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You've heard of 'The Thriller In Manila', and 'The Rumble In The Jungle'. Joseph Parker's bout against expat Kiwi Brice Ritani wasn't quite The Riot At The Hyatt - but it was highly promising.
It was an encouraging, satisfying warm-up for his fight with Francois Botha next month, with 105kg Parker convincingly beating the 124kg Ritani unanimously on points, 60-54 over a six-round contest at a 'Night At The Fights' card at the Hyatt Regency in Irvine, Los Angeles.
In front of about 1000 black-tie guests, Parker showed the speed and ringcraft that has had knowledgeable boxing judges marking him as a prospect.
While Ritani is by no means in the top echelon of boxers, he was a perfect opponent ahead of Botha - squat, strong and durable and he never stopped coming forward at Parker the whole bout.
Parker snapped out his long left jab, a weapon that distinguishes the boxer from the fighter and scored heavily with a series of combinations, displaying his speed.
There was a frisson of disappointment that he did not incur a knockout but that was never the goal in this fight. Parker has never gone six rounds before - he has facilitated early departures for his previous, unknown opponents - and in the 44-year-old, highly experienced Botha, he has a crafty ring foe.
Ritani is no slouch - he has been in the ring with US heavyweight Hasim Rahman, one of only two men to beat the great undisputed heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis. He also has a highly respected Mixed Martial Arts pedigree and last night demonstrated a real ability to take a punch.
It was a perfect dress rehearsal for Parker. His jab will be a weapon against Botha, it made Ritani miss when he was coming in and he used his movement well to avoid other charges by his ever-pressing opponent.
Even more pleasingly, his fitness work with trainer Kevin Barry was spot on - he was barely blowing by the end of the fight and his best round, arguably, was the last when Ritani had to knock him out to win. Parker touched the accelerator and closed matters off.
It is far, far too early to be talking about a new star in New Zealand boxing but, with this bout, Parker demonstrated he has the smarts, speed and the raw materials for a fine professional career.
This wasn't the back blocks of South Auckland but a glitzy evening in front of some discerning judges and, in his first fight with someone who stood a show of knocking him out or at least damaging his ambitions, Parker was cool, calm and collected - and he collected another scalp.
•Paul Lewis is in Las Vegas courtesy of Duco Events.
Boxing: Parker dominates Ritani - Sport - NZ Herald News
It was an encouraging, satisfying warm-up for his fight with Francois Botha next month, with 105kg Parker convincingly beating the 124kg Ritani unanimously on points, 60-54 over a six-round contest at a 'Night At The Fights' card at the Hyatt Regency in Irvine, Los Angeles.
In front of about 1000 black-tie guests, Parker showed the speed and ringcraft that has had knowledgeable boxing judges marking him as a prospect.
While Ritani is by no means in the top echelon of boxers, he was a perfect opponent ahead of Botha - squat, strong and durable and he never stopped coming forward at Parker the whole bout.
Parker snapped out his long left jab, a weapon that distinguishes the boxer from the fighter and scored heavily with a series of combinations, displaying his speed.
There was a frisson of disappointment that he did not incur a knockout but that was never the goal in this fight. Parker has never gone six rounds before - he has facilitated early departures for his previous, unknown opponents - and in the 44-year-old, highly experienced Botha, he has a crafty ring foe.
Ritani is no slouch - he has been in the ring with US heavyweight Hasim Rahman, one of only two men to beat the great undisputed heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis. He also has a highly respected Mixed Martial Arts pedigree and last night demonstrated a real ability to take a punch.
It was a perfect dress rehearsal for Parker. His jab will be a weapon against Botha, it made Ritani miss when he was coming in and he used his movement well to avoid other charges by his ever-pressing opponent.
Even more pleasingly, his fitness work with trainer Kevin Barry was spot on - he was barely blowing by the end of the fight and his best round, arguably, was the last when Ritani had to knock him out to win. Parker touched the accelerator and closed matters off.
It is far, far too early to be talking about a new star in New Zealand boxing but, with this bout, Parker demonstrated he has the smarts, speed and the raw materials for a fine professional career.
This wasn't the back blocks of South Auckland but a glitzy evening in front of some discerning judges and, in his first fight with someone who stood a show of knocking him out or at least damaging his ambitions, Parker was cool, calm and collected - and he collected another scalp.
•Paul Lewis is in Las Vegas courtesy of Duco Events.
Boxing: Parker dominates Ritani - Sport - NZ Herald News
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* Panamanian stops Lebedev in penultimate round
* Povetkin knocks out Pole to set up Klitschko fight (updates with Jones win, adds details)
MOSCOW, May 17 (Reuters) - Former champion Guillermo Jones of Panama stopped title holder Denis Lebedev with seconds remaining in the 11th round to reclaim his WBA cruiserweight crown from the Russian on Friday.
Earlier, Alexander Povetkin knocked out previously undefeated challenger Andrzej Wawrzyk in the third round to retain his WBA heavyweight crown, setting up a long-awaited clash with super champion Vladimir Klitschko later this year.
Lebedev, who knocked out previously undefeated Colombian challenger Santander Silgado in his last fight at the same Moscow arena in December, took the initiative from the start.
But 41-year-old Jones was not about to back down. Heavy punishment finally took its toll on the Russian as his right eye was completely shut down by round five.
The men continued their slugfest in the later rounds before the Panamanian stunned Lebedev and the partisan home crowd at Moscow's Crocus City Hall with a right cross as the referee stopped the fight late in the penultimate round.
Jones improved his record to 39 wins, including 31 by knockout, with three defeats and two draws, while Lebedev's record dropped to 25 wins and two loses.
Watched by Klitschko's elder brother and WBC champion Vitaly, Povetkin floored lanky Pole Wawrzyk with a right hook in round two, then sent his opponent to the canvas again in the following round before finishing the job a few seconds later.
The 33-year-old Russian improved his record to 26-0, including 18 by knockout, while Wawrzyk suffered his first defeat in 28 professional fights.
"It was a good workout. I didn't aim for an early knockout, it just happened," Povetkin told Russian television.
Asked if he was now ready to fight Ukrainian Klitschko, who stopped Italian Francesco Pianeta in his last fight in Germany earlier this month, Povetkin said: "Yes, let's do it."
Povetkin's manager Vladimir Khryunov, who last month won the bid to stage the Klitschko fight, added: "It will be held here in Moscow, probably in early October."
Vitaly Klitschko, however, was a bit more cautious.
"The fight is on the cards but the contract has not been signed yet," he told Russian television. (Reporting by Gennady Fyodorov, editing by Pritha Sarkar)
Y! SPORTS
* Povetkin knocks out Pole to set up Klitschko fight (updates with Jones win, adds details)
MOSCOW, May 17 (Reuters) - Former champion Guillermo Jones of Panama stopped title holder Denis Lebedev with seconds remaining in the 11th round to reclaim his WBA cruiserweight crown from the Russian on Friday.
Earlier, Alexander Povetkin knocked out previously undefeated challenger Andrzej Wawrzyk in the third round to retain his WBA heavyweight crown, setting up a long-awaited clash with super champion Vladimir Klitschko later this year.
Lebedev, who knocked out previously undefeated Colombian challenger Santander Silgado in his last fight at the same Moscow arena in December, took the initiative from the start.
But 41-year-old Jones was not about to back down. Heavy punishment finally took its toll on the Russian as his right eye was completely shut down by round five.
The men continued their slugfest in the later rounds before the Panamanian stunned Lebedev and the partisan home crowd at Moscow's Crocus City Hall with a right cross as the referee stopped the fight late in the penultimate round.
Jones improved his record to 39 wins, including 31 by knockout, with three defeats and two draws, while Lebedev's record dropped to 25 wins and two loses.
Watched by Klitschko's elder brother and WBC champion Vitaly, Povetkin floored lanky Pole Wawrzyk with a right hook in round two, then sent his opponent to the canvas again in the following round before finishing the job a few seconds later.
The 33-year-old Russian improved his record to 26-0, including 18 by knockout, while Wawrzyk suffered his first defeat in 28 professional fights.
"It was a good workout. I didn't aim for an early knockout, it just happened," Povetkin told Russian television.
Asked if he was now ready to fight Ukrainian Klitschko, who stopped Italian Francesco Pianeta in his last fight in Germany earlier this month, Povetkin said: "Yes, let's do it."
Povetkin's manager Vladimir Khryunov, who last month won the bid to stage the Klitschko fight, added: "It will be held here in Moscow, probably in early October."
Vitaly Klitschko, however, was a bit more cautious.
"The fight is on the cards but the contract has not been signed yet," he told Russian television. (Reporting by Gennady Fyodorov, editing by Pritha Sarkar)
Y! SPORTS
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Rotherham’s Neil Dawson’s saw his hopes of becoming the cruiserweight Prizefighter champion dashed - and paid a high price in the process.
Dawson, of Thorpe Hesley, was involved in the last quarter-final at the York Hall in Bethnal Green and was beaten unanimously by former European light-heavyweight champion Danny McIntosh. The defeat meant he lost his position to challenge for the British title.
McIntosh has recently been sparring Danish superstar Mikkel Kessler ahead of Kessler’s world title unification re-match with Carl Froch next weekend. His sharpness was more apparent and all the judges agreed.
Schooled in Wincobank by the Ingles, Norwich-born McIntosh, utilised the trademark evasive Ingle style in the first and made the much bigger Dawson miss frustratingly. McIntosh’s jab and speed came more into play in the second. At the end of the third his punch success percentage was double that of Dawson’s.
Dawson, aged 32, had been installed as second favourite ahead of the competition and was Sky pundit Johnny Nelson’s pick to win
“We’re disappointed for Neil but the competition format was all wrong for him and by the time he’d got going the night was over,” explained Dawson’s manager, Carl Greaves.
“We’ve lost our position to challenge for the British title now, which has put a downer on things, so we might have to take a fight at the end of the month.
“Chris Keane is being raved about and Neil is ranked high in the WBO so he might fight him in Walsall. Keane beat my man, Shane McPhilbin, earlier this year and is a good kid.
We’re not sure what we’re doing with Neil yet but that might be the only way back at this stage in his career if he wants to get the British title.”
Greaves hedged his bets with three of his men in the competition and it was his Welshman, Hari Miles, who then beat McIntosh in the semi-final before losing to Spanish-born Wadi Camacho in the final.
