TalkingBoxing Spotlight
Ishe Smith: Too Young to Fight Old
WED May 7, MICHAEL HERRON - At the height of Michael Jordan’s career in the NBA, quite a few youngsters wanted to “Be Like Mike,” it can be argued that Kobe Bryant and Lebron James have been successful in emulating his style. In boxing, however, you can’t always “Be Like Mike” (Tyson, or Spinks, Moorer, Carbajal, or Arnaoutis etc...); Simply put, “you got to be you and do what you do.”
On Angels, Halos and Golden Parachutes
WED May 7, CLIFF ROLD - We got our infomercial; now tune in for As the World Turns or whatever it is Mayweather Beats De La Hoya II is going to be promoted as. “How will Floyd react with his Dad on the other side of the ring?” - “Will the brothers Mayweather, Roger and Floyd Sr., spill into the action?” - “Will Brenda find out about Dylan and Kelly?” [Link Takes You To MaxBoxing.com]
Andre Dirrell TKO's Tony Hanshaw in Five on ShoBox
MON May 5, FRANK GONZALEZ JR. - Friday night in Santa Ynez California, Super Middleweight contender Anthony Hanshaw (21-2-1, 14 KO's), made his return to the ring since losing a decision to Roy Jones Jr. in July of last year. Hanshaw gave a good account of himself against Jones until getting floored in the eleventh round. After a long lay off, this was an opportunity to bounce back and work his way back towards the limelight of the division.
Mayweather vs. Arum: Business Very Personal
MON April 28, MICHAEL HERRON - In the world of boxing, styles make fights, dollars make sense, and business is never personal. Well maybe the first two statements are true but as for the latter it appears that promoters and fighters have made business more personal than ever. How often do we read the latest headlines only to see that Golden Boy Promotions wont work with Top Rank, or Don King won’t work with Bob Arum, or Mayweather Promotions refuses to do business with DKP and Top Rank?
The Future at 175 lbs. (Besides Calzaghe-Jones)
THU April 24, CLIFF ROLD - What’s that old cliché about lions and lambs in April? Take a look at Light Heavyweight in April 2008, and traditional thinking holds true to form. In a span of just eight days, almost the entire top ten in the division saw action, climaxing with last Saturday’s anticlimactic Joe Calzaghe-Bernard Hopkins bout for The Ring magazine belt. The Spring denouement for the weight class comes this weekend with Germany-based Zsolt Erdei stepping to scratch. [Link Takes You To MaxBoxing.com]
Is the Welterweight Division really all that it is Cracked Up to be?
Instructional Guide on How to Dethrone Mayweather
WED April 23, ANTONIO ANDRES CARRIEDO - An oft-repeated criticism of current pound for pound kingpin, Floyd Mayweather Jr. in recent years revolves around his chosen career path. Mayweather is fighting less frequently and against non-welterweights at a time when his critics contend that the 147 lb. welterweight class is the deepest division in boxing. These folks allege that Mayweather’s perceived reluctance to fight his top challengers who consistently fight within the 147 lb. weight class should be just cause for stripping Mayweather of his mythical pound for pound title...
White Boy Beats Bernard Hopkins, Takes Ring Title
SUN April 20, FRANK GONZALEZ JR. - Undisputed Super Middleweight (WBA/WBC/WBO) Champion, Joe Calzaghe (44-0, 32 KO’s) made his debut fight in the USA, as a Light Heavyweight Saturday night at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, against America’s legendary, former undisputed Middleweight Champion and current (IBO/NBA, no, not basketball) Light Heavyweight Champion, Bernard “The Executioner” Hopkins (48-4-1, 32 KO’s).
The lead up to this fight there was a lot of emphasis on Hopkins’ age and his workouts with his conditioning coach as well as Calzaghe’s methods of training with his father...
Most-Feared: Mythical Title or Pure Fantasy?
THU April 17, MICHAEL HERRON - To compete in a boxing ring one must possess heart, determination, strength, and above all, courage. With that understanding, is it feasible to suggest that any fighter literally fears another? To simply choose prizefighting as a profession denotes a certain degree of fearlessness; and to actually engage in battle is something that only the chosen few can do.
