Boxing News Thread

[heyzel]

Timothy Bradley Calls Out Hatton-Pacquiao Winner, Juan Manuel Marquez

05.04.09 - by James Slater - Timothy Bradley, the man who got up from two knockdowns to out-point Kendal Holt in Canada last night- in so doing becoming the unified WBC and WBO 140-pound champ - wasted no time calling out his next opponent. Like many other fighters at or around the light-welterweight limit, "Desert Storm" wants very much to fight the winner of May 2nd's huge Ricky Hatton-Manny Pacquiao clash.

Speaking post-fight last night to commentator Dave Bontempo, Bradley, now 24-0(11) made it clear he is ready for the mega fights from here on in.

"I want the big dogs," a victorious Bradley said after winning his UD over Holt. "I want the winner of Hatton and Pacquiao, definitely. If I can't get them, I want [Juan Manuel] Marquez. I want to be the star of the [light-welterweight] division."

No-one can blame the 25-year-old who hails from Palm Springs for asking for such fights; but will he get them? An excellent fighter, Bradley is fast, he always comes to fight, and he has real heart - while his superb conditioning makes sure his stamina levels have no problem taking him 12 hard-fought rounds. As he showed last night in the very first round, Bradley also has remarkable recuperative powers. Decked by a hurtful left hand by Holt in the opening round, Bradley looked in real trouble. Instead, he bounced back up instantly and was both clear-eyed and, he later claimed, clear-headed.

Bradley now also has additional bargaining power, what with the two belts around his waist. All this considered, though, will Hatton, Pacquiao or Marquez look in his direction? Bradley wants to become a star and a true great. To do this he must fight and beat the type of top names he called for. A personable guy whose friendly demeanour is not in keeping with his fearsome attitude when he's in the ring, Bradley might just have the stuff needed to become a star. Not a huge puncher, but all-action inside the ropes nonetheless, the shaven-headed warrior may be the type of boxer the fans really warm to from now on.

Willing to travel, as he has shown (fighting in both the U.K and Canada), Bradley just wants the chance to prove his worth. And Hatton and Pacquiao aside, he might be the best in the world right now at 140. Fighting against, and beating guys like like Nate Campbell, Andriy Kotelnik and the awkward Junior Witter (in a rematch) would certainly get more people on his side when it comes to who the best super-lightweight is today, but only a win over a Pacquiao or a Hatton would solidify his superiority.

Bradley deserves his chance to become a genuine star; maybe May 2nd's winner will give him that chance.

 

[heyzel]

Katsidis Stops Chavez, Wants Casamayor Or Khan Next

by James Slater - On last night's "Lightweight Lightning" card in Austin, Texas, Australia's thrilling crowd-pleaser and former WBO interim 135-pound champ Michael Katsidis was in action. Winning yet another exciting fight, in forcing 36-year-old former two-time world champion Jesus Chavez to remain on his stool after the 7th round of an eventful bout, the 28-year-old from Queensland won his second fight since losing two in a row - being stopped in the 10th round by Cuban Joel Casamayor and then being out-pointed by Texan Juan Diaz, both last year.

Fresh off his TKO win over Mexico's Chavez, "The Great" spoke to The Sydney Morning Herald about who he wants to fight next. Mentioning two opponents, Katsidis can't wait to get back in the ring again.

Katsidis said he would love to get it on with 37-year-old Casamayor in an attempt to avenge his loss, and he also said a fight with Britain's Amir Khan would suit him.

"I think Australia would love to get one up against England with that Amir Khan fight, but time is of the essence and Casamayor is not getting any younger," Katsidis said. "I want him before he retires, to make the wrongs right."

Of course, Casamayor was originally due to fight on last night's card - against Julio Diaz (being replaced, due to injury, by Rolondo Reyes). Now having been out of action since his September 2008 stoppage loss to Juan Manuel Marquez, the Cuban southpaw doesn't figure to have too long left in his career. Still, he beat Katsidis once and we would be foolish to doubt him in a second meeting. A Katsidis-Khan fight, though, would be very risky for the 22-year-old former Olympian.

