There’s plenty of opportunity in Haye’s trashing of Klitschko
By Norm Frauenheim
For years, Wladimir Klitschko has been the solitary chess master against a field full of guys who should be playing checkers. He’s been winning with a stoic efficiency that earns polite applause, yet without any of the passion that captures the public imagination.
Maybe, David Haye, a joker on Klitschko’s familiar board of squares, can change that Saturday on HBO at Imtech Arena in Hamburg, Germany. There’s a theory that Haye has been winning the psychological rounds, the fight before the fight. It’s as if he hired Bernard Hopkins to be a consultant.
Haye’s insults, choreographed to be as outrageous as possible, have ringside psychologists reading the body language and interpreting the words for signs of anger in Klitschko (55-3, 49 KOs). An angry Klitschko might result in mistakes that could turn him into a beatable Klitschko, whose many advantages include a powerful jab, size and friendly German fans.
Haye’s tactical gamesmanship is a reasonable, perhaps necessary, weapon in a plan to lure Klitschko away from strengths and into an exchange designed to expose a brittle chin to quick hands that could score a dramatic upset. Still, it’s hard to tell whether Klitschko’s anger is just some gamesmanship of his own. Nobody has ever questioned Dr. Klitschko’s smarts.
Klitschko, who has a PhD in philosophy and sports science, has to have a pretty good read on what Haye (25-1, 23 KOs) is trying to do. It ain’t academic. It’s been all street, including a cartoonist’s rendering of Wladimir and brother Vitali’s severed heads bleeding across a T-shirt. Haye has even gone Hitler on Klitschko. He tweeted a link to Downfall, a film about Hitler’s final days. Maybe, Haye’s parade to the ring will include a few goose-steps. There’s nothing he won’t do to offend, offend and offend again.
Trouble is, Haye probably has turned Germany into a bigger fan of Klitschko than he already is. I’m not sure Klitschko will ever express the kind of emotion that becomes a bond between some fighters and their countrymen in other corners of the world. The Filipinos identify with Manny Pacquiao. Mexicans looked at Julio Cesar Chavez and saw themselves. Klitschko, a Ukrainian, looks like the stoic face of an Eastern European edifice. He is as hard to know as he is to appreciate during the weakest era in the heavyweight division.
For the last several years, we’ve watched Klitschko to applaud his skill. But Haye, as unlikely a business partner as there has ever been, has created an opportunity for him to become somebody he has never been.
“If you keep winning, something is going to come up,’’ Klitschko trainer Emanuel Steward said nearly a year ago when asked what or who will propel the heavyweight champion into a legacy of his own.
Then, Steward said it would be Haye, who has willingly and perhaps unwittingly transformed himself into a bad guy. For Klitschko, it means chance to be cheered like a hero instead of applauded like an artist. It means a place in heavyweight history.
NOTES, QUOTES
· Floyd Mayweather Jr. said this week in New York that he never accused Pacquiao of using performance-enhancers. “I’ve never said that Manny Pacquiao was taking steroids, I never said he was taking enhancement drugs,” Mayweather said during a news conference for his Sept. 17 fight with Victor Ortiz. Huh? So what was Mayweather trying to say last September in his infamous YouTube rant? That’s when he said: “I’m gonna fight the Pacman when he’s off the power pellets.” What he meant by power and/or pellets figures to be a question he’d have to answer under oath if he shows up for a deposition in the defamation suit filed against him by Pacquiao. So far, he hasn’t. A district court judge this week denied Mayweather’s appeal for an order to prevent a court-ordered deposition.
· Memo to the International Boxing Hall of Fame: Put broadcaster Nick Charles on the next ballot for induction. Charles, who died June 25 after a long battle with cancer, earned a spot alongside journalists already in the Hall. It’s been a tough few weeks for boxing. In addition to Genaro Hernandez and Charles, the game lost former Hopkins trainer Bouie Fisher and former junior-welterweight champ Billy Costello. Fisher was 83; Costello 55.
· A sign of a boxing resurrection in Phoenix will include television cameras on July 8 for super-middleweight Jesus Gonzales (26-1, 14 KOs) against Henry Buchanan (20-2, 13 KOs) in a ring near the center of the floor at the Suns home, US Airways Center. ESPN2 will be there.
· And a sure sign you’re getting old: Happy Birthday, Mike Tyson. He turned 45 Thursday.
BRANDON RIOS & URBANO ANTILLON, PROMOTER BOB ARUM CONFERENCE CALL HIGHLIGHTS
NEW YORK (June 30, 2011) – Team Rios and Team Antillon spent time with the boxing media on a teleconference call hosted by Top Rank’s Bob Arum on Thursday, a week before their upcoming world title showdown on Saturday, July 9, LIVE SHOWTIME® at 10 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast) from The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif.
The undefeated Rios (27-0-1, 19 KOs), of Oxnard, Calif., by way of Lubbock, Texas, will defend his World Boxing Association (WBA) lightweight title against Antillon in the main event of a SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING doubleheader. Arguably the division’s most exciting fighter, Rios is coming off the biggest win of his career – a 10th round TKO of defending champion Miguel Acosta on Feb. 26 to capture the WBA title.
Antillon (28-2, 20 KOs), of Maywood, Calif., has given sensational performances in recent fights. In his last outing, he lost a controversial decision against World Boxing Council lightweight champ Humberto Soto last December in the consensus “Fight of the Year.” Though he lost to Soto, Antillon emerged from that fight a world-class contender.
In the co-main event, former International Boxing Federation (IBF) welterweight champion Kermit Cintron (32-3-1, 28 KOs), of Carolina, Puerto Rico, will square off with Carlos Molina (18-4-2, 6 KOs), of Chicago, by way of Mexico, in a 10-round junior middleweight fight. The event is promoted by Top Rank.
