TalkingBoxing News
Vitali Petitions to Make Voluntary Defense
TUE July 12 - After winning the vacant WBC heavyweight title from Corrie Sanders in April 2004, Vitali Klitschko opted for a volunatry defense against Danny Williams in December of 2004, which the WBC allows. However, Klitschko has requested from WBC president Jose Sulaiman an additonal voluntary defense, which the WBC clearly states is not allowed.
WBC Rule 125, "Vacant Title", notes specifically where Klitschko is allowed an optional defense, but would have to fight the official challenger on September 24th, his next scheduled date to fight.
"...with the condition that the winner must meet his official challenger next."
Following the rules, the WBC would be forced to strip Klitschko and award the August 13th winner between Hasim Rahman and Monte Barrett as their world champion with full distiction.
"Our 36-member board of governors, voting by fax or e-mail from around the world, will decide a request from Klitschko's camp seeking to make his next bout a title defense against someone else, and letters from Rahman's and Barrett's side opposing that," Sulaiman said. "We hope to have a decision by Friday."
Perez Back on July 23rd
TUE July 12 - It has be confirmed that “The Punisher” Jose Perez Jr the
former 5 time National Amateur Champion will start off his summer with
the
biggest fight of his professional career.
The fight is scheduled for July 23 at the San Jose State Events Center, San Jose, CA, Jose will be Fighting along with Julio Caesar Chavez Jr. and Hector Camacho jr. (This bout has recently been confirmed and will be Jose's first of three scheduled bouts this summer)
Jose had this to say about his upcoming fight, "I am very excited to be on the same card as Chavez Jr. and Camacho Jr. I feel like I'm getting somewhere in this sport by fighting along side two great fighters who are well known. It's sort of cool that they got all the Jr.'s on the same card. Jose will be fighting his toughest opponent to date, Salvador Cardenas 5-3 with 5 KO's from Culiacán, SI, Mexico. This will be The Punisher's first appearance since he was featured on ESPN's "Friday Night Fights" where he won impressively with a four round decision over Abraham Verdugo.
Note: Emanuel Steward Trainer and Manager (founder of the "Kronk" boxing gym, Detroit city) who was at Jose's last fight on May 13, 2005 had these great words to say about "The Punisher"
"In my opinion I feel Jose is at the top of his class (being the 2004 Olympians) I mean the likes of Andre Ward, Vicente Escobedo all of them, Jose even though he did not go to the Olympics, to me he is still the top prospect from that class. He looked sharp during the fight, He did what a lot of beginning boxers don't do and that is to take their time, stay relaxed and focused, getting the job done without making lots of mistakes, he will only get better with time!" said Emanuel Steward.
Mayorga-Piccirillo for WBC Title, Aug. 13th
TUE July 12 - The WBC will sanction a jr. middleweight world title bout on the Hasim Rahman-Monte Barrett undercard on August 13th at the United Center in Chicago, IL.
Former undisputed welterweight king Ricardo Mayorga, currently ranked #2 in the WBC, will fight former IBF weltwerweight champ Michelle Piccirillo, ranked #3 in the WBC, for the vacant 154-lb title.
The following week in Rosemont, IL at the AllState Arena, WBC #4 ranked Fernando Vargas will battle recently stripped champ Javier Castillejo, with the winner of becoming the mandatory challenger to the Mayorga-Piccirillo winner.
Fans will remember, Castillejo was awarded full distinction as the WBC champion after holding the "interim" tag since 2002, but was later stripped for not fighting Mayorga and instead opting to fight Vargas. It will all come out in the wash as the old saying goes.
Wladimir Loses Lawsuit, Shot at Byrd
TUE July 12 - TalkingBoxing caught wind that IBF #4 and former WBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko has lost his attempt at becoming the IBF's next available contender, ahead of the man he beat last October, IBF #3 ranked DaVarryl Williamson.
Judge Williams Martini ruled in favor of the IBF allowing Williamson to become the probable next opponent for current IBF champion Chris Byrd. Both #1 and #2 slots are vacant in the current IBF ratings.
Forum
