Errol Spence claimed the IBF welterweight title in
England last night, stopping Kell Brook in the 11th round. In a terrific
fight Spence was able to do what he does best --- wear out his opponent
with an arsenal of straight jabs and body punching -- both of which
played a major factor in the fight, having Brook take a knee from the
injured eye ---out of gas, and taking the ten count.
Brook, 36-2, started off boxing his American counterpart
and was having success with his counterpunching, but it was soon
dissipated by the stronger Texan as Brook was tiring by the constant
body blows. By the sixth, Brook had used up his arsenal and was
running out of bullets. By the ninth, he was almost out of gas as his
output slowed dramatically, and by the tenth, Spence was totally in
command. A brief rally near the end of the tenth was the last output
from Brook, who, for the most part, was backtracking and being stalked
throughout that round.
The eleventh was no different, and that is when Brook
took a knee. Time was 1:47.
Spence, now 22-0, claims the IBF title and is the
frontrunner in a division with many contenders. Keith Thurman is
the WBA/WBC undefeated champion in the division, which he unified when
he defeated Danny Garcia in March.
JLM
DIBELLA ENTERTAINMENT SIGNS ERIC WALKER
TO EXCLUSIVE PROMOTIONAL DEAL
MAKES DBE DEBUT ON BROADWAY BOXINGHARD ROCK HOTEL AND CASINO, BILOXI, MS
THIS SATURDAY FEBRUARY 11
New York, NY (2/7/17) -
DiBella Entertainment has inked an exclusive promotional agreement with
undefeated talent Eric "Babyface Assassin" Walker (14-0, 7 KOs). The
junior middleweight sensation will make his DiBella Entertainment debut
on "Broadway Boxing", February 11, at Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, in
Biloxi, Mississippi.
Walker had an unconventional amateur boxing career, going 61-1 over 13
years in Dixon Correctional Institution near his hometown of Baton
Rouge, Louisiana. Entering the prison system at only 15 years old, with
no boxing experience, Walker quickly rose through the ranks, eventually
becoming the captain of the institution's boxing team. Fighting
alongside professional boxers Brad Solomon and Demond Brock, among
others, Walker was a titleholder every year, gaining respect from the
prison warden, staff and fellow inmates for his leadership of the team
and dedication to his craft. Upon his release in June 2013, he began a
five-fight amateur run with USA boxing, but quickly realized that he was
ready for the professional ranks.
Walker made his professional debut in December 2013, besting Phillip
Lars in a swift first-round knockout win, and
amassed a record of 11-0 before getting the call to face Mayweather
Promotions prospect Chris Pearson in Las Vegas. In December 2015, Walker
entered the ring an underdog against Pearson and exited the ring
undefeated after eight rounds, handing Pearson his first loss, catching
the attention of fight fans and media. It was an exciting time for
Walker, who had become the father of twin boys just two weeks prior.
In his next bout, Walker won the WBC Continental Americas junior
middleweight title with a 10-round unanimous decision over Mexico's
Josue Ovando. It was a win that would be a catalyst for the fighter's
chance meeting with Lou DiBella at the WBC Convention in Miami last
December. DiBella, who had teamed up with Mississippi-based Rite Hook
Promotions for a planned February 11 card in Biloxi, was excited to
learn that Walker, a local attraction across the South, was free from
promotional ties. The two, along with Walker's manager, Al Ausbon,
reached a deal, and DiBella Entertainment's newest signee set about
preparing for the February card.
"Eric Walker is the best fighter you've never heard of," said Lou
DiBella, President of DiBella Entertainment. "That's going to change.
We're planning to keep him very busy and fast-track him to a title shot,
and he's going to win."
For his part, Walker was thrilled to to team up with a promoter of
DiBella's caliber. "I would like to thank God, because without Him, none
of this would be possible," said Walker. "I also want to thank my
family, friends and fans, along with my manager Al Ausbon and DiBella
Entertainment for believing in me and giving me the opportunity to show
the world what I can do, and further my career under such a tremendous
promotional team. There are many great things that I will bring to
DiBella Entertainment, including my work ethic, my willingness to
compete against anyone in boxing, and my unique fighting style. I look
forward to our journey together."
"I'm thankful that God has put us together with DiBella Entertainment,"
said Walker's long-time friend and manager Al Ausbon. "Eric Walker has
great talents and, with Lou DiBella, those gifts will be showcased
worldwide. I know that the future is bright for Team Walker."
