TalkingBoxing News
Cotto is Ready to Adapt to Torres
MON September 19 - WBO Super lightweight champion Miguel Cotto enjoyed a spirited workout with his trainer Evangelista Cotto today at Crunch Fitness in Manhattan in preparation for his world title defense against unbeaten Ricardo Torres set for this Saturday night, September 24, at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City. The Puerto Rican star will put his unblemished record (24-0, 20 KO's) on the line in the co-featured attraction on Boardwalk Brawls headlined by heavyweights Wladimir Klitschko vs. Samuel Peter.
Here's what Cotto had to say at the workout:
ON MAKING WEIGHT
"My weight is fine. I proved that last time when I fought in New York that I can make 140 pounds without a problem."
ON BEING HEIR APPARENT TO TRINIDAD IN REPRESENTING PUERTO RICO AS BOXING'S STAR
"It is a big responsibility for me; people expect me to fill his (Trinidad's) shoes but right now it is about Miguel Cotto, learning in the ring and developing as a champion."
ABOUT THE OPPONENT CHANGE FROM BRANCO TO TORRES
"I adapt to my opponents in the ring, so whether it is Branco or Torres, it is a question of being prepared to fight. Torres has a great record and I know he is a very strong fighter."
PREDICTION
"I am ready to fight, my only prediction is that I am going to win. I don't know how I'' do it, but I will leave the ring a winner."
DiBella Speaks on Johnson Injury
MON September 19 - "We have been in contact with University Medical Center in Las Vegas this morning. While Leavander Johnson remains in critical condition and in a barbiturate-induced coma, he continues to show signs of improvement and reason for optimism.
"He is with his family, and the response from the boxing community has been extraordinary and appreciated.
"While we are far more hopeful for Leavander's continued improvement and recovery, your prayers are important, and the family believes that prayers and good wishes are a continuing source of strength. Leavander Johnson's 16-year career as a professional fighter has been characterized by courage and the heart of a champion. He is facing this ordeal with that same champion's heart." -- Lou DiBella
Maddalone, Minto Do It Again, Oct. 3rd
MON September 19 - Promoter Joe DeGuardia of Star Boxing has made it a “Night of Return Fights” and in the process added another guaranteed thriller to the bill by securing a rematch between heavyweights Vinny Maddalone and Brian Minto for the undercard of the Antonio Tarver vs. Roy Jones Jr. 3 event at the St. Pete Times Forum Arena on Saturday, October 1.
Maddalone, 25-2 (18 KOs), and Minto, 20-1 (11 KOs), fought an unforgettable bloody war (won by Minto via KO 10) on ESPN2 in July 2004 that featured relentless back-and-forth action, a knockdown of Minto and his miraculous, come-from-behind left hook that ended the war in the final round. “Vinny has been chomping at the bit for this rematch and Minto has been publicly challenging Vinny, so it made sense to put this fight together,” explains DeGuardia. “It’ll be another unforgettable fight on a night already packed with excitement.”
Since facing each other, Maddalone has gone on to establish himself as a favorite on ESPN2’s Friday Night Fights. His TKO 5 over Shannon Miller last August was another classic battle for the Italian action hero. Minto, meanwhile, has rebounded with two victories since his last fight with Vinny Maddalone.
“There will be a lot on the line for these guys,” admits Joe DeGuardia. “They’re both extremely exciting fighters and Maddalone is so well known that he has become one of the most sought after heavyweights in boxing. A victory puts the winner on the cusp of becoming a viable contender and will definitely propel one of them to an even bigger fight, but a loss would be very damaging because this is a high profile bout being contested on a worldwide stage. But the real winners,” he continues, “will be the fans in attendance and those who purchase this sensational pay-per-view. These guys know what’s at stake and they’ll both be hungry tigers when that bell rings. Someone is going down. Expect to see a repeat of the rock-em-sock em, knockdown bloody war that they fought last year.”
The Tarver vs. Jones 3 pay-per-view telecast, beginning at 9pm ET/6pm PT on October 1, has a suggested retail price of $49.95, will be distributed by HBO Pay-Per-View and will be available to over 50 million pay-per-view homes. The telecast will be available in HD-TV for those viewers who can receive HD. HBO Pay-Per-View is the leading supplier of event programming to the pay-per-view industry.
Sept. 30th St. Louis Event Postponed
MON September 19 - A lack of sufficient promotional time and competition from
professional sports teams in St. Louis has resulted in the postponement
of a
Sept. 30 boxing event in St. Louis that had been announced on Sept. 7
by Don
King Productions and the Savvis Center.
The card was to have featured a minimum of three world championship matches: Virgil “Quicksilver” Hill vs. undefeated No. 1 contender Valery Brudov for the World Boxing Association cruiserweight title; World Boxing Association junior middleweight champion Daniel Santos defending his belt against undefeated North American Boxing Organization champion Joe Wyatt; and International Boxing Federation junior bantamweight champion Luis “El Demoledor” Perez facing Hugo “Rambo” Ramirez.
“With a busy fall sports calendar and a short window before Sept. 30, the fight didn't make the immediate impact with the public that we had hoped for,” said Savvis Center Sr. VP and General Manager Dennis Petrullo. “After staging one of the most successful boxing events in history in February, we decided it would be best to postpone this card and reschedule it after we find a better date to present the event. Savvis Center remains committed to boxing and looks forward to announcing a new date soon.”
Don King Productions and the Savvis Center presented Cory “The Next
Generation” Spinks vs. Zab “Super” Judah II on Feb. 5. The event sold
out
in advance and was attended by 22,370 fans—one of the highest indoor
arena
crowds in history.
Forum
