RSSVirgil Hill
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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Godfrey Looking For World Title Shot
PROVIDENCE - World cruiserweight contender Matt “Too Smooth” Godfrey made a major statement on April 6, loud and clear to be precise, when he stopped Felix Cora, Jr. in the second round of their ESPN2 Friday Night Fights main event fight at Mohegan Sun Arena.
“I am the best cruiserweight in the world,” Godfrey looked back at his scintillating performance to describe the statement he made. “I’m ready to take on anybody in the world who’s ranked ahead of me. An opportunity to fight (Jean Marc) Mormeck for his titles would be a gift from heaven for me.”
Godfrey (15-0, 9 KOs), 26, recently moved up to No. 3 in the World Boxing Council ratings. He’s also ranked No. 7 in the World Boxing Association and No. 9 in the International Boxing Federation.
“There’s nobody out there who is as talented as Matt,” Godfrey’s manager Bret Hallenbeck added. “We believed Cora was a top 5 talent. We’re coming after all of the top cruiserweights.”
Continue reading "Godfrey Looking For World Title Shot"
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Saturday, April 07, 2007
Virgil Hill for the Hall of Fame? No Way!
I won’t vote for Virgil Hill when he finally becomes eligible for induction into the Hall Of Fame .Granted there are lesser boxers inducted but that doesn’t make it right. Adding another less then “great” fighter just compounds the problem that has evolved. Over the years the International Boxing Hall Of Fame has become lax in their criteria for induction. I’ve been casting my vote for the last two years. I would have never voted for Barry McGuigan. To me Pipino Cuevas was border line and he beat Angel Espada, Billy Backus, Clyde Gray, Pete Ranzany and Harold Weston Jr. He didn’t just win fights, he destroyed his opponents. He broke bones! I was more impressed with his career then I’ve ever been with Hill’s and that was before Virgil lost to Maske. Still I would have been hard pressed to vote for Pipino. I’d vote for Danny “Little Red” Lopez in a heartbeat. There are several boxers I would vote for before Hill. Virgil was a good fighter who won titles and had longevity in an era when the light heavyweight and cruiserweight divisions were weak. I don’t believe that Hill would have been able to beat Michael Moorer or Prince Charles Williams when they each held a piece of the title at 175. Could you imagine Virgil mixing with the guys from the late 1970’s and 80’s? Fighters like Galindez, Conteh, Saad Muhammad, Marvin Johnson, Yaqui Lopez, Pierre Fourie, Richie Kates… I don’t think Virgil would have fared as well in this Golden Era of the light heavyweight division.Good God could you imagine Hill vs Michael Spinks? Now that could have been downright scary. Virgil would have been wasted by the great Bobby Foster.
Virgil may be a good guy. Mr. McGuigan too, but they were not great fighters and that is what the Hall Of Fame is supposed to be. The absolute elite of a very, very tough profession.
Sunday, April 01, 2007
Maske Decisions Hill in Rematch
Henry Maske defeated Virgil Hill by unanimous decision on Saturday in Munich, Germany and avenged the loss that Hill gave Maske in his very last fight ten years ago.
The judges scored it 117-110, 116-113 and 117-110 for Maske who overcame a slow start to go on and win the bout. The pace of the fight changed in the fourth round after the two exchanged a flurry of punches. From that moment forward it was Maske who was the stronger and better fighter, landed multiple combinations and established a jab that was certainly a big help to him winning the later rounds.
“In the middle of the fight, I knew I had turned things around,” Maske said. “I made him come to me, my punches began landing. I told myself I want this—pull it together.”
The two collided heads during the eighth round and Hill was sent falling to the canvas. When he returned to his feet he sported a gash over his left eye that he would be forced to deal with for the remainder of the match.
After the fight Hill talked about settling the rivalry with a third fight. Maske gave a comical response:
“Let’s talk about it in 10 years, Virgil,” Maske said.
Maske retired Hill beat him by split decision in November of 1996. Maske went on to purchase and manage a chain of McDonald’s franchises in his home country of Germany. Maske said his comeback was inspired by watching Hill gain his a fifth championship belt at age 42 when he defeated Valery Brudov last winter. It was shortly after that when Maske began training for his return to the ring.
“I have to thank him. That’s when it began to itch—I thought if he could do it, then I could, too,” Maske said.
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
Hill Winning Over Fans in Germany
If future Hall of Fame boxer Virgil “Quicksilver” Hill becomes any more popular in Germany, where he is preparing for his March 31st pay-per-view fight against Henry “The Gentleman” Maske in the main event on “The Rematch” card, promoted by WHS International at Olympia Hall in Munich, Bavarians will make him an honorary Baron.
“The reception here has been great,” Hill said. “I’m a little surprised. Henry has nobody to blame but himself. You can’t forget about the fans. We’ve never done anything secretly. We’ve been enjoying ourselves, spending time with Germans, letting them do interviews and come to training. We’re pretty confident and have no secrets. I don’t speak much German other than to say hello, but a smile’s a smile in any language. I’m just very relaxed, laughing and being myself. I’m real with it.
“I think I’ll have some supporters (at the fight) that are German. It’ll be nice but when push comes to shove, they’ll probably still want one of their boys to get it done. It’s the nature of the beast. We’re in Bavaria – meats, potatoes and goulash —right down my alley. I come from North Dakota, which is predominantly German and Norwegian, so a lot of the foods here are the same.”
Continue reading "Hill Winning Over Fans in Germany"
Saturday, July 29, 2006
A Rematch 10 Years in the Making
Virgil Hill and Henry Maske will fight once again in January of next year in Germany. Hill defeated Maske 10 years ago to become the undisputed light-heavyweight champion of the world.
Tuesday, May 16, 2006
Holyfield Will Not Fight in Boise
“I’m happy… and sad for you.”
Not that everyone doesn’t want to fight in Boise, but Evander Holyfield will not be part of the card Roy Jones Jr and Virgil Hill (should) be on.
Initially, Jones was to be a part of a “legends” card, including former heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield and former light heavyweight and cruiserweight champ Virgil Hill. Promoter Ritch Danner, of Sports and Entertainment Media in Las Vegas, said Monday that Holyfield will not be a part of the card, but that negotiations are continuing with Hill, who would face Boise native Kenny Keene.
None of this means Holyfield won’t fight again, if he wants the cash I’m sure he will. Of course he can always join Mike Tyson in the search for a boy band.
Earz II Men just doesn’t do it for me though.
10 points to anyone who gets the obscure quote at the top. Another 10 to someone who can come up with a better boy band name (shouldn’t be too hard to beat that). All the points to anyone who wishes to start sponsoring things like this so we can give out real prizes.
Sunday, April 30, 2006
A Legend in the Making
The upcoming Jones Jr.-Ajamu fight on July 29th is now expected to be part of a card filled with boxing legends. The card will also include Evander Holyfield facing Frank Wood and Kenny Keene matching up against WBA Cruiserweight champion Virgil Hill.