TalkingBoxing News
A month away, Taylor Ready to Repeat
TUE November 1 - With a little over a month to go before the most highly anticipated rematch in years - between undisputed middleweight champion Jermain Taylor and the man he defeated for the title in July, Bernard Hopkins – the champ is working hard in his new training camp in Memphis, Tennessee, and chomping at the bit to step into the ring again with ‘The Executioner’.
“I’ve been training hard, I’m already on weight, and I can’t wait to get into the ring,” said the unbeaten Taylor, who moved his camp from Miami to Memphis due to the hurricanes that ravaged South Florida. The 27-year-old champion will be training in a private area at the 6,000 square foot Memphis Police Boxing Gym, located next to door to The Liberty Bowl where the University of Memphis football team plays it's home games, which is approximately 120 miles from his hometown in Little Rock, Arkansas. Needless to say, it’s still Taylor country.
“The weather’s great here and the fans have taken me in as one of their own,” said Taylor, who as an amateur fought three times in Memphis. “I can’t go anywhere without being asked for an autograph, and it’s a pleasure to be around people who appreciate what you do.”
Taylor vs. Hopkins 2 - “No Respect”- will take place Saturday, December 3 at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. The championship card will be presented by DiBella Entertainment and Golden Boy Promotions and will be broadcast live on HBO Pay-Per-View beginning at 6 p.m. (PT) / 9 p.m. (ET). For Taylor (24-0, 17 KOs), the rematch is an opportunity to further establish his credentials as the premier middleweight in the world, something he began on July 16. In that bout, the former 2000 U.S. Olympic Bronze Medalist handed Hopkins his first defeat since 1993. That’s not to say that Taylor didn’t have some butterflies before the bout.
“The Hopkins fight was the biggest thing that had ever happened to me in my life,” he said. “It was a lot bigger than the Olympics. You can dream about it, but until it happens, you don’t know what to expect. When I walked out there, I saw all the lights and said, ‘man I cannot believe this is real.’ But now for the second time around, it’s almost like any other fight.”
That’s bad news for Hopkins.
“I’ll tell you the truth, when I step in the ring this time, I’m giving him no respect,” admits Taylor. “He can’t knock me out, he’s not faster than me, he has nothing.”
“Jermain has always been one of the most mature boxers I’ve ever been around, and becoming undisputed champion has only increased that maturity and dedication,” said Taylor’s promoter, Lou DiBella. “We respect Hopkins’ accomplishments, but Jermain is the new boss at 160 pounds, and he’s going to let the world know that on December 3rd.
But despite his confidence, Taylor is training even harder than ever, armed with the added experience he picked up in the first fight with Hopkins. “I learned so much in that fight,” said Taylor. “Even in sparring now I’m picking my punches a lot better and I’m not throwing my right hand so wild. I’m keeping my hands up better, just because I know exactly how this man fights. The Hopkin's fight gave me more experience.”
Hopkins also showed Taylor that while it’s easy to be a gracious winner, it takes a real champion to be classy in defeat, something he hasn’t seen yet from ‘The Executioner’. “That surprised me a lot,” said Taylor. “He was the champion, and if he was a true champion he shouldn’t worry because he’s got another chance to get his belts back. But he’s still running around months after the first fight whining and crying like a baby. I’m just sick of him saying that he won the fight and that I didn’t beat him.”
Adds DiBella, “I’m proud to be associated with a young man who not only shows dedication to his craft, but who gives the sport a good name. Jermain Taylor is a special kid, in and out of the ring.”
But once he’s in the ring on December 3rd, expect to see Jermain Taylor’s ‘Bad Intentions’ come out. “Bernard knows he’s not strong enough to knock me out, he knows he’s not fast enough to outpoint me,” said Taylor. “If he comes in and tries to fight me, it’s going to be a quick night.” A prediction from the champ? “I will go in there and make Bernard look his age,” said Taylor.
Tickets, priced at $800, $600, $400, $200 and $100, are on sale now at the Mandalay Bay Theatre Box Office. Tickets also will be sold at all Las Vegas Ticketmaster locations (Tower Records/WOW!, Smith’s Food and Drug Centers, Robinsons-May stores and Ritmo Latino). To charge by phone with a major credit card, call the Mandalay Bay box office at (702) 632-7580 or Ticketmaster at (702) 474-4000. Tickets also are available for purchase at www.mandalaybay.com or www.ticketmaster.com.
The Taylor vs. Hopkins 2 pay-per-view telecast, beginning at 6 p.m. (PT) / 9 p.m. (ET) on Saturday, December 3, has a suggested retail price of $49.95, will be distributed by HBO Pay-Per-View and will be available to more than 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.
Taylor to Face Joval for IBO title
TUE November 1 - Former WBC welterweight title challenger Shannan Taylor will take on Dutchman and IBO middleweight champion Raymond Joval later this month in Melbourne.
The 33-year old Taylor, best known for his knockout loss at the hands of Shane Mosley, will be the featured fight of the evening at the Vodafone Arena on Sunday, November 27th.
The Resurgence of Heavyweight Boxing in Britain
TUE November 1, Frank Maloney - People have been talking for some time now about the decline of the heavyweight boxing division. I believe that boxing's premier weight class can be seen as an indicator of the sport's health as I've long maintained that boxing is only as good as the heavyweight division.
Having said that, I'm also a believer that the boxing business is really divided into two parts. You have the heavyweight boxing business on one hand and the then you have the business concerning all of the other weight classes. It's true that the world heavyweight scene is not what it once was but the same cannot be said of the heavyweight boxing scene in England at the moment, thanks to promoter Frank Warren.
Recently people have been quick to attack Frank Warren. Quick to say that he can't deliver big shows and that he's not the promoter that he once was. But once again, when the chips are down, Frank has proven everyone wrong.
For on December the 10th, he's made a parcel of heavyweight fights that has the whole of Britain buzzing. In delivering this show at the ExCel Centre in London on that date, Frank has proven why people were wrong to underestimate his capabilities.
