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Sunday, September 09, 2007
DeMarco Defeats Casal, Angulo Stops Gonzalez
Antonio DeMarco (right) recorded a hard-fought, 10-round unanimous decision over Nick Casal (left). Photo: Tom Casino/Showtime
SANTA YNEZ, Calif. – On a night of scintillating southpaw sluggers on Showtime, lightweight Antonio DeMarco and undefeated junior middleweight Alfredo Angulo took the next step toward a world ranking with impressive victories Friday on “ShoBox: The New Generation.”
In his 10-round debut, DeMarco (16-1-1, 12 KOs), recorded a unanimous decision over game warrior Nick Casal (16-2-1, 1 NC, 12 KOs) in an action-packed war. In the co-feature from the Chumash Casino Resort in Santa Ynez, Calif., Alfredo Angulo (10-0, seven KOs) made quick work of fellow unbeaten Emmanuel Gonzalez (9-1, four KOs) by scoring a second-round TKO. Showtime televised the Gary Shaw Productions, LLC, doubleheader at 11 p.m. ET/PT.
Making his fifth start in six months and sixth appearance at Chumash, DeMarco opened up a brutal cut at the top of Casal’s nose in the seventh round and cut his opponent’s lip with punishing combinations throughout. Despite battling a cold all week, DeMarco stood toe-to-toe to garner the hard-fought victory. Two of the judges scored the contest 97-93, while the other had it 96-94.
Continue reading "DeMarco Defeats Casal, Angulo Stops Gonzalez"
Monday, July 02, 2007
EEC - July 2, 2007
News, Notes, and Rumors:
- The rumors are true: Felix Trinidad will be coming out of retirement to fight later this year, most likely in December.
- Oleg Maskaev’s showdown against Samuel Peter has been moved from September 29th to October 6th on Showtime and will now take place at Madison Square Garden according to Don King. Showtime is looking to fill the vacant September 29th weekend spot with a possible matchup between Antonio Tarver and Chad Dawson, provided they are both victorious in their bouts on June 9th.
- Contract talks between the camps of Jermain Taylor and Kelly Pavlik are almost finished according to Lou DiBella. Taylor would end up defending his middleweight titles on September 29th on HBO. DiBella says that he is currently attempting to hold the event at Boardwalk Hall.
- NetBoxe is reporting that WBC and WBA Cruiserweight Champion Jean-Marc Mormeck is currently in talks with the camp of David Haye for a possible fight on September 28th.
- Nikolai Valuev and Vladimir Virchis look set to fight at some point this fall. The deadline for purse bids for this fight is July 30th according to Per Ake Persson of Boxing Scene.
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Saturday, June 09, 2007
Live Blogging: Cotto vs Judah
Starting a little late here but I guess it’s better than nothing at all.
Before I begin let me point out that the Pacquiao in the title isn’t Manny; it’s his brother Bobby. However his fight against Humberto Soto is slated to be extremely entertaining. Yuri Foreman just squeaked out a split decison win over Anthony Thompson a few moments ago. Let’s get started…
Bobby Pacquiao vs Humberto Soto
Pacquiao walks to the ring with Survivor - Eye of the Tiger playing in the background. The music switches to some hip hop once he gets to the ring. Soto walks to the ring to the sound of traditional Spanish music.
Round 1: The round begins with both fighters trying to find their range. Both are throwing left and right combinations. Soto gets Pacquiao up against the ropes and lands a huge body shot. Both going at a quick pace. Soto seems to be the more aggressive fighter. Soto is also landing better. Soto knocks Pacquiao down with a left hook behind the ear but Pacquiao gets back up to his feet, being subject to a six count.
KO Corner scores the round 10-8 for Soto
Round 2: Pacquiao is the more aggressive fighter to start the round. Soto continues to be able to back Pacquiao up against the ropes with flurries. Both are going toe-to-toe with a mix of shots to the head and body. Pacquiao stuns Soto with a right cross against the ropes but Soto has already done enough to win the round.
KO Corner scores the round 10-9 for Soto
Round 3: Slow start to the round. Pacquiao is more defensive this round. Soto is missing with shots from the outside. Soto is warned for punching to the back of the head. Pacquiao is taking control until Soto starts to connect with unanswered shots. Pacquiao is nearly out on his feet to end the round.