Tarver Picks up IBF Belt, Dawson Outpoints Johnson in a War
WED April 16, ANTONIO ANDRES CARRIEDO - For the better part of the last year, WBC 175 lb. titlist Chad Dawson has been
calling for a fight with former linear 175 lb. champion Antonio Tarver. Unlike the 147 lb. cat and mouse game being played out on HBO’s airwaves involving Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Miguel Cotto, Tarver had opted to fight club fighters as opposed challenging the young upstart Dawson. Saturday night’s fight card at the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa, FL was the first major step in the direction...
> Carriedo: HBO Lays an Egg, but Gets Compelling July PPV
VIDEO: Post-Fight Reaction from Cotto, Margarito, Gomez and Arum
MON April 14 - After cleaning up on Saturday's HBO Championship Boxing scoring impressive knockouts, WBA welterweight champion Miguel Cotto and newly crowned IBF champ Antonio Margarito discuss their impressive wins and looming summer unification super-fight. TalkingBoxing also caught Alfonso Gomez' post-fight comments along with promter Bob Arum's thoughts. Video by Bill Emes and is in .wmv format.
Thoughts about Cotto, Gomez, Margarito, Cintron and Questionable Match Making
MON April 14, FRANK GONZALEZ JR. - Saturday night in Atlantic City , New Jersey , Miguel Cotto (32-0, 26 KO’s) made easy work of Alphonso Gomez (19-3-2, 8 KO’s) winning by TKO after the fifth round when the ringside doctor stepped in and stopped it. Even though Gomez was in way over his head and getting floored three times in five rounds, he wasn’t incapable of continuing. That stoppage, while merciful, was totally premature.
After Dawson Gets Gift, Glen Johnson Speaks Truth
MON April 14, FRANK GONZALEZ JR. - Saturday night at the St. Pete’s Forum in Tampa Florida, WBC Light Heavyweight champion Chad Dawson (26-0-1 NC, 17 KO’s) defended his title against one of the toughest guys in all boxing, former IBF Light HW champ, Glen Johnson (47-12-2, 32 KO’s)...
In Defense of "Money" Mayweather Part II:
Eyes On The Prize
TUE April 8, MICHAEL HERRON - Since writing "In Defense Of "Money” Mayweather: A True Prizefighter," many boxing fans have sent emails questioning how as a writer and a boxing fan could I support the antics of Floyd Mayweather Jr. I decided to create a response that encompasses several arguments and point-of-views posed by readers.
> SweetSci: Tarver, Woods, Dawson, Johnson: 70s Deja Vu?
Why Does Boxing Have 17 Weight Classes?
THU April 7, ANTONIO ANDRES CARRIEDO - Many ideas have been thrown around over the years about how to improve the sport of boxing. One that I'd like to address is the subject of weight in fights. We all fundamentally understand the fact that boxers rarely fight at the advertised weight limit. They weigh in 24+ hours before the fight and then add some weight before the fight actually starts. This is not only anecdotally accepted; any empirical study will back this up...
Transplanted New Yorkers all Post Wins on Versus Fight Night
SUN April 6, ANTONIO ANDRES CARRIEDO - All of the hometown favorites took care of business on the Versus televised card from the Aviator Sports Arena in Brooklyn, NY on Thursday night. The wins placed some of Top Rank’s lesser known, but still very talented fighters potentially on track for the proverbial “bigger and better things.” IBF 147 lb. mandatory contender Joshua Clottey defeated Jose Luis Cruz by 5th round TKO...
> Estrada and Williams Notch Career Best Wins on FNF
What ESPN's "The Contender" Could Be
FRI April 4, ANTONIO ANDRES CARRIEDO - I hate to rain on the reality television series, "The Contender's" parade. However, even in light of the recent wins by "Contender" alums Brian Vera over much-hyped 160 lb. prospect Andy Lee and Cornelius Bundrage over former IBF 154 lb, titlist Kassim Ouma, I find it necessary to point out that "The Contender" still has a long way to go before it begins to truly live up to its potential...
