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Russian heavyweight boxer Magomed Abdusalamov is in Roosevelt Hospital in New York in stable condition in intensive care following surgery to remove a blood clot on his brain suffered in a bout Saturday with Mike Perez at Madison Square Garden.

The bout was the HBO debut for both men and was an entertaining, but rugged scrap. Abdusalamov, 32, also incurred a broken nose and a broken left hand during the unanimous decision loss to Perez.

Nathan Lewkowicz of Sampson Boxing, Abdusalamov's promoter, told Yahoo Sports that doctors removed a small portion of Abdusalamov's skull in an effort to reduce swelling on the brain.

"We took him to the hospital just as a precaution," Lewkowicz said. "He was complaining about his hand after the fight, but when we got to the hospital, they checked him out and discovered [the blood clot]."

He said the prognosis "seems pretty positive."

Several times during the hard-nosed bout, Abdusalamov asked his corner whether he was injured. But he went the full 10 rounds, fighting hard until the end. It was his first loss in 19 pro bouts. All 18 of his previous bouts ended in knockout victory.



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The country's leading amateur boxers quest to get to next year's Commonwealth Games in Glasgow is being serverly hampered as Boxing New Zealand face possible suspension from the world's governing body.

At a special general meeting held in Auckland in September the Affiliate Associations that make up Boxing New Zealand voted against the motion for the new constitution as proposed by the Boxing New Zealand Executive.

The motion was put forward to accept a document that had been written largely in line with AIBA (Amateur International Boxing Association) rules.

However some associations throughout the country believed the proposed changes had the possibility to have a major affect on them and the motion to accept the changes was lost by 12-9.

One of the key concerns is under AIBA rules trainers are now not able to have involvement with professional boxers which many have done previously, in particularly through the emergence of corporate events which have professional status.

There is a fear that trainers will infact cut their ties with the amateur ranks altogether if they are made to make a decision.

The vote however has resulted in some stern words from AIBA who have said agree to the changes by December or face suspension.

"AIBA can not tolerate the situation where National Federation's constitution does not comply with the AIBA status and bylaws," AIBA president Ching-Kou Wu said in a letter addressed to New Zealand Boxing Association president Dr John McKay.

When asked if Dr McKay was confident he could get all the associations agreeing to the new constitution by a December 7 meeting and avoid AIBA suspension, he initially addressed the question with a laugh, suggesting that was the million dollar question at the moment.

"I don't know, I really don't know. We're working hard to try and sort things out. I have written to AIBA about a couple of issues that have been a concern of the members and I'm just waiting for their response to that."

The threat of suspension comes at the same time that the Oceania Championships - which were to be held at The Trusts Arena in Auckland this week - were forced to be cancelled after AIBA decided not to bring officials to New Zealand for the event.

Dr McKay said they had found the funding to hold the tournament in Auckland but with AIBA not bringing out their officials it now could not go ahead. The New Zealand Boxing Association president said the recent vote against agreeing with AIBA rules was not stated as the reason for AIBA officials not coming to New Zealand but he said it certainly could have had an influence.

"I'd be guessing if I said yes, but I would be silly if I said no. I think probably that's had a influence on what's happened but AIBA has not stated that. I think its been a combination of things, they are just finishing off the world championships now in Kazakhstan so that may have had some influence in it I don't know."

The Oceania Championships is regarded a key event for top New Zealand amateur boxers and Dr McKay was disappointed it had to be cancelled.

"It's a critical tournament for us really in terms of us preparing guys for the Commonwealth Games and seeing where we are in terms of rankings within Oceania itself, and that also provides valuable points as far as world rankings as well," he said.

"We still have other tournaments, there are a number of guys I would consider halfway there (qualifying for the Commonwealth Games). There are a number who have meddled at tournaments outside Oceania which is part of the criteria, so all is not lost yet."

AIBA has indicated the Oceania Championships could still go ahead in February but New Zealand Boxing still have plenty of work to do first to sort their constitution and avoid suspension before thinking about that prospect.



Boxing New Zealand facing possible suspension | Stuff.co.nz

Russian heavyweight boxer Magomed Abdusalamov, who had brain surgery to remove a blood clot early Sunday after his fight earlier that night, has suffered a stroke and is on life support, the New York Post reported Tuesday.

After he was put in a medically induced coma, Abdusalamov developed a 104-degree fever, which became life-threatening, his promoter, Nathan Lewkowicz, told The Post. He suffered the stroke while being treated for the fever.

"It was a pretty serious stroke, and a machine is keeping him alive," said Lewkowicz, the vice president of Sampson Boxing who said the plan was to keep the boxer in the coma for at least two more days. By then, Lewkowicz told The Post, doctors are hoping the swelling subsides so they can evaluate his condition.

"It's possible he could be in a coma forever. It's possible he could be in a coma for a few more weeks," Lewkowicz said. "No one knows. That's why they have to monitor the situation. You really have no clue. It's basically on the individual."