Here are what the principals had to say on Thursday:
BOB ARUM:
“Brandon Rios and Urbano Antillon – you don’t have to sell that fight. Everyone knows they are going to see a really great and entertaining fight. We are ready to set the standard and the record as far as ratings are concerned on SHOWTIME this year.
“Urbano Antillon has fought for a number of years under the Top Rank banner. One thing we can be sure of with Urbano is that we’re going to get a great, great fight. He’s a terrific fighter and has a lot of determination and is a terrific talent. He knows that this is a big, big opportunity for him. A lot of people think he won the fight against Soto but the controversial decision went against him.
“I’m personally looking forward to seeing this fight because I love an all-action fight. I personally predict that when all is said and done and we’re sitting around discussing fights of the year, this fight will be right up there as one of the candidates as 2011 Fight of the Year.”
BRANDON RIOS:
“Camp is going very well and I’m working with my new strength and conditioning coach. I know he (Antillon) has said the third time is a charm for a world title but in this manner it will not be a charm. He’s a helluva fighter and a tough challenger so we’re ready for the best. I’m just really happy to be fighting back in California again. I haven’t fought here since 2005. I just can’t wait to give the hometown fans what they came for and have paid to see – just two warriors going out. That’s exactly what they are going to get: two guys beating the crap out of each other.
“In the (Miguel) Acosta fight I think I showed the world that I have a lot of heart and that I love boxing a lot and that I love the business. After the first couple of rounds the way Acosta was doing his job, I kept to my game plan and I overcame it and I knocked him out. I think I impressed a lot of people. Two years ago I wasn’t doing the right things outside the ring, but I’ve changed my life around.”
What do you mean that Acosta was doing his job?
“What I mean by that is that he came in to fight. I was always doing my job. I’m pretty much a late starter. I was putting on the pressure from the start and we knew the first couple of rounds were going to be pretty hard because of the way he is. We knew that the momentum would shift as the rounds went on and I would get stronger. He was doing his job but I was just putting the pressure on more and following what my corner was telling me to do and I knew I would come out victorious.”
Can you describe the personality clash between you and Antillon?
“We were supposed to fight a year ago and unfortunately I got cut in sparring. He was running around saying I didn’t want to fight him and that I was chicken. He was just running his mouth and after awhile he just started to get to me. And then when this fight started he was doing it again, just running his mouth and talking all kinds of smack. At the press conference he mentioned my wife. Fighters shouldn’t bring families into it.
“I love it when I have a beef with my opponent. I needed something in the gym because lately it’s gotten a little boring. I have to have that little excitement, someone talking smack about me, someone doing this or that to me. I have to go to the gym mad so I can get a get a good workout and it’s not going to affect me during the fight. I love that. The gym was getting boring until this and now I’m ready to go out and handle my business.”
On watching the Antillon-Soto fight:
“I’ve been watching that fight. (Antillon) came out and showed a lot of heart. He came out and was determined to win that title, but Soto just out-punched him and out-classed him, I guess. To me, I think I hit harder than Soto so it’s going to be a different story. This is just going to be one helluva fight which the fans are going to love. I’m very excited to be fighting against someone who’s going to give me a war. That’s that stuff that drives me. That’s the stuff I live for. That’s why I love boxing. It’s something I can’t wait for.”
What fighters did you look up to when you were growing up?
“I looked up to Julio Cesar Chavez. I liked the way (Diego) Corrales fought. I liked the way Arturo Gatti fought. I liked the way Castillo fought. That’s the type of fighters I looked up. Even in the amateurs, those are the fighters that had I had a similar style with. I took a little bit of everything from Chavez.”
ROBERT GARCIA, Rios’ Trainer:
“We are going to go in there and have some fun. That’s what we like to do. We know Antillon is going to be very prepared as he’s been training up in Big Bear with Abel Sanchez. We expect the best from Antillon. But you will see the best Brandon Rios. This is a helluva fight and hopefully no one misses it and this one breaks the (ratings) record.
“I know what type of fighter I have. Two years ago we wanted to take it little by little. But just a month before the (Anthony) Peterson fight I told (Rios manager) Cameron (Dunkin) that right now is the moment when Brandon is going to surprise the world and make everyone believe in him and we did it.
“Brandon’s such a hard worker and his mentality is to not only to be great in this sport but to be one of the all-time greats and be considered a helluva fighter. He told me, ‘I don’t care if I’m ever in the pound-for-pound. I may never be. But I just want to be remembered for being a tough fighter that I am.’ “
On the trash talking:
“That’s the first thing that people mentioned to me after the press conference. That’s the best thing that could have happened. I know Brandon. Now he’s training harder and he’s loving it. Now he wants to go out there and basically kick his ass. That’s what he wants to do. When Antillon came up to shake his hand after the press conference Brandon said, ‘Why do you want to shake my hand. I f—in hate you right now. Dude, get the f— out of here.’ People think that might hurt Brandon but no, that actually helps him train harder and perform better in the fight.”
URBANO ANTILLON:
“Our training is going great. If you thought I was in great shape against Soto, I’m probably even in better shape this time. I’m in a different state of mind, a positive state of mind and just looking forward to this fight.
“I’m not feeling any sense of urgency. Are these chances to fight for a world title going to keep coming around? Probably not. But God works in mysterious ways and I have to think that more than ever I’m mentally, physically, emotionally ready to move forward and win this world title.
“I’m not going to change my style. I have boxed in the past but it wasn’t my first choice. It was just something that I had to do. It was more of a survival thing that I did. I made little tweaks here and there with Abel Sanchez and hopefully we’ll be able to adapt them into our game plan. That’s the plan. You’re going to see the best plan for a guy who is aggressive and comes forward.
“I don’t feel pressure whatsoever fighting at home. It won’t be my first time fighting at home and hopefully won’t be my last. It’s always been an honor and, if anything, very motivating. It’s always great to have people backing you up. Sometimes the water can get pretty deep so it’s always good to have people to pull you through those moments and give you that little extra push to come forward. I’ve always had great support from my hometown and hope to bring them a world championship.
