TalkingBoxing News
Rahman to Vitali: Don't Use your 'Duck Tactics'
THU May 26 - Dear Mr Klitshcko (& fans): I am writing you because it seems that you forgot about me, your
mandatory challenger. I must be the most invisible 6 foot 2, 240 pound black
man on the planet. You have ducked out on me since April 30, June 18, and
July 30 with varying excuses and injuries which I never quite believed
existed.
You have the nerve to call out another fighter when you have clear and present danger staring you in the face. But that is appropriate, because you better go down the yellow-brick road and get a heart before you step in the ring with me.
I am an extremely credible opponent, so I assume that your constant avoidance of anything regarding the name Rahman is a very smart tactic. I understand that you are a doctor and an extremely intelligent man. However, you are undermining your credibility as a boxing Champion by these constant duck tactics that you are employing by not fighting me. You are decreasing your fan base and causing doubt to appear in the hearts of your most ardent supporters.
How can you use words like 'courage', 'heart', and 'champion' when referring to yourself when you have been ducking me like a yellow-bellied coward for almost a year? Boxing and its fans need an active Champion who is willing to fight credible opponents. I think that it is hilarious that some consider you a Champion and the man to beat when you are scared to face me. Stop >>misrepresenting the heavyweight division, let alone the WBC championship. Boxing deserves better than what you are giving it. Stop cheating yourself. Stop cheating the fans. Most of all, stop cheating me.
Now I am all for heavyweight unification, as is my promotor. Now you are suddenly able to fight in September? We can fight in August if you like.
Just know that I plan on hitting you harder than you have ever been hit in your life. And I promise that you will taste the canvass for the first time in your professional boxing career. And Don King will not ask for ANY OPTIONS!! None, so you dont have any other excuses. I am ready to take back what belongs to me. And I cant wait to win over your fans and supporters because they seem to be very supportive of you. Imagine how much they will appreciate a champion that is active and not afraid to fight anyone. Well, I am ready now. Are you willing to hop in the ring with me? If not, don't issue anymore press releases until you are ready to be a man. But as is your history regarding Rahman, I expect for you to act like this letter is invisible as well.
Hasim Rahman
Vargas Challenges for WBC in August
THU May 26 - Two-time world jr. middleweight champion Fernando Vargas will battle WBC Jr. Middleweight Champion Javier Castillejo on August 20th at the AllState Arena in Chicago, IL, it was announced today by Main Events CEO Kathy Duva.
In the 12 round co-feature bout, undefeated WBC/IBF #1 ranked Featherweight contender Rocky Juarez vies for his first world title when he challenges WBC Featherweight Champion In Jin Chi in a potential “Fight of the Year” candidate. Both bouts will be broadcast live on HBO.
“The contract is completed and we are happy to announce this great fight,” said Duva.
The WBC has announced that unless Javier Castillejo accepts a deal from Don King Productions, Inc. to fight Ricardo Mayorga, he will be stripped of his title. Castillejo and Fernando Vargas have asserted that Mayorga is not a proper mandatory opponent. Both have also stated that although they would prefer to receive the WBC sanction, in the interest of moving forward with the event’s promotion the sanction will be required for the bout to take place. Vargas has filed for arbitration on the matter before the Association of Boxing Commissions.
“Javier Castillejo is a champion with or without the WBC belt,” said Duva. “We believe that the designation of Mayorga as a mandatory opponent was improper for the following reasons: Mayorga did not win a mandatory eliminator, as the WBC rules require; he was knocked out in his last bout; he has lost two of his three last bouts; and he failed to make weight the only time in his career he was scheduled to fight at 154 lbs. However you slice it we believe Mayorga is not a legitimate mandatory under the WBC Rules and that Castillejo should be allowed to make an optional defense against Vargas.”
Sturm fights Spanish champ Sendra
THU May 26 - German boxing star Felix Sturm, 23-1 (11), is fighting on June 18 at the Amphitheater of Pula, Croatia, against Spanish middleweight champion Jorge Sendra. The 25-year-old only once beaten Sturm will defend his WBO international title in what is another move for him in direction to a world title shot.
„Felix is somebody who wants to prove himself and who wants to fight against the best“, coach Michael Timm said. “Currently Felix is so motivated that I even have to slow him down in training. He knows that his name has a high value in boxing worldwide. Sendra should suit Felix because he is a very variable technician. The only danger could be when Sendra is going wild.”