Abdusalamov, 32, fought and lost a brutal 10-round slugfest Saturday at the Theater at Madison Square Garden against Mike Perez. Both fighters came in undefeated, but both took heavy punishment.

Abdusalamov went to Roosevelt Hospital after the fight to get treated for what he thought was a broken hand, a broken nose and a severely swollen left cheek. An examination found a blood clot in his brain, and he had surgery to remove it.

On Monday night, Lewkowicz told USA TODAY Sports in a text message that Abdusalamov's condition was unchanged. He told ESPN-com that he had not planned to say anything but said someone told The Post, so he confirmed the news. Calls to Lewkowicz late Tuesday were not returned.

Abdusalamov is married with three daughters and lives in Florida. His fight against Perez was on the undercard of the Gennady Golovkin-Curtis Stevens middleweight title bout, which was won by Golovkin by eighth-round stoppage.



Boxer Abdusalamov suffers stroke, on life support

Mikey Garcia won't listen to any predictions making him the favorite Saturday against junior lightweight titlist Roman "Rocky" Martinez (HBO, 9:30 p.m. ET/PT) at the American Bank Center in Corpus Christi, Texas.

Garcia, the former featherweight titlist, would rather keep his distance and give credit to the only current Puerto Rican belt holder, who will defend his title for the third time after winning it with a majority decision over Miguel Beltran Jr. in September 2012.

"I think Rocky will be tougher than what people expect," Garcia told ESPNDeportes-com. "He is not receiving the proper credit. He is a boxer who will put a really tough fight. He is a warrior and won't give up easily. This fight could go the distance. I won't step inside the ring thinking that I will take him down quickly."

Garcia will be making his debut at 130 pounds. In June, during the weigh-in for the first defense of his featherweight title, Garcia was stripped of the belt because he failed to make the 126-pound limit.

"I'm not really proud of that situation, but this stuff happens in boxing," said Garcia. "But I really want to become world champion with a great fight. Rocky is a courageous boxer -- tight style, can punch on short distance. He will give his best inside the ring. He might be one of the toughest challenges in my career. I might win most of the rounds."

Garcia has followed a strict nutritional plan and worked on the physical side with trainer Alex Ariza, although Ariza won't be in his corner on fight night.

"We took extra care on the nutritional side, something that wasn't among my priorities in previous fights," said Garcia. "We brought Alex on board to take care of my diet and my conditioning, and we will be just fine. I had never done that before."

Garcia (32-0, 27 KOs) is one fight removed from a fourth-round stoppage of former champion Juan Manuel Lopez in Dallas. Martinez (27-1-2, 16 KOs) defeated Diego Magdaleno in April in Macau by majority decision.

Despite being the boxer moving up in weight, Garcia said he feels comfortable fighting as a junior lightweight.

"We are getting real close. Right now I'm at 138 pounds, and by Friday I should be down to 135," Garcia said. "I feel good. My speed is fine. We are still doing some glove workouts, and this week we fought 12 rounds twice."



Garcia not looking past Martinez - Boxing Blog - ESPN

By Reni M. Valenzuela: Boxing lords swear that the sport is alive and kicking these days on account of huge amount of money that goes into the den of crocs each time a PPV superstar or “superstar” engages in an in-house fight or “fight.”

What could be baser than that which can be measured only by money?

Money works wonders for good or bad. It is immensely powerful such that wicked men should not possess it beyond what they need to survive for chances to repent. Money is a tool to make you well along with those that hunger and chill. But if money becomes the center around which revolves everything you do, you are tricked, tripped and duped because it’s a monster you actually nurture and cherish to burn your soul – just in time for Hades and Hell to swallow you up.

Will you delight in a sport that defies and defeats itself?

There’s no place elsewhere that money is not inferior to a lot of things vital to human existence, much less to a sport beleaguered by vampires. John Gatling of Examiner-com quoted the unbeaten king of boxing who posted an admirable confession on his Instagram last October 30. Gatling concludes Floyd Mayweather Jr. as being lonely and in pain despite being the highest paid athlete for a number of years: “He wants love. For all the money he’s made, he’s not been able to find contentment and ‘true love’ on sale anywhere.”

Gold is never above virtue. Hence there ought to be no way for money to be supreme or become “God.” But, alas, almighty mammon is no doubt an object of worship to millions or billions of people around the globe today with absolute, willful disregard of faith and of what is upright. No wonder, “wars” won’t go away. Atheists, Muslims and “Christians” are no different from each other when it’s money that is on the table. They all have identical left and right hands to grab it.