“The difference between Humberto Soto and Brandon Rios is that Rios is not a mover, he’s not a boxer. If he tried to do that I’m sure he’s not going to do that great a job at it. You just don’t change things from day to night, I guess. If he wants to stand there in front of me he’s going to get hit. And the ones that have stayed there I’ve been breaking them down or knocking them out. Brandon Rios is nothing special. He’s no different than anyone else. We’re going to go in there with the mission to bring him in and break him down and come out with the victory.”
Is this a personal fight for you like it is for Rios?
“No, not at all. It’s kind of mind boggling the way he’s taken it. I did mention his wife but never in a way that should upset him. He can play victim to whatever he wants and say I said this or I said that. It doesn’t matter to me. But I know why I said it and I know my intentions behind it. He could take it personal but he’s nothing special. He’s just like any other opponent. It’s nothing personal to me except that he’s holding my world title and that’s the only thing personal behind it.”
“I was very surprised the way he reacted actually. I’ve never seen someone lose it like that in front of me so bad. It really took me back to my elementary school years being flipped off by a fifth-grader on the playground or something. It was something else and pretty funny to watch. I’m sure Oxnard and the City Council who gave him a key to the city are pretty proud of him that he reacted like that. He’s a great example to them and the community, I’m sure.”
How can you compare Soto with Rios?
“There’s not much to compare other than they’re both world champions. Soto’s a boxer, a mover and has better defense.”
ABEL SANCHEZ, Antillon’s Trainer:
“We are looking forward to a spectacular fight. Both guys are going to be very prepared and I know Robert is a great coach. I know Rios is training very hard and is a tough opponent for us but you know what, that’s what these fights are supposed to be. A world championship fight is supposed to be this tough. Urbano has had a great camp and we are looking forward to July 9 and that boxing will have a new superstar. The crowd and the people watching on TV are going to be the winners because this is the type of fight that will get all those MMA fans back on our side.”
Quest For Glory FC 2: “No Second Chances” takes on The Vogue Theater on Granville Street in Vancouver, BC!
The Vogue Theatre in all its historical glory is ready to make history again when it hosts its first MMA Event – Quest for Glory FC 2 – on Friday, July 8th, 2011
This remarkable event will be headlined by 3 Muay Thai title matches and great MMA title contenders matches
The Muay Thai titles consist of a 185 lbs Muay Thai Title super bout between the Iron City Muay Thai product Adam Blanchette and Sanshou Champion Tony Strong of Stand-up Muay Thai. The two are life-long martial artists that practice and teach the art of 8 limbs. Tony Strong holds a record of 4-0 and Adam 4-2
The main event will be 160 lbs Muay Thai title bout between current title holder Joe Halfar (Poseners Pankreation 5-1) and Josh Write 3-1 (Dragon’s Den Elite) which was originally scheduled for Quest for Glory FC 1 but had to be postponed due to medical reasons.
The other Muay Thai title consists of long time veteran Toby Cleary of Carlson Gracie Academy in Maple Ridge with an 8-2 record versus Nick Udivisic 2-0 from Iron City Muay Thai in the 170 lbs division.
This card will also feature the return of 2-0 Chad Gerow from Revolution. Gerow will face off against United Martial Arts and former college wrestler Mike Munsie.
Tickets are on sale through Voguetheatre.com. This is an all ages event but we will be serving alcholic beverages to guest with proper ID if you are planinng on drinking please plan a safe trip home!
Visit QuestforGloryfc.com for more info. Tickets will sell fast, so be a part of history and witness the Quest For Glory.
Official Fight Card:
160 LBS MUAY THAI TITLE BOUT:
JOSH WRIGHT (DRAGONS DEN ELITE) VS JOE HALFAR (POSENERS)
165LBS MMA #1 CONTENTDER:
CHADGEROW (REVOLUTION) VS MIKE MUNSIE (UNITED MMA)
145LBS MMA:
JORDAN GALLAHGER (WEST COAST BJJ) VS NORM NADEAU BAD BOY’S
145LBS MMA:
DANE NEWAL VS DEE OBARO (FIGHT PIT)
185LBS MUAY THAI TITLE BOUT:
ADAM BLANCHETTE (IRON CITY MUAY THAI) VS TONY STRONG (STAND UP MUAY THAI)
170LBS MUAY THAI TITLE BOUT:
NICK UDIVISIC (IRON CITY MUAY THAI) VS TOBEY CLEARY (CARLSON GRACIE MMA)
165LBS MMA:
BRYCE KILPATRIC (REVOLUTION) VS BILL ELSE (FIGHT PIT)
155LBS MMA:
JAMIE GRAFF (WEST COAST BJJ) VS KEVIN MADRID (MENDOZA MMA)
150LBS MMA:
JORDAN MANNING (PHEONIX RISING) VS REGGIE MCGINTY (WEST COAST BJJ)
170LBS MUAY THAI:
MARTIN KWIATOWSKI (POSENERS) VS LUKE WINCKLER (GRIFFINS)
135LBS MMA
MORGAN LITTLECHILD (KAITAN MMA) VS RADLEY DA SILVA (CLINCHE/AXE)
135LBS MMA
MARK BALMES (GRAVITY) VS BAZOOKA LANDINGIN (WEST COAST BJJ)
165 LBS MMA:
BRANDON LYND (PHEONIX RISING) VS RICO BRINSON (RAW)
Quest For Glory FC 2: No Second Chances will be on July 8th at the Vogue Theater in Vancouver, BC.
Title town
Vacant belt up for grabs in Ayala-Cardona showdown at Mohegan Sun
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (June 30, 2011) – Elvin Ayala – known affectionately as “The Pride of New Haven” – plans on beating crosstown rival Israel “Pito” Cardona of Hartford, Conn., so convincingly that Cardona’s fans might reconsider their allegiance.
