October 27, 2008 - In a sensational matchup of foreign-born, New York-based junior middleweights, unbeaten Yuri Foreman, 26-0 (8 KOS), a native of Belarus who has also lived in Israel , will battle the very popular James Moore, 16-1 (10 KOS), a native of County Wicklow , Ireland , on Saturday, December 13, at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City .

At stake will be Foreman’s NABF title. The 10 round fight will be part of a Showtime broadcast headlined by the rubber match between WBO junior welterweight champion Kendall Holt and Ricardo Torres. Promoting the show is Top Rank, Inc.

The well-conditioned Foreman, 28, is a perpetual motion machine who in his last five outings won decisions over fighters with a cumulative record of 118-17-2. The hard-punching Moore, the former captain of the Irish national amateur team, won an 8 round decision over Christian Lloyd Joseph in his last bout in August.

“I’ve always said I wanted tough fights, and Yuri is a great challenge for me because he’s fast and elusive,” said the 30-year-old Moore, a highly regarded body puncher who is trained by Lennox Blackmoore.

“We both came to the United States with the same dreams, so this is a great crossroads fight for both of us. I am really looking forward to it.”

The Rubber Match!

By David Gonzalez

New York 10-02-2005 - Last Saturday Roy Jones (49-4 38 ko's) faced his nemesis Antonio Tarver (24-3-18 ko's) in what was their rubber match to prove once and for all who was the elite fighter at 175 pounds. Tarver lost a close decision in the first encounter and as we all know, he knocked Roy Jones out in the second fight. The hype of the first fight was simply not matched in the third and final match between the two combatants.

The fight was a lack luster effort on the parts of both men, who barely threw any punches! Roy Jones showed the world that he still had his reflexes, but like I have believed all along, Roy lost his nerve. He clearly was in the fight simply to survive and being a victim to another knockout was not his intention.

The rubber match, which was intended to please the boxing world and to settle once and for all who was the man at 175 pounds, was nothing more than a big let down as neither fighter showed us that he was really an elite fighter. Although Tarver clearly won the fight, he did nothing to win fans or to show the boxing public that he really was the heir apparent to the throne Roy once owned, and dominated.

Tarver stock took a big beating after the fight as he looked winded and almost relieved that it was all over. What is in stored for both of these fighters? Well Jones should not retire as he still has the ability to box and move; however he in my opinion needs at least a tune up. Tarver on the other hand needs to improve his stamina and should rematch Gen Johnson as he is he only other fighter who would generate any interest. Sad as it may be, the boxing world will always have these types of borderline pathetic fights which we just witnessed along with the nerve of the TV networks to charge fans $49.95 for fights like these.

Music mogul Julius Erving III, the son of NBA Great, Dr. J, will step into the boxing ring at Friday Nights Fights in Atlanta, Georgia to debut his dream of becoming a professional boxer.

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - October 23, 2008 - Instead of ghosts, goblins and things that go bump in the night, the fans will roar as the bell rings to begin the most anticipated fight of the year in the ATL. As Silverback Promotions presents "Friday Night Fights" brought to you by Absoloot Boxing. Friday November 7th, 2008 all roads will lead to the Adamsville Recreation Center located at 3201 Martin Luther King Jr Drive SW in Atlanta, Georgia. Doors open to the public at 6:00 PM.

As boxing fans cheer the ring will be set for a new beast to be crowned after delivering beats by the pound to their opponents. "Friday Night Fights" will stage a red carpet, star-studded, event filled with live performances and a surprise celebrity guest to perform the National Anthem. The main event fighters Julius Erving III and Kantrell Cameron no longer dream of becoming professional boxers.

The time has come for them to make history and leave one man standing with a 1-0 record from the skilled jabs and right hooks. Under the training of two time World Champion Yahya McClain, Julius Erving III is guaranteed to deliver an impressive fight. Although, Julius may not have followed in the footsteps of his father, NBA legend and Basketball Hall of Famer, Julius Erving aka Dr.J. He has made a slam dunk record of his own in the music industry representing recording artist like Mario, Floetry, Cassidy and Danidy Kane just to name a few.

Calzaghe Remains Undisputed

By Michael Amakor

Suitland, Md November 4, 2007 - The decade rule of WBO Super Middleweight champion Joe Calzaghe continued uninterrupted as he comprehensively out-boxed the game, strong but technically overmatched Mikkel Kessler to annex the WBA and WBC titles to seal his legacy and supremacy in the 168 pound division in front of over fifty thousand partisan fans at a converted rugby pitch in Cardiff Wales.

The combatants spent the first round trying to figure each other out, but Calzaghe was quicker and subtle imposed his will on the Dane landing body shots from different angles to steal the 2nd and 3rd rounds.

Kessler rallied in the fourth round in desperation landing some hellecious uppercuts that dazed Calzaghe who virtually walked into these shots after figuring out Kessler could not hurt him, he ate more leather as Kessler countered his rushes in the fifth round as well.

Calzaghe regained the initiative in the 6th as he set a faster tempo and rhythm picking the Dane apart with body shots launched from different angles, his cockiness got him into .......continue

RAGE FROM THE ANDRADE VS BUTE FIGHT

By Michael Amakor | Photo by Tom Casino/Showtime

Suitland Md , October 25th 2008- I believe we are seeing the revival of boxing as several competitive and evenly matched fights have come to pass in rapid secession. Finally after several years in hiatus boxing seems to be crawling back into the mainstream when gauged against record pay per view numbers and a handful of well promoted fights recently, however we need to deal with the disturbing incidents of partisanship in the game today.