The greedy is himself anathema to a fulfilling satisfying life. He says “enough” but just upon hitting the abyss of utter hopelessness. Who could be more miserable than the person who is set ablaze by his consuming love for money? “For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” – I Timothy 6:10

Is there anything conceivable by which boxing fans can be assured that the sport has finally recuperated from a serious ailment among several others that linger to plague “the ring”? Can the fans be told why they have always been at the receiving end of every boxing “controversy” in the name of a cruel, modern god?
When money is your biggest problem, then you are the problem, not money.
The world awaits the great fight.

Let it go.

Read more at MONEY AND BOXING

South African boxers Hekkie Budler and Tommy Oosthuizen retained their IBO titles in contrasting fashion against Argentinian opponents at Emperors Palace on Saturday night.

Budler, with his hair dyed a striking sea blue, resembled a rock group member rather than a boxer while outclassing an innocuous Hugo Verchelli in a one-sided, fourth round TKO victory.

Referee Stan Christodulu stopped the one-sided minimum weight proceedings after the over-matched Verchelli had been floored on three occasions in the fourth round.

Oosthuizen, in contrast, ended his points victory over an articulate, professional Ezequiel Maderna with his face rather than his hair battered black-and-blue. He also sported a raw, bloodied cut on the top of his nose arousing fears that the fight could be stopped by the ring doctor and his super middleweight title snatched from his grasp as a consequence.

Despite this, a game Oosthuizen proved his grit and courage by edging out Maderna over 12 closely-contested rounds in which the points victory of the South African was by no means a foregone conclusion. Indeed one of the three judges had the fight as a 114-114 points draw and this seemed a more realistic assessment than that of the two other judges who had Oosthuizen winning by four and five points respectively.

In an absorbing, at times drama-filled contest that never reached great heights, Oosthuizen fought for more than half the fight with blood oozing from the cut on his nose following two crunching punches in quick succession from the Argentinian.

The South African, ironically, showed more life and endeavour under this handicap when he was stung into action following three tepid rounds at the outset and he may well have been feeling the effects of his battle to make the required super-middlweight limit.

Oosthuizen retained his unbeaten record in which he has drawn twice - one of them a lucky decision in his previous fight against Mexican-American Brandon Gonzales.

And a fresh assessment might appear to be needed on which direction his future in the ring should now take.

Maderna, a medalist at the Olympic Games during his amateur career which has earned him the nickname of “El Olympico”, has now lost two of his 22 bouts, but he made a good impression with his thoughtful repertoire in what was undoubtedly the fight of the night as far as entertainment value was concerned.

Apart from retaining his minimum weight title, Budler also won the vaguely-described WBA interim title and he is now likely to seek more prestigious honours than that of being the IBO champion. - Sapa




SA boxers retain IBO titles - Boxing | IOL.co.za

The New York State Athletic Commission is under fire after its doctors allowed a boxer -- who has now been in a coma for more than a week – to depart Madison Square Garden on his own following a fight.

“It is horrible,” boxing manager Boris Grinberg told New York Magazine of the medical treatment his heavyweight fighter Magomed Abdusalamov, known as the “Russian Mike Tyson,” received following a punishing, 10-round loss on Nov. 2.

“I am not afraid to say it. New York State Athletic Commission is horrible. It is dangerous for these people to be so careless and not do anything.”

A commission spokesman, whose organization oversees all boxing matches in the Empire State, reportedly told New York Magazine an inquiry was under way. Meanwhile, the 32-year-old Abdusalamov’s family – including his wife and three daughters -- is reportedly holding a vigil at the intensive care unit at St. Luke’s Hospital in Manhattan in hopes the pugilist will eventually wake up.

Abdusalamov’s injuries reportedly stem from a bruising fight held at the Theater at Madison Square Garden – and broadcast on HBO – against Cuban-born Mike Perez.

During the bout, the Dagestani boxer was badly beaten, according to New York magazine, and his face profusely swelled. He also reportedly suffered a broken left hand, and possibly a broken nose.

But he completed the fight on his feet, ultimately losing in a unanimous decision.

Following the fight, two doctors reportedly evaluated Abdusalamov, one of whom New York magazine reports collected urine samples for later drug tests, and a second who asked him to count.

“He says, 'Count one, two, three, four, five …,' and then he tells him to make sure he goes to hospital tomorrow because his nose might be broken,” Grinberg reportedly said. “They give him no attention! No ambulance!”

The manager reportedly added Abdusalamov vomited on a street corner after leaving MSG.

With the help of Grinberg’s son and passers-by, the fighter had a taxi shuttle him to St. Luke’s, or the nearest emergency room. Once there, he reportedly vomited again while awaiting medical attention – and eventually lost consciousness.

“I scream and I say, 'He is fighter from Madison Square Garden.' He is former champion of Russia,” Grinberg told the magazine.

A CAT-scan revealed brain swelling and a blood clot. And during a subsequent surgery, doctors reportedly removed a portion of Abdusalamov’s skull to relieve mounting pressure – and placed the fighter in an induced coma.

Now, the manager says all he and Abdusalamov’s family can do is pray.




