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Friday, December 14, 2007
HBO to Replay Best Fights of 2007
It’s a holiday treat for HBO Boxing fans. For five consecutive nights during the holidays, HBO Sports will replay five of the most memorable, most significant, most compelling bouts of 2007 that were broadcast on the HBO service.
The lineup includes:
Tuesday, Dec. 25 at 11:00 p.m. - Jermain Taylor vs. Kelly Pavlik
Wednesday, Dec. 26 at 11:00 p.m. - Joe Calzaghe vs. Mikkel Kessler
Thursday, Dec. 27 at 11:00 p.m. - Oscar De La Hoya vs. Floyd Mayweather
Friday, Dec. 28 at 11:00 p.m. - Miguel Cotto vs. Shane Mosley
Saturday, Dec. 29 at 12 midnight - Floyd Mayweather vs. Ricky Hatton
All times are ET/PT.
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Friday, December 07, 2007
Mayweather and Hatton Weigh-In
Floyd Mayweather Jr: 147 lbs
Ricky Hatton: 145 lbs
Screenshots taken from ESPN Motion.
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
De La Hoya-Mayweather Numbers Show Boxing is Back
LOS ANGELES — For a sport that has taken more than its share of slings and arrows over the last few years, boxing has proven to be as resilient as its greatest champions, rising from the canvas in 2007 to again take its place among the most popular and relevant sports in the world.
The latest sign that boxing is back came this week, when HBO revealed that the record-shattering May 5th super fight between Oscar De La Hoya and Floyd Mayweather did even better than initially thought, with final numbers now clocking in at 2.4 million pay-per-view buys and $134.4 million in domestic revenue.
These numbers have established De La Hoya as the all-time leader in pay-per-view sales with 12.8 million buys. Not only did his fight with Mayweather shatter existing records for most PPV buys for a non-heavyweight fight, it sailed past the previous leader for overall PPV buys (1.9 million, which was set by the rematch between Evander Holyfield and Mike Tyson in 1997).
“This is amazing news and the strongest possible sign that boxing is not only alive, but that it is thriving,” said De La Hoya, President of Golden Boy Promotions, the promoters of De La Hoya-Mayweather. “There is no proof like cold, hard facts, and the response of fight fans to these events has given me hope that this sport will soon be back on the front pages of daily newspapers and in the mainstream’s consciousness like it was in its heyday.”
“I’m happy that my fight with Oscar did so well, but I’m not surprised because this is what happens when you give the people what they want,” said Mayweather, who fights Ricky Hatton on December 8. “I am going to keep bringing that to the people and that’s what they will see when I fight Hatton. Plus, being a competitive person, I want to go past 2.4 million buys and show the world what boxing is all about.”
What’s even more impressive is that in this record-breaking overall year for the boxing business, there are still two PPV super fights left – the November 10th battle between Sugar Shane Mosley and Miguel Cotto, and the grand pay-per-view finale December 8th between Mayweather and Hatton.
Added Richard Schaefer, CEO of Golden Boy Promotions, “I’ve always said that if you brought great fights and great fighters to the people and promoted it properly that every fight fan would respond, and the success we’ve had this year proves it. This is the dawning of a new age for boxing, and we are proud to be part of its renaissance.”
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Sunday, October 28, 2007
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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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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Friday, September 14, 2007
Cintron-Feliciano Back on Once Again
Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing announced today that the 12 round IBF Welterweight Championship title fight between Jesse Feliciano 14-5-3 (8KO’s) and Champion Kermit Cintron 28-1 (26KO’s) is back on the under card of the rescheduled Fernando Vargas- Ricardo Mayorga card November 23, from the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Live on PPV.
“I am pleased that Jesse will be getting his opportunity at the World title. Both fighters were preparing diligently and it is rewarding that the fight has come together again,” said DeGuardia.