Sometimes, this partisanship, which I will define here as the outright, glaring, and palpable feeling of frenzied unfair support for a local fighter by fight officials, the sanctioning bodies and the unwitting but participating fans, is so irritating to watch you are left infuriated post fight after you witness it. Many new fans walk away with the perception that boxing matches are fixed by crooked sanctioning bodies and shady characters in smoky rooms mindlessly dedicated to protecting their fighters at all cost never really adopting the adage that no man is above the sport of boxing.

Many stateside fighters will tell you that the would rather fight at home than go to Europe particularly Germany for a title fight or any other country for that matter to avoid being robbed of victory through an ignoble decision, but I will equally balance that fear by letting you know that European fighters share that sentiment, all boxers know that the need to close the .. ...continue

BUTE RETAINS TITLE IN CONTROVERSIAL FINAL ROUND - Photo by Tom Casino/Showtime

MONTREAL, Quebec (Oct. 25, 2008) – It was a controversial finish, yet an unquestionable unanimous decision on Friday’s special edition of ShoBox: The New Generation on SHOWTIME.

Hometown hero, Lucian Bute of Montreal, dominated the No. 1-ranked challenger Librado Andrade of La Habra, Calif., en route to a unanimous decision victory and third successful defense of his International Boxing Federation (IBF) super middleweight world title.

However, it was Bute who appeared to be out on his feet at the end of 12 rounds.

Bute used superior hand speed and excellent footwork to easily handle the rough challenger for most of the fight.

Andrade, who had been clearly battered and beaten through 11-plus rounds, took control only as Bute tired late in the final round. Andrade found a home for a few big punches ...continue

HEARNS TKO’S CLAVETTE IN 6TH

Photo by Tom Casino/Showtime

MONTREAL, Quebec (Oct. 25, 2008): In the co-feature, “The Chosen One” Ronald Hearns of Detroit, Mich., continued his climb up the 154-pound rankings with an impressive performance over Paul Clavette of New Brunswick, Canada (TKO 6).

Hearns fought effectively on the outside in the opening rounds. In the fifth, he began inflicting damage with a powerful straight right hand. In the sixth, Hearns sent Clavette down twice before forcing the referee to halt the action at 2:37 of the round.

Hearns entered the ring as the No. 11 ranked World Boxing Council (WBC) contender and No. 13 ranked World Boxing Association (WBA). He improves to 20-0, 15 KOs while Clavette drops to 14-2-1, 2 KOs.

The event was promoted by InterBox. Charles called the action from ringside with Farhood serving as expert analyst. The executive producer of ShoBox is Gordon Hall with Richard Gaughan producing and Rick Phillips directing.

Explosive Thin Men: Bell vs. Haskins For British Title

Frank Maloney Promotions returns to the north of England on Friday, November 7 when Andy Bell puts his British super flyweight championship at risk against veteran southpaw Lee Haskins at the Robin Park Centre in the Manchester suburb of Wigan.

23 year old Nottingham man Bell clawed his way to the forefront of the UK super flyweight division by overcoming Chris Edwards in a thrilling slugfest that shattered the gritty Stoke grafter's hold on the British title this past March.

To keep hold of his prized possession and seven fight win streak, Bell, 11-3 (3), must hold off cagey left hander Lee Haskins as the Bristol based blazer has vowed to return to the lighter weight ranks and recapture the glory of his reign as Commonwealth flyweight champion.

Haskins, 17-2 (9), has never lost a fight waged below the bantamweight division and the 24 year old's hands down, punches from all angles style should produce a fiery display when pitted against the high volume attack of Bell.

Cunningham vs. Adamek Press Conference Quotes - Watch Fight Trailer 

Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2008 Newark N.J.—International Boxing Federation cruiserweight world champion Steve “USS” Cunningham and former world champion Tomasz Adamek foreshadowed their Dec. 11 meeting at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. at a press conference today at the one-year-old venue.

“I work very hard because boxing is my job,” Cunningham, from Philadelphia, said. “My goal is to be the greatest of all time. I know it’s a lofty goal but I want to the best I possibly can be.

“I want Adamek to bring his best on December 11 in Newark. He’s a family man like me but it’s my job to put my hands on him and that’s what I’m going to do.

“I’m a true world champion. I’ve fought in South Africa, Germany and in Poland, twice. I’m more popular in Europe than I am in America right now but that’s about to change. I want to give the world a true cruiserweight world champion that will stay in the division and defend .....continue

CRISTIAN MIJARES AND VIC DARCHINYAN
CONFERENCE CALL QUOTES - WATCH PROMO

Amakor: Are you ready for the fight?

Darchinyan: I am good. I am very ready. I'm more ready than ever in my life.

Amakor: I watched your knockout loss to Donaire. What have you done to prepare yourself so it doesn't happen against a puncher like Cristian?

Darchinyan: It's not going to happen again, because I'm not going to. I'm going to go punch him. I'm going to destroy him and knock him out. It's going to happen. It's going to be first round. If I feel I'm not going to destroy him, I'm not going to go for it.

It's a no gut punch will come. I'm going to hit strong.

Amakor: What does this fight mean to you? Unifying the titles if you win?

