TalkingBoxing News
Goossen ups ante with Peden KO claim
TUE September 13, Peter Mitchell - Robbie Peden's promoter has upped the ante ahead of the Australian's world title unification fight with Mexican boxing great Marco Antonio Barrera in Las Vegas this weekend.
Peden is a 6-1 outsider with Vegas bookmakers, but Los Angeles-based promoter Dan Goossen boldly declared at a press conference that Peden would knock Barrera out.
The prediction surprised Barrera, his promoter Oscar De La Hoya and the 50 or so American journalists in a Mexican restaurant in downtown LA to discuss Sunday's (AEST) World Boxing Council and International Boxing Federation super featherweight showdown.
"I believe anyone who has smart money will put a tonne of it on Robbie Peden because I believe not only is he going to win, I feel he is going to stop Marco Antonio Barrera," Goossen announced.
"That's the type of shape he's in."
Later, Barrera scoffed at Goossen's prediction.
Barrera, nicknamed the Baby Faced Assassin, and with 60 professional wins, including 42 knockouts, is one of boxing fiercest fighters.
"Dan Goossen will not be stepping in the ring," Barrera confidently told AAP.
"The one stepping in the ring is Robbie Peden."
An equally confident Peden was not buying into the KO claim, but after a flawless 10 week training camp in Florida the Australian Olympian and current IBF featherweight champ had no doubt he would beat Barrera.
If Peden wins the bout at the MGM Grand Casino on the Vegas strip he will become the undisputed super featherweight champion of the world.
"I'm ready," Peden, 31, said.
"We don't need to bad mouth each other.
"We're great fighters and know what to expect. You'll see it at the MGM on the weekend."
After the press conference Goossen refused to back away from his knockout declaration.
He said he could see the intensity in Peden's eyes when the boxer arrived in Los Angeles from the Florida camp.
"The first thing he said to me was 'I'm ready for war'," Goossen said.
Peden was the underdog when he knocked out American Nate Campbell in Melbourne in February to win the IBF belt.
He was also the outsider a year earlier when he destroyed Campbell in an IBF eliminator in the US.
"Robbie Peden is a dangerous fighter," said LA-based Goossen, who promotes a star-studded stable of fighters including heavyweight James Toney, light heavyweight champ Glen Johnson and Olympic gold medalist, Andre Ward.
"He's a lot more dangerous than what people give him credit for. A lot of times when you're fighting without the recognition, people look at you like that.
"All it will take will be a victory on the weekend to show people why he is nicknamed The Bomber."
The 31-year-old Barrera has a 60 win, four loss pro record.
Peden has 25 wins (14 KOs) and two losses.
Copyright © 2005 AAP - http://seven.com.au/news/sport
Pemberton Welcomes Lacy Bout!
TUE September 13 - The world’s number one rated super middleweight, Scott “The Sandman” Pemberton, along with his promoter Jimmy Burchfield, have announced that they would welcome a shot at IBF world champion Jeff “Left Hook” Lacy on Showtime, November 5th.
The November 5th date opened up when Lacy’s original opponent, WBO champion Joe Calzaghe, suffered an injury in his title defense against Evans Ashira over the weekend.
“I welcome a fight with Jeff Lacy,” said Pemberton. “Jeff is a warrior and I am a warrior, it would be a great fight. I have been to two training camps this year, one for a proposed third bout with Omar Sheika earlier in the year and one recently for a proposed fight with Danny Green. So I know I am sharp and will be ready should I get the chance.”
According to Burchfield, he has been in contact with Jay Larkin at Showtime and there was some interest in the fight, however concerns were raised that Pemberton has not fought since October, 29, 2004 when he scored a 4th round TKO over James Crawford.
“The time off really should not be a concern,” said Burchfield. “Scott has been in the gym consistently. As the #1 contender we were not going to just jump into any fight, as the ultimate goal is to get a shot at the world title. We had a great offer to fight Omar Sheika earlier in the year, however that offer proved to be fictional after much time and effort was wasted. Than we had a great deal in place to fight #2 rated Danny Green October 23rd and an injury to Green wiped that fight out.”
