TalkingBoxing News
Trinidad wants to Punish, Hurt Wright
WED May 11 - Just days away with all the talking coming to an end, Felix Trinidad and Winky Wright shot verbal assaults at each other in today's press conference.
FELIX “TITO” TRINIDAD
“It is going to be a great fight. But like I have always said, I am here to win. I am prepared for whatever Winky brings to the table. But Saturday night you will see another great victory for Tito Trinidad. I am telling you face to face and I am telling you seriously, you still have time to walk away from this fight. Because I am ready to punish you. I hope your corner will not allow me to hit you a lot. You are going to get out of the ring hurt. I am here to win and nothing else. Thanks to Don King for putting this card together and I am sure he will still do the same in the future. I am willing to fight anyone in the future.”
PAPA TRINIDAD
“Tito said already what he is going to do in the ring. And he is basing his statement on all the rigorous and hard work he has done in the gym. Tito has done 260 rounds of sparring. That way you can realize what kind of condition he is in. I want to thank Gary Shaw. They will not see the difference in size at the weigh-in. But you will see the difference in size inside the ring on Saturday night.”
WINKY WRIGHT
“I thank Tito for giving me the opportunity Saturday night. Tito is coming to win and I am coming to win. He is going to try to knock my head off and I am going to try to knock his head off. I know I will be the winner come Saturday night.”
DAN BIRMINGHAM, Trainer for Winky Wright
“I have never seen him train any harder for a fight. Come Saturday night, we are going to evict Tito Trinidad from the middleweight division.”
ZAB “SUPER” JUDAH
I didn’t pick my opponent, but he’s the IBF mandatory and I respect that. Not everybody knows who this guy is but he’s a good fighter who has fought a lot of guys.
‘This is my first time fighting at the MGM Grand Garden Arena since I fought Kostya Tszyu. I want to apologize to everyone for my behavior after that fight. I promise you I will take care of business on Saturday the way I should.”
COSME “CHINO” RIVERA
“This is the best opportunity of my career. I’m looking over at Zab Judah and he doesn’t look like much. I expect to win Saturday nights and take his belts.”
VICTOR BURGOS
“I am going to give my all in this fight because I want bigger fights in the future. I saw his fight against Ricardo Lopez. He (Grigsby) is a tough guy and former champion. I want to become a legend in the future and it will take big fights like Carbajal and Gonzalez put on. I can go up in weight. I want to go through this opponent and Don King will make it all possible in the future. This is going to be a great fight and a great show.”
WILL GRIGSBY
“I take my hat off to Victor Burgos. I don’t think he realizes what and who he is fighting. I come to fight. I hope he is in front of me to make it easier for me. I do my thing when I get in the ring. He’s no Lopez. This will be his biggest fight come Saturday night.”
'Speedy' Fights Hutchinson Friday
WED May 11 - Jr. Welterweight prospect Al "Speedy" Gonzales (16-2-1) will square off with Joe Hutchinson (33-4-2) this Friday night at the Orleans Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The Guilty Boxing card will be headlined by Leopoldo Gonzalez and Samuel Lopez as they battle for the WBA Fedalatin Bantamweight Championship.
Training for a yet to be announced June bout, Team Speedy didn’t find out about the bout until this afternoon. Gonzales’ trainer, Jesse Reid, was contacted when Hutchinson’s original opponent fell out. The last minute opportunity doesn’t seem to concern Reid: “Speedy spared 10 rounds everyday last week with Zab Judah, the best welterweight in the world. I’m not worried about Speedy.”
“This is my first time fighting in Vegas”, said Gonzales. “It’s a big fight weekend here with Winky and Tito. I promise everyone who comes to the Orleans, they’ll see a great fight Friday night.”
“Putting a kid with 19-fights in with a veteran with 41-fights is not an easy decision”, said Gonzales’ co-manager Patrick Doljanin, “Especially when he’s coming off a loss. But, I have all the trust and respect in the world for Jesse Reid. He feels Speedy is ready, so I’m comfortable with the decision. Plus, Speedy said he wanted this fight.”
UPDATE: Hutchinson Out of Fight With Speedy
Judah Ready for Rivera
WED May 11 - Yesterday, Zab “Super” Judah spoke about his title defense at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, just before his media workout in the Grand Garden Arena.
Do you have any concerns about your opponent, Cosme Rivera?
