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Wednesday, January 09, 2008
Roman Karmazin Quotes
Karmazin and trainer Freddie Roach tape his gloves at Wild Card Boxing Club. Photo: Paul R. Hernandez for DKP
NEW YORK - Former IBF 154-pound world champion Roman “Made in Hell” Karmazin, will defend his World Boxing Association Intercontinental super welterweight championship against Alex Bunema on Saturday, Jan. 19 at New York’s famed Madison Square Garden.
Karmazin (36-2-1, 23 KOs), now living in Los Angeles, and Bunema (26-9-2, 14 KOs), from the Democratic Republic of Congo, will clash in a match featured on the HBO Pay-Per View telecast during the “Bring on the Titans” event headlined by Felix “Tito” Trinidad vs. Roy Jones Jr. Two of the greatest boxers in history, Trinidad and Jones will face each other in a battle boxing fans have been waiting for years to see.
The Russian-born immigrant from St. Petersburg, who came to the United States to pursue his dreams of becoming a world champion boxer, will dedicate his fight to slain New York City Police officers and fellow Russian immigrants Eugene Marshalik and Russell Timoshenko, who were killed in the line of duty in March and July 2007, respectively.
The Trinidad vs. Jones domestic pay-per-view telecast will begin at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT and is being produced and distributed by HBO Pay-Per-View.
The event will be distributed internationally by KingVision, available through DK International Sales, a division of Don King Productions, Inc.
The event is being promoted by Don King Productions in association with Madison Square Garden.
Here is what Karmazin and his legendary trainer Freddie Roach had to say during a 60-minute media work out on Wednesday at Roach’s famous Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood, Calif.
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Thursday, June 14, 2007
Hopkins Begins Training With Roach
LOS ANGELES - Light Heavyweight Champion Bernard “The Executioner” Hopkins arrived in Los Angeles on Sunday and began training with new trainer Freddie Roach at the Wild Card Gym. Hopkins is already entrenched in a vigorous regimen in preparation for his summer blockbuster fight against Winky Wright in “Coming to Fight,” on July 21st at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas , Nevada live on HBO Pay-Per-View.
“I’m thrilled to be training with Freddie Roach in Los Angeles,” said Hopkins. “It’s a complete change of scenery for me and the new surroundings are a great motivation at this stage of my career.”
Hopkins is training in Los Angeles for the first time in his long and illustrious career. Previous sites and regular favorites for the veteran pugilist have included Miami, Philadelphia, Big Bear and most recently New Orleans. A major influence in his decision to train in the City of Angels was the addition of Roach to his team, who owns the Wild Card Gym in Hollywood.
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Thursday, February 15, 2007
EEC - February 15, 2007
We focus on the lighter weight-classes this morning…
News, Notes, and Rumors:
- The Boxing Writers Association of America announced their annual awards yesterday. Who were some of the winners?
Fighter of the Year: Manny Pacquaio
Trainer of the Year: Freddie Roach
Fight of the Year: Somsak Sitchatchawal vs Mahyar Monshipour
Pat Putnam Award: Muhammad Ali
Broadcaster of the Year: Steve Albert
- Manny Pacquiao is now saying that he may wait for the winner of Marco Antonio Barrera and Juan Manuel Marquez before he fights again. That would mean his April 14th bout with Jorge Solis is now on hold…
- Speaking of Barrera-Marquez - Two of the undercard fights have been announced: Daniel Ponce De Leon vs Gerry Penalosa and Demetrius Hopkins vs Steve Forbes.
Some Good Reads:
Boxing Scene: Saturday’s Triple-Header: Quantity Over Quality?
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Thursday, February 08, 2007
Sugar Ray Leonard to Train Manfredo
Sugar Ray Leonard announced earlier today that he would be training Peter Manfredo Jr. for his upcoming fight against Joe Calzaghe on April 7th.
Leonard is taking the place of Freddie Roach, Manfredo’s usual trainer who has opted to instead train Oscar De La Hoya for his showdown against Floyd Mayweather Jr. on May 5th.
Even though he has never been a trainer before for such a big-name fighter, Leonard was confident that he would do well…
“I’m not a trainer, but my skill is in tactics and strategy,” said Leonard, whose only previous cornering experience was for his brother.
Calzaghe was quick to make it known that having Leonard is his corner isn’t going to help Manfredo any when it comes time to lace up the gloves:
“I don’t care who he has in his corner, he isn’t going to beat me, it’s as simple as that,” said the undefeated 34-year-old.