Darchinyan: It's not if I win. It's when I win this title I'm going to unified, and I'm going to be the champion. Also we're going to think about coming up or stay in this division, go up a division. Get one more belt. And I know guys.

I believe 100% make some money. And you're going to see, also it's going to  .....continue

Duddy Returns VS. Hill in NYC

Headlines “The Grande Estate” Nov. 21 at Roseland Ballroom

MIAMI (October 21, 2008) – Undefeated sensation “Ireland’s” John Duddy returns to action November 21st in his adopted New York City home, headlining “The Grande Event” against veteran Sam “The Punching Policeman” Hill, at famed Roseland Ballroom in Manhattan.

Duddy (25-0, 17 KOs), on his way from the middleweight to light middleweight division, is fighting at 158 pounds against Hill (17-9-1, 10 KOs), who has beaten former world champion and Olympic gold medalist David Reid (TKO9), and fought world champions Jermain Taylor and Maselino Masoe.

“The Grande Event,” promoted by Cedric Kushner’s Gotham Boxing, also features middleweight Peter “Kid Chocolate” Quillin (20-0, 15 KOs), light middleweight Pawel “Raging Bull” Wolak (22-1, 15 KOs), and NABO lightweight champion Jorge Luis “The Truth” Teron (22-0-1, 15 KOs) in separate bouts.

“I’m glad to get back in the ring,” Duddy said. “It’s going to be a great show. I had a good fight in Boston and I’m really looking forward to fighting again in New York City. I can’t wait to show my fans there what I’ve been doing to improve with Pat Burns (head trainer for ......continue

FIGHT FANS --  Cruiserweight Adura Olalehin made his professional debut on October 17 by winning a 4 round unanimous decision over former Navy Gold Medalist Israel Spencer AT THE Quiet Cannon, Montebello, California, United States to start off his career. Stay Tuned

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Hopkins Schools Pavlik

By Ted Sares / Watch Fight Recap

A great career continues, as Kelly Pavlik was unable to cope with a well prepared Bernard Hopkins who easily dominated the heretofore invincible “Ghost.“In what can only be described as a shocker, the WBC and WBO world middleweight champion lost to Hopkins in convincing fashion and then some.

The bloodied “Ghost,” now 34-1, was unable to cope with the superb defense, hand speed, sharper punches, greater weight, and all-around ring smarts of Hopkins who moves to 49-5-1 with this decisive and inspiring win. Heck, he didn’t even need to resort to any roughhousing or ugliness. He simply schooled (and perhaps exposed) the 26 year old and punctuated matters by perpetrating a beat down on the youngster in the final stanza.

Off this showing, Pavlik would appear to have his hands full if and when he fights undefeated King Arthur Abraham in defense of the middleweight crown he retains. One thing is certain; he is not quite in the same driver seat.

As for Hopkins, this future Hall of Famer has a number of options--all juicy. He can retire, attempt to get the winner of Jones-Calzaghe, or look for another fight with which to say goodbye.

Fights like this are what make boxing such a great sport. Boxing is all about the unexpected; subjectivity; and the fact that you simply cannot put the data in a computer and come out with a sure answer. Tonight, a legend turned back the clock and proved as much.

PAVLIK VS. HOPKINS FIGHT NIGHT QUOTES

Watch Fight Recap

Bernard Hopkins : "I think this was the best performance of my career. Better than Tarver, better than Trinidad, better than Oscar, better than my 21 defenses. I am extremely happy tonight.

(Hopkins to Pavlik in ring post-fight)

"I was a fan of yours before and I'm a fan now. You need to get a little more slickness, listen to your coach and bend your knees more. Don't let this get you down. You're a middleweight champion and middleweight is your destiny.

"Styles make fights. I feel really good tonight. He is a great fighter, but I knew my style and quickness was being underrated.

"He was very heavy handed and I could feel his power, but he never hurt me because I made sure he never hit me flush. I didn't want to get hit flush.

"I wanted to stop him because they have been saying I've been playing it safe because of my age. So tonight I wanted to pick it up. I wanted to step it up, and now everyone I fight, I'm going to go for the knockout. But Pavlik is tough. He's a great champion.

"I would fight Roy (Jones), but I'd also go to England to fight Calzaghe. I'd fight either one of those guys, but fighting Roy would be huge, and that's the one that people would want to see.

"Our styles were a lot different. But I have reach and I have speed. I think I am underrated as an athlete. But I am an athlete, and after tonight's fight I'm at peace with God and I'm really happy. I could box for another two to three years."

Kelly Pavlik: "I just couldn't get off, I don't know why. It wasn't because of Bernard's slickness. There was just something wrong with me tonight. I couldn't throw double jabs and I couldn't do things that I normally can do in the ring.

"I'm going to go back to the drawing board. It just wasn't mine tonight. I'm going back to 160 where I'm more comfortable."

Manfredo training in comfort zone for IBO world title fight vs. Bika

Nov. 13 at Dunkin’ Donuts Center in Providence, live on Versus, headlining “Tough & Tested”

PROVIDENCE (October 17, 2008) – Two-time world title challenger “The Pride of Providence” Peter Manfredo, Jr., runner-up in Season One of The Contender, finds himself training at home in a comfort zone as he prepares for his IBO super middleweight title fight November 13 against Sakio “The Scorpian” Bika, winner of Season Three of The Contender, at the newly renovated Dunkin’ Donuts Center in Providence, Rhode Island.

