TalkingBoxing News
WBO Champ Liakhovich Speaks on Briggs Bout
WED September 13 - Serguei Liakhovich will face WBO No. 3 Contender Shannon Briggs on Saturday, Nov. 4, At 9 p.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING From Chase Field, Phoenix , Ariz.
SERGEI “THE WHITE WOLF” LIAKHOVICH (23-1, 14 KOs ):
“My dad and my whole family are fight fans. When I was 12 years old, my father told me to try boxing, and I liked it. After a few tournaments, I decided it was fun.”
“For the (Lamon) Brewster fight, I was really focused and I knew what I needed to do. He was a good fighter; his best weapon was his left hook. I knew he was a tough guy that could take a punch. When they said I won, it was a great feeling; my dream came true.”
“My life has changed a lot. I get lots of attention, people recognize me. My financial situation is much better.”
“Shannon Briggs is a good fighter. He has fast hands. I think this is his last chance and he will come in the best shape of his life. He is capable of taking you out in a second. He has a powerful right hand, but it is not going to happen. I have more skills. I am a better boxer than he is. I have faster hands and better feet.”
KENNY WELDON – Liakhovich’s Trainer
“I think Briggs is a good person. He will come into this fight at his best. He has won nine fights in a row. Boxing has a lot to do with determination, and when you are fighting for the heavyweight title, you are going to come in at your best. He is a good puncher and he has a puncher’s chance.
“Sergei can fight any style. We are training differently for this fight than we did for the Brewster fight. Sergei is a hard worker. He has great determination and willingness to train. He is going to have that (WBO heavyweight) title for a long time to come.
Hatton Crosses Atlantic For Whirlwind Tour
WED September 13 - Undefeated former two weight world champion Ricky Hatton is in the midst of a visit to America this week and it's anything but a vacation as "The Hitman" is covering the colonies from Atlanta to Las Vegas before heading back to his beloved Manchester in less than a week's time.
"Ricky flew out to America on Sunday and he's been in Atlanta, Georgia looking at the venue for the Juan Urango fight, as well as one or two gyms and he just got a feel for the place," said the father/manager of Britain's most popular fighter, Ray Hatton. "He'll be in New York on Wednesday because he's going to be a guest of honor at the Boxing Hall of Fame and then he's been invited as a guest by Marco Antonio Barrera and Golden Boy Promotions to watch Barrera fight Rocky Juarez in Las Vegas on Saturday."
Hatton gave up the WBA Welterweight crown recently in favor of dropping back down a division to challenge newly minted IBF 140 lb titlist Juan Urango. "Obviously, the negotiations are going ahead with Urango," said Ray Hatton. "We feel it will be a good fight because neither fighter will have to go looking for each other. I think Urango's last fight wasn't that good because it was such a clash of styles. Ben Rabah is a slick mover, where a fight between Ricky and Urango will be a little bit more toe to toe and a bit more exciting for the fans."
While Team Hatton continue to draw their bead on Urango as the next target, the exact date of that clash is still up in the air. "We're due to go into full training for a December date because we've been told we're fighting then, even though there's rumor about that it could be January," exclaimed the elder Hatton. "We're prepared, if we don't hear anything to the contrary, to go into training the minute Ricky comes back from the Barrera fight, to get ready for December.
"We'd rather fight in December because we feel that Ricky's had long enough off now but if it means the difference between a much bigger show, then you've got to go with the fact that we're more than willing to fall in line with HBO, if they want us to fight in January. Rumors have it that Jose Luis Castillo is on the bill, Ricky's on the bill and maybe Evander Holyfield too. If the rumors do prove to be correct, then we're more than willing to switch if HBO want us to fight in January."
Regardless of whether Hatton sees action again in December or January, it will mark the longest period if inactivity for the Englishman since turning pro nine years ago. With that in mind, Ray Hatton is looking for his son to have a busy 2007 and hopes to have Ricky fight on HBO three times next year, with all the contests ideally taking place in America.
