TalkingBoxing News
Tarver-Hopkins "Fight to the Finish"
WED March 29 - When boxing historians look back at the date of June 10th, 2006, one of two results will be crystal clear- it will be the day that light heavyweight Antonio Tarver cements his hall of fame credentials by ending the career of boxing legend Bernard Hopkins, or it will be the day when middleweight great Hopkins, ends a legendary career with a stirring win over one of the top light heavyweights of this era. However, one thing is certain. When Antonio "The Magic Man" Tarver and Bernard "The Executioner" Hopkins meet on Saturday, June 10th at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey, it will definitely be a "Fight To The Finish".
The two boxing superstars will meet in "Fight To The Finish" - a 12 round light heavyweight bout presented by Joe DeGuardia's Star Boxing, Golden Boy Promotions and Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa, and will be broadcast live on HBO Pay-Per-View, beginning at 9pm (ET) / 6pm (PT).
"Bernard Hopkins was a great fighter, but his time is past," said Tarver, the premier light heavyweight of this generation. "My time is now, and I see it as a personal insult that Hopkins would even consider coming up to light heavyweight to challenge me. I will punish him in the ring accordingly."
"After everything I've accomplished in this sport, and with all the obstacles I had to go through to get here, I don't even entertain the thought of losing in my final fight," said Hopkins, who reigned over the middleweight division for over a decade. "I will win this fight over Antonio Tarver, cement my legacy and finish my career in a fashion where no one will ever forget what I brought to the boxing ring."
"Antonio Tarver and Bernard Hopkins are two great champions who have enjoyed tremendous success," said Joe DeGuardia, President of Star Boxing. "Both of them will be putting it all on the line in this highly anticipated fight. Fans will see them both fighting with the intense fire that only a fight like this can inspire."
"Legacy is probably the most important thing to a truly elite fighter," said Oscar de la Hoya, President of Golden Boy Promotions. "Both Antonio Tarver and Bernard Hopkins have had amazing careers, but June 10th will directly affect how boxing fans remember them. That's a lot to have on your shoulders, but if any two boxers can handle that pressure, it's Tarver and Hopkins, and I expect both of them to leave it all in the ring when they fight."
"Bernard Hopkins is one of the greatest middleweights of this era, facing perhaps the greatest challenge of his career in his final fight. Antonio Tarver is the world's pre-eminent light heavyweight whose resounding wins over Roy Jones re-affirmed his stardom," said Mark Taffet, HBO Senior Vice President of Sports Operations & Pay-Per-View. "Tarver-Hopkins is a big fight with storylines that will intrigue boxing fans."
Tickets for the Tarver vs. Hopkins "Fight To The Finish" are priced at $750, $600, $400, $200, $100 and $50, are on sale now and can be purchased at the Boardwalk Hall Box Office and all Ticketmaster locations by calling 800-736-1420 or at www.ticketmaster.com .
"Borgata is thrilled to be partnering with Star Boxing and Golden Boy Promotions to present such a high profile fight," said Larry Mullin, president and chief operating officer for Borgata. "The June 10th event underlines our dedications to continuously raising the bar and bringing top-notch entertainment events to Atlantic City."
The pride of Tampa, Florida, 1996 US Olympic Bronze medal winner Antonio Tarver (24-3, 18 KO's) came up the hard way in the pro ranks, forced to fight all comers as he looked for his one big break. In 2000, "The Magic Man" was one win away from forcing a fight with pound for pound and light heavyweight king Roy Jones Jr., but he lost a hard - fought decision to Eric Harding ( a loss later avenged by a knockout).
But Tarver's time would come, and after fighting his way back into the number one spot at 175 pounds, he finally won a world title by shutting out former world champ Montell Griffin for the WBC and IBF crowns on April 26, 2003. His brash style forced Jones hand, and the two met for the undisputed title on November 8, 2003. After a torrid 12 rounds, Jones retained his title via a highly controversial majority decision, and the fans and media demanded a return bout.
Tarver got his rematch on May 15, 2004, and in the shot heard round the world, he knocked Jones out with a single left hand in the second round, and a worldwide superstar was born. "The Magic Man" would next split an entertaining pair of bouts with highly regarded Glen Johnson before settling the score once and for all with Jones on October 1st, 2005 with a clear cut unanimous decision that may have spelled an end to Jones career.
Now he wants to do the same to Hopkins.
One of the most compelling figures in sports today, Bernard Hopkins (46-4-1, 32 KO's) has lived his life and built a career by doing things his way. Born and raised in Philadelphia, Hopkins turned pro with a loss in October of 1988, but after that it was tough - if impossible - to make him lose again. Beginning with a 1990 win over Greg Paige, Hopkins would lose only once (via decision to Roy Jones Jr) over the next 15 years.
Along the way, Hopkins - who fought the boxing industry as hard as he fought inside the ring - won the world middleweight title in 1995 and defended it a record 20 times. He also unified the crown on September 29, 2001 when he stopped the legendary Felix "Tito" Trinidad in the 12th round before a packed house at Madion Square Garden.
The Tarver vs. Hopkins "Fight To The Finish" pay-per-view telecast, beginning at 9pm ET/6pm PT on June 10, has a suggested retail price of $49.95, will be distributed by HBO Pay-Per-View and will be available to over 56 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.
Ward on "Boxing After Dark"
WED March 29 -
In what shapes up as his sternest test yet as a professional boxer, Andre Ward will meet Andy Kolle in an eight-round middleweight co-feature at Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, CT on Saturday night, April 29.