Beside Sturm also his stable mate Stipe Drews is fighting in Pula which is the birthplace of the Croatian light heavyweight contender and former European champion.
The 33-year-old Jorge Sendra, 28-2-1 (22), lost a close split decision in a contest for the European middleweight title earlier this year against Frenchman Morrade Hakkar.
Felix Sturm was holding the WBO middleweight world title from 2003 to 2004. In his second defense he lost a close twelve round decision to Oscar de la Hoya on June 5 in Las Vegas.
The event in Pula will mark the first time that Universum Box-Promotion is promoting an event in Croatia, along with their German television partner ZDF who will broadcast live.
With a great deal of logistic expenditure and many technical details Universum and ZDF want to realize this event at that special location in the amphitheater of Pula, a popular place for tourism.
Diaz Returns June 7th
THU May 26 - Former IBF lightweight champion Julio Diaz of Coachella, Calif., fights for the first time since his attempt at the World Boxing Council 135-pound title when he meets Marco Angel Perez of Las Vegas on a nationally televised card presented by Sycuan Ringside Promotions in association with Northeast Promotions June 7 at the Sycuan Resort & Casino in El Cajon, Caif.
The 25-year-old Diaz, who’s promoted by Sycuan Ringside Promotions, last fought March 5 in Las Vegas when he was thwarted in his attempt to dethrone then-WBC lightweight champion Jose Luis Castillo.
Diaz, who has a record of 30-3 with 22 knockouts, won the IBF lightweight championship in his previous bout, beating Javier Jauregui on a card presented by Sycuan Ringside Promotions May 13, 2004, in San Diego.
Perez has a record of 21-6 with 14 knockouts and has won four of his past five bouts. Diaz isn’t the first former world champion Perez has met. He fought former WBC featherweight and World Boxing Association bantamweight champ.
The card will be held in the Sycuan Showcase Theatre with doors opening at 5 p.m. (Pacific) and the first fight at 5:30.
Tickets are priced at $100 and are on sale at the Sycuan Resort & Casino gift shop 24 hours a day or by calling 619-659-3380 during those hours.
“Julio learned a lot in that fight against Castillo, lessons that will serve him well in future fights,” said Glenn Quiroga, president and chief operating officer of Sycuan Ringside Promotions. “All of us at Sycuan Ringside Promotions have every confidence and no doubts Julio will be a world champion again.”
“I feel like I’m a monster,” said Diaz. “I fought a great fighter in Castillo and learned so much.”
The semi-main event matches Delvin Rodriguez of Danbury, Conn., with a record of 14-1-1 and seven knockouts, against Luis Miguel Santos of Canoga Park, Calif., with a mark of 11-3 with seven knockouts, in a 10-round welterweight bout.
The undercard features Zaid Zavaleta of Guadlajara, Mexico, with a record of 6-0-1 and two knockouts, against Carlos Cisneros of Los Angeles, with a mark of 6-10-1 and four knockouts, in a six-round lightweight fight.
Ruben Torres of Coachella, Calif., with a record of 4-0 and two knockouts, appears in a four-round heavyweight bout and Curtis Jones of New York City, with a mark of 1-0 and no knockouts, is in a four-round super middleweight fight. Opponents for Torres and Jones will be determined.
The card is televised by ESPN2.
Sycuan Ringside Promotions of El Cajon, Calif., is considered to be the fastest-growing and most dynamic promotional entity in the sport. Sycuan Ringside Promotions made its promotional debut during 2004, but already has or had four world champions and has promoted and presented world title bouts on premium cable networks.
Sycuan Ringside Promotions has many notable boxers in its stable, including World Boxing Organization junior featherweight champion Joan Guzman and IBF junior featherweight champ Israel Vazquez.
Sycuan Ringside Promotions is led by Quiroga; Willie Tucker Sr., senior vice president; Scott Woodworth, vice president of boxing operations; and Michael Marley, vice president of public relations.
Navarro Returns after Tough Loss
THU May 26 - DiBella Entertainment star Junior Bantamweight Jose Navarro (21-1, 9 KO's) returns to the ring Thursday night (May 26) to battle Miguel Del Valle (8-11, 2 KO's). Thursday's bout, scheduled for 10 rounds takes place in San Antonio, TX at the San Antonio Airport Convention Center.
