TalkingBoxing News
Lacy and Calzaghe on Showtime On Demand
THU February 16 - SHOWTIME On Demand is replaying two exciting SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecasts featuring unbeaten IBF super middleweight champion Jeff Lacy (21-0, 17 KOs) and his WBO counterpart, undefeated Joe Calzaghe (40-0, 31 KOs). In perhaps the most highly anticipated unification showdown in years, the talented, outstanding 168-pound world champions will collide for the undisputed super middleweight crown on Saturday, March 4, LIVE on SHOWTIME at 9 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the west coast).
SHOWTIME subscribers can access both the Lacy-Scott Pemberton and Calzaghe-Byron Mitchell fights in their entirety as well as interview footage from both fighters at SHOWTIME On Demand now through March 4. Don’t miss your chance to see these knockout, power-punchers in action before they enter the ring on March 4, 2006.
On Nov. 5, 2005, Lacy demolished Pemberton, successfully defending his title by second-round knockout in yet another devastating performance. Showing once again why he is regarded as one of the most exciting boxer-punchers in any weight division, Lacy decked the game but outclassed Pemberton with a right hand to the head early in the second. The challenger made it to his feet and attempted to fight back but went down again, this time from a vicious overhand right in the closing seconds of the round. The referee stopped the contest without a count at 2:59.
On June 28, 2003, Calzaghe impressively and emphatically retained his title with a thrilling, come-from-behind second-round TKO over Mitchell, a former two-time World Boxing Association (WBA) champion titleholder. Calzaghe got dropped for the first time in his career when Mitchell connected with a right hand approximately 30 seconds into the second round. The defending champion, however, roared back to floor Mitchell with a wicked left hook. Britain's longest reigning titleholder continued to punish the tough, courageous challenger along the ropes until the referee stepped in and waved off the proceedings at 2:36 of the round.
SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING celebrates 20 years of hard-hitting, explosive programming in 2006. On March 10, 1986, SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING was born when “Marvelous” Marvin Hagler defeated John “The Beast” Mugabi in a spectacular and unforgettable 11th-round knockout in Las Vegas. Since that time, the network has aired some of the most historic and significant events in the sport including both Holyfield-Tyson bouts. Always at the forefront of boxing, SHOWTIME has set itself apart by telecasting “great fights, no rights” on the first Saturday of every month. SHOWTIME is the first network to regularly deliver live boxing in High Definition. In addition, SHOWTIME continues to be a pioneer in sports television with a number of interactive features across multiple platforms making SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecasts the most enjoyable, immersive viewing experience for the boxing audience.
Final Press Conference: Glen Johnson -Vs- Richard Hall
THU February 16 - The stakes will be high on February 24th when Glen Johnson battles knockout artist Richard Hall in a fight that will shake up the Light Heavyweight title picture, but two days before ‘The Destroyer’ tries to disrupt “The Return of the Road Warrior”, both 175-pound stalwarts will meet with the media to discuss their upcoming IBA World Title bout.
The final press conference for “The Return of the Road Warrior” will be held at 1pm on Wednesday, February 22nd, in the center of Seminole Paradise, which is located on the grounds of the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida.
In addition to Johnson and Hall, former World Champion Joel Casamayor, who competes in the co-featured bout of the evening on February 24th, will also be in attendance, along with Heavyweight prospect Timor Ibragimov and number one Lightweight contender Ricky Quiles.
Tickets for “The Return of the Road Warrior” are priced at $150, $100, and $50. For more information please call 954.523.3309 or visit www.ticketmaster.com.
Suggested retail price for the pay-per-view broadcast is $19.95.
For more information on Warrior’s Boxing, please visit our website at www.warriorsboxing.com.
Shobox: IBF Flyweight Championship
THU February 16 - One night before SHOWTIME will offer the
eagerly anticipated Jeff Lacy-Joe Calzaghe showdown for the undisputed
super middleweight championship, America's No. 1 Boxing Network will
continue to commemorate its 20th anniversary of televising world-class
match-ups with an excellent world title fight Friday, March 3, on "ShoBox:
The New Generation.''
The International Boxing Federation (IBF) flyweight title bout between undefeated champion Vic Darchinyan and IBF No. 4/World Boxing Council (WBC) No. 2 contender Diosdado Gabi (11 p.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME, delayed on the west coast) has all the ingredients of being exciting, explosive and compelling. In the "ShoBox'' co-feature from Chumash Casino Resort in Santa Ynez, Calif., unbeaten Anthony Mora will face Rustam Nugaev in a 10-round lightweight bout. The doubleheader will be promoted by Gary Shaw Productions, LLC.
