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May 13, 2002
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www.socialistworld.net
I know what you mean. I was LOLing for weeks after the KO. "He got Khan'd" was a phrase I used for a while when someone got KO'd badly.

He looked like a baby calf on a fresh pair of new legs after the very first punch:


What a disappointment prescott has become though, I really was thinking at the time he could be a force.
 
Jul 24, 2005
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Pacquiao Denies Rumor of Pushing Back Mayweather Fight

By Ronnie Nathanielsz

Pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao, on his way to loosen up by playing basketball with friends in his hometown of General Santos City, has junked rumors that he wants the super fight against Floyd Mayweather Jr. postponed until after the May 2010 elections.

Pacquiao is running for a congressional seat in Sarangani province and agreed to the March 13 date so he could concentrate on training for the fight before plunging into his election campaign against reluctant candidate Roy Chiongbian of the well-established Chiongbian family.

Pacquiao’s adviser Michael Koncz, who was with Pacquiao on their way to play basketball, said the report was “nonsense. Manny wants the March 13 fight date because he also needs some money to run an election campaign.”

We also learned that Pacquiao, who lost in his congressional bid the last time around to incumbent Darlene Antonino Custodio and was reported to have doled out millions, some of which did not go to the intended recipients such as poll watchers and local leaders - has taken stringent measures to prevent a repeat of such an anomaly and is keeping a close watch on the dispersal of funds.

Pacquiao has said often in the past, that he stays in shape in-between training for fights in the gym by playing basketball.
 
Jul 24, 2005
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Ivan Calderon Praying The Brian Viloria Fight Happens

By Mark Vester

WBO junior flyweight champion Ivan "Iron Boy" Calderon is crossing his fingers that his unification bout with IBF champ Brian Viloria will go through. Calderon is targeting next March for the bout. Viloria has a title defense scheduled in January against Carlos Tamara. Calderon is nervous that something bad will happen in that fight.

"I hope nothing happens to Viloria. For several years we been talking about the fight with Viloria, but we were unlucky as he lost a fight, or was injured," Calderon said to Primera Hora.

If Viloria is upset, Calderon will face someone in the top ten but he won't move up to 112-pounds.

"That is what is being negotiated [a Viloria fight in March], but in case he loses - we're looking for an alternative plan," Calderon said. "We will look for the best alternative against someone ranked in the top ten. It is not in my plans to go up to 112-pounds. People know that is not my weight."
 
Jul 24, 2005
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Wlad’s The King, is Vitali The Best Heavyweight/Klitschko?

By Jake Donovan

Who is the best heavyweight in the world?

The question came up periodically over the past several years, perhaps due to the lack of a definitive ruler, even if a de facto leader existed in Wladimir Klitschko. But since his whitewash of previously unbeaten Ruslan Chagaev earlier this summer, his status as the king of boxing boys was merely accepted as everyone moved on.

While the win established heavyweight title lineage, it didn’t confirm without a doubt that the younger of the fighting Klitshcko brothers was in fact the best heavyweight in the world.

It didn’t even confirm that he was the best heavyweight in his family.

That’s not to say an argument cannot be made on behalf of the 1996 Olympic Gold medalist. It took a while, but dating back to his 2005 points win over Samuel Peter, there isn’t another heavyweight in the world who has enjoyed a better run.

Except perhaps his older brother.

It is with that nugget, that it stands to reason that while the lineal heavyweight champion (Wlad) continues to rehab his shoulder in preparation for a 2010 return, the best heavyweight in the world fights this weekend.

Vitali Klitschko (38-2, 37KO) makes the third defense of his alphabet title when he takes on his second straight undefeated challenger in Kevin Johnson (22-0-1, 9KO). The bout headlines a rare title fight in Switzerland, which airs this Saturday via same-day tape delay on HBO.

Surprisingly, the bout has managed to get lost in the shuffle in what is already a loaded boxing weekend. Both HBO and Showtime have a full night of action in store, with five bouts to air between the sport’s two premiere boxing networks.