Katsidis, who improved to 25-2(21) with last night's win, injured his right hand in the battle.
He also spoke about this post-fight.

"It's [my right hand] the size of a bloody football, it's the same injury that happened in the fight with Juan Diaz," Katsidis said. "I was warming into it as we went along [last night] and for my next fight I will be a lot quicker."

Assuming his hand causes him no serious problems, the Australian thrill-a-minute warrior will probably be back in action by late summer. While his landing a fight with Khan would shock me (and many other people too, probably), a Katsidis-Casamayor II should have a good chance of coming off. Either way, and whoever he faces in his next outing, it's safe to say Katsidis will once again give the fans more than their money's worth.

One of the best value fighters out there today, it is always a joy to watch "The Great" go into battle!

 

[heyzel]

Cotto, Juanma, Martinez, Calderon in Historic Gathering

By Mark Vester

Over in Puerto Rico, there was a historic boxing gathering. All eight of the current Puerto Rican world champions got together for a very publicized photo session. WBA welterweight champion Miguel Cotto, WBO junior flyweight champion Ivan Calderon, WBO super featerweight champ Roman Martinez, WBO super flyweight champ Jose Lopez, WBO super bantamweight champ Juan Manuel Lopez, WBA junior middleweight champ Daniel Santos, IBA bantamweight champ Victor Fonseca and IBA featherweight champ Orlando Cruz.

All of the fighters spoke about each other, and the booming era of boxing in Puerto Rico.

"We are in a great period that hasn't been seen in a very long time. Besides that we are all chamions, we are all friends. I have a great friendship with all of them. We try to support each other," Juanma said to Primera Hora .

"Right now, Puerto Rico is at a high peak with so many fighters that have been able to win titles," Martinez said.

"I am very happy with the work that each one of us has carried out," Cotto said

 

[heyzel]

Jose Sulaiman Supports The Pardon For Jack Johnson

By James Blears

The World Boxing Council has announced it is fully supporting a US Presidential Pardon being sought for America’s first black heavyweight boxing Champion Jack Johnson.

On Wednesday, US Senator John McCain will launch a resolution in Washington to right a wrong which has festered for almost 100 years. It will need the thumbs up of President Obama.

Jack Johnson defeated Tommy Burns on Boxing Day 1908 to win the what was considered then the richest prize in sports, but was harassed and hounded because of his color. He also caused uproar in the United States in the early twentieth century by having relationships with white women, and marrying a white woman. In 1913, he was convicted of a trumped up charge of transporting women across State borders for immoral purposes. He fled the United States, but after losing his title in 1915 in Cuba, he eventually returned home and served a ten month jail sentence.

Senator McCain says it’s way past the time to rectify this injustice. World Boxing Council President Jose Sulaiman agrees. In an exclusive interview for SKY he stressed: “No time, no matter how long can cover over an injustice, or discrimination, even if it’s three hundred years! Whatever Senator McCain is trying to do with this, we are going to offer our full support.

“Jack Johnson was a real hero, a great fighter and a marvellous champion. He was the inspiration for black people in the United States, and the rest of the world. It’s time to put this right and set the record straight.”

Sulaiman also said that Jack Johnson’s moral courage and defiance which was way ahead of his time, was a beacon of crucial inspiration to Muhammad Ali, who won the heavyweight title almost half a century later.

 

[heyzel]

Wright vs. Williams Undercard, Maddalone Tops 4/28 Card

VINNY MADDALONE

Headlining the show will be Queen's own heavyweight fan favorite Vinny Maddalone (31-5, 22KO). Maddalone, with his all-action style, has been exciting crowds since he first turned pro in 1999. Maddalone carries dynamite in both his hands and is always looking to exchange heavy blows in close quarters, which is sure to make for an extremely exciting main event.

The co-feature bout of the evening features former WBO/NABO lightweight champion, Jorge "The Truth" Teron (22-1-1, 15KO), of the Bronx, NY. Teron has lightning quick hands and devastating power. Nine of his last eleven wins have come by way of knockout and at six feet tall he certainly looks like he is going to be a true force to be reckoned with in the lightweight division in the years to come.

