBO or Showtime -- what they want to do. Either it's going to be a pay per view fight, or there's going to be another case to make the fight happen. We just have to have interest from American television. That's No. 1.
And then, you'd have to see which arena could make it happen. It could be in any country. Right now, it's important to make the deal with David Haye. It's not just about the money, it's about the last belt that the Klitschkos don't have, and we have a personal issue with David Haye, and that's why I want this fight so badly. I'm really pushing it and looking forward to it.
FH: How do you explain how you have gone from being knocked out by Ross Puritty, Corrie Sanders and Lamon Brewster, to winning 12 straight fights, nine of them by knockouts, with eight wins over Americans over six years?
Klitschko: I definitely feel that I thought that, like, three years ago, that that was my peak. But I keep peaking, and peaking, and peaking and I just love the sport. And I understand that I'm a professional, and I believe that I understand more about what it is to be a true athlete and a professional boxer.
I prepare for my fights so well, that my opponents actually have no chance to compete with me. I'm actually as good as my challenger is in the ring. If my challenger is not that good, then I get critiqued or criticized for kind of being boring. But let's face it, out of the 53 wins that I have, 48 of them, I've ended up with a TKO or a KO. So 48 fighters didn't make it.
I definitely can punch in the earlier rounds or the late rounds with both hands -- the right hand or the left hand. I just feel so confident so comfortable about me being in the ring, like I never ever have.
FH: How do you feel about your last performance against Eddie Chambers?
Klitschko: Eddie Chambers was just such an experienced fighter. He had around 35 fights, and he has beaten Samuel Peter and Calvin Brock, and this guy and that guy. He had beaten an unbeaten fighter, a Ukrainian, Alexander Dimitrenko, who is even taller than I am. And he did it in such an impressive way.
I think that Eddie was really, really good, and that he was very, very fast. But after the fourth or fifth round, his strategy completely collapsed, and he just lost confidence. And then, instead of trying to win the fight, he was doing the same thing that Sultan Ibragimov did against me in Madison Square Garden in New York.
He was just trying not to get punched and not get knocked out in a very defensive way. And when you have one fighter being offensive, and the other, defensive, it's very difficult to make a competitive fight, and an exciting fight. Also, one week before my fight, we saw the Manny Pacquiao fight against Joshua Clottey.
It was the same situation. Pacquiao was so dominant, but his opponent didn't give him a chance. Pacquiao couldn't finish the fight earlier. When one of the fighters is really defensive and doesn't want to fight, then you can chase him forever. So I was chasing Eddie Chambers for the last round, and [trainer] Emmanuel [Steward] was pushing me, like, 'Come on, do it.!'
And I was trying. I got even upset myself, and I was like, 'Manny, relax, I'm trying.' But, Eddie was awkward and was really fast and crazy awkward with his upper body the way he ducks from the punches and stuff like that. It wasn't that easily, but, eventually, one punch, and that was it.
But I felt really confident in that fight. I knew that he couldn't really reach me, and that he couldn't really touch me. I knew that I as winning every round. I was putting myself under pressure.
FH: What's your assessment of the American heavyweight?
Klitschko: In the U.S., people talk like the heavyweight division is dead. In Europe, we're saying the heavyweight division is alive. In two days, we have sell outs of over 60,000 people attending fights in soccer stadiums. We have ratings of 14 million people in Germany watching the fight. It doesn't matter which one of the Klitschko brothers are fighting, people are getting excited.
And we're very excited and thankful for that. In the U.S., we need the broadcasters, HBO, to broadcast the fight. Last fight, with Chambers, I was very upset that HBO didn't broadcast, because you have to give credit to the best American challenger, Eddie Chambers. He's American, and he flew overseas and he was fighting the heavyweight championship of the world.
To not show it, you're kind of disrespectful to the sport, and, ultimately, disrespectful to Eddie Chambers. Emmanuel keeps telling me, 'Wladimir, you just have to keep winning the fights, keep winning the fights, and those big fights are coming up.'