Everyone thought that he was going to deliver the rescheduled Matt Skelton and Danny Williams fight and there were a lot of remarks made after he announced that fight only to it have it fail to take place because a member of Skelton's management team confirmed their man's willingness to face Williams without first verifying the decision of the fighter.
What happened next is something that I believe is a measure of Frank's abilities as a promoter. He made three very high profile contests that will have repercussions on both sides of the Atlantic. You have Danny Williams taking on Audley Harrison. Matt Skelton facing Kevin McBride and John McDermott squaring off against Scott Gammer in an official eliminator for the British title.
While it is subject of course to final contractual approval by both camps, the Matt Skelton - Kevin McBride fight is one that I really hope will happen as I've worked with both fighters.
To put this matchup into perspective, McBride is someone that everyone is chasing at the moment since his win over Mike Tyson. The Irishman, now based in America, stands a full six foot seven inches and hails from the same area that produced the legendary "Clones Cyclone", Barry McGuigan.
At the age of 38, Matt Skelton is the undefeated British Heavyweight Champion, despite his disadvantage of having no amateur experience whatsoever. Yet, he's beaten everyone that's been put in front of him. Matt is extremely strong willed and he turned down a lot of money to fight Danny Williams on an issue of principle.
Not just content at the Skelton - McBride contest, Frank Warren also has announced the fight that has the whole of Britain talking; former British Champion Danny Williams against 2000 Olympic Gold Medallist Audley Harrison. People are asking just how Frank Warren could make such a pairing after he and Harrison had for years engaged in a war of words through the press?
The answer is that Frank Warren's philosophy is to not let anything get in the way of making the fights that the public wants to see, and that business is business. Obviously, Harrison has the same outlook as both he and Frank have agreed to this fight, which will headline the ExCel Centre show on 10 December.
The Williams - Harrison bout has to be one of the most eagerly awaited heavyweight fights in Britain since Lennox Lewis and Frank Bruno squared off. I've heard hardened sports journalists say that the only place to be on December 10th is at the ExCel Centre. There will be a lot of questions asked in the ring on that night. Will Matt Skelton be able to master a much improved Kevin McBride, the Irish tank that put an end to the career of the once fearsome Mike Tyson?
I managed McBride for a period of time but we fell out over a personal issue. I take my hat off to him since then as he's gone to America and built his career up to earning a shot on a major show here in London. Even though the Skelton - McBride pairing is a great fight, let's not forget that all eyes will be on Audley Harrison and Danny Williams. This is a twelve round heavyweight fight that doesn't need a title, as it's for something that's more important than any belt. It is for bragging rights and pride, to be able to walk around the streets and communities of London as the great city's top fighter.
No matter who wins these two heavyweight fights, the real winners will be the ten thousand people in attendance at the ExCel Centre and the millions of television viewers. But you could also say that another real winner is Frank Warren, who has proven once again that he's the number one promoter out there. He took the bull by the horns and made the fight that everyone thought was impossible.
As is common knowledge, I work with Matt Skelton and will be involved in his preparations for the fight along with Kevin Saunders. It's certainly a fight that I would hate to see Matt lose, especially since I had released McBride from a managerial contract previously. I've got to hold my hand up and say that I was totally shocked when McBride beat Tyson. I thought that it was a foregone conclusion but that is the beauty of boxing.
I still don't believe that McBride deserves a world title fight but if he beats Matt Skelton, I will be the first to walk across the ring and shake his hand and say that he does deserve a world title fight. But I must say that I'm hoping to see McBride end up in the same position that he was in during his last fight under my management and that is on his back, on the canvas.
Even though I'll be working in the corner of Matt Skelton on 10 December, I'll be keeping a close eye on the Harrison - Williams fight but I'll be keeping an even closer watch on John McDermott - Scott Gammer British title eliminator as the winner will then most likely be scheduled to challenge British Champion Matt Skelton.
I believe that Audley Harrison will step up to the plate this time and will take Danny Williams to school. I believe that the Klitschko fight has taken a hell of a lot out of Williams. That is why I was pushing strongly for Skelton to take the fight with Danny but it seemed that no matter how we approached Skelton, he would not vary from his stance of principle. So Skelton's loss is Audley Harrison's gain and I believe that Harrison will recognize the opportunity he has been given, which is really a license to impress the British public, who have recently fallen out of love with the Olympic champion.
But a win on December 10th will rekindle that romance and Harrison would then see himself in the world top ten. And who knows? Maybe we'll see Harrison and Skelton fighting for one of the big titles.
I'm not privy to the Harrison contract but I read his notes from the recent press conference in London where Audley said this is a one fight deal. If that is the case, you still have to take your hat off even more to Frank Warren because Harrison could win and look sensational, before walking straight back to America. So that shows you a promoter who has balls and is willing to deliver the fight that the British fans have wanted for the last four years.
The American based heavyweight champions of the world such as John Ruiz and Lamont Brewster are finding it very hard to get fights on their own home ground. In contrast, three major heavyweight fights are taking place on the same card in London in December, and I think that's proof that the heavyweight scene in England is certainly picking up again.
As I mentioned before, there will be a lot of questions asked between the ropes at the ExCel Centre. Important questions such as is Danny Williams over the hill? Can Audley Harrison really do it? Just thinking about these two heavyweight fights and what heights to the two winners could climb to is what boxing is all about. But where will the losers go?
When all is said and done, the real winners on the night will be the British fans and boxing is all about winning. There is no place for losers in this unforgiving sport.
- Frank Maloney www.frankmaloney.com
Harrison Studies Tapes Mandatory Guzman
TUE November 1 - The promotional parties have just started talking, but Frank Maloney, the colorful former bartender who manages World Boxing Organization featherweight champion Scott "The Real McCoy" Harrison, is not wasting any time.
Upon hearing the WBO's official decree that Frank Warren, Harrison's promoter, and Sycuan Ringside Promotions, which represents No. 1 featherweight contender Joan "The Sycuan Warrior" Guzman, must negotiate this mandatory world title showdown and have it take place within 120 days from Nov. 5, Maloney went into high gear.