“Tough & Tested,” co-promoted by the Tournament of Contenders and Jimmy Burchfield’s Classic Entertainment and Sports, Inc. (CES), will air nationally live on Versus television. The co-promoters have called for a ‘Pink Out’ (everybody wearing something colored pink) to show support for the Gloria Gemma Foundation. A portion of the proceeds from ticket and T-shirt sales will benefit the Gloria Gemma Foundation for research into early breast cancer detection.

Manfredo (31-5, 16 KOs), the reigning NABF Interim champion, is the WBC No. 13 rated super middleweight. Fighting in front of his hometown fans, “The Pride of Providence” sports a perfect 16-0 (10 KOs) record in Rhode Island, including 3-0 (3 KOs) in the same Providence building as his Nov. 13th showdown against Bika. Manfredo’s five pro career losses have .... continue

MY 2007 FIGHT OF THE YEAR

By Michael Amakor  | Watch fight

You may not have been a fan of the contrived and carefully edited boxing series “The Contender”, you may also not have been enthusiastic about the mix of 168 pound super middleweights fighters assembled in the third installment which in the end pitted the very experienced 28 year old Sakio Bika (24- 3-2, 14 ko’s); a former Olympian and two time title challenger, against the 23 year old Jaidon Codrington (18- 1, 14ko’s) in the finals for the Contender title. However, there was nothing contrived about the televised slugfest that finally took place at the TD Banknorth Garden, in Boston MA, USA on November 6th 2007.

Maybe it was the three quarters of a million dollar prize for the winner, or the realization that this was their last shot at boxing immortality, but in the end it may have boiled down to two hungry pit bulls being trapped in a cage in the full glare of camera lights and prodded on by bloodthirsty foaming fans beating frenzied war drums, because after only a few seconds, the fight descended into a wildly entertaining slugfest of monumental proportions with the impact of bone crunching punches heard all across the arena.

Bika unleashed a blistering combination of head shots to stun Jaidon down to the canvas in the first 30 seconds, Jaidon quickly beat the count and Bika stormed in for the kill flailing wildly against Jaidon who recovered quickly enough to counter with an inside left hook that ....continue

BUTE TO DEFEND IBF SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHT TITLE AGAINST ANDRADE ON SHOBOX

ShoBox: The New Generation

Friday, Oct. 24, 2008, Live at 11 p.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME

From The Bell Centre, Montreal, Canada

NEW YORK (Oct. 16, 2008) – Undefeated International Boxing Federation (IBF) super middleweight champion Lucien Bute (22-0, 18 KOs) will make the second defense of his title against once-beaten, No.1 ranked challenger Librado Andrade (27-1, 21 KOs) in a special edition of ShoBox: The New Generation, Friday, Oct. 24 live on SHOWTIME at 11 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the west coast).

In the co-feature, top prospect and No. 11 ranked World Boxing Council (WBC) contender Ronald Hearns (19-0, 15 KOs) will take on Paul Clavette (14-1-1, 2 KOs) in a 10-round junior middleweight bout.

The fights, which feature four boxers with a combined total of 56 KOs and only two loses, will be promoted by Interbox Corporation of Montreal, Canada from the Bell Centre in Montreal.

A southpaw with true knockout power, Bute, of Montreal, is confident in making ........continue

Cedric Kushner’s Gotham Boxing returns with powerhouse “The Grande Event” show Duddy, Quillin, Wolak & Teron in action Nov. 21 at Roseland Ballroom in NYC

NEW YORK (October 15, 2008) – Nearly a full decade ago, Cedric Kushner promoted his first show at New York City’s famed Roseland Ballroom and on November 21, Kushner’s Gotham Boxing returns to the iconic Manhattan venue with “The Grande Event,” featuring a quartet of young, explosive talent sporting a combined pro record of 89-1-1 (65 KOs) -- “Ireland’s” John Duddy, Peter “Kid Chocolate” Quillin, Pawel “Raging Bull” Wolak and Jorge Luis “The Truth” Teron.

Kushner promoted a “Heavyweight Explosion” card on pay-per-view on December 8, 1998, headlined by Jessie Ferguson versus Obed Sullivan and showcasing future world champions Shannon Briggs, Al “Ice” Cole and Oleg Maskaev.

Promoting the Big Apple’s “Fab Four” on Nov. 21, however, is even more special to the Kushner, the former rock ‘n roll promoter who turned to boxing nearly a quarter century ago and has promoted more than 30 world champions and 300 title fights worldwide.

“I have lived in New York for more than half of my life,” Kushner explained. “I ........continue

Don King Brings Star-Studded Fight Card to China on Nov. 7 World Championship Boxing at Sichuan Gymnasium in Chengdu ;

Heavyweights: Andrew Golota vs. Ray Austin, Jameel McCline vs. Mike Mollo; WBC Strawweight Championship: Juan ‘El Exterminador’ Palacios vs. Teruo Misawa;

WATCH FIGHT TRAILER

CHENGDU, China—Fresh from the great success of the recent Olympic Games in Beijing, boxing promoter Don King has announced two heavyweight fights, a WBC Strawweight world championship and two additional matches featuring a former five-time world champion and a top-ranked undefeated challenger will all be part of his international fight card that he is presenting with Chengdu Sports Industry at Sichuan Gymnasium in Chengdu, China, on Friday, Nov. 7.