He says, 'It was the same situation with Mike Tyson, it was the same situation, with Lennox Lewis, it was the same situation with Evander Holyfield, same thing with Joe Louis.' You have to just stay focused and stay active, and the big fights in the U.S. with American contenders will come up, and it will be exciting again.
I trust Manny, and I think that he's right. I just have to keep winning, and that's what I'm doing.
FH: Finally, would you fight your brother under any circumstances?
Klitschko: There's always an exception to every rule. If the world was going to go down, and our fight could save the world, probably, we're going to make the fight.
Source: boxing.fanhouse.com
Wladimir Klitschko calls out David Haye for heavyweight unification -- Los Angeles Times
By Lance Pugmire, Los Angeles Times
World heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko has taken to calling out England's David Haye for a title unification bout.
In a video posted on his Klitschko.com page and YouTube, Klitschko (54-3, 48 KOs) stares closely into a camera lens and says, "Now's the time to make it happen. ... I'm ready. What're you waiting for?"
Klitschko last month knocked out Eddie Chambers in the 12th round, defending his IBF and WBO belts before a large crowd in Germany. But the waning U.S. interest in he and fellow heavyweight champ brother Vitali was illustrated by the fact that it was broadcast only by Klitschko.com.
Now, the charismatic Haye (24-1, 22 KOs) holds the WBA belt, and he looked good in dismantling former champ John Ruiz on April 3.
"I saw that [video]," said Richard Schaefer, Haye's promoter of Golden Boy Promotions in Los Angeles. "David isn't running from anyone. The deal structure has to be right. If the feelings [from the Klitschko camp] are arrogance, there won't be a fight. If it's fair, then the fight will happen. This is the fight the fans are waiting for."
Schaefer said a Klitschko-Haye bout would be fought in Europe, likely "in a venue that can accommodate 50,000 to 80,000 people."
Source: latimesblogs.latimes.com
World heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko has taken to calling out England's David Haye for a title unification bout.
In a video posted on his Klitschko.com page and YouTube, Klitschko (54-3, 48 KOs) stares closely into a camera lens and says, "Now's the time to make it happen. ... I'm ready. What're you waiting for?"
Klitschko last month knocked out Eddie Chambers in the 12th round, defending his IBF and WBO belts before a large crowd in Germany. But the waning U.S. interest in he and fellow heavyweight champ brother Vitali was illustrated by the fact that it was broadcast only by Klitschko.com.
Now, the charismatic Haye (24-1, 22 KOs) holds the WBA belt, and he looked good in dismantling former champ John Ruiz on April 3.
"I saw that [video]," said Richard Schaefer, Haye's promoter of Golden Boy Promotions in Los Angeles. "David isn't running from anyone. The deal structure has to be right. If the feelings [from the Klitschko camp] are arrogance, there won't be a fight. If it's fair, then the fight will happen. This is the fight the fans are waiting for."
Schaefer said a Klitschko-Haye bout would be fought in Europe, likely "in a venue that can accommodate 50,000 to 80,000 people."
Source: latimesblogs.latimes.com
Minggu, 11 April 2010
Harrison to step up Klitschko chase after vacating title -- ESPN
ESPN.co.uk
But, having just secured the first title of his nine-year professional career, it looks as though the 38-year-old has been persuaded to give the belt up. Harrison's promoter Eddie Hearn spoke with representatives of Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko on Saturday and is adamant a bout is on the cards for later in the year.
"The Klitschkos told me that they are definitely interested in Audley. They recognise he is now a serious contender and know a fight with him could make them serious money, especially as we have a near guarantee from Sky that the fight will be shown on pay-per view. Our hope is for it to take place in December," Hearn told the Guardian.
There are a few potential obstacles blocking the way for Harrison. Alexander Dimitrenko is the mandatory challenger for the European belt, but former champion Albert Sosnowski's recent behaviour has given Hearn confidence that a fight with the Klitschkos can be arranged.
The Pole was scheduled to fight Harrison on Friday but, after pulling out, vacated the European title so he could fight Vitali for the WBC title on May 29.