The show will kick off at 7PM sharp with an hour long cocktail reception. Immediately following the reception a four course elegant dinner will start being served, at which time the first bout will go on. There will be cocktail service throughout, with an open bar running for the remainder of the evenings fights.

"We are very excited about our new series, VIP Boxing," stated Star Boxing President and CEO Joe DeGuardia. "I truly feel Russo's On The Bay is one of the premier banquet halls in the entire nation and we couldn't be more excited about teaming up with them to put together this show. Vinny and Jorge are two very exciting fighters that you know are always going to put on an exciting show, so we are really looking forward to this event on the 28th."

"We are very pleased to have the opportunity of hosting Star Boxing's first installment of VIP Boxing at Russo's On The Bay. It's great to have one of the premier promoters in the industry, Star Boxing, staging this high-end event at Russo's on April 28th. We really feel it's going to be a fantastic night all around," stated Frank Russo III

 

[2-0-Sixx]

good fight right here, huge test for Ward....



Miranda vs. Ward is Close, May 16 on Showtime


By Mark Vester

According to Jose Bonilla, trainer of super middleweight Edison Miranda, the next fight for them will come against undefeated prospect Andre Ward (18-0, 12KOs). Bonilla says the fight will take place on May 16 in Oakland, California [Ward's hometown] with Showtime televising the card.

Ward, a 2004 Olympic gold medal winner, would be taking a serious step up but it's a step that would make him a serious contender at the weight. The fight is a must-win situation for Miranda, who needs to come out on top in order to remain as a serious threat at the weight.

"It is an attractive fight for us. If Ward thinks that he is going to arrive for a [coming out] party, he will be in for a surprise," Bonilla said to Primera Hora.

**UPDATE**
ESPN confirmed this fight has been made and is set for May 16 on showtime.
http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/boxing/news/story?id=4050674

 

[MOREBASS]

^ I think its kind of make or break time for Ward too. People have been waiting to see if he's the real deal Holyfield since the Olympics. I know I have.

I mean, it wouldn't be a total disaster if he were to lose, but it definitely would kick him back down the totem pole a few notches.

 

[2-0-Sixx]

yeah man I agree. Very intriguing match up, could be game over for whoever loses.

Not sure how I feel about this one. I've always loved Miranda, he's so likable and has amazing power, but clearly he's not elite and probably never will be, too many flaws and very bad defense.

Ward on the other hand is an up & comer from the west coast with a lot of natural skill. Never really seen him tested.

Cant call it.

 

[2-0-Sixx]

Good to see Valero being active.....

Edwin Valero Returns on July 25, Latin Fury 9

World champion Edwin 'Superman' Valero, 25-0 with 25 KOs and the biggest KO artist in boxing since Mike Tyson was in his prime, will next fight July 25 on Top Rank's Latin Fury 9 pay per view.

Bob Arum of Top Rank said he is looking for a lightweight challenger "...but it is difficult to find someone brave enough to face Superman.

"After all, nobody wants to become #26 on the Hit Parade," said Arum.

Valero, 27, of Bolero Alto, Venezuela is the WBC Lightweight champion. Top Rank will soon announce more details about the July 25 event.

Tickets are on sale at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas for Top Rank's May 1 card featuring Urbano Antillon vs. Tyrone 'Fists of Fury' Harris in a lightweight fight. Tickets at $75, $50, $35 and $20 are available on Ticketmaster.com and at the Hard Rock box office.

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Khan vs. Kotelnik on 6/27 - Amir Moving Up To 140

KHAN GETS WORLD TITLE FIGHT!

Amir Khan will step up a division to light-welterweight and challenge WBA World Champion Andreas Kotelnik promoter Frank Warren said today.

Hot-shot Khan, fresh from his win against Mexican legend Marco Antonio Barrera - WBO #1 and WBA #3 ranked at the time - last month in Manchester, gets his dream opportunity on June 27 with a venue to be confirmed shortly.