Tickets for the February 11 "Broadway Boxing" event, which is promoted
by DiBella Entertainment and Rite Hook Promotions in association with
Hard Rock Casino, are priced at $75, $60, $50, $40 and standing room
only for $20. Tickets can be purchased online at Ticketmaster.com (by
clicking
HERE) or
by calling 800-745-3000. The "Broadway Boxing" series is presented by
Nissan of Queens, Azad Watches, OPTYX, and Christos Steak House. Doors
open at 5:00pm CT, with the first fight scheduled for 6:00pm CT.
-DBE-
Five-time world champion MIGUEL COTTO Vs.
James Kirkland showdown SET FORSATURDAY,
February 25 @ Ford Center
at the Star in Frisco, Texas
PRESENTED LIVE BY HBO PAY-PER-VIEW®
NEW YORK, NY (December 19, 2016) –
Roc Nation Sports and Miguel Cotto Promotions are pleased to announce
that Five-Time World Champion Miguel Cotto (40-5, 33 KOs) will return to
the ring on Saturday, February 25, 2017 when he takes on James “Mandingo
Warrior” Kirkland (32-2, 28 KOs) at Ford Center at The Star in Frisco,
Texas. Coming off respective losses to Canelo Alvarez, both fighters
will be seeking redemption in a 12-round junior middleweight showdown.
The event will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View®
beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT.
Cotto and Kirkland will join Roc Nation Sports and the Dallas Cowboys
organization on Monday, December 19, 2016 at 12:00 p.m. CT for a press
conference at Ford Center at The Star to officially announce the fight.
This will be the first event of its kind to be held at the
state-of-the-art, 510,000 square foot indoor athletic facility shared by
the Dallas Cowboys, the City of Frisco, and Frisco ISD’s high schools.
Ford Center at The Star is also the home to the Dallas Cowboys Football
World Corporate Headquarters.
Tickets priced at $304, $204, $154, $104, $79, $54 and $29 not
including applicable service charges and taxes, go on sale Thursday,
Dec. 22, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. local time and will be available at all
Ticketmaster locations, online at Ticketmaster.com, charge by phone at
(800) 745-3000 and the AT&T Stadium box office.
"I’m excited to return to the ring and put on a great show. I can’t
wait to start training camp and get ready for February 25," said
Five-Time World Champion Miguel Cotto. “Fighting inside the beautiful
Ford Center, Jerry Jones and the Dallas Cowboy’s newest creation, and
headlining the first ever boxing event there pumps me with a lot of
enthusiasm and energy."
"I'm very excited to get back into the ring against a legend like
Miguel Cotto. I'm going to train like never before so I can show the
world that the old James Kirkland is back,” said James Kirkland. “You
know the fight will be exciting while it lasts. February 25 can’t come
soon enough."
"Miguel Cotto is back and ready to put on an exciting show against
the always tough James Kirkland,” said Hector Soto, Vice President of
Miguel Cotto Promotions. “We can't wait to see Miguel back in the ring
on February 25 on HBO Pay-Per-View."
"On behalf of Roc Nation Sports, we are so thrilled about Miguel
Cotto's return to the ring and to bring the first public event to Ford
Center at The Star," said Michael Yormark, Roc Nation President & Chief
of Branding and Strategy. "This will undoubtedly be a historic event
with an exciting, all-action bout in store for the fans in Frisco and
all of North Texas along with those watching from home on HBO
Pay-Per-View."
“We are excited to host an incredible matchup for the very first
boxing match here at Ford Center at The Star,” said Jerry Jones, Dallas
Cowboys Owner, President and General Manager. “This venue was designed
with the idea of versatility in mind, and we expect a great crowd in
Frisco, Texas to experience a world class fight between Miguel Cotto and
James Kirkland.”
“Throughout his brilliant ring career, Miguel Cotto has never backed
down from a challenge and on February 25 he takes on a dangerous
knockout specialist in James Kirkland,” said Tony Walker, Vice
President, HBO Pay-Per-View. “Fans watching live in Frisco and those
tuning in on pay-per-view should not blink in what should be an
all-action slugfest.”