Boxing: Title blow as Neil misses the big Prize - Boxing - The Star
Dawson, of Thorpe Hesley, was involved in the last quarter-final at the York Hall in Bethnal Green and was beaten unanimously by former European light-heavyweight champion Danny McIntosh. The defeat meant he lost his position to challenge for the British title.
McIntosh has recently been sparring Danish superstar Mikkel Kessler ahead of Kessler’s world title unification re-match with Carl Froch next weekend. His sharpness was more apparent and all the judges agreed.
Schooled in Wincobank by the Ingles, Norwich-born McIntosh, utilised the trademark evasive Ingle style in the first and made the much bigger Dawson miss frustratingly. McIntosh’s jab and speed came more into play in the second. At the end of the third his punch success percentage was double that of Dawson’s.
Dawson, aged 32, had been installed as second favourite ahead of the competition and was Sky pundit Johnny Nelson’s pick to win
“We’re disappointed for Neil but the competition format was all wrong for him and by the time he’d got going the night was over,” explained Dawson’s manager, Carl Greaves.
“We’ve lost our position to challenge for the British title now, which has put a downer on things, so we might have to take a fight at the end of the month.
“Chris Keane is being raved about and Neil is ranked high in the WBO so he might fight him in Walsall. Keane beat my man, Shane McPhilbin, earlier this year and is a good kid.
We’re not sure what we’re doing with Neil yet but that might be the only way back at this stage in his career if he wants to get the British title.”
Greaves hedged his bets with three of his men in the competition and it was his Welshman, Hari Miles, who then beat McIntosh in the semi-final before losing to Spanish-born Wadi Camacho in the final.
Boxing: Title blow as Neil misses the big Prize - Boxing - The Star
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With one good eye and a messy divorce that hit him hard financially, Antonio Margarito is reportedly planning a boxing comeback at age 35, following a retirement last year that seemed to be in his best interests, health-wise.
From Edgar Gonzalez:
Rumor is that his divorce with Michelle, who is currently pregnant by a family friend, has become a nightmare, granting Michelle a multi-million settlement forcing the "Tijuana Tornado" to sell several of his assets.
With Margarito's new baby with his new girl, Lorena Vidales, he wants to take on a big-money fight to help him financially.
The Mexican fighter hasn't been in the ring since his December 2011 rematch loss to Miguel Cotto, which came by stoppage after 10 rounds, as the doctor ruled he could not continue with his previously injured eye swollen shut.
Margarito (38-8, 27 KO) hasn't really looked good in any fight since beating Cotto in 2008, a fight that has been seriously questioned since Margarito and ex-trainer Javier Capetillo were caught with illegal substances in their hand wraps prior to Margarito's 2009 loss to Shane Mosley. Since then, Margarito has gone 1-2, beating Roberto Garcia in Mexico before returning to the States for losses to Manny Pacquiao and Cotto.
So who can Margarito fight for big money? Julio Cesar Chavez Jr, I guess, but I don't know that there's any interest in that. Canelo Alvarez, too, but again, would anyone want to see that? Cotto is still worth money, but the same question applies again. A rematch with Mosley? No money in it.
Of course, I don't know what Margarito is considering a "big paycheck" right now.
The Pacquiao fight irreversibly harmed whatever future career Margarito had left, as the "Tijuana Tornado" took a vicious beating that left his right eye badly damaged, making it an easy target for Cotto, and it would seem for any fighter who ever fights him again. The eye is noticeably damaged and the surgery to repair the injuries has left it with a sort of "wandering" or "lazy" effect.
If Margarito does return, he may find it hard to pass medical exams in states like Nevada or even New York, which licensed him last time out, but did so with a lot of drama entirely because of the injury. An eye injury is nothing to play with, but boxing is the way that Margarito makes money. It's not a new story in the sport, and I doubt many will be surprised by this news.
Antonio Margarito reportedly planning boxing comeback - Bad Left Hook
From Edgar Gonzalez:
Rumor is that his divorce with Michelle, who is currently pregnant by a family friend, has become a nightmare, granting Michelle a multi-million settlement forcing the "Tijuana Tornado" to sell several of his assets.
With Margarito's new baby with his new girl, Lorena Vidales, he wants to take on a big-money fight to help him financially.
The Mexican fighter hasn't been in the ring since his December 2011 rematch loss to Miguel Cotto, which came by stoppage after 10 rounds, as the doctor ruled he could not continue with his previously injured eye swollen shut.
Margarito (38-8, 27 KO) hasn't really looked good in any fight since beating Cotto in 2008, a fight that has been seriously questioned since Margarito and ex-trainer Javier Capetillo were caught with illegal substances in their hand wraps prior to Margarito's 2009 loss to Shane Mosley. Since then, Margarito has gone 1-2, beating Roberto Garcia in Mexico before returning to the States for losses to Manny Pacquiao and Cotto.
So who can Margarito fight for big money? Julio Cesar Chavez Jr, I guess, but I don't know that there's any interest in that. Canelo Alvarez, too, but again, would anyone want to see that? Cotto is still worth money, but the same question applies again. A rematch with Mosley? No money in it.
Of course, I don't know what Margarito is considering a "big paycheck" right now.
The Pacquiao fight irreversibly harmed whatever future career Margarito had left, as the "Tijuana Tornado" took a vicious beating that left his right eye badly damaged, making it an easy target for Cotto, and it would seem for any fighter who ever fights him again. The eye is noticeably damaged and the surgery to repair the injuries has left it with a sort of "wandering" or "lazy" effect.
If Margarito does return, he may find it hard to pass medical exams in states like Nevada or even New York, which licensed him last time out, but did so with a lot of drama entirely because of the injury. An eye injury is nothing to play with, but boxing is the way that Margarito makes money. It's not a new story in the sport, and I doubt many will be surprised by this news.
Antonio Margarito reportedly planning boxing comeback - Bad Left Hook
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Audley Harrison has revealed he is returning to professional boxing, just 20 days after announcing his retirement from the sport.
The British heavyweight decided to finally hang up his gloves after an embarrassing first round defeat to Deontay Wilder last month - but, after struggling to come to terms with the decision in the ensuing days and weeks, has now revealed he will be back in the ring "real soon".
"When I made the tough decision to walk away from boxing, I knew it was not going to be easy," Audley said in a statement. "As the days passed, I knew I would not be able to live with the decision.
"I wrestled with it for a few weeks, and spoke to everyone from the boxing board, to Lennox Lewis, David Haye, my dad, wife and many others … ultimately seeing my son born crystallized my decision'.
"There is no way I am going to tell my son, 'I gave up because I didn't want to climb the mountain again, I didn't want to dust myself off again' when I'm now in the best shape of my career? How can I retire, when I know I have another shot in me?"
"We all saw how the fight ended, which was not right. I can't walk away with that performance. If I do, it would haunt me until I'm old and grey.
"Don't know where, but see you in a ring real soon."
Harrison could now step in to face Dereck Chisora on June 15. Chisora was due to meet Wilder on that summer date - with the bout even being announced by promoter Frank Warren - but the American's current legal troubles in the US have thrown the meeting into real doubt.
Audley Harrison comes out of retirement after 20 days | Boxing News | ESPN.co.uk
The British heavyweight decided to finally hang up his gloves after an embarrassing first round defeat to Deontay Wilder last month - but, after struggling to come to terms with the decision in the ensuing days and weeks, has now revealed he will be back in the ring "real soon".
"When I made the tough decision to walk away from boxing, I knew it was not going to be easy," Audley said in a statement. "As the days passed, I knew I would not be able to live with the decision.
"I wrestled with it for a few weeks, and spoke to everyone from the boxing board, to Lennox Lewis, David Haye, my dad, wife and many others … ultimately seeing my son born crystallized my decision'.
"There is no way I am going to tell my son, 'I gave up because I didn't want to climb the mountain again, I didn't want to dust myself off again' when I'm now in the best shape of my career? How can I retire, when I know I have another shot in me?"
"We all saw how the fight ended, which was not right. I can't walk away with that performance. If I do, it would haunt me until I'm old and grey.
"Don't know where, but see you in a ring real soon."
Harrison could now step in to face Dereck Chisora on June 15. Chisora was due to meet Wilder on that summer date - with the bout even being announced by promoter Frank Warren - but the American's current legal troubles in the US have thrown the meeting into real doubt.
Audley Harrison comes out of retirement after 20 days | Boxing News | ESPN.co.uk
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The road to one of the most prestigious events in amateur boxing passes through Chesapeake this weekend.
USA Boxing's Mid-Atlantic regional, a qualifier for the Junior Olympics, will be held Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the Chesapeake Marriott. Fighters from six states will attempt to qualify for the Junior Olympic national championships in Alabama next month.
"It's a big deal, man, because without this, you can't move on," said Pete Joyner, whose company, 12 Rounds Boxing, is putting on the event. "You've got to go through here."
About 100 fighters, ages 11-16, are expected. Only those in the 15-16 age group can advance. For the younger fighters, a regional title is the highest they can attain.
Joyner's company hosted the state Junior Olympic championships at Norfolk's Barraud Park gym last month. The longtime adviser to Hall of Famer Pernell "Sweetpea" Whitaker said he wanted to "step things up" for the regionals in an attempt to revive interest in amateur boxing.
Tickets are available at the door - $15 for general admission, $10 for kids 13 and under and $20 for ringside. Bouts begin at 4 p.m. Friday, 3 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday.
Junior Olympics boxing qualifier is in Chesapeake | HamptonRoads-com | PilotOnline-com
USA Boxing's Mid-Atlantic regional, a qualifier for the Junior Olympics, will be held Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the Chesapeake Marriott. Fighters from six states will attempt to qualify for the Junior Olympic national championships in Alabama next month.
"It's a big deal, man, because without this, you can't move on," said Pete Joyner, whose company, 12 Rounds Boxing, is putting on the event. "You've got to go through here."
About 100 fighters, ages 11-16, are expected. Only those in the 15-16 age group can advance. For the younger fighters, a regional title is the highest they can attain.
Joyner's company hosted the state Junior Olympic championships at Norfolk's Barraud Park gym last month. The longtime adviser to Hall of Famer Pernell "Sweetpea" Whitaker said he wanted to "step things up" for the regionals in an attempt to revive interest in amateur boxing.
