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Sunday, January 14, 2007
EEC - January 14, 2007
Early Eight Count - It’s catchy isn’t it?
Basically this is going to be a daily morning post focusing on a variety of boxing news, gossip, articles, videos, and whatever interesting things myself or David will be able to find.
I’m going to try my best to post it every morning at 8:00 AM, genius I know… However if you don’t see it up one day for some reason, please don’t uppercut me too hard.
We’re doing something similar over on our sister site, MMA on Tap as well.
News, Notes, and Rumors:
- Ricky Hatton seems to be taking Floyd Mayweather Jr. off of his radar screen because of Mayweather’s future plans for this year which include a superfight with Oscar De La Hoya in May and possible retirement right after the bout. That didn’t stop Hatton from discussing alternate plans for this year however…
“I have no problem with fighting up at welterweight again. But the only fight I’ll probably look at that might tempt to me to welterweight would be certainly Floyd Mayweather, maybe Miguel Cotto. I’m not soon to be back on the welterweight division even though I’ve made back down to junior welterweight. I have got to put on an exciting performance against Juan Urango. Hopefully win my title back which I’m confident that I can do, and hopefully lead to a fight against José Castillo and then if Floyd is still fighting, if he chooses not to retire then that would another fight I’d love.”
I’m sure that Hatton won’t be the only one voicing their displeasure about Floyd opting to retire soon, crushing the hopes of many welterweights out there that wanted a crack at him.
- Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer will be traveling to Florida next week to visit with Roy Jones Jr. and attempt to get him to sign a contract that will allow him to fight Bernard Hopkins in July. According to Hopkins, he is already signed for the fight and it is now up to Jones Jr. to make the fight happen.
- Just like I reported yesterday, Manny Pacquiao’s next opponent will most likely be Jin Chi as Top Rank’s Bob Arum is supposed to be finalizing the contract for the fight at some point this week.
One thing I’m considering is moving the usual ‘Weekend Fights’ and ‘Weekend Results’ posts to the EEC post for that day. I think it will work out a lot better and allow more time for news and events that occur which deserve more coverage. As always, feel free to leave a comment or contact us with your opinion about this decision or anything else that your little heart desires…
Weekend Results:
- Travis Simms won the WBA Super Welterweight Title on Saturday night, stopping Jose Antonio Rivera in the 9th round. Simms was in control for the entire fight, dominating Rivera in every aspect until the referee halted the bout in the middle of the 9th round after Rivera was knocked to the canvas for a second time.
Simms actually held the WBA Super Welterweight belt from December 2003 until June 2005 when he was stripped of the belt due to inactivity. Simms was holding out because he wanted a fight with Winky Wright who obviously had other plans. However Simms now guarantees that his mind is set on defending his title:
“I’m coming back, and I’m looking to get back in the mix with the top champions in the divison,” Simms said. “I cannot be denied. I stayed in the gym, stayed diligent, stayed focused.”
Don’t believe in newspapers? Don’t worry, I have you covered…
Some Good Reads:
ESPN: Dan Rafael’s January Division Rankings
I actually plan on starting some rankings of our own by next month possibly so stay tuned…
FOX Sports: Unified heavyweight title can save boxing
MaxBoxing: When to Hold and When to Fold: Toney’s March Memorable, but Uphill from Here
The Sweet Science: Looking For More In The New Year
Last but not least, Jim Amato (neverlast on this site) will have a new piece being posted at some point this afternoon for those of you looking to check back in later on for new material…
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Sunday, January 07, 2007
Peter, Simms Triumph
Peter decisively outpointed James Toney in their rematch. Photo: Tom Casino/Showtime
HOLLYWOOD, Fla. — A busier, more precise and determined Samuel Peter showed up to Saturday night’s World Boxing Council (WBC)-mandated heavyweight rematch and that meant trouble for James Toney.
In a spectacular and brutal battle of big men, Peter and Toney met at Hard Rock Live at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino to determine once and for all the No. 1-ranked, mandatory challenger to WBC Champion Oleg Maskaev. Peter won the unanimous decision by scores of 118-110 twice and 119-108.
In the co-feature, super welterweight Travis Simms regained the World Boxing Association (WBA) title in devastating fashion with a ninth round TKO of Jose Antonio Rivera.