“People from Hartford are going to want to move to New Haven,” Ayala quipped.
Truth is, there’s more than just hometown pride on the line when Ayala and Cardona lock horns Friday, July 29th, 2011 in the co-main event of “Heat Wave,” presented by Jimmy Burchfield’s Classic Entertainment & Sports at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville; the two are fighting for the vacant World Boxing Council U.S. National Boxing Council (WBC USNBC) middleweight title, a championship formerly held by some of boxing’s elite fighters in various divisions, most notably former two-time world champion Paul “The Punisher” Williams (39-2, 27 KOs), who won the WBC USNBC welterweight title in 2006 and went on to capture the World Boxing Organization’s welterweight and light middleweight titles in 2007 and 2008, respectively; and former WBO light welterweight champion Lamont Peterson (28-1-1, 14 KOs), who also won the WBC USNBC light welterweight title in ’06. The list of former and current WBC USNBC champions also includes Worcester, Mass., super middleweight Edwin Rodriguez (18-0, 13 KOs), Providence, R.I., light heavyweight Joey “K.O. Kid” Spina (26-1-2, 18 KOs), and current North American Boxing Organization (NABO) champion and No. 7-ranked lightweight John Molina Jr. (23-1, 19 KOs).
“I’m taking the belt home,” said Cardona, who hasn’t fought since losing to Hector Camacho Jr. in 2009.
“There’s no way he’s beating me. He’s going to have to kill me. I don’t talk [trash]. I don’t even know who he is. He could be a great guy, but when that bell rings it’s a different story.”
Neither fighter in next month’s co-main event is a stranger to boxing’s biggest stage; Ayala (23-5-1, 11 KOs) fought current World Boxing Association (WBA) super middleweight champion Arthur Abraham for a world title in 2008 while the 36-year-old Cardona (36-10, 28 KOs) is a former two-time world champion in the super featherweight and light welterweight divisions, winning the International Boxing Organization (IBO) super featherweight title in 1995 with a unanimous-decision victory over Jeff Mayweather, and then capturing the organization’s light welterweight belt two years later by knocking out Steve Larrimore in Connecticut.
“I feel like it’s, ‘Here we go again!’” Ayala said. “I’ve been in this position before, but now it’s time for me to prove myself. I know [Cardona] is an older guy, but he’s well experienced. He’s been a world champion, so I know he has a lot of experience. I don’t want to make any mistakes. I’ve been looking better with each fight so far, so I want to do even better this time.”
While Ayala, 30, is in the midst of what could be his final run at another world-title opportunity, Cardona is taking what will surely be his last shot at adding a fifth title to his own resume; in addition to the two world championships he won in the ‘90s, Cardona is also a former United States Boxing Association (USBA) and North American Boxing Federation (NABF) lightweight champion.
Though the records show Cardona lost a unanimous decision to Paul Spadafora in 1999 for the International Boxing Federation (IBF) middleweight title, Cardona maintains he’s never lost a world-title bout on a level playing field, pointing to Spadafora’s arrest in 2003 for shooting his pregnant girlfriend as proof that his opponent “was on something” at the time of the fight. Two years later, Spadafora plead guilty to drug use charges and served additional jail time, though no link has ever been made between his drug use outside of the ring and his career inside the squared circle.
“When you mess around with drugs … you do stupid [things],” Cardona said.
Cardona also questioned the integrity of the IBF, which absorbed a serious blow in 1999 when former president Bob Lee resigned in the wake of racketeering and bribery charges, and claims he was “robbed” of a potential third world title.
“That’s another story for another time,” Cardona said. “Right now, I’m getting another title shot and it’s made me 10 times more motivated. I don’t lose title fights. You want me to fight for a title? Hell yeah! I’m soaking wet right now; I just worked out. I’m very excited. This is going to be a war.
“Guess what? My experience is definitely going to be a factor. I’ve been there. I’ve been with the best. I’ve been where he hasn’t gone. Nothing he brings will be a surprise to me. It’s going to be a fight, and it’ll come down to whoever wants it more.”
These days, facing Ayala is no easy task regardless of age. Since signing a promotional contract with CES, Ayala is 3-0 in 2011, including back-to-back knockout wins over Joe Gardner (April 1) and George Armenta (May 6). Working with newly-hired trainer Peter Manfredo Sr. has had a positive impact on Ayala’s preparation for this upcoming bout as he looks to continue his climb to the top of the rankings in the middleweight division.
“Not only is he saying the right thing, but with the way I feel when he speaks to me, I absorb everything a lot better than if it were coming from the average Joe,” Ayala said. “I trust a lot of what he’s saying. I could literally go in there with a blindfold on and have him tell me what to do and I would still win the fight.”
Cardona’s recent record is somewhat deceiving; while he’s lost his last four fights, he’s done so against elite competition, including a knockout loss to red-hot welterweight prospect Mike Jones (25-0, 19 KOs) and a unanimous-decision loss to Camacho Jr. (53-4-1, 28 KOs) for the WBC Caribbean Boxing Federation title. Ayala is ignoring the numbers and heeding the advice of his peers.
“I few people I spoke to who have sparred against him say you can hit him with everything and he keeps coming forward,” Ayala said. “I’m not looking for a knockout; I’m just going to finesse it and put my skills on display. I’ve got OK pop, but my main thing is boxing. The goal is to hit him and not get hit.”