It will be Navarro's first fight since a controversial loss in Japan against Katsushige Kawashima for the WBC Junior Bantamweight Title in January. Navarro has already been declared the mandatory challenger for the winner of the upcoming July 18th Kawashima-Tokuyama bout.
Tickets are available at the San Antonio Airport Convention Center Box Office at (210) 804-6304.Tickets are priced at $50, $20 & $10. The Box office opens at 4 pm, doors open at 6 pm and first fight starts at 7 pm.
Why Hatton Can Shock Tszyu
THU May 26, ROBIN YORK - As the big fight draws closer, opinions could not be more divided on the outcome of this summer's epic showdown between Manchester's undefeated star Ricky "The Hitman" Hatton and the number one light welterweight in the world, Kostya Tszyu. It will be a lion's den that Tszyu will enter on June the 4th, performing in front of 22,000 Hatton fans at the MEN Arena in Manchester. The bout is for Tszyu's IBF belt, but more importantly for Hatton is the Russian's worldwide recognition as one of the best pound for pound fighters in the world today.
Tszyu has proven time and time again that he is the best light welterweight in the world. Hatton has yet to convince everyone, especially in the US, that he even deserves world class status despite being ranked number one by the IBF and previously so by the WBO, all the while remaining undefeated in 38 fights.
But for Hatton's British fans, this type of fight has been long overdue. After potential challenges to Miguel Cotto, Sharmba Mitchell and Vivian Harris failed to materialise, Hatton seemed to lose faith in the sport. This unease was evident in his one sided victory in June of last year over Carlos Vilches. While the Mancunain did get the points win, it was a poor performance by the high standards that "The Hitman's" fans are accustomed to.
Hatton and his legion of supporters were frustrated alike and the pressure began to mount on promoter Frank Warren to deliver a big fight. The head of Sports Network told everyone doubting him that he would come through for Hatton and he has delivered admirably. Not only did he land Tszyu, the biggest name in the division, but also he enticed the IBF Champion to defend his title in the challenger's back yard. Credit must go to Warren and Hatton for targeting the hardest possible fight and also to the champion for accepting the difficult challenge of defending on away turf.
While the majority of American fight fans expect Tszyu to retain, many in Britain truly believe that Hatton has what it takes to dethrone the champion. And why shouldn't they? Hatton has defeated every man put in front of him and mostly all in style. Even when Hatton has laboured, he has never looked close to losing. When floored for the first and only time in his career, during the first round against the hard-hitting Irishman Eamonn Magee, Hatton remained calm and went on to easily outbox his bitter rival.
The Magee fight and a British title defense against Jon Thaxton were arguably the most difficult fights, in that Hatton had to contend with substantial adversity before prevailing. Hatton was always in control against Thaxton but was horrendously cut from the first round on. Somehow he managed to remain calm and batter Thaxton for the remainder of the contest, keeping his British belt.
Being able to remain calm under pressure is a quality that "The Hitman" is going to need when faced with the thunderous right hands coming his way from Kostya Tszyu. But Tszyu will also need that quality when faced with the lethal body attacks likely to come his way. Hatton sets a frenetic pace, seen in particular during his last fight when he became the first man to stop Ray Oliveira, and body shots are the trademarks of his non-stop attacks.
While Tszyu has the greater single punch power, the challenger has a wider variety of shots and his swarming tactics, coupled with a high work rate, may dishearten the champion if Tszyu's cannon-like punches are ineffective. But that is a big "if". The general feeling in the US is that Tszyu's power will tell against Hatton, who is perceived as largely untested. Hatton has been beaten some solid contenders, including Mike Stewart, Ben Tackie and Vince Phillips, who incidentally is the only man to have beaten the champion, but many are of the opinion that those fighters were past their best and nowhere near the class that Tszyu represents now.
Despite Tszyu's return from a long layoff to brutally stop old foe Sharmba Mitchell in the 3rd round last November, the Sydney resident is now 35 and there are just as many questions surrounding him as there are of Hatton. So while Tszyu will start off the favourite, British fans know that "The Hitman" could not be better prepared for this fight. If it's going to happen for Hatton, it will happen on June 4th. The champion, no matter how great, is not invincible and Hatton has the tools to reinforce that vulnerability.
With so many questions being asked surrounding this battle, come fight night we should get all the answers we require.
www.rickyhitmanhatton.com
