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Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Tarver-Woods Added to Dawson-Johnson Card
NEW YORK – A second light heavyweight world title fight has been added to the April 12 edition of Showtime Championship Boxing, Ken Hershman, senior vice president and general manager, Sports & Event Programming, Showtime announced today. IBF light heavyweight champion Clinton Woods will defend his title against IBO titleholder and former undisputed 175-pound kingpin Antonio Tarver at the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa, Fla.
Tarver vs. Woods, an intriguing match-up in its own right, joins the already highly anticipated light heavyweight championship fight between WBC world title holder Chad Dawson and former world champ Glen Johnson, making April 12 an important night for boxing on Showtime.
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Wednesday, October 25, 2006
Calzaghe Now Wants Taylor
How many different fighters is Joe Calzaghe going to call out this year? I understand that it might be part of Frank Warren’s plans but how are opponents supposed to be confident that Calzaghe is serious about setting up a matchup when is challenging other boxers at the same time.
Roy Jones stated that he was going to take Calzaghe’s request to fight him seriously...
Calzaghe claimed that Clinton Woods was afraid of him...
Antontio Tarver decided to turn down Calzaghe, showing no interest…
Calzaghe wants to unify the titles against Mikkel Kessler…
Calzaghe announces his plans to come to America and wanted Bernard Hopkins as his first opponent...
The latest? WBC and WBO Middleweight Champion Jermain Taylor.
“Jermain Taylor is number one for me,” said Calzaghe. “He beat Hopkins, he’s young, undefeated, a massive test.”
Calzaghe discussed Taylor among other things yesterday during a media luncheon in New York City.
His future plans may very well look like this: a February unification bout with Kessler and provided that he is successful, a possible June showdown with Taylor could happen. Date and Location: Madison Square Garden in July maybe?
According to Warren, Taylor’s promoter Lou DiBella has already said the possibility of a fight between the two in the near future is very real. Calzaghe also thinks his chances are real…
“If I fight Taylor like I did versus Lacy, nobody can beat me,” he said. “Nothing’s certain, but I’m confident I’ll win. Jermain Taylor and me would be a megafight.”
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Monday, October 16, 2006
HBO Backs Out of Jones-Manfredo; Showtime, ESPN Interested
ESPN is reporting that HBO has backed out and will not offer to televise the possible bout between Roy Jones Jr. and Peter Manfredo Jr.
After discussions with Manfredo’s promotional group - the same group that operates The Contender reality TV show - HBO decided that they were no longer interested in televising the event. I think it’s a good chance that HBO didn’t want to have to deal with all of The Contender references that would come along with having Manfredo as one of their fighters.
Two possibilties remain: Showtime and ESPN
Jones’ advisor Jim Thomas had a statement on why HBO decided not to pursue the bout…
They weren’t sure if they could afford Roy on the show,” Thomas told ESPN.com. “We were still dickering over Roy’s participation in the upside, but the guarantee was set. The money was what Roy had sent me out to get and we were happy with the deal, but then this HBO thing happened. So we’re talking to Showtime to see if it is something we can still do.”
It makes sense, but I’m sure that The Contender also had something to do with the decision.
Just in case the Manfredo fight never develops, Jones Jr. has a backup plan that we have already reported...
Jones’ advisor, Jim Thomas has stated that if victorious against Manfredo or whoever his opponent is this winter, he would then challenge Clinton Woods for his light-heavyweight strap.
It’s very smart to become involved in other discussions because a fight always has the possibility of falling through, even at the last minute when it becomes unthinkable. Manfredo’s camp hasn’t even made a statement on Jones’ challenge to my knowledge yet either. What if Manfredo says that he’s not ready for Roy?
“Ideally, Roy could fight Manfredo in January and then do the Clinton Woods fight on Showtime a few months later,” Jim Thomas has said.
If everything works out, the above would be exactly what would happen, providing that Jones is victorious against Manfredo. I don’t believe that Woods-Jones Jr. can happen on the original date in March, especially if the Manfredo fight happens on January 20th.
Woods-Jones Jr. II would happen at the ideal time to have a rematch between the two - Jones would be coming off his second straight victory; Woods would have a shot at avenging his 2002 loss to Jones Jr and defend his title…
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Sunday, October 15, 2006
Manfredo Destroys Spina; Is Sought by Jones Jr.
Peter Manfredo Jr. simply beat up Joey Spina on Saturday night in what may have been the most impressive performance of his career to date. The fight was stopped in the third round after Spina’s corner was forced to throw in the towel and save their fighter.
The fight was actually close leading up to the third round. The judges gave Spina the first round based on a late flurry that surprised Manfredo and the second to Manfredo who bruised and battered Spina throughout the round. It was during the third round however that Manfredo was able to pull ahead in a big way.
Manfredo was landing nothing but absolute bombs to start the third round - every single shot stunning Spina. Manfredo knocked Spina to the canvas with a straight right - Spina got back up to his feet, but Manfredo landed another bomb that forced Spina’s corner to end the fight by throwing in the white, fluffy object.