Miguel Cotto (40-5, 33 KOs) is a former WBC and Ring Magazine
middleweight world champion and the first native of Puerto Rico to
become world champion in four different weight classes. He previously
held the WBO junior welterweight world title, the WBA welterweight world
title, the WBO welterweight world title and the WBA super welterweight
world title. He also represented Puerto Rico in the 2000 Olympic Games
in Sydney, Australia. Cotto has competed in 24 world championship
fights, compiling a record of 19-5 with 16 knockouts in those bouts. In
Puerto Rico, he is hailed as a national hero and the successor of Felix
"Tito" Trinidad as the island's most revered boxer. Cotto is one of the
biggest gate attractions in boxing and one of the largest pay-per-view
draws among active fighters. In June 2014, Cotto made history in his
first fight as a middleweight by dominating Argentine southpaw and
defending WBC and Ring Magazine Middleweight World Champion Sergio "Maravilla"
Martinez. He is trained by legendary Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach
and has fought some of the biggest names in the sport including Floyd
"Money" Mayweather and Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao. Cotto owns his own
boxing promotional company in Puerto Rico, Miguel Cotto Promotions, and
presides over his charity La Fundación El Ángel de Miguel Cotto, a
non-profit organization dedicated to combatting childhood obesity. In
March 2015, Cotto and Roc Nation Sports announced that they had entered
into a partnership that includes a co-promotional agreement with Miguel
Cotto Promotions to promote Cotto's fights. On June 6, 2015, Cotto
defended his WBC, Ring Magazine and lineal middleweight world
championships against former two-time World Champion Daniel Geale at
Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. Cotto scored a thunderous
knockdown early in the fourth round before finishing matters with a
second knockdown midway through the round, which left Geale unable to
continue. On November 21, 2015, Cotto cemented his status as one of the
biggest pay-per-view draws among active fighters in his much anticipated
mega-fight against Mexico’s Saul “Canelo” Alvarez, despite going the
distance for a twelve-round unanimous decision loss. The hard-fought
bout has been dubbed as the biggest fight in the history of the famed
Puerto Rico vs. Mexico boxing rivalry. The Five-Time World Champion is
eager to return to the ring against James Kirkland on February 25.
A Texas titan, representing the city of Austin, 32-year-old southpaw
James “Mandingo Warrior” Kirkland (32-2, 28 KOs) has built his
reputation with explosive power. His fists have accounted for 28
knockout victories over the course of his nearly 14-year professional
career. A former NABO and WBC Continental Americas Champion, Kirkland
bounced back from his lone defeat against Nobuhiro Ishida in 2011 with
five consecutive wins, four coming by way of knockout. Kirkland has
defeated Brian Vera, Alfredo “Perro” Angulo and Carlos “King” Molina and
handed Glen “Jersey Boy” Tapia his first professional loss by way of a
punishing sixth round technical knockout, prior to taking the stage for
a 12-round super welterweight war with Saul “Canelo” Alvarez on May 9,
2015 at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas.
Cotto vs. Kirkland is a 12-round junior middleweight fight presented
by Roc Nation Sports and Miguel Cotto Promotions and Ford Center at The
Star, and is sponsored by Corona Extra.
Welterweight Champs who Fought for the Middleweight
Championship
Brook Challenges
For Middleweight Glory
On September 10th, in London Kell Brook, welterweight champion
(or pieces of it) will challenge Genn
ady Golovkin, the
fantastic middleweight kingpin who is riding a 22
straight KO streak. It is considered a big money fight in a boxing world
that has very little big money fights left.
But make no mistake, it is a big jump for Brook, who carries himself
at about 170 and has struggled
recently to make 147.
At 5'9, he is just an inch and 1/2 (5'10 1/2) shorter than his
counterpart, so making it at 160 is just considered an entrance into a
new division. But fighting the champion is a big welcoming challenge, a
challenge where some historical figures failed. Especially
if they didn't fight in the division before the title bout.
And since this is a site of history, and the significance of it,
we have decided to look at the past to see how successful the good
little men were and who they were in tackling the champion of the
middleweights. Here is what we found, doing research from bouts
after 1900, when the middleweight and welterweight divisions
were more defined. And the results may be a little
surprising.
FIGHT #1
Sugar Ray Robinson TKO 13 Jake LaMotta (Chicago Stadium, Chicago IL
Feb. 14, 1951)
Robinson, the spectacular welterweight
champion was installed as a 3-1 favorite, primarily because he had
beaten LaMotta before. But this was for the title, and the stakes were
never higher. LaMotta had given Sugar Ray his first and only loss in
February of 1943, but with a 16 lb weight advantage. In a seemingly
interesting scrap turned in favor of Robinson, who punished LaMotta from
rounds 10 through 13. LaMotta would not succumb however, and never left
his feet. In the end it was LaMotta who quipped " Sugar Ray hit me
so many times, I thought he would punch himself out." It was
LaMotta who was drained and had nothing left on his punches, and the six
pounds he dropped the previous day had affected him. Still it was one
"helluva" fight.
This was one of the most
famous fights in history and the fact that Sugar Ray was a welterweight
challenging for the middleweight title was kind of overlooked. But it
was fights like this that exemplified the legacy of Robinson, who
clearly excelled when he had to.