The undercard of “Heat Wave” features undefeated Polish heavyweight Mariusz Wach (24-0, 12 KOs) starring in the second half of the co-main event, along with Pawtucket, R.I., middleweight Thomas Falowo (3-0, 3 KOs) facing Russ Niggemyer (2-2, 2 KOs) of Hilliard, Ohio; New Haven welterweight Edwin Soto (6-0-1, 2 KOs) battling Jose Duran (6-5-2, 3 KOs) of Sarasota, Fla.; undefeated heavyweight Artur Spzilka of Poland (5-0, 3 KOs) facing Tobias Rice (3-3, 2 KOs) of Macon, Ga., and New Bedford, Mass., welterweight Johnathan Vazquez (4-0, 3 KOs) taking on Augustine Maurus of Lawrence, Mass., in Maurus’ debut. Cruiserweight Jose Torres of Worcester, Mass., will also make his debut, and super middleweight Keith Kozlin (6-2, 4 KOs) of Warwick, R.I., will face Woonsocket’s Reynaldo Rodriguez (5-2, 2 KOs) in a six-round intrastate showdown. All fights and fighters are subject to change.
Tickets for “Heat Wave,” priced at $40, $65 and $105, can be purchased by calling CES at 401.724.2253/2254 or calling Ticketmaster at 1.800.745.3000. Fans can also purchase tickets online at www.cesboxing.com, www.ticketmaster.com, or at the Mohegan Sun Box Office. For more information on “Heat Wave,” visit www.cesboxing.com or www.mohegansun.com. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., with the first bout scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
FLOYD MAYWEATHER VS. VICTOR ORTIZ PRESS TOUR QUOTES
FLOYD MAYWEATHER, Six-Time World Champion in Five Weight Divisions
“I want to thank Victor Ortiz for stepping up to the plate and taking the test.
“I also want to say congratulations to Victor Ortiz. It’s not easy to bounce back from a crucial loss. He bounced back like a true champion. I take my hat off to him.
“It’s not all about the money. We all know I am going to make a ton of money. He [Ortiz] is going to make some good money too. I earned the right to make the money that I make.
“It starts here. Someone has to give him the opportunity to take the thrown. Why not let it be me?
“I don’t duck or dodge anyone. This is for the fans. This is for the Pacquiao fans too. Do I want the Pacquiao fight? Absolutely, if that is what the fans want. I want to give the fans what they want, but I have to take it one step at a time. I cannot overlook Victor Ortiz.
“I don’t want to hear about him [Ortiz] losing before. Right now he is the world champion. This is about me facing the world champion and fighting the best.
“My main focus is Victor Ortiz. I want to go to camp and dedicate myself.
“I want to give you excitement. I want to you to enjoy HBO 24/7.
“Anything can happen in the sport of boxing. If you beat me I want you to earn it. I don’t want it to be tainted.
“This is not my last fight. Hopefully I can give you 10 more fights. I am closer to 40 than I am to 21, but I am not going anywhere.
“[To Ortiz] On Sept 17, I know you are going to be there and you are going to bring your best, and me and my team are going to bring our best.
“I have to have a lot of Mexican fans and I wouldn’t be where I am today without them.
“I want to thank HBO. We have a relationship that goes far back. I am loyal to the company that I am with. I have been with HBO since the beginning of my career.
“My ultimate goal is to take the title from Victor Ortiz.”
VICTOR ORTIZ, WBC Welterweight World Champion
“I realize there is a lot of love/hate going on here. Tell me one thing I haven’t already heard. People who loved me left me. I have been through a bunch of bull. I am facing one of the best fighters of all of time. That was a dream of mine since I was a little kid. I am not supposed to be here according to statistics.
“I am newly crowned [champion] and I am not ready to give that up.
“It’s not a challenge when you are a champion.
“I have to thank my team for motivating me. The times they wanted me to go to war, I went to war. Mayweather is a beast, but I’m a monster. If Mayweather wants to box, I will box. If he wants to bang, I will bang.
“At the end of the day, I am walking away from this fight with that championship. I’ll be damned if someone is going to take that away from me.
“This is a dream to me. I am not going to put this dream down. I am going to run with it as long as I can. I want to be like Bernard Hopkins and hold my title for as long as I can.
“I don’t need to match Mayweather word for word. I am not a talker. I never have been. At the end of the day, we are going to have gloves and my punches are not as soft as my words.
“I am Mexican to the fullest and I am going to show the world how the Mexicans roll.
“I am tired of hearing that he is fighting Manny Pacquiao next. He is fighting me next!”
“On September 17, there is going to be a repeat of what happened on July 7, 1985, when Roger Mayweather fought Julio Cesar Chavez.”
LEONARD ELLERBE, CEO, Mayweather Promotions
“This is another Mayweather experience.
“This is going to be the biggest fight of this year.
“Floyd Mayweather doesn’t need much of an introduction. He is the biggest star in the sport. He is the biggest attraction in the sport. He is the best fighter on the planet.
“Talk doesn’t win fights. Skills do. Last [time] I checked, there was only one undefeated fighter on this dais.
“Mayweather has been the best in the sport since day one. He has been the biggest star in this sport since day one.
“He [Mayweather] is a Six-Time World Champion in Five Weight Divisions and he is back.”
RICHARD SCHAEFER, CEO, Golden Boy Promotions
“This is going to be a real fight. It is a dangerous fight for both fighters.
“Year after year, Golden Boy Promotions and Mayweather Promotions have put together the biggest fights of the year.
“Victor Ortiz has been surrounded by the same team. He believes in them and they believe in them. There is a friendship and a mutual respect there and that is the reason that they keep going from victory to victory.
“I have to applaud Floyd for taking the fight with Victor Ortiz. He might have just challenged himself too much because he hasn’t fought in 16 months. Victor Ortiz was active. He is 10 years younger. He can hurt Floyd Mayweather. He has the power and that is the story line. Is the star, the undefeated Mayweather going to remain undefeated, or is the power going to put a stop to that?”
DANNY GARCIA, Ortiz’s Trainer
“Floyd Mayweather is one of the greatest champions ever, but I have the current champion and on September 17 I will have the best pound-for-pound fighter.
“We are going to work very hard, we are going to have a good plan and fight a great fight. We expect Floyd to give a great fight too.
