Boxing News Thread

[heyzel]

Andre Ward vs Shelby Pudwill on September 12

Ward (19-0, 12 KOs) will tangle with Shelby Pudwill (22-3-1, 9 KOs) of McGlauglin, S.D., in a 10-round super middleweight scrap live from Pechanga Resort and Casino in Temecula, Calif., on Saturday, Sept. 12, at 10 p.m. ET/PT.

The Ward fight will air immediately following Kessler’s World Boxing Association (WBA) super middleweight mandatory title defense against No. 1 ranked Gusmyl Perdomo (16-2, 10 KOs) of Turmero, Venezuela, which will air on same day tape delay from MCH Messecenter Herning - Herning, Denmark.

“There was no way we were going to allow Mikkel Kessler to have a showcase fight preceding his Super Six showdown with Andre, and not have the viewers on SHOWTIME witness our 2004 US Olympic gold medalist in action the same night,” Ward’s promoter Dan Goossen said. “Kessler may be the champion, but Andre Ward is coming to take that title and making history."

Goossen is referencing the Group Stage 1 matchup of Ward vs. Kessler in the celebrated Super Six World Boxing Classic, Nov. 21, 2009, live on SHOWTIME. Ward-Kessler promises to be one of the most exciting fights of the year, pitting Team USA’s only Olympic Games gold medalist from Athens 2004 against Kessler (41-1, 31 KOs), of Copenhagen, Denmark, an early favorite in the tournament.

In his last fight on Dec. 6, 2008, Pudwill, 34, beat Anthony Osbourne in Mandan, N.D., with an eighth-round knockout. Inactive in all of 2007, Pudwill suffered a loss in his fight before Osbourne to John Duddy at Madison Square Garden in 2006.

Pudwill took eight straight wins into the Duddy fight and didn’t lose for almost five years in a time-span that dated from June 2001 to March 2006.

 

[2-0-Sixx]

Oh shit the greatest Pollock fight of all time!!!

Golota vs Adamek - confirmed!

www.boxingnews.pl, on October 10th Tomasz Adamek ( 38-1) and the best Polish heavyweight Andrew Golota (41-7-1) will be fighting against eachother. Yesterday, there was a telephone conversation between the managers of both fighters, Ziggy Rozalski and the President of Polsat ( TV Station ) Zygmunt Solorz. Both gentleman agreed on financial terms for this great show and the fight will 100% be taking place.

"Today, Mr. Bigg Boss. Solorz gave us a deal in which we are very happy. Tom and Andrew are very grateful to him for what he proposed. The money is more then good and the fight will be on for sure! I thank once again Mr. Solorz as well as Mr. Kmicie. The fight will surely take place in October this year." Said in an interview with Boxingnews.pl the manager of the fighters Ziggy Rozalski..

 

[naner12]

Pretty good fights tonight that seemed to go under the radar. FNF had undefeated Victor Cayo look pretty good beating Julio Diaz and ShoBox had a pretty dope back and forth fight in the main event in Marvin Quintero Vs. Tyrone Harris.

Chris Avalos looked good in the opening bout on ShoBox too. Only other time I've seen him was his second fight with Ernie Marquez in a fight he didn't look too good in.

 

[naner12]

I LOVE IT!!!

Campbell tried to bitch out to get a no contest and it backfired on his ass.

 

[2-0-Sixx]

lol nate was going to get KTFO and he knew it. stupid mistake on his part to say he couldn't see it did backfire. Dumbass. One word nate: Peden. lol

Anyways bradly looked sharp as hell nate looked old and slow. I agree with timothy when he said doesn't matter if they have a rematch it will have the same outcome (TKO).

 

[naner12]

I know a lot of people are going to complain about this and shit like that. In a normal circumstance I probably would too but Campbell didn't even make an attempt to let his cutman work on his eye, he just quit instantly. He wanted a way out and he figured he could get one without losing ..