Tickets are available at the door - $15 for general admission, $10 for kids 13 and under and $20 for ringside. Bouts begin at 4 p.m. Friday, 3 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday.
Junior Olympics boxing qualifier is in Chesapeake | HamptonRoads-com | PilotOnline-com
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Building the perfect boxing match seems simple on the surface, but a closer inspection reveals several critical elements that must align in order for the match to take place.
Let’s face it, boxing promoters live and die with how well they recognize these elements as critical to their operation, as well as how astute they are at putting them all together on fight night. It’s what separates outfits like Top Rank, Golden Boy and Main Events from the rest of the pack.
No one element is more important than another. Instead, they must work together as a synergized conduit of fistic awesomeness.
Here they are alphabetically.
Blueprint to Building the Ultimate Boxing Match | Bleacher Report
Let’s face it, boxing promoters live and die with how well they recognize these elements as critical to their operation, as well as how astute they are at putting them all together on fight night. It’s what separates outfits like Top Rank, Golden Boy and Main Events from the rest of the pack.
No one element is more important than another. Instead, they must work together as a synergized conduit of fistic awesomeness.
Here they are alphabetically.
Blueprint to Building the Ultimate Boxing Match | Bleacher Report
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Dwarfs will battle in the ring before a major heavyweight bout in Auckland next month.
The bout is expected to attract indignance but fight promoters are adamant the two little men, both about 1.3m, will put up a serious fight on June 13.
Matthew Wood is a former bodybuilder whose quest for love was turned into a TV show. League legend Monty Betham is his trainer. His rival Colin Lane is a night-shift worker at SkyCity, who recently cut back smoking and has virtually no sporting experience. Lane's trainer is Mark Bedford, who once trained Mark "Horse" Bourneville.
Betham conceded he took on Wood to train before knowing he was a dwarf. ''I've never trained a dwarf. I've trained a Beast and models though, so why discriminate?"
Betham is in Dubai this weekend, training Brian Lima, the former Samoan rugby player known as The Chiropractor for his hard tackling style.
Lima is fighting former Irish rugby hooker Shane Byrne in a North v South boxing event.
Wood recently passed his early childhood teaching qualification and had been a champion body builder.
"He wants to lose a bit of weight. His tummy is the muscle that seems to be bigger than anything else right now."
Betham wasn't worried people might call the midget fight a freak show. ''My role is to train fighters. I take it seriously." Betham said.
Meanwhile, Bedford said Lane slashed his cigarette intake and was making progress with weights, a punching bag and sparring. "He's told me he's given up the beer while he's in training."
Lane started training as early as 6.30am, every second day. He worked night shifts cleaning at SkyCity. "We're starting from scratch with him. Last week especially, he surprised himself with how well he'd done."
Bedford said the two dwarfs knew each other. "Talking to Colin about it the other day, they know each other but I don't particularly think they're friends..."
Bedford said Lane was about 40 and Wood was in his mid-thirties. Both men were robust, said to be in good shape, and expected to weigh in at about 70 to 75kg.
Duco Events, which last year staged the Jamie Ridge-Rosanna Arkle fight, is staging the event. The big bout at Trusts Arena, pitting Joseph Parker against Francois "White Buffalo" Botha, had already raised the ire of boxing purists.
Duco director Dean Lonergan expected some fresh indignance about the dwarf battle but said sceptics would be silenced when it came to fight night.
"If there's a lot of public interest and the guys want to do it, we're keen to put it on," Lonergan added. "I expect them to get in there and take it very very seriously - and there might even be a bit of bad blood between the two of them."
The June 13 event will be televised from the arena where punters pay up to $10,000 for 10-seater ringside tables.
A national society representing Little People declined to wade into any debate about the bout. "They're old enough to speak for themselves. They're old enough to know what they're doing." Little People of NZ spokeswoman Loren Corbett said.
Corbett said New Zealand was generally becoming a more inclusive society and attitudes towards little people had improved. - Herald on Sunday
Dwarf boxing bout on Botha undercard - Sport - NZ Herald News
The bout is expected to attract indignance but fight promoters are adamant the two little men, both about 1.3m, will put up a serious fight on June 13.
Matthew Wood is a former bodybuilder whose quest for love was turned into a TV show. League legend Monty Betham is his trainer. His rival Colin Lane is a night-shift worker at SkyCity, who recently cut back smoking and has virtually no sporting experience. Lane's trainer is Mark Bedford, who once trained Mark "Horse" Bourneville.
Betham conceded he took on Wood to train before knowing he was a dwarf. ''I've never trained a dwarf. I've trained a Beast and models though, so why discriminate?"
Betham is in Dubai this weekend, training Brian Lima, the former Samoan rugby player known as The Chiropractor for his hard tackling style.
Lima is fighting former Irish rugby hooker Shane Byrne in a North v South boxing event.
Wood recently passed his early childhood teaching qualification and had been a champion body builder.
"He wants to lose a bit of weight. His tummy is the muscle that seems to be bigger than anything else right now."
Betham wasn't worried people might call the midget fight a freak show. ''My role is to train fighters. I take it seriously." Betham said.
Meanwhile, Bedford said Lane slashed his cigarette intake and was making progress with weights, a punching bag and sparring. "He's told me he's given up the beer while he's in training."
Lane started training as early as 6.30am, every second day. He worked night shifts cleaning at SkyCity. "We're starting from scratch with him. Last week especially, he surprised himself with how well he'd done."
Bedford said the two dwarfs knew each other. "Talking to Colin about it the other day, they know each other but I don't particularly think they're friends..."
Bedford said Lane was about 40 and Wood was in his mid-thirties. Both men were robust, said to be in good shape, and expected to weigh in at about 70 to 75kg.
Duco Events, which last year staged the Jamie Ridge-Rosanna Arkle fight, is staging the event. The big bout at Trusts Arena, pitting Joseph Parker against Francois "White Buffalo" Botha, had already raised the ire of boxing purists.
Duco director Dean Lonergan expected some fresh indignance about the dwarf battle but said sceptics would be silenced when it came to fight night.
"If there's a lot of public interest and the guys want to do it, we're keen to put it on," Lonergan added. "I expect them to get in there and take it very very seriously - and there might even be a bit of bad blood between the two of them."
The June 13 event will be televised from the arena where punters pay up to $10,000 for 10-seater ringside tables.
A national society representing Little People declined to wade into any debate about the bout. "They're old enough to speak for themselves. They're old enough to know what they're doing." Little People of NZ spokeswoman Loren Corbett said.
Corbett said New Zealand was generally becoming a more inclusive society and attitudes towards little people had improved. - Herald on Sunday
Dwarf boxing bout on Botha undercard - Sport - NZ Herald News
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Manne wrote:
Dwarfs will battle in the ring before a major heavyweight bout in Auckland next month.
The bout is expected to attract indignance but fight promoters are adamant the two little men, both about 1.3m, will put up a serious fight on June 13.
Matthew Wood is a former bodybuilder whose quest for love was turned into a TV show. League legend Monty Betham is his trainer. His rival Colin Lane is a night-shift worker at SkyCity, who recently cut back smoking and has virtually no sporting experience. Lane's trainer is Mark Bedford, who once trained Mark "Horse" Bourneville.
Betham conceded he took on Wood to train before knowing he was a dwarf. ''I've never trained a dwarf. I've trained a Beast and models though, so why discriminate?"
Betham is in Dubai this weekend, training Brian Lima, the former Samoan rugby player known as The Chiropractor for his hard tackling style.
Lima is fighting former Irish rugby hooker Shane Byrne in a North v South boxing event.
Wood recently passed his early childhood teaching qualification and had been a champion body builder.
"He wants to lose a bit of weight. His tummy is the muscle that seems to be bigger than anything else right now."
Betham wasn't worried people might call the midget fight a freak show. ''My role is to train fighters. I take it seriously." Betham said.
Meanwhile, Bedford said Lane slashed his cigarette intake and was making progress with weights, a punching bag and sparring. "He's told me he's given up the beer while he's in training."
Lane started training as early as 6.30am, every second day. He worked night shifts cleaning at SkyCity. "We're starting from scratch with him. Last week especially, he surprised himself with how well he'd done."
Bedford said the two dwarfs knew each other. "Talking to Colin about it the other day, they know each other but I don't particularly think they're friends..."
Bedford said Lane was about 40 and Wood was in his mid-thirties. Both men were robust, said to be in good shape, and expected to weigh in at about 70 to 75kg.
Duco Events, which last year staged the Jamie Ridge-Rosanna Arkle fight, is staging the event. The big bout at Trusts Arena, pitting Joseph Parker against Francois "White Buffalo" Botha, had already raised the ire of boxing purists.
Duco director Dean Lonergan expected some fresh indignance about the dwarf battle but said sceptics would be silenced when it came to fight night.
"If there's a lot of public interest and the guys want to do it, we're keen to put it on," Lonergan added. "I expect them to get in there and take it very very seriously - and there might even be a bit of bad blood between the two of them."
The June 13 event will be televised from the arena where punters pay up to $10,000 for 10-seater ringside tables.
A national society representing Little People declined to wade into any debate about the bout. "They're old enough to speak for themselves. They're old enough to know what they're doing." Little People of NZ spokeswoman Loren Corbett said.
Corbett said New Zealand was generally becoming a more inclusive society and attitudes towards little people had improved. - Herald on Sunday
Dwarf boxing bout on Botha undercard - Sport - NZ Herald News
Ha ha thats funny
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2007/02/24
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This weekend, HBO World Championship Boxing presented an exciting rematch as Carl Froch and Mikkel Kessler met in London, England. It was Kessler who took the decision win in their first outing - a 2010 classic. This time, Froch evened the odds, scoring his own decision win. Along the way, the men turned in another fantastic battle.
One of the things that makes the Froch vs. Kessler match-up so interesting is the way in both fights the two men truly go to war, but in a very technical way. These fights are not Brandon Rios and Mike Alvarado throwing bombs, but they also are not Nonito Donaire and Guillermo Rigondeaux engaging in a somewhat emotionless battle of technique. Froch and Kessler have twice now found a middle ground that delivers high quality action that should appeal to everyone. It's a great pair of fights, and if it becomes a trilogy, I can't imagine anyone will complain.