Welterweights 1, Middleweights 0
FIGHT #2 Emile Griffith
Vs. Dick Tiger (Madison Square Garden, New York April 25, 1966)
The welterweight champion Griffith, all 150 1/2lbs of him,
takes on Middleweight Champion Dick Tiger, who tipped the scales at an
even 160, at Madison Square Garden in New York. Griffith
proves his mettle with a close but unanimous decision (9-5, 7-6, 8-7) to
win the title. Back then champions would fight many non title affairs to
stay busy, and Griffith fought them, and some against middleweights.
Griffith had defeated Luis Rodriguez via split decision
in June of 1963, gaining the WBA and WBC Welterweight titles. Later that
year he had fought Rubin Hurricane Carter at the Middleweight level,
only to be disposed of within a round.
A successful defense against Rodriguez, again by split
decision in Las Vegas, and a one sided loss to middleweight Don Fullmer,
gave Emile the experience he might need to gain a fight with Tiger, who
in 1965 had defeated Joey Giardello via the 15 round decision. Tiger was
making his first defense against Griffith, and was an 8-5 favorite. And
when Griffith was declared the winner, the experience of fighting top
middleweights
proved an asset that carried him to victory. (Griffith then
vacated to campaign at middleweight, succeeded at welterweight by Curtis
Cokes)
Welterweights 2, Middleweights 0
FIGHT #3 Carlos Monzon Vs. Jose
Napoles, (Putepiux, Hauts De Saine, France February 9, 1974)
Carlos Monzon 159¾ lbs beat Jose Napoles 153 lbs by RTD at 3:00 in
round 6 (of 15)
In this battle of two legendary champions, Monzon
used his height, weight and reach advantage to perfection that caused
Napoles to go for broke with aggression. Napoles was never comfortable
in this fight because he had to reach and try to stop Monzon's counters
coming in. Monzon battered the welterweight champion from rounds three
on --- and proved that a big skilled middleweight could beat the smaller
skilled champion. This was a fight that was speculated for some time,
and became a reality in 1974. It was a payday for Napoles, who at that
time needed a big payday. After this fight Napoles never fought
outside Mexico again, and was for the most part, a shade over his prime
years.
Monzon
(l) was all over the fading welterweight champion.
Welterweights 2, Middleweights 1
FIGHT #4
Ceferino Garcia D 10 Henry Armstrong (Gilmore Stadium, Los Angeles CA
March 1, 1940)
Armstrong went for his fourth world title by challenging middleweight
champion Ceferino Garcia. Armstrong at one time held three world titles
simultaneously. On March 1, 1940, he was still the welterweight and
lightweight champion. This was a huge step up for the "Hurricane Hank"
or "Homicide Hank" a fighter who never stopped throwing punches and
never ran out of gas.
Garcia (l), and a husky Armstrong weigh in
The pride of the Philippines, Ceferino Garcia was basically a
welterweight, and at best a small middleweight, weighed only 153 on
fight night. Armstrong was 141. Garcia had won the title the previous
October with a seventh round stoppage of Fred Apostoli, a full fledged
middleweight. Garcia had fought Armstrong for his welterweight title
only two years prior, losing a unanimous decision in New York.
Ironically politics was in full play in this fight. Although California
Athletic Commission branded this as a world title fight, the powerful
NYS Athletic Commission ruled that it was a non title affair due to the
scheduled limit of 10 rounds. Also ironic was that the referee was the
sole judge, and after 10 round ruled the fight a Draw, although many
spectators felt the edge went to Armstrong.
Welterweights 2, Middleweights 1, 1 Draw
FIGHT #5 Bobo Olson MD 15 Kid
Gavilan (Chicago Stadium, Chicago IL April 2, 1954)
Gavilan, "The Cuban Hawk" tries to wrest the crown from Olson, the
middleweight kingpin who defeated Randy Turpin for the vacant title the
previous October, only to fall short by Majority decision. Gavilan
admitted after the defeat that he had injured his right hand in a
previous fight. Most of the rounds were close, but the constant
pressure Olson put on Gavilan was the key to winning the bout.
Ticket stub on Friday April 2, 1954
"Bobo Olson, last night, hacked and harassed a left handed punching
Kid Gavilan, whose right eye was spurting blood from the 9th round on,
for a majority 15 round decision before 18,562 roaring fans at the
Chicago Stadium. Gavilan repeatedly flashed vicious left hooks to the
body and head which seemed to stun Olson. But Bobo seldon took a
backward step and was willing to match punching power whenever the Kid
elected. Gavilan coasted through the 11th, 12th and 13th rounds, trying
unsuccessfully to salvage each of those rounds with his patented
flurries. In the final analysis, it was Bobo's persistency and crisp
hacking combinations to the body and head which repulsed Gavilan's bid
to emulate Ray Robinson's climb from the 147 to 160 pound championship."