 

[heyzel]

but it still should have been a no contest no matter what the ref did a bad job man I would have done the same shit campbell did it no need to go back out there and fight with a cut like that

 

[T-Rip]

yeah it should have been a no contest

 

[naner12]

but it still should have been a no contest no matter what the ref did a bad job man I would have done the same shit campbell did it no need to go back out there and fight with a cut like that

That's not my point. If Campbell got his eye worked on, went back in there and said fuck this I can't see then I would've been complaining with everyone else.

Campbell went to his stool, said "I can't see" and when the cutman went to start working he got angry and screamed to stop the fight because he couldn't see. He didn't let them even make an attempt to stop the blood because he didn't want to fight anymore. He was in a fight that was going far from his way and he thought he could get off without taking the loss and he fucked it up.

Nate's been a tough guy his whole career and who knows what he felt out there. On that same token he's been around long enough to give the cutman at least one minute to see what he could do.

 

[Rumpelstiltskin]

Should have been a NC and that is what he was aiming for. That was his best shot at getting out of it, and he rolled the dice.

As Bradley said, the result would have been the same.
Can't wait for his next fight.

 

[heyzel]

Nate Campbell, Don King To Challenge Tim Bradley's Win - Will The TKO Stick

by James Slater - Will the 3rd-round TKO victory defending WBC light-welterweight champion Timothy Bradley scored over challenger Nate Campbell stick? That's the question many people are asking right now, and it seems some feel there is a good chance the result could be changed to a No-Decision.

Referee David Mendoza ruled that the blood that caused Campbell to stay on his stool at the end of the 3rd-round was caused by a punch; Campbell and his promoter Don King disagree.. As fans know, if a fight is stopped due to an accidental foul before four rounds are completed, the bout is ruled a No-decision. This is what "The Galaxxy Warrior" and his promoter King are now shooting for.

We've seen it happen before, too. Heavyweight James "Lights Out" Toney went home with a 3rd-round TKO win over Hasim Rahman in a rematch the two men fought quite recently, only for "The Rock" and his promoter to successfully appeal the result and get it changed to a No-decision. In this fight, as with last night's, a cut was opened on the man originally deemed to have lost, but doubts surfaced as to how the cut was caused; by a punch or by a butt.

Campbell is claiming he was butted by Bradley in the 3rd-round and that this is the reason he was unable to continue to fight. So, could Bradley's win be taken away from him? It may take time for us to get an answer, but this could happen. So too could a rematch between the two 140-pounders.

For his part, as reported on Ring on line, Bradley would take a rematch, saying a second fight with Campbell would be "easy money." If, however, the situation with Campbell turns out to be nothing but a lot of fuss about nothing and Bradley's win sticks, the plan will be for the man known as "Desert Storm" to next fight interim belt holder Lamont Peterson. Bradley did say, though, that if he had to he'd fight Campbell again "in a minute."

In truth, neither fight is the big fight Bradley wants. Massively ambitious and desperate to prove he is the world's best 140-pound fighter and one of the best pound-for-pound, Bradley wants Manny Pacquiao. Before last night's fight, Bradley was quoted as saying a KO win over Campbell would put him up there with the stars. It seemed as though he'd gotten himself at least a TKO over Nate, but now even this looks to be in some doubt. What a same. For both fighters

 

[heyzel]

Joan Guzman’s Roads to Recovery

By Christian Cruz - The recent news that Joan Guzman, (29-0, 17 KOs), from the Dominican Republic has just signed with Golden Boy Promotions should bring added excitement to a loaded division already filled up with promising upstarts, decent veterans, and an elite champion.