Warren said, "This is the moment that Amir has been waiting for and I'm delighted to deliver him the opportunity. Amir put in a sensational performance against a three time world champion and future Hall of Famer in Barrera in only his 21st fight and now he has to produce the same form against Kotelnik who is a good hard fighter."

Khan, 22, has campaigned predominantly in the lightweight division, winning the Commonwealth, WBO and WBA Intercontinental titles, but he moved up to 140lbs for an IBF Intercontinental title fight in December 2006 to beat Rachid Drilzane.

Kotelnik, who is from the Ukraine and based in Germany, is well known in Britain having fought here three times; in 2005 when he was robbed of the decision in his European title fight against Junior Witter, then in 2007 when he held then WBA World Champion Souleymane M'Baye to a draw and last year when he beat Gavin Rees to win the WBA crown.

Since defeating Rees he has made two successful title defences against Norio Kimura and Marcos Rene Maidana both on points.

Like Khan, he won an Olympic lightweight silver medal but at the 2000 Sydney games, and in 34 fights Kotelnik has never been stopped.

Naturally, Khan is excited about his world title showdown against Kotelnik.

"This is the best news that I could have received," Said Khan.

"To fight for the world title in only my 22nd fight and at the age of just 22 is fantastic. Frank has done a great job getting the world title fight for me in Britain and now I have to go out win it."

"I've seen Kotelnik a few times and I've always been impressed by him but once my trainer Freddie Roach works out the game plan to beat him it's my job to execute it on the night as I did effectively against Barrera."

 

[MOREBASS]

^ LOL, that was supposed to be Victor Ortiz' title shot.

I still wonder about Khan's chin though, especially with him moving up in weight.

 

[Lamberto Quintero]

I wasn't too impressed with him against Barrera, though Barrera looked terrible...

 

[2-0-Sixx]

same here. Plus, the fight with Barrera really should have been stopped after the first round and ruled a No Contest because that cut was fuckin nasty it was a sham they let it go to the 4th round, coincidently the round it would go to the scorecards and not ruled a NC.

 

[Lamberto Quintero]

same here. Plus, the fight with Barrera really should have been stopped after the first round and ruled a No Contest because that cut was fuckin nasty it was a sham they let it go to the 4th round, coincidently the round it would go to the scorecards and not ruled a NC.

Yeah, that cut was really bad. It hurts me to see Mexican heroes lose, but I guess I've gotten used to it ever since that Filipino went on his conquest, taking out more Mexicans than Hernando Cortez...

 

[2-0-Sixx]

lol, pacquiao is like an adopted mexican now though.

 

[Lamberto Quintero]

LOL!

Yeah I don't know many Mexicans who hate on him, the guy is a badass fighter and goes blow for blow without running away from fighters. After beating Morales, Barrera and Marquez, we don't got shit left. I still would like to see another fight against JMM though...

But yeah, I know he's respected by Mexicans unlike PBF, who runs in the ring...

 

[heyzel]

John vs. Juarez Rematch - Chris Signs Contract For 6/27

Mark Vester

BoxingScene.com reported last week that Chris John had agreed to the terms of a June 27 rematch with challenger Rocky Juarez. The two fought to a controversial draw a few weeks back on an HBO televised card from Houston, Texas. John wanted the rematch to take place in Indonesia, which Golden Boy Promotions [who handle both fighters] rejected. John was willing to fight him anywhere but Houston. This time the fight will take place at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. John has officially signed the contract, according to Toni Priatna, the fighter's assistant manager.

“[Chris] will have more support than the 100 Indonesians in Texas, and Juarez won’ t have home advantage,” Toni said to The Jakarta Post. “There are more than 4,000 Indonesians in LA, and I bet they will support Chris.”

Chris has already started to prepare, returning to Perth, Australia on April 1 to train at Harry’s Gym.

The main event of the June card will feature rising junior welterweight Victor Ortiz. He was set to fight WBA champion Andreas Kotelnik, who withdrew to accept a higher offer to fight Amir Khan on the same date in the UK.

