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Monday, March 26, 2007
EEC - March 26, 2007
After a little break we are back…
News, Notes, and Rumors:
- Look for the KO Corner World Rankings to be updated at some point this week…
- Mikkel Kessler wants Joe Calzaghe, we’ve known that for a long time now. It’s been assumed that Calzaghe wants a crack at Kessler as well, the problem is that talks to try and get the two together have always fallen apart in the past. Kessler refuses to fight him in England just as Calzaghe won’t go to Denmark.
In today’s USA Today, Kessler mentions that he hopes his nationally televised bout this past weekend on HBO will get him the exposure he needs to have Calzaghe’s representatives setting up this fight as a priority.
“I want Joe Calzaghe, if he dares,” said Kessler. “I want to show the United States that I’m the best fighter.”
- David Haye has received a letter from the WBC stating that he will be getting a mandatory title shot against newly crowned WBC Cruiserweight Champ Jean-Marc Mormeck this summer.
“I’m really looking forward to fighting Mormeck,” said Haye. “I think our styles will make for a great tear up but I’m convinced that I have the ability to beat him.”
Before that happens, Haye has to defeat Tomasz Bonin on April 27th in London. If he’s successful, it seems that O’Neil Bell is going to have to wait a while...
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Friday, March 09, 2007
EEC - March 9, 2007
Not much today, just an overview of this weekend’s major bouts…
Weekend Fights:
Friday -
Paul Spadafora vs Oisin Fagan - Mount Pleasant, MI - Junior Welterweight (Telefutura)
Julio Cesar Chavez Jr vs Louis Brown - Hidalgo, TX - Welterweight (Telefutura)
Fernando Beltran Jr vs Baudel Cardenas - Hidalgo, TX - Junior Featherweight
Saturday -
Wladimir Klitschko vs Ray Austin - Mannheim, Germany - IBF Heavyweight Title (HBO)
Souleymane M’Baye vs Andreas Kotelnik - Liverpool, England - WBA Junior Welterweight Title
Derry Matthews vs John Simpson - Liverpool, England - Featherweight
Omar Narvaez vs Brahim Asloum - Le Cannet, France - WBO Flyweight Title
Some Good Reads:
FOX Sports: Life is interesting being Wladimir Klitschko
Boxing Scene: Spotlight on Margarito: Running To Stand Still?
Eastside Boxing: The Case for Steve Collins in the Hall
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Tuesday, March 06, 2007
EEC - March 6, 2007
Everyone remember to check for crusties in your eye before you start reading…
News, Notes, and Rumors:
- Freddie Roach has said that Manny Pacquiao should postpone his fight against Jorge Solis on April 14th because he feels that Pacquiao is distracted with his foray into politics and also because he hasn’t had enough time to train. Pacquiao responded in The Manila Standard Today, letting everyone know that he is ready…
In the face of criticism about his plan to run for the congressional seat of South Cotabato while at the same time preparing for his fight with Solis, Pacquiao said he is perfectly capable of handling both tasks.
- Max Kellerman is slowly making his way back into the spotlight…
Yesterday on his ESPN 1050 radio show, Kellerman stated that he believes the majority of the top boxers in the heavyweight division are on steroids and that no one should be shocked when they learn that a well-known boxer is linked to the giant Balco scandal.
Is he talking about Holyfield or someone else?
“Seven out of the 10 top heavyweights are on the juice,” Kellerman said. “Most of the top guys are (juicing).”
Some Good Reads:
ESPN: Pernell Whitaker: The undefined champion
Eastside Boxing: Bowe vs. Lewis: The Best Fights – Which ‘Never’ Took Place Part 1, Many of The Brightest Stars in boxing Today are One Dimensional
Boxing Scene: Barrera-Marquez: A super-featherweight’s burden
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Friday, March 02, 2007
EEC - March 2, 2007
The lighter weight classes dominate the big fights this weekend…
News, Notes, and Rumors:
- The venue for Nikolai Valuev’s mandatory title defense against Ruslan Chagaev on April 14th will be the Porsche Arena in Stuttgart, Germany…
Weekend Fights:
Friday -
Ricky Quiles vs Nate Campbell - Tampa Bay, FL - IBF Lightweight Eliminator (ESPN 2)
Elio Rojas vs Johnnie Edwards - Belterra, IN - Junior Lightweight (Showtime)
Devon Alexander vs Scott Bell - Belterra, IN - Welterweight (Showtime)
Mike Stewart vs Enrique Colin - Philadelphia, PA - Junior Welterweight (Telefutura)
Scott Gammer vs Danny Williams - Neath, Wales - British Heavyweight Title
Saturday -
Israel Vazquez vs Rafael Marquez - Carson, CA - WBC Junior Featherweight Title (Showtime)
Vic Darchinyan vs Victor Burgos - Carson, CA - IBF Flyweight Title (Showtime)
Miguel Cotto vs Oktay Urkal - San Juan, Puerto Rico - WBA Welterweight Title (HBO)
Allan Green vs Edison Miranda - San Juan, Puerto Rico - Middleweight (HBO)
Juan Manuel Lopez vs Levi Brea - San Juan, Puerto Rico - Junior Featherweight (HBO)
Chris John vs Jose Rojas - Jakarta, Indonesia - WBA Featherweight Title
Robert Stieglitz vs Alejandro Berrio - Rostock, Germany - IBF Super Middleweight Title
Sebastian Sylvester vs Alessio Furlan - Rostock, Germany - Middleweight
Alexander Povetkin vs David Bostice - Rostock, Germany - Heavyweight
Some Good Reads
ESPN: Boxing does not escape the specter of steroids
FOX Sports: Too light to be a big fight?
