2008 NT Boxing Post Vol. Oscar De La Hoya vs. Manny Pacquiao 12/6/08 HBO PPV

[stringer bell 32]

I was just checking BoxRec and it has David Diaz as Pac-Man's next opponent

 

[jagshemash]

Boxrec also had Yankee Stadium as the venue for Hopkins-Calzaghe which was nothing more then Hopkins fantasy. So I don't really trust them for officialnews when it comes to future fights and/or venues since they've had some other strange stuff up as well.

 

[shannonscrooks]

String, never believe boxing rec.

I agree with BigMike's unbiased belief that De La Hoya would KO Pac-Man within a few rounds. Like Amo said there are lower tier fighters at that weightthat would put Pac-Man away.

Rafael just posted up his P4P rankings and still has Cotto at 6th, even though he writes that he is still amazed that some people underrate him. How are yougoing to write that and then put him at 6? He slides in there at #3 in my opinion, especially considering his recent body of work/activity.

 

[stringer bell 32]

Boxrec also had Yankee Stadium as the venue for Hopkins-Calzaghe which was nothing more then Hopkins fantasy. So I don't really trust them for official news when it comes to future fights and/or venues since they've had some other strange stuff up as well.
That would have been awesome

String, never believe boxing rec.

I love boxrec

Rafael just posted up his P4P rankings and still has Cotto at 6th, even though he writes that he is still amazed that some people underrate him. How are you going to write that and then put him at 6? He slides in there at #3 in my opinion, especially considering his recent body of work/activity.

I've been saying this. I would move him higher than JMM

 

[mfr3shm]

Shane Mosley freely admits to jumping from the lightweight division to welterweight in the late '90s in order to challenge Oscar De La Hoya. Mosley, the reigning IBF lightweight titlist at the time, skipped over the 140-pound division knowing that his eventual showdown with the Golden Boy, which occurred in June of 2000, would earn him instant mainstream respect and millions of dollars.

So former the three-division title holder says he can't blame welterweight champ Floyd Mayweather Jr. for accepting a return match with De La Hoya later this year instead of taking on the many formidable challengers that reside in the 147-pound division. Mosley, 36 years old but still very much a player at welterweight as evidenced by his closely contested decision loss to Miguel Cotto last November, believes that he will eventually meet up with the current pound-for-pound king, along with every other notable 147 pounder.

The grand "old man" of the division says he wants to eventually clean out the deep welterweight division, starting with Zab Judah on May 31st.

"It's not enough to beat Judah and to fight Cotto again; and it's not enough just winning a world title," Mosley told the media this past Saturday at a Las Vegas press conference held at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, the site of his spring showdown with Judah. "I want to beat all of the top welterweights; I want to dominate the division."

"Everybody knows that I chased [Mosley] for years," Judah told the press. "He skipped an entire weight class to get away from me. I've been after that boy forever and he wouldn't fight me until his back was against the wall and he was at the end of his career. But now I'm going to show him why he avoided me for all those years."

Mosley laughs off Judah's claims.

The respected veteran has fought most of his peers of this era - the popular boxers everyone wanted to fight (De La Hoya and Fernando Vargas) as well as the tough nuts who were often avoided (Vernon Forrest and Winky Wright) - and win or lose, "Sugar Shane" was always willing to fight them in rematches, often in back-to-back contests.

"I learned some things about my style fighting Cotto," Mosley said. "I went into that fight knowing I was the better athlete but it didn't matter; he still beat me to the punch.

"After each fight, I always review it and reflect on the good things I did and the bad things I did. I also look at what my opponent did. With the Cotto fight I looked at what he did to get the judges to score more rounds for him.

"I learned what made Cotto 'faster' than me was his technique. He stayed within his game, while I was trying to hurt him with every punch and knock him out. I was looking to throw hard with every shot instead of just landing punches, like he did, and being ready to follow up.

 

[stringer bell 32]

I like Shane by UD

 

[proshares]

Shane is going to win this easily IMO. But yea I think you gotta put Cotto up there at #4 behind Pacquaio.