Boasting a perfect record of 29 wins out of 29 fights, and having won titles in the junior featherweight, featherweight, and junior lightweight divisions, Guzman is considered as one of the best fighters in the lower weight divisions. His athleticism, coupled with his fast hands and reflexes, makes him an elusive target for most of his opponents.. His superior boxing skills allow him to dictate the pace of the fight and can box either from the outside or inside from time to time. Another strength is his chin, which so far, at this point, has proven it can take the best shots from any punchers Guzman has faced. Ironically, his vaunted power from either hand, which gave him the moniker “Little Tyson” during his stay at 122, seems to have left him since he moved up to higher divisions. The lack of knockout power since he left 126 is only one of the very few chinks in his armor. The other is his stamina. His tendency to coast too much during the latter part of fights is mainly attributed to his questionable stamina.

Unfortunately, he also had a reputation of pulling out of fights, backing out from potential big fights, including the most recent one, with Nate Campbell. In May 2008, he was scheduled to challenge the “Galaxy Warrior,” who at that time, was holding the WBA, WBO, and IBF titles at 135, in a championship match . In that infamous weigh-in, he showed up at 138 ½ pounds, 3 ½ pounds higher than the maximum light weight limit. Campbell, always a game fighter, still insisted the fight to happen, but Guzman, apparently dehydrated and not feeling well, decided to cancel the fight altogether.

After that debacle, he returned from a one-year ring rust in December 2008 to defeat pedestrian Ameth Diaz in a 12-round decision for the WBA lightweight eliminator for his first foray at 135. Since then, he has been waiting for a title shot or a notable fight.

With his signing at GBP, and looking like he is given a new lease in his career, Guzman at this point, should only look for meaningful fights. Here is a look and analysis at his potential possible fights at a very stacked 135 division or even at 140:

Edwin Valero (25–0). The most sensible fight for him right now, as Valero also holds the WBC title. This can be his toughest fight as well. A legitimate knockout threat, in his prime, with all of his 25 wins coming by stoppages, Valero should test Guzman’s metal chin and seemingly limited stamina with his relentless offensive, albeit sometimes wild, attack. And unlike the painfully slow Barrios or the plodding Soto, Valero’s power punches will come fast and in bunches. A barn burner of a fight.

Juan Diaz (34–2). The former 135 champ is scheduled to fight Pauli Malignaggi at 140 this August after reportedly disagreeing to face Guzman. In any case, if the fight happens, it will have lots of action. Diaz is a volume puncher, who will try to tire out his opponents by constantly putting pressure starting from the first round. But as his two losses illuminated, he can be outboxed, and can be hurt if ever. Guzman has to use his superb boxing skills and maddening quickness to counterpunch and frustrate the hell out of Diaz’ relentless workrate.

Michael Katsidis (25–2). They were supposed to meet before, but Guzman pulled out of the fight due to visa problems. They can resume that failed battle now. Katsidis personifies that boxing warrior, one who just fights no matter what is at stake, and though he is very limited, he will push Guzman to the limit.

Joel Casamayor (36–4). The 38-year old former Olympian and 135 champion looks like he is in the last stage of his career, but he will still be a good name and an upgrade for Guzman in terms of competition. El Cepillo may have lost a step or two, but he remains a wily and dangerous veteran who still packs a punch for anyone in the division (Katsidis should know all about this).

Ali Funeka (30–2). The big puncher from South Africa, whose claim to fame is his sensational stoppage of former Olympian Zahir Raheem in 4 rounds, will not only present a huge size advantage over Guzman, but power advantage as well. He lost in a decision to Campbell in his last fight, but he showed that he can hang out well with the big boys at 135.

David Diaz (34-2). The former WBC belt-holder is one tough cookie that won’t back down from any challenge. This would be an easy fight for Guzman and a win would be a nice addition to his not so-stellar rêsumê and could push him for bigger money fights.

Juan Manuel Marquez (50–4). The reigning man at 135, and aside from the fight with Pacquiao, this could be the biggest career fight for Guzman. JMM’s excellent counterpunching skills and sharp combination against Guzman’s slick style and fast combination will give us an A-level boxing match-up and there is no way that this will be a boring fight. JMM will try to be the aggressor and his superior stamina means there won’t be any letdown in his attack. A spectacle, to say the least.