 

[2-0-Sixx]

lol, new AT&T Mayweather commercial. Looks like he's still in tremendous shape:


Mayweather vs Pacquiao. You know it's going to happen

 

[heyzel]

Spinks vs. Latimore Headlines on April 24 on Showtime

The main event will feature the long-awaited hometown showdown for the vacant International Boxing Federation junior middleweight championship between former four-time world champion Cory “The Next Generation” Spinks (36-5, 11 KOs) taking on IBF No. 6-ranked contender Deandre “The Bull” Latimore (19-1, 16 KOs). The co-feature showcases the Gateway City’s fastest-rising star, undefeated World Boxing Council No. 1-ranked super lightweight Devon Alexander “The Great” (17-0, 10 KOs) meeting an opponent to be announced.

Both fights will be televised on ShoBox: The New Generation live on SHOWTIME beginning at 11 p.m. ET/PT (10 p.m. CT, delayed on the West Coast). A full undercard will be presented. Doors open at 6 p.m.

“I love St. Louis and I’m happy to have the top three prizefighters from this great American city on the same card at Scottrade Center,” King said. “Spring is almost here so it’s the perfect time to meet me in St. Louis on April 24 to see the best of the old and best of the new. It's going to be what we call a Lou thing.”

Tickets, all in the lower bowl, priced at $100 ringside, $60, $40, $25 and $10 (with a limited number of Golden Circle seats available at $300) are on sale now at Scottrade Center Box Office, all Ticketmaster Ticket Centers, by phone at 1-800-745-3000, or online at ticketmaster.com. A per ticket facility fee will be added to all tickets purchased at all locations, including at the Scottrade Center Box Office. Additional Ticketmaster service charges and handling fees apply. For disabled seating, call 314-622-5420.

The event is promoted by Don King Productions with Spinks vs. Latimore presented in association with Rumble Time Promotions and DiBella Entertainment.

Spinks, 31, is a former undisputed welterweight champion who also held the IBF junior middleweight championship, a crown he won in St. Louis on July 8, 2006, by winning a majority decision over then-champion Roman “Made in Hell” Karmazin.

Spinks lost that title at Scottrade Center on March 27, 2008, dropping a split decision to Verno Phillips after making the decision to split with his longtime trainer and manager Kevin Cunningham. Spinks and Cunningham have since reconciled and are working together again, and Phillips has vacated the title to move up to the middleweight division. Spinks thinks he will regain the title because his vast world championship experience will be too much for his 23-year-old cross-town rival.

“Deandre faced my stablemate Devon Alexander in the amateurs when they were both coming up,” Spinks said. “My question to Deandre is who have you faced? The first time he met a guy with a winning record, Ian Gardner knocked him out in three. He stopped Sechew Powell in his last fight but he’s not ready for me yet.”

Latimore, 23, met Powell in the biggest fight of his young career during his most-recent appearance on June 11 at the Hard Rock Times Square in New York. Powell had earned the IBF’s No. 1 ranking in the junior middleweight division and was mandatory challenger to face the newly crowned champion Phillips but decided to face Latimore first.

The match was competitive until the seventh round when Latimore broke through, hurting Powell with a right hook. Latimore rocked Powell again with an uppercut before pinning him in a corner. Powell’s lack of an appropriate response led the referee to halt the contest in a major upset victory for Latimore.

Latimore co-promoter Lou DiBella, president of DiBella Entertainment, is looking forward to the event.

“It is an honor to work on this show with Don King, as well as co-promote boxing’s next great young champion, Deandre Latimore, with our partner Rumble Time Promotions,” DiBella said. “The Battle of St. Lou will guarantee high drama.”

Alexander, a 22-year-old phenom who is also trained by Cunningham, was recently named mandatory challenger to the WBC 140-pound champion, so he has his first world championship match riding on this fight.

“A world championship fight is what I have been working towards my whole life,” Alexander said. “To earn that chance in front of my hometown fans in St. Louis would mean a lot to me.”

