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Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Zarate and Torres Headline “Path to Glory”
For Julio Zarate and Vernie Torres, the path to boxing glory is sometimes a rocky one, where only true warriors are left standing.
On Friday, November 2, these two featherweight standouts will meet at the crossroads in an eight round contest which may determine who moves forward and who is left behind. Yes, the path is rough; but if they survive its pitfalls, one might emerge as a world champion.
“Path to Glory”, a six bout card of competitive and hard-hitting professional boxing, will be presented by Thompson Boxing Promotions at the Doubletree Hotel in Ontario, California. F
The November 2 card will also feature a host of California’s top young prospects, all who are hoping to carve their own niche in the crowded west coast fight scene.
In the main event, Mexico City’s Julio Zarate (25-4-1, 15 KOs) puts his four fight-winning streak on the line against Los Angeles-based Filipino Vernie Torres (27-10, 15 KOs). Zarate, a former interim WBA bantamweight champion, is looking to regain the form that took him to the top in 2004.
Winner of his last four bouts, two by knockout, the 32-year old will be tested by the 33-year old Torres, who has struggled since a career-best year in 2003 that saw him win IBA and USBA titles, but who still has plenty of fight left in him for another title run.
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Monday, October 29, 2007
Rahman Returns on November 15 Against Williams
READING - Big time boxing returns to the Sovereign Center in Reading, PA on Thursday, November 15th when Top Rank Promotions presents “Downtown Showdown,” featuring former two-time heavyweight champion Hasim “The Rock” Rahman against veteran Sherman “The Tank” Williams in a ten round main event.
The fight will be televised nationally on Versus “Fight Night Live,” hosted by Wally Matthews and Bob Papa.
Former champion Hasim Rahman (44-6-2, 35 KOs) is continuing his quest for another world title shot, having won his last three fights (two by knockout) since switching to Reading-based trainer Marshall Kauffman. With a win, Rahman is hoping to gain a shot at IBF heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko.
In 2001, Rahman captured the undisputed heavyweight title with a spectacular 5th round knockout of Lennox Lewis, only to lose the title in the rematch. Tough ring veteran Sherman Williams (33-10-2, 19 KOs) has won his last eight bouts in a row, including three by knockout. A native of the Bahamas, he has only been stopped once in his career.
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Countdown To Cotto-Mosley Debuts November 3
HBO Sports is presenting a thirty-minute special analyzing the upcoming HBO Pay-Per-View showdown between welterweight champ Miguel Cotto and world class challenger Shane Mosley. Their eagerly anticipated title bout is set for Saturday, Nov. 10 at New York’s Madison Square Garden.
The special “Countdown To Cotto-Mosley, ” which will feature fighter profiles, expert analysis and forecasts for the 147-pound showdown, will premiere on Saturday, Nov. 3 immediately after the HBO World Championship Boxing (Joe Calzaghe vs. Mikkel Kessler) telecast from Cardiff, Wales, which airs live at 9:00 p.m. ET/ 6:00 p.m. PT.
Cotto (30-0, 25 KOs), a native of Puerto Rico, is a powerhouse in the welterweight division who is seeking to move into the superstar category as he faces his most formidable challenge. The Garden has become one of his favorite sites and he looks for strong home court support on fight night. Mosley (44-4, 37 KOs) is one of boxing’s most accomplished performers over the past decade winning titles in three weight divisions and has reinvigorated his career with a string of impressive triumphs in the past two years. His remarkable career includes two wins over both Oscar De La Hoya and Fernando Vargas.
The countdown special will also be available to HBO On Demand subscribers 24 hours a day from Monday, November 5 thru Monday, November 19.
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Tuesday, October 16, 2007
McCline to File Official Protest to WBC
WBC #9 rated contender Jameel McCline plans to file an official protest with the WBC later this week.
“After watching the fight on tape, not only do I think I won, but I think that I would have stopped Peter if the referee (Mike Ortega) did not give him so much time to recover from the knockdowns in round three. Also, Judge Bill Costello had the fight 10-2 in rounds, which is absolutely ridiculous.”
As a result, McCline is going to petition the WBC to order an immediate rematch.
According to manager Scott Hirsch, “this is no different to the first Peter/Toney match except that Jameel knocked Peter down three times and two judges had Toney behind by wider margins. It’s not our goal to overturn the decision; it’s simply to get a rematch where Jameel and Sam can settle this issue in the ring. We have a tremendous amount of respect for Jose Sulaiman and the WBC and will abide by any decision they make regarding this matter, but I have full confidence that the WBC will do the right thing.”
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Liakhovich Clarifies Situation
WBA #2-rated former WBO Heavyweight Champion Sergei “White Wolf” Liakhovich (23-2, 14 KOs) and his manager, Ivaylo Gotzev, say they’re enraged at the “weak attempts” being made by former WBA Champ John Ruiz and his people to discredit Liakhovich’s hard-earned reputation.