The greatest Polish heavyweight in history, Andrew Golota (41-6-1, 33 KOs), from Warsaw , Poland , will meet former No. 1 heavyweight contender Ray “The Rainman” Austin (24-4-4, 16 KOs), from Cleveland , Ohio , for the World Boxing Council USNBC International heavyweight championship.

A WBC heavyweight elimination bout will also be showcased, pitting established contender Jameel “Big Time” McCline (38-9-1, 23 KOs), from New York , against one ...continue

McGirt returns Nov. 11 as proven prospect

VERO BEACH, Florida (October 14, 2008) – How a pro boxer responds to adversity usually separates contenders from pretenders. Highly-regarded world middleweight prospect James McGirt, Jr. (19-1, 9 KOs), coming off of his first career loss, passed his first major test June 25 on national television, winning a unanimous 10-round decision against former IBO and WBU middleweight champion Raymond “Hallelujah” Joval (37-5, 16 KOs).

McGirt, who returns to the ring November 11 on “Bad Boys” (Glen Johnson and Edision Miranda headline the card in separate bouts) against an opponent to be determined in Hollywood (FL), successfully bounced back from his first pro loss in April to Carlos DeLeon, Jr., serving as a valuable lesson for James who had floored DeLeon at the end of the sixth round, only to get careless going for a knockout in the seventh and consequently getting stopped himself.

McGirt has started to establish his own identity, somewhat breaking from the shadows of his father and head trainer, 2-time world champion James “Buddy” McGirt – James doesn’t use the nickname “Buddy” – with his win against Joval that catapulted him into the ..........continue

Exciting Prospect Sam Webb Added To Napa vs. Ballone

Thrilling light middleweight Sam Webb has been added to the big Frank Maloney bill on Friday, October 17 at London's famed York Hall that sees bantamweight Ian Napa challenge European champion Carmelo Ballone.

Webb, 11-1 (3), a slashing southpaw who can switch stances in the blink of an eye, is coming off a tremendous slugfest victory over former southern area welterweight titlist Paul Dyer in June and has now won seven straight contests since suffering a third round cuts stoppage in 2006.

The fiery south Londoner faces ex-southern area light middleweight kingpin Gilbert "The Hurricane" Eastman, younger brother of one of the best middleweights to come out of Britain over the last ten years, Howard Eastman, in a scheduled six rounder.

Eastman, 20-6 (13), is the most experienced foe that Webb will have faced to date during his three year old career as the 35 year old Battersea man has shared the ring with three world title challengers, Gary Lockett, Kofi Jantuah and Howard Clarke, British champion Gary Woolcombe and English champion Andrew Facey.

Like a younger, bigger version of world light welterweight champion Ricky Hatton, Webb forces opponents into the trenches with a high pressure attacking style but Eastman will certainly bring his A game to York Hall as the hard punching veteran knows he cannot afford another loss.

Frank Maloney Promotions presents "Dapa Napa", Ian Napa vs. Carmelo Ballone for the Bantamweight Championship of Europe, supported by full undercard, at York Hall, London, England on Friday, October 17, 2008.

WHY CARLOS IS THE " KING ".

By Jim Amato

I cut my teeth on the sport of boxing in the mid-1960's. At that time the sport was just coming out of a somewhat dreary period of champions although talented, lacked charisma.
It was Cassius Clay, later to be Muhammad Ali that energized the sport and opened the door for a group of boxers who into the late 1970's established themselves and that time as a truly " Golden Era " in boxing.

The boxers that molded my mentality of what boxing was all about. It was a who's who of talent and solid mass of future Hall Of Famers.Jose Torres, Dick Tiger, Bob Foster, Emile Griffith, Jose Napoles, Carlos Ortiz, Ismael Laguna, Vincente Saldivar, Eder Jofre, Fighting Harada and Ruben Olivares. There were more, many more...

The one boxer that stands out for me in that era was in my humble opinion the BEST middleweight over the last forty years. I do not make this comment lightly. That takes into consideration the talents of Joey Giardello, Dick Tiger and more recent champions like Marvin Hagler, Sugar Ray Leonard, Thomas Hearns, Michael Nunn, James Toney and the champion ...(continue)

KLITSCHKO LOOKS LIKE OLD SELF SCORES 8TH ROUND TKO OVER PETER; MOVE OVER TARVER DAWSON NEW RULER OF THE LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT DIVISION

WATCH FIGHT HIGHLIGHTS | PHOTOS BY TOM CASINO

LAS VEGAS, Nev. (Oct. 12, 2008) – SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING presented a special, history-making world championship double-header on Saturday night.

Many wondered how Vitali Klitschko (36-2, 35 KOs) would look in his first fight in nearly four years. Wonder no more. The 37-year-old heavyweight regained his World Boxing Council (WBC) title with a marvelous eighth-round TKO over Samuel Peter (30-2, 23 KOs), televised on tape delay from the O2 World Arena in Berlin, Germany.

It wasn’t much of a contest as Klitschko fought tall and used his precise left jab to keep Peter from closing the distance. His consistent jab, along with stiff over hand rights proved too much for Peter. Behind on all cards, Peter quit on his stool after the eighth.