"If Albert can get a shot at the Klitschkos on the back of winning the European title then there is no reason why Audley can't," added Hearn.
One man who may feel differently is Britain's WBA champion David Haye. The 'Hayemaker' is currently taking a break after recently dismantling John Ruiz in the first defence of his title at the Manchester MEN Arena. The Brit has voiced his ambition to get in the ring with the Klitschkos, although a rematch with Nikolai Valuev is not out of the question.
Source: espn.co.uk
Audley Harrison is set to vacate his European heavyweight title in order to chase a dream fight with one of the Klitschko
brothers, his promoter has confirmed.
brothers, his promoter has confirmed. Harrison left it late before producing a stunning left hook to knock out Michael Sprott in the 12th round at Alexandra Palace on Friday night.
But, having just secured the first title of his nine-year professional career, it looks as though the 38-year-old has been persuaded to give the belt up. Harrison's promoter Eddie Hearn spoke with representatives of Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko on Saturday and is adamant a bout is on the cards for later in the year. "The Klitschkos told me that they are definitely interested in Audley. They recognise he is now a serious contender and know a fight with him could make them serious money, especially as we have a near guarantee from Sky that the fight will be shown on pay-per view. Our hope is for it to take place in December," Hearn told the Guardian.
There are a few potential obstacles blocking the way for Harrison. Alexander Dimitrenko is the mandatory challenger for the European belt, but former champion Albert Sosnowski's recent behaviour has given Hearn confidence that a fight with the Klitschkos can be arranged.
The Pole was scheduled to fight Harrison on Friday but, after pulling out, vacated the European title so he could fight Vitali for the WBC title on May 29.
"If Albert can get a shot at the Klitschkos on the back of winning the European title then there is no reason why Audley can't," added Hearn.
One man who may feel differently is Britain's WBA champion David Haye. The 'Hayemaker' is currently taking a break after recently dismantling John Ruiz in the first defence of his title at the Manchester MEN Arena. The Brit has voiced his ambition to get in the ring with the Klitschkos, although a rematch with Nikolai Valuev is not out of the question.
Source: espn.co.uk
Sabtu, 10 April 2010
WBC Orders Valuev vs Solis; Ray Austin To Sue WBC? -- Eastside Boxing
Eastside Boxing
ARENA’s Cuban heavyweight sensation Odlanier Solis advances to the no. 1 spot in the new WBC rankings. Originally „La Sombra“ was scheduled to fight Ray Austin in a final elimination bout but Austin declared to be unavailable due to legal problems. Therefore Solis took Austin’s spot in the rankings. „This is a great honour for Odlanier and ARENA“, stated promoter Ahmet Öner. „To become the no. 1 contender with only 16 pro-fights means something. Odlanier has been an amateur standout and also proved his extraorinary qualities since turning pro in 2007. I am convinced that he is the only serious threat to the Klitschko brothers today and I hope that he will get the chance to prove me right very soon..“
But before facing WBC champion Vitali Klitschko Solis will have to suceed in his biggest challenge so far. Instead of Austin the three-time world amateur champion and 2004 Olympic gold medallist has been ordered to fight the next highest rated contender Nikolay Valuev in a WBC final elimination bout. The 7-foot-giant has lost his WBA championship title against David Haye by mid-decision last November and has an impressive record of 50 wins in 53 pro-fights including 34 stoppages.