With the win, Froch cements himself as a serious star. His promoter says this makes him an "all-time great" and while I wouldn't quite go that far, it definitely puts him at a high level. He has the potential to be a real draw next time out, though you have to question who will find himself across the ring from Froch next time. The name that is most discussed right now is division #1 Andre Ward, though Ward already holds a win over Froch, and would remain heavily favored in a rematch. Kessler #3 is an obvious option, and there have been some minor rumblings of Froch moving up to meet Bernard Hopkins.
Whatever is next for Froch (and Kessler for that matter), this was definitely a great fight, a great win for the Englishman, and a great night of boxing. Check out the replay if you can.
Boxing results: Carl Froch takes decision win over Mikkel Kessler to even the score - Bloody Elbow
One of the things that makes the Froch vs. Kessler match-up so interesting is the way in both fights the two men truly go to war, but in a very technical way. These fights are not Brandon Rios and Mike Alvarado throwing bombs, but they also are not Nonito Donaire and Guillermo Rigondeaux engaging in a somewhat emotionless battle of technique. Froch and Kessler have twice now found a middle ground that delivers high quality action that should appeal to everyone. It's a great pair of fights, and if it becomes a trilogy, I can't imagine anyone will complain.
With the win, Froch cements himself as a serious star. His promoter says this makes him an "all-time great" and while I wouldn't quite go that far, it definitely puts him at a high level. He has the potential to be a real draw next time out, though you have to question who will find himself across the ring from Froch next time. The name that is most discussed right now is division #1 Andre Ward, though Ward already holds a win over Froch, and would remain heavily favored in a rematch. Kessler #3 is an obvious option, and there have been some minor rumblings of Froch moving up to meet Bernard Hopkins.
Whatever is next for Froch (and Kessler for that matter), this was definitely a great fight, a great win for the Englishman, and a great night of boxing. Check out the replay if you can.
Boxing results: Carl Froch takes decision win over Mikkel Kessler to even the score - Bloody Elbow
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2006/12/07
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It's hard to believe that longtime Nevada-based referee Mills Lane is just now getting his induction into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.
As far as boxing officials go, nobody achieved the mainstream appeal that the retired referee earned over the course of his career. Since Lane first said “Let's get it on!” prior to the Larry Holmes-Gerry Cooney heavyweight championship in 1982, nearly every top referee has tried to come up with his own catchphrase prior to the opening bell.
But it was Lane’s phrase that caught on with boxing fans, often igniting an extra helping of excitement to the usual buzz that accompanies a major bout. More often than not, Lane was the referee for the biggest prize fights – and for good reason. No matter what kind of scenario was thrown at him, Lane handled things to the very best of his abilities. Over the course of a 34-year career, there are very few – if any – bones to pick with the way Lane handled a fight.
That’s an amazing accomplishment considering the wide variety of circumstances, some of which bordered on the bizarre, that Lane experienced in the ring.
Before his time as a referee, Lane was a boxer. He first began boxing after joining the United States Marine Corps in 1956, eventually becoming the All-Far East welterweight champion. He then added a collegiate title to his resume at the University of Nevada-Reno and even competed in the 1960 Olympic Trials in San Francisco, losing in the semifinals.
Interestingly enough, one of the first major bouts Lane refereed was the 1972 heavyweight bout between Muhammad Ali and Bob Foster, who were both also at the 1960 Olympic Trials.
Lane, who became a fan listening to Joe Louis prizefights (which often had him shadow boxing excitedly) as a young man, refereed 88 world title fights (as recognized by the four major sanctioning bodies), some of which were the sport's biggest moments during the 1970s, ‘80s and ‘90s.
Part of this time occurred when Reno, where Lane resided, was just as big of a fight town as Las Vegas. Once Lane showed he could handle big assignments, he kept getting them.
It came to the point that if there was a big fight in Nevada, you could count on Lane being the referee.
His first world title fight was the 1971 flyweight clash between Betulio Gonzalez and Erbito Salavarria. Lane refereed and also turned in an even scorecard, which split the other two judges, making the fight a draw. The fight was later overturned into a disqualification when it was found that Salavarria used a stimulant in his water bottle.
It wouldn’t be the last time that Lane was the third man for a controversial fight. There's “The Bite Fight,” the 1997 rematch between Evander Holyfield and Mike Tyson that saw “The Baddest Man on the Planet” take a chunk out of Holyfield's ear.
Lane told the former champ that he bit Holyfield in the ear, to which Tyson responded that it was a punch.
“Bull,” said the tough as nails referee.
Lane was the third man for many of Tyson's fights, including the Brooklyn native’s first title shot against Trevor Berbick at age 20 in 1986.
Tyson became the youngest heavyweight champion in history when he dethroned Berbick for the WBC title via second-round knockout.
Lane also refereed Tyson's first fight back after a stint in prison against Peter McNeeley. “I remember my dad talking about this killer heavyweight from New York named Mike Tyson, who was going to get a title shot soon,” recalled Lane's eldest son Terry. “My dad always liked Mike, and he ended up doing nine of his fights.”
It was “The Bite Fight" that perhaps launched Lane's celebrity outside of boxing. After deducting two points for the initial chomp, Lane disqualified Tyson for a second bite.
It wasn't long after that Lane became the first claymation third man in the ring. MTV's Celebrity Deathmatch had Lane provide the voice for a claymation referee based on himself. He provided the famous words, “Let's get it on” before the bell rang for celebrities to literally dismantle each other. When certain things got out of control, Lane's character would also famously shout, “I'll allow it!”
Then there is “The Fan Man” incident, where in the second fight between Evander Holyfield and Riddick Bowe, a man parachuted into the ring with a fan on his back, breaking up the fight midway through.
Lane had the daunting task of restoring order after “Fan Man” James Miller received a beatdown at the hands of Bowe's cronies. He was able to do so, allowing what turned out to be a very good fight to continue after a delay.
Lane was also involved in great fights. He was the referee for the 15-round heavyweight war between Larry Holmes and Ken Norton in 1978. Holmes edged Norton on points in what is regarded as one of the best heavyweight fights of the past 50 years.
According to Terry, it was the 1980 featherweight title rematch between Salvador Sanchez and Danny Lopez that ranked as his favorite of all-time.
“He was always asked that, his favorite fight that he ever reffed, and he didn't even have to think about it,” said Terry, now 30 and running a boxing promotion based out of Reno with his younger brother Tommy, 26.
The Holmes-Cooney fight is still one of the most important fights in terms of cultural significance in recent boxing memory. Though promoter Don King said the only color that the fight was about was “green” (money), it was setup as a Black Champion vs. White Hope matchup, fueled by Holmes' commentary that if he were fighting a black opponent, he wouldn't be getting anything close to what they were making for the fight.
“Holmes against Cooney was my dad’s ‘big break’ because of the mainstream transcendence of that fight,” said Terry Lane. “That was the first fight he used the phrase, ‘Let's get it on.’”
Lane relished his place in boxing, but the sport was always second to his family. When Lane retired from refereeing, and later as a judge, he took on the boxing
As far as boxing officials go, nobody achieved the mainstream appeal that the retired referee earned over the course of his career. Since Lane first said “Let's get it on!” prior to the Larry Holmes-Gerry Cooney heavyweight championship in 1982, nearly every top referee has tried to come up with his own catchphrase prior to the opening bell.
But it was Lane’s phrase that caught on with boxing fans, often igniting an extra helping of excitement to the usual buzz that accompanies a major bout. More often than not, Lane was the referee for the biggest prize fights – and for good reason. No matter what kind of scenario was thrown at him, Lane handled things to the very best of his abilities. Over the course of a 34-year career, there are very few – if any – bones to pick with the way Lane handled a fight.
That’s an amazing accomplishment considering the wide variety of circumstances, some of which bordered on the bizarre, that Lane experienced in the ring.
Before his time as a referee, Lane was a boxer. He first began boxing after joining the United States Marine Corps in 1956, eventually becoming the All-Far East welterweight champion. He then added a collegiate title to his resume at the University of Nevada-Reno and even competed in the 1960 Olympic Trials in San Francisco, losing in the semifinals.
Interestingly enough, one of the first major bouts Lane refereed was the 1972 heavyweight bout between Muhammad Ali and Bob Foster, who were both also at the 1960 Olympic Trials.
Lane, who became a fan listening to Joe Louis prizefights (which often had him shadow boxing excitedly) as a young man, refereed 88 world title fights (as recognized by the four major sanctioning bodies), some of which were the sport's biggest moments during the 1970s, ‘80s and ‘90s.
Part of this time occurred when Reno, where Lane resided, was just as big of a fight town as Las Vegas. Once Lane showed he could handle big assignments, he kept getting them.
It came to the point that if there was a big fight in Nevada, you could count on Lane being the referee.
His first world title fight was the 1971 flyweight clash between Betulio Gonzalez and Erbito Salavarria. Lane refereed and also turned in an even scorecard, which split the other two judges, making the fight a draw. The fight was later overturned into a disqualification when it was found that Salavarria used a stimulant in his water bottle.
It wouldn’t be the last time that Lane was the third man for a controversial fight. There's “The Bite Fight,” the 1997 rematch between Evander Holyfield and Mike Tyson that saw “The Baddest Man on the Planet” take a chunk out of Holyfield's ear.
Lane told the former champ that he bit Holyfield in the ear, to which Tyson responded that it was a punch.
“Bull,” said the tough as nails referee.
Lane was the third man for many of Tyson's fights, including the Brooklyn native’s first title shot against Trevor Berbick at age 20 in 1986.
Tyson became the youngest heavyweight champion in history when he dethroned Berbick for the WBC title via second-round knockout.
Lane also refereed Tyson's first fight back after a stint in prison against Peter McNeeley. “I remember my dad talking about this killer heavyweight from New York named Mike Tyson, who was going to get a title shot soon,” recalled Lane's eldest son Terry. “My dad always liked Mike, and he ended up doing nine of his fights.”
It was “The Bite Fight" that perhaps launched Lane's celebrity outside of boxing. After deducting two points for the initial chomp, Lane disqualified Tyson for a second bite.
It wasn't long after that Lane became the first claymation third man in the ring. MTV's Celebrity Deathmatch had Lane provide the voice for a claymation referee based on himself. He provided the famous words, “Let's get it on” before the bell rang for celebrities to literally dismantle each other. When certain things got out of control, Lane's character would also famously shout, “I'll allow it!”