“I told you that we are on a different level,” Manfredo said. “I never wanted to take this fight. I never wanted to hurt anybody from Rhode Island, but he kept shooting off his mouth. I guess he made his money but he took the beating of his life.”
Spina was examined by ringside officials after the fight for an extended period of time - It was determined that he had a concussion and a broken hand.
After Manfredo’s impressive victory, Roy Jones Jr. “decided” that his next fight would be against him - Jones’ wording, not mine…
The two were already in discussions about setting up a fight at some point next year and now it looks like it may happen as early as January…
The Pensacola New Journal is reporting that the card would also feature a middleweight bout between Fernando Vargas and Sergio Mora.
Jones’ advisor, Jim Thomas has stated that if victorious against Manfredo or whoever his opponent is this winter, he would then challenge Clinton Woods for his light-heavyweight strap.
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Thursday, September 07, 2006
Woods-Johnson Aftermath
Two things of note have come out of the result of the Clinton Woods-Glen Johnson bout from this past weekend…
Johnson’s camp is planning to file a protest to the IBF asking the organization to reverse the decision of the fight. The reasoning behind this is that one of Woods’ cornermen climbed on to the ring apron during the closing moments of the fight.
“This is a direct violation of the IBF rules and regulations as it relates to members of any fighter’s corner stepping foot on the ring apron during the action,” Leon Margules, head of Warriors Boxing, said.
Woods’ promoter Dennis Hobson has already stated that he isn’t the least bit concerned - I wouldn’t be either.
“It is a cheap shot by people who cannot come to terms with the fact their man lost fair and square. They have not been gracious in defeat and they are just bad losers,” Hobson said.
My thoughts exactly Dennis…
Moving on, Hobson and Joe Calzaghe promoter Frank Warren have discussed the possibility of having the two meet up in the near future. It would be an intriguing matchup, especially since Calzaghe believes that Woods is afraid of him.
While Hobson waits for an offer from Warren, he plans on flying to the United States on Sunday to talk with representatives of both Roy Jones Jr and Antonio Tarver…
“I am waiting for an offer to try and sort it out face to face. In the meantime Clinton has other opportunities and we could easily make a fight with Jones or Tarver,” Hobson said.
Interesting to see that Woods believes he is ready for that level of an opponent. Woods has faced Jones before in 2002, losing by TKO in the 6th round.
Tuesday, September 05, 2006
Calzaghe Claims Woods is Afraid
Joe Calzaghe is claiming that the recently victorious Clinton Woods is afraid to fight him. Woods has already agreed to fight Calzaghe providing the purse generated from the fight was split right down the middle. Still, Calzaghe feels otherwise…
“Clinton Woods knows he can’t beat me,” Calzaghe said. “If he thinks he can beat me, then he should fight me and prove it. If he doesn’t fight me it will be because he knows he would get beat.”
“He’ll get a big payday and I’ll get a big payday, so let’s get it on,” repeated Calzaghe. “He’s not getting any younger and who else is he going to fight? It’s a natural fight to make. He’s the best at light heavyweight. I’m the best at super middleweight.”
Calzaghe also had some interesting words to say about Woods’ performance against Glen Johnson this weekend.
“It was like watching a fight in slow motion. I’m Speedy Gonzalez compared to those guys. I congratulate Clinton on winning, and he’s strong and brave, but he would never beat me.”
Monday, September 04, 2006
Weekend Results - September 4, 2006
Clinton Woods retained his IBF Light-Heavweight title with a split decision victory over Glen Johnson. The fight was the third meeting between the two fighters: The two battled to a draw in November 2003. In February 2004, Johnson took the edge in the series with a unanimous decision win.
Souleymane Mbaye won the vacant WBA Light-Welterweight title with a 4th round TKO win over Raul Balbi Saturday night. Mbaye stated that he would love to defend his title next against either Ricky Hatton or the winner of Junior Witter-DeMarcus Corley.
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Thursday, August 31, 2006
Johnson Challenges Woods to Bet of $50,000; Woods Refuses
Hollywood, FL, August 31 – As things heat up for the IBF Light Heavyweight Title fight between Glen Johnson and Clinton Woods, Johnson confronts Woods at today’s press conference in Bolton, England regarding comments that Woods apparently made in reference to knocking Johnson out in the sixth round of their upcoming contest.
“I bet you $50,000 that you don’t beat me,” said Johnson
Woods challenged Johnson as to where and when he saw such a statement and refused to take the bet.
The fight which is promoted by Frank Warren Sports Networks and Seminole Warriors Boxing, takes place at the Bolton Arena in Bolton, England this Saturday, September 2nd. This is the third fight between Johnson and Woods. Johnson who previously vacated the belt to step up and fight Antonio Tarver has returned to take back what is rightfully his, the IBF Light Heavyweight World Title.