Klitschko’s victory marked the first time the boxing world has seen two brothers hold heavyweight titles simultaneously. Klitschko’s younger brother, Wladimir, is the .......(continue)

Gunn to Headline "Thursday Night Thunder"
November 20th in Phoenix !

Former IBA and current IBC cruiserweight champion Bobby "The Celtic Warrior" Gunn 19-3-1 (16 KO,s) will return to the ring Thursday November 20th as he headlines Thursday Night Thunder at the Celebrity Theatre in Phoenix , Arizona . The card is being promoted by New York based attorney George Kokkalenios and David Feldman of FelKO promotions. Gunn will be challenging for the WBC/USNBC cruiserweight title, with the potential of a big time bout if victorious. Gunn is excited to step back into the squared circle following his impressive title winning performance in July.

“I am glad to be fighting again before the year comes to the end, said Gunn. "I appreciate all the support especially that of my attorney George Kokkalenios, who has been a major part of putting this show together. This will be my sixth title fight and first for a prestigious WBC belt, so I plan to put on a great show for all my fans", said the former amateur star.

Gunn's opponent and the undercard bouts will be announced shortly. Tickets will go on sale Wednesday October 15th and can be purchased by going to www.celebritytheatre.com.

SCALE WATCH:

 WATCH FIGHT TRAILER | Photos by Sumio Fakuda and Tom Casino

WEIGHTS: WBC heavyweight champion Samuel Peter (r) weighed in at 253.5 lbs. for his defense against champion emeritus Vitali Klitschko, who scaled in at 247 lbs.

WEIGHTS: Antonio Tarver came in at 174 lbs. Chad Dawson tipped the scales at 174 lbs.

ODDS: The Palms race and sports book has the younger Dawson favored at -240 while the more experienced Tarver sits as the underdog at +190.      

Tarver and Dawson battle for light heavyweight supremacy on Saturday, Oct. 11, live on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING (9 p.m. ET delayed on the West Coast) from The Pearl Theatre at Palms Casino in Las Vegas.

Immediately prior to the light heavyweight world championship, on a night that has electrified the boxing world, SHOWTIME will present the World Boxing Council (WBC) heavyweight showdown between Samuel Peter and Vitali Klitschko on a tape-delayed basis from Berlin, Germany.

Tarver-Dawson will be promoted by AT Entertainment and Gary Shaw Productions in association with Palms Casino Resort Las Vegas from The Pearl Theatre at Palms Casino.

Manfredo-Bika IBO world title fight headlines “Tough & Tested”

Brewer-Bundrage IBO title eliminator in co-feature

Nov. 13 at Dunkin’ Donuts Center in Providence, live on Versus

PROVIDENCE (October 10, 2008) – Tickets go on sale Wednesday (Oct. 15 at 10 AM/ET) for the November 13th “Tough & Tested” pro boxing show, headlined by an IBO super middleweight title fight between “The Pride of Providence” Peter Manfredo, Jr., runner-up in Season One of The Contender, and Sakio “The Scorpian” Bika, winner of Season Three of The Contender, at the newly renovated Dunkin’ Donuts Center in Providence, Rhode Island.

“Tough & Tested,” co-promoted by the Tournament of Contenders and Jimmy Burchfield’s Classic Entertainment and Sports, Inc. (CES), will air nationally live on Versus television. “Tough & Tested” will feature at least five fighters who are “Contender” alumni: Manfredo and Bika in the main event, Grady “Bad Boy” Brewer, winner of Season Two of The Contender, versus fan favorite in Season Two of The Contender, Cornelius “K9” Bundrage, in the IBO light middleweight title eliminator co-feature; runner-up in Season Three of The ......(continue)

SELECT QUOTES FROM HOPKINS PRESS CONFERENCE - Watch Hopkins Greatest Hits

Bernard Hopkins: "And one more thing too Dan, this is like I look at it like you take the two Jermaine Taylor fights and you take (unintelligible) history but I’m just saying, you take the Joe Calzaghe fight. The guy threw 1000 punches, a couple of hundred punches around. You know, then someone talks about my age and you’ve got a controversy whether who won or lost a fight from a 43-year old champion? I mean, what the - did they say their guys to leave? Did they say to the guys, I mean, I had not one mark on my face. And again I didn’t get into the money and get into all that stuff but I feel that the fans really ain’t get what they supposed to get anytime a so-called “old aging fighter” can’t get a scratch on him by a guy seven, eight years younger.

So my thing is again, Richard and Dan Rafael and anybody that’s listening -- I know my limitations and I know my body. I haven’t sparred in two days because I felt myself peaking and looking too sharp, running a full house of sparring partners out of camp since I’ve been here. And I’m talking about young guns that have careers that’s 25, 26, 27. The oldest guy I got is 29.

That’s because I know where my body tells me Bernard you need to take two days of not boxing. And that’s Bernard knowing me. No trainer had to tell me that. Nobody had to see that. Now (Nazim Richardson) sees it. (John David Jackson) sees it. But I felt it and that’s the difference. And that’s the edge of having experience, having been there, done that.

And again I, you know, as the doctor told me yesterday doing my physical, Richard and Dan, he said Bernard, you know, you’ve got the body of a 25-year old that thinks he’s 43. You’re an amazing athlete based on the records of what we’re looking at on this computer. You’ve got a heartbeat that a 65 year old man would have but you’re an athlete.

