RSSTrainers
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- Alex Arthur has withdrawn from his fight against Alexander Hrulev on March 10th due to an arm injury.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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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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Wednesday, February 07, 2007
EEC - February 7, 2007
Be sure to check back later today for the debut of the KO Corner Divisional Rankings for the month of February…
News, Notes, and Rumors:
- Oscar De La Hoya and Floyd Mayweather Jr. will embark on an 11-city media tour to hype up their May 5th showdown which is expected to be the biggest fight in boxing history.
The schedule:
Feb 20 - New York City
Feb 21 - Philadelphia, Washington D.C.
Feb 22 - Chicago, Detroit
Feb 23 - Miami
Feb 26 - Houston, Dallas
Feb 27 - San Francisco, Las Vegas
Feb 28 - Los Angeles
- BBC Sport is reporting that Sugar Ray Leonard believes Ricky Hatton and Oscar De La Hoya can both beat Floyd Mayweather Jr…
“The Ricky Hatton that beat Kostya Tszyu in 2005 can beat Floyd Mayweather. He was so focused and in such good physical shape that he would have given anybody at that level a tough time,” Leonard said.
And in regards to De La Hoya…
“Originally, I thought, hands down, Floyd Mayweather would be victorious,” said Leonard. But I’ve changed my mind since then. I’ve been analytical, observed things from a fighter’s stand-point and I think Oscar de la Hoya’s stronger and he’s bigger.
“I don’t think he’s faster because, without question, Floyd Mayweather is super-fast. But I think Oscar de la Hoya has enough of the proper physical attributes to take Mayweather to the limit.”
Some Good Reads:
Boxing Scene: Floyd Mayweather Sr - Chits and Bits
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Monday, February 05, 2007
Chad Dawson Calls Out Hopkins, Jones, Tarver
Undefeated “Bad” Chad Dawson, the newly-minted World Boxing Council light heavyweight champion, and his trainer Floyd Mayweather, Sr., established themselves as the ticket to beat for “Fighter of the Year” and “Trainer of the Year,” respectively, and we are just four weeks into 2007. Dawson (23-0, 15 KOs), from New Haven, CT, put a cold blooded beatdown on Tomasz Adamek (31-1, 21 KOs), last Saturday, ending the previously undefeated champion’s 21-month reign. The world title fight was broadcast live last Saturday on Showtime Championship Boxing from the Silver Spurs Arena at Osceola Park in Kissimmee, Fla.
“It was a Conn job!” exclaimed trainer Mayweather. “A Billy Conn job. I have polished the roughest diamond in boxing and transformed, “Bad” Chad Dawson into the crown jewel of the light heavyweight division. He’s Conn, Archie Moore and Bobby Foster all rolled up in one. All he needed was the right jeweler to bring out his brilliance and that jeweler was ME! If I had him a year sooner, he would have been world champion a year sooner.”
Continue reading "Chad Dawson Calls Out Hopkins, Jones, Tarver"
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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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Thursday, January 25, 2007
EEC - January 25, 2007
Well the return of Vitali Klitschko means three things: Samuel Peter is getting screwed, the heavyweight division gets that much better, and we will never see the titles unified until he retires again…
News, Notes, and Rumors:
- The Los Angeles Times is reporting that Oscar De La Hoya will not use Floyd Mayweather Sr. as his trainer for his superfight against Mayweather’s son in May. A spokesman from Golden Boy Promotions said that the asking price of $2 Million to train Oscar was way too high and then De La Hoya has rejected the offer for the final time.
Even though he won’t be part of the May superfight unless his son mysteriously asks him to help out which is very unlikely, Mayweather Sr. apparently hasn’t ruled out working with De La Hoya in the future if the opportunity presents itself…
- The British Boxing Board of Control suspended Scott Harrison yesterday after he failed to show up to a scheduled hearing to discuss the cancellation of his fight with Nicky Cook last year. The association released this statement:
Despite confirmation of his attendance received from the office of his manager Barry Hughes, Scott Harrison failed to appear before a tribunal of the stewards scheduled to take place at the board’s offices. Accordingly his licence will remain suspended and he will not be permitted to take part in any boxing contest within the board’s jurisdiction until such time as the stewards permit him to do so.
- Confused about the whole Vitali Klitschko returning situation? This might help...
WBC President Jose Sulaiman says that the decision of Vitali Klitschko to return to boxing will provide a “New air of enthusiasm in the heavyweight division.” As an emeritus champion, or legend, WBC rules mean that Vitali could have an immediate crack at the current champion Oleg Maskaev. But Sulaiman says that the Board of Governors must vote on the next step, and their ruling is expected within ten days.
If they ordered an Eastern block confrontation the winner would then be ordered to fight number one challenger Samuel Peter next. Don Jose said, it depends on the Governors decision, but if the fight happened, he would be happy if took place in Russia. He also revealed that Vitali had discussed with him, the possibility of resuming his ring career as long ago as when the two met at the WBC’s Convention in Croatia last year. Vitali has retired in 2005 due to a knee injury.
But the momentum appreciably gathered pace a few days ago, when Vitali phoned Sulaiman at his home, “full of enthusiasm,” to explain that the doctors have given him a clean bill of health to return, he was back training in the gym and feels great. The WBC is awaiting the medical report. Don Jose said: “In his telephone conversation with me, Vitali was very determined. And I think that Vitali Klitschko’s return will be a progressive injection to the Heavyweight Division. There’s no doubt about that. “He was at his peak when he retired, he’s still at the right age, and so we’ll have to see.”
Some Good Reads:
ESPN: Pavlik not looking past Zertuche, but craves title shot
Boxing Scene: The Downward Spiral of Heavyweight Iron Mike Tyson