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Thursday, January 18, 2007
Stallone Made Tyson Extra in Rocky Balboa Instead of Opponent
Did anyone else know that Mike Tyson asked Sylvester Stallone to be the main character in Rocky Balboa? I certainly didn’t…
In what was probably another attempt for Mike to score some serious money, Stallone thought it was a bad idea and turned down Mike’s offer. The reason he gave Starpulse was probably the same one that I would give:
The 60-year-old actor told the website that “Mike wanted to fight me in this film but I thought it was a bad idea. I know I’m not that young, but I’m still too young to die. I said, ‘Thanks, but I don’t think that would be a very good idea. Thank you very much.’
Oh but it gets better…
“But he kept calling the office saying he wanted to be in the film fighting me. Eventually, I relented and said he could be in the audience. Then I never heard from him. Suddenly, when I turn up in the ring he’s there at the side. I turned round and said to the crew, ‘Can you make sure you keep that son of a bitch out of the ring. If he gets in he’ll kill me.’ The man’s a killer.”
It’s so like Mike - Keep on pursuing things until he at least got in the movie. I wonder if the crew contacted Tyson behind Stallone’s back and made the whole thing come kind of prank against him. After all, Tyson would need to know the days they were filming the movie, where at, and all that good stuff.
Michael Woods from TSS brings up an interesting point: Viewers were able to believe Rocky had a chance since Antonio Tarver isn’t as ripped as other boxers…
Antonio Tarver was fine in the role, though I still think Shannon Briggs would have been the best choice to play the part of Mason Dixon. Those dreds, that physique…then again, Stallone may not have wanted such a specimen to stand next to him, and allow the audience to compare the two.
Tarver wasn’t all that ripped, and thus, we were better able to believe that the geriatric Balboa could stand toe to toe with him…
I really never thought about it but I do remember that while watching the movie, I did think that Tarver wasn’t as physically fit as I was expecting him to look. I also never really noticed that Briggs was that ripped until I went ahead and did a Google Image search on him. I mean I’ve seen him fight before but those pictures make him look pretty impressive…
Even Tyson would have been a stretch to put Stallone in the ring with. You know that Tyson would have gotten back in the gym and worked out a little to improve how he looked since the last time we saw him beating on Corey Sanders. That and he’s freakin’ Mike Tyson, Rocky would have been knocked out in the 1st round, right?
Who else could have took Tarver’s place in the movie? I know it’s another long shot but I think that Bernard Hopkins would have been interesting to see. You know, see who was the best fighter in Philadelphia, that sort of thing…
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Wednesday, January 17, 2007
EEC - January 17, 2007
I can’t believe it’s only Wednesday. This is the slowest week ever, probably because I’m looking forward to this weekend’s heavyweight title bout. Oh wait, it’s not televised I forgot, rat bastards…
News, Notes, and Rumors:
- Despite his recent arrest that we all know about, HBO has announced that Jim Lampley will be one of the broadcasters for the network’s showing of the Hatton-Urango bout this weekend.
HBO had actually considered taking Lampley off of the show but reconsidered once the media coverage of his arrest died down quite a bit. Lampley didn’t say much to the media about the charges but he did express his excitement about being able to help call the fight on Saturday…
“I am pleased that HBO recognizes there is no reason for me not to be working this weekend,” Lampley said. “This is my job, this is what I do. This is business as usual. I am really looking forward to covering Ricky Hatton’s first fight in Las Vegas and a fight at the Paris for the first time. I feel like even though it’s only been five weeks since I’ve called a fight, it feels like it’s been a long time. It will feel good to be back at ringside calling the fights.”
- The Philippines-Mexico World Cup of Boxing has been postponed to later this year according to promotor Sammy Gello-ani. Gello-ani said that the event was postponed because agreements with the managers of Daniel Ponce De Leon and Johnny Gonzales were unable to reached in time for the original date of March 4th.
The postponement will also allow Oscar De La Hoya to help promote the event since it will not fall during his traning for his fight against Floyd Mayweather Jr.
- Danny Williams will take on British Heavyweight Champion Scott Gammer on March 2nd in very well might be the last bout of his professional career.
Gammer actually turned down an offer to fight Audley Harrison who recently defeated Williams. Gammer rejected the offer because he is hoping to take on the winner of a possible bout between Harrison and Matt Skelton should he defeat Williams in March.
- Calvin Brock unveiled his new online travel agency today.
Seriously, is boxing not paying anymore? Brock starts his own travel agency, Foreman travels around the world to sell his grills, Tyson is willing to do anything in this world to make money, Klitschko ran for mayor… There’s so many things. I’m not taking boredom after retirement as an excuse anymore either. We need to get to the bottom of this…
Anyway Brock said that he learned about the business through a friend and soon decided that it would be an interesting venture for him to start.
“The online travel industry is growing fast,” said Brock. “More people are comfortable booking their own travel and getting cheaper prices than using a traditional travel agency.”
I guess we will find out over the next year how fast the travel industry is growing won’t we Calvin?
- Tomorrow is Muhammad Ali’s 65th Birthday and I’ll be sure to gather up all of the articles and various things being thrown out there in a post tomorrow morning…
Some Good Reads:
ESPN: At 32, Bailey goes back to basics of sweet science
Doghouse Boxing: Is the end drawing near for Urango?
Seconds Out: Ricky Hatton - The Hard Sell
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Friday, January 12, 2007
Jim Lampley Update
A little update for you…
The scheduled arraignment for Lampley has been postponed in order to give prosecutors more time to investigate the matters according to the San Diego County District Attorney’s spokesman, Paul Levikow.