--- Associated Press
Welterweights 2, Middleweights 2, 1 Draw
FIGHT #6 Michael Nunn MD 12 Marlon Starling
(Las Vegas, NV April 14, 1990)
Starling challenged the undefeated Michael Nunn for the IBF version
of the middleweight title. Starling 45-4, won the WBC welterweight title
in 1989 against Lloyd Honeyghan (TKO 9) and was coming off his first
defense of his welterweight title before facing Nunn. Nunn, on all
accounts had been riding high, defeating Frank Tate for the title, and
defending it against Juan Roldan and Sumbu Kalambay, but had
failed to produce an exciting victory in his previous bout against Iran
Barkley.
And this bout proved no different. A stinker and a tactical boring
fight, Starling fails to do enough to wrest the title from Nunn, who
refused to engage with Starling from the outset. The end result was a
Majority Decision for Nunn, and Starling returned to the welterweight
throne, losing the WBC title in his next bout to Mauruice Blocker, and
never fought again.
Middleweights 3 Welterweights 2, 1 Draw
FIGHT #7 Harry Greb UD 15 Mickey Walker (Polo
Grounds, New York - July 2, 1925)
In a bout between two legendary fighters, The "Toy Bulldog" Walker,
all 152lbs of him, challenges for Grebs middleweight crown, only to lose
a unanimous decision in a tremendous slugfest over 15 rounds.
Originally scheduled for June 19th the bout was postponed for two weeks.
Greb, "The Pittsburgh Windmill" was installed a 4-1 favorite, was to
have rumored to be toiling the streets of Manhattan playing "drunk" days
before the match giving some stories for newspapers that Greb had not
been taking the fight seriously. Also rumored was the famous
street-fight hours after the match, with the two picking up where they
left off after the 15th round.
Walker had won the title from Jack Britton in 1922, and defended
many times, even defeating light heavyweight champion Mike Mctigue
earlier in the year. Greb was the only fighter to hand future
heavyweight champion Gene Tunney his only loss, and beat many legendary
fighters such as Tommy Loughran and Maxie Rosenbloom. The only sin is
that this fight was not recorded on film.
Middleweights 4 Welterweights 2, 1 Draw
FIGHT #8 Stanley Ketchel KO 1 Mike "Twin"
Sullivan (Mission Street Arena, Colma, CA Feb. 22, 1908)
The young middleweight champion, Ketchel defends his title against
the 29 year old welterweight champion Mike "Twin" Sullivan, in a
bout scheduled for 25 rounds. Ketchel proves that Sullivan doesn't
belong in the ring by stopping him in just 1:18 of the first round.
Sullivan had copped the welterweight crown from Honey Mellody in 1907
at 145 lbs and stepped into the ring against Ketchel at 150, giving up
just 4 lbs to the 21 year old middleweight champion. Two years earlier
Sullivan weighed 135 in a bout against former lightweight champion
Joe Gans. In an ironic twist Ketchel is said to have claimed both the
welterweight and middleweight title in two bouts from Joe Thomas
in 1907, weighing 147 1/2 for the first fight KO 32(45) and 155 lbs for
the second one (UD20). So, as 1908 entered the calendar, both Sullivan
and Ketchel had a score to settle, and it would be claim to Ketchel's
middleweight crown.
Mike "Twin" Sullivan
Mike's twin, middleweight Jack "Twin" Sullivan would challenge for
Ketchels title three months later, and would last longer than his
brother, ultimately succumbing to Ketchel in the 20th round.
FINAL TALLY: Middleweights 5
Welterweights 2, 1 Draw
Lets see if Brook can get the welterweights the 3rd win.
JLM
A DOZEN "SUPER FIGHT" DUDS
So many so called “Super Fights” have turned out to be “Super Duds” over
the years. True several have provided us with heart stopping thrills.
Still some have left us cold and unfulfilled as one party of the match
didn’t quite live up to their end of the deal.
I have come up with twelve such contests that left me most unsatisfied
at their conclusion. I’m sure other fans can think of many more that had
a similar effect on them.
1) Salvador Sanchez-Wilfredo Gomez… Sanchez
was a young, solid champion but Gomez was, Gomez. The man that had
destroyed the invincible Carlos Zarate. Well Salvador proved to the
world and Gomez that he was an all-time great. Wilfredo was down in the
first and outclassed the rest of the way until it was stopped in round
eight.
2) Donald Curry-Milton McCrory… Curry had
been long considered a pound for pound best. Milt was to be the second
coming of Tommy Hearns. Milt was flattened in two rounds!
3) Michael Nunn-Sumbu Kalambay… Nunn was
the heir apparent to Sugar Ray Leonard. Kalambay was a solid champion
with wins over Mike McCallum and Iran Barkley. One well timed Nunn left
hook ended what looked to be a competitive contest on paper in the first
round.
