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Thursday, May 03, 2007
The Rite of Passage
“Out with the old, in with the new”. How many times have we heard that phrase in our lifetimes? Or “the young eat the old”? The aging champion, however great he may have been must step aside for Father Time. There will always be a young lion poised and ready to take his place. As great as Muhammad Ali was the ravages of time saw him lose to a novice named Leon Spinks and then get savaged by his heir apparent Larry Holmes. It was sad to see but no less demoralizing then watching the Brown Bomber, Joe Louis getting belted by a champion in waiting named Rocky Marciano.
Some boxers just seem to age over night. The once great skills that they spent a lifetime honing just erode at the sound of a new opening bell. Instead of being a champion they instead emerge as a shell of a once great athlete. We as fans hate to see it but we all know that it is going to happen sooner or later. To see the once devastating and domineering Bob Foster struggle to a draw with Jorge Ahumada was a reality check. To watch our heroes struggling and losing to fighters they would have surely defeated in their glory years in very disheartening indeed. It is an endless list but as the grief for our fallen heroes subsides we embrace and cheer the new conquering hero. It is the nature of the game and that is why it thrives.
Oscar De La Hoya has had his day in the sun. It may now be time for him to step aside and make way for a new sheriff in town. Is Floyd Mayweather Jr. ready to take over the pedestal of greatness? Is it time for Floyd’s rite of passage? We will see on May 5th.
Monday, April 30, 2007
Welcome to De La Hoya-Mayweather Week
Well it’s finally here - the week and the event that many say will bring boxing back up to the forefront.
Oscar De La Hoya and Floyd Mayweather will clash in the biggest bout in at least 10 years. They will clash in the biggest bout of this century so far and we will be right here to cover it all for you.
Be sure to check back with us all week long for mucho coverage on the upcoming event as well as predictions on the bout, a massive gathering of media coverage, and a possible 24 hour live blog on Saturday that would cover the hours leading up to the event, the event itself, and all of the post-fight reaction…
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
50 Cent Lays Down $1 Million on Mayweather
According to a report from All Hip Hop, rapper 50 Cent has apparently bet $1 million on Floyd Mayweather Jr defeating Oscar De La Hoya next Saturday.
50 Cent will also be accompanying Mayweather to the ring while singing his new debut single, “Straight to the Bank”.
“50 Cent is a great friend of mine and it means a lot to me to have him walk me in to the ring and debut his new song,” he said. “With this fight being the Super Bowl of boxing, the fans and celebrities coming out to the fight and everyone watching around the world will see the greatest show ever.”
“It will be great to walk Floyd to the ring for the biggest fight of his career,” added 50 Cent, who will also perform his new single “Straight to the Bank” for the first time live. “Fans will get a taste of my new song and then Floyd is going to show the world why he is the best in the business.”
De La Hoya Could Also Capture PPV Title Next Saturday
Robert Morales of the Long Beach Press-Telegram brings up an interesting point about next Saturday’s matchup for the ages between Floyd Mayweather Jr and Oscar De La Hoya. If the fight reaches close to 1 million PPV buys, De La Hoya becomes the highest grossing boxer in terms of PPV revenue in history…
De La Hoya seems to have gift of promotion
Oscar De La Hoya has been involved in plenty of big pay-per-view events during a career in which he has won world titles in a record six weight classes.
Only heavyweights Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield have generated more pay-per-view revenue at $545 million and $543 million, respectively.
De La Hoya is at $492 million. According to Richard Schaefer, CEO of De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions, if De La Hoya and Floyd Mayweather Jr. can sell at least 965,000 buys for their May 5 super welterweight showdown at MGM Grand in Las Vegas, De La Hoya would then take the lead.
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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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Thursday, April 19, 2007
EEC - April 19, 2007
News, Notes, and Rumors:
- Former heavyweight champion Chris Byrd made his return to the ring last night and defeated Paul Marinaccio by TKO in the 7th round…
- According to various reports coming from the UK, newly crowned WBA Heavyweight Champion Ruslan Chagaev may possibly make his first title defense this summer against the winner of the May 26th bout between Matt Skelton and Michael Sprott in London.