As of right now, nothing has been rescheduled…
There is a hearing scheduled however for next Thursday in which a ruling will come down concerning the extension of a temporary restraining order between Lampley and his accuser.
The current order prohibits Lampley from coming within 100 yards of Candice Sanders and it also includes her home, place of work, and her car. Lampley also cannot call her on the phone, e-mail her, basically can’t contact her at all.
Lampley has also been ordered to return a 2007 BMW 750 that Sanders says she owns…
Sunday, January 07, 2007
Lampley’s Accuser Identified
A couple of days late on the gossip-y report, but if you haven’t heard Jim Lampley’s accuser (I’ll presume now an ex) is Candice Sanders, Miss California USA 2003.
Sanders alleges after dinner, at their apartment, Lampley “was drinking vodka and whiskey and became drunk.” She adds in the document that “he was also high on pot.”
Sanders, Miss California USA 2003, says in the complaint that the trouble began when she wanted to finish watching a movie. Lampley then “pulled me from the sofa I was on” and “began to yell at me and chased me around the apartment.”
Sanders says at that point all hell broke loose. She alleges, “He grabbed me and threw me against a wall. He then threw me against another wall. He then threw me against the door and I collapsed.“Sanders goes on to say that 14-year-old Aaron saw her on the floor and she asked him to call the police. She writes in the document,” Jim beat Aaron to the phone and kept Aaron from getting [to the phone]. She says Lampley then drove away with Aaron. Sanders claims she suffered head, neck and back injuries.
Thursday, January 04, 2007
Jim Lampley Arrested
Jim Lampley has been arrested for domestic abuse. Not the fun story I wanted for our first TMZ link.
Police tell TMZ that Lampley, probably best known for his work on HBO boxing, posted his $35,000 bail and is awaiting his release from the Vista Jail in San Diego. He faces one felony count of domestic abuse / corporal injury, as well as two misdemeanor counts of violating a restraining order and preventing a witness from testifying.
Tuesday, January 02, 2007
Interview With Harold Lederman
This interview was conducted in June of 2004. I would again like to thank Harold for his time.
What would an HBO boxing telecast be like without the voice and input of guest judge Harold Lederman? Harold has become a mainstay with the popular HBO broadcast team. He lends an opinionated yet objective view from an expert and an astute observer. Like a good umpire he “calls them as he sees them.” No hold barred. The voice that you hear has been judging boxing matches for close to forty years! Believe me, he knows what he is talking about.
When I called Harold to conduct this interview, I quickly learned that he was a man who had a true passion for the sport. It wasn’t just a job to him. He was a fan first and foremost. That is what led him into judging. He was still a fan but now he has just had a better seat. He has come up through the ranks and paid his dues from the four and six rounder in small clubs to the main events in major venues. If he hasn’t seen it yet, it’s doubtful that it is going to happen. Yet Harold seem to approach every fight with a fresh outlook. It has given him a chance to travel and meet some of the most influential people in boxing.
In the whole time I talked with Harold he did not utter a negative word about anyone as a person. He is a true ambassador for the sport.
Harold was born on January 26, 1940 in the Bronx where he was raised. Among his childhood friends were Vinnie Rinnone, Joe Santarpis, and Tony Perez. All three along with Harold are highly respected in the boxing community. Harold had nothing but immense praise for his long time buddies.
You could hear the pride in Harold’s voice when he spoke of his wife Eileen and their daughters Julie and Iris. Success has not gone to Harold’s head. He’s your everyday boxing fan who just accepts that fate has handed him one hell of a great job!
Continue reading "Interview With Harold Lederman"
Thursday, September 21, 2006
Tommy Gallagher is Old School
Anyone that has been following this season of The Contender knows that trainer Tommy Gallagher comes from a different era of boxing...
Tommy Gallagher’s connection to the past is an easy process. The veteran trainer just needs to close his eyes, and he sees ghosts. He can hear the sonic boom of Rocky Marciano’s fists slamming the elephant of a heavybag that used to shake the rafters of Stillman’s Gym in New York City. He can feel the silk lapels of one of Rocky Graziano’s suits, and smell the cigar smoke of all those Italian and Jewish wise guys that used to gather at Stillman’s.
A time when the fighters ruled the boxing landscape.
It’s that old-school feel that draws Gallagher to “The Contender.” He’s been associated with the successful boxing reality show as it concludes its second season, and the first on ESPN.
I hope I’m not the only one who has noticed that Gallagher is a pretty good trainer. Word on the street is that he is the head trainer for Steve Forbes going into the finals of the show - Excellent choice by Forbes.
Gallagher is a perfect example of those boxing people who are still around and are about the real things surrounding the sport. Many today are just in it for the money and the fame; Gallagher goes out of his way to work with the young kids, both in and outside of the ring.
Tuesday, August 22, 2006
Mills Lane: Still Getting It On
Not even a stroke that has left the entire right side of his body paralyzed can keep former referee Mills Lane down…
ESPN Motion: Friday Night Fights Looks at Legendary Referee Mills Lane
Sunday, July 09, 2006
Weekend Results - July 9, 2006
Joel Casamayor was victorious over Lamont Pearson on ESPN’s Friday Night Fights, earning a 9th round TKO when ringside doctor Robin MacDougall stopped the fight due to a cut around Pearson’s right eye. After the fight, Casamayor challenged WBC Lightweight champion Diego Corrales to a fight this fall.
Joey Spina added the IBF International Super Middleweight title to his resume on Friday night, stopping Jay Pina with a left hook towards the end of the fourth round.
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Thursday, June 15, 2006
Rafael Ranks ‘Em
Dan Rafael of ESPN has released his monthly division rankings, freshly updated from all of the results of recent action in the boxing world…