Harrison defends his title in his native Scotland Nov. 5 against tough Australian Nedal Hussein, but Maloney is more concerned about the threat from the undefeated Guzman.
"Guzman vs. Harrison is a super fight in my mind," said Maloney. "I have ordered up tapes of Guzman bouts and I am taking them forthwith to Scott's trainer and father, Peter Harrison.
"I want Peter and Scott to study those tapes carefully. Joan is highly regarded in America and a victory over him would put Scott on the world map. In America, the people would then say, 'Who is this Scottish boy? He is the real deal and they would say Scott has got to be taken very seriously.’ “
For his part, Guzman said the videotape "homework" won't boost Harrison's chances of keeping the WBO featherweight crown.
"When the first bell rings, Harrison won't be fighting a tape," Guzman laughed. "Is it live or is it Memorex? Remember those commercials? Well, when I rush at Harrison I will be 100 percent live."
Representatives of promoter Warren and Sycuan Ringside Promotions are discussing a possible January showdown between the two furious featherweights.
Showing his extreme confidence, Guzman already has said he has no problem in going to Scotland to challenge Harrison.
Sycuan Ringside Promotions 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 three 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 International Boxing Federation junior featherweight champion Israel Vazquez, former IBF lightweight champ Julio Diaz, undefeated former WBO junior featherweight champ and current WBO No. 1 featherweight Joan Guzman and World Boxing Council No. 1 welterweight contender Carlos Baldomir.
Sycuan Ringside Promotions is led by Glenn Quiroga, president; Willie Tucker Sr., senior vice president; Scott Woodworth, vice president of boxing operations; and Michael Marley, vice president of public relations.
Vitali Answers Questions from Media
TUE November 1 - LEE SAMUELS: Greetings everyone, extremely exciting time for Top Rank and K2 boxing. We are, the world champion is with us, he is in Los Angeles. Bob Arum and Tom Loeffler have just left the Baltimore press conference, on their way to Philadelphia, there on this call with us. This is Seek and Destroy Vitali Klitschko verses Hasim Rahman promoted by Top Rank K2 with our friends at Caesars’ Palace and Wynn Las Vegas and we will be live on HBO Pay Per View on Saturday November 12th.
BOB ARUM: OK. All right I want to welcome you all here to Vitali Klitschko’s conference call. Tom Loeffler and I are in a limo going from Baltimore, where we had a press meeting, to Philadelphia and it’s a pleasure to be with everybody because the anticipation for this, the best heavyweight fight in years, between the two best heavyweights in the world has really captured the imagination of everybody who loves boxing. So now I am going to turn to Tom Loeffler of K2 Promotions, our co-promotion with Top Rank in this bout to say a few words before we put on the heavyweight champion of the world Vitali Klitschko. Tom:
TOM LOEFFLER: Thank Bob. We’re really excited to do this promotion with Top Rank. Vitali hasn’t fought since last December when he fought Danny Williams and now he’s back to showcase his skills and prove that he still the best heavyweight in the world. He’s been training hard in LA and I have Dean Rockman who’s on the speaker phone with the Baltimore press conference. He’s training hard up in Oregon. This should be a great promotion.
LEE SAMUELS: And Bernd Boente the personal manager of Vitali is here with us and let’s introduce Vitali for opening remarks before we talk to reporters. Vitali:
VITALI KLITSCHKO: Good afternoon everybody, Vitali Klitschko talking from Los Angeles. And I am really happy to talk with everyone and explain, to give an answer for many questions and to, yeah I want to say hello everybody and I am ready to explain how doing with preparation, how I see the fight and yeah to give you answer for a lot of questions.
KEVIN IOLE Hi Vitali, how are you.
VITALI KLITSCHKO: Good, I am fine thank you.
KEVIN IOLE: My question is now that you have been in camp for a while what are the effects of the layoff that you had with the surgery and the time. It’s been eleven months since you’ve been in a ring, what have been the things that you had to overcome from being off for a while?
VITALI KLITSCHKO: The, I think right now it I feel very well. I don’t have a problem anymore. I don’t think about my injury anymore and right now I concentrate and looking forward to the fight. You, everybody’s sport injuries and you know, in sports sometimes it happens to the injury and with every sportsman it happens story and my breaks were for long but its not depend on me and depend on this injury and right now I feel great and top form and I’m ready to fight again. Yes of course the break was a little bit long, almost 11 months, but anyway I have my experience. I train all the time and I am ready to show great performance in November 12th.
KEVIN IOLE: Did it affect your timing being off as long as you were?
VITALI KLITSCHKO: You know what, break is not so long break is not good but anyway I feeling good, feeling great and I thinks it will be not big deal (inaudible). I’m really hungry right now about boxing because of the break was so long and I am enjoy every training and I’m, I want as fast as possible to be in the ring.
KEVIN IOLE: And one last question, I know the last time you fought the elections in the Ukraine were going and you were so concerned about that and everything. Now that that’s been resolved how involved are you in the day to day, what’s going on over there and are you happy with the reforms that have been made in the country since the election?
VITALI KLITSCHKO: It’s not sports and political, sports questions, no political questions and I am involved and all process in what happened in Ukraine is, yes of course is interesting me very much what happened right now in the Ukraine and which direction we go and I am really happy the President elections we won the democratic, a democratic, right now we I fight for. I fight for democracy against utter treason and I am really happy we won this election and right now Ukraine developed to democracy ways. The ways not, not sharp it, we can’t to be in from one to another day democracy country but it’s very, very important for our country and for (inaudible) everyday the, our government, our President make more and more movement towards democracy and its long process but we’re very happy with that. Many, many countries I see how many years the United States need to, to work with democracy and to other states work with democracy today and our country, the Ukraine is very young country and that’s why we need a little bit more time. But if I can I help a lot because I have a little bit more experience. I lived a long time in democracy countries in Germany, in United States and I know how work democracy in this countries and I try to bring, be a good example to Ukraine. It’s like, like ambassador because the sport is worldwide, the sport is global and I travel a lot around the world.
