TalkingBoxing News
Klitschko Sets Record Straight, Not Afraid of Rahman
MON July 18 - World Boxing Council heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko would like to make one thing perfectly clear: He has always wanted to fight Hasim Rahman.
“I read things, but I do not believe what I am reading,” Klitschko said. “Three months ago (April 20), a press release was sent out on my behalf stating that I would be ready to fight again in September. It included a letter from my doctor, Dr. Hyun Bae of Los Angeles.
“I am the world heavyweight champion. I am not ducking any fighters, especially Rahman. I want to prove that I am the best, but to be the best you have to fight the best. I read things that are totally unbelievable.’’
Shelly Finkel, an advisor to the Klitschko brothers, says that two weeks after the Klitschko press release, Don King convinced the WBC to hold a heavyweight fight for the interim championship on July 23.
“No matter what Don tells you, he then changed it from July 23 to Aug. 13, leaving Vitali no time to fight the winner on Sept. 24,” Finkel said.
“What television network could program a fight of this magnitude – any heavyweight title fight -- on six weeks notice, without knowing the winner or potential injury to the winner?” said Bernd Boente, Klitschko Brothers Personal Manager and longtime former television executive. “The answer is zero. None would. It is totally unfeasible, and Don King knew that.’’
In regard to King’s comments that Klitschko is afraid of Rahman, Finkel said: “I really don’t know where Don is coming from on this. Rahman has done absolutely nothing recently to strike fear in any top-notch heavyweight, much less the heavyweight champion, Vitali Klitschko.
“Look at Rahman’s last six fights,” Finkel continued. “He lost to John Ruiz. He could not knock out Al Cole, a blown up light heavyweight who Klitschko once sent home from sparring, and had to settle for a decision. He beat the dreaded Mario Cawley, who had lost six in a row, four by knockout, and Rob Calloway, a 36-year-old from Kansas that no one knows, and Terrance Lewis, who was 31-15 and had lost six of his last seven fights. Then, in an eliminator for the WBC No. 1 position, Rahman beat Kali Meehan, a fighter who was knocked out in one round by Danny Williams.
“Going off those fights, does anyone really believe Vitali is afraid of Hasim? What is perplexing to me is that Rahman is fighting Monte Barrett next month and Don promotes them both. You would think that he only promotes Rahman and that he already won the fight.’’
Added Finkel: “When the WBC sanctioned Vitali to fight the winner of Rahman-Barrett at a 65 percent-35 percent split, Vitali was willing to go directly to the winner. This is the split we originally agreed with Rahman and King on. They sure went through a lot to end up where they began.’’
Finkel says the press release distributed last week purporting to be from the WBC was made by King. “Check the WBC website to see the real one,” Finkel said.
Corrales-Castillo to Make Re-Match Official
MON July 18 - Three-time world champion Diego 'Chico' Corrales and two-time world champion Jose Luis Castillo, who earlier battled in one of the century's most fiery, historic fights, will host news conferences to announce "UNO MAS! . . .ONE MORE TIME!" -- the encore match of Corrales vs. Castillo for the world lightweight championship.
The news conferences will take place Wednesday, July 20, at the Coliseum Steps of Caesars Palace, in Las Vegas, NV AND Thursday, July 21, at the Beverly Hills Hotel Rodeo Room (9641 Sunset Blvd., Beverly Hills, CA.) Both will begin at 11:30 A.M. PT.
Promoted by Top Rank and Gary Shaw Productions in association with Caesars Palace and Wynn Las Vegas, "UNO MAS!. . . . ONE MORE TIME!" will take place Saturday, October 8, at the Thomas and Mack Center, and will be distributed Live! on Showtime Pay-Per-View.
Joining Corrales and Castillo at the news conferences will be Gary Shaw, Joe Goossen and James Prince, Corrales' promoter, trainer and manager, respectively, and Bob Arum and Fernando Beltran, Castillo's respective promoter and manager.
Hopkins-Taylor Broadcast July 23rd
MON July 18 - It's a special edition of WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING when HBO Sports presents the exclusive delay broadcast of the showdown for the undisputed world middleweight title: BERNARD HOPKINS VS. JERMAIN TAYLOR, airing SATURDAY, JULY 23 at 10:15 P.M. ET/PT, on HBO.