KO Corner scores the round 10-9 for Soto
Round 4: Soto is taking it to Pacquiao once again to start the round. Pacquiao has blood coming from his right eye. The referee stops the fight to have the doctor check Pacquiao’s cut. The fight is permitted to continue and Soto continues to connect with body shots. Pacquiao lands a right hook that buckles Soto’s knees. Pacquiao continues to connect with the right hand inside.
KO Corner scores it 10-9 for Pacquiao
Round 5: Both are throwing but not landing anything of note to start the round. Soto continues to find success going against Pacquiao’s body, especially the left side. Soto receives another warning for a punch to the back of the head. Blood streams down Pacquiao’s face. The round slowly creeps to an end with the fighters each jabbing away at each other.
KO Corner scores the round 10-9 for Soto
Round 6: Soto is countering Pacquiao with left-right combinations. Soto is picking Pacquiao apart. Pacquiao’s face is covered in blood and the commentators can’t help but make “The Crimson Mask” reference. The two throw wild punches to end the round.
KO Corner scores the round 10-9 for Soto
Round 7: Lampley and Steward let the audience know that they have Pacquiao’s blood all over their clothes and papers. Pacquiao warned for pushing down on Soto’s head. Soto connects with a big right straight and then knocks Pacquiao down with a body shot. Pacquaio doesn’t get back up.
Winner: Humberto Soto - KO
Grover Wiley vs Julio Cesar Chavez Jr
Wiley enters the ring to some Spanish techno music; Chavez Jr to again some traditional Spanish music. Maybe there is some kind of theme tonight that I don’t know about.
The story behind this fight: Wiley knocked out Chavez’s father. Chavez wants revenge.
Round 1: Chavez is throwing and landing more to start the fight. Wiley is trying to get the fight in close and land power shots. Wiley seems to be taking control towards the end of the round. Chavez lands a left hook to the body that hurts Wiley. Chavez lands another and Wiley goes down to his knees. Wiley gets up after an 8 count.
KO Corner scores the round 10-8 for Chavez
Round 2: Chavez continues to go to Wiley’s body with success. Chavez stays on the outside, letting Wiley inside every once in a while only to counter with a left hook to the body. Wiley backs Chavez up against the ropes and lets a nice flurry go before the end of the round.
KO Corner scores the round 10-9 for Chavez
Round 3: Chavez constantly using his jab to start the round. Both are landing solid combos. Chavez connects with another shot to the left side of Wiley’s body. Wiley covers up and Chavez knocks him down with another. Wiley gets back up and takes yet another left hook to the body which knocks him down for good.
Winner: Julio Cesar Chavez Jr - KO
Miguel Cotto vs Zab Judah
I’m thinking that Cotto is going to come out of this fight victorious. I think that Judah may take the lead in the early rounds with his speed but eventually Cotto’s power and the wear and tear Judah’s ribs will take provided Cotto chooses to go to his patented left hook to the body throughout the fight will make the difference in this bout.
The backstage camera shows Zab Judah and his camp wearing Affliction, the new line of sports wear made popular by fighters in the UFC. Sorry, that’s the MMA on Tap in me…
Judah comes out to a nice little custom DJ entrance and a good ovation. However Judah’s walk to the ring is marred by Cotto chants along the way. Cotto walks to the ring with what kind of music playing? Traditional Spanish music, of course…
The judges for this bout are Nelson Vazquez, Tom Schreck, and John McKaie. The referee will be Arthur Mercanti.
Round 1: Cotto is aggressive from the start. Judah’s shots mostly miss during the middle of the round. Judah catches Cotto with a big uppercut. Judah continues to hammer away at Cotto along the ropes. Cotto knocks Judah down with a low blow and Cotto receives a warning from Mercanti. Judah uses his speed to dodge Cotto’s punches and throw his jab for the rest of the round.
KO Corner scores the round 10-9 for Judah
Round 2: Each landing shots to start the round. Judah is staying on the outside while Cotto is trying to work his way in. Cotto connects with two hard body shots to Judah and backs him up. Judah counters with a straight right that stuns Cotto for a moment.