'Russian Mike Tyson' in coma as family says boxer didn't receive help at ringside | Fox News

MUHAMMAD Ali standing over Sonny Liston, claiming the 1964 world heavyweight title, has always epitomised boxing for me: the look of cold, bloodthirsty hunger on his face, as he stood tense over his opponent, who was laid out. I never thought boxing was cool, but when Katie Taylor won gold for boxing in the Olympics, last year, I got confused.

Taylor was cool and the paradox of her soft mannerisms and gentle, smiling face confused my belief that boxing was an opportunity for barbarians to unleash their inner demons.

I discovered, in becoming a boxer, that passion, emotion, any feeling, is a hindrance in the ring. Remaining cool, calm and in control of your movements is the secret.

The way to a win is patience. You must wait; protect your face, keep moving and, when you see an opening, strike.

The first few sessions of my six-week training for a white-collar boxing tournament were entertaining, because they involved no boxing, just learning the basics, which was difficult.

Punching did not come naturally to me and my attempts were frail, flimsy arm jerks.

“Commit,” I was told repeatedly by my trainers — Seanie, Gerry, Brian and Graham — “extend your arm and twist your elbow.”

Other elements of boxing proved difficult. That prancing, dancing stance is not as easy as it looks.

For the first week or two, each training evening left me weak and in pain. The arm-strengthening exercises were the cruellest. We had to hold our arms out, level with our shoulders, and keep them tense.

At first, I was dismissive that this would be arduous; however, as the seconds ticked by, gravity pulled on my weak little arms and the battle to keep my stance brought me close to tears.

The burning sensation in my biceps would stay with me long after I had dropped my arms and cradled them in a self-hug.

Somewhere between the intense pain and peculiar procedures, the boxing basics became more instinctive.

My prance improved and my punch followed the formula.

Week three, we began to box in the ring. I hopped in, full of enthusiasm, and was swiftly suckered-punched, square on the nose. I cried, just a few leaky tears, but it was enough.

The following week, I found my survival instinct. I did a couple of rounds and I came out of it without a knock.

From there, I really started to find my feet.

Graham told me getting hit was the best thing that could have happened to me. I told him I could think of better things.

I never enjoyed the ring, but I knew it was just three minutes, and all I had to do was avoid the flying fists.

The week of the big fight, we were all getting our gear on for the final session, when we noticed a new girl among the ranks. The gossip mill swings into motion. The ladies are very curious.

“Who’s she, now?”

“Jaysus, she’s a bit late starting,”

“What’s going on at all?”

As dictated by the lads, we took our turns in the ring. At this stage, we all had an idea of each other’s movements and style. We knew what to watch for and when to strike.

I was paired with the new girl and I struggled. She was good, but she reacted excessively.

A fake punch sent her into overload, throwing all kinds of shapes. I faked one, dodged the reaction, spun and swiped her from the side.

I got lucky with some tight jabs, and finished with a stellar sucker-punch on the nose.

After the session, Gerry and Seanie cornered me as I packed my bag. “How did you get on there, now?

“Ah, shur, grand,” I said, casually but cautiously.

The boys looked at each other, Gerry takes the lead. “That girl is from Seanie’s boxing club, you will be fighting her on the night — I can’t put you in the ring with the other girls.”

They tell me she has been boxing for five years and also practises Taekwondo.

I wasn’t looking forward to the fight and I definitely wasn’t up for it now.

On the night, I am fight number 11 and the waiting is agony. Everyone comes back with stories. Win or lose, the consensus is it’s fast, confusing and tiring.

“It will be over before you know it,” the waiting are assured.

Gerry is in my corner. He tells me the ring is smaller than the training ring. He says forget the shadow games; hit her. But I decide to see how I get on.

I get on terribly. Gerry is right. The ring is tiny and there is no getting away from her. She is relentless.

Punch after punch after punch; it is the longest three minutes of my life.

I try to duck and dive, but there is nowhere to go. I am numb to the pain, but the constant impact has me dazed. The bell goes. I retreat to my corner in a hurry.

“I’m getting bate, Gerry,” I say.

“Of course you are. I told you to hit her. Hit her, Roisin,” he says.

The bell goes and round two starts; I hit her. Left and right, repeatedly, without pausing. I don’t give her a second. I follow her around the ring as she tries to create space. She slips and falls. I walk away.

It reconvenes in the same thread; left right, left right. It is not pretty or clever boxing. It is just punching and I don’t feel good about it. She leans on the ropes, I ease-off and fall back.

She takes the opportunity and springs forward. I am insulted by her retaliation, following my soft moment and I lean into my punches. The bell goes and I don’t need to be told I won the round.

Round three starts ferociously. She wants to win back points, but I had given up all sentiments of courteous conduct. I punch her every opportunity I get. She spends the entire round on the ropes and I don’t let up until the bell goes.