KEVIN IOLE: Thank you Vitali, good luck.
BOB ARUM: OK, thank you Kevin.
DAN RAFAEL, ESPN.com: Thank you. Hey Vitali, how are you?
VITALI KLITSCHKO: Good afternoon, I’m fine.
DAN RAFAEL: Hey Vitali when you first you fought Lennox Louis and didn’t win the fight, we all know the circumstances there, but then your next two fights again Williams and Corey Sanders, both not that well known in America, both foreign fighters. How important is it for you to be fighting Hasim Rahman who’s American and is a well known name in the division, highly respected and all, being also American and also a former heavyweight champion. How important is that for you to put a big name like that on your record to, you know, to continue to show the boxing public that you are the best of all the heavyweights out there?
VITALI KLITSCHKO: For boxing public it’s not important which nationality do I have, do we have. It’s very important to show a good performance and very interesting fight for all boxing audience. And it is most important point and for me it’s not important against who I fight, against British guy, South African, or from some other countries of the world. It’s very important to show good emotional fight for all boxing audience and the people who buy the tickets. The people who watch TV have to be happy and want to see the fight again. And the most important question and that’s why if I fight against Hasim Rahman, it’s my personal opinion he’s strong, it’s not just my personal opinion, it’s the opinion of all boxing experts. He’s one of the strongest fighters, heavyweight, in the world right now the fight will be very interesting. And for me it’s not important which nationality have Hasim Rahman. In sport it is not important.
DAN RAFAEL: OK Vitali. One thing, Hasim Rahman has been stopped in previous fights; Lennox Lewis knocked him out in the rematch. He’s been knocked out in other fights. Is there any pressure, do you put any on yourself to not only win the fight but to knock him out and to do it in style?
VITALI KLITSCHKO: Its biggest mistake what I can do is if I underestimate Hasim Rahman. He’s strong fighter and you know what it is boxing is heavyweight and who has every single punch can decide result. It can decide the fight and that’s why I prepare for this fight very well and I know Hasim Rahman is big puncher. I know he’s good boxer and I know it will be not so easy and that’s why I prepare for this fight very tough.
DAN RAFAEL: OK, thank you Vitali, good luck to you.
VITALI KLITSCHKO: Thank you.
GEORGE DANSNA: You are going to be the most fundamental skills that you’ll be using in there during your match against Rahman. For example can we expect more in the maneuverability in the presentation for your boxing more?
VITALI KLITSCHKO: You know what, we prepared, we developed a strategy for this fight in different. We have option A, option B, option C and we developed these strategy for every participation in the ring. I will be great condition for all twelve rounds but I don’t believe the fight will be all 12 rounds. And I, we have a strategy, I don’t want to explain our strategy what I have to, what I want to do in the ring because I want to, I want to present my strategy inside the ring.
GEORGE DANSNA: Very good answer. I wanted to ask you also is there by any chance a rematch (inaudible) in the works should Rahman defeat you coming November 10th?
VITALI KLITSCHKO: It’s, I think I don’t need that.
GEORGE DANSNA: OK, very good. God bless you and good luck.
VITALI KLITSCHKO: Thank you, thank you.
LEM SATTERFIELD, Baltimore Sun: Hi Vitali, how you doing?
VITALI KLITSCHKO: Hi, I’m fine thank you.
LEM SATTERFIELD: Good, hey Dan was talking about how you know trying to finish off Rahman and knock him out. And Rahman has made some, like you that it’s not going to go twelve rounds. Is it, does it favor you if Rahman tries to come out and knock you out and go for the KO?
VITALI KLITSCHKO: Could you repeat it? Sorry we had a very bad reception here at the moment.
LEM SATTERFIELD: Does it favor you if Hasim Rahman tries to come out and go for the knock out rather than boxing you?
VITALI KLITSCHKO: Yes of course. If Hasim Rahman tries to use his skills and his strong punch and I know he’s very dangerous but I don’t want to underestimate Hasim Rahman and I want to use experience of Lennox Lewis where we shoot together in Ocean’s Eleven in Las Vegas and a week or ten days before Rahman fight in South Africa and ask Lennox why, what are you doing here, you have to be in South Africa to fight Hasim Rahman. He underestimated Hasim Rahman, he tell me he’s just one or maximum two rounds and yeah, and I was not, I was not surprised that Hasim Rahman knocked Lennox Lewis out because it was Lennox was not 100% concentrate for this fight. And of course Rahman fight. And I know his Hasim is very good fighter, big punch and give all best, giving all his skills to be world champion but I don’t give him this chance.
LEM SATTERFIELD: Also you mentioned Lewis; you have as an advisor you have mentioned to us that Emanuel Steward will be your advisor? How’s that going and are you able to implement any of his instructions in training?
VITALI KLITSCHKO: I went, I work with Fritz Zdunek, he’s my head coach and a trainer of my brother, Emanuel Steward and right now I’m in LA and he’s in our training camp. He work like advisor, he gives advice for me on how better to make analytic with Emanuel and Emanuel has big experience and he prepared Lennox Lewis twice for Rahman fight and it’s my personal opinion it’s very helpful to work with Emanuel in this way.
LEM SATTERFIELD: Fritz, same think I mean, are you guys able to implement some of the suggestions that Emanuel has give to you guys about Rahman?
FRITZ ZDUNEK: (German)
BERND BOENTE: We analyze the fights of Lewis versus Rahman together, first Fritz talking, and him and Steward.
FRITZ ZDUNEK: (German)
BERND BOENTE: Yeah, we both have the same resolve. We saw exactly to analyze those fights and we know what we have to do.
LEM SATTERFIELD: Last question, Vitali said that Lennox underestimated Rahman. Does he buy the notion that maybe Lennox Lewis because he was prepared to fight a different fighter than Vitali, does he buy that maybe Lennox underestimated him too?