KO Corner scores the round 10-9 for Cotto
Round 3: The two pick their shots to begin the round, each staying away. Cotto puts Judah down again with a low blow. Mercanti takes a point away from Cotto. Cotto has blood on his chest from his lip. Judah eventually gets back up and pushes the action with counter punches. The pace is really picking up. Judah connects with another big uppercut. The two exchange shots to end the round.
KO Corner scores the round 10-8 for Judah
Round 4: They connect with simultaneous shots to start the round. Seems like both are trying to counter each other and show off their power. Cotto picks up the pace and starts to hammer away at Judah against the ropes. Cotto is picking Judah apart. Judah has nothing to answer the relentless attack with. Big round for Cotto.
KO Corner scores the round 10-9 for Cotto
Round 5: The two are more content to hold onto each other this round compared to earlier. Judah is really staying on the outside now. Cotto is really bringing it with the body punches. Cotto lands a right cross while Judah holds on to him. Mercanti tells Judah that he’s holding and to stop. Cotto continues the pressure. Blood is coming from Judah’s nose now.
KO Corner scores the round 10-9 for Cotto
Round 6: Cotto is continuing to land harder and more frequently. Cotto stuns Judah with a right hand in the corner. Cotto continues to go to the body. Judah shows that he is still the faster fighter but is unable to get away from Cotto’s power shots.
KO Corner scores the round 10-9 for Cotto
Round 7: Cotto still landing shots and Judah paws away with the jab. Judah is wiping away blood from his eye an awful lot. Judah throws a nice flurry that Cotto ducks away from. Cotto catches Judah with a right. Judah responds by connecting with a big flurry of lefts and rights that hurts Cotto for a moment. Judah just can’t take control of the fight with Cotto’s pressure.
KO Corner scores the round 10-9 for Cotto
Round 8: Cotto still connecting with power shots. Judah isn’t listening to his corner, he has to start throwing more. Judah pumps away with the jab. Judah gets scolded by Mercanti for taunting Cotto. Cotto connects with three straight lefts. Cotto hammering Judah with hooks. They tie up to end the round.
KO Corner scores the round 10-9 for Cotto
Round 9: Judah picking up the pace to start the round. Cotto connecting to the body at will. Judah’s right eye is swelling very badly. Cotto landing multiple left hands in a row. Cotto relentless to the body. Judah takes a knee and gets up at the count of 8. Cotto is dominating. Judah lands a hard left in the closing seconds.
KO Corner scores the round 10-8 for Cotto
Round 10: Judah mounting a mini comeback to start the round. Judah’s right eye is nearly closed. Cotto continuing to work the body. Judah returns the favor with a body shot of his own. Cotto picking up the punishment towards the end of the round. It was the last sequence that gave Cotto this round.
KO Corner scores the round 10-9 for Cotto
Round 11: Cotto knocks Judah down with a right hand to start the round. Judah gets back up at a count of 8. Cotto continues to land at will and Mercanti is forced to stop the fight and save Judah from any more punishment.
Winner: Miguel Cotto - TKO
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Friday, May 25, 2007
EEC - May 25, 2007
News, Notes, and Rumors:
- The proposed rematch between Israel Vazquez and Rafael Marquez for August 4th is now official…
- Boxing Hall of Famer Michael Carbajal was arrested yesterday for allegedly threatening a Phoenix police officer as well as carrying an open container of liquor in public:
The 39-year-old Carbajal was booked into jail on suspicion of threatening and intimidating a police officer and a liquor violation, police said. He was later released on bond.
Sgt. Joel Tranter, a Phoenix police spokesman, said Carbajal was “agitated, argumentative and belligerent” with officers who found him walking in a vacant lot with an open bottle of rum early Thursday.
Carbajal “threatened to kill one of the officers” and was taken into custody, Tranter said.