 

[lesgodsonc0]

As I always state...I just can't root against Zab. Only against Cotto, and that was tough. Zab needs to go for broke against Mosley, he needs the W inthe worse way.

Speakin' of ol' Super Judah...

There must be something about Zab Judah.

In no way, shape, or form does he have any business being the center of attention any longer. He's embarrassed himself so many times -both in and out of the ring.

But Judah has that something special that so many can't pinpoint; that something that keeps him in the limelight.

Perhaps the fact that he can flat out crack with his wicked left hand or that he has a tad of Mike Tyson-like unpredictability in him. Or maybe it's that he can look like the best fighter on the planet for any given round.

I mean this is a guy that knocked Cory Spinks silly. The same Spinks that made former middleweight champ Jermain Taylor (13 ponds heavier than Judah) look rather ordinary.

Judah dominated Kostya Tszyu in the first round, was beating Floyd Mayweather early and stunned Miguel Cotto badly on two occasions.

Many would look at him and say, "What a waste of talent," or perhaps "He's got the worst case of A.D.D. a boxer could have."

Judah, a New York City Golden Gloves winner, lost his biggest three fights to date: Tszyu, Mayweather jr. and Cotto. But losing in those blockbuster bouts isn't what has defined Brooklyn's "Super" Zab Judah.

In November 2001, Judah lost his IBF junior welterweight title to Tszyu. Zab dominated in the first round, looking lightning fast. But late in the second he was caught by a right that sent him to the canvas. Judah rose, but looked ridiculous as his jellied legs sent him awkwardly around the ring as he tried to con Jay Nady into believing he was OK to continue.

The fight was waved off and then we were first introduced to Judah and the antics that would plague him throughout his career.

Both camps jumped the ropes after the TKO, while Judah protested Nady's decision to stop the bout. Then Judah shoved his glove into the neck of Nady, and concluded his antics by throwing his ring stool at Nady.

Of course, a suspension followed.

More than two years later, Judah made his return to Las Vegas on the undercard of the Winky Wright-Felix Trinidad card. He was fresh off a career defining moment; one that put him on course to be a true welterweight great. He had just knocked out Cory Spinks in Spinks' hometown of St. Louis, to win the WBC, WBA and IBF titles.

In Las Vegas at the presser the week of the Wright-Trinidad fight, Judah apologized to everyone involved.

"I've come full circle since the Kostya Tszyu fight here in November of 2001. This is the first time I have been in this arena since that night. I am finally going to put this behind me and show the world that I will continue to be the undisputed welterweight champion of the world."

He was all smiles with that boyish smile he wears so well at any dais, and after the presser, while most were chatting up Wright or Trinidad, I stayed with Judah.

He was so confident, he was nearly laughing at his opponent, Cosme Rivera.

"He's got no shot. I'm gonna go in there and just take care of business and hope for bigger and better," Judah told me.

In the first round Rivera was down twice, and in the third he went down again, and Judah looked invincible, despite facing middle of the road talent.

His performance was good enough for Top Rank's Bob Arum (who was Mayweather's promoter at the time) to set the stage for a mega-fight, with Judah facing Floyd Mayweather jr. in April of 2006 in Las Vegas.

There was one hurdle to clear however before April's payday; the WBC's mandatory defense versus an unknown by the name of Carlos Baldomir.

While Baldomir spoke at the podium at MSG's presser announcing his January 7, 2006 fight with Judah, Judah used his mic to say to Baldomir "You're going to sleep," and "Bring on Pretty Girl."

At the time it was pretty funny. Judah was having a good time. But fight week came and things were very different. Judah began to stress out after he claimed his promoter, Don King, was putting too much pressure on him to make appearances only days before the fight.

Baldomir shockingly won unanimously, vaulting him into the welterweight scene, but the boxing gods were still smiling on Judah, giving him another chance, just as they always have and would continue in the future. Arum still believed the Mayweather-Judah fight would be such a financial bonanza that it had to have its day, despite the Judah loss.