Klitschko-Johnson is the only fight of the bunch which won’t air live in the states, though it – or the fact that it’s taking place well beyond the U.S. borders – is no reason for the bout to get buried in the headlines.

Especially when you can make a case that one of the combatants is the best heavyweight in the world today.

Sure, there are plenty of arguments to plead a case for younger brother Wladimir – 11 straight wins, including two alphabet titles and the lineal heavyweight championship, with the bulk of the work done while Vitali was on the sidelines for nearly four years due to rehabbing an assortment of injuries.

But all it took to remind people that the debate over the best boxing Klitschko is an unresolved one, was Vitali’s triumphant return to the sport last October.

The elder Klitschko had his way with Samuel Peter, forcing the Nigerian to quit on his stool after eight rounds. The same Samuel Peter that had younger brother Wladimir on the canvas three times in their September 2005 title eliminator couldn’t manage to win a single minute against a 37-year old heavyweight who hadn’t punched for pay in nearly four years.

From there, the game was afoot.

For the first time in their respective careers, the fighting Klitschkos enjoy simultaneously dominant runs. That spells bad news for the rest of the heavyweight division, and even worse news for those who don’t prefer a two-headed monster as their heavyweight king.

Both previously enjoyed their best moments at separate times, but never as the dominant heavyweight of their era until recently. It was during Vitali’s four-year hiatus that Wladimir put in the best run of his career, bumping off one top 10 heavyweight after another to earn worldwide acclaim as the best big man on the planet.

But it’s been Vitali’s recent run that has recently reshuffled the deck. Saturday will mark his fourth straight fight against a perennial Top 10 heavyweight, all within the last 14 months.

Aiding his cause as he gains traction is the fact that Wladimir was only able to fight once in 2009. It was a big one, reestablishing lineage in the division as he topped Chagaev over nine one-sided (albeit, somewhat dull) rounds.

But is it enough to still regard him as the very best heavyweight in the world?

Not making things any easier are three other factors: Vitali’s age (38); that his run comes following such an extensive break from the ring; and that nearly everyone would pick older brother to wipe the ring with baby bro 10 times out of 10 if they ever fought.

The worst news for Wladimir is that there’s nothing he can do about it until the first quarter of 2010 at the very earliest. That’s when he’s expected to return, with mandatory title defenses on tap against Eddie Chambers and Alex Povetkin, both of whom are regarded by many to be the two best heavyweights not named Klitschko.

Wins against either will once and for all put considerable distance between Wladimir and the rest of the heavyweight division, his older brother included.

Until then, all he can do is sit back, nurse his injury, find his seat at ringside and join what everyone else will be doing, either in attendance in Berne, Switzerland or at home on TV:

Watching the best heavyweight in the world ply his trade this weekend
 
Jul 24, 2005
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Lee McAllister Set To Defend Crown; Eyes Murray Return

By Terence Dooley

Aberdeen’s Lee McAllister will make history on the 29th of January by becoming the first Aberdonian to headline a boxing show in the West of Scotland. Lee is set to defend his Commonwealth title against Ghana’s Samuel Amoako at the Bellahouston Leisure Centre, Glasgow; the fight will be televised on Sky Sports here in the UK.

Lee has had a remarkable 2009, he was knocked out when challenging John Murray for the British lightweight title in January but has since bounced back with 3 successive wins. Lee won the Commonwealth crown by defeating Godfriend Sowah in June and has since defended the crown with a seventh round stoppage of fellow Scot Charlie Paul King.

McAllister, 27, told sport.scotsman.com that he is now looking towards a successful third defence of his crown. “I will bring busloads of supporters with me,” declared the 30-2 (7) boxer.

“I am no longer just an Aberdeen boxer, I am Scottish fighter and as I become bigger and my popularity grows I need to look to broaden my horizons. But I would never turn my back on my fans. They have earned my loyalty and I hope I can repay them by eventually fighting for a world title in Aberdeen.

“After this fight, I am looking to a European title fight next, maybe a couple of defences and then look at a world title fight. But it's up to my manager Tommy Gilmour, I have been progressing well under him.”