It is just three rounds of three minutes, but it is more tiring than a two-hour run. We go to the centre for the decision. The ref holds us both by the hand. He raises mine high into the air.

* Boxing Olympian Kenny Egan, light-heavyweight silver Olympic medallist, will be coming out of retirement tonight to take on UCC Students’ Union president, Padraig Haughney, who is mounting the challenge of surviving a few ro

On 13 November 1982, reigning WBA lightweight world champion, Ray 'Boom Boom' Mancini was due to defend his title against challenger, the South Korean Kim Deuk-koo.

In Mancini's words it was going to be an "action fight" in front of a 15,000-strong crowd at Las Vegas's fabled Caesar's Palace venue. Millions more were tuning in at home on TV.

It was a fight that Mancini went on to win but his opponent suffered fatal injuries that would cause great controversy and change the sport.

Thirty years on from that fateful night, Ray Mancini talks about the fight.

Witness is a World Service radio programme of the stories of our times told by the people who were there.




BBC News - The fight that changed boxing forever

Manny Pacquiao's trainer, Freddie Roach, said he would order the Filipino boxing to retire if he suffers a bad loss in next week's comeback fight against Brandon Rios.

The flamboyant Roach backed Pacquiao for a fifth or sixth-round knockout of the American in their November 24 World Boxing Organisation welterweight title bout in Macau.

But if the fight does not go according to plan, he said he would have no hesitation in telling Pacquiao to quit the sport after what would be his third straight defeat.

Roach, a former boxer who suffers from Parkinson's disease, said they had an "agreement" that Pacquiao would retire if advised to by his trainer.

"If I see he is slowing down and slipping in the fight I will be the first one to tell him," Roach told journalists via conference call from Pacquiao's training camp in General Santos City, the Philippines, late on Wednesday.

"We have an agreement that I will tell him that and he will retire. I don't see him slipping in the gym at this moment and he's doing really well. He's fired up and anxious to get back in the ring and I see good things.

"If things don't go well we will talk about retirement and going into politics full-time or something like that."

Pacquiao, who is nearly 35 and was regarded as one of the best pound-for-pound boxers of his generation when he won world titles in eight weight divisions, has not fought in nearly a year since he was knocked out by Mexico's Juan Manuel Marquez in the sixth round in Las Vegas last December.

It was Pacquiao's second consecutive defeat after he lost Timothy Bradley in a controversial split decision.

Typhoon Haiyan

Pacquiao's build-up to the "must-win" fight with Rios has been disrupted by Super Typhoon Haiyan, which killed thousands of people and left hundreds of thousands homeless when it swept through central regions of the Philippines.

But Roach said he had told Pacquiao, who is a member of congress, that it was impossible to take time out of training to visit survivors and survey aid efforts in the affected areas.

"He told me he wanted to go down on Sunday but it's too close to the fight for him to take any time off and we talked about that," Roach said. "He is focused on the fight still but obviously it is a big distraction because it killed all of those people.

"We do talk about it in the gym -- about how many people got killed in the storm and how many more have been affected. He is concerned about it yes, very much, but I think we have him pretty much on track on the fight.

"He knows it's a big fight and he knows it's a must-win situation and it's bigger than that because he has to win for the country also, not just his boxing career, he knows he has to win for the people and he told me that yesterday."

Rematch with Marquez

Roach added that Pacman was "90 per cent ready" to face "fat guy" Rios, who is seven years younger and 1.5 inches taller than the five foot 6.5 inches (1.69 metres) Filipino southpaw.

He said if Pacquiao wins in Macau, they will seek a rematch with Marquez as a priority ahead of the long-awaited match-up with undefeated American, Floyd Mayweather.

"We want Marquez one more time, yes. That's the fight we want," he said.

"Mayweather too of course, but Marquez, he got lucky and we want to take that back."

Pacquiao wraps up his training camp and departs for Macau on Monday, ahead of the fight which will be held next Sunday morning local time so as to be live for Saturday evening TV audiences in the United States.



Boxing: Macau fight may be Pacquiao's last - Channel NewsAsia

A Chicago boxer who went pro in 2004 and had just signed on for another fight early next year was found fatally shot in a gangway this morning in the city's Chatham neighborhood, authorities said.

Officers responded about 8:45 a.m. to the 8200 block of South Drexel Boulevard and found a man, unresponsive and lying in a gangway, said Police News Affairs Officer Michael Sullivan.

The man was later identified as Michael Walker, 35, of the 8100 block of South Ingleside Avenue, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office. He was pronounced dead at Northwestern Memorial Hospital at 9:31 a.m.

Damian Walton, Walker’s manager, said he spoke today to a boxing associate who used to train Walker and learned of Walker’s killing, which may have taken place in the course of a robbery.

Before going pro in 2004, Walker boxed for several years in Chicago’s Golden Gloves tournament, winning his weight class in 2000 and 2002, then going undefeated from 2004 to 2008, according to records of his fights. Walton had just agreed to a fight in January in Mississippi, and had talked to Walker on Monday about traveling to California next month to train, he said.