The Baldomir loss undoubtedly took a great deal of momentum away from the fight and HBO Pay-Per-View only collected in the ballpark of 350,000 buys and $15.7 million in revenue.

Judah looked great in the first four rounds, moving well and connecting with aggression, backing Mayweather up. But in the fifth the tide had turned. It was clear that Mayweather had used the first four rounds to measure Judah, and now he would go to work. Rounds five through nine were dominated by Mayweather, and in the tenth yet another Judah moment took place.

Reeling, behind on all cards, and undoubtedly being outboxed, Judah threw his most precise punch of the night.

Under Mayweather's Belt.

All hell broke loose.

Mayweather retreated to his corner, holding the area that was just starched, while his uncle, Roger Mayweather, stormed the ring. Roger predicted during fight week that if Judah got hurt he would "do something dirty." Before Roger was able to do anything other than bark, Judah's dad and trainer Yoel Judah jumped through the ropes and cut off Roger.

Then Zab entered the fracas.

Big mistake.

As the saying goes, "What goes on in Vegas, stays in Vegas," only this time it would be Judah's boxing license that would stay in Las Vegas.

The boxing world had had enough.

Zab was fined $250,000 and hit the sidelines for nearly a year.

He returned a year and five days later in a bout against Ruben Galvan. Judah came out like a man possessed, thrashing Galvan. However, a cut to Galvan's head caused a stoppage to the fight. It was ruled a no contest because the referee believed the cut was opened by a Judah forearm or elbow. Replays proved the ref wrong; nonetheless, Judah was back.

Soon after it was announced that Judah would get a crack at Cotto, the WBA welterweight champion.

The fight was a sellout. The 400's, or the "Blues" at MSG were jam packed.

I thought that Judah has a chance; a good chance. I saw Cotto taste canvas versus Ricardo Torres in Atlantic City, NJ, and I certainly thought Judah, at least, had a "puncher's" chance at taking Cotto out.

Just over a minute into the fight, Judah landed a scorching left uppercut that snapped Cotto's head back and hurt the champ. Judah followed with three more clean lefts over the next twenty seconds. Seconds later, Cotto would do exactly what Judah did just more than a year previous: land the low blow when in trouble. Judah's momentum was stopped dead in its tracks.

In the third round, with Judah fighting well, Judah was once again punched below the belt by Cotto, this time, well below, sending him to the canvas in agony.

Judah rose and finished that round well, but one was left to wonder how much 'umph' was drained from those two early low blows.

Zab once again faded, but he fought valiantly. He eventually lost via an eleventh round TKO.

He came to fight, and showed that he was still an extremely dangerous fighter.

He has since fought twice, really to just keep busy, and now, as was officially announced last Saturday, Judah will fight "Sugar" Shane Mosley on May 31, 2008, on HBO PPV in Las Vegas.

Yes PPV!

The nasty kid from Brooklyn is still a PPV draw. Yes, he is fighting Mosley, but Mosley alone is surely not a PPV draw in his own right anymore.

Judah said, "I am willing to gamble everything on this fight against Mosley and I know I have to win it to set my career back on the winning path. I respect Shane as a great fighter but I know he can't go twelve fast rounds with me. I plan to take him into deep waters and be the first one to stop him."

The fight should be an interesting one. Both recently lost to Cotto. Mosley fought well, but was, surprisingly, outboxed by Cotto. Mosley had strong rounds, but never hurt Cotto the way Judah did. Mosley however, was never hurt by Cotto the way Judah was.

After all the ups and downs in Judah's career, why is Zab Judah still getting these big-money fights?

It can be answered in one word.

Hope.

Hope that one day we see a complete performance like his performance against Spinks in St. Louis. Hope that he can convert rounds one through four vs. Mayweather and rounds one and three vs. Cotto into spectacular full-fight performances.

Hope that he can once more unfurl that left from his holster and stop his opponent dead in his tracks.

He's got a future Hall of Famer across from him on May 31, and Zab hopes he will be the first to stop him.