- WBA Middleweight Champ Felix Sturm will defend his title on June 30th against Alesia Graf in Germany…
Weekend Fights:
Friday -
Anthony Peterson vs Luis Ernesto Jose - Washington DC - Lightweight (ESPN2)
Lamont Peterson vs John Brown - Washington DC - Junior Welterweight (ESPN2)
Jesus Soto-Karass vs Gilbert Venegas - Albuquerque, NM - Welterweight
Brandon Rios vs Carlos Madrid - Albuquerque, NM - Featherweight
Ray Sanchez vs Chris Overbey - Albuquerque, NM - Welterweight
Saturday -
Krzysztof Wlodarczyk vs Steve Cunningham - Warsaw, Poland - IBF Cruiserweight Title
Arthur Abraham vs Sebastien Demers - Bamberg, Germany - IBF Middleweight Title
Vadim Tokarev vs Marco Huck - Bamberg, Germany - IBF Cruiserweight Eliminator
Thursday, May 24, 2007
EEC - May 24, 2007
Just to let everyone know, this me blogging and not my father…
News, Notes, and Rumors:
- Zab Judah is a sly fox…
Judah fooled promoters and media alike yesterday when he allowed his father, Yoel, to replace him on a scheduled conference call. Moments after the 30 minute session was over, multiple writers contacted Top Rank’s Lee Samuels and said that they didn’t think it was Zab on the phone.
“We don’t promote Zab, we promote Cotto,” Samuels said. “So I immediately checked with Judah’s camp and they said it was his father on the conference call.”
“Mea culpa,” Samuels said. “I called Zab’s number 10 minutes ahead to make sure he would be ready and I assumed the person I was talking to was Zab. I’ve been doing conference calls for Top Rank since 1982 and I’ve never been snookered like this before. I would have made a lousy contestant on the game show ‘To Tell The Truth.’ But I do apologize to the media for this.”
Samuels said that he will attempt to schedule a new conference call with Zab before the fight…
- Former WBA Light Middleweight and Middleweight Champion Julian Jackson will be presented with a permanent Middleweight Title on June 18th by the WBC.
- According to a recent interview ITV did with Bob Arum, Kelly Pavlik is going to be bigger than Oscar De La Hoya:
“It is hard for you to envision now, but he will be much bigger than Oscar De La Hoya ever was. I’m telling you. That is my goal,’’ Arum said.
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Sunday, May 20, 2007
Miranda-Pavlik, Spinks-Taylor Live Blog
I’ll be live blogging the two fights tonight on HBO: Kelly Pavlik vs Edison Miranda and Cory Spinks vs Jermain Taylor.
Continue reading "Miranda-Pavlik, Spinks-Taylor Live Blog"
Saturday, April 28, 2007
EEC - April 28, 2007
Some fight results and a fight announcement headline today’s Early Eight Count…
News, Notes, and Rumors:
- EBU Cruiserweight Champion David Haye was victorious in his heavyweight debut last night with a TKO win over Tomasz Bonin in the first round. Haye improved to 19-1 while Bonin fell to 37-2. One of the most interesting things to note is that Haye weighed in at a stout 231 lbs for the bout despite fighting the majority of his fights at the cruiserweight limit of in or around 200 lbs.
- Dan Rafael of ESPN is reporting that a rematch between Rafael Marquez and Israel Vazquez is currently set for August 4th on Showtime. If you recall, the two last fought on March 3rd with Marquez taking Vazquez’s belt and stopping him in the 7th round. Vazquez’s corner was forced to throw in the towel after Vazquez apparently told his corner that he could not breath correctly.
- Both Oscar De La Hoya and Floyd Mayweather Jr successfully made their 7 day weigh-ins prior to their fight on May 5th…
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Friday, April 27, 2007
EEC - April 27, 2007
A lot of quotes today…
News, Notes, and Rumors:
- Because of his comments by his son and brother, Floyd Mayweather Sr will no longer involve himself in the May 5th fight between his son, Floyd Mayweather Jr , and Oscar De La Hoya according to an interview with the Grand Rapids Press:
“We’re back to square one,” Floyd Sr. said. “That’s where we’re at, we’re back at the beginning. I do want to get back together with Little Floyd. I do want to get to know my grandkids. But if he doesn’t want it to happen, so it will be. Roger talks all that (stuff) on TV, but what champions has he made? I made Floyd Mayweather Jr., and even he knows that. That foundation was already laid, long before Roger. Roger shouldn’t even comment on things that went on between me and Little Floyd. Floyd is only 30 years old, and Roger has lived in Las Vegas for 26, 27 years. He was never there to know.”