„I am sure that this fight will be an epic battle“, says Öner. „The whole world will watch when those two tanks collide in the ring. Solis is bringing the excitement back to the heavyweight division. He will end the Klitschko’s reign and on the way there hopefully become the first man to knock out the Russian giant.“
Ray Austin Ready To Take Legal Action
Heavyweight contender Ray Austin, rated number 1 by the WBC, is prepared to take legal action against the WBC if Jose Sulaiman follows through with his plans to cut Austin out of its next elimination bout. John Tripp, one of the bankruptcy attorneys involved with Austin issued the following statement:
Ray Austin is ready, willing and able to fight in the next elimination bout. The WBC decision to announce the title eliminator between Solis and Valuev merely because of Ray Austin filing bankruptcy and rejectiing his personal management and promotional agreement with Don King Productions is clearly a violation of Ray’s rights under Federal Bankruptcy Law and we intend to file a complaint in the United State Bankruptcy Court in the Northern District of Ohio against WBC for violating the provisions of the bankruptcy code. I have had some dealings in boxing and this type of abuse has been going on for too long. We previously advised the WBC, on multiple occasions, that Ray was available to box Solis or any other fighter designated by the WBC, but they decided to ignore Ray Austin’s right in his #1 position. Over the weekend we will be investigation possible racketeering, conspiracy, and RICO charges against the WBC and other parties. If Jose Sulaiman wants another debacle like Graciano Rocchigiainni, he is well on his way.
The WBC is not going to get away with ignoring its own rules yet again.
Source: eastsideboxing.com
ARENA’s Cuban heavyweight sensation Odlanier Solis advances to the no. 1 spot in the new WBC rankings. Originally „La Sombra“ was scheduled to fight Ray Austin in a final elimination bout but Austin declared to be unavailable due to legal problems. Therefore Solis took Austin’s spot in the rankings. „This is a great honour for Odlanier and ARENA“, stated promoter Ahmet Öner. „To become the no. 1 contender with only 16 pro-fights means something. Odlanier has been an amateur standout and also proved his extraorinary qualities since turning pro in 2007. I am convinced that he is the only serious threat to the Klitschko brothers today and I hope that he will get the chance to prove me right very soon..“
But before facing WBC champion Vitali Klitschko Solis will have to suceed in his biggest challenge so far. Instead of Austin the three-time world amateur champion and 2004 Olympic gold medallist has been ordered to fight the next highest rated contender Nikolay Valuev in a WBC final elimination bout. The 7-foot-giant has lost his WBA championship title against David Haye by mid-decision last November and has an impressive record of 50 wins in 53 pro-fights including 34 stoppages.
„I am sure that this fight will be an epic battle“, says Öner. „The whole world will watch when those two tanks collide in the ring. Solis is bringing the excitement back to the heavyweight division. He will end the Klitschko’s reign and on the way there hopefully become the first man to knock out the Russian giant.“
Ray Austin Ready To Take Legal Action
Heavyweight contender Ray Austin, rated number 1 by the WBC, is prepared to take legal action against the WBC if Jose Sulaiman follows through with his plans to cut Austin out of its next elimination bout. John Tripp, one of the bankruptcy attorneys involved with Austin issued the following statement:
Ray Austin is ready, willing and able to fight in the next elimination bout. The WBC decision to announce the title eliminator between Solis and Valuev merely because of Ray Austin filing bankruptcy and rejectiing his personal management and promotional agreement with Don King Productions is clearly a violation of Ray’s rights under Federal Bankruptcy Law and we intend to file a complaint in the United State Bankruptcy Court in the Northern District of Ohio against WBC for violating the provisions of the bankruptcy code. I have had some dealings in boxing and this type of abuse has been going on for too long. We previously advised the WBC, on multiple occasions, that Ray was available to box Solis or any other fighter designated by the WBC, but they decided to ignore Ray Austin’s right in his #1 position. Over the weekend we will be investigation possible racketeering, conspiracy, and RICO charges against the WBC and other parties. If Jose Sulaiman wants another debacle like Graciano Rocchigiainni, he is well on his way.
The WBC is not going to get away with ignoring its own rules yet again.
Source: eastsideboxing.com
Bernard Hopkins and Roy Jones Jnr should bow out now -- Liverpool Echo
By Nick Peet, Liverpool Echo
WHILE David Haye was single-handedly changing the face of boxing in Manchester on Saturday night, across the pond fight fans could only glance in envy from ringside in Las Vegas as two dinosaurs of the ring fouled their way through 12 disastrous rounds.