Then there is “The Fan Man” incident, where in the second fight between Evander Holyfield and Riddick Bowe, a man parachuted into the ring with a fan on his back, breaking up the fight midway through.
Lane had the daunting task of restoring order after “Fan Man” James Miller received a beatdown at the hands of Bowe's cronies. He was able to do so, allowing what turned out to be a very good fight to continue after a delay.
Lane was also involved in great fights. He was the referee for the 15-round heavyweight war between Larry Holmes and Ken Norton in 1978. Holmes edged Norton on points in what is regarded as one of the best heavyweight fights of the past 50 years.
According to Terry, it was the 1980 featherweight title rematch between Salvador Sanchez and Danny Lopez that ranked as his favorite of all-time.
“He was always asked that, his favorite fight that he ever reffed, and he didn't even have to think about it,” said Terry, now 30 and running a boxing promotion based out of Reno with his younger brother Tommy, 26.
The Holmes-Cooney fight is still one of the most important fights in terms of cultural significance in recent boxing memory. Though promoter Don King said the only color that the fight was about was “green” (money), it was setup as a Black Champion vs. White Hope matchup, fueled by Holmes' commentary that if he were fighting a black opponent, he wouldn't be getting anything close to what they were making for the fight.
“Holmes against Cooney was my dad’s ‘big break’ because of the mainstream transcendence of that fight,” said Terry Lane. “That was the first fight he used the phrase, ‘Let's get it on.’”
Lane relished his place in boxing, but the sport was always second to his family. When Lane retired from refereeing, and later as a judge, he took on the boxing
Join:
2006/12/07
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29893
Jeffrey Dorsey doesn't have to look far for boxing advice. His grandfather, Easton's Larry Holmes, ruled the heavyweight division from 1978-85 and is regarded as one of the sport's greatest fighters.
As a result, Dorsey understands there are no shortcuts to success. The former champion and Dorsey's trainer of the last two months, Frank Pintabone, remind him of that constantly.
"Boxing's a hard sport; you have to be dedicated," Holmes said. "I told my grandson, if you're going to do it, then do it right."
Dorsey and a cast of other young professional boxers are scheduled to fill the bill for seven bouts Thursday, June 6, on the first fight card hosted by the ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks on Bethlehem's south side. Jay Newman, who's been associated with Holmes for more than 20 years, is promoting his first pro card after guiding four amateur events.
The 25-year-old Dorsey, son of Holmes' daughter Misty, will be in the main event against Marquis Pierce of Phillipsburg. The 122-pound bout is scheduled for four rounds.
The two, Dorsey said, sparred "back in the day," and he described Pierce as a "slugger."
The card also is expected to include a bout between recently turned pros Jonathan Williams of Allentown and Christian Molina of Lancaster, Pa. Rashad Bogar, who had a 79-10 amateur record and recently moved to the region to train with American Top Team of Allentown, also is slated to fight.
Tickets for "Fight Night at SteelStacks" are priced from $25 to $60. A limited number of $100 VIP tickets will be available and that package includes the opportunity to meet Holmes and former heavyweight title contender Gerry Cooney, a dinner buffet and private area in the balcony section to watch the fights.
"This is something new for us and we hope it will attract a new audience to SteelStacks," said Curt Mosel, ArtsQuest vice president of marketing and public relations during an informal media gathering this morning at Holmes' training center on Canal Street in Easton. "We've done a couple hundred concerts so far. Who knows, maybe this (fight card) will be the first of many."
Dorsey, who wrestled for Easton Area High School and Northampton Community College, came to boxing relatively late. After a 6-2 amateur career, which included a 2011 Pennsylvania Golden Gloves Novice Division title, Dorsey made his pro debut last Aug. 31 in Dover, Del.
For the first half of his four-rounder against Joshua Arocho of Vineland, N.J., Dorsey controlled the fight with a stinging left jab. But late in the second round, Arocho tagged Dorsey with a vicious shot to the midsection and the Palmer Township fighter said he "lost his focus."
Dorsey's inexperience showed and Arocho, who came in with just one pro win but much more experience, pounced. The fight was halted in the third round with Arocho winning by TKO.
Since then, Arocho has defeated a previously unbeaten fighter and earned a draw.
"For two rounds, (Dorsey) looked like a champion then he let his guard down and started getting hit," Holmes said. "I was yelling 'stop the damn fight.' "
"He was way over-matched. He gave it his all. So what if he lost? I lost, Muhammad Ali lost."
Next Thursday, then is a beginning. It's a restart for Dorsey's career.
It's Newman's first foray into pro boxing promoting. It's a step in a new direction for ArtsQuest.
"I'm going to be ready," said Dorsey, whose 3-year-old daughter, Jayden Jones Dorsey, sat quietly nearby as the media interviewed her father. "He (Pintabone) has been really hard on me, pushing me, which is good. Pretty much all I do is box, go to work (at Appleby's on Route 248) and church."
Jeffrey Dorsey, Larry Holmes' grandson, to headline boxing card at SteelStacks | lehighvalleylive-com
As a result, Dorsey understands there are no shortcuts to success. The former champion and Dorsey's trainer of the last two months, Frank Pintabone, remind him of that constantly.
"Boxing's a hard sport; you have to be dedicated," Holmes said. "I told my grandson, if you're going to do it, then do it right."
Dorsey and a cast of other young professional boxers are scheduled to fill the bill for seven bouts Thursday, June 6, on the first fight card hosted by the ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks on Bethlehem's south side. Jay Newman, who's been associated with Holmes for more than 20 years, is promoting his first pro card after guiding four amateur events.
The 25-year-old Dorsey, son of Holmes' daughter Misty, will be in the main event against Marquis Pierce of Phillipsburg. The 122-pound bout is scheduled for four rounds.
The two, Dorsey said, sparred "back in the day," and he described Pierce as a "slugger."
The card also is expected to include a bout between recently turned pros Jonathan Williams of Allentown and Christian Molina of Lancaster, Pa. Rashad Bogar, who had a 79-10 amateur record and recently moved to the region to train with American Top Team of Allentown, also is slated to fight.
Tickets for "Fight Night at SteelStacks" are priced from $25 to $60. A limited number of $100 VIP tickets will be available and that package includes the opportunity to meet Holmes and former heavyweight title contender Gerry Cooney, a dinner buffet and private area in the balcony section to watch the fights.
"This is something new for us and we hope it will attract a new audience to SteelStacks," said Curt Mosel, ArtsQuest vice president of marketing and public relations during an informal media gathering this morning at Holmes' training center on Canal Street in Easton. "We've done a couple hundred concerts so far. Who knows, maybe this (fight card) will be the first of many."
Dorsey, who wrestled for Easton Area High School and Northampton Community College, came to boxing relatively late. After a 6-2 amateur career, which included a 2011 Pennsylvania Golden Gloves Novice Division title, Dorsey made his pro debut last Aug. 31 in Dover, Del.
For the first half of his four-rounder against Joshua Arocho of Vineland, N.J., Dorsey controlled the fight with a stinging left jab. But late in the second round, Arocho tagged Dorsey with a vicious shot to the midsection and the Palmer Township fighter said he "lost his focus."
Dorsey's inexperience showed and Arocho, who came in with just one pro win but much more experience, pounced. The fight was halted in the third round with Arocho winning by TKO.
Since then, Arocho has defeated a previously unbeaten fighter and earned a draw.
"For two rounds, (Dorsey) looked like a champion then he let his guard down and started getting hit," Holmes said. "I was yelling 'stop the damn fight.' "
"He was way over-matched. He gave it his all. So what if he lost? I lost, Muhammad Ali lost."
Next Thursday, then is a beginning. It's a restart for Dorsey's career.
It's Newman's first foray into pro boxing promoting. It's a step in a new direction for ArtsQuest.
"I'm going to be ready," said Dorsey, whose 3-year-old daughter, Jayden Jones Dorsey, sat quietly nearby as the media interviewed her father. "He (Pintabone) has been really hard on me, pushing me, which is good. Pretty much all I do is box, go to work (at Appleby's on Route 248) and church."
Jeffrey Dorsey, Larry Holmes' grandson, to headline boxing card at SteelStacks | lehighvalleylive-com
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2006/12/07
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Floyd Mayweather and Canelo Alvarez agreed to terms late Wednesday to fight in a WBA/WBC super welterweight unification bout. The match will be held at a maximum weight of 152 pounds and will be at the MGM Grand Garden in Las Vegas.
Showtime will distribute the pay-per-view.
The bout is, arguably, the most significant that can be made from a pay-per-view standpoint. Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer said he thinks the fight has a chance to surpass the 2.5 million sales that Mayweather and Oscar De La Hoya generated in 2007 to set the record. Mayweather, 36, will be fighting just four months after a 12-round decision over Robert Guerrero on May 4. Mayweather hasn't fought twice in a four-month period since 2001, when he met Diego Corrales on Jan. 20 and then fought Carlos Hernandez on May 26.
"Floyd wanted to give the fans what they wanted to see and this is the fight the fans and the media were calling for," said Leonard Ellerbe, the CEO of Mayweather Promotions. "Nobody believed him, but Floyd stood up there [at the podium at the post-fight news conference after the win over Guerrero] and told everyone he'd be back in September.
"Canelo is a good young fighter, but he's bitten off more than he can chew. Floyd said, 'I'm going to whip that ass.' This is a whole other level we're talking about."
Asked if he saw any way that Mayweather could lose, Ellerbe said, "Impossible." Alvarez, who will be 23 in July, is unbeaten like Mayweather, though he has one draw blemishing his record. Mayweather is a perfect 44-0, while Alvarez is 42-0-1 with 30 knockouts. He respects Mayweather, but said he won't be intimidated and thinks he'll win.
"He's a great fighter, but I have intelligence in that ring and I have the same speed he has," Alvarez said through interpreter Eric Gomez. "I can use my head, but I have that special thing: I have some power that will help me."
Ellerbe said Mayweather was always focused on making a deal with Alvarez and said no other opponents had been discussed.
Top Rank president Todd duBoef said he will move his fight card featuring a super lightweight title match between Juan Manuel Marquez and Timothy Bradley Jr. – originally planned for Sept. 14 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas – to Oct. 14 so as not to conflict with the Mayweather-Alvarez fight.
Also, the LVH sports book in Las Vegas opened Mayweather as a slightly better than 2-1 favorite. It has Mayweather at minus-250 and Alvarez at plus-210.