“Your kids are looking, your grandmother’s looking, your family’s looking. You don’t say stuff like that. What is he getting out of that? I don’t know why he’s willing to be portrayed as the bad guy. It’s reality TV, and you can say something wrong, and they catch you. That’s one thing. But he looks right in the camera and says it.”
“I didn’t do anything to Floyd except care. And when you get right down to it, he didn’t do anything for me. Everything I’ve got, I got from De La Hoya. I don’t care if it is his uncle. To say he’s loyal to Roger, when I’m the one who gave him life? What is he talking about? I’ve been careful not to say anything bad about anybody this camp, and I don’t even think Little Floyd should be speaking on it.”
- Speaking of “Little Floyd” - He thinks that everyone, the media and De La Hoya especially, is going to be surprised by his punching power on May 5th:
“I’ve got a hell of a knockout ratio and I feel that’s what is going to be the surprise for Oscar on May 5 - my punching power. My hands are strong and I feel good. Weight doesen’t win a fight. Fame doesn’t win a fight. Smartness and intelligence win a fight,” Mayweather said. “Everybody says Oscar has a good left hook. Well Floyd Mayweather has a good left hook, a good right hand and can dig to the body with both hands. He has the best defense in boxing and can beat you inside or outside.”
- In a possible attempt to try and get Jermain Taylor to accept Frank Warren’s attempts to match Taylor and Joe Calzaghe up this summer, Calzaghe has once again stated that he wants either Taylor or Mikkel Kessler for his next title defense…
“I have proudly held the WBO title for nearly 10 years since my great win over Chris Eubank way back in 1997. I’ve made 20 defences and I would love my 21st to be either against Kessler or Taylor,” Said Calzaghe.
Weekend Fights:
Friday -
Mike Anchondo vs Darling Jimenez - Washington, DC - Junior Lightweight (ESPN2)
Vernon Paris vs Alain Hernandez - Washington, DC - Junior Welterweight (ESPN2)
David Haye vs Tomasz Bonin - London, England - Heavyweight
Tommy Morrison vs Dale Ortiz - Houston, TX - Heavyweight
Sergio Martinez vs Saul Roman - Houston, TX - WBC Junior Middleweight Title Eliminator
Jose Aguiniga vs Joe Morales - Houston, TX - Featherweight
Vanes Martirosyan vs Nelson Estupinan - Houston, TX - Junior Middleweight
Saturday -
Acelino Freitas vs Juan Diaz - Mashantucket, CT - WBO/WBA Lightweight Title Unification Bout
Javier Castillejo vs Felix Sturm - Oberhausen, Germany - WBA Middleweight Title
Silvio Branco vs Stipe Drews - Oberhausen, Germany - WBA Light Heavyweight Title
Ricardo Torres vs Arturo Morua - Barranquilla, Colombia - WBO Junior Welterweight Title