4) Thomas Hearns-Roberto Duran… All I can
say is OUCH !!! Roberto had just gone fifteen with the great Hagler. No
one before or after ever did what Tommy did to Roberto that day.
5) Floyd Mayweather Jr.-Diego Corrales… NO
CONTEST !!!
6) Lennox Lewis-Mike Tyson… A contest for
one round. Then Lennox dominated and halted the game but overmatched
Tyson in the eighth.
7) Bob Foster-Vicente Rondon… When will
this generation realize that Foster would have kayoed Roy Jones Jr.?
8) George Foreman-Boone Kirkman… Boone was
so overhyped. This was almost laughable. Mercifully stopped in round
two.
9) George Foreman-Gerry Cooney… Swan
song payday for likeable but undeserving Cooney. Easy cash for George.
10) Mike Tyson-Michael Spinks… What were
people expecting? At that stage of Tyson’s career, he was an ANIMAL !!!
11) Jerry Quarry-Earnie Shavers- Not quite
what we expected was it ? The bomber got bombed !
12) Eder Jofre-Vicente Saldivar… If they
only would have met years earlier before Vicente was a “shot” fighter.
It could have been a classic !Instead Saldivar folded in the fourth.
So there you have it. Great fighters in great match ups that just seemed
to fizzle when the first bell sounded.
Jim Amato
MAYWEATHER-PACQUIAO PREVIEW
April 29, 2015: The fighters have arrived in Las Vegas, as
the fight is in its final countdown, before the fighters meet in the
center of the ring about midnight on Saturday night.
And with all the talk over the past five + years, the speculation
is over and the answers will be recorded into the annuls of boxing
history.
Two of the best in the last decade meet to decide who is the best
P4P fighter in the world today. The hoopla and hype, as well as the
commercial $$$, are unprecedented as the world stops for a brief time to
see who will come out on top - question is - who will be the one
pounding his chest at the end?
The talent and skills favor the Money Man, the intangibles favor
Manny and that in a nutshell of what makes this fight appealing. For
those who think Mayweather will be using Pac's head as a speedbag,
beware -- Manny is unlike anyone Mayweather has ever faced, and twice
the caliber than any of Floyds last opponents.
You can even see during Mayweather's training that he was quite
docile, unusually quiet in a bout that will help define his career as it
winds down to a precious few.
So we may see Floyd actually be forced to fight bas he battles the
Pac onslaught and pressure, unlike the previous bouts where he used his
clever defense and countered off it. I believe a combination of the two
will happen, with Mayweather capitalizing on PacMan mistakes if and when
he makes them.
But that is where the intangibles come in. How many mistakes will
he make? What if he is back to 2009 form and he is not there for
Mayweather to hit him? What if he walks through a Mayweather right hand
counter, ready to unload a seven punch combo?
Mayweather's asset is that he doesn't show you his chess piece
until he has to, a far and dormant underappreciated skill. For example,
he set up Ricky Hatton with a jab to the body, dropping his antagonists
guard, then stopping Ricky in his tracks with a left hook in the 10th
round. Mayweather has a game plan, and it will be up to Manny to thwart
it, to counter it, to make Floyd think. But that is not Manny's
strength, or at least it has not shown it in the past -- he is a
southpaw who comes at you at angles, with power, so the only thing I see
is that he hopes to bully Mayweather around, never stop throwing
punches, a huge task against a bigger man. In short, Pac may have to
rely on trainer Freddie's instructions to the letter to pull off the
upset.
My take is to simply look at boxing history, and it tells you a
good big man will beat a good little man.
Monzon defeated Napoles in 1974, Maxim defeated Robinson in 1952,
and a host of many others come to play here. There have been exceptions,
however, as Pacquaio hopes to stand out on Saturday night as the
exception.
I don't think so. I like the Money Man by decision or late
stoppage, but anything can happen. It may be Manny bringing out the best
in Floyd, as great fighters bring out the best in their opponents. If
that happens it will be what the fans are expecting. Win or lose, we
know PacMan is coming to fight. I didn't pick him against Oscar. I
thought Cotto would destroy him, again the wrong button. I am not
picking him in this fight, but then again . . .
JLM
DANNY GARCIA VS. LAMONT PETERSON AND
ANDY LEE VS. PETER QUILLIN IN BROOKLYN BOXING SHOWDOWNS LIVE IN
PRIMETIME ON NBC ON SATURDAY, APRIL 11
Premier Boxing Champions on NBC Comes to Barclays
Center with Two Sensational Main Events
- Televised Fights on NBC Start at 8:30 P.M. ET
-
Tickets on Sale Tomorrow!