Spinks won his first world title by defeating Michele Piccirillo in 2003 to become the IBF welterweight champion. He added the World Boxing Council and World Boxing Association 147-pound titles by defeating Ricardo “El Matador” Mayorga later that year.

After successfully defending his crowns with a unanimous decision win over Zab “Super” Judah in a seesaw affair in 2004 that saw both fighters hitting the canvas, Spinks agreed to a rematch with Judah in front of a record crowd of 22,370 in his hometown on Feb. 5, 2005. Judah scored a technical knockout in round nine to spoil Spinks’s homecoming.

After moving up to 154 pounds and becoming world champion again, Spinks took a one-time gamble at 160 pounds to challenge then-World Boxing Council and -World Boxing Organization middleweight champion Jermain “Bad Intentions” Taylor at the FedEx Forum in Memphis on May 19, 2007.

Taylor experienced tremendous difficulty exerting his will over Spinks, who proved he could compete at the higher weight by darting in and out of range while landing during exchanges. Ringside experts and judges had difficulty agreeing on a winner after the fight went the distance. In a rarity, one judge favored Spinks by the wide margin of 117-111, while another judge favored Taylor by the same score. The third judge favored Taylor 115-113 to break the deadlock

 

[heyzel]

Miguel Cotto, Evangelista Could Face Criminal Charges

By Mark Vester

Wednesday's brawl, between WBO welterweight champion Miguel Cotto and uncle/trainer Evangelista Cotto, will have legal consequences. As previously reported on BoxingScene.com, Cotto and his uncle came to blows at 3:15PM on Wednesday at the Bairoa Gym in Caguas, Puerto Rico after a dispute over a new training plan that was presented by Miguel.

Initially it was heated verbal dispute, but when Miguel fired his uncle - violence erupted. Evangelista attacked Miguel, who fired back with his own punches. The two would eventually cool down but the drama continued later in the day when the physical battle continued at Miguel's apartment and also on the street, with Evangelista launching a cement block at Miguel, missing the fighter and breaking the window of his 2009 jaguar. The physcal confrontation continued until the police arrived. Miguel suffered a cut on his nose and Evangelista was taken to the hospital.

BoxingScene posted Cotto's comments on the brawl in an earlier news brief, where the fighter confirmed that his uncle would no longer be his trainer. Dr. Michelle Ramirez, who treated Evangelista in the emergency room of the hospital, told El Nuevo Dia that the trainer suffered a broken nose, cervical trauma and chest pains.

According to Quiñones Flores of the Police Department in the District of Caguas, Miguel could face charges of aggravated assault for the damage he inflicted on his uncle/trainer. Additionally, Evangelista is also facing possible charges of assault, and destruction of property with respect to Miguel's apartment and automobile. Neither Miguel or Evangelista have expressed any interest in pressing charges, but Flores says the two men broke the law with their violent incidents. Elba Rivera Melendez has been assigned as the prosecutor to investigate the case.

"We are going to cite a case because there was an exchange of punches and a crime was committed. As police officers we have to address the situation because there were calls and a complaint," Flores said.

 

[heyzel]

Jermain Taylor’s Message to Froch: "The Party is Over!"

By Terence Dooley

Carl Froch’s April 25th away-day assignment against American fighter Jermain Taylor is interesting for a number of reasons.

Firstly, Froch will travel to Connecticut’s Foxwoods Resort Casino to defend his WBC super middleweight title. Carl and his team came off second best during the negotiations for this contest, as evidenced by their having to travel, and, as of writing, the disgraceful lack of British TV coverage for the contest.

Froch is taking a strange step for a British boxer. Higher profile fighters have been content to sit on WBU and WBO belts, defending in the UK against a motley crew of challengers, with the TV networks coughing up for those fights in the past.

Also, Froch holds the most prestigious belt in the division, although that is not saying much these days. Still, Froch is travelling to Taylor’s backyard in order to make this fight, and you have to extend respect to the Nottingham man for that, not many title-holders would take this risk.