This battle of unbeaten middleweight fighters will open the telecast of the first presentation of HBO’s Boxing After Dark series of 2006. The 12-round main event pits top-ranked contender and former world champion, Acelino Freitas (37-1, 32 KOs) versus third-ranked Zahir Raheem (27-1, 16 KOs) for the vacant WBO lightweight title.
The USA’s sole gold medalist at the 2004 Summer Olympic Games in Athens, Greece, Ward is coming off an impressive unanimous-decision victory celebrated on his 22nd birthday over Kendall Gould last month in California.
Since turning pro in December, 2004, the Oakland, CA native has won all eight of his fights , six via knockout. Managed by James Prince and trained by Virgil Hunter, Ward is promoted by Goossen Tutor Promotions and Roy Jones, Jr.’s Square Ring.
Ward’s skills and work ethic are held in such high regard that he along with the great Roy Jones, Jr. are the only boxers to have garnered a multi-year endorsement deal by Jordan, a division of Nike, Inc.
Andy Kolle brings an impressive 9-0 (7 KOs) record to the Foxwoods contest. The hard-hitting, 23-year old native of Fergus Falls, MN, who is managed and trained by Chuck Horton, scored a sixth-round TKO win over Vance Garvey earlier this month in Fargo, ND.
We’re excited showcasing Andre’s tremendous fighting skills on HBO’s˜Boxing After Dark against another undefeated fighter. Dan Goossen, Ward’s promoter, declared. We feel that putting Andre in with another young, hungry, unbeaten fighter like Andy Kolle will bring out the best in Andre as he climbs the ranks of the middleweight division toward his eventual goal, the world championship.
As in years past, most of our great world champions developed in front of America’s watchful eye. Ali, Leonard, Foreman, de la Hoya all dazzled the fans on their climb to the top and I’m sure the fans in attendance and those watching on HBO are in for a real treat seeing what we believe is the next great champion from the Olympics, Goossen said. I am confident that Andre Ward will impress with his superior boxing skills and emerge with his perfect record intact.
The main event and co-featured fight will be televised live at 10:15 P.M. (ET) on the first telecast of the year of HBO’s Boxing After Dark series.
Guthrie Trying to Recapture Glory
WED March 29 - Former IBF cruiserweight champion William “Kid Chocolate” Guthrie (30-3-1, 24 KOs) has been there, done that, and now at 39, all he really wants is an opportunity to prove that he’s still a world-class boxer.
“The difference now is not being a champion doesn’t open doors anymore,” Guthrie remarked. “There have been a lot of inner changes. I’m 39, not 29, and I’ve gotten use to a lot less physically, and more mental emotion. I have a lot to think about being older and coming back. This is an extremely dangerous sport and older fighters have to pay more attention to the danger.
“I don’t look at this as one last run. I don’t need the money. I fight because I Iove boxing with a passion, still enjoy fighting, and believe I can still win at a championship level. If I can’t win at that level than it’s time to walk away. I respect this game too much be to a boxing whore, no disrespect to those who’ve had to take that route. If I can’t win at that level I’ll know. I still have a warrior’s spirit and mind frame.”
The Philadelphia native grew-up in St. Louis, where he was a four-time Golden Gloves winner and National Golden Gloves champion, which earned him an induction into the St. Louis Hall of Fame. He also was a finalist at the 1988 U.S. Olympic Trials.
Guthrie turned pro in 1989 and he reeled-off 24 straight victories, including a fourth-round knockout of Richard Frazier for the USBA belt. Two years later, William stopped Darrin Allen (23-2-1) in the third round to capture the IBF title.
After being inactive for 2 ½ years, Guthrie returned to the ring in 2004 and he is unbeaten in his comeback, winning three with one draw. He has scheduled fights Guthrie trying to recapture past glory March 31 and May 5 at the Ybor City Multi Sports Complex in Tampa, Florida.
“In this dangerous business, especially in your thirties, you have to prepare yourself the right way,” he said, “mentally, physically, socially and spiritually. You need proper medical attention before and after each fight.
“Life has taught me to be patient and more than anything, to be compromising: When things don’t go your way all of the time, just get up the next morning. I’m on the fast track to see if I’m still a world-class fighter. It’s a tough process and so far the best thing is I’ve been better prepared, slowly but surely, in the last year.”
Now trained by Buddy McGirt, Guthrie feels that he has the best in his corner. “Buddy McGirt is absolutely the best trainer in boxing today,” William concluded. “I think I’m in the best position to say that because I’ve been trained by two of the best ever, Eddie Futch and George Benton. They were great trainers, the best in the world, and Buddy’s on the way to joining them. I’m qualified to say it. Buddy McGirt is magic. I joke with him, saying I’m his oldest fighter and I’ll leave it up to him; I retire when he retires. Whatever he says, I do because I respect him so much.”
Guthrie will soon discover whether or not he shapes up against the world’s best cruiserweights.
He is promoted by Silverhawk Boxing and managed by Rider Boxing. For more information about Guthrie or Silverhawk Boxing go to www.silverhawkboxing.com.
Jose Antonio Rivera Meet & Greet
WED March 29 - "El Gallo" Jose Antonio Rivera, the former WBA Welterweight Champion of the world will be making a public appearance to meet fans and promote his upcoming fight with Alejandro Garcia on May 6th a the DCU Center in Worcester, MA. Rivera will be appearing at Framingham Liquors, located at One Marble St in Framingham,MA. from 5:30-7pm on Saturday April 8th. Any questions or inquiries can be directed to Jay Duval who can be reached at Jduva2000@aol.com or (508)-479-7257.
Forum