Y! SPORTS
Showtime will distribute the pay-per-view.
The bout is, arguably, the most significant that can be made from a pay-per-view standpoint. Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer said he thinks the fight has a chance to surpass the 2.5 million sales that Mayweather and Oscar De La Hoya generated in 2007 to set the record. Mayweather, 36, will be fighting just four months after a 12-round decision over Robert Guerrero on May 4. Mayweather hasn't fought twice in a four-month period since 2001, when he met Diego Corrales on Jan. 20 and then fought Carlos Hernandez on May 26.
"Floyd wanted to give the fans what they wanted to see and this is the fight the fans and the media were calling for," said Leonard Ellerbe, the CEO of Mayweather Promotions. "Nobody believed him, but Floyd stood up there [at the podium at the post-fight news conference after the win over Guerrero] and told everyone he'd be back in September.
"Canelo is a good young fighter, but he's bitten off more than he can chew. Floyd said, 'I'm going to whip that ass.' This is a whole other level we're talking about."
Asked if he saw any way that Mayweather could lose, Ellerbe said, "Impossible." Alvarez, who will be 23 in July, is unbeaten like Mayweather, though he has one draw blemishing his record. Mayweather is a perfect 44-0, while Alvarez is 42-0-1 with 30 knockouts. He respects Mayweather, but said he won't be intimidated and thinks he'll win.
"He's a great fighter, but I have intelligence in that ring and I have the same speed he has," Alvarez said through interpreter Eric Gomez. "I can use my head, but I have that special thing: I have some power that will help me."
Ellerbe said Mayweather was always focused on making a deal with Alvarez and said no other opponents had been discussed.
Top Rank president Todd duBoef said he will move his fight card featuring a super lightweight title match between Juan Manuel Marquez and Timothy Bradley Jr. – originally planned for Sept. 14 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas – to Oct. 14 so as not to conflict with the Mayweather-Alvarez fight.
Also, the LVH sports book in Las Vegas opened Mayweather as a slightly better than 2-1 favorite. It has Mayweather at minus-250 and Alvarez at plus-210.
Y! SPORTS
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Karachi Port Trust (KPT) has refused to release Ali Akbar Shah Qadri for the 35th Value Cup National Boxing Championship which is set to commence at Wali Bahi ground, Sialkot from June 1.
Talking to The Nation on Thursday, Pakistan Boxing Federation (PBF) secretary Akram Khan said: “Ali Akbar was appointed by the federation as technical delegate for the said event but surprisingly his parent department KPT has refused to accept the PBF request to send him for the tournament.”
Akram said the teams from Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, KPK, Islamabad, Navy, PAF and departments would reach Sialkot today (Friday) while Army team was already in Sialkot preparing for the prestigious event. “We are very disappointed that KPT is not cooperating with the federation. Chairman KPT Javed Hanif is known for his sports loving behavior and we had organized Youme Takbeer Boxing championship Green Hill Cup International Boxing championships in the past with the active help of KPT and Ali Akbar Qadri had contributed a great deal in all those events.
Ali Akbar remained instrumental and was the manager of Pakistan boxing team which won the only gold medal in Manchester Commonwealth Games.
Akram blamed KPT manager sports Shah Naeem Zafar for his dubious role and termed him as anti-sports person, who was responsible for destroying KPT boxing team, which was the number 1 boxing team in country.
Akram has demanded of government and Ministry of Port and Shipping to remove this guy from service who is bringing bad name to the country and department by bringing politics into sports and immediately release Ali Akbar according to rules with full perks and privileges to perform technical delegate duties in the prestigious event.
KPT stops official form participating in National Boxing
Talking to The Nation on Thursday, Pakistan Boxing Federation (PBF) secretary Akram Khan said: “Ali Akbar was appointed by the federation as technical delegate for the said event but surprisingly his parent department KPT has refused to accept the PBF request to send him for the tournament.”
Akram said the teams from Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, KPK, Islamabad, Navy, PAF and departments would reach Sialkot today (Friday) while Army team was already in Sialkot preparing for the prestigious event. “We are very disappointed that KPT is not cooperating with the federation. Chairman KPT Javed Hanif is known for his sports loving behavior and we had organized Youme Takbeer Boxing championship Green Hill Cup International Boxing championships in the past with the active help of KPT and Ali Akbar Qadri had contributed a great deal in all those events.
Ali Akbar remained instrumental and was the manager of Pakistan boxing team which won the only gold medal in Manchester Commonwealth Games.
Akram blamed KPT manager sports Shah Naeem Zafar for his dubious role and termed him as anti-sports person, who was responsible for destroying KPT boxing team, which was the number 1 boxing team in country.
Akram has demanded of government and Ministry of Port and Shipping to remove this guy from service who is bringing bad name to the country and department by bringing politics into sports and immediately release Ali Akbar according to rules with full perks and privileges to perform technical delegate duties in the prestigious event.
KPT stops official form participating in National Boxing
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2006/12/07
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29893
Come to find out, boxing is about to get back to boxing.
Floyd "Money" Mayweather Jr., will fight Saul "Canelo" Alvarez in Las Vegas on Sept. 14. This time, pre-fight talk may actually include some substance. Every fight is always "going to be great." This one might be.
The tone will be set when Mayweather and his father, Floyd Sr., start spouting and pouting. This is a train-wreck family. No need to nudge the public to get excited. Emotions will not have to be encouraged. Five minutes after Golden Boy Promotions announced Wednesday night that the fight had been made, countless fans had their side picked. In a poll, seven librarians in Greenland said they didn't care. Everywhere else, hands went up for one corner or the other.
The cliche works best here. For boxing, this fight is a perfect storm.
Start with the ethnic rooting interest.
Mayweather is African American; Alvarez is Mexican. In boxing, those are fighting words. That alone might propel this fight past the all-time record of pay-per-view buys, the 2.525 million sold when Mayweather beat Oscar De La Hoya six years ago.
Then throw in the obvious contrasts.
Mayweather always talks trash. He probably threatens the shower curtain. Alvarez still struggles to speak English, so if he talks trash, much of the audience doesn't know it. Mayweather has a big smile and a menacing scowl. Alvarez has red hair and freckles.
Their fight history, contrasting styles and statistical comparisons add greatly to this.
Mayweather is unbeaten and reminds you of that only when he talks. His 44-0 includes 26 knockouts. Alvarez is unbeaten and his 42-0-1 includes 30 knockouts. Mayweather is 36, Alvarez 22. They will fight at a catchweight of 152 pounds. Mayweather is most comfortable at 147, Alvarez at 154.
Mayweather is never out of shape, even between fights, and his weight seldom surpasses 160. Alvarez, the bigger man, may balloon to as much as 170 for fight night, the day after the weigh-in.
Mayweather is a defensive genius. He's like trying to hit a lightning bug — when it's lit. Alvarez is a bulldozer, always moving forward. Whatever he connects with usually crumbles. To date, nobody has made Mayweather crumble.
Finally, there is the biggest driver of interest in this fight. Hate.
Many fans will want Mayweather to lose. Some will be kneeling in church with hands together in prayer, lighting candles and asking a higher power for a broken jaw and a 10-count.
Mayweather's ranting and chest-thumping are legendary. Also off-putting. Some is ego-driven, some born of a wonderfully instinctive understanding of what sells a fight. He is not the highest-paid athlete in the world without reason.
He markets obnoxious behavior like Campbell's markets soup. It is his brand. Sadly, he also has practiced what he spews. He spent time in jail last summer after roughing up his former girlfriend, the mother of his children.
Alvarez is one of eight children — his six brothers once fought on the same boxing card. He acquired his nickname because his manager and advisor, knowing he was taunted as a child for his red hair and freckles, wanted a friendlier, softer image. So Alvarez became Canelo, or cinnamon.
Golden Boy's chief executive, Richard Schaefer, closed the deal around 8 p.m. Wednesday, clearing the final hurdle with an agreement on a fight weight.
"Canelo was here, in L.A., in our office," Schaefer said. "I knew it was close, so I flew him in. I was talking on the phone to Al Haymon [Mayweather's advisor] and he was talking to Floyd, who was driving.
"When I told Canelo we had the deal, he had goose bumps on his arms. He gave me a hug."
A big part of boxing went down for a long count when Manny Pacquiao took the shot from Juan Manuel Marquez last December and needed smelling salts. Now, we seem to be destined to watch Pacquiao fight in China, where his promoter, Bob Arum, is seeking to mine new boxing gold.
"Our focus is on boxing in the U.S., the greatest country in the world," said Schaefer, smacking down Arum.
Well before Pacquiao went down — after also losing a bizarre judges' decision last year to Tim Bradley — the sport was wallowing in muck, even more than usual.
There were drug suspensions for the likes of Andre Berto, Lamont Peterson and Julio Chavez Jr. The heavyweight division, a.k.a. the Klitschko brothers, fights almost exclusively in Europe. Perhaps the most-skilled fighter in the world, Andre Ward, is primarily seen in a tuxedo at ringside, microphone in hand. Sergio Martinez goes home to fight, fills a soccer stadium in Argentina and then nearly loses. Shane Mosley makes a comeback and we kneel in prayer.
Schaefer, De La Hoya and Golden Boy have clearly pitched a save for their sport with this one.
So let the anger, hate, ethnic taunts, overblown egos, foolish braggadocio and unfiltered hype begin.
Boxing's back.
Floyd Mayweather-Canelo Alvarez bout gets boxing off canvas - latimes-com
Floyd "Money" Mayweather Jr., will fight Saul "Canelo" Alvarez in Las Vegas on Sept. 14. This time, pre-fight talk may actually include some substance. Every fight is always "going to be great." This one might be.
The tone will be set when Mayweather and his father, Floyd Sr., start spouting and pouting. This is a train-wreck family. No need to nudge the public to get excited. Emotions will not have to be encouraged. Five minutes after Golden Boy Promotions announced Wednesday night that the fight had been made, countless fans had their side picked. In a poll, seven librarians in Greenland said they didn't care. Everywhere else, hands went up for one corner or the other.
The cliche works best here. For boxing, this fight is a perfect storm.
Start with the ethnic rooting interest.
Mayweather is African American; Alvarez is Mexican. In boxing, those are fighting words. That alone might propel this fight past the all-time record of pay-per-view buys, the 2.525 million sold when Mayweather beat Oscar De La Hoya six years ago.