The HBO Sports broadcast team, which was ringside for the live event in Las Vegas, will call all the action.
Hopkins entered the July 16th HBO Pay-Per-View showdown at the MGM Grand Garden Arena as the most prolific middleweight of his era. He stepped into the ring against the fast-rising Taylor seeking his 21st consecutive successful title defense. A native of Philadelphia, Hopkins,40, has emerged as one of the sport's top pound-for-pound fighters. Taylor, who won a bronze medal the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, entered the fight with a perfect 23-0 record and faced his most difficult professional challenge.
The exclusive HBO replay will be broadcast Saturday in prime time and then replayed again on the HBO2 service on Sunday, July 24th at 9:00 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. and Tuesday, July 26th at 12:00 midnight. All times are ET/PT.
First Ever Boxing at Camp Pendleton
MON July 18 - On Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2005, the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation, through Sycuan Ringside Promotions, will host “Salute to America’s Heroes,” a six-bout boxing card at Camp Pendleton, Calif.
The highlight of “Salute to America’s Heroes” will be a 10-round main event pitting former International Boxing Federation lightweight champion Julio Diaz of Coachella, Calif , against Tomas Barrientes of Weslaco, Texas.
The event, presented in association with Northeast Promotions, will be nationally televised on cable network ESPN from the Marine Corps Base. The Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation will provide this card free of charge for Camp Pendleton authorized personnel. The card is being co-promoted by Northeast Promotions.
“On behalf of the warriors of First Marine Expeditionary Force and Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton California, I salute the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation and thank them for their generosity in bringing professional boxing to our Marines, Sailors and their families,” said BGen Mike Lehnert, USMC, Commanding General, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton.
The Sycuan Tribe demonstrates its strong commitment to the San Diego region through its support of civic and charitable organizations. The Tribe has long been a supporter of organizations which support the military including, the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund.
“Camp Pendleton is home to thousands of marines fighting in the war in Iraq,” said Daniel Tucker, Sycuan Tribal Chairman. “We are remindful of the sacrifices they make to serve this country and hope that this event will provide our troops with some enjoyable entertainment.”
Diaz is currently ranked No. 3 by the IBF among lightweights and has a record of 31-3 with 23 knockouts. Diaz won the IBF lightweight championship with a 12-round decision over Javier Jauregui on a Sycuan Ringside Promotions card May 13, 2004. The 25-year-old Diaz relinquished his IBF title to challenge World Boxing Council (WBC) lightweight champion Jose Luis Castillo March 5 in Las Vegas. In his only other match since his unsuccessful attempt to win the WBC title, Diaz stopped Marco Angel Perez with one punch in the first round on a card promoted by Sycuan Ringside Promotions June 7 at the Sycuan Resort and Casino.
The 35-year-old Barrientes is the former International Boxing Association junior welterweight champion and has a record of 27-8 with 17 knockouts.
This is the first time professional boxing has been held at Camp Pendleton.
Sycuan Ringside Promotions is considered the fastest-growing and most dynamic promotional entity in the sport. Sycuan Ringside made its debut during 2004, and to date has hosted numerous world title bouts on premium cable networks. Sycuan Ringside Promotions has many notable athletes in its corner including former World Boxing Organization junior featherweight champion Joan Guzman and IBF junior featherweight champion Israel Vasquez.
Northeast Promotions is headed by Walt Lambert.
Members of the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation have resided in and around the foothills of the Dehesa Valley for nearly 12,000 years. Today they are a modern government providing public services to their members, employees and neighbors. The Sycuan Tribal Government operates one of the region's premier Indian gaming and resort facilities, the Sycuan Resort and Casino. The Tribe through the Sycuan Tribal Development Corporation (STDC) also seeks to reinvest back into the San Diego community with a progressive business development effort. To date, STDC has purchased the Singing Hills Country Club and the historic U.S. Grant Hotel, is an investor in Hotel Solamar near Petco Park and is owner/developer of the Marina Gateway Hotel and Conference Center in National City. The Tribe also owns and operates Sycuan Ringside Promotions, the country's first tribally owned boxing promotion company, as well as Sycuan Funds, a publicly traded and professionally managed mutual fund. Combined, these enterprises now employ nearly 4,000 San Diegans.
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