“We are happy this fight is back on track, I am in great shape and ready to go. I can’t wait, one way or another we will fight. I have waited too long, this is a big fight and winning puts me back on top. I don’t even think about losing, I am coming for the title. I want to thank my training team and my promoter Joe DeGuardia for their support and hard work,” said Feliciano.
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Thursday, September 13, 2007
Berto-Estrada: Crossroads Battle at Welterweight
NEW YORK - While most fight fans at Atlantic City’s Boardwalk Hall and those viewing live on HBO World Championship Boxing on September 29th are anticipating the World Middleweight Championship bout between champion Jermain “Bad Intentions” Taylor and #1 challenger Kelly “The Ghost” Pavlik, they will also be treated to a co-main event featuring two of the welterweight division’s elite in a crossroads battle. Fast rising Andre Berto will square off against fellow Floridian David Estrada in a 12-round bout for the vacant NABF welterweight title as well as a stronger foothold in the sports most exciting division.
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Tuesday, September 04, 2007
Siddique’s Inspiration is Witter
Nadeem Siddique is being inspired to take boxing more seriously and rise to the top by his old friend Junior Witter.
Siddique is unbeaten in 19 fights but admits he has only just started to take boxing seriously, despite winning British Masters and Midlands Area Titles up at welterweight.
The Bradford lightweight faces Tom Glover on the same Hennessy Sports bill as Witter, who defends his WBC Light-Welterweight title against mandatory challenger Vivian Harris (USA/Guyana) at the Dome at Doncaster Lakeside on Friday.
Siddique has seen Witter rise to the top of his division after dominating the British and European scene. Now Sid is out to try and do the same.
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Saturday, September 01, 2007
De La Hoya Wants to Return at Welterweight
In a recent interview with ESPN’s Dan Rafael, Oscar De La Hoya has stated that he plans on returning to the ring next May, at welterweight:
But De La Hoya (38-5, 30 KOs), who has won 10 world title belts in six divisions, has no immediate plans to stop fighting and is thinking about his ring return, targeted for May 3, 2008.
And when he does return, De La Hoya said that he will be back in the welterweight division he once dominated before moving up to junior middleweight and taking a two-fight stab at middleweight.
“Nothing is set in stone about who I’m going to fight,” De La Hoya told ESPN.com in a recent interview. “Right now, I’m plotting these fights [that Golden Boy is promoting], keeping myself busy and spending time with my family. I won’t decide who I am going to fight until I see how things unfold [in the fall], but I will be back at welterweight, that’s for sure.”
Oscar back at 147 lbs? Just imagine the possible matchups: Mayweather, Mosley, Hatton, Williams, Cintron and Margarito are all potential opponents at this point.
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Thursday, August 30, 2007
Judah: “I Want a Fourth Title”
Prize Fight Promotions, Super Promotions and Bayou Promotions in association with Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Biloxi, MS. Today announced the return of Zab “Super” Judah (34-5-0 25KO’s), to the Prize Fight gym in Memphis. Judah is wrapping up his training camp, and preparing to face Edwin Vazquez (22-10-2, 8KO’s) Friday, September 7, on the season finale of ESPN’s Friday Night Fights, live from the Hard Rock Casino & Hotel in Biloxi Mississippi.
Judah’s last outing was June 9, 2007, going head to head in a highly anticipated fight against undefeated WBA Welterweight Champion Miguel Cotto before a sell out crowd at Madison Square Garden New York. He came out strong in the first round before suffering a low blow, another accidental low blow hurt him more than the first and from that point on was unable to fully recover.
“This is a must win for Zab, as he makes his way back into contention in the welterweight division. Zab is a three time world champion, on any given night at his best he can beat any of the welterweights out there today, Judah hurt Cotto in the first and third rounds and dropped Mayweather, although the ref declared it a slip. A win puts him squarely back in the game.” Said Russ Young.
“I am a three time world champion, I’m want a fourth title, I am the best out there, I have fought the best in the world, I’ve had a few diversions along the way but that’s boxing, when I am in top form no one can beat me. My camp has been very productive, I feel good.” Said Judah.