VITALI KLITSCHKO: You know what it is a good question, but it is not for me. Good questions for, for Lennox or for you, you are the boxing expert, you writers you understand a lot of boxing and my personal opinion is Lennox Lewis was never so heavy like he is last fight against me and my personal opinion, Lennox was not great condition in this fight. And the doctors stopped the fight and yeah and my personal opinion I am more than sure the doctors stopped the fight and Lennox Lewis don’t have condition for all 12 rounds with this weight. It was above 265 pounds and yeah, we have exactly the same situation as I prepare for another fighter and Lennox Lewis prepared for Gil Jolsen (sp) and just ten days, two weeks before the fight we decide to fight each other then and we have exactly, exactly the same type condition.
LEM SATTERFIELD: Thanks a lot Vitali that wasn’t meant to take anything away from your performance against Lennox. Good luck.
VITALI KLITSCHKO: Thank you, thank you very much I appreciate your question.
ROBERT MORALES, Los Angeles Daily News : Hey Vitali, how you doing man.
VITALI KLITSCHKO: Good afternoon, I’m doing well.
ROBERT MORALES: Good, listen you know, you’re generally considered the best heavyweight in the world right now. The best of all the champions but the division as a whole is down compared to other eras. What do you think needs to happen for the heavyweight division for it to recapture some of its previous glory?
VITALI KLITSCHKO: You know what it’s, it's general questions about heavyweights. You know what, I’m just a fighter and I give for my best for every fight and I’m ready to fight everyone. It’s my personal opinion how many, if many fight who be in the future. For example the next Wladimir fight, if Wladimir fight for world title against Chris Byrd or Lamon Brewster, it will be very interesting fight and usually it’s we give. I’m like sportsman give my best show good performance and my brothers and what about another fighter is tough questions and is it. I have many examples is that people seem in the past time people were more stronger than today. It’s always people thinking, think stuff and I’m and my brother give the best to bring in heavyweight division more expect, more attention, more energy and more emotion for all boxing audience. And we give the best and yes of course we try to do with that.
ROBERT MORALES: One last question Vitali, or Vitali. We all know that Hasim Rahman does have the type of punch that can probably knock out any heavyweight out there. Is that your biggest concern how hard he hits?
VITALI KLITSCHKO: Hasim Rahman has a lot of good skills and don’t want to explain, I don’t need to explain how many good skills Hasim Rahman has, I prepare for that. And you know what I explain and want to repeat again it’s heavyweight division and every heavyweight have a lot of power to knock somebody out. If you miss the punch and the game is over. Hasim Rahman or somebody else is not important. I have a lot of experience, I have fight against many fighters who’s very strong punchers, Corey Sanders, strong puncher, Lennox Lewis, strong puncher and Danny Williams, big puncher and I have experience with that and I prepare, I prepare for to surprise my opponent always.
ROBERT MORALES: Thank you Vitali, appreciate it.
VITALI KLITSCHKO: If my opponent can use his weapon.
ROBERT MORALES: All right, thank you.
VITALI KLITSCHKO: You’re welcome.
LEWIS CANDON: Hello Vitali, how you doing.
VITALI KLITSCHKO: Hi, I’m doing fine.
LEWIS CANDON: OK, even though you’re universally recognized as the heavyweight champion of the world, the major obstacle in your path to getting that unification bout is basically Don King. How do you see yourself working around that obstacle to solidify your status as the heavyweight champion?
VITALI KLITSCHKO: I give my best in my fights and right now I have to defend my title against Hasim Rahman and after that yes of course we will be very interesting to see the elimination fight. The world champion against world champion and it will be very interesting cause my brother Wladimir, my brother is going to fight against in match against Lamon Brewster or Byrd and for example if Wladimir fight Byrd it will be very interesting for me to fight Brewster. If Wladimir fight Brewster it will be very interesting to fight against Byrd because it leaves open between me and Byrd and we need, actually boxing audience need very interesting fight, champions against champions. And lets see, let’s see what happens, but anyway I don’t want to think about that right now. It’s for me step by step for me it’s very important. I believe to talk about it without win against Hasim Rahman. And that’s why I’ll be ready to give answer exactly for my next fight and just after Hasim Rahman step by step but I explain my dreams to, to be, to fight in a unification fights against another world champion.
LEWIS CANDON: OK.
VITALI KLITSCHKO: And I will do it exactly the same like Lennox Lewis, keep all belts in my hand or hands of my brothers anyway future for family.
LEWIS CANDON: Like keep it in the family, I understand. Of the new talent that is coming up thought, for example Luis the WBA champion is going to be fighting Nicolay Valuev. That’s a new blood that’s coming into the heavyweight division. Do you see any of these new heavyweights that are in an opposing figure for you?
VITALI KLITSCHKO: You know what it’s, I know so many new heavyweight fighter, this new generation growing up and it’s very difficult to say who will be big world champion because everyone have big advantage to be the world champion and in professionals the way to world titles is to very long and lets see who is next couple of years will be the strongest in the world. I know many, many young guys who have big potential to want to use his potential in the future but let’s see, nobody, nobody know, you know, every fight can stop the boys. Its, its very philosophic question but I know many young people who ready to show great performance. In Germany, in Russia, in Ukraine and right now it’s many, many fighters from east try to be world champions, Nicolay Valuev is against, Luis will be fight and let see if have a chance to be world champion.
LEWIS CANDON: It’s funny, one last question. It’s funny that you just finished saying that about Germany and Russia, like these new guys that are coming from Europe. Do you think that, the new tide of heavyweights are going to come more from Europe and kind of leave America in the dark?
VITALI KLITSCHKO: To be honest, to be honest, I know a couple of guys who have really big, big potential and amateur career behind and right now have plans to be professional and reach the goals. Yes of course in United States a lot of new generation too but I know the guys very well and I think if right now boxing is so, especially professional boxing is so popular in East and boys give the best to, to take a chance to fight for world title and to be world champion. And the new generation is very hungry and I don’t want to, its very philosophic questions, nobody know what happens tomorrow but anyway I see how big is potential. Is potential doing more for five or ten years ago but right now it’s starting big way.