So when you hear people that don’t know you, don’t have no agenda, that have no agenda to tell you these things and say that you have made a machine out of yourself well in the age of unusual, then you ought to be proud of that and, you know, they don’t know - I ain’t going to tell them consistently. I did kind of one or two times but after that I just got to keep showing them. I’ve got to keep showing them.

And Kelly Pavlik is the perfect opponent for me come October 18 because he comes forward, he comes to fight, and look -- he wants to knock Bernard Hopkins out. At least that’s what he says. But he’s going to find it difficult and that’s going to change the fight. I guarantee you Dan, that’s going to change the fight. Tito tried to walk me down. Tito had one bullet in the chamber and that was a left hook. If Kelly Pavlik thinks he’s going to beat Bernard Hopkins because he has a right hand, he’s a damn fool."

Top Prospect Akaash Bhatia Features On October 17 Fight Card

As Ricky Hatton and Joe Calzaghe wind down their spectacular careers, there are a gaggle of hot prospects in the UK, bursting at the seams to prove themselves the worthy and rightful successors to such highly decorated world champions.

Some of these hopefuls have already captured British or Commonwealth crowns but perhaps the best emerging fighter in England today is featherweight Akaash Bhatia, who will put his razor sharp skill on display at London's York Hall on Friday, October 17, 2008 in support of the Ian Napa vs. Carmelo Ballone European bantamweight title bout.

Bhatia only had a brief amateur career but still managed to make it to the ABA featherweight finals in 2006, losing only a close contest to eventual Commonwealth Games Gold Medallist Stephen Smith and promptly turned pro just two months later.

Since that time, Bhatia has been kept busy by promoter Frank Maloney, rarely going more than three months between bouts but still found the time to win the Sony Entertainment Television Asia Sports Personality of the Year Award in 2007, an achievement that exploded the 25 year old's popularity in his native Sikh community of London.

While the University graduate is a model citizen outside the ring, he's a nightmare for opponents inside the square circle, bristling with an aggressive, high volume style that mixes crafty, accurate combinations upstairs with a shattering body attack that has taken Bhatia to a 12-0 (3) mark to date and will no doubt allow the "Harrow Hurricane" to achieve great things over the next decade.

Frank Maloney Promotions presents "Dapa Napa", Ian Napa vs. Carmelo Ballone for the Bantamweight Championship of Europe at York Hall, London, England on Friday, October 17, 2008.

QUOTES FROM VITALI KLITCHKO AND SAM PETER PRESS CONFERENCE

VITALI KLITSCHKO: "I have already fought for a title twice and both times I won. This is the third time and I will be the winner again.

"On October 11, we will know who will be the true WBC Heavyweight-Champion. I'm in great condition and have had a perfect preparation phase."

FRITZ SDUNEK - Vitali Klitschko's Trainer - Vitali is very prepared. The camp was perfect. He needed four sparring partners during the camp in Austria. Vitali is a veteran fighter. He knows what to expect from his training camp since this is his third time preparing for a world title fight.

Sam Peter should be called the rabbit, not because he is quick and fast, but because he throws so many rabbit punches.”

SAMUEL PETER: "Vitali Klitschko is trying to take my title belt from me. He tried to take it out of my hands at the press conference, but I snatched it from him. It is mine!

"He is a phony who is messing with my career and my life. On Saturday, he will be out of everyone's life for good."

"I'm very well prepared. It will be a great fight"

THE 2009 INTERNATIONAL BOXING HALL OF FAME BALLOTS ARE OUT.

By Jim Amato

The I.B.H.O.F. has released their ballots for the 2009 June inductions. There are 45 names on the Modern ballot and fifty on the Old Timers ballot. A few names I did not see on there were Danny "Little Red" Lopez, Lupe Pintor, Eddie Booker and Alfredo Escalera. UNBELIEVABLE !

The voters can choose up to ten boxers but no more in each category. Only three from each will be elected. There were a few names on the modern ballot I was glad to see. Also though there were a few I was seriously surprised to see. There are a few that I would vote for without any reservation. Then there are some that will have to be mulled over. I believe over the years the I.B.H.O.F. has lost sight of their true purpose. That is to induct the absolute cream of the crop. This was not supposed to be the Hall Of The Very Good. Over the past few years the I.B.H.O.F. has been hammered for inducting the likes of Barry McGuigan, Ken Norton and Ingo, just to name a few. Once their in, their in so there is no use re-hashing the whys and what fors. What needs to be done is to streamline the process so that only the best of best are taken into consideration. All the fighters on both ballots were outstanding boxers in their own right but were they "great" ?

Just like any election a person's choices are a matter of their individual opinion. In my opinion I was shocked that certain fighters were not even on the ballot to be considered. More the that I was truly surprised and amazed at some of the names that were. What really is the criteria on which one is nominated and then actually put on the ballot ? Over the years I agree that Orient boxers were sparse on the ballot. This year I counted eight on the Modern ballot so that is a turn in the right direction.

That ballots I assume will be released for the public to see at some point so you can judge for yourselves. I just hope that the Class of 2009 is truly worthy of the status bestowed upon them.