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Wednesday, February 28, 2007
EEC - February 28, 2007
The last EEC of the month! Ahhhh!
News, Notes, and Rumors:
- Apparently Floyd Mayweather Sr. will now be helping his son train for his fight against Oscar De La Hoya on May 5th. We all knew it was coming…
- Alex Arthur has withdrawn from his fight against Alexander Hrulev on March 10th due to an arm injury.
- Audley Harrison released the following statement concerning his recent loss to Michael Sprott:
Firstly, I would like to say congratulations to Michael (Sprott) for his victory. To my fans, and anyone who cares for my well being, although I am disappointed to have lost, I am physically and mentally OK. As fighters, we aim to inflict maximum damage on our opponents, but at the end of the day it is a sport with a winner and a loser.
The punch (of which I obviously didn’t see!) was a great shot, landed flush and it was sweet goodnight. But as Michael’s expressions showed, it was not in tune with the fight till then and it can be argued it was a lucky shot to some degree.
But that is boxing and no excuses; I ignored the cardinal rule of boxing, and paid the ultimate price (hands up at all times, or at least when in range).
After knocking him down and having such a good first round, I lost focus and went forward rather than sticking to the game plan. I dropped my hands to open him up, hoping to land a clean shot that would send him home. I was sinking in body shots to help soften him up and although he rushed me a bit in the 2nd round I felt it was just a matter of time before I landed a telling blow. (I broke the other rule of boxing here – don’t look for the knockout as it won’t come.)
That is pretty much it, plain and simple. I could mention many things that went wrong in camp or how I was feeling after the high of the Williams win, but it’s irrelevant as I got in there and was good enough to win.
Once again, the papers and critics are out in force, which is understandable and I almost can see their point that my career appears over. But we are talking about ME here and maybe I am delusional or just plain crazy, but I feel determined (maybe more so now) to rectify this loss and move on in my career.
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Monday, February 26, 2007
Rumor Killer: Lewis Not Coming Out of Retirement
Lennox Lewis has once again denied reports that he is planning to restart his career to take on the also recently unretired Vitali Klitschko.
“Although I’m flattered that the boxing community is eager to have me back in the ring, I have no plans to return,” Lewis said in a statement on his Web site.
“I have no idea how these rumors get started but I am a man of my word, I will remain retired.”
Klitschko has been attempting to coax Lewis out of retirement ever since he started training again to get back into shape…
Friday, February 23, 2007
EEC - February 23, 2007
I seemed to have wasted all of the news on yesterday…
Weekend Fights:
Friday -
Spend Abazi vs Robert Guerrero - Copenhagen, Denmark - IBF Featherweight Title
Johnny Tapia vs Ilido Julio - Albuquerque, NM - Featherweight
Darnell Wilson vs Kelvin Davis - Scranton, PA - Cruiserweight
Saturday -
Chris John vs Jose Rojas - Tenggarong, Indonesia - WBA Featherweight Title
Silvio Branco vs Stipe Drews - Oberhausen, Germany - WBA Light Heayweight Title
Fernando Montiel vs Z Gorres - Cebu, Philippines - WBO Junior Bantamweight Title
Some Good Reads:
ESPN: ‘The World Awaits’ a huge fight, and buildup to match
FOX Sports: Triumph, turmoil were always in Tapia’s corner
Boxing Scene: When The Heart’s Not In It: Audley Harrison & The Great Pretenders
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Thursday, February 22, 2007
EEC - February 22, 2007
Woooooooo!