Bernard Hopkins’ win over Roy Jones Jnr would have been the biggest fight of this era had it happened 10 years ago, but 17 years late it was an absolute stinker.
Filled with low blows, rabbit punches and butts and elbows, the slug-fest was a major turn-off in the States and all but ended both of their drawn out careers – finally!
Not surprisingly Haye quashed any talk of a scrap with old man Hopkins, who must be 60 if he’s a day, while Jones has only himself to blame for destroying his legacy – he’s gone from Superman to journeyman in one long sweeping uppercut.
Thankfully, credibility will be restored to the US scene at the end of the month when another ageing former champion steps back into the ring for one last crack at top.
Sugar Shane Mosley may be in the twilight of his career, like the two previous practitioners, but he’s at least enjoying an Indian summer right now with some big wins in the tank and he’ll be a game match for Floyd Mayweather in three weeks.
Mayweather, of course, is marking time before reconvening for talks ahead of his mega-fight with Manny Pacquiao which, hopefully, will finally come off later this year.
But make no mistake Mosley is nobody’s fool and certainly won’t be training to get paid.
The former lightweight great has got a similar free-spirited style to Floyd and, while he may not be as sharp as he used to be, he’s got good power in either fist and seems to be something of a party spoiler these days, having won seven of his last eight against world class opposition.
Whether that will be enough to see him become the first man in 41 tries to defeat ‘Pretty Boy’ Floyd is yet to be seen. But, with a ringside ticket in hand, I can’t wait to find out.
Source: liverpoolecho.co.uk
WHILE David Haye was single-handedly changing the face of boxing in Manchester on Saturday night, across the pond fight fans could only glance in envy from ringside in Las Vegas as two dinosaurs of the ring fouled their way through 12 disastrous rounds.
Bernard Hopkins’ win over Roy Jones Jnr would have been the biggest fight of this era had it happened 10 years ago, but 17 years late it was an absolute stinker.
Filled with low blows, rabbit punches and butts and elbows, the slug-fest was a major turn-off in the States and all but ended both of their drawn out careers – finally!Undoubtedly two of the greatest champions of the last 20 years sure, but it’s high time both of them walked away with what’s left of their dignity and credibility.
Not surprisingly Haye quashed any talk of a scrap with old man Hopkins, who must be 60 if he’s a day, while Jones has only himself to blame for destroying his legacy – he’s gone from Superman to journeyman in one long sweeping uppercut.Thankfully, credibility will be restored to the US scene at the end of the month when another ageing former champion steps back into the ring for one last crack at top.
Sugar Shane Mosley may be in the twilight of his career, like the two previous practitioners, but he’s at least enjoying an Indian summer right now with some big wins in the tank and he’ll be a game match for Floyd Mayweather in three weeks.
Mayweather, of course, is marking time before reconvening for talks ahead of his mega-fight with Manny Pacquiao which, hopefully, will finally come off later this year.
But make no mistake Mosley is nobody’s fool and certainly won’t be training to get paid.
The former lightweight great has got a similar free-spirited style to Floyd and, while he may not be as sharp as he used to be, he’s got good power in either fist and seems to be something of a party spoiler these days, having won seven of his last eight against world class opposition.
Whether that will be enough to see him become the first man in 41 tries to defeat ‘Pretty Boy’ Floyd is yet to be seen. But, with a ringside ticket in hand, I can’t wait to find out.
Source: liverpoolecho.co.uk
Jumat, 09 April 2010
AUDLEY HARRISON'S BIG END -- Daily Star
By Nick Parkinson, DailyStar.co.uk
AUDLEY Harrison got revenge over Michael Sprott with a savage last-round knockout to win the European heavyweight title last night.
Harrison avenged a 2007 KO loss to Sprott to claim the vacant title at Alexandra Palace in north London.
By lifting the European belt, Harrison is now in the best position of his under-achieving career, with a world title shot later this year a realistic possibility.
However, the 38-year-old was heading for a clear points loss until he uncorked a stunning left hook in the 12th round.