BoxingScene.com caught up with Taylor to find out why this fight is essential viewing, and why it should not be allowed to slip under the British TV radar.

First things first, Taylor holds two wins over Bernard Hopkins. The first win saw Hopkins lose for the first time in 26 fights. Bernard lost his undisputed middleweight title in the process.

A late charge on the part of Hopkins, coupled with a negative final few rounds from Taylor, led to controversy over the decision win. The two men fought a rematch, and the result was the same, a points win for Taylor. Taylor stood up to ‘The Executioner’ in the late rounds this time, though, winning a close decision over the refocused Hopkins.

In doing this Taylor twice achieved what Joe Calzaghe managed just once, defusing and defeating the tricky Hopkins. Calzaghe’s win over Bernard kick-started the wave of praise rolling over the Welshman in recent times, so the same praise should be extended to Taylor.

Distance fights against Winky Wright, Kassim Ouma and Corey Spinks, all southpaws, followed the Hopkins couplet. Taylor won two of the above contests, drawing with Wright in his first title defence. Such was the awkward nature of the guy in the other corner the bouts themselves were squeakers, with Taylor failing to shine all of the time.

I asked Jermain if these fights had blunted his post-Hopkins edge, he said: "Well, I will answer your question this way. Since I fought Hopkins I have fought nothing but top ranked fighters, men who would give anybody a hard fight.

"Yes I do think my edge was taken away in those fights. Styles make fights and Spinks and Ouma can make anyone look a little dull. They both also happen to be very good southpaws, these are difficult guys to fight."

In the interim Kelly Pavlik was tearing up trees, ripping Edison Miranda to pieces to cement his standing as Taylor’s number one contender. Instead of taking a gimme, Jermain went straight into a contest with the heavy-hitting Pavlik.

Their first contest was one for the ages. Pavlik was floored heavily in the second round, before regrouping to score a stunning seventh-round KO.

A rematch saw Taylor lose on points in a moral-boosting performance; he then went onto fight, and defeat Jeff Lacy, before entering into negotiations with Froch, who excelled, from an offensive perspective at least, in his title win over Jean Pascal.

Froch is a confident character to say the least, his tongue-in-cheek statements can seem bold, almost arrogant, but they are generally delivered with a twinkle and a smile. I asked Jermain if he had been surprised by Froch’s pre-fight verbal assaults, Taylor said: "No, I’m not really surprised by his confidence.

“Carl Froch is the WBC Super Middleweight Champion and he has never lost a fight. He’s a cocky fighter and I love that because he doesn’t know what he’s getting himself into in this fight. I don't see how he could not be confident. I would expect that type of confidence from a champion. My job is to take that confidence away from him, and I will do that.

"I don't believe he has the skill-set to beat me. Carl has not fought the level of competition I have (fought), and it will show in the fight."

The first Pavlik fight prompted Taylor to make a change; Emmanuel Steward, who guided Taylor from the Wright fight onwards, was out, long-term friend and amateur coach Ozell Nelson was brought in. Taylor told me that: "Ozell Nelson is my trainer and he's been with me from day one. We are on schedule and training is going great.

“I’m training harder than I’ve ever trained before. I haven’t trained this hard in a long time. Froch may be looking at me getting tired in those other fights and is preparing for that. You know what? Those types of performance are the past. I have got a chance, and I’m going to take it.

“Regarding Manny (Steward), I have nothing but respect for him. He is a Hall of Fame trainer and I learned a lot from my short time with him. We are friends. It just didn't click in the corner."

One worry in recent times was the absence of Taylor’s jab, as well as a cessation of his body punching. The jab, however, was the biggest loss; a shot that floored Nicolas Cervera in contention was largely absent during Taylor’s title reign. I asked Taylor if the jab would be making a comeback in this contest, he confirmed that it would be: "Yes, I will be using that jab all night long. I will also be bringing a lot of firepower into that ring on April 25th."

Taylor stopped short when asked about his plans for the fight, not wanting to give too much away: "I really don't want to give away any secrets or my game plan as to what I see as a plus or minus in the style of Froch.