Amir Khan (21–1). If ever Guzman decides to jump to 140, a fight with Khan will be an intriguing one. Khan holds the WBA light welterweight title and is a big star in UK. A win over this young upcoming star will be a good way to start his road to recovery, though it will be an uphill battle for him. Khan is big, quick, and a talented offensive machine who can also dish out solid workrate against him.

Here is hoping that Guzman will get his shot against these names in the near future, as he is no longer young, and every chance should be taken with all seriousness.

 

[heyzel]

So, What Now For Junior Witter?

by James Slater - Junior Witter, even at the age of 35, talked a great fight and had many big plans for the future heading into last night's WBC title fight with the much younger Devon Alexander. Witter, who said before jetting off to the States that his power, having been on vacation, "was back now," failed to live up to any of the boasts he'd made before the fight that gave him a chance to regain the belt he lost to last night's headliner Timothy Bradley..

Quitting, for the first time in his entire career, with an injured hand (Junior is claiming a hairline fracture resurfaced), Witter's career is in genuine doubt. Say what you want about "The Hitter," but he was never a fighter we thought we'd see quit on his stool. His capitulation was even more surprising because southpaw Alexander, who improved to 19-0(12) didn't exactly hit him with any real bombs. Indeed, the fight was no war.

So, what can Witter, 37-3-2(22) do now but call it a day and retire? Surely hoped for fights with the likes of Amir Khan (an man a cocky Witter had said he'd do away with inside three-rounds) and Tim Bradley, in a rematch, have evaporated now. Never a man who gained major fan support or adulation, the former champ will likely face real flak from fans now. No-one likes a big mouth; even less so when the big mouth fails to live up to his boasts and instead quits in the corner.

No-one is doubting the fact that Witter DID injure his hand, and medical tests will in all likelihood prove the fracture did occur. But great fighters fight on under such circumstances. It is apparent that Witter is no longer even close to being great, if he ever was. Sure, it's easy to come down on a fighter when he's, well, down, but Witter called Ricky Hatton all manner of names when he was unable to land a fight with him - even questioning "The Hitman's" heart. There is little doubt Hatton's loyal fans will be feeling somewhat pleased about what Witter was reduced to last night. Now whose heart is in question?

Witter may fight on, but it will be tough for him to get motivated for domestic and even European-level fights. And after what he did last night it's a pretty sure thing that these are the only opportunities the 35-year-old will get if he opts to box on - there sure won't be any rematch with Alexander. A crack at another version of world honours looks a real long shot for Witter, too. No, it seems we can say goodbye to the man who was one of Great Britain's most naturally gifted, yet at the same time frustrating-to-watch fighters.

Witter may not have just quit against Alexander, he may have thrown the white towel in on his whole career.

 

[MOREBASS]

Bradley hits like a bitch, but he's got all the tools to become a elite level fighter.

 

[2-0-Sixx]

Official:

Klitschko-Arreola is a done deal

Fight News has learned that the heavyweight showdown between WBC champion Vitali Klitschko and “The Nightmare” Christobal Arreola is a done deal for September 26 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. According to sources close to the situation a press conference will be held next week to officially announce the bout. Klitschko, who won the WBC belt last year after a four-year absence from the ring, will make the second defense of his title. He last fought in March, stopping Juan Carlos Gomez in nine rounds. Arreola is currently the number one WBC contender. His last bout was a devastating knock-out win over Jameel McCline in April.

 

[The Duke of Earl]

only reason why im intrested in the fight ^ is because he's mexican

 

[2-0-Sixx]

I'm interested in it because I like calling him The Big Nipple.

 

[heyzel]

Miguel Cotto-Manny Pacquiao: It’s Not All Good

By Lyle Fitzsimmons

So I'm a contrarian. Sue me.

While nearly all my colleagues have celebrated that Miguel Cotto and Manny Pacquiao will get together in a ring on Nov. 14 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, I'm a little bit less than giddy.