It’s going to be interesting to see what happens here. This might be the beginning of a new career for Leonard. Who knows - What happens if De La Hoya beats Mayweather and Oscar decides to continue fighting? Would he dump Floyd Mayweather Sr. completely and ask Roach to stay on. That could lead to Manfredo sticking with Leonard.
So many interesting storylines going on right now involving a circle of fights…
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Thursday, February 01, 2007
Guerrero Training Hard For Abazi
Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero is adapting well and soaking up the knowledge being taught to him at Freddie Roach’s Wild Card gym as he prepares for his highly anticipated IBF championship fight against Spend Abazi from Denmark. This will be the first time “The Ghost” has had to battle outside of his native USA soil, and with his back against the wall, Guerrero said, “I’m excited about fighting overseas. I know it’s going to be tough to get a decision in his homeland, so my plans are to take him out.”
Having been in camp with new trainer Freddie Roach the last three weeks, Robert mentioned, “I’m learning a lot with Freddie and the transition has been a blessing. Training at the Wild Card gym everyday is an incredible feeling; it’s a championship environment and you can feel it in the air. I can’t wait mix it up with Abazi.”
This bout is scheduled for February 23, and will be held at the Falconer Center, in Copenhagen, Denmark. With a huge European television audience tuning in, negotiations are still being worked out to show the fight on the Internet in the United States. The winner of this fight will become the new IBF featherweight champion of the world. Stay tuned, as Team Guerrero will keep you updated on all activity surrounding this bout. God bless to all.
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EEC - February 1, 2007
Your morning boxing news coming at ya…
News, Notes, and Rumors:
- The Milburn family of Windsor, Ontario has donated a pair of Joe Louis’ gloves that he used in his historic battle with Max Schmeling in 1936 to the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History. The Milburn family originally received the gloves from relatives who were close with Louis’ long time manager.
- WBC President Jose Sulaiman thinks that it’s time for Erik Morales to hang up the gloves…
“When someone loses hunger, he loses the desire to win,” Sulaiman said. “I think fighters lose the motivation to get up at 4 a.m. in the morning and go running, and the motivation to go on a diet. And I believe in that regard, Erik has not taken care of himself. He put himself through inhuman levels to lose weight, and he has picked the best to fight with the least amount of conditioning, and that is why he is in the situation that he is.”
Sulaiman also thinks that Morales needs one last fight…
“But my opinion is that he wants to retire with a victory, and he believes he can win the championship at lightweight. Erik doesn’t want to go out a loser in the way that he lost against Manny Pacquiao. He doesn’t want to go out in the minds of the people thinking of him on the canvas. So there are two motivations for him: his fourth world title and his leaving boxing with a different image for fans who’ve seen him for so many years.”
What does this all mean? Since Joel Casamayor will fight Acelino Freitas, that leaves David Diaz open for Morales’ taking. Look for a WBC Lightweight Title fight in either March or April…
- Floyd Mayweather Jr’s advisor, Leonard Ellerbe, has told The Las Vegas Review-Journal that Freddie Roach’s training methods aren’t going to have an impact on the fight between Mayweather and Oscar De La Hoya:
“Oscar had two chances to win this fight, slim and none, and slim just left town when he hired Freddie,” Ellerbe said. “I have a lot of respect for Freddie as a great trainer, but to compare Freddie Roach as a trainer to Mayweather Sr. is like comparing (Manu) Ginobili to Kobe Bryant.”
- Manny Pacquiao has not yet decided whether or not he wants to run for mayor of his hometown or for a seat in the House of Representatives in the Phillipines.
Some Good Reads:
FOX Sports: The big time has called Kelly Pavlik
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Wednesday, January 31, 2007
EEC - January 31, 2007
A lot of matchups forming this week. Could the heavyweights be starting up as I predicted?
News, Notes, and Rumors:
- Joe Calzaghe made sure it was a point to jump at the fact that his opponent on April 7th, Peter Manfredo Jr., will be without his primary trainer Freddie Roach who will be training Oscar De La Hoya for his fight against Floyd Mayweather Jr. on May 5th.
“Sounds like Cap’n Freddie Roach was smart enough to jump ship before the U.S.S. Manfredo sinks in Wales on April 7,” remarked Calzaghe.