Darchinyan (24-0, 19 KOs), of Sydney, Australia, by way of Vanadvor, Armenia, and Gabi (26-2-1, 19 KOs), of Davao City, Philippines, are talented, crowd-pleasing southpaws. Armed with bone-crunching power, Darchinyan has won six consecutive bouts by knockout. Gabi, who has never been stopped, has won 12 in a row, including eight inside of the distance.
The Darchinyan-Gabi battle will be the second world title fight in "ShoBox" history. On June 3, 2005, Scott Harrison retained his WBO 126-pound title with a fourth-round KO over Michael Brodie.
"My goal is to unify the belts and to fight the best," said Darchinyan, who will make his second United States start and third title defense. Since I won the title, I have had four fights either cancelled or postponed. So, I am excited to be fighting and defending my title again.
In his stateside debut and first pro start outside of Australia, Darchinyan captured the IBF 112-pound crown with an 11th-round TKO over defending champion Irene Pacheco on Dec. 16, 2004, in Hollywood, Fla. The previously undefeated Pacheco (30-0 going in) had held the title for more than five-and-one-half years and made seven successful defenses.
Not even a bizarre, 10-minute timeout in the ninth round caused by a large fireworks display next door to the outdoor venue could save Pacheco. The champion went down twice - once each in the 10th and 11th - and had three points deducted for low blows (one in the ninth and two in the 10th). After the final knockdown, Pacheco's corner stopped the bout at 0:44 of the 11th round. The challenger was ahead 99-88, 97-90 and 96-92 entering the 11th.
The hard work for Darchinyan began in Vanadzor, Armenia, when he was eight years old.
"In Vanadzor, boxing, weightlifting and wrestling were very popular,'' Darchinyan said. "My father was a wrestler, and he introduced me to the sport when I was very young. Amateur boxing in my hometown was like football and baseball in the U.S.
"I recognized very early that I enjoyed boxing and the opportunity to challenge myself. Most importantly, I learned to enjoy winning.''
From an early age, Darchinyan showed that he might be special. Once he joined the Armenia Junior Amateur Boxing circuit, the young fighter dominated at 108 pounds and was Age Champion from the time he was 12 until he was 16. In 1993, the Armenian Amateur Boxing Association selected Darchinyan as its representative in the World Title junior tournament in Turkey.
The pint-sized powerhouse left Armenia a year later and relocated to Russia to pursue his amateur career. In 1996, Darchinyan accepted an invitation by Ukraine to be its representative in amateur boxing tournaments. Then, in mid-'97, he returned to his homeland. Shortly thereafter, he joined the Armenian army. During his two-year stint, Darchinyan continued his boxing training.
In 1998, Darchinyan represented Armenia at the Goodwill Games in New York, the European Cup in Greece and the World Cup in China. After finishing first in the European Cup and third in the other two events, Darchinyan was honored as one of Armenia's top-10 sporting heroes (he was No. 3) and was awarded Armenia "Sporting Masters in Boxing" status. The next year, Darchinyan completed his commitments to the Armenian army while winning the European Cup for the second straight year (at 112 pounds) and reaching the quarterfinals at the World Amateur Championships in Houston, Texas.
While in the U.S., Darchinyan was approached by American managers and promoters to become a pro boxer. He declined, however. Darchinyan's dream was to represent Armenia at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney. He made the team as a flyweight and advanced to the quarterfinals where he dropped a 15-8 decision to Bulat Jumadilov of Kazakhstan.
"Jeff Fenech saw me fight at the Olympics," Darchinyan said. "He was the one that said I should stay in Australia and turn pro. So, he became my trainer.''
After an amateur career in which he compiled a 152-18 record, Darchinyan turned pro on Nov. 3, 2000. In his seventh start, Darchinyan captured the Australian flyweight title. Four outings later, he won the Oriental Boxing Association (OBA) bantamweight belt. Dropping back down to flyweight, Darchinyan won the International Boxing Federation Pan Pacific (IBF/PP) belt on Aug. 2, 2002.