News, Notes, and Rumors:
- Lalia Ali will participate in the next edition of ABC’s Dancing With The Stars…
- Jim Lampley was sentenced to three years of probation after pleading no contest to a misdemeanor charge of violating a restraining order. He was also was ordered to stay away from Candice Sanders as well, a continuation of the restraining order.
- Joel Casamayor was stripped of his WBC Lightweight Title for discussing a fight between himself and WBO Lightweight belt holder Acelino Freias. David Diaz has now been named the WBC champ. Strict I know…
Casamayor and his promotional company released this statement
Santa Barbara Management strongly disagrees with the decision of the WBC to strip Joel Casamayor of his Lightweight Championship. Joel won his title the way a true champion should, in the ring. He has done nothing to justify this outrageous decision by the WBC and we are considering all of our options, legal or otherwise. Joel and everyone at Santa Barbara Management would like to thank all of the fans and others within the boxing community who have phoned and emailed us to show their support.
- Reports are coming out that Nikolai Valuev will make a mandatory title defense against Ruslan Chagaev on April 14th in Germany like we previously reported. Just another reason to stay on top of us for the latest news…
- Tommy Morrison will speak in an interview after his fight tonight according to Versus…
VERSUS will have a pre-taped interview with Tommy Morrison as well as a live interview during the telecast tomorrow night as part of its VERSUS Fight Night in collaboration with Top Rank Boxing at 9 p.m. ET from the Mountaineer Race Track & Gaming Resort in Chester, West Virginia.
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Wednesday, February 21, 2007
EEC - February 21, 2007
Think of this as the trash-talking edition of EEC…
News, Notes, and Rumors:
- We all know about the blowup at yesterday’s Oscar De La Hoya-Floyd Mayweather Jr press conference. But did you hear some of the things they said about each other?
While De La Hoya was impressive with his remarks…
“I respect Floyd as a fighter, as the best pound-for-pound in the world.” said De La Hoya. “Come May 5, when I touch you, you’re going to hurt for weeks.”
Pretty Boy Floyd stepped his usual great trash-talking game up to a new level:
“I’m gonna bust his ass. I’m gonna do what I’ve done to 37 others,” Mayweather said. “I’ll bet you $1 million, $2 million, $3 million. Every dime in my bank account if you want. Right now. They kept me in the dark. Now they have to face me. I’m the top glove in the sport.”
- The most interesting remarks of the day however were made by Zab Judah during a recent interview with renowned boxing writer Tim Smith. What did Judah have to say regarding his upcoming fight against Miguel Cotto?
“I’m not Paulie Malignaggi. I’m Zab Judah. They must not know who I am,” Judah said. “Cotto is a little boy. He’s like my son. You know how it is when your son gets out of line and you have to give him a spanking to get him back in line. That’s what I’m going to do. I’m going to spank him like he’s my son.”
“I’m going to ask Top Rank to have my belt made up ahead of time,” Judah said. “I’m going to get me a float and I’m going to ride in the parade. I’m going to have all his Puerto Rican fans cheering for me at the fight and at the parade.”
Some Good Reads:
Boxing Scene: “Baby” Joe Mesi - The Big Gamble
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Tuesday, February 20, 2007
EEC - February 20, 2007
Many new things to report this morning…
News, Notes, and Rumors:
- Raul Frank has appealed to the New York State Athletic Commission to reinstate his victory over Terrance Cauthen. There will be a public hearing held at the officies of the NYSA tomorrow…
- IBF and IBO Flyweight Champion Vic Darchinyan has stated that he wants the winner of Rafael-Marquez-Israel Vazquez as a setup bout that would eventually get him in line for a shot at Manny Pacquiao.
“I will challenge both Marquez and Vazquez,” Darchinyan said. “I am looking forward. I just don’t want to stay in my weight division. I want to unify the flyweight division, but if the other champions won’t fight me, I want to move up and fight for more world titles. I want to become more popular. I want to become pound for pound No.1.”
- The Plain Dealer Reporter is reporting ironically that HBO would like Kelly Pavik to fight on the same card as Jermain Taylor-Sergio Mora on April 14th.
Pavlik told the paper that Top Rank is trying to set up a fight between himself and Edison Miranda in June instead with the winner getting a shot at Taylor in September…
- A biography on Roberto Duran written by Christian Giudice and titled “Hands of Stone, The Life and Legend of Roberto Duran” will start going on sale on Friday, March 2…
Some Good Reads:
ESPN: ‘Koncrete’ meets ‘Ding-A-Ling Man’ on FNF
FOX Sports: Malignaggi earns a win with a measured approach
Boxing Scene: Hopkins thinks Winky is the “Wright” Opponent