Walton met Walker this year and said Walker was a charismatic person who “cared about his daughter a lot.”

“He was telling me how he wanted to make a little extra money to support his daughter” who is about 9 years old, by participating in more fights, Walton said in a phone interview Thursday night.

Walton said Walker had a well-respected record in the boxing world, and also had a reputation for being a “straight-up guy.”

At his last recorded fight in July in Memphis, Walton said Walker’s opponent told him it was a hard fight because “it was almost like fighting a friend.”

“Even his last opponent stated that he was a charismatic guy,” Walton said.

“I talked to him regularly,” Walton said. “This is real devastating news.”

Police News Affairs was releasing no further details of the shooting this evening and would not confirm if detectives suspect Walker was killed in a robbery.



Chicago boxing pro found shot to death in South Side gangway - chicagotribune-com

Boxing legend David Tua has called it quits, after losing a unanimous points decision to giant Belarusian Alexander Ustinov in Hamilton tonight.

Conceding almost a foot (30cm) in reach and height to his massive opponent, Tua, 40, never troubled Ustinov and could not find the opportunity to land any of the sledgehammer blows that had been a trademark of his prime.

Afterwards, he admitted his time had come.

"I did the best I could," he told the Claudelands Arena crowd. "I actually got myself into great shape, because I believed I could do this and I believed that the fire still burns.

"But sad to say, my heart's not in it any more - it's time for me to try something else. There will be two people at home right now who will be happy with this decision - my mum and dad.

"That's it for David Tua. I'd like to thank the public of New Zealand for their support and the people of the Pacific - your support has been absolutely 'O for Orsome' from Day One.

"David Tua left the building tonight. Thank you very much and God bless."

Tua first sprang to prominence as an amateur, winning bronze at the 1991 world championships and another at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, turning professional later that same year.

He quickly became respected for his ferocious left hook and was named as the 48th greatest puncher of all time by Ring Magazine in 2003.

His career reaches its peak with a WBC, IBF and IBO heavyweight title fight against Lennox Lewis in 2000, where he went the distance of a 12-round contest, but lost by overwhelming points decision.

Later, his progress was halted by contractual disputes with his management company and although he made a successful comeback with a knockout victory over Kiwi Shane Cameron in 2009, he never again generated the same power he had been famous for.

He finishes his career with a record of 52 wins (43 knockouts), five losses and two draws.



End of line for boxing great David Tua - Other Sports News | TVNZ

James DeGale enhanced his claim for a world title shot after successfully defending his WBC silver super-middleweight crown against Dyah Davis in Glow, Bluewater.

DeGale won by unanimous decision, with all three judges scoring the bout 118-110 in his favour.

"I'm not fully pleased. I was a bit lazy and switched off a couple of times," said the 2008 Olympic champion.

"I maybe switched off a bit and got hit by a stupid shot. It's another 12 rounds under my belt; I'm still learning. He's an awkward opponent."

He has has now won 17 of his 18 professional bouts to date, securing seven successive victories after his only career loss to George Groves in 2011.

Read more at James DeGale beats Dyah Davis by unanimous decision | Boxing News | ESPN.co.uk

Blake Ferguson has credited the rigours of boxing training for keeping him out of the trouble he believes cost him a place in Australia's Rugby League World Cup squad.

Without an NRL contract for 2014 after being sacked by Canberra, the classy back will make his heavyweight boxing debut on the undercard of the Anthony Mundine-Shane Mosley fight in Sydney on November 27.

Ferguson was dumped by the Raiders in September after failing to front the board following breaches of the club's code of conduct.

He has also had to deal with two court cases regarding charges of indecent assault and driving indiscretions. Ferguson was thrown out of the NSW State of Origin squad following a drinking session with another former Raiders star, Josh Dugan.

His off-field indiscretions wrecked any chance he had of playing in the World Cup now being contested in Europe.

"If I wouldn't have played up, I reckon I would have been over there as an emu (a fringe squad member) ... supporting the boys," Ferguson said.

He would like to play in the NRL in 2014 but his league career is in limbo.

"I think it's all up to the (NRL) integrity unit, they are the guys that are running the show there," Ferguson said.

"I'm waiting to hear back from them and we'll go from there.

"The last time I spoke to (the integrity unit) was about a month ago. I think it's just up to the court case next month."

Ferguson said he had found boxing harder than rugby league because it was an individual calling rather than a team sport.

"Waking up early in the morning has been pretty tough," Ferguson said.

"It's been awesome, though. It got me out of trouble, so it's a good thing.

"It's been pretty good staying out of trouble, staying out of nightclubs and that, just chilling."

He expects to enter the ring about his NRL playing weight of just more than 100 kilograms.