Darchinyan retained his IBF title the first time and won the International Boxing Organization (IBO) crown with an eighth-round TKO over Mzukisi Sikali on March 27, 2005, in Homebush Bay, Australia. Despite suffering a cut over his left eye in the sixth, Darchinyan continued to press the issue. After getting staggered from a right uppercut in the eighth, Sikali turned his back and signaled that he did not want to continue. The bout ended at 2:28.
In his last outing, Darchinyan retained his title with a fifth-round TKO over Jair Jimenez on Aug. 24, 2005. Darchinyan scored a knockdown in the fourth. After he rocked Jimenez with a series of punches in the fifth, the referee ended matters at 2:23. Darchinyan led 40-35 twice and 40-34 after four rounds.
Darchinyan should have his fists full with Gabi, who was known as the "Prince of Flyweights" in the Philippines. Gabi, who will make his world title debut, was supposed to challenge WBC titleholder Pongsaklek Wongjongkam in early October 2004, but the champion backed out.
The slick, determined Filipino is trained by Freddie Roach at the Wild Card Gym in North Hollywood, Calif. Gabi has worked with Roach since he left his wife and young son behind in their homeland to come to the United States in August 2005.
"I want to make a better life for my family, so I came to America," said Gabi, who scored a fifth-round technical decision over Jose Tirado in his U.S. debut on Sept. 23, 2005, in Stockton, Calif.''
Mora (15-0, 10 KOs), of Trenton, Colo., is one of the Centennial State's top boxers. After finishing fourth at the USA Nationals and second at the National Golden Gloves, he turned pro in 2000.
Through 2002, Mora had fought 10 times. However, he has fought just five times since. Injuries slowed him in '04, but Mora returned with two wins in '05. And in 2006, despite going down in the sixth, Mora earned an eight-round unanimous decision (77-74 twice and 76-75) over Roberto Valenzuela on Jan. 31.
At six-feet, Mora is very tall for his division. He has a brother, Adrian, who is five-feet-11-inches, and also is unbeaten as a pro. Adrian fought on Shobox January 4, 2004 and scored a 10 round decision over Steven Quiñones.
Nugaev (15-4, 7 KOs), of Los Angeles, by way of Perm, Russia, will make his second start since his opponent on July 1, 2005, Martin Sanchez, died the day after their fight in Las Vegas.
"Sanchez' death affected me a lot,'' Nugaev said. "I thought a lot about boxing and my career. But I realized that I am a professional boxer and I have to earn my living.''
Two and one-half months after the Sanchez bout, Nugaev registered a sixth-round TKO over Luis Arceo to capture the World Boxing Association Latin America's (WBA/LA) lightweight title on Sept. 16, 2005, in Atlanta. Shortly after Arceo got knocked down in the sixth, the ref stopped the fight at 0:56.
The telecast represents the 72nd in the "ShoBox" series, which debuted on SHOWTIME in July 2001. "ShoBox" features up-and-coming prospects determined to make a mark and eventually fight for a chance at a world title. A number of fighters who have appeared on the series have gone on to become world champions, including Jeff Lacy, Ricky Hatton, Juan Diaz, Leonard Dorin, Joan Guzman and Scott Harrison.
Nick Charles will call the action from ringside, with Steve Farhood serving as expert analyst. The executive producer of the telecast is Gordon Hall, with Richard Gaughan producing.
For information on "ShoBox: The New Generation" and SHOWTIME
CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecasts, including complete fighter bios, records, related
stories and more, please go the SHOWTIME website.
Darchinyan Signs With Leading American Promoter
THU February 16 - Reigning IBF/IBO flyweight world boxing champion Vic “Raging Bull” Darchinyan has signed a promotional agreement with high profile American Gary Shaw, one of the world’s most influential boxing promoters.
“I am very pleased to be working with Gary Shaw,” said Darchinyan, Australia’s only current professional mens boxing world champion. “He promotes some of the best boxers in the world today and I know that he can help me get the big fights in the USA that I have wanted.”
“Gary Shaw Productions, LLC” promotes four of the sports brightest stars in lightweight Diego Corrales, featherweight Manny Pacquiao, super middleweight Jeff Lacy and middleweight Ronald ‘Winky’ Wright. Darchinyan, the Armenian born, Australian citizen is another impressive addition to Shaw’s collection of world champion boxers.
“I am very happy to have Vic in the GSP family,” said Shaw. “He may be a flyweight in size, but he is a heavyweight when it comes to power and heart. Vic can fight and I expect him to be a world champion for years to come.”