LEWIS CANDON: Right, well thank you very much. I wish you the best on your fight, good luck and God bless.
VITALI KLITSCHKO: Thank you very much for your question.
LEWIS CANDON: Take care, bye.
VITALI KLITSCHKO: Bye.
DAVE GINSBURG, Associated Press: Today Rahman said that he expected to really hit you early and that you would not be able to come out for the tenth round. How do you, what do you think of that prediction and what is your prediction for the fight?
VITALI KLITSCHKO: You know what, if I want to give the comment for Rahman inside the ring. And you know what I don’t want to give comment here about it. Let’s see, let’s see and I try to do it exactly the same or (inaudible) as Rahman.
LEM SATTERFIELD: Hey Vitali, in other words you’re not going to, you’re not going to talk smack on the conference call right? Is that what you’re saying?
VITALI KLITSCHKO: We have very bad reception here, what was the question?
LEM SATTERFIELD: I was saying he wouldn’t talk smack on the conference call. Rahman was kind of talking smack about how he was going to knock him out he wouldn’t reciprocate; he was going to wait until he gets into the ring.
VITALI KLITSCHKO: He answered that question already right?
LEM SATTERFIELD: Right, right. What, Vitali why do you feel that you should be, well you are recognized universally as the champion. Why do you feel that is just and why not any of the others, Brewster, Byrd or Ruiz?
VITALI KLITSCHKO: It’s not question for me. It’s, I’m, I’m very happy that boxing expert and public and boxing audience expect me like the heavyweight world champion. And Lem it is not for me, it depends on my fight years of course but its decision of boxing.
VITALI KLITSCHKO: It’s depend on not of me it depend on boxing experts, boxing audience, public who like boxing. And yes of course I give my best in the fights the people decide who.
LEM SATTERFIELD: Right but then we think, Bob can also address that, why is Vitali considered the world champion?
BOB ARUM: Cause he’s the best fighter, heavyweight fighter in the world. I mean that’s why I, Top Rank was motivated to bid on the fight is because it matches the two best heavyweight in the world, the champion, true champion Vitali Klitschko and Hasim Rahman the dangerous challenger. It’s as simple as that. I mean I don’t know anybody out there who has any kind of chance to beat Vitali with the possible exception of Rahman and that’s only because of the fact that he knocked out Lennox Lewis. So I mean as far as I’m concerned that’s how I answer the question.
LEM SATTERFIELD: But what I am trying to do is, you know, a lot of boxers, and I know Vitali’s not prone to doing this, but a lot of boxers will tell you, you know, why they think they’re the best. If he could just step outside of his self and look at himself and give me an appraisal of himself just to say, you know, what he does well, why he, you know, he believes that people believe he’s the best. That’s all I wanted, I want to see if he could give me that assessment.
VITALI KLITSCHKO: I don’t want to, to give me this, I don’t want to praise myself, (inaudible) and the second it will be great I talk about unification fight and this unification fight against another world champion I can show for everyone, I give my best to show I am the strongest in the world.
LEM SATTERFIELD: OK, thanks a lot Vitali, I appreciate it.
VITALI KLITSCHKO: You’re welcome.
WILLIAM TRILLO: Hello I have a question for all three, Vitali, Bob and Tom. I’ll start with Vitali. Before the, the Monty Barrett fight with Rahman for the unification I know you said that you were hoping that Rahman would win because he had said some things about you that you wanted to prove were wrong. Are you still using Rahman’s disrespect for you as a source of motivation for this fight? Don’t tell me I lost them.
VITALI KLITSCHKO: One second I, the reception was very bad. It’s a, Hasim Rahman talk a lot and talk if I (inaudible) was suspicious of Hasim Rahman I’d tell the, it as I see them. He’s world champion by talking and he talk a lot. He don’t believe I have an injury, he’s explain for everybody I’m afraid to fight him. He’s almost beat me many, many times and it’s sometimes it’s worth, always it’s worth not correct and he’s starting to explain he beat everyone and I never will fight against him and that’s why I wish him and we can meet each other inside the ring. He wins his Monty Byrd fight and right now I am ready to give him answer inside the ring, for his questions.
WILLIAM TRILLO: Excellent I’m looking forward to that answer myself. Mr. Arum I just wanted to touch a little bit more on this promotion. And I think you caught some people by surprise when you came in and outbid everybody for this title fight and if you could just expand on why it was so important for you and Top Rank to nail this one down, I’d appreciate it.
BOB ARUM: Well I look at Vitali Klitschko as the true heavyweight champion. I’m not going to screw around like I haven’t done with the heavyweights for years because I came into this business with Mohamed Ali and then I had the privilege of promoting George Foreman and I’m not going to get involved with guys who say their champions because some of these alphabet soup organizations call champions. I look at Vitali Klitschko as a true champion and I look at Rahman as the throw back real good fighter who could have competed when he’s right. When Rahman is right, could have competed with the fighters in Ali’s hey day. And therefore I wanted to do this fight because I think it’s a quality fight and I think from here on in, hopefully whoever wins this fight will fight the best fighters out there and will stop fooling around with nonsense fights. Mandatory stupid fights that organizations fixate that the public doesn’t want to see because boxing depends on the heavyweight division for its popularity. And I think this is an opportunity that the heavyweight division, the heavyweight championship match can be called to the attention of everyone in this country and around the world and I think that’s good for boxing.
WILLIAM TRILLO: I do too. Last but not least, Tom, Bob just said how important the heavyweight division is and as you know, I don’t have to tell you Italy’s brother just beat Samuel Peters and he fought through K2 promotions. Vitali’s got this fight coming up. So K2 promotions although you’re not promoting this fight in words has a lot to do with this and how much does this actually mean for you and K2 in regards to having the Vitali part of the Top Rank promotion?