“We want to dedicate this fight to the Mexican people.
“About two months ago we became the welterweight champion of the world and we felt amazing. We will feel even more special when we become the pound-for-pound champion on September 17.”
ROLANDO ARELLANO, Ortiz’s Manager
“We are not making boxing history, we are making sports history. We would like to thank Floyd Mayweather for giving a young lion an opportunity to take over his pound-for-pound kingdom.
“On September 17, we will declare war on Mayweather and Mayweather will declare war on us.
“This fight is one the greatest fight in the history of boxing. It is going to have a local impact, a regional impact, a national impact and a global impact. If you live on the moon, when Ortiz knocks out Mayweather you will about hear it.
“Victor Ortiz will change the course of boxing history, just as the Mexican warriors have before him.”
BOB HALLORAN, Director of Sports, MGM Resorts International
“It took 16 months for Floyd to go 10 min away [from home].
“This is the biggest turnout of media and fans since guess when? The last time Floyd was in New York City.
“Regardless of whom you are rooting for, one man made this fight happen [Mayweather]. The reason he [Ortiz] is here is because he is a world champion, and this man elected him to be his next opponent.
“Mayweather is a minus 750 favorite and Ortiz is a plus 525 underdog.”
# # #
“STAR POWER: Mayweather vs. Ortiz” is promoted by Mayweather Promotions and Golden Boy Promotions, and sponsored by Cerveza Tecate, DeWALT Tools and AT&T. The 12-round mega-fight, which will be contested for Ortiz’s WBC Welterweight World Championship, will take place Saturday, Sept. 17 at MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nev. and will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT.
An announcement regarding ticket availability will be made in the coming days.
HBO®’s Emmy® Award-winning all-access series “24/7″ premieres an all new edition when “24/7 Mayweather/Ortiz” debuts Saturday, Aug. 27 at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT. The four-part series will air for three consecutive Saturday nights before the finale airs the night before the welterweight championship showdown in Las Vegas.
Santiago hoping third time’s the charm for Shumenov title fight
‘Fire& Fury’ on Solo Boxeo Tecate show July 29 live at South Point Hotel Casino, Las Vegas
LAS VEGAS (June 30, 2011) – Two-time world title challenger Danny “The Bronx Bomber” Santiagois hoping the third time’s the charm for him when he challenges World Boxing Association/International Boxing Association Light Heavyweight World Champion Beibut Shumenov, headlining the “Fire and Fury” pro boxing card, July 29 on the TeleFutura’s Solo Boxeo Tecate show, airing live from South Point Hotel Casino in Las Vegas.
“Fire& Fury” is being promoted by KZ Event Productions, which is owned and operated by the Shumenov brothers, Beibut and Chingis, in Las Vegas. Shumenov-Santiago is somewhat of a boxing anomaly, featuring a pair of college graduates in a world title fight.
WBA #15 ranked Santiago (31-4-1, 19 KOs), fighting out of Ocala, Florida, is a two-time world title challenger. His signature victory was a fourth-round technical knockout of 30-1 Elvir Muriqi. Santiago was also featured on the third season of The Contender reality television series.
The Bronx native who lives in Ocala (FL) has had two proposed fights fall out, including one against Roy Jones, Jr. “I promised myself and my family that I would continue boxing as long as I still enjoyed it,” the University of South Florida graduate (business & accounting major) explained. “I still do. I opened a business – a gym around boxing (Central Florida Boxing – www.centralfloridaboxing.com) –to have something to fall back on when I retire from boxing. It’s turned out be a great thing. I had those two fights fall through but things like that happen when you’re self-promoted. But I stayed in my gym, working hard, and now I’m blessed to have this opportunity.”
Shumenov (11-1, 7 KOs), the 2004 Kazakhstan Olympian who is now fighting out of Las Vegas, set a light heavyweight record for capturing a world title in the fewest career fights, 10, when (Jan. 10, 2010) he won a 12-round decision againstGabriel Campillo in Las Vegas. Shumenov has successfully defended his WBA/IBA titles twice against No. 1 mandatory challenger Viacheslav Uzelkov (UDEC12) and three-time world champion William Joppy (KO6) last January in Shymkent, Kazakhstan. In his 11 pro fights, Beibut has defeated four world champions (Campillo, Joppy, Byron Mitchell and Montell Griffin) and two world title challengers (Uzelkov and Epifanio Mendoza).
“I don’t know Beibut but he’s obviously a unique individual having already accomplished what he has in 11 pro fights,” Santiago remarked. “But this is a business and I will do what I have to do in the ring against him. Boxing is what we’ve both chosen to do. Fighting is easy; it’s everything else in this business that’s difficult. Dealing with his people, though, I can tell you, they’re as professional as any I’ve ever worked with in boxing. It may be surprising for me to say this but, they’re very honest, first-class people. Everything they’ve said has actually happened.”
Santiago has more professional ring experience than Shumenov by 10 years, 24 fights and 97 rounds. Danny has lost two world light heavyweight title fights, both in 2007, to Zsolt Erdei (WBO) and Antonio Tarver (IBO).
“I don’t really have very much of an experience advantage over him,” Danny added.”Don’t look past his Olympics experience, on the grandest stage, fighting the best in the world. I may have more pro fights than him but he’s fought the same class of fighters, pro and Olympians, as I have.
“I’m not trying to butter him up but Shumenov is very exciting, smart, and strong. And just look at him – he’s a ‘brick-house!’ I need to be in the best shape of my life for this fight to fulfill the dream I had as a kid that I now have as a grown adult (win a world title).”
“Fire& Fury” is being presented by KZ Event Productions in association with Golden Boy Promotions, Don Chargin Promotions, Guilty Boxing, Solo Boxeo Tecate and South Point Hotel Casino.