Harrison suffered a right shoulder injury at the end of the second round and needed a knockout to rescue his career from the threat of retirement.
He said: “My right shoulder went. I knew I was behind, but I stayed in looking for a shot with my left hand and I was able to gain victory. With one hand from the second round, I found that shot. I showed heart, I showed bottle and I deserve to be the European champion.”
Harrison wants to face either WBC champion Vitali Klitschko or his younger brother Wladimir – the IBF-WBO king – rather than Britain’s WBA ruler David Haye.
Becoming European champion has catapulted Harrison into the WBC top 10 rankings, so a successful first defence against Ukrainian Alexander Dimitrenko would earn a straight shot at Vitali.
Sprott, 35, knocked out Harrison in three rounds in 2007 and last month returned with a 58-second stoppage win following the death of his sister in September.
Harrison had auctioned off the Prizefighter Series trophy he won in October for Sprott’s family, but there was no charity on show between them in this long-awaited rematch.
Harrison was the busier boxer in the first session and then unloaded a barrage of left hooks with Sprott on the ropes. But moments later, in the second round, Harrison’s legs were wobbled under the force of a fierce right by a fired-up Sprott.
The California-based Londoner looked in trouble in the third round as Sprott launched himself furiously at him.
Southpaw Harrison began getting through with his jab later in the third, but another big right from Sprott found the target.
Harrison seemed reluctant to throw his right hand after the middle rounds and Sprott took advantage by relentlessly marching forward on the attack.
Harrison launched a series of left hooks in the ninth, but took some big shots in the 10th as Sprott continued to dominate.
After winning the 11th round Sprott only needed to survive the last to be confident of a points win.
But Harrison found the best punch of his career to flatten Sprott with a left hook as the Reading boxer opened his guard at the wrong time.
Source: dailystar.co.uk
AUDLEY Harrison got revenge over Michael Sprott with a savage last-round knockout to win the European heavyweight title last night.
Harrison avenged a 2007 KO loss to Sprott to claim the vacant title at Alexandra Palace in north London.
By lifting the European belt, Harrison is now in the best position of his under-achieving career, with a world title shot later this year a realistic possibility.
However, the 38-year-old was heading for a clear points loss until he uncorked a stunning left hook in the 12th round.
Harrison suffered a right shoulder injury at the end of the second round and needed a knockout to rescue his career from the threat of retirement.
He said: “My right shoulder went. I knew I was behind, but I stayed in looking for a shot with my left hand and I was able to gain victory. With one hand from the second round, I found that shot. I showed heart, I showed bottle and I deserve to be the European champion.”
Harrison wants to face either WBC champion Vitali Klitschko or his younger brother Wladimir – the IBF-WBO king – rather than Britain’s WBA ruler David Haye.
Becoming European champion has catapulted Harrison into the WBC top 10 rankings, so a successful first defence against Ukrainian Alexander Dimitrenko would earn a straight shot at Vitali.
Sprott, 35, knocked out Harrison in three rounds in 2007 and last month returned with a 58-second stoppage win following the death of his sister in September.
Harrison had auctioned off the Prizefighter Series trophy he won in October for Sprott’s family, but there was no charity on show between them in this long-awaited rematch.
Harrison was the busier boxer in the first session and then unloaded a barrage of left hooks with Sprott on the ropes. But moments later, in the second round, Harrison’s legs were wobbled under the force of a fierce right by a fired-up Sprott.
The California-based Londoner looked in trouble in the third round as Sprott launched himself furiously at him.
Southpaw Harrison began getting through with his jab later in the third, but another big right from Sprott found the target.
Harrison seemed reluctant to throw his right hand after the middle rounds and Sprott took advantage by relentlessly marching forward on the attack.
Harrison launched a series of left hooks in the ninth, but took some big shots in the 10th as Sprott continued to dominate.
After winning the 11th round Sprott only needed to survive the last to be confident of a points win.
But Harrison found the best punch of his career to flatten Sprott with a left hook as the Reading boxer opened his guard at the wrong time.
Source: dailystar.co.uk
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