- Paul Spadafora will be returning to the ring on March 9th. An opponent has not yet been anmed for him…
- Now that Lou DiBella has Roy Jones Jr. locked up, he’s looking to make the possible super-fight between his client and Bernard Hopkins a reality:
“We will move forward to make the superfight against Hopkins on July 21 as long as the deal is fair to all parties and the fight is on an even playing field. I have never failed to make a fair deal with Golden Boy when we have negotiated for a fight that our fighters wanted.”
- Apparently Diddy looks up to Jack Johnson according to The Source magazine…
“I’m the return of Jack Johnson. His whole swagger, personality, the way he whupped yo ass, it’s the dress, the style, the cars and the money… “This man would rent whole trains, get six or seven women, take them away for six months and rent out the top floor of hotels… (at) a time when they were lynching niggas,” Combs said.
- What do Mike Tyson and Lindsay Lohan have in common? They are both in the same “rehab center"…
Some Good Reads:
ESPN: Lawrence got rocked, but ready to roll again
TSS: This Day in History (January 31, 1914)
Boxing Scene: The Big Time Has Called Kelly Pavlik
MaxBoxing: ‘The Ghost’ Arrives on the Scene; is Taylor Next?
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Tuesday, January 30, 2007
De La Hoya Chooses Freddie Roach as Trainer for Mayweather Fight
Oscar De La Hoya has done exactly the opposite of what renowned trainer Freddie Roach said he would do - select him to help train him for his upcoming super-fight against Floyd Mayweather Jr. on May 5th.
As you all know, Floyd Mayweather Sr, De La Hoya’s usual trainer turned down an offer of up to $1 Millon to train Oscar, deciding to up the demands to $2 Million. The offer didn’t go well with De La Hoya and in the end he decided to go elsewhere for help. Money wasn’t the main factor in the decision however or at least that what’s Oscar says…
“I really didn’t feel he was going to be as passionate as I’m going to be,” De La Hoya said in a conference call from Puerto Rico, where he has begun conditioning work.
“How is he going to feel when we’re in the middle of training camp and some of his family members call him and say, `Don’t do it.’ I don’t want no distractions. This is the fight of my life.”
Mayweather Sr. has said that he wouldn’t mind helping his son train if an offer was made and De La Hoya has made it known that he wouldn’t mind reuniting father and son either:
“If he goes and trains his son, I’d actually be happy for his son,” De La Hoya said. “At least I did some good for the family. You hate to see a father and son apart for so many years.”
Roach for those who are unfamilar with him is the current trainer of Manny Pacquiao and has trained a wealth of others in the past, including Mike Tyson.
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Tuesday, January 23, 2007
EEC - January 23, 2007
More on the whole Mayweather-De La Hoya training situation and what the recently victorious Valuev may be up to next…
News, Notes, and Rumors:
- Freddie Roach has come up as a strong possibility to be De La Hoya’s trainer for his fight against Mayweather Jr.
We all know that Mayweather Sr. wants $2 Million in order to train Oscar to defeat his son and De La Hoya’s camp isn’t prepared to give him anything close to that. Apparently De La Hoya offered Mayweather Sr. $500,000 to train him and another $500,000 if they won last year but Mayweather Sr. rejected the offer.
Roach has informed The Boston Herald that he has been approached by De La Hoya to train him for this fight. He didn’t sound very confident that he would be training him however…
“Oscar did approach me about training him for the Mayweather fight,” Roach said. “But then he’s spoken to me about training him for his last three fights before that, too, and nothing ever came of it.”
Roach then went on to blast Mayweather Sr. for his recent behavior:
“Exactly who did he ever train?” Roach asked. “Oscar was already a finished product when Floyd got him, and the whole time Floyd Jr. was developing as a boxer, his uncle Roger (Mayweather) trained him because Floyd was in jail.”
- Mikkel Kessler’s WBC and WBA Super Middleweight title defenses against Librado Andrade on March 24th may actually have to be rescheduled in the coming weeks. Denmark, where the fight is supposed to be held, plays Spain in a soccer game that same night on live TV. Officials are speculating that because of this the bout may be pushed back…
- It is almost certain that WBA Heavyweight Champion Nikolai Valuev will have to make his mandatory defense against Ruslan Chagaev in his next fight.
Some Good Reads:
FOX Sports: Hatton, Castillo revive 140, Hatton figures to have a tougher time in next Vegas visit
The Sweet Science: Very Superstitious.....
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