Chagaev actually took on Sprott in June of 2006 and knocked him out in the 8th round…
- Mark Vester of Boxing Scene is reporting that WBA Cruiserweight Champion Virgil Hill is demanding a third bout against Henry Maske…
- Joe Frazier has filed a lawsuit against his daughter that seeks the return of various contracts, product endorsements, business papers, and various other documents that his daughter has reportedly has in her possession. Frazier’s daughter served as his lawyer and business advisor from 1989-2004.
- Who is Shane Mosley picking to win on May 5th? Oscar De La Hoya by KO…
- Paul Williams has told the Las Vegas Review-Journal that he plans on brawling with Antonio Margarito when their scheduled bout goes down this summer:
“If you have the attitude that you won’t accept losing and you’re going to refuse to lose, it makes a difference,” said Williams. “The easy thing would have been to take the money and fight the other guy. But he stepped up like a man. I’m going to be in there and I’ll bang with him. I don’t think he’s going to be used to that. I’m a harder puncher than he’s seen.”
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Wednesday, April 11, 2007
NSAC Reinstates Roger Mayweather’s Training License
The Grand Rapids Press is reporting that the Nevada State Athletic Commission has reinstated Roger Mayweather’s training license and will allow him to train his nephew, Floyd Mayweather Jr, for his fight against Oscar De La Hoya on May 5th.
Mayweather was originally fined and suspended for a year because of his participation in the April 2006 brawl at the end of Mayweather-Judah bout.
The NSAC approved Roger Mayweather with a unanimous vote but also stated that a similar incident occurring again would result in a possible lifetime ban for him.
“I do regret it happened, and I wouldn’t do it again in the same situation,” Mayweather told the Grand Rapids Press.
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Wednesday, April 04, 2007
Juarez and Hernandez Star on De La Hoya-Mayweather Undercard
LOS ANGELES, CA - Featherweight star Ricardo “Rocky” Juarez and rising boxing sensation Jose Andres Hernandez will square off in 12-round grudge match for the WBA Fedelatin Featherweight Championship vacant title, as the featured undercard televised bout for the highly anticipated May 5 super fight between “The Golden Boy” Oscar De La Hoya and “Pretty Boy” Floyd Mayweather as it was announced today by Golden Boy Promotions. The fight is part of the three televised bouts that will take place from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, NV and broadcast live on HBO Pay-Per-View.
Also added to the televised portion of the show is a thrilling bout between sensational contenders Rey “Boom Boom” Bautista and Sergio Medina as they put their undefeated records and future title shot on the line in a 12-round WBO Junior Featherweight title eliminator.
Kicking off the exciting night’s events in non-televised events will be undefeated Australian native Billy Dib aiming to showcase his explosive talents battling the formidable Jose Gonzalez of Los Angeles, CA in a 10-round junior lightweight match-up. Rounding out the night’s fight action will be two of boxing’s fastest rising stars—former Olympian Rock Allen and Ernest Johnson in separate 8-round bouts.
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Tuesday, April 03, 2007
Bojado’s Return Kicks Off Biggest Boxing Weekend Ever
LAS VEGAS – The night before the super fight between Oscar De La Hoya and Floyd Mayweather, some of the world’s best fighters will be in action as Golden Boy Promotions presents “Fiesta Boxeo” at MGM Grand. The eyes of the world will be on Las Vegas for the biggest boxing weekend in decades which kicks off Friday, May 4 with the championship bout between World Boxing Organization (WBO) light flyweight champion Hugo Cazares and challenger Wilfrido Valdez Perez.
This exciting night of world-class professional boxing will be held in the Grand Ballroom at the MGM Grand Conference Center and will feature the WBO championship bout, as well as the return of 2000 Olympian Francisco “Panchito” Bojado to the ring. The event will air live on Telefutura’s ‘Solo Boxeo’ telecast beginning at 8 p.m. EST/5 p.m. PST. Doors are scheduled to open at 3:30 p.m. with the first bout beginning at 4:30 p.m.
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