TalkingBoxing News
Lacy Declares Marth 4th 'VJ Day', Says Calzaghe Won't Finish
TUE February 28 - Undefeated IBF/IBO super middleweight champion JEFF "LEFT HOOK" LACY has landed in Manchester, England and he is on a mission -- to defend and unify the world super middleweight crown against undefeated WBO champion Joe Calzaghe. Promoted by Gary Shaw Productions and Frank Warren's Sports Network, the Lacy-Calzaghe super middleweight title unification fight will be televised live to the United States on SHOWTIME, beginning at 9 P.M. ET/PT (Delayed on the west coast).
"March 4 is going to be my personal 'VJ Day' -- Victory over Joe," said Lacy after his 12:30 A.M. GMT workout. Lacy is sticking to his Florida training timetable, which is five hours behind, while he is in England.
Lacy considers this fight a homecoming since he is of English descent, the great great grandson of Benjamin Disraeli Lacy, 1st Earl of Knuckle Sandwich.
"I know how the Welsh feel about my people in England and I will defend their honor and my crown against Joe Calzaghe," continued Lacy. "I was outraged when Joe first won his title and told the viewing audience he was rooting against England when they were playing Italy in a critical World Cup Qualifying match. That's my team! And for that he will pay....he will be eating a lot of English leather Saturday night."
Lacy's promoter, Gary Shaw, was less than diplomatic when the subject of Saturday night's fight came up.
"Saturday night will be a coronation for Jeff. After he gives Joe a royal beating it will be HRH Jeff Lacy...His Royal Hookness," said Shaw. "Personally, I am glad the fight is here. The English boxing fans are tremendous and I know they will appreciate Jeff's victory. I am also thrilled that the American boxing fans will be able to see it all live on Showtime. The world will be watching the fight, the judges and the coronation of a new king in the super middleweight division."
With a combined professional record of 61-0 (48 KOs), and a victory by knockout percentage of 78.6%, Lacy, 21-0 (17 KOs), from St. Petersburg, FL, and Calzaghe, 40-0 (31 KOs), from Newbridge, Wales, are headed to the division’s biggest showdown since Roy Jones, Jr. and James Toney rumbled in 1994.
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Soliman Best Damn Replacement
TUE February 28 - Acting on the advice of his medical team, an injured Vernon Forrest has pulled out of his scheduled junior welterweight bout at this Friday (March 3rd) Goossen Tutor Promotions boxing event at Pechanga Resort & Casino in Temecula, CA.
In making the announcement, promoter Dan Goossen revealed that top middleweight contender, Sam King Soliman (31-8, 12 KOs), will replace Forrest in the ring against Raul El Toro Munoz (17-7, 14 KOs) in the scheduled 10-round middleweight main event to be seen on FSN Best Damn Sports Show Period telecast.
Forrest, who severely strained his ligament in his right elbow during final preparations for Friday’s bout, will not have surgery, but will also miss out on his scheduled April 15 HBO bout against Ike Quartey.
This is Sam standing behind his claim that he will fight anyone, anywhere at anytime, Goossen declared of the affable Aussie who gave Ronald Winky Wright all he could handle in a December battle on HBO and, in the process, earned newfound respect of boxing fans and experts alike worldwide.
Sam Soliman is exactly what boxing should be about. He is the true King of the sport. What other top world contender would agree to take this bout on five days notice, than jump on a plane today, flying halfway around the world to do it? Believe me, there is absolutely no one, zilch! We are all quite lucky to have such a colorful and fearless fighter that does things so unconventionally, in and out of the ring. He keeps himself in fighting condition 365 days a year and didn’t hesitate when we asked him if he was willing to fly the friendly skies at the chance to replace Vernon.
A Soliman victory Friday night keeps his crack at the winner of the upcoming Wright-Jermain Taylor WBC/WBO middleweight title bout possible.
The undercard is highlighted by a 10-round heavyweight between former 2-time world title challenger Kirk Johnson (36-2-1, 26 KOs) and hot Mexican prospect Javier Mora (19-2-1, 17 KOs). The only losses for the Canadian-born Johnson, now living in Dallas, TX, were by disqualification to WBA champion John Ruiz and a stoppage by the recently retired Russian giant WBC champion Vitali Klitschko. Mora, who lives in nearby Anaheim, CA, is a knockout artist who is being guided by James Lights Out Toney.
Also scheduled on the card will be middleweight Enrique Ornelas (22-2, 14 KOs), of La Habra, CA, against recent upset artist, Darnell Boone in an 8-round bout and undefeated heavyweight Chris Areola (13-0, 11 KO), of Riverside, CA taking on veteran David Johnson (4-17-4).
Rounding out the seven-bout evening of boxing will be Nigerian heavyweight sensation Teke Oruh (9-0-1, 5 KOs) in a 4-rounder versus Nebraskan Andrew Carleton (6-9-3, 3 KOs); Mississippi’s unbeaten John Johnson (10-0, 9 KOs) against Mexican veteran Juan Carlos Sanchez (23-16-3, 16 KOs) in an 8-round light heavyweight bout; and undefeated Lorenzo Reynolds (12-0, 6 KOs) in an 8-round junior middleweight bout.
Doors to the arena at Pechanga Resort & Casino, located at 45000 Pechanga Parkway, Temecula, CA, open at 6:00 pm with the first bout starting at 6:30 pm. The Best Damn Sports Show Telecast begins at 7:30 pm (Pacific Time). For ticket information, call 877-711-2WIN or go on the web to www.pechanga.com.
Lovemore Ndou: "I Will Knockout Ricky Hatton"
TUE February 28 - Rumours on the Internet over the weekend suggest that Undisputed super lightweight world boxing champion Ricky “Hitman” Hatton may make his next defence in the USA on May 13 with Vivian Harris as the leading possible opponent.
Team Fenech’s “Black Panther” Lovemore Ndou says if HBO Sports and the fans want to see a truly great fight, Hatton’s promoters should go no further than giving him a contract to sign to face the “Hitman”.
“With all due respect to Vivian Harris, he is no match for Hatton,” said Ndou. “I am the gatekeeper of the super lightweight division. If Ricky Hatton wants to make a statement in the USA, why doesn’t he fight me? Because I will knock him out, that’s why!”
Over the last two years, 34 year-old Ndou has taken three fights at short notice with 140lbs top ten boxers Sharmba Mitchell, Miguel Cotto and Junior Witter in the USA only to lose close twelve round points decisions.
“I was robbed against Sharmba and I gave Cotto and Witter nightmares and the judges just didn’t give me the decision when I only had days to prepare,” said Ndou. “I always give the fans what they want to see, great fights! You never hear other fighters calling out Lovemore Ndou because they know with a proper training camp, I will knock them all out!”
Trained by three-time world champion & International Boxing Hall of Famer Jeff Fenech and with a record of 41 wins, 8 losses, 1 draw and 27 wins by knockout, the South African born Sydney, Australia resident Ndou is currently rated WBC No.3, IBF No.5 and No.9 by Ring magazine at super lightweight.
“Just give me the fight with Ricky Hatton on May 13 and HBO will get their ‘Fight of the Year,’” promised Ndou. “We’ll be throwing so many punches that COMPUBOX will blow up at ringside!”
“I am a promotional free agent right now,” continued Ndou, “so there will be no obstacles to making this great fight. Hatton is a very good boxer and he has earned his world championships, but when he faces the ‘Black Panther’ Lovemore Ndou, I promise he will be getting his first beating.”
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