Shaw rivals Don King, Bob Arum and Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions as being one of the most powerful boxing promoters in the world today. His interest in Darchinyan speaks volumes for the 30 year-old, whose dazzling undefeated record stands at 24 wins from 24 fights with 19 wins by knockout, as being one of the best boxers in the world today.
“Vic can be a great multi-division world champion,” said Shaw. “It's just that nobody knows he exists right now. As soon as people know he exists, it will be a completely different story for him.”
Gary Shaw began his New Jersey, USA based company in 2002, bringing a unique background from the regulatory and promotional sides of boxing. A member of the New Jersey State Athletic Commission from 1971-1998, Shaw then ran promotional company Main Events as its COO for the next four years before leaving to start his own company. He has promoted or co-promoted some of the biggest fights in the past eight years, including: Lewis vs. Tyson; Trinidad vs. Vargas; Castillo vs. Corrales I & II; Lewis vs. Klitschko; Tyson vs. Etienne; Tyson vs. Williams; Trinidad vs. Wright; Mosley vs. Wright and Lewis vs. Tua.
Promising bigger fights and greater world-wide exposure, Shaw has delivered immediately with Darchinyan’s next world title defence now set for Friday March 3, 2006 at the Chumash Casino Resort in Santa Ynez, California in the USA. He will face 26 year-old Diosdado Gabi from the Philippines, who is rated No.4 in the world by the IBF and No.2 by the WBC.
Major American television network SHOWTIME will televise the fight across the USA as the main event of their “SHOBOX: The New Generation” series to an audience in the multi-millions, which will significantly boost the profile of Darchinyan.
The Darchinyan vs. Gabi fight will be televised live into Australia by Main Event Pay-Per-View at 3pm Eastern on Saturday March 4, 2006.
“This is a great opportunity for Vic,” said Darchinyan’s trainer and boxing great Jeff Fenech. “People will now see what I have been seeing for a long time. Vic Darchinyan is one of the most exciting and destructive boxers in the world pound for pound.”
Southpaw Darchinyan has previously targeted current WBC Interim flyweight world champion Jorge Arce from Mexico as the biggest fight for him in the USA right now. Darchinyan and Fenech travelled to Mexico on January 28 to see Arce's latest win over Adonis Rivas. After the fight, Darchinyan entered the boxing ring, took the microphone and publicly challenged Arce.
“After I take care of business with Gabi, I want Jorge Arce,” said Darchinyan. “We met face to face and I told him I wanted to fight him. I loved his response. ‘I'll fight you, but remember this was YOUR idea.’ He will find out the meaning of 'interim' when he gets into the ring with me!”
Gary Shaw has every intention of doing whatever he can to make Darchinyan vs. Arce a reality in 2006.
“I'm going to try and put Vic and Arce together,” he said. “I believe that Vic can beat Arce. I'm seeing Bob Arum and I will be speaking with him about a fight with Arce. He is the guy who you would want to fight and he is the one guy in that weight class right now who is getting all the press. Arce is the guy I want Vic to fight.”
“Arce is very popular in Mexico and the USA,” said Darchinyan. “He has a big name, but when I beat him, people will see that I am the best flyweight in the world.”
Arce (42 wins, 3 losses, 1 draw, 32 knockouts), had two wins over Darchinyan's Team Fenech training partner Hussein Hussein in 2005. But the “Raging Bull” has watched Arce's performances closely and has no doubt that he will win if the fight can be made. “He is a tough fighter, but he is not smart at all,” he said. “He comes straight at you. He doesn't run. He comes forward and I can stop him. I know I can beat him. I will destroy him!”
Darchinyan, who has also launched his new website www.VicDarchinyan.com, captured the IBF flyweight world title by knocking out defending champion Irene Pacheco from Colombia in the 11th round of their December 16, 2004 clash in Florida, USA. The previously undefeated Pacheco, whose record was 30 wins from 30 fights with 23 knockouts, had successfully defended his title six times, five by knockout, since winning it in 1999.
Darchinyan added the IBO flyweight world title to his collection in his next fight by knocking out South African Mzukisi Sikali in the eighth round of their title unification bout at Homebush in Sydney on March 27, 2005.
In his last bout, Darchinyan knocked out Jair Jimenez from Colombia in the fifth round at the Sydney Entertainment Centre on August 24, 2005 to retain his world titles.