While Team Hatton isn't taking Juan Urango lightly, Ray likes what he sees on the horizon for his son. "Now that Ricky is moving back to 140, there's quite a lot of big fights there," he said. "It's even rumored that Miguel Cotto might just stay down. It seems now that since Ricky's come down in weight, all of a sudden, the division has heated up again and everybody wants a piece of Ricky."
On the Road with 'Cinderella Man' Baldomir
WED September 13 - Signing to fight the biggest fight of his career brought other obligations for the modern-day “Cinderella Man,” World Boxing Council and lineal welterweight champion Carlos Baldomir.
After a whirlwind press tour that brought his wife and four children to New York and Los Angeles, Baldomir, who’s promoted by Sycuan Ringside Promotions, is ready to get down to training.
The tour began at Tavern on the Green in New York City Sept. 5, with the initial press conference to announce Baldomir’s mega fight against Floyd Mayweather Jr. Nov. 4 at the Mandalay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas and live on HBO Pay-Per-View. One day later, on Sept. 6, Baldomir and company were at Arnie Morton’s Steakhouse in Beverly Hills, Calif., to make the west coast announcement.
“I always like being in New York; it brings back good memories,” said Baldomir, who defeated Zab Judah Jan. 7, 2006, at Madison Square Garden in New York with a 12-round decision to become the World Boxing Council and lineal welterweight champion. “The Judah fight put me on the map. It was fitting that we announced this next fight here where it all began since this is the win that will let everybody know who I am.”
A prohibitive underdog in Las Vegas, Baldomir is up to the task.
“I understand that this is the most important fight of my life,” Baldomir said. “But here’s the thing: it won’t be the most difficult. Mayweather is skilled and very fast, but he won’t stand and trade with me. He’ll run. My confidence going into this fight comes from the fact that he is coming up in weight and I’ve been here. He won’t hurt me in there.”
Scott Woodworth, Vice President of Sycuan Ringside Promotions, joined Baldomir in New York and Los Angeles and reflected upon the journey so far of boxing’s “Cinderella Man.”
“In Chicago in 2005, when Carlos beat Miguel Rodriguez, he started asking about Mayweather,” Woodworth said. “When you know how far Carlos has come--from selling dusters on the street in his hometown of Santa Fe, Argentina, to fighting the recognized pound-for-pound champion on HBO Pay-Per-View--you realize that he truly is a ‘Cinderella Man.’ ”
After the New York press conference, both fight camps and most people associated with the bout hopped a flight to Los Angeles to do it again.
“I’m getting anxious for this fight to happen,” Baldomir said. “We’re all flying around announcing this thing and I just can’t wait to get in the ring and start trading punches. Mayweather is the pound-for-pound champ, but I’m the top of our weight class and that won’t change Nov. 4. Not only do I think I’ll win this one, don’t be surprised if I knock him out. Nobody has hit him as hard as I’m going to. He better be ready.”
The President of Sycuan Ringside Promotions, Glenn Quiroga, joined team Baldomir in Los Angeles and talked of Atlantic City, N.J., where Baldomir scored a ninth-round stoppage of Arturo Gatti July 22, 2006.
“Going into the Gatti fight, everybody said that the Judah fight was a fluke, that Zab overlooked our guy,” Quiroga said. “Ask Arturo Gatti how much a fluke it was. And after that fight, people said we won because Gatti was getting old. So now, what will be the excuse after the Mayweather fight? These nay-sayers might want to start brainstorming their excuses now, because our guy is coming.”
After finishing the news conference in Los Angeles, Baldomir was able to relax and enjoy a little time with his family, who came from Argentina to be with the champion during the tour.
“This is what it’s all about,” Baldomir said. “Never in my wildest dreams did I think I’d be here in Los Angeles at such a nice place, feeding my children steaks. But my life has definitely taken a nice path. I’m so thankful for everything we have. Anytime I need motivation to keep me going, I just think of supporting my family.”
Baldomir is the frontrunner for “Fighter of the Year” for 2006. A victory over Mayweather may just seal the honor.
Forum