Don't get me wrong, the fact Bob Arum has created a scenario in which the reigning WBO welterweight champion and the incumbent IBO junior welterweight title-holder will meet ensures boxing’s status as a SportsCenter lead item come fight week.

The best at 147 pounds is fighting the best at 140.

That without question is a good thing.

Arum scheduled a September publicity tour for the HBO PPV extravaganza, which will be billed as "Fire Power." A Sept. 10 event at Yankee Stadium is planned, as are stops in Puerto Rico, San Francisco and Beverly Hills.

Neither an agreed-to weight nor a championship belt on the line have been confirmed – thanks in part to recent reports that Cotto is hesitant to risk his crown at less than 147 pounds – though it’s widely assumed the two will compete for Cotto's title at a contracted weight of 145.

Assuming those assumptions are correct and the fight indeed comes off with a championship on the line at something less than 147, my initial reaction of frustration will stand firm.

The fight's a good idea.

Just not nearly as good as it should have been.

But before the e-mails begin, I’m not arguing Pacquiao is the biggest thing in the sport today.

And I know writers, promoters, analysts and fans have been climbing over each other to be most profound in describing him as a throwback, and comparing his recent run of dominance to the one established as benchmark by Henry Armstrong in the 30s and 40s.

Problem is, no matter how many times it's insisted by the cognoscenti, it's still wrong.

Only a fool would deny Manny's status as a great fighter.

I certainly will not.

Even if nothing had preceded it at lower weights, his climb to elite status at 130 pounds with a win over Juan Manuel Marquez – albeit a close and controversial one – was evidence enough to prove pound-for-pound prowess to me.

He’s great. No question.

But before too many more mentions are made of Armstrong, take a closer look.

First, remember that Pac's post-Marquez climb to the championship rung at 135 pounds was not made against an incumbent three-belt champion, but with a lesser-regarded and more favorable stylistic match in David Diaz – then the WBC claimant – as punching bag of choice.

True, his surprisingly brutal shellacking of Oscar De La Hoya six months later was impressive and rightfully earned Manny kudos.

I chose De La Hoya by KO going in and never would have dreamed an upset in any form would have approached the level of domination Pacquiao displayed.

Still, the Golden Boy's seemingly imprudent weight loss casts at least something of a shadow, and a clearer and usually unmentioned reality is that Oscar’s seven-year absence from the welterweight division hardly makes any conqueror – even a streaking Pacquiao – an automatic Armstrong-like claimant to the throne.

If De La Hoya had lost to Steve Forbes at 147, for example, no one would have claimed the former lighter-weight champion was a new terror in the division.

But because Manny is the “it” guy in the sport, anything he touches – even a guy whose last victim at 147 was Arturo Gatti in 2001, when Pacquiao was months short of a championship at super bantamweight – suddenly turns to gold.

Meanwhile, in 2009, no plausible denial applies to Pacquiao's recent punch-out of Ricky Hatton at 140, where he clearly defeated the most-visible foe a division had to offer and established himself as its new top man.

But even with that dramatic one-punch highlight, a subsequent rise of just a few pounds to meet Cotto at a stand-in weight between two divisions opens a similar can of doubting worms as the match with a shrunken Oscar.

History shows "Homicide Hank" left no such lingering reservations.

And to me, it’s all pretty simple.

If Manny wants to weigh just 143 pounds while attempting to defeat a naturally larger Puerto Rican-born foe, so be it.

And if Cotto freely chooses to slim down to less than the welterweight max while combating an obviously talented and dynamic Filipino, that's fine, too.

But changing the rules to conveniently orchestrate a big title event is simply wrong, and takes away any shreds of legitimacy existent when comparing Pacquiao's laudable achievements to Armstrong's legendary ones.

And while I understand his status as reigning big-fight cash cow gives Manny the leverage needed to set the business terms, it'd be nice to hear purists go the same lengths to raise red flags over cheap replicas of "welterweight title" bouts as they did while breathlessly likening him to multi-division trailblazers of decades past.