Then throw in the obvious contrasts.
Mayweather always talks trash. He probably threatens the shower curtain. Alvarez still struggles to speak English, so if he talks trash, much of the audience doesn't know it. Mayweather has a big smile and a menacing scowl. Alvarez has red hair and freckles.
Their fight history, contrasting styles and statistical comparisons add greatly to this.
Mayweather is unbeaten and reminds you of that only when he talks. His 44-0 includes 26 knockouts. Alvarez is unbeaten and his 42-0-1 includes 30 knockouts. Mayweather is 36, Alvarez 22. They will fight at a catchweight of 152 pounds. Mayweather is most comfortable at 147, Alvarez at 154.
Mayweather is never out of shape, even between fights, and his weight seldom surpasses 160. Alvarez, the bigger man, may balloon to as much as 170 for fight night, the day after the weigh-in.
Mayweather is a defensive genius. He's like trying to hit a lightning bug — when it's lit. Alvarez is a bulldozer, always moving forward. Whatever he connects with usually crumbles. To date, nobody has made Mayweather crumble.
Finally, there is the biggest driver of interest in this fight. Hate.
Many fans will want Mayweather to lose. Some will be kneeling in church with hands together in prayer, lighting candles and asking a higher power for a broken jaw and a 10-count.
Mayweather's ranting and chest-thumping are legendary. Also off-putting. Some is ego-driven, some born of a wonderfully instinctive understanding of what sells a fight. He is not the highest-paid athlete in the world without reason.
He markets obnoxious behavior like Campbell's markets soup. It is his brand. Sadly, he also has practiced what he spews. He spent time in jail last summer after roughing up his former girlfriend, the mother of his children.
Alvarez is one of eight children — his six brothers once fought on the same boxing card. He acquired his nickname because his manager and advisor, knowing he was taunted as a child for his red hair and freckles, wanted a friendlier, softer image. So Alvarez became Canelo, or cinnamon.
Golden Boy's chief executive, Richard Schaefer, closed the deal around 8 p.m. Wednesday, clearing the final hurdle with an agreement on a fight weight.
"Canelo was here, in L.A., in our office," Schaefer said. "I knew it was close, so I flew him in. I was talking on the phone to Al Haymon [Mayweather's advisor] and he was talking to Floyd, who was driving.
"When I told Canelo we had the deal, he had goose bumps on his arms. He gave me a hug."
A big part of boxing went down for a long count when Manny Pacquiao took the shot from Juan Manuel Marquez last December and needed smelling salts. Now, we seem to be destined to watch Pacquiao fight in China, where his promoter, Bob Arum, is seeking to mine new boxing gold.
"Our focus is on boxing in the U.S., the greatest country in the world," said Schaefer, smacking down Arum.
Well before Pacquiao went down — after also losing a bizarre judges' decision last year to Tim Bradley — the sport was wallowing in muck, even more than usual.
There were drug suspensions for the likes of Andre Berto, Lamont Peterson and Julio Chavez Jr. The heavyweight division, a.k.a. the Klitschko brothers, fights almost exclusively in Europe. Perhaps the most-skilled fighter in the world, Andre Ward, is primarily seen in a tuxedo at ringside, microphone in hand. Sergio Martinez goes home to fight, fills a soccer stadium in Argentina and then nearly loses. Shane Mosley makes a comeback and we kneel in prayer.
Schaefer, De La Hoya and Golden Boy have clearly pitched a save for their sport with this one.
So let the anger, hate, ethnic taunts, overblown egos, foolish braggadocio and unfiltered hype begin.
Boxing's back.
Floyd Mayweather-Canelo Alvarez bout gets boxing off canvas - latimes-com
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Hovering on the fringe of the backstage mêlée of bent noses and backslappers after last Saturday's epic tussle between Carl Froch and Mikkel Kessler were two gents from sport's drugs squad.
Both fighters had required patching up by the medics, and the media mob awaited. It was well into the early hours before either could produce a sample for the pee bottle. Yet there was no avoiding what has become as much a required ritual in boxing as touching gloves before the final round. With good reason.
The sport is not suffering from an overdose of the Lance Armstrongs but there is no doubt it has a serious drugs problem in the United States – and now here. UK Anti-Doping (Ukad) confirm that nine British professionals have been guilty of drug violations in the past year, more than in any other sport. Although the use of prohibited substances has been prevalent in US rings for a while, the sudden onset of pill-popping among British fighters is giving the Board of Control cause for concern, especially as the drugs seminars they arrange are so poorly attended.
Scottish super-middleweight Craig Windsor was last week suspended for three years and nine months following an anti-doping rule violation involving the use of illegal steroids. The 29-year-old, who has had 12 pro fights, was banned on information provided by heavyweight Larry Olubamiwo, who is already serving a ban after admitted to over a dozen counts of using banned substances, including human growth hormone.
His whistle-blowing has earned him a 34-month remission of his own four-year ban, and he is now reapplying for his licence. "A large minority, if not a majority, of boxers are doping," he insists.
Apart from the former WBO world cruiserweight champion Enzo Maccarinelli – suspended for six months last year after testing positive for the stimulant methylhexaneamine, contained in a dietary supplement – none are exactly bill-toppers, though there are rumours of an as yet unnamed former British world title contender failing a drugs test following an overseas bout last year.
But Ukad did address the issue by criticising one marquee name: Amir Khan, whose link with Victor Conte, the mastermind behind one of sport's most infamous doping scandals, has been questioned. Conte founded Balco, a sports-nutrition centre in California, and went to prison in 2005 after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute banned steroids, alongside a charge of money laundering. He admitted supplying performance-enhancing drugs to sprinters Dwain Chambers, Marion Jones and Tim Montgomery.
Khan, 26, who married his American fiancée, Faryal Makhdoom, in a glittering ceremony in New York on Friday, has admitted working with Conte's strength-and-conditioning team before his bout against Mexico's Julio Diaz in Sheffield last month.
But the former world light-welterweight champion strenuously denies any drug use during that time – or in the past. "I have never taken drugs, and I never will," he told The Independent on Sunday. "It is against my religion and all my principles."
Conte, he said, was brought into his camp by his new San Francisco-based coach, Virgil Hunter. "He's introduced me to top track trainers who have helped me on my running, sprinting, breathing methods, my engine really, which is working my fitness."
Last December it emerged that Khan used supplements from Conte's company SNAC in preparing to face Carlos Molina, a fight Khan won by a 10th-round stoppage. But he says these were cleared by the US Anti-Doping Agency. Khan maintains he no longer uses any supplements supplied by Conte "because I'm sponsored by the supplement company Maximuscle".
But his decision to retain Conte as part of his training team is criticised by Ukad, who say: "We strongly advise athletes to consider the risks of working with those who have actively supported doping in the past. We believe it is preferable to be supported and train in a clean sport culture where the values of sport are promoted and upheld."
Conte is now a whistle-blower and a consultant with the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association. He has also worked with three other world boxing champions: Andre Berto, Nonito Donaire and Zab Judah.
It is the second time that Khan has had to defend himself against whispers of an association with drugs. When he trained with Manny Pacquiao there were unfounded rumours, fuelled by Floyd Mayweather Jnr, of illegal pills and power potions being used in the camp. "There was nothing in it," Khan insists. "The drugs rumours were upsetting but I can honestly say I never saw anything like that happening."
"I've never been approached to take anything, and like alcohol it's something I will always stay away from, in or outside the ring. Drugs can destroy your career, ruin your life, and I am determined that is not going to happen to mine."
While he is adamant he has never been involved in drugs use, Khan did face one fighter who was: Lamont Peterson tested positive for synthetic testosterone after controversially defeating him in December 2011.
"Since the Peterson issue, so many fighters have been caught," he adds. "But how many more are there out there? I'd never realised there were so many cheats in boxing. Boxers who take drugs put the lives of others at risk. I am a clean athlete and always willing to be tested anywhere, any time. I am in favour of random testing and blood testing, because we need to clean up the sport."
Boxing's rope-a-dopes
Some big fistic fish have been caught in the international drugs net. Among those who have been banned or admitted using illegal substances are former world champions Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield, Julio Cesar Chavez Jnr, Roy Jones Jnr, Shane Moseley, Antonio Tarver, Pernell Whitaker, Lamont Peterson and Erik Morales (who beat Manny Pacquiao). It is a little-known fact that the WBC world heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko missed the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta after testing positive for steroids
Both fighters had required patching up by the medics, and the media mob awaited. It was well into the early hours before either could produce a sample for the pee bottle. Yet there was no avoiding what has become as much a required ritual in boxing as touching gloves before the final round. With good reason.
The sport is not suffering from an overdose of the Lance Armstrongs but there is no doubt it has a serious drugs problem in the United States – and now here. UK Anti-Doping (Ukad) confirm that nine British professionals have been guilty of drug violations in the past year, more than in any other sport. Although the use of prohibited substances has been prevalent in US rings for a while, the sudden onset of pill-popping among British fighters is giving the Board of Control cause for concern, especially as the drugs seminars they arrange are so poorly attended.
Scottish super-middleweight Craig Windsor was last week suspended for three years and nine months following an anti-doping rule violation involving the use of illegal steroids. The 29-year-old, who has had 12 pro fights, was banned on information provided by heavyweight Larry Olubamiwo, who is already serving a ban after admitted to over a dozen counts of using banned substances, including human growth hormone.
His whistle-blowing has earned him a 34-month remission of his own four-year ban, and he is now reapplying for his licence. "A large minority, if not a majority, of boxers are doping," he insists.
Apart from the former WBO world cruiserweight champion Enzo Maccarinelli – suspended for six months last year after testing positive for the stimulant methylhexaneamine, contained in a dietary supplement – none are exactly bill-toppers, though there are rumours of an as yet unnamed former British world title contender failing a drugs test following an overseas bout last year.
But Ukad did address the issue by criticising one marquee name: Amir Khan, whose link with Victor Conte, the mastermind behind one of sport's most infamous doping scandals, has been questioned. Conte founded Balco, a sports-nutrition centre in California, and went to prison in 2005 after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute banned steroids, alongside a charge of money laundering. He admitted supplying performance-enhancing drugs to sprinters Dwain Chambers, Marion Jones and Tim Montgomery.