Ferguson wasn't sure whether he would fight Luke Turner, the man he was meant to face before the Mundine-Mosley promotion scheduled for October 23 was cancelled.

He dismissed rumours he would have pulled out of the fight had it gone ahead on that date and confirmed his participation in next week's promotion.

"Whoever the matchmaker picks, I'll fight. I'll try and knock them out," Ferguson said.



Boxing keeps Ferguson out of trouble

He defended his WBC silver super-middleweight crown with a unanimous points win over American Dyah Davis, at Bluewater in Kent on Saturday night.

But, although the 2008 Olympic gold medallist was dominant for most of the fight, he lost his way in the middle rounds.

The 27-year-old said: "I made a fast start but I was a bit lazy and switched off a couple of times.

"I wasn't fully pleased, to be honest. I maybe switched off a bit and got hit by a stupid shot - but it's another 12 rounds under my belt."

DeGale has now won 17 of his 18 professional bouts and added: "It was all right in the end. I'm glad I stuck to my boxing.

"I could have been silly and come forward and got hit. I'm pleased I stood back. But I'm still learning and he was an awkward opponent."

Davis, 32, never possessed the power to cause any undue concern that DeGale might suffer an unexpected blip to his world title plans.

Elsewhere on the card, Chris Eubank Jr improved his record to 12-0 after claiming a sixth-round knockout win against Frankie Borg.

Troubled And WBA champion Andre Ward returned from a 14-month injury lay-off to claim a unanimous decision over Edwin Rodriguez in California, in a non-title super-middleweight bout.

Ward won almost every round in a dominant effort against the previously unbeaten Rodriguez, for a 118-106, 117-107 and 116-108 win.

Rodriguez failed to make weight for the fight, thereby missing the chance to win a title and he never really troubled Ward.

Ward said: "It was not always going to be a spectacular performance, but a win is a win. I felt like I did great after being off for 14 months.

"Edwin didn't come to win, he came to get lucky. He wanted to hold and make it ugly and hoped to catch me with something big. You have got to learn how to fight those kind of guys."


Boxing: James DeGale victorious against Dyah Davis | In The Ring | Sport | Daily Star. Simply The Best 7 Days A Week

With less than a week before the biggest bout of the fall 2013 boxing season, events are ramping up for Manny Pacquiao versus Brandon Rios in Macau, China, being billed as “The Clash in Cotai.”

Eight division champion Pacquiao (54-5-2, 38 KOs) and former lightweight titlist Ríos (31-1-1, 22 KOs) meet at the Venetian Macau’s Cotai Arena. The fight will be shown on HBO pay per view on Saturday November 23, at 9 p.m. ET. Communities Digital News will host a live online chat starting at 7 p.m. ET with the televised undercard fights.

Short of hopping on a trans Pacific flight in the next few days and snagging one of the last remaining ringside seats, there will be plenty of ways for fight fans to enjoy the action from afar.

All Week

ESPN Classic and ESPN Deportes will air a selection of previous fights by Manny Pacquiao and Brandon Rios including Pacquiao-Marquez III, Rios-Alvarado I; also Pacquiao vs. Oscar De La Hoya. Check listings for specific times.

ESPN2, ESPN Deportes, and HBO will air repeats of the first two episodes of “24/7 Pacquiao/Ríos, HBO’s Emmy-Award-winning all-access reality series, following both fighters as they prepare for their showdown throughout the week. Check listings for showtimes. Friday and Saturday, the third and final episode will be added to the schedule leading up to Saturday’s bout.

ESPN Sports Center, 9 p.m. ET

Live interviews with Manny Pacquiao, Brandon Rios, trainers Freddie Roach and Robert Garcia, and others nightly on Sports Center

Wednesday, November 20

Pacquiao vs. Ríos Final Live News Conference ESPN3 and TopRank-com/Livestream, 8 a.m. ET/5 a.m. PT; rebroadcast at 6 p.m. ET

Thursday, November 21

Final episode of “24/7: Pacquiao-Rios,” 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT

HBO will air its final installment of the documentary series following both fighters and their camps leading up to the bout.

Friday November 22

Fighter Weigh-In, HBO, 6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. PT

HBO, ESPN3, and ESPN Deportes (Spanish) will broadcast the weigh-in for the fight live at 6:30 p.m. ET, 3:30 p.m. PT.

Saturday, November 23

Live Pay Per View Broadcast, HBO PPV, 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. ET (undercard fights)

ESPN3 will carry Pacquaio vs. Ríos non-televised undercard fights Saturday starting at 7 p.m. ET.

ESPN Deportes’ “Golpe a Golpe” will air a special live pre-fight show with Jorge Eduardo Sánchez, Bernard Osuna, and boxer Juan Manuel Márquez reporting live from Macau at 7 p.m. ET. Following the fights, ESPN Deportes will air a special post-fight show live on Sunday morning at 2 a.m. ET (11 p.m. PT).