Left-handed Gabi, (26 wins, 2 losses, 1 draw, 18 knockouts), trains in Hollywood, California with leading boxing trainer Freddie Roach. A former WBC International flyweight champion, he is riding a four-year, 14 bout winning streak, including eight knockouts. Tickets to the Darchinyan vs. Gabi are priced at US$70, US$50, US$40, US$30 and are on sale at the Chumash Casino Resort box office in the USA.
The hard-hitting Darchinyan joined Jeff Fenech's “Team Fenech” in 2000 after representing his native Armenia at the Olympic Games and compiling an amateur record of 152 wins from 170 bouts. Fenech, the three-time world champion and International Boxing Hall of Famer himself, was very impressed with what he saw. A dynamic power puncher in the lighter weight classes who possessed a steely resolve to totally dominate his opponents from the opening bell.
Kovacs & Nagy Ready to Defend Euro Crowns!
THU February 16 - On 5/02/2006 everything is ready in Tapolca, Hungary, for the mega-card promoted by FELIX PROMOTIONS headlined by European EBA Super Middleweight and Super Welterweight Championships. On 168 lbs unbeaten European Champion JOSZEF NAGY (12-0-0/10 KOs) will defend against Frenchman PIERRE MORENO (29-9-0/7 KOs) and on 154 lbs division European Champion ATTILA KOVACS (16-1-0/10 KOs) will defend his European laurels against unbeaten Egyptian born-Danish based AHMED MUSTAFA (10-0-0/8 KOs). Kovacs has gained a lot of popularity among Hungarian audience after stopping former World Challenger and hard puncher MAMADOU THIAM (42-5-0/39 KOs) in his last European Title defense.
On the undercard there will be other important local names like Istvan Varga who will face Laszlo Papp on 6 rounds and females Andras Meszaros vs. Marian Leondraliu; Viktoria Milo vs. Tatiana Puchkova and Bettina Csabi vs. Yauheniya Kavaliova. The show will be televised live by national channel TV2.
Now That's Not Wright, Soliman Out
THU February 16 - One could hardly blame Sam “King” Soliman if he felt like he was not on anyone’s Valentine list after learning this weekend that his scheduled world title fight against WBA/WBC/WBO Champion Jermain Taylor collapsed for, yet, a second time when it was announced by promoter Lou DiBella that an agreement had been instead reached matching Ronald “Winky” Wright with his fighter, Taylor.
Soliman’s promoter, Dan Goossen, revealed that Goossen Tutor Promotions had twice agreed with DiBella Entertainment for Soliman to challenge Taylor in April for his world title belts, only to have last minute maneuvers result in Soliman being passed over in favor of a deal with Wright.
Did DiBella disrespect the “King” for not honoring the agreement to fight Soliman, who lost a close decision to Wright last December?
“What can I say?” stated Soliman from his training camp in Australia. “First I give Winky a battle no one thought I could, and a fight that I and the many fans in attendance believed I had won. Then my promoter tells me a month ago we have the fight and sometime last weekend informs me we don’t have it. Then early last week, I’m told it’s back on, only to find out Sunday, it’s not. This is very unprofessional of Wright and Taylor.”
“Sam Soliman has earned his shot at the winner of the Taylor-Wright bout. The winner should be mandated to fight Sam next. The promoters of Wright and Taylor should do the right thing with the damage caused to my fighter over the last four weeks,” stated Soliman’s manager Stuart Duncan.
Now that’s the Wright thing to do.
Luis Collazo Calls Out Welterweights
THU February 16 -
It’s not unusual for boxers to call out opponents, but World Boxing Association welterweight champion Luis Collazo has taken this tradition one step further by officially signing contracts to face “Pretty Boy” Floyd Mayweather, Carlos “Tata” Baldomir, “Sugar” Shane Mosley, Miguel Cotto, Arturo “Thunder” Gatti and Antonio Margarito.
Collazo made a special trip on Friday to visit his promoter, Don King, to affix his signature on the bottom line of six contracts.
“I am serving notice on the other champions and contenders in and around the welterweight division that I am ready and willing to defend my title against anyone,” the brash Collazo said. “My signature is on the bottom of six contracts. Now let’s see who really wants to fight.”
Collazo won the WBA crown by winning a decision over Jose Antonio Rivera in Rivera’s hometown of Worcester, Mass., on April 2, 2005. He successfully defended his title by defeating ring legend Miguel Angel Gonzalez by eighth-round technical knockout in Las Vegas on Aug. 13 in Chicago.
“Collazo means business with this proclamation,” King said. “Luis has dropped the gauntlet on the division.”
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