Tickets, starting at $25.00, are available to purchase at South Point’s box office, on line at http://www.southpointeventscenter.com/events.php, or by calling 1.702.797.8055.
Doors open at 5:30 PM/PT, first bout at 6:00 PM/PT, first TV bout at 8:30 PM/PT
Go on line to www.KZEventProductions.comfor additional information about “Fire & Fury,” Shumenov or any of the KZEvent Productions fighters.
KZ Event Productions, Inc.
KZ Event Productions is a full service, international boxing promotional company in Las Vegas, Nevada. Owned and operated by Beibut and Chingis Shumenov, its growing stable of champions include WBA/IBA light heavyweight World Champion Beibut Shumenov, WBA FEDALATIN welterweight champion Ravshan Hudaynazarov, WBA International light heavyweight champion Gayrat Ahmedov and WBA International light welterweight champion Alexandr Zhuravskiy.
Las Vegan Kim Couture, Women’s Ambassador to Combat Sports, Added to Kickboxing Empire World Championship Card Saturday, July 30, at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
Las Vegas’ Kim Couture, one of the most prominent female figures in combat sports, has been added as a special attraction women’s bout on the nationally and internationally televised world championship Kickboxing Empire card Saturday, July 30, at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.
Promoted by Martial Arts Association of Las Vegas, the eight-bout event also includes five current and former world kickboxing champions, headlined by Alain “The Panther” Ngalani of Hong Kong against Dzevad “BH Machine” Poturak of Sarajevo, Bosnia, in a clash for the International Kickboxing Association super heavyweight championship.
Other Las Vegans on the card include Chidi “Chidi Bang Bang” Njokuani and Shawn Yarborough.
Known, perhaps, as much for being the outspoken ex-wife of UFC great Randy Couture as she is for her own fighting career, the attractive 35-year-old mother of two and admitted adrenaline junky says she’s excited over her lightweight bout July 30 against Jessica Bartness of Monroe, Washington.
“Everybody I know is freaking out that, finally, after four years, I have a fight here in Las Vegas,” said Couture, who goes by the nickname “Sugar Free.”
“My pro debut was at home in Vegas and I haven’t fought here since,” said Couture. “It’ll feel good to fight here, because I’m always going to the hometown of my opponent to fight. It’ll be a rush to be fighting in front of so many friends. I’ll feed off the support I get.”
Having found success in diverse industries, including working as a casino executive and a law-enforcement officer, before she began fighting, Couture isn’t content to just fight her own ring battles. She also works tirelessly promoting women’s fighting, is in the process of opening her own gym, advises other fighters and is hoping, eventually, to become a television commentator.
“I’m not out there trying to be a pinup model,” said Couture, who could pass for one. “I don’t care about being the face of females in combat sports. But I do like being ambassador for the sport.
“I try to stay as busy as possible,” said Couture. “I’ve been training kickboxing for six years. That’s my most dominant area, and I wouldn’t take this fight if I didn’t know I could win.”
Throughout her career, Couture has had to deal with injuries, including a broken jaw sustained just a few seconds into her grueling June 2008 professional MMA debut. But she says recent and much-needed surgery has her feeling like an all-new fighter.
“I haven’t fought since last October,” said Couture. “I had to get as second surgery on my jaw. It was exactly what I needed. I got kicked pretty hard in practice and it popped a part loose. There’s a steel plate in the front of my jaw, but I got the top part, by my ear, tightened up and it’s all good as new now.”
Couture will be working with female Cristiane “Cyborg” Santosfor the final portion of training for her kickboxing bout July 30 at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.
Other international fighters on that July 30 card include Denis Goncheronok of Minsk, Belarus; Sergio Cario of Amsterdam, Netherlands; Edwin “El Tigre” Aguilar of Tijuana, Mexico; Pavel Turuk of Minsk; and Tim Thomas of Birmingham, England.
The card starts at 7:30 p.m. (Pacific) July 30 with doors to The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino opening at 6:30.
Tickets-priced at $25, $35, $50, $75, $100 and $125-are available at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino box office daily from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and through Ticketmaster, either by calling 702-474-4000 or 800-745-3000 or going on line at ticketmaster.com.
RIP James “Bouie” Fisher
On behalf of the Fisher family, it is with great sadness that DiBella Entertainment announces the passing of legendary boxing trainer, James “Bouie” Fisher. He was 83.
Fisher, best known for his work with Bernard Hopkins, was a mainstay in the Philadelphia boxing scene for decades. He won the 2001 Eddie Futch-John F.X. Condon Award, presented by the Boxing Writers’ Association of America annually to honor the year’s best trainer.
Fisher leaves behind his wife, Peggy; 8 children: Andre, Bernadette, Bernard, Cecilia, James, Josephine, Valerie, and Victoria; and 15 grand children.
DiBella Entertainment joins the boxing world in mourning the tragic loss of this great man. Please keep Bouie and the Fisher family in your prayers at this difficult time.
Memorial service arrangements will be announced in the coming days.
BRONX BATTLES FEATURED ON PUNCHIN AT THE PARADISE 12 THURSDAY JULY 7TH–WATCH LIVE ON GFL
CLICK TO ORDER THE FIGHT
On Thursday July 7th, Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing returns to the Paradise Theater in the Bronx, for the latest installment of its popular, “Punchin at the Paradise” fight night series. The card will feature a number of exciting match-ups, including two separate fights that matches Bronx vs. Bronx, in a battle for neighborhood bragging rights. In addition to the pro fights featured on the card, there are also four amateur bouts scheduled to open up the show. The entire show will be broadcast live on GFL.TV
“Our goal, and our vision with the series, is to be able to build up boxing here in the Bronx. We have a tremendous venue with the Paradise Theater, and now by putting together exciting fights, that match Bronx Fighters vs. Bronx Fighters, we are confident we are well on our way to achieving that goal,” stated Joe DeGuardia, CEO and President of Star Boxing. “Back in the glory days of boxing, these were the type of fights and cards you saw all the time. You have one guy fighting out of one gym in the Bronx, who is going to bring all his friends and supporters, fighting another guy whose gym is just a neighborhood away who will have all his fans cheering him on as well. Not only does it make for exciting fights, but also for a great atmosphere and in my eyes that’s what boxing is all about.”