Continue reading "Peter, Simms Triumph"
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Thursday, January 04, 2007
Peter-Toney, Rivera-Simms Quotes
Peter and Toney pose (with Seminole Tribe Chairman Mitchell Cypress in the middle) after the weigh-in.
Continue reading "Peter-Toney, Rivera-Simms Quotes"
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Saturday, December 09, 2006
Who is Jose Antonio Rivera?
Unquestionably one of boxing’s most exciting performers, could it be that World Boxing Association super welterweight champion “El Gallo” Jose Antonio Rivera is snake-bitten? His career has been placed on hold more than once, at times due to sickness or injury and at others due to circumstances beyond his control.
He remains one of the sport’s best-kept secrets despite having been the WBA welterweight champion before moving up in weight to capture the WBA 154-pound crown. Part of the reason for his relative lack of notoriety is that, for a variety of reasons, he’s had only two fights since winning the vacant WBA welterweight title on Sept. 13, 2003, in Berlin, against previously unbeaten German & European champion, Michel Trabant (38-0, 18 KOs).
Continue reading "Who is Jose Antonio Rivera?"
Friday, December 08, 2006
Who is Travis Simms?
The last two years have been rough for the undefeated World Boxing Association Super Welterweight Champion in Recess “Tremendous” Travis Simms. It started when Simms, who was granted a voluntary defense against Bronco McKart in his last title fight at Madison Square Garden on Oct. 2, 2004.
He had received that exception to fight, provided he made his mandatory defense against Alejandro “Terra” Garcia, who he had stopped for the title in 2003. Garcia had been named the mandatory but Simms had other plans, and they did not include Garcia.
“We should have been fighting Winky Wright,” recalled Simms. “That was our contention and we stood by our conviction and will now be the mandatory for Jose Rivera. I will win back my title that I feel is still mine.”
Continue reading "Who is Travis Simms?"
Tuesday, December 05, 2006
Toney-Peter, Rivera-Simms Quotes
Boxers (left-to-right), Peter, Rivera, Simms and Toney pose. Photo: Tom Casino/Showtime
At Tuesday’s press conference formally announcing Peter vs. Toney 2, promoter Don King and Ken Hershman, Showtime Networks senior vice president of Sports Programming, announced the addition of Rivera vs. Simms to the Jan. 6, 2007 edition of Showtime Championship Boxing. The world title doubleheader will air live at 9 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast) and is being promoted by Duva Boxing, Goossen Tutor Promotions, Warriors Boxing Promotions, and Don King Productions.
The always exciting Jose Antonio Rivera (38-4-1, 24 KOs) will make the first defense of his WBA super welterweight title against undefeated, WBA champion “in recess” Travis Simms (24-0, 18 KOs). Rivera won the title in spectacular fashion May 6, 2006, on Showtime, dropping Alejandro “Terra” Garcia four times en route to winning a lopsided decision. Simms, who knocked out Garcia to win the WBA 154-pound belt, will be making his first start since October 2004 when he defeated Bronco McKart.
The main event features the hottest young heavyweight in the world, Samuel “The Nigerian Nightmare” Peter, and one of the craftiest pugilists in history, James “Lights Out” Toney, fighting a WBC-ordered rematch at Hard Rock Live at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Fla.
Continue reading "Toney-Peter, Rivera-Simms Quotes"
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Sunday, June 25, 2006
Weekend Results - June 25, 2006
Here are the results of the other notable bouts that took place this weekend besides the Brock-Ibragimov and Mesi-Tessier…
Joachim Alcine dominated Javier Mamani and won a unanimous decision Friday night on ESPN. With the victory, Alcine becomes the mandatory challenger to Jose Antonio Rivera’s WBA super-welterweight belt.
Robert Guerrero got revenge on Gamaliel Diaz and dropped him in the sixth round with a left hook to the body. Diaz decisoned Guerrero in their previous bout last December.
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Sunday, May 07, 2006
Rivera Grabs WBA Junior Middleweight Belt
Jose Antonio Rivera defeated Alejandro Garcia by unanimous decision and became the new WBA Junior Middleweight Champion on Saturday night. Rivera dropped Garcia four times in the last two rounds to take home the easy win.