TOM LOEFFLER: Well this is a big fight for us. We’re actually the deal that we worked out with Bob is that we’re co-promoting the fight and we’re really excited about working together with Top Rank. But building on what you said about Wladimir’s fight. You know Wladimir has a lot of momentum going for him now with his win over Samuel Peter and that’s tearing into this fight, where Klitschko brothers are back on top of the division. Vitali’s recognized as the best heavyweight in division and Wladimir is now number one contender so it really bodes a lot of momentum for the Klitschko brothers and for K2 promotions and we’re very excited about this fight. Excited about going back to Las Vegas where the title bout fight was. We’re excited about the Wynn Casino hosting this fight and it’s going to be a great show.
WILLIAM TRILLO: All right I got (inaudible) all three of you guys, I wish you all the best of luck and I really look forward to this promotion and I know it’s going to be outstanding. Have a great day.
BOB ARUM: Thank you.
PETER HICKS: Hi Vitali, it is Peter Hicks here from the Mail on Sunday in England. I wanted to ask you a question about your fight with Danny Williams. To ask you what state you thought you left Williams in after the fight. He took a pretty severe beating and there was some people who would thought he would retire after the fight but now he’s due to fight Audley Harrison in what is going to be a big fight here in Britain and I wonder if you could give your opinion on whether he was wise to continue his career and how you think that fight may go?
VITALI KLITSCHKO: It’s a very difficult question for me as I don’t like, I don’t like to give the commentary for another fighter and, and I don’t like to give prediction for the next fight and so just one point and Danny Williams has very strong chin and if it was not so easy for me to knock him out in last fight and he’s, he was very strong opponent and the fight he have big heart coming again and again after knock downs and it will be, if he prove right now on Harrison and to let’s see, lets see. I don’t like to prediction and that’s why I don’t give, I don’t give prediction for the next fight but it’s boxing, it can happen every thing and special Danny Williams have strong punch and big heart, good chin and for Harrison this will be not so easy and I hope this fight will be very interesting for everybody.
PETER HICKS: Do you think Danny Williams will be able to have recovered from the fight that he had a year ago against you or will it have a serious affect, will it be you know one tough fight too far maybe?
VITALI KLITSCHKO: It’s good question for Danny Williams’ coach and I don’t think about that and I’m not ready to give you answer for this question.
PETER HICKS: All right, thanks Vitali.
VITALI KLITSCHKO: Thank you.
EDDIE GOLDMAN: Hi it’s Eddie Goldman. Hi Vitali, how you doing this afternoon?
VITALI KLITSCHKO: Good afternoon, I’m doing well thank you.
EDDIE GOLDMAN: Great. The question I have is first about Hasim Rahman. In his last several fights over the last several years he’s been very inconsistent. The first fight with Lennox Lewis of course he trained hard and he got a knock out, the second fight he really couldn’t do very much and he just seems to have been up and down. Recently when he fought Kali Meehan he seemed to be sharp that night and the more recent fight he had with Monte Barrett he seemed to be flat. What do you expect Rahman to come in terms of how sharp he’s going to be? Obviously this is a tremendously important fight but how do you prepare for a guy that sometimes he comes in very sharp and sometimes he comes in very flat.
VITALI KLITSCHKO: We study Rahman and we’re aware, I watch many fights of Rahman and, and we do have a strategy and explained we have option A, option B and option C and it’s depend on, all situations depend how good will be Hasim Rahman. We strategy to use Hasim Rahman in this fight and that’s why let’s see, let’s see. I don’t want to make prediction but the strategy almost ready for recitation and very important for me to win this fight and beat Hasim Rahman. I am great condition for all 12 rounds but I’m ready to knock him out in every round if I, if I use his mistake and I, I use his mistake and if Hasim Rahman make mistake I use his mistake and knock him out in every round from first to twelve.
EDDIE GOLDMAN: On the issue of being the world champion, who’s recognized as the world champion? I know the arguments that you’ve made for that and every independent poll that’s taken place puts you as number one in the heavyweight division. The problem is I talk to a lot of fans who maybe used to watch boxing back in the day that Bob Arum was talking about with Mohammed Ali and they’ll ask me, who’s the heavyweight champion of the world today? A lot of the public doesn’t understand it and then you have to start to explain well there’s a WBC and a WBA and an IBF. Do you see that there’s a need for you or perhaps you and your brother to unify the titles so that the no argument, like in other sports like, you have the world cup, or in the United States you have the World Series now. The best play the best and at the end you could say this is the one world champ.
BOB ARUM: OK, listen to me. This is Bob Arum. Before he answers that question, I hope you’ll tune in November 12th and you’ll see who’s the best, best heavyweight is. I mean in the years that Ali was fighting there wasn’t any disgrace to boxing like the IBF and these other organizations that make champions and then through politics make guys have mandatory. When Wladimir Klitschko beat this Williamson and they put Williamson ahead of Wladimir to make Chris Byrd fight Williamson rather than Wladimir because one guy is promoted by Don King and the other guy isn’t. You tell me what credibility these cockamamie titles have. And just watch on November 12th on whether it’s Vitali or Rahman you’ll see the true heavyweight champion of the world. And Lee I think it’s about time to maybe take one more question and let’s wrap it up.
LEE SAMUELS: OK, Eddie, thank you, good questions and reminder Seek and Destroy, Saturday November 12th Top Rank K2 your friends at Cesar’s Palace and Wynn Las Vegas will be live on HBO Pay Per View. We’ll be coming from the Thomas & Mack Center on November 12th. Genie let’s have one more question before we wrap it up for the champ.
MIKE HOUSER: Good afternoon Vitali.
VITALI KLITSCHKO: Good afternoon.
MIKE HOUSER: Tell me how inspired where you by watching your brother take apart Samuel Peter?
VITALI KLITSCHKO: Let me tell you the reception here is very bad right now.
MIKE HOUSER: OK, can you hear me know.
VITALI KLITSCHKO: Yeah, can you repeat the question please.