McAllister will look towards the winner of John Murray’s EBU title tilt against Anthony Mezaache. Lee was in line for a shot at Anthony only for Murray to beat him too it. A Murray-McAllister rematch would go down well with British fan
 
Jul 24, 2005
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Will Tonight Be Juan Diaz' Marquee Fight?

By T.K. Stewart

When you talk to Juan "The Baby Bull" Diaz, it's easy to forget that he punches other people in the face for a living.

Diaz is polite, articulate and unassuming. He’s accomplished enough over the course of nearly a decade as a prizefighter that he would have a lot to brag about - but that's not Juan Diaz.

You won't find him wearing platinum necklaces, diamond rings, throwing one hundred-dollar bills from balconies or drinking Cristal Champagne in nightclubs.

No, you're more apt to find Juan Diaz studying in a university library or calling somebody "Sir" or "Ma’am" before he opens the door for them.

At age 26, he retains a boyish persona and he's already won three lightweight titles. He’s defended those titles seven times and along the way has managed to earn a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Houston.

By any measure one wishes to use, Juan Diaz has accomplished much in a boxing career that saw him turn professional in a dusty Mexican ring as a pudgy 16-year-old.

After 37 pro fights, he could retire now. He has money in the bank, his faculties, a son and a college education. He has hopes of one day becoming a lawyer so that he can lend legal aid to those less fortunate. His manager, Willie Savannah, even believes that Diaz could one day become the mayor of Houston, Texas.

So with all that he has going for him, why is Juan Diaz still associated with a sport that sometimes reeks like a sewer, and why is he stepping into the ring tonight against Paulie Malignaggi in Chicago?

"I'm a fighter and that's what I do," Diaz said earlier this week. "I get paid to fight and I didn't want to leave the fans with any doubt."

He didn't have to take this rematch with Malignaggi. After all, Diaz won their first bout this past August via unanimous decision. One judge had it 115-113 and another 116-112 in Diaz' favor. But it was a ludicrous 118-110 scorecard handed in by judge Gale Van Hoy that has caused this rematch to happen.

At best, their first fight could have been scored as a one or two round swing in either direction for either guy. But when Van Hoy called 10 rounds for Diaz and 2 for Malignaggi, it sent the conspiracy theorists – and mostly Malignaggi – into a state of hysteria.

While Diaz is quite well aware he didn't have to accept this fight, he did so because he felt it was the only way to put the questions that surrounded the decision in the first fight behind him. He says he has put that fight in his rear-view mirror, but he believes Malignaggi and the public have not, so he agreed to the rematch.

"The fight in August was in August, that was the past," Diaz explains. "Now I'm looking forward to the future. December twelfth is another night, another city and another public. I think all of the fans wanted to see a rematch between the two of us. I don't want to leave any of my fights in doubt. But I love it when people doubt me. That's really what drives me. That's when I come to the top and rise to the challenge. When my back is against the ropes, that's when I perform at my best."

Diaz claims he used the firestorm of protest that enveloped the first fight to help fuel him on to new heights. As a result, he feels that tonight will see him at or near his peak form.

Diaz indicted he may not have been in the best of shape the first time around and mentioned that he wasn't as focused for Malignaggi as he had been for past fights when he was the 135-pound champion. But after a solid 10-week training camp, in which he weight-trained under the auspices of strength trainer Brian Caldwell and paid strict attention to a well-balanced diet, Diaz feels tonight is his night to shine. For this bout, neither fighter can weigh more than 139-pounds.

"This time around, I've had a little more time to adjust and I didn't have as much time to rest up since the last fight, but that's the way I like it," he said. "I'm a real active fighter and I like to stay active as much as I can. I've been eating right day-in and day-out."

In a year that has seen him engage in a fierce, fight of the year type battle versus Mexican great Juan Manuel Marquez (in which he was knocked out in the 9th round) and the controversial bout with Malignaggi, Diaz just wants to set the record straight before the book is closed on 2009.