BROOKLYN (February 12, 2015) - The eagerly awaited showdown between
undefeated superstar Danny "Swift" Garcia (29-0, 17 KOs) and Lamont
Peterson (33-2-1, 17 KOs) will become a reality as Premier Boxing
Champions (PBC) on NBC returns to primetime on Saturday, April 11 at
8:30 p.m. ET live from Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
In the first main event of the evening, middleweight world champion
"Irish" Andy Lee (34-2, 24 KOs) takes on the undefeated Peter "Kid
Chocolate" Quillin (31-0, 22 KOs) in a 12-round world title fight.
Marv Albert will call the fights in primetime on NBC alongside
analyst "Sugar" Ray Leonard, the six-time world champion and 1976
Olympic gold medalist. Al Michaels will host.
"It's an honor to be fighting back in Brooklyn where I've experienced
some of the best moments of my career," said Garcia. "Fans have been
asking for this fight for so long and on April 11 I'm planning on giving
them the show they've been waiting for. Doing it live on NBC will make
it even sweeter."
"This is an amazing opportunity for me fighting in Brooklyn and on
national TV in front of millions of people," said Peterson. "I'm going
to go out there and give the performance of a lifetime. Danny Garcia
better not underestimate me, because my time is now."
"I'm looking forward to returning to New York and defending my title
against Quillin," said Lee. "I'm at the peak of my powers now. I cannot
see myself losing to anyone. I want to be recognized as the best
middleweight in the world and beating Quillin will go some way to
proving that."
"To be able to fight at home in Brooklyn and win a title on such a
big stage is a dream come true," said Quillin. "I'm honored and excited
to be a part of something that is great for my career, but also for the
sport of boxing as a whole. I know that I'm going to win on April 11,
become champion once again, and then I'm going after anyone and everyone
at 160 pounds."
"I am thrilled to be promoting this PBC mega event at Barclays Center
in my hometown of Brooklyn," said Lou DiBella, President of DiBella
Entertainment. "Danny Garcia vs. Lamont Peterson and Andy Lee defending
his middleweight title against Peter Quillin are two of the very best
bouts that can be made in boxing. On April 11, the fans are going to be
the biggest winners and DBE is proud to be part of it."
"Quality championship fights are only in Brooklyn in April," said
Brett Yormark, CEO of Barclays Center. "Danny Garcia always brings
excitement to our ring and we are delighted once again to have
Brooklyn's own Peter Quillin fighting in Barclays Center. Fans want
drama and unpredictable fights, and we are confident our card will
deliver that on primetime television."
Now in his fourth year as a world champion, Philadelphia's Garcia will
return to headline at Barclays Center for a record fourth time. Garcia
also fought in the main event in October 2012, the first ever-boxing
card at Barclays Center. The 26-year-old has taken down some of the
biggest names in boxing on his way to an undefeated record, including
Amir Khan, Erik Morales, Zab Judah and Lucas Matthysse. He will once
again have a chance to prove himself against the best, this time in the
long anticipated clash with Peterson.
Washington, D.C.'s Peterson is a gifted boxer-puncher with as much
heart as talent. Like Garcia, the 31-year-old Peterson is another
longtime champion. Peterson has always faced the best and defeated Amir
Khan in 2011. The only blemishes on his perfect record came against
Timothy Bradley and Lucas Matthysse. He is coming off of two impressive
victories in 2014 and now he gets the bout he and the public have
clamored for as he takes a shot at beating Garcia in Brooklyn.
An accomplished amateur who was Ireland's sole boxing representative
at the 2004 Olympic Games, Leegot his first taste of world championship
gold in December 2014 when he defeated Matt Korobov for the vacant
middleweight world title with a sensational sixth round technical
knockout. The 30-year-old has fought in his home country of Ireland, the
UK, Germany and most often in the U.S. throughout his career. His only
career losses came against Bryan Vera, which he would later avenge and
Julio Cesar Chavez in his first world title fight. On April 11, Lee will
fight for the fifth time in New York City, looking to give the primetime
national television audience a memorable night.
A former world champion looking to reclaim the belt he vacated last
year, Quillin will return to the same arena where he won the
middleweight belt in 2012 with his star-making, six-knockdown
performance against Hassan N'Dam in the first boxing card hosted by
Barclays Center. Born in Chicago but fighting out of New York City, the
31-year-old went on to defend that title against strong contenders
Fernando Guerrero, Gabriel Rosado and Lukas Konecny. Now, "Kid
Chocolate" looks to show off his superstar skills to a primetime
audience.