 

[stringer bell 32]

[h1]It's all about the networks[/h1]
posted: Thursday, March 20, 2008 | Print Entry

Boxing back on network television. It is the Holy Grail for many in the fight game. Promoters long for the days of regular coverage, when it was the norm tofind weekend boxing cards on ABC, CBS and NBC, sometimes competing against each other. The fighters got great exposure, which helped them become attractions,and it provided a middle class of license fees below the millions paid by HBO and Showtime.

Fans got a lot of excellent bouts that weren't on pay-per-view, or even on the premium cable networks, which cost a monthly fee. But those days vanished inthe mid-1990s with only the occasional fight landing on free TV since, such as the handful that NBC aired as part of an ill-fated deal with Main Events a fewyears ago. Perhaps that could change. That's what Oscar De La Hoya's Golden Boy Promotions is actively working on, according to CEORichard Schaefer. If anyone can do it, Schaefer and De La Hoya probably can. At the very least, they have been able to bring severalmainstream sponsors aboard to support Golden Boy's fights, such as Tecate, Southwest Airlines and Rockstar Energy Drink. Bringing boxing back to networktelevision would be another huge accomplishment, one that Schaefer believes they can pull off.

"There is an opportunity," he said. He said that during a recent trip to New York "we had some conversations with several networks which areavailable and interested in boxing and in doing something with Golden Boy." Schaefer didn't want to go into the specifics but he sure soundedconfident. One thing that Schaefer did several months ago was hire Bruce Binkow as Golden Boy's chief marketing officer. Binkow, for thoseunfamiliar with him, has quite a bit of experience in the field. Among his accomplishments, he was heavily involved in bringing the beach volleyball tour tonetwork television a few years ago. "We selected him because he is experienced.

They were able to attract major sponsors, McDonald's and Ford, for the volleyball tour, big-time mainstream companies," Schaefer said."That's what we need in boxing. That's why we hired him." Schaefer acknowledged that boxing on network television might have to begin as atime buy, but he said it would be possible with strong sponsors behind it. It is Binkow's task to line them up. "We are actively working with a coupleof networks to see how we can structure a deal on how we can bring boxing back on network television this year," Schaefer said. "Bruce has workedwith several networks and is evaluating where we can structure the best deal. I feel pretty comfortable with it. It's a lot of work, but it's a perfectenvironment." Schaefer knows how important network fights can be for the future of the sport.

He looks no further than his own boss, De La Hoya, who gained tremendous exposure on network television when he won the 1992 Olympic gold medal and fought someof his early pro bouts on network TV before going on to become the biggest star in the sport. "This is 2008, an Olympic year, and there's the factthat Oscar's career is coming to an end and Oscar's first fight was on network television," he said. "It would be a nice thing for Oscar togo full circle and be able to provide an opportunity for some of these young kids to be on network television."

 

[bigmike23]

they should put boxing back on network TV but its going to have to be big names to start off with

 

[gunna get it]

Zab by Knock out. No joke.

Rafael just posted up his P4P rankings and still has Cotto at 6th, even though he writes that he is still amazed that some people underrate him. How are you going to write that and then put him at 6? He slides in there at #3 in my opinion, especially considering his recent body of work/activity.

I've been saying this. I would move him higher than JMM
Cotto = #2 lb4lb fighter in the World.

 

[theprofessorofpugilism]

Boxrec's records are pretty accurate, their schedule is pretty flimsy though. Take anything on their schedule with a grain of salt, although you usuallyget better information on when lower profile fighters are scheduled to fight next than the superstars. So many rumors float around with the big names, andboxrec runs with any rumor.

 

[bigmike23]

anyone here about this?

Welterweight champion Floyd Mayweather Jr., who earlier Thursday threatened to fire his uncle, Roger Mayweather, as his trainer if he didn't stop working with Steve Forbes, won't have to go all Donald Trump on him.

The reason: Forbes fired him first after hearing about Mayweather Jr.'s comments, he told ESPN.com on Thursday night.

And get this: Forbes replaced him with Jeff Mayweather, the third of the three Mayweather boxing trainers along with Roger and their brother, Floyd Mayweather Sr., Junior's estranged father.