Responding to a press release issued today, in which Ruiz’s legal advisor, attorney, Anthony Cardinale, tries to paint Liakhovich as a reluctant warrior for his refusal to face Ruiz this Saturday in Chicago, Gotzev paints a clearer picture of the situation.
The original offer, until a few days ago, was for two ex-champions to fight each other without any guarantees that it would be for any kind of improved position in the rankings. The most we could have won (by facing Ruiz) was to remain WBA number two. There was nothing to gain other than two ex-champions fighting off-TV. We are in a position in the rankings to fight for a championship soon if we don’t take any stupid offers like this one.”
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Monday, October 08, 2007
Tszyu’s Thoughts on Mayweather-Hatton
I have been keeping my eye on boxing around the world and I am really looking forward to the December 8 fight between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Ricky Hatton.
It is a very interesting match. I have double feelings on who will win. I can see how Mayweather can win and I can see how Hatton can win. The reason why is that I never felt that Ricky could beat me, but it happened. I remember a time when Roy Jones Jr. felt he was unbeatable, the same way I felt. But everyone can be beaten. This is life.
I can see Floyd losing his focus on boxing. Having appeared on ‘Dancing with the Stars’ myself here in Australia, I know how much work is involved. It is a full time job to prepare properly. To get ready for a fight with Ricky Hatton and concentrate on ‘Dancing with the Stars’ will be very hard. This is why I am saying Floyd is losing his focus. There is no doubt that Floyd Mayweather Jr. is a boxing freak, just as Roy Jones Jr. was a boxing freak. They are very special talents. But anyone can still lose. Maybe Floyd will not be on ‘Dancing with the Stars’ for that many weeks. I, like millions of others around the world, will be watching the outcome closely. It will be a great fight.
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HBO to Replay Pacquiao-Barrera
It’s a special edition of HBO Boxing After Dark when HBO Sports presents the exclusive replay of the super featherweight showdown Manny Pacquiao vs Marco Antonio Barrera II Saturday, October 13th, 11:00 p.m. (ET/PT) on HBO. The HBO Sports team, which was ringside for the live event at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, calls all the action.
The fight, which took place Oct. 6 and was carried live on HBO Pay-Per-View, featured the highly anticipated rematch. Pacquiao scored a unanimous decision victory.
Following the Pacquiao-Barrera II replay, HBO will present the previously announced HBO Boxing After Dark lightweight unification title matchup between Juan Diaz and Julio Diaz from Chicago.
HBO2 playdates for both fights: Oct. 14 (9:00 a.m., 4:45 p.m.) and 16 (11:00 p.m.). Times are ET/PT.
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Hirsch Added to Brunson Card
Promising light middleweight Tony Hirsch has been added to the Settles Entertainment fight card headlined by Tyrone Brunson’s attempt to break the world first round KO record this Saturday, October 13 at Chez Paree Club in Carter Lake, Iowa.
Hailing from the mean streets of Oakland, CA, Hirsch has won both of his professional contests since joining the paid ranks in June of this year and will square off over four scheduled rounds with Nebraska based journeyman Reuben Rodriguez, 3-6 (0), who has beaten two of the four undefeated fighters that he has faced.
Hirsch capped off his amateur career by winning a Gold Medal at the 2006 San Francisco Golden Gloves competition but the quick-fisted 23 year old also enjoyed success on a different field of play; as a member of the Arena Football League San Jose SaberCats, and was briefly with the NFL’s Oakland Raiders before being beat out for the cornerback spot by Phillip Buchanon.
“After the Raiders, I just wanted to do something else,” said Hirsch. “Arena football wants me back but I really want to make a career of boxing and I think that with my skills, I can do that.”
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Wednesday, October 03, 2007
Samuel Peter Workout Quotes
A public workout was held at Madison Square Garden featuring hard-hitting, recently crowned WBC Interim Heavyweight Champion Samuel “The Nigerian Nightmare’’ Peter (28-1, 22 KOs) who will be defending his title against Jameel “Big Time’’ McCline (38-7-3, 23 KOs) Saturday, Oct. 6, on Showtime live at 10 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast). Here are some of the notable quotes stemming from the session.
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Thompson Ready for Title Shot
Following his impressive victory over Cliff Couser last Thursday at the Tachi Palace Hotel & Casino in Lemoore, California, Tony “The Tiger” Thompson (31-1, 19 KOs) declared himself ready for his WBO World Heavyweight Championship Challenge early in 2008.
“I’m looking forward to the winner of (Sultan) Ibragimov and (Evander) Holyfield taking on his mandatory fight with me,” said Thompson, who gives the undefeated Russian (21-0-1, 17 KO) a slight edge to retain his WBO World Heavyweight Title against the former undisputed champion in Moscow on October 13.