MIKE HOUSER: Yeah sure. I’d like to know how inspired Vitali was by watching his younger brother Wladimir do so well against Samuel Peter.
VITALI KLITSCHKO: It was very important fight for Wladimir and Samuel Peter is a new generation. It was undefeated and first time in my brother career that Wladimir was underdog in his fight and many people drew questions over Wladimir have chin or have good heart and Wladimir show for everybody he can fight and show his skills in this fight and right now he’s official challenger for world title. It makes the next fight will be for world title and it’s very interesting right now who Wladimir fight and I’m more than sure Wladimir will be world champion because I explained many times and want to repeat Wladimir have much more boxing skill than me.
MIKE HOUSER: Final question for you Vitali. Tell me about what kind of legacy you want to leave in boxing and how Rahman fits into all that.
VITALI KLITSCHKO: Yes of course its legacy is very, very important for, for everyone. You know what it’s you build your name long time and you can break your name for one second. It’s I give my best, you know what I don’t think right now about that because I don’t think about retirement and it’s very, very philosophic question and - hello?
MIKE HOUSER: Yeah go ahead Vitali.
VITALI KLITSCHKO: It’s very, very tough questions but I give my best to be, to have a good name and it’s very important for my future this fight, especially this fight against Hasim Rahman, I’m, I have exactly the same opinion like Bob Arum and for example to fight John Ruiz for example, John Ruiz is long time world champion but also big attention for John Ruiz and he loose many times is my opinion his fights but anyways they stay world champion it’s not interesting for example for me to fight against John Ruiz and right now the interest from boxing at public is much more for these special, especially for this fight Klitschko against Hasim Rahman. It’s anyway you have or you don’t have world title if the boxing audience recognize you, if boxing audience, boxing experts and public want to see this fight. This fight is the real heavyweight world champion.
MIKE HOUSER: Thank you for your time.
LEE SAMUELS: Michael, thank you very much. Bob, do you want to say some closing remarks?
BOB ARUM: Well said Vitali, that’s a good way to end this call. I want to remind the media that Vitali’s media day will be in Los Angeles a week from today, where he’ll do a work out for the media that’s present in Los Angeles. I want to thank you all for being on the call and I want to thank the champion. Thank you very much.
VITALI KLITSCHKO: Thank you for everybody and thank you for your questions and sorry for somebody who, if we don’t have chance to give you answer for your questions but anyway I give you right answer for every questions on November 12th inside the ring.
LEE SAMUELS: The media workout will be 12 o’clock next Wednesday at the Pound for Pound gym at Le Brea and Wilshire.
BOB ARUM: Thank you very much.
TOM LOEFFLER: Thank you.
LEE SAMUELS: Thanks everybody.
Gilbert Returns, First Time since 'Contender'
TUE November 1 - For the first time since appearing on NBC’s “Contender” reality show, Joey Gilbert will step into the ring in a super middleweight undercard bout during the Showtime Championship Boxing event on Nov. 5 at Caesars Tahoe. With seven fights throughout the evening, there will be plenty of action leading up to the two main events: IBF/IBO Super Middleweight Championship and IBF/IBO Bantamweight Championship.
In one of five undercard fights, Gilbert (9-1, 7 KOs) will take on James North (7-7-1, 2 KOs) of Weston, W. Va. in a six-round super middleweight bout.
Nationally recognized for his time on NBC’s reality show, “The Contender,” Gilbert is said to be one of the most exciting boxers in the ring today, with his rugged durability and fierce determination. Billed as the underdog on “The Contender,” Gilbert, a Reno native, won fans and supporters worldwide with his intensity in the ring.
In addition to boxing professionally, Gilbert was also a collegiate fighter at the University of Nevada, Reno where he was a three-time National Champion, a four-time Regional Champion, a four-time All-American, and Nevada State Golden Gloves Super Middleweight Champion.
The main event of the night is the IBF/IBO Super Middleweight Championship between defending IBF/IBO Champion, Jeff “Left Hook” Lacy (20-0, 16 KOs) of St. Petersburg, Fla. and IBF No. 5 Contender, Scott “The Sandman” Pemberton (29-3-1, 24 KOs) of New Medford, Mass.
Also on the main card is the highly-anticipated IBF/IBO Bantamweight Championship between IBF Champion, Rafael Marquez (34-3, 30 KOs) of Mexico and IBO Champion, Silence Mabuza (18-0, 15 KOs) of South Africa.
There are an additional four undercard bouts scheduled for the Nov. 5 Showtime event including heavyweights Shane Cameron (13-0, 12 KOs) of New Zealand and James Walton (20-7-2, 10 KOs) of Cleveland, Ohio; bantamweights Nonito Donaire (12-1, 8 KOs) of the Philippines and Eduardo Garcia (15-4, 5 KOs) of Mexico; heavyweights Chazz Witherspoon (8-0, 6 KOs) of Philadelphia, Pa. and Dan Whetsel (6-3-1-, 3 KOs) of Toledo, Ohio; and flyweight Glenn Donaire (14-2, 8 KOs) of the Philippines and an opponent who has yet to be announced.
Doors to the Caesars Tahoe Circus Maximus Showroom open at 3:00 p.m. and the first bout begins at 3:45 p.m. Ticket prices are $200, $100, $50 and $25 and can be purchased at the Lake Tahoe Gateway located inside Caesars Tahoe, by calling (800) 648-3353, at any Ticketmaster outlet or through www.ticketmaster.com.
The event will air on Showtime at 9 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the west coast). Gary Shaw Productions, LLC will promote the event from Caesars Tahoe.
About Showtime
SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING’s Steve Albert and Al Bernstein will call the action on Nov. 5 from ringside with Jim Gray serving as roving reporter. The executive producer of the SHOWTIME telecast will be Jay Larkin, with David Dinkins, Jr. producing and Bob Dunphy directing.
For information on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING and “ShoBox: The New Generation” telecasts, including complete fighter bios and records, related stories and more, please go the SHOWTIME website at http://www.sho.com/boxing.
Forum