DAWSON -VS- TARVER PRE-FIGHT ANALYSIS

By Jim Amato

This should be a no brainer. I mean just look at their records. Antonio Tarver has met the best that the light heavyweight division has had to offer. He beat most of them too. He lost to then highly rated Eric Harding but knocked him out in a rematch. He defeated Reggie Johnson and Montell Griffin. He went 2-1 with Roy Jones Jr. and was the first man to ever stop Roy. He split a pair of decisions with rugged Glen Johnson. He lost to future Hall Of Fame inductee Bernard Hopkins but came back to outclass Clinton Woods. Now what has young Chad Dawson accomplished ? Well he beat a past his prime Harding. He was impressive in defeating the talented Tomasz Adamek but struggled against Glen Johnson. Dawson won a hotly disputed verdict over Glen.

Coming into his bout with Tarver, Dawson is undefeated at 26-0 with one no contest. He has 17 stoppage victories. Although Tarver has been a professional longer he has only 31 fights on his ledger that stands at 27-4. On paper Tarver looks like a solid favorite. At the advanced age of 39 can the "Magic Man" Tarver defeat Father Time ? Dawson is a spry 26 years (continue)

ANGULO LAYS A HURTIN' ON TSURKAN!
"Perro" Collars His 10th Straight Knockout Victory;
Calls Out "Juliet" Cesar Chavez Jr. and John Duddy

TEMECULA, CALIF. (October 4, 2008) -- BOW WOWSER! Undefeated junior middleweight ALFREDO "Perro" ANGULO scored his 10th consecutive knockout victory tonight, recording a 10th-round TKO over Andrey Tsurkan in a battle of Top-10 contenders. The fight was the star attraction of "Night of the Rising Stars II," the tripleheader broadcast live from Pechanga Resort & Casino on HBO Boxing After Dark. Promoted by Gary Shaw Productions and Ringside Ticket, the broadcast also featured Sergio Diaz (44-1-1, 24 KOs), capturing the World Boxing Council (WBC) interim super welterweight title via a TKO 8 of Alex Bunema (30-6-2, 16 KOs), and 2004 Cuban Olympic gold medalist Yuriorkis Gamboa (14-0, 11 KOs), scoring a second-round knockout over the vastly more experienced Marcos Ramirez (25-1, 16 KOs) in a battle of undefeated contenders.

PROSPECTS DE LA ROSA AND GUERRERO REMAIN UNDEFEATED WITH HARD FOUGHT VICTORIES ON SHOBOX

SHOWTIME To Replay The Thrilling Bouts Wednesday, Oct. 8 at 11 p.m. ET/PT on SHO 2

NEW YORK (Oct. 3, 2008) – Four undefeated prospects stepped into the ring Friday’s but only two boxers walked out with their perfect records intact as James De la Rosa earned a unanimous decision over Tim Coleman and Fernando Guerrero outpointed Tyrone Watson on ShoBox: The New Generation.

In front of a packed crowd of at the Wicomico Youth and Civic Center in Salisbury, Maryland., De la Rosa (18-0, 12 KOs) was gunning for a knockout over Coleman (14-1-1, three KOs) but had to dig deeper for the victory. All three judges scored the bout 96-94, which was only the second time the highly touted welterweight needed 10 rounds for a victory in his career.

By the judges’ scorecards, 80-71, 80-72 twice, the hometown favorite Guerrero’s (10-0, nine KOs) victory over Watson (7-1, three KOs) may seem as one-sided as the highly supportive crowd. But the bout was filled with two-way, non-stop action from start to finish (more)

TSURKAN WEIGHS IN FOR SATURDAY NIGHTS WAR
October 03, 2008

Andrey Tsurkan (26-3, 17KO) weighed in today at a ripped 153 3/4 lbs while his opponent Alfredo Angulo (13-0, 10KO) weighed in at 154 lbs for their 10 round jr. middleweight contest tomorrow night at the Pechanga Resort and Casino in Temecula, CA. The card is being broadcast live on HBO's Boxing After Dark. The Tsurkan vs. Angulo fight will be the co- feature to that evenings spectacular triple header. In the opening bout of the night Sergio Martinez (43-1-1, 23KO) takes on Alex Bunema (30-5-2, 16KO) for the interim version of the WBC's jr. middleweight title. In the main event of the evening Yuriokis Gamboa (11-0, 9KO) battles Marcos Ramirez (25-0, 16KO) in a ten round contest of undefeated featherweights.

Sam Peter vs Vitali Klitschko

By Ted Sares

WATCH TRAILER

Yes, Vitali Wladimirovich Klitschko, 35-2 has a remarkable KO percentage of 91.89 and yes, he is bigger than the very big Sam Peter, 30-1, but this is all about inactivity and Dr. Ironfists will walk into the ring on October 11 in Berlin, Germany with plenty of inactivity.

Klitschko’s last fight was against an overweight Danny Williams in December, 2004. Prior to that, he looked formidable in stopping brave Corrie Sanders and an out-of shape and grossly fat Kirk Johnson. These fights were, of course, after he lost to Lennox Lewis in 2003.

However, against Larry Donald (2002), Vaughn Bean (2002) and Ross Puritty (2001), he was taken into the late rounds (10, 11 and 11) before he prevailed by stoppage. Donald, Bean and Puritty were not exactly top tier opponents.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Nightmare has been in the ring fifteen times since January 22, 2004 going 14-1 with 106 rounds under his ample belt. On March 3, 2008, he stopped the very stoppable Oleg Maskaev in Cancun.. After an interesting six rounds in which Samuel demonstrated focus and resolve, things exploded in the sixth and Peter ended matters decisively with a (more)