Beginning with the first show, Saturday, March 7, at 8:30 p.m. ET on
NBC, NBC and NBCSN will present 20 live "PBC on NBC" boxing events in
2015. Within the 20 live shows, NBC Sports Group will present more than
50 hours of PBC coverage, including NBCSN pre- and post-fight
programming for NBC telecasts. The Premier Boxing Champions series is
created for television by Haymon Boxing. The PBC on NBC will feature
many of today's brightest stars, in their most compelling matches.
All PBC on NBC shows will be streamed live on NBC Sports Live Extra
via "TV Everywhere," giving consumers additional value for their
subscription service, and making high quality content available to MVPD
customers both in and out of the home and on multiple platforms. NBC
Sports Live Extrais available for desktops at NBCSports.com/liveextra.
The NBC Sports Live Extra app is available at the App Store for iPad and
iPod touch, on select devices within Google Play, and on windows phones
and tablets.
-DBE-
Top Contender Arash Usmanee Lands Huge Opportunity in Pacquiao vs.
Bradley 2 Co-Main Will face Raymundo Beltran for WBO NABO Lightweight
title this Saturday in Las Vegas . . .
Afghani-Canadian super featherweight contender Arash
Usmanee (20-1-1, 10 KOs) will step into the highest-profile fight of his
life on short notice and face WBO #1 ranked Raymundo Beltran (28-6-1, 17
KOs) for the WBO NABO Lightweight title this Saturday, April 12, in the
co-main event of the HBO Pay-Per-View card featuring the Timothy Bradley
vs. Manny Pacquiao rematch at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
An extended illness suffered by former two-time world champion Roman
"Rocky" Martínez forced him to cancel, creating the huge opportunity for
Usmanee, who was already in the gym preparing for another fight.
Usmanee is ranked #9 at super featherweight by the IBF. Born in
Kabul, Afghanistan, he and his family moved to Alberta, Canada, when he
was three years old. He now resides in Las Vegas, Nevada. The aggressive
32-year-old's career has been marred by controversy thus far, as his two
biggest career fights have both ended with questionable outcomes. In his
only defeat, Usmanee dropped a highly controversial 12-round decision to
Rances "Kid Blast" Barthelemy on January 4 of last year. Fighting for
the IBF #2 ranking and live on ESPN Friday Night Fights, Usmanee
appeared to take the fight over at the midway point and grew more
dominant as the rounds wore on. However, the judges saw it another way.
And then, in August of last year, Usmanee missed winning a world
championship by a single point when he fought to a draw with Dominican
champion Argenis Mendez at the Turning Stone Resort & Casino in Verona,
New York.
Beltran has also seen his share of hard luck in the ring. He was last
seen fighting to a very debatable draw with then-world champion Ricky
Burns in September of last year. Burns was down in the eighth and
suffered a broken jaw in the second round that subsequently required the
insertion of a titanium plate to repair. And yet it was not enough to
sway the judges, as the fight was held in Burns' homeland of Scotland.
As tough as they come, 32-year-old Beltran was born in Los Mochis,
Mexico, but now lives in Phoenix, Arizona.
The pair will not only be vying for the WBO NABO Lightweight title,
but also a place in the front of the line to face new champion Terence
Crawford, who defeated Burns by decision in March of this year.
Usamanee's promoter, Greg Cohen of Greg Cohen Promotions, says the
match-up has explosive written all over it.
"Neither of these guys take many backwards steps in the ring. It's
going to be a war of attrition from the first round. You could easily
say this is a battle between the uncrowned IBF Champion and the
uncrowned WBO Champion. It's a very high-level match-up between two of
the toughest guys in the sport. It's going to be a sensational
slugfest!"
BRADLEY-PACQUIAO
SET FOR APRIL 12th
New York February 5th -- The
official announcement commenced today in New York City as Manny Pacquaio
will fight a second fight against a man that has beaten him, Timothy
Bradley. The first fight was controversial as many believed that the
Pacman had defeated his opponent easily.
Since that bout, which took place on June 9, 2012 Pacquiao has fought
twice, being stopped by Juan Manual Marquez (KO 6) and winning a
decision over Brandon Rios (W12) while Bradley continued his unbeaten
record streak with wins over Ruslan Provodnikov (W12) and Juan Manual
Marquez (W12).
The bout will take place at the MGM Garden Arena.
As of this fight Pacquaio has faced 19 current or former world
champions as he enters his nineteenth year as a professional boxer.
Recently added to his resume was "Fighter of The Decade" status.This is
Bradley's tenth year as a professional, and he has yet to taste defeat,
although he recently had tough, controversial bouts.
JLM
For problems or questions regarding this Web site contact
[jmontev@aol.com].
Last updated: 08/05/17.
Garcia (l), and a husky Armstrong weigh in