"I have seen some of his fights and as I mention before I don't think he has the skill-set to beat me. He’s rangy. He moves and fights with a lot of strength. I don’t think he’s fast. I think he’s too slow.

“I don't take anything for granted, and I don't worry about things going into a fight. Preparation is the key. I will be well prepared and I am focussed for this fight."

Froch is a career-long super-middleweight. Taylor moved into the division proper in his win over Lacy (the Pavlik rematch was fought at 164lb). From Taylor’s perspective, however, size is an issue for Froch in this contest: "Actually, Froch is not bigger than me, despite what people think or say. I'm bigger than Carl. Look at the tale of the tape.

“If he was bigger it wouldn’t mean anything anyway. I’m going to be boxing and moving. I’ll just go in there and box the hell out of him. I feel a lot stronger at 168. I have the body frame to carry that weight. I probably fought a little too long at 160, and it affected my performances."

The intangibles make this fight interesting: Can Froch cut it at this level? Will the British fighter bring his domestic form to the USA? How much desire does Jermain Taylor have left? How much does Taylor have in the tank?

For Taylor there is one answer to both of my questions, as he told BBN: "There is still a lot more left in Jermain Taylor. Losing the title to Kelly Pavlik opened my eyes. Sometimes you don't know what you have until you lose it. I want to be world champion, and I'm hungry for it again."

As mentioned above that hunger was dulled in recent years, the run of fights against Wright, Ouma and Spinks saw Taylor perform listlessly, this prompted some abuse from Internet-based fans, when asked if he felt hard done by Taylor looked to the positives that boxing brings, he said: "I don't think I have been harshly done by in the sport of boxing.

“Boxing has been good to me and I have been able to provide for my family because of boxing. Everybody likes a winner and when you lose a fight, or don't put in a good performance, people say things. It comes with the territory.

“I just know that the hard work will pay off in this fight. Regarding the few fights I lost. I not only let myself down. I let my fans down. I let my hometown down. I just want to get these belts back, and all of that will be erased. That’s what I love about boxing because you’re never out of it, you get chances.”

Finally, I asked Taylor if he had a message for his small band of British supporters, he did, a brief one: "I appreciate all your support and I will give you something to cheer about on April 25th!"

Also, any message for the Froch fans, he told them, and Froch, that: "The party is over!

"I'm not a trash talker and I don’t go around making predictions, but I will tell you this…I'm confident about victory!"

Coda:

Froch needs to win this fight; losing the title in his first contest would be a massive blow. It was hard enough for Froch to secure the Taylor fight when holding the belt; a defeat would send Carl out into the wilderness.

Taylor also needs to win; he needs to regain the magic touch that took him to a brace of victories over Hopkins, that is not all, either, one senses that Taylor sees this as his chance to make a big statement. The WBC title is Taylor’s passport to some big fights, fights that will give him a chance to put the polish back on his career.

Over the course of his career Taylor has reminded this writer of Mark Breland, both are undoubted talents, but they often tantalise us with their ability, looking fluid and strong, and then looking ragged and fragile.

Breland’s unbeaten record was ripped away by Marlon Starling. Mark regrouped by taking Starling the distance in a moral-boosting drawn rematch. Breland’s rehabilitation was completed when he hammered Britain’s Lloyd Honeyghan into defeat, hurting Lloyd with the jab in the process. There are a few omens there.

For his part, Froch is the pure heart and soul of boxing, taking his lumps in the Pascal fight. What he lacks in talent, and a defence, he makes up for with desire and offensive prowess.

You cannot ignore Taylor’s credentials, though, and the man who negotiated Hopkins, hit Wright more often than is usually the case and went straight back in with Pavlik should have too much for Froch.

With Showtime televising in the States, the fighters talking it up, and the fight intriguing the Internet fans the stage is well and truly set, hopefully the contest will take place on UK TV sets. It is too small to generate big bucks, too big to slip the net, someone needs to pull their finger out, and get a deal in place