Ivan Calderon vs Ronald Barrera - Barranquilla, Colombia - WBO Strawweight Title
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Tuesday, April 24, 2007
KO Corner World Rankings - April 2007
Here are KO Corner’s World Rankings for the month of April 2007…
Heavyweight
1. Wladimir Klitschko
2. Samuel Peter
3. Oleg Maskaev
4. Ruslan Chagaev
5. Shannon Briggs
Cruiserweight
1. Jean-Marc Mormeck
2. O’Neil Bell
3. Krzysztof Wlodarczyk
4. Steve Cunningham
5. Vadim Tokarov
Light Heavyweight
1. Bernard Hopkins
2. Clinton Woods
3. Glen Johnson
4. Chad Dawson
5. Antonio Tarver
Super Middleweight
1. Joe Calzaghe
2. Mikkel Kessler
3. Anthony Mundine
4. Jeff Lacy
5. Librado Andrade
Middleweight
1. Jermain Taylor
2. Winky Wright
3. Edison Miranda
4. Arthur Abraham
5. Kelly Pavlik
Junior Middleweight
1. Cory Spinks
2. Roman Karmazin
3. Oscar De La Hoya
4. Sergei Dzindzirak
5. Kassim Ouma
Welterweight
1. Floyd Mayweather Jr.
2. Antonio Margarito
3. Shane Mosley
4. Miguel Cotto
5. Carlos Baldomir
Junior Welterweight
1. Ricky Hatton
2. Jose Luis Castillo
3. Junior Witter
4. Vivian Harris
5. Lovemore N’dou
Lightweight
1. Joel Casamayor
2. Juan Diaz
3. Julio Diaz
4. David Diaz
5. Nate Campbell
Junior Lightweight
1. Manny Pacquiao
2. Juan Manuel Marquez
3. Marco Antonion Barrera
4. Joan Guzman
5. Erik Morales
Featherweight
1. Chris John
2. Injin Chi
3. Nicky Cook
4. Robert Guerrero
5. Jorge Solis
Junior Featherweight
1. Rafael Marquez
2. Israel Vazquez
3. Celestino Caballero
4. Somsak Sithcatchawal
5. Daniel Ponce DeLeon
Bantamweight
1. Rafael Marquez
2. Hokumi Hasegawa
3. Veerapol Sahaprom
4. Wladimir Sidorenko
5. Jhonny Gonzalez
Junior Bantamweight
1. Nobuo Nashiro
2. Martin Castillo
3. Cristian Misares
4. Luis Perez
5. Fernando Montiel
Flyweight
1. Pongsaklek Wonjongkam
2. Lorenzo Parra
3. Vic Darchinyan
4. Omar Narvaez
5. Takefumi Sakata
Junior Flyweight
1. Hugo Cazares
2. Ulises Solis
3. Juan Landaeta
4. Omar Nino
5. Edgar Sosa
Strawweight
1. Ivan Calderon
2. Yutaka Nilda
3. Muhammad Rachman
4. Eagle Kyowa
5. Katsunari Takayama
EEC - April 24, 2007
News, Notes, and Rumors:
- Philippine broadcasting network ABS-CBN is reporting that one of Manny Pacquiao’s bodyguards shot and wounded a 10 year old boy yesterday. The boy was rushed to St. Elizabeth Hospital in General Santos City and is currently in stable condition. Doctors stated that the boy was shot in both of his hands.
There is a nationwide gun ban in the Philippines. So why did Pacquiao’s bodyguard have a gun? He was given approval to carry firearms after alleged kidnapping threats to Pacquiao and other members of his family.
- The WBC has ordered two mandatory title bouts: Edgar Sosa will defend his WBC Light Flyweight Title against Luis Lazarte and Jean-Marc Mormeck will make his first defense of his WBC Cruiserweight Championship against David Haye. The winner of the Mormeck-Haye bout will be forced to fight former WBC Cruiserweight title holder O’Neil Bell later this year.
- Corrie Sanders will face Kevin Monity on May 12…
- Amir Khan will take on Willie Limond at London’s O2 Arena on July 14. Steven Luevano and Nicky Cook will decide who gets the vacant WBO Featherweight Title that same night in the main event…
- Here are some quotes from the Litzau - Valtierra press conference that was held yesterday…
Bob Van Syckle (Litzau’s trainer): “This is a very important fight for Jason. A win in this fight will get him back in the top ten rankings and back on HBO in a revenge match with Jose Hernandez. Jason had his best training camp ever. At first I was a little apprehensive about training in his hometown of St. Paul with all the temptations nearby, but, Jason showed his professionalism by maintaining a strict training discipline. He trained 3 times a day, starting with a run around Phalen Lake at 6:00 am, sparring at Rice Street Gym in the afternoon and finishing up with strength and conditioning at Lifetime Fitness in the evening. You will see a new and improved Jason Litzau with an emphasis on Defense and smart, aggressive offense.”
Jason Litzau: “Since I was a little kid, I dreamed of fighting in the main event at the Roy Wilkins Auditorium in my hometown of St. Paul. Now, on April 25, my dream will become a reality. I hope we can sell out the arena because nothing motivates me more than 6,000 screaming fans. I know that this will be my toughest fight. My opponent has never been stopped, and he is coming here to stop me. I guarantee that I will give everyone in the stands and everyone watching on ESPN2 their money’s worth. My ultimate goal is to win a World Championship for Minnesota and to do it in the big arena, the EXCEL Energy Center.”