“No, he should be concerned for himself. He is the one with seven losses. He put himself in this position to become Hercules. Those guys that he has fought aren’t like me. He has to watch out for what he is asking for. He is going to be asking his guys after the fight Saturday night, why did you guys do this to me, why didn’t you protect me.
“I am honored to be mentioned together with Cotto, but I would destroy that dude if he moved up to 147. He doesn’t have the experience to be in there with me. When I was 18, I couldn’t get in the ring with Oscar De la Hoya or Pernell Whitaker.
“I love Tito, that’s my boy. It is hard for me to pick between them because I like Winky too. Winky is a tough southpaw and he has mastered his style and art of boxing. Tito has the art of knocking you out. All I know is I am going to take care of my business fast and then find my seat. I love this match-up as a boxer and a boxing fan.
“Tito is an elite fighter. There is nothing new under the sun to shock him. He has seen all kinds of styles. That is why he is such a great fighter. I give it up to him. I can see Winky boxing Tito’s ears off for 12 rounds and taking a decision, but if he gets cocky, Winky will be kissing the floor.
“De La Hoya doesn’t want to fight me. He said he is going to come back to the welterweight division and become the undisputed champion. Oscar is doing a great thing. He is looking for something. I think he was looking for Cory Spinks but now that I am the champion, let’s wait and see. I haven’t heard him talking about fighting welterweights again since I won the title. After I take care of Cosme, then I will pursue De La Hoya to see if we can get it on.
“I’ve come full circle since the Kostya Tszyu fight here in November of 2001. This is the first time I have been in this arena [MGM Grand Garden Arena] since that night. I am finally going to put this behind me and show the world that I will continue to be the undisputed welterweight champion of the world.”.
Toney Insulted by Accusations
WED May 11 - James Toney has fought many fights in his career, but the one apparently facing him now is one that disturbs and revolts him like no other opponent could ever do. "Being accused of taking performance enchancing substances is an insult to me. I don't do drugs period," Toney stated.
"I've never used any illegal substances to prepare myself for a fight."
Toney's body doesn't reflect a fighter taking mass muscle substances, nor would anyone in their right mind be taking any banned substances, while knowingly and willingly giving urine samples. Toney's weight loss was substantial from the day the fight was announced to the event, totally inconsistent with the signs of an athlete using substances to add muscle mass.
"Toney received medical treatment for recovery from his biceps and triceps surgery last year. His doctor has stated that the combination of medications used to control the inflammation and tissue growth caused the positive test result," stated Dan Goossen, Toney's promoter. "This is further supported, since the body, in combination with the medications, naturally create the form of substance ("Nandrolone") reflected in the test results."
Goossen further stated, "It would be unjust for the sport to reprimand a fighter who was under a doctor's care and direction many months before in healing a career threatening injury."
Ruiz-Toney declared No-Decision
WED May 11 - Team Ruiz waits for WBA to reinstate "The Quietman" as heavyweight champion! :: Team Ruiz was formally notified today by the New York State Athletic Commission that the April 30th World Boxing Association heavyweight championship fight between defending champion John "The Quietman" Ruiz and challenger James "Lights Out" Toney has been officially declared a "No Decision" because Toney violated the illegal substance rule.
Toney was suspended 90 days and fined $10,000. Team Ruiz is waiting for the WBA to enforce rule18:23 (3), disqualifying Toney and automatically reinstating Ruiz as world heavyweight champion. "We are waiting for the WBA to immediately implemented its rule," Ruiz' attorney Anthony Cardinale explained. "It's as clear as it can be. We're glad the truth has come out and Johnny hasn't lost his championship."
WBA Rule 18:23
3. If the challenger wins the championship fight and his antidrug test is positive and the losing champion has a negative result, then the champion shall retain his title in spite of the loss and the challenger shall be disqualified and shall not box for the title from the World Boxing Association during the next two (2) years and only after presentation of medical evidence that he has been rehabilitated.
"All I've ever heard was how bad Johnny Ruiz was for boxing," Ruiz' manager/head trainer Norman Stoney" Stone said. "Who's bad for boxing now? Toney's always talking about being a man. Well, he should be a man and admit what he did instead of making excuses. He can't talk trash about us anymore. Toney said he only fears God; he should fear the New York State Athletic Commission, too.
"Toney shot his mouth off, talking a lot of BS and degrading Johnny. But who's going to have the last laugh? I believe everybody in his corner should be responsible, including Dan Goossen. They can make up all of the 'the dog ate my homework' excuses they want, but Toney flunked his test and they should own up to it."