On Twitter, follow the hashtag #PacRios along with #TeamPacquiao and #TeamRios to keep up with the online conversation. You can follow the discussion via the world’s leading boxing media, fighters, trainers and fans via my Boxing list on Twitter.

Communities Digital News will keep you up to date with all of the latest news and developments right up to fight time Saturday. For fight night we will host a Live Online Chat starting with the televised undercard fights starting at 7 p.m. ET

Communities Ring Side provides blow by blow live commentary and real-time photos invitng you to share your reaction to all the action. See you ringside on Saturday.

Read more: Boxing news: Pacquiao vs. Rios fight week schedule set | Washington Times Communities
Follow us: @wtcommunities on Twitter

Three Island boxers will be representing P.E.I. this week at the youth and junior nationals in Quebec City.

Colton Perry and Chad Biso will compete in the junior division, while Bradley Vail will be lacing up his gloves in the youth category.

All three boxers are from the Ko-Ed Boxing Academy in Charlottetown, and will be accompanied by head coach Howard Watts and team manager John Chiasson.

“We are looking forward to seeing how all three guys do,” said Watts. “This will give them valuable experience as we prepare for the next Canada Games.”

The championships began Monday and continue to Saturday.


Perry, Biso, Vail competing at boxing nationals - Sports - The Guardian

OLYMPIC boxer John Joe Nevin has been ordered to give a master class to youngsters after a street row with his father. The London 2012 silver medal winner and his father Martin have appeared in court after a dispute over whether to get a taxi home from an event.

Judge Seamus Hughes said John Joe Nevin's punishment will be to give a four-hour boxing master class to young people at Mullingar Boxing Club, Co Westmeath.

Judge Hughes said he would follow the example of his colleague Judge Alan Mitchell, who ordered footballer Paul McGrath to spend a day with young people in Tullamore's soccer club following a public order incident.

The Nevin incident at Mullingar's Castle Street in the early hours of July 21 this year didn't show father or son in a good light, Judge Hughes said.

Inspector Jarlath Folan said the argument drew a crowd and caught the attention of two gardai who were on patrol.

The two men, both with an address at St Anthony's Cottages, Mullingar, were roaring and shouting at each other and both were intoxicated.

John Joe was aggressive to his father and ran over to him as the older man tried to get into a taxi. The boxer was also aggressive to one of the gardai.

His father also put a curse on the other garda at the scene, the court was told.

The boxer recently announced his decision to turn professional.

Judge Hughes was unimpressed when he indicated he might not have time to give a master class as he is going to America soon for training.

He said he didn't care about America – and that Nevin hadn't cared about America when he was "acting the bowsie on the streets of Mullingar".

Nevin is to return to court on December 5 to present his plans for the master class.


Olympic hero must give boxing class after street row - Independent.ie

David Haye says shoulder surgery could make him a "shell of his former self" in the ring, but insists he still has unfinished business with the Klitschkos should he ever return to boxing.

Haye, 33, has been advised to retire from the sport by doctors after going under the knife to repair a ruptured subscapularis and bicep tendon attachments.

He also pulled out of his scheduled February 8 bout with Tyson Fury - a decision which has been met with anger from the Fury camp - but has stopped short of confirming his days are numbered despite the advice.

Haye is wary of the implications of a return if he is not 100%, and believes his ability to deliver his trademark 'Hayemaker' will be a key factor in his decision down the line.

He told Sky Sports: "There's a long way back currently. I've got six pins in my shoulder and really don't have any idea what the story is going to be. As long as my arm can function properly I will want to come back but it's important.

"If you took the right hook away from Joe Frazier, or the jab away from Muhammad Ali, they would be different fighters and without the Hayemaker I would be a shell of my former self."

While still undecided on his future, Haye admits he would eye a rematch with Wladimir to avenge the defeat to the youngest Klitschko brother in 2011.

"I still don't think I was at my best in that fight against Wladimir," he said.

"If I can make it back that is still a fight I would want but it all depends on whether I can get back into the ring and be back to my best."

Haye has already retired from boxing once before - but was tempted out following a brawl with Dereck Chisora which resulted in a heavily criticised fight at Upton Park in July last year.

But when asked what his legacy in the sport would be, Haye believes he will be remembered as one of the greats by boxing fans should he decide to retire now.

"Hopefully they will remember me as one of the best cruiserweights of all time - I think I'm second behind Evander Holyfield," he said.

"I've never been the biggest guy in the ring but was always someone who took on the biggest and did some things not many people believed I could do, like winning the world title.

"If this is it for me I have achieved what I wanted to by becoming champion of the world - I said when I was three years old I wanted to be world champion and I did it so I won't have any regrets. I have achieved all my goals, including being undisputed champion as a cruiserweight, so if this is it then so be it."

Read more at David Haye eyes Wladimir Klitschko rematch, refuses to confirm retirement | Boxing News | ESPN.co.uk