As for the fight itself, it's a bad mix for Cotto no matter where it occurs on the scale.

I like Pacquiao in 10.

* * * * * * * * * *

Coming out of this weekend, Nate Campbell’s got issues.

No question, the injuries he sustained in round three against Timothy Bradley Saturday night were the result of a butt – not a punch.

And under normal circumstances, a referee would have stopped the bout, correctly determined the cause of the cut and declared the bout a no-contest because it hadn’t gone four rounds.

However, one major factor may be playing against the “Galaxxy Warrior” here.

Regardless of David Mendoza’s mistaken assertion that blood on Campbell’s left eye came from a punch, chances are that his error would have eventually been corrected by officials that night or via subsequent protest by Campbell’s team with the state commission.

Problem is, Mendoza didn’t stop the fight.

Campbell did.

Let’s be clear, I’m not one of the chest-thumping tough guys criticizing Campbell for “quitting.”

His peril was the result of serious injury.

And given the fact that his vision was compromised and he had a world-class opponent on the other side of the ring ready to inflict more damage, his decision makes healthy sense both for the present and the future.

Notwithstanding any basement-residing message-board thugs in the audience.

Bottom line, had Mendoza halted the fight because of the cut and awarded Bradley a TKO, Nate would have had ample evidence on his side in the form of video replay showing the clash of heads.

A rematch, then, would have made perfect sense.

But by retiring in the corner and taking the fight’s conclusion out of Mendoza’s hands, Campbell may have blocked off his own avenue toward getting justice – and another big-money title try with Bradley or anyone else – after the fact.

His own version of an inadvertent whistle, if you will.

* * * * * * * * * *

 

[heyzel]

Vivian Harris, Former Champ Signs With Golden Boy

Vivian Harris has always been a great fighter to watch, simply because of the excitement he brings to the ring," said Oscar de la Hoya, President of Golden Boy Promotions. "He is without a doubt one of the premier junior welterweights in the world and now it's time to remind the boxing world of that fact. We will do our job to put Vivian in big fights that will have the fight fans cheering."

"I'd like to thank Oscar and the team at Golden Boy Promotions for the faith they are showing me," said Harris. "I've been in this game a long time, but I'm not done reaching my boxing goals yet. People know what I can do when I'm on and I feel better physically and mentally than I ever have. Expect fireworks from me each time I'm in the ring from now on."

A native of Georgetown, Guyana who moved to Brooklyn, New York as a teenager, Vivian Harris (29-3-1, 19 KO's) quickly made his mark on the Big Apple boxing scene for his exciting style and punching power. After winning 21 of his first 23 professional bouts (with the only blemishes being a controversial draw with Ivan Robinson and a decision loss to Ray Oliveira), Harris won the WBA World Super Lightweight Title with a second round knockout of Diosbelys Hurtado on October 19, 2002. Harris defended his title three times before losing it to Carlos Maussa in June of 2005, but he has since bounced back with wins in four of his last five fights, including victories over Stevie Johnston and Juan Lazcano. In his most recent bout on October 29, 2008, Harris stopped Octavio Narvaez in six rounds.

 

[heyzel]

Joan Guzman-Ali Funeka Vacant Title Fight Being Explored

By Jake Donovan

The road to crowning a vacant IBF lightweight titlist has taken yet another turn.

Boxingscene.com has been informed that plans are in the works for a vacant title fight between lightweight contenders Ali Funeka and Joan Guzman.

The bout has already been approved by the IBF, whose vacant lightweight belt would be at stake should the two sides come to terms.

September 19 is the target date for the fight, placing it on the undercard of the Floyd Mayweather-Juan Manuel Marquez headlined pay-per-view telecast in Las Vegas.

The move makes sense, as the undefeated Guzman (29-0, 17KO) recently signed an exclusive promotional deal with Golden Boy Promotions, who along with Mayweather Promotions serves as the promoters of record for the aforementioned pay-per-view card.