ForumTalkingBoxing: News Wire
In Defense of "Money" Mayweather: A True Prizefighter
MON March 31, MICHAEL HERRON -
The definition of prizefighting is simple; a match fought between professional fighters for money. Fortunately, Floyd "Money" Mayweather, the best Pound-for-Pound fighter in the sport, understands the meaning.
Lately, critics have attacked Mayweather for his decision to appear in Wrestlemania to face the behemoth known as "Big Show." My question is, why not? What's wrong with a professional boxer having some fun and making some money courtesy of World Wrestling Entertainment?
Listening to Floyd 'Money' Mayweather Jr.
SAT March 29, FRANK GONZALEZ JR. - On ESPN's Friday Night Fights this week, the guest fighter at the talk table with Robert Flores (not Brian Kinney) was Floyd Mayweather Jr., who recently (and appropriately) changed his nick name from "Pretty Boy" to "Money." Floyd is a polarizing figure among fight fans - they either love him, or can't stand him but no matter how you see him, he IS a great fighter....
Sugar Ray Leonard and Oscar De La Hoya; Great and All-Time Great
FRI March 28, MICHAEL HERRON - Since winning gold in the 92 Olympics, Oscar De La Hoya has continually been compared to Hall of Famer Sugar Ray Leonard. Like Leonard, Oscar emerged from the Olympics with the promise of success and the weight of the boxing world on his shoulders. After turning professional, they both lived up to the promise by becoming multi-division champions.
Spinks, Phillips Ready to Go, Tonight on Don King TV
THU March 27 - Boxing promoter Don King holds the arms of boxers Cory Spinks, 153, and Verno Phillips, 153, during weigh-ins at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis yesterday. The two will fight tonight at 10:30PM/EST with the undercard starting at 8PM/EST, LIVE for FREE on DonKingTV.com in a IBF 154-lb title fight. (UPI Photo/Bill Greenblatt)
> Spinks, Phillips and Alexander Discuss Upcoming Bouts
Can Boxing Finally Catch Up to the Future?
THU March 27, CLIFF ROLD -
Boxing had always been so good at getting its product to the people by exploiting the latest new 'thing.' The original moving pictures of the late 19th century quickly gave way to a lucrative fight film business, Johnson-Jeffries riots be damned. The advent of radio brought Dempsey, Armstrong, and Louis into living rooms... [Links Take You To MaxBoxing.com]
Risk vs. Reward; The Highs, The Lows, and the Medium
TUE March 25, MICHAEL HERRON - In boxing, and life in general, the chances you take can often be described as a risk/reward ratio. More often than not, we hear of prize fighters accepting or declining fights based on this concept. The fighters refer to this as being "smart businessmen" but fans experience it as 'frustration.' The most common and unfortunate outcome is that the fights the fans want to see are frequently not made because the fighters can't agree that the risk matches the reward.
Calzaghe vs Hopkins - The Winner Will Be
MON March 24, BUSTER PARIS - One of the great things about boxing is that it's rich history, in combination with the theory that 'styles make fights', can often gives us insight into it's future.
For example - looking at Mayweather v Hatton (December 8th, 2007) we were able to look back to Leonard v Duran II (November 25th, 1980) and draw a conclusion based on history + style.
Casamayor TKO's Katsidis in Ten, Unifies WBC, WBO Titles
SUN March 23, FRANK GONZALEZ - WBO Lightweight champ, 
Michael Katsidis (23-1, 20 KO's) entered the ring at the Morongo Casino in Cabazon California wearing a Spartan helmet, a tattooed sun that takes up the whole of his back and an undefeated record. He's known as a big puncher and he fights with an intensity fight fans love.
36 year old, WBC co-champion, Joel Casamayor (36-3-1, 22 KO's) took Michael Katsidis' WBO title Saturday night in California in a roller coaster ride of a fight...
Roy Jones, Jr. vs. Anderson Silva: The Fight to Save MMA?