On a conference call with reporters Thursday afternoon, Mayweather Jr., who was promoting his March 30 WrestleMania 24 pay-per-view match against 7-foot, 441-pound wrestler The Big Show, said he would fire his uncle if he didn't drop Forbes. Forbes is scheduled to fight Oscar De La Hoya -- who is trained by Floyd Mayweather Sr. -- in a 150-pound fight on May 3.

[h3]It's more so [of a problem] with Floyd because he is Roger's boss. He pays him a nice salary. ... But I'm not upset with Roger. If I had been a pro only two or three years, maybe this would bother me. But I've been a pro for 12 years. This is just another little story to my story.

[/h3]
--Steve Forbes

The reason Roger's working with Forbes was an issue for Mayweather Jr. was because he is scheduled to fight a rematch with De La Hoya on Sept. 20. If his uncle successfully guided Forbes to the victory, there would be no rematch of boxing's richest fight ever, which would cost Mayweather Jr. a $20 million-plus payday.

"Lately, I've been upset with my uncle, Roger Mayweather," Mayweather said on the teleconference. "My uncle Roger has been training Steve Forbes and if Steve Forbes beats Oscar, it's taking money out of my pocket. [If he continues], I'll have to move on and get another trainer."

Forbes opened training with Roger Mayweather to get ready for the fight with De La Hoya on March 2. He took Thursday's turn of events in stride.

"I heard about Floyd's comments from my promoter, Jeff Wald," said Forbes, a former junior lightweight titleholder and the runner-up on the second season of "The Contender" reality series.

"I was on my way to the gym when he told me. Normally, I am online all the time, so I would have seen Floyd's comments, but I wasn't today. So, when Jeff Wald told me about it, I thought it was funny. Trainers should be able to train anyone they want, but it didn't really surprise me. I just wondered why it didn't happen three or four weeks ago when my fight with Oscar was announced."

"I think its one of the tackiest things I have ever seen and I am a huge Floyd Mayweather fan," said "Contender" promoter Wald. "Floyd seemed like a gentleman at our press conference, but to do this to another fighter in the fight of his life is disappointing."

Forbes said he tried to reach Roger Mayweather to tell him about the decision, but couldn't reach him, nor did Roger show up at the gym on Thursday for their training session.

"Roger was supposed to meet me at the gym today, but when I found about [the comments], we talked [on the phone] and Roger said, ''Let me talk to Floyd about it and I'll meet you at the gym.' All this is going on while I'm in the car. I went to the gym and Roger didn't show up. We couldn't get a hold of him either. He said he would talk to Floyd and then he never showed up."

Forbes said that's when he decided to call Jeff Mayweather, who trained Sultan Ibragimov to a heavyweight title last year. Forbes said Jeff Mayweather would be with him in the gym on Friday.

Forbes has trained at one time or another with all three Mayweather brothers. He's also been friendly with Mayweather Jr., with whom he has sparred hundreds of rounds.

Forbes, 31, trained with Jeff Mayweather for two fights before he went into "The Contender" competition and worked out with him during the series, although he wasn't in his corner during the actual bouts.

Forbes (33-5, 9 KOs) said Roger Mayweather was his chief trainer for 10 fights and that Mayweather Sr. had trained him for nine fights.

"I feel comfortable with the Mayweathers. They taught me the game," Forbes said. "That's why I called Jeff and asked him to work with me. He said, 'No problem. I'll see you
tomorrow.' "

Roger Mayweather could not be reached for comment.

Forbes said he was not angry with Roger Mayweather, just disappointed.

"It's more [of a problem] with Floyd because he is Roger's boss," Forbes said. "He pays him a nice salary. I just wish Roger would have called me or come by the gym instead of just not showing up. But I'm not upset with Roger. If I had been a pro only two or three years, maybe this would bother me. But I've been a pro for 12 years. This is just another little story to my story. It doesn't affect me one bit, but it's just bizarre."

Dan Rafael is ESPN.com's boxing writer


.

 

[stringer bell 32]

^

Yeah, I read that yesterday.