Phone calls to Golden Boy Promotions and Gary Shaw Productions, the US-promoter of record for Funeka, went unreturned.

Efforts to fill the vacancy have proven to be troublesome for the New Jersey-based sanctioning body ever since Nate Campbell was forced to concede the belt on the scales prior to his 12-round decision win over Funeka (30-2, 25KO) earlier this year.

Initial plans called for a box-off between Guzman and Yuri Romanov of Belarus. Those plans were derailed after the IBF learned of Guzman’s administrative suspension with the Mississippi for his pulling out of a contracted fight with Nate Campbell after failing to make weight.

Inserted in Guzman’s place was Don King-promoted Fernando Angulo, a transplanted Ecuadorian now living in Venezuela. Funeka’s camp took immediate issue with the sanctioning of Angulo, citing his last three bouts having taken place outside of the lightweight limit.

Included in that stretch was a sanctioned eliminator in which he missed weight, as well as a loss that came on the non-televised undercard of Funeka’s razor thin loss to Campbell. IBF rules state that a fighter cannot contend for their title when coming off of a loss.

Such a rule would seemingly disqualify Funeka from the running, but the loophole is that his opponent – Campbell – didn’t make weight for their fight. He did, which should put him first in line since he was the last one to make weight and win an IBF-sanctioned fight, which would be his 4th round knockout of Zahir Raheem last summer.

Funeka is now back in the title picture, though his justice comes via process of elimination. Romanov is the latest to be removed from the fold, due to unexpected Visa issues altering his travel plans.

The title picture has now come full circle, with Funeka and Guzman, the two highest rated challengers in the IBF’s most recent ratings, now the leading contenders for the vacant title.

Of course, both fighters come with their own baggage.

Guzman has been out of the ring since last December, when he scored a 12-round decision over Ameth Diaz in his native Dominican Republic. The bout was his first in more than a year, with scheduled fights against Alex Arthur and Nate Campbell falling through.

The latter bout saw Guzman branded with the scarlet letter, after failing to make weight for their scheduled September ’08 title fight. He was then admitted into a nearby hospital to be treated for dehydration, and subsequently opted to skip out on the bout altogether despite Campbell agreeing to terms regardless of weight.

His actions earned him an administrative suspension with the Mississippi Boxing Commission, though he will be cleared to fight by September 19 or whenever the fight is eventually scheduled to take place.

Should everything go according to plan, the bout will be Guzman’s first title fight since November 2007, when he scored a 12-round decision win over Humberto Soto for the final defense of his alphabet junior lightweight belt.

Guzman had also previously served as a junior featherweight titlist. His success in the pros, along with a stellar 310-10 amateur record and a stint in the 1996 Summer Olympics rates him as perhaps the greatest fighter to ever come out of the Dominican Republic.

Many regard him as one of the better tacticians in the sport today, though he has proven to be his own worst enemy with repeated weight issues and long periods of inactivity.

Funeka has not fought since the close decision loss to Campbell. An impressive boxing display for much of the middle rounds of his US televised and stateside debut was unfortunately bookended by knockdowns early and late, proving to be the difference between a draw and the majority decision that came about in the fight.

Prior to February, Funeka had never fought outside of his native South Africa. The majority of his 32 bouts to date have taken place in his hometown of East London.

Most notable among his 30 wins was his fourth round knockout of Zahir Raheem last July, though the ending came in controversial fashion. Funeka was winning the fight handily, but the fight-ending sequence came after the bell had rung to end the fourth round.

Little was made of it, however, as Raheem had been dropped three times prior in the fight and a Funeka win was all but inevitable.

The proposed fight with Guzman will mark Funeka’s second attempt at a world title. If plans hold up for a spot on the September 19 pay-per-view, then it will also serve as his second straight stateside appearance.

Of course, that would mean both sides coming to terms, thus avoiding a purse bid. As has been proven in the past several months following the title’s vacancy, the road leading to an eventual title fight has anything but seamless