Something else that becomes clear as you speak to Diaz is that while he is most always amiable, he does have an extremely competitive spirit that sometimes bubbles up from under the surface.

"I told my manager, Willie Savannah, to make this fight," says Diaz. "It doesn't matter where we fight and these guys that talk a lot don't scare me. When I step into the ring, I'm not afraid of anything or anyone. I'm going to be there with pressure and ready to go to war."

But the question is, after all of these years in the sport, with three world title belts, financial riches an education and a bright future ahead of him – why does Juan Diaz still fight on?

"I have everything you've mentioned," he replies. "But I want the marquee fight that I was successful in and I want to come out on top. I want to go down in the history books and I want the history books to say that I was a great fighter. The people that are remembered for doing great things are in the history books because they did great things. I've studied history and political science and in all of those books are people that are remembered. That's what I want."

To do that, he’ll have to get by Paulie Malignaggi. If he’s lucky, maybe it will be the marquee fight that Juan Diaz has always wanted. It would appear as though he has just about everything else.

In the Corners

It appears as though the big fight between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather, Jr. is probably going to happen. I believe it should happen anywhere but Las Vegas. While the MGM Grand does a wonderful job of organizing these mega-events, I’m of the opinion that always having these big fights in the same old location with the same old setting is getting tired and old. It’s just becoming boring and blasé for the fans and for those of us who show up to watch these things and write about them. Can you imagine the NFL or Vi nce McMahon or Dana W hite holding every SuperBowl, W W E or U F C pay-per-view in the same location? This fight needs to be brought to the masses and for a fight of this magnitude, the MGM Grand, which only holds 16,000, is too damn small…Who would have ever thought we would see a year in which two heavyweight title fights were contested in Switzerland, with none taking place in the United States? Well, that’s exactly what has happened as earlier this year Nikolai Valuev faced Evander Holyfield and tonight Vitali Klitschko will meet Kevin Johnson there…I’m guessing that after last weekend’s tussle against Sergio Martinez that Paul Williams has lost the title of the "most feared and most avoided" man in all of boxing?
 
Jul 24, 2005
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Jean Pascal Decisions Adrian Diaconu, Retains Title

By Mark Vester

At the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, WBC lightweight champion Jean Pascal (25-1, 16KOs) retained his title with a hard-fought unanimous decision over former champion Adrian Diaconu (26-2, 15KOs). The rematch was another classic, with scores of 118-110, 117-111, 117-111 but the fight was a lot closer than the cards would indicate. Pascal took the title from Diaconu with a unanimous decision in June.

Diaconu came out strong, boxing very well and taking the fight to Pascal. The early rounds were close with Pascal willing to fight when needed but Diaconu appeared to have a small edge in most of them. Diaconu was pouring on the power shots in the fifth, throwing bombs and trying to take Pascal out against the ropes. Pascal was more interested in staying on the move to shake off some of the landed punches. Pascal slowed down the pace in sixth, but Diaconu was still being more active and more accurate with his punches. Pascal came on late in an attempt to steal the round.

They started trade some heavy combos in the seventh. Each guy had his moments with sharp combinations. Pascal came out with a massive amount of combinations to the head and body of Diaconu in the eight. He backed Diaconu into the corner and began to work him over but couldn't keep him there for too long. Diaconu tried to stage a rally as Pascal stayed away and baited him to fight. Diaconu came out swinging in the ninth, and Pascal started countering with his hooks. They stayed in close, trading shots. Diaconu's right side of his face was swelling bad at this point.

The action slowed down in the tenth. Diaconu continued to come forward and tried to go after Pascal's body. It didn't take too long for the action to heat up with body fighters starting to unload. Near the end of the round, Pascal injured his right shoulder during an exchange and went to his corner in pain. After starting slow and mostly using his left hand, Pascal staged one hell of a rally in the final minute by working Diaconu over with both hands to close the round strong.