THU March 20, MICHAEL HERRON - The 
light-heavyweight division in boxing has unexpectedly become very interesting. Upcoming championship fights such as Chad Dawson vs. Glencoffe Johnson, and Antonio Tarver vs. Clinton Woods, have given fight fans much to look forward to. In addition, former heavyweight champion Chris Byrd is scheduled to join the division; and in a much anticipated matchup, light-heavyweight champion Bernard Hopkins will defend against super-middleweight champion Joe Calzage. Left out of the equation, however, is former light-heavyweight champion and pound-for-pound superstar Roy Jones, Jr.
> ESPN: Steward: Lee will become middleweight champ
A Friendly Suggestion for Campbell, Santa Cruz
THU March 20, CLIFF ROLD - On November 10, 2007, Mexican-born and California-based Jose Armando Santa Cruz (25-3, 14 KO) beat World Lightweight champion Joel Casamayor (35-3-1, 21 KO) of Cuba for the vast majority of the bout's 36 minutes. The 27-year old Santa Cruz is not the champion today because the scorecards of Frank Lombardo and Ron McNair said differently. It was a sinful decision on boxing's holiest ground, Madison Square Garden; a decision that further evaporated what credibility Casamayor's reign had left in the wake of an over 12-month layoff. During the layoff a new warrior filled the void. [Links Take You To BoxingScene.com]
Manny Pacquiao-Juan Manuel Marquez: The Stakes
FRI March 14, CLIFF ROLD - Pride is always at stake in boxing. Fighters run miles, spar hours, sweat away pieces of themselves, to protect their pride. There's little pride to be found in defeat and so the best of professionals give themselves the best chance to avoid it. Anyone tuning in on Saturday night to see the four-years overdue rematch, at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, between Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez can be certain: these are the best of professionals. [Links Take You To BoxingScene.com]
> ESPN: Miranda, Kessler agree to meet in 168-pound bout
Peter TKO's Maskaev in Six, Becomes Sole WBC Champ
SUN March 9, FRANK GONZALEZ - Saturday night at the Plaza de Toros in Cancun Mexico, WBC Heavyweight Champion Oleg Maskaev (34-6, 26 KO's) lost his title to the younger Sam Peter (30-1, 23 KO's) after Peter delivered a series of power punches in the sixth round that forced Maskaev to cover up, get rocked a few times and ultimately be saved by the referee, who stepped between them and stopped the contest.
> Haye Lands Hayemaker, Stops Maccarinelli in Two
The Galaxy Warrior Conquers Juan Diaz, Wins Lightweight Titles
SUN March 9, FRANK GONZALEZ - Congratulations to Nate 'Galaxy Warrior' Campbell (32-5-1, 25 KO's) who dethroned WBO/IBF/WBA Lightweight Champion, Juan 'Baby Bull' Diaz (33-1, 17 KO's) at the Plaza de Toros in Cancun Mexico Saturday night. It was an exciting fight from start to finish, as Nate chose to go right after Diaz' body and pressure him like no one ever has. It was a good strategy and Campbell proved to be the more accurate puncher of equal tenacity.
> Peter TKO's Maskaev in Six, Becomes Sole WBC Champ
Juan Diaz: Trying to Unlock the Key to Stardom
FRI March 7, CLIFF ROLD - A generation ago, Boxing's reach into the sports mainstream would have made 24-year old Lightweight titlist Juan Diaz (33-0, 17 KO, WBA/WBO/IBF) a lock for real stardom. His combination of buzzsaw style and wholesome story would have been a gimme'.
A native of the All-American city of Houston, Texas; a college student while he holds his titles; works with the League of Women Voters to get out the vote; an aww-shucks old-school personality... [Links Take You To BoxingScene.com]
Marquez vs. Vasquez III, Boxing at its Best
SUN March 2, FRANK GONZALEZ - It was a year ago that they met for the first time in the ring, Marquez was the WBC Champ then and after six brutal rounds, Marquez had broken Vasquez' nose so badly that he couldn't breathe, so he retired on his stool. Marquez got the win and they signed up for a rematch five months later, where Vasquez won by TKO 6 after the referee stopped the fight after Marquez was being hammered and not answering with punches.
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