Khan, 26, who married his American fiancée, Faryal Makhdoom, in a glittering ceremony in New York on Friday, has admitted working with Conte's strength-and-conditioning team before his bout against Mexico's Julio Diaz in Sheffield last month.
But the former world light-welterweight champion strenuously denies any drug use during that time – or in the past. "I have never taken drugs, and I never will," he told The Independent on Sunday. "It is against my religion and all my principles."
Conte, he said, was brought into his camp by his new San Francisco-based coach, Virgil Hunter. "He's introduced me to top track trainers who have helped me on my running, sprinting, breathing methods, my engine really, which is working my fitness."
Last December it emerged that Khan used supplements from Conte's company SNAC in preparing to face Carlos Molina, a fight Khan won by a 10th-round stoppage. But he says these were cleared by the US Anti-Doping Agency. Khan maintains he no longer uses any supplements supplied by Conte "because I'm sponsored by the supplement company Maximuscle".
But his decision to retain Conte as part of his training team is criticised by Ukad, who say: "We strongly advise athletes to consider the risks of working with those who have actively supported doping in the past. We believe it is preferable to be supported and train in a clean sport culture where the values of sport are promoted and upheld."
Conte is now a whistle-blower and a consultant with the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association. He has also worked with three other world boxing champions: Andre Berto, Nonito Donaire and Zab Judah.
It is the second time that Khan has had to defend himself against whispers of an association with drugs. When he trained with Manny Pacquiao there were unfounded rumours, fuelled by Floyd Mayweather Jnr, of illegal pills and power potions being used in the camp. "There was nothing in it," Khan insists. "The drugs rumours were upsetting but I can honestly say I never saw anything like that happening."
"I've never been approached to take anything, and like alcohol it's something I will always stay away from, in or outside the ring. Drugs can destroy your career, ruin your life, and I am determined that is not going to happen to mine."
While he is adamant he has never been involved in drugs use, Khan did face one fighter who was: Lamont Peterson tested positive for synthetic testosterone after controversially defeating him in December 2011.
"Since the Peterson issue, so many fighters have been caught," he adds. "But how many more are there out there? I'd never realised there were so many cheats in boxing. Boxers who take drugs put the lives of others at risk. I am a clean athlete and always willing to be tested anywhere, any time. I am in favour of random testing and blood testing, because we need to clean up the sport."
Boxing's rope-a-dopes
Some big fistic fish have been caught in the international drugs net. Among those who have been banned or admitted using illegal substances are former world champions Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield, Julio Cesar Chavez Jnr, Roy Jones Jnr, Shane Moseley, Antonio Tarver, Pernell Whitaker, Lamont Peterson and Erik Morales (who beat Manny Pacquiao). It is a little-known fact that the WBC world heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko missed the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta after testing positive for steroids
Join:
2006/12/07
Messages:
29893
The most important thing to recognize about boxing statistics is that they have no real meaning apart from their context. And given the nature of professional prize fighting, putting them into proper context can be challenging, and a potential source of debate.
It is useful to compare to the situation in baseball, the most statistic-driven sport of all. A position player in baseball makes several offensive attempts everyday, over the course of months. They compete in a formalized league, where everybody competes against everybody else.
So baseball stats are drawn from a large sample-size, gathered in a relatively controlled and consistent environment. For this reason, they can have genuine predictive value.
A world class professional prize fighter competes a few times a year, and while Major League Baseball hitters are compiling statistics against basically the same pool of pitchers, professional boxers often compile their records and stats against entirely different opponents.
There are plenty of fighters who run their professional records up to 30-0 or better, but don't truly have the same talent as a guy like Gabriel Rosado, with a record of 21-7. But if you didn't know a little bit about the sport, and about Rosado's history and who he has fought already, you would never know that.
In boxing, only the action in the ring tells the real story. Still, statistics can add a layer of analytic complexity that has value, if used properly.
Breaking Down Boxing's Most Important Statistics | Bleacher Report
It is useful to compare to the situation in baseball, the most statistic-driven sport of all. A position player in baseball makes several offensive attempts everyday, over the course of months. They compete in a formalized league, where everybody competes against everybody else.
So baseball stats are drawn from a large sample-size, gathered in a relatively controlled and consistent environment. For this reason, they can have genuine predictive value.
A world class professional prize fighter competes a few times a year, and while Major League Baseball hitters are compiling statistics against basically the same pool of pitchers, professional boxers often compile their records and stats against entirely different opponents.
There are plenty of fighters who run their professional records up to 30-0 or better, but don't truly have the same talent as a guy like Gabriel Rosado, with a record of 21-7. But if you didn't know a little bit about the sport, and about Rosado's history and who he has fought already, you would never know that.
In boxing, only the action in the ring tells the real story. Still, statistics can add a layer of analytic complexity that has value, if used properly.
Breaking Down Boxing's Most Important Statistics | Bleacher Report
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2006/12/07
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29893
Boxing champ Amir Khan got publicly married at the Waldorf-Astoria on Friday, but he secretly swapped vows with his 21-year-old fiancée Faryal Makhdoom the day before in a private ceremony at the Staten Island Excelsior Grand. The Thursday celebration involved an epic dance-off between bride and groom. After the ceremony, Khan and his groomsmen performed an elaborate Bollywood-style dance routine for Faryal and select guests. Khan even told guests that rehearsing the choreography was “like preparing for a fight with [Floyd] Mayweather.” When Khan finished, Staten Island native Makhdoom and her bridesmaids hit the dance floor for their own routine. On Friday, the couple held a ceremony at the Waldorf in front of 400 guests, including rapper Jay Sean. That bash included a six-foot wedding cake, a stage with two golden thrones and two 20-foot tall mirrors. The couple plans another celebration this weekend in Khan’s native Bolton, England, with 1,000 guests, including fellow boxers David Haye and Ricky Hatton.
Boxing champ Amir Khan and Faryal Makhdoom secretly marry in Staten Island - NYPOST-com
Boxing champ Amir Khan and Faryal Makhdoom secretly marry in Staten Island - NYPOST-com
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When the Bergen Police Athletic League hosts the Night of Champions boxing event Friday, it'll offer more than good competition. The third annual event also will showcase the league's growing boxing program, which has been revived over the past three years with new direction and leadership.
When Don Somerville took over as director in 2010, the boxing program had nine people, he said. More than 90 young people train there now. The gym has become a second home to many of the kids and teens, who have learned discipline and commitment through boxing.
"It's more of a family. It's not just about fighting," said Jamir Cope, 17, a senior at Teaneck High School, who trains there every day after school.
Cope joined the gym because he wanted to learn fitness and skills to defend himself, and his martial arts program costs too much. Members pay $45 every three months for the Bergen PAL gym.
Cope will be fighting Friday along with two other PAL gym members: Aadam Ali, 15, of Teaneck, and Peter Roldan, 19, of Englewood.
Roldan had been in the Suspension Alternative Program at the PAL building because of his involvement in gang fights, and grew interested in the boxing gym next door. He had to wait for his house arrest to end before joining, he said. Now, he trains daily and wants nothing to do with street fighting, which he now thinks is dangerous.
Boxing "taught me discipline and really helped turn my life around," said Roldan.
He has gotten a General Equivalency Diploma and enrolled in Bergen Community College. He finished his first and second semesters with grade point averages of 4.0 and 3.9, respectively, he said.
Somerville used to box in the Hackensack gym himself. Three years ago, he was working as a furniture store manager when he got a call from Michael Mordaga – now the city's police director -- asking him to take over the program.
More to read: Hackensack boxing program touts rapid growth - NorthJersey-com
When Don Somerville took over as director in 2010, the boxing program had nine people, he said. More than 90 young people train there now. The gym has become a second home to many of the kids and teens, who have learned discipline and commitment through boxing.
"It's more of a family. It's not just about fighting," said Jamir Cope, 17, a senior at Teaneck High School, who trains there every day after school.
Cope joined the gym because he wanted to learn fitness and skills to defend himself, and his martial arts program costs too much. Members pay $45 every three months for the Bergen PAL gym.
Cope will be fighting Friday along with two other PAL gym members: Aadam Ali, 15, of Teaneck, and Peter Roldan, 19, of Englewood.
Roldan had been in the Suspension Alternative Program at the PAL building because of his involvement in gang fights, and grew interested in the boxing gym next door. He had to wait for his house arrest to end before joining, he said. Now, he trains daily and wants nothing to do with street fighting, which he now thinks is dangerous.
Boxing "taught me discipline and really helped turn my life around," said Roldan.
He has gotten a General Equivalency Diploma and enrolled in Bergen Community College. He finished his first and second semesters with grade point averages of 4.0 and 3.9, respectively, he said.
Somerville used to box in the Hackensack gym himself. Three years ago, he was working as a furniture store manager when he got a call from Michael Mordaga – now the city's police director -- asking him to take over the program.
More to read: Hackensack boxing program touts rapid growth - NorthJersey-com
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2006/12/07
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The undefeated American boxer tops Sports Illustrated's list of highest-paid sportsmen for the second straight year, according to the list released on Wednesday.
In compiling its Fortunate 50 list, Sports Illustrated estimated Mayweather would earn $90 million (R834 million) in 2013.
Golf star Woods, who was No 1 one on the Fortunate 50 every year from 2004 to 2011, falls to his lowest ranking. He is at No 7 with estimated earnings this year of $40.8 million.
Mayweather, nicknamed Money, stretched his professional record to 44-0 when he beat Robert Guerrero on points on May 4; the first fight in his new deal with Showtime television. It guarantees him at least $32 million per fight for six bouts.
The fight for Mayweather's WBC welterweight title was the champion's first since he served a jail term for domestic violence last year.
LeBron James, the Miami Heat basketball superstar who was recently named NBA Most Valuable Player for the fourth time in his career, is second on the list with projected earnings of $56.5 million.
James becomes the first player in a team sport to be in the top two since former NBA star Shaquille O'Neal in 2004.
James's $39 million in endorsements were more than any other US sports figure in 2013, Sports Illustrated reported.
New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees, who didn't figure in the top 50 in 2012, shot to number three in 2013 thanks to a $37 million signing bonus from his NFL (gridiron) team.
The magazine's list takes into account salary, winnings, bonuses and endorsements.
Floyd could earn $90 million in 2013 - SuperSport - Boxing