I would have been comedy to have Roger in Steve's corner

I wonder if they'll have any kind of special for Forbes/ DLH

 

[lesgodsonc0]

Rising welterweight contender Andre Berto, the 2006 ESPN.com Prospect of the Year, returns to HBO's "Boxing After Dark" June 21, although the other bout on the card is still in the works. Promoter Lou DiBella told ESPN.com that Berto (21-0, 18 KOs) probably will face Mexico's Miki Rodriguez (29-2, 23 KOs) in a title eliminator. DiBella said he's negotiating with Don King, Rodriguez's promoter. Rodriguez has won three consecutive fights since losing a May 2005 eliminator to Carlos Baldomir, who went on to win the undisputed title. The Berto-Rodriguez winner would become mandatory for Floyd Mayweather, although that bout is unlikely to ever happen. More likely, Berto-Rodriguez could be for an interim title or the winner could fight for a possible vacant title.
Against another Tomato?

Come on, DiBella.

I still can't get over the fact that he's ranked #1 by the WBC.

 

[stringer bell 32]

Eh, it is his way to get to a belt.

If Floyd, I mean, when Floyd vacates the belt Andre might get his shot at Miguel and we all know what will happen after that

 

[gunna get it]

#*@+, Lou better off makin a Baldomir/Berto match happen....

If Floyd, I mean, when Floyd vacates the belt Andre might get his shot at Miguel and we all know what will happen after that

I see U, too, have zero faith in Floyd stepping in the ring with Miguel Angel

 

[stringer bell 32]

I see U, too, have zero faith in Floyd stepping in the ring with Miguel Angel

I've always maintain the positon that it WILL HAPPEN, but just not yet.

Not til 2009 or maybe even 2010

Floyd by then will have been stripped of the belt and given to Andre.

Floyd is on the fight once a year program and his dance card is already filled for 2008.

I think the fight will be more interesting when both move on in age, I don't know why.

 

[gunna get it]

Sugar Ray Leonard, Thomas Hearns, Roberto Duran and Marvin Hagler are all rolling over in their graves.

 

[stringer bell 32]

^

God bless, your avy

Back to boxing, different time I suppose, those guys did it cause they had to.

Floyd is getting closer and closer to retirement.

He's done what he's can for boxing.

Can't really fault him

EDIT - for the Boxing / Wire heads

http://niketalk.com/topic/57051

 

[theprofessorofpugilism]

I have no problem with Berto taking an eliminator against a tomato can. It puts him one fight away from a title, and looking at the WBC's rankings.Margarito is next in line so Berto might face off with Margo for the vacan title eventually, or maybe Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. who isn't much farther downthe list. A good fight might end up coming out of this eliminator.

 

[stringer bell 32]

Rui (Nutley, NJ): I thought there was a rematch clause in the contract for Pacquiao/Marquez II? Was this for Pacquiao only?

Dan Rafael: Yes, it was only in the event Pacquiao lost.

 

[jagshemash]

My prediction is Berto is going to lose as soon he faces a legit opponent, particularly someone who can punch. Sorry, but that knockdown against Rivera hasleft me doubtful. It's not so much that he got knocked down and potentially exposed what could be a questionable chin and poor defense, it's the wayhim and his corner handled it. I can sense weakness. He panicked when he got knocked down by trying to get up too quickly and ended up falling down again, hewasn't cool under pressure. He then stumbled back to his corner and he suddenly had "glove problems" (perhaps his corner buying time since theyknow he has a glass jaw). His last two opponents haven't been punchers either, especially Trabant. Of course it's not that unusual to protect an upand coming prospect from punchers but it may be even more so in this case based on what I've said previously.

I'll gladly eat my words if I'm wrong.

 

[theprofessorofpugilism]

Also, there were questions about Berto's chin way back in the amateurs. Again, i'm not gonna be convinced one way or another until we see him in therewith a banger, but there are questions out there.

 

[bigmike23]

anyone see this 7 foot 65 pound BUM fighting on espn 2 right now?


WAIT. Brain Vera the one from contender is going to fight Andy lee tonight?

i see im have a new avy.