Pemberton was on the winning end of two ESPN2 “Fights of the Year” in 2003 and 2004 for his wins over Omar Sheika. He also received “Honorable Mention” honors for “Fight of the Year” from Ring Magazine for both Sheika fights as well as his 2002 battle with former world champion Charles Brewer.
In addition, Ring Magazine hailed Scott Pemberton as the super middleweight most deserving a title shot. KO Magazine hailed his second fight with Omar Sheika as “better than Gatti-Ward II.”
“This is a great fight for the sport of boxing,” Burchfield noted. “This would be a showcase of two of boxing’s true warriors, one that will surely be a candidate for 2005 fight of the year. Plus it would show the boxing world that if you work hard at your craft you can earn your shot, just as Scott Pemberton has done. This has the makings of a tremendous fight, and I hope it can be made.”
Hussein to rematch Arce
TUE September 13 - Team Fenech’s flyweight boxer Hussein Hussein announced today that he will rematch WBC Interim flyweight world champion Jorge Arce on October 8, 2005 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, USA.
The two first met on March 19 this year in Las Vegas in a classic battle that has been considered one of boxing’s best this year. Arce prevailed on that occasion by 10th round stoppage, but 29 year-old Hussein (28 wins, 2 losses, 21 knockouts) from Bankstown, Australia has vowed to extract revenge this time around.
“I feel more confident and I know I can beat him,” said Hussein. “The last fight wasn’t one of my best nights and I got so close. When I am 100%, I know I can beat him.”
The 26 year-old Arce (40 wins, 3 losses, 1 draw, 30 knockouts) from Los Mochis, Mexico holds the WBC Interim flyweight world title which will be on the line during this twelve round fight.
“Their first fight was a classic,” said trainer and former three-title world champion Jeff Fenech. “Mike Tyson who was at ringside told me it was one of the best fights he had ever seen. I honestly believe Hussein Hussein can reverse what happened and he will be victorious this time.”
Hussein vs. Arce II will be televised live into Australia as part of the Diego Corrales vs. Jose Castillo lightweight world title card on Main Event Pay-Per-View, Fox Sports Pub/Club Vision and Sky Channel from 11am AEST on Sunday 9th October 2005
Did Warren Kill Lacy vs. Calzaghe?
TUE September 13 - Professor Moriarty? Colonel Mustard? Who dunnit?! Who killed the biggest super middleweight title fight in 11 years -- Jeff Lacy vs. Joe Calzaghe?
"It sure as hell was not the butler," said promoter Gary Shaw. "SHOWTIME had November 5 reserved. Jeff was ready to fight in Cardiff, London, or any other homecourt venue Team Calzaghe desired. Calzaghe's promoter, Frank Warren (aka "Less Than" Frank Warren) has been sitting on the contract I sent him for nearly three weeks. I should have known he did not want Calzaghe to fight Jeff.
Having Calzaghe take a meaningless fight against a meaningless opponent. Evans Ashira was the WBO's No. 9-rated MIDDLEWEIGHT contender in its July 2005 ratings! Warren didn't want rounds for Calzaghe, he wanted an escape hatch from fighting Jeff!
"Jeff satisfied his mandatory against top-rated contender Robin Reid in August so he wouldn't be stripped and the fight would be a true world title unification fight," continued Shaw. "Reid was no warm-up fight."
The (Frank) Warren Commission found further evidence that proceeding with the Calzaghe-Ashira fight was folly as stated in Calzaghe's August interview with the BBC following Lacy's victory over Reid.
"Lots of things can also happen between now and then, not least among them injuries." he said. "I have had problems with my hand and back on and off over the years, which is hardly surprising when you have been fighting since the age of nine like I have."
Calzaghe continued: "He [Lacy] wants it and I want it and the prospect really excites me, but I haven't even talked money yet so nothing is cut and dried." [source]
EXHIBIT A: If you have injuries, why take a warm-up fight and risk blowing the biggest fight of your career?
EXHIBIT B: Did Calzaghe proceed with the Ashira fight because he did not have his deal in place for the Lacy fight with his promoter?
"Jeff will defend his titles November 5 and Showtime will televise it," said Shaw. "Jeff is not only the most active world champion in boxing, he is the shining light of the 12stone division. Jeff has successfully answered every challenge in his professional career, but when it came time for Calzaghe to face Jeff, his team threw in the towel."
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