The first Bronx Battle of the night will see tough veterans, Stephon “The Mandingo Warrior” Owusu (7-6, 4KO’s) (Bronxchester Boxing Club) and Angel “White Tiger” Rios (9-4, 6KO’s) (John’s Gym) go toe-to-toe in a six round welterweight showdown. Both Owusu and Rios, have similar stories, as both began their careers in the late 1990’s (Owusu in 1998, Rios in 1999). Both ran into some legal trouble a few years later that put their respective careers on the sidelines.
Rios who has been out of the ring since 2003, has been in with some pretty good opposition, having went the distance with former WBO super featherweight Champion, Mike Achondo, as well as former IBF, WBA and WBO lightweight Champion, Nate Campell.
Owusu, who made his return to the ring back in May on the first Punchin at the Paradise card of 2011, looked very good as he won a dominate four round decision before a strong contingent of fans in his first bout since 2000. With both fighters knowing that they can’t afford to have any additional hiccups in their careers, you can expect an all out war when the two meet on July 7th.
The second Bronx Battle matches former NY Golden Gloves Champion, Danny Valle (4-0, 3KO’s) against former bitter amateur rival, and fellow NY Golden Gloves Champion, Angel Torres, in a six round super featherweight showdown. There is bad blood between Valle and Torres that stems from their amateur days. They have talked about fighting one another for years, and now they will finally get a chance to settle the score once and for all on July 7th.
Also scheduled to see action on the card in separate four round bouts is the Bronx’s super middleweight, Michael Ocasio (1-0, 1KO) and Mount Vernon welterweight, Juan Perez.
Ocasio, who trains at the Morris Park Boxing Club, was a former baseball standout, and was on scholarship at the University of Miami before injuring his shoulder and forcing him away from the sport. Now Ocasio, who comes from a boxing background, is looking to see how far his athletic ability can take him in the fight game.
Doors open at 6:30PM, with the first bout scheduled for 7:00PM. Tickets are priced at $30, $50 and $100 and can be purchased by calling the Star Boxing office at 718 823-2000, visiting www.starboxing.com or simply by CLICKING HERE: Tickets can also be purchased by visiting the Paradise Theater box office, located at 2403 Grand Concourse in the Bronx, NY.
ABOUT STAR BOXING:
Star Boxing, Inc. has been in operation since1992. Star Boxing has worked to produce some of the most exciting and memorable boxing events in recent history. Star has continued to work with and develop a number of very exciting world champions, world rated contenders and young prospects. Star has consistently brought credibility, integrity, and exciting fights to the boxing industry. For more information on Star Boxing, visit the official website at www.starboxing.com
VIDEO: RICO RAMOS TRAINING CAMP UPDATE
Rico Ramos trains for his WBA Championship bout against Akifumi Shimoda in Atlantic City live on HBO July 9, 2011. Watch behind the scenes training and insight of the Ramos camp in Las Vegas, Nevada.
ESPN News- Pacquiao, Roach rip Mayweather, back Bradley February 21, 2012Manny Pacquiao and Timothy Bradley Jr. both realize almost every boxing fan wishes Floyd Mayweather Jr. had been standing next to Pacquiao at the Beverly Hills Hotel on Tuesday. […]Associated Press
- HBO PPV secures rights to Pacquiao-Bradley February 21, 2012HBO made it 2-for-2 in securing the rights to the first two major pay-per-view fights of the year on Tuesday, announcing that it had finalized an agreement to produce and distribute Manny Pacquiao's defense against Timothy Bradley Jr. […]Dan Rafael
- V. Klitschko says still owes Chisora a knockout February 21, 2012WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko wants to fight Britain's Dereck Chisora again -- so he can knock him out. […]Associated Press
- Chisora apologizes 'wholeheartedly' for brawl February 20, 2012Dereck Chisora apologized "wholeheartedly" Monday for the brawl with David Haye that followed his loss to WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko. […]Associated Press
- V. Klitschko tore shoulder ligament vs. Chisora February 19, 2012Heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko suffered a torn ligament in his left shoulder during his unanimous decision win over Dereck Chisora on Saturday in Munich, Germany, but he will not require surgery. […]Dan Rafael
- Stars honor Ali at 70th birthday gala in Vegas February 19, 2012President Barack Obama lauded Muhammad Ali Saturday as he joined some of the world's most famous people in a birthday celebration for the boxer known simply as "The Greatest." […]Associated Press
- Esparza, Underwood, Shields win boxing trials February 19, 2012Claressa Shields screamed, sidestepped and finally hopped around the ring, unable to contain her glee when she was named the outstanding fighter at the first U.S. Olympic team trials for women's boxing. […]Associated Press
- Gamboa, Rios agree to April 14 bout in Vegas February 17, 2012Former unified featherweight titlist Yuriorkis Gamboa will jump up two weight classes and face former lightweight titleholder Brandon Rios in a fight that matches two of boxing's most crowd-pleasing fighters. […]Dan Rafael
- Boxer banned for threat, sparking ring riot February 17, 2012The IBF on Thursday banned former junior flyweight titlist Luis Lazarte from participating in any fight the organization is associated with following Lazarte's actions during a bout last Friday. […]Dan Rafael
- Ward cleared for training as long as hand OK February 16, 2012Unified super middleweight champion Andre Ward has received medical clearance to resume using his left hand, as long as it feels OK, after fracturing it in two places. […]Dan Rafael
- Pacquiao, Roach rip Mayweather, back Bradley February 21, 2012