The twelfth and final had Pascal land his combinations first, and then Diaconu tried to counter. They squared up close with Pascal getting the better of the exchanges. Diaconu started going to the headn and boyd with combos and Pascall answered back with combinations of his own. They started going toe to toe in the final thirty seconds and Pascal's faster hands were outworking Diaconu.
 
Jul 24, 2005
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Ward vs Taylor is On For April; DiBella Walks Away

Statement from Promoter Lou DiBella on the Career of Jermain Taylor

“I have just been informed though numerous press reports that Jermain Taylor has elected to continue his participation in The Super Six: World Boxing Classic tournament, and will face Andre Ward in April. It is with a heavy heart, but strong conviction, that I will recuse myself and DiBella Entertainment as Jermain’s promoter.

“Jermain’s career has been outstanding, and it has been a pleasure and honor to promote him. His victories against Bernard Hopkins remain the highlights of my career as a promoter. Jermain is not only a great fighter, but a good and decent man with a wonderful family. It is out of genuine concern for him and his family that I am compelled to make this decision.

“I informed him, as I do all my contracted fighters, that my goal was to help his secure financial stability for his family, maximize his potential, and leave our unforgiving sport with his health intact.

“It is my belief that the continuation of Jermain’s career as an active fighter places him at unnecessary risk. While he is undoubtedly capable of prevailing in future bouts, I cannot, in conscience, remain involved given my assessment of such risk.

“I wish Jermain all the best in his future endeavors. All of us at DiBella Entertainment hold Jermain close to our hearts and consider him and his family part of our family. We wish him Godspeed and continued health.” - Lou DiBella
 
Jul 24, 2005
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David Haye: "Klitschko-Johnson, an Absolute Mismatch"

By Mark Vester

WBA heavyweight champion David Haye has trashed Saturday's title fight between WBC champ Vitali Klitschko and challenger kevin Johnson. He said the fight is such a mismatch that it's not even worth watching. He doesn't think Johnson is a threat in any shape or form to the champion.

"It's one of the weaker heavyweight fights of recent times. It's unlikely that I'll even watch it," Haye told The Daily Telegraph. "On paper, it's an absolute mismatch. There is nothing special about Kevin Johnson and nothing on his record that suggests he's going to threaten Vitali. The guy doesn't even have a unique name."

During a recent interview, Haye said that he plans to target both Klitschko brothers, after making a mandatory title defense against John Ruiz.
 
Jul 24, 2005
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Bradley Still The Man At 140; Darchinyan KO’s Rojas

y Jake Donovan (photo by Chris Farina/Top Rank)

It’s a tough argument to swallow when the division in which you reside boasts a lineal champion who is also recognized as pound-for-pound the best fighter in the world today.

But for any fighter from 136 to 140 lb interested in making a name for himself, beware of this:

Timothy Bradley is, without a doubt, the best active super lightweight in the world.

The man also known as “Desert Storm” sent an emphatic reminder at the Agua Caliente Resort and Casino in Rancho Mirage, Calif., where he scored a unanimous decision over Lamont Peterson in a battle of unbeaten friendly rivals in their Showtime televised main event.

Bradley was well within the super lightweight limit at a chiseled 138 lb; Peterson was slightly heavier at an equally sculpted 139 lb.

The opening moments of the fight played out exactly as suggested; the larger Peterson relying on his boxing skills to get him through the day. The D.C. native controlled the distance with his jab, but Bradley would soon find an equalizer; a straight right hand had Peterson hurt midway through the round, only for Bradley to slip on a canvas logo at center ring before having a chance to follow up.

Bradley, fighting 20 minutes away from his hometown in Palm Springs, would have chances to make up for the lost opportunity, scoring big in the second and especially the third, when an overhand right forced Peterson to a knee.

Peterson complained to referee Pat Russell of being struck by a blow to the back of his head, with replays confirming his gripe. His appeal fell on deaf ears, though he did everything in his power to bring the round back to a 10-9 scoring margin. He fell short on that front, but landed enough left hooks to create considerable concern in Bradley’s corner in between rounds.

The gutty effort exuded by Peterson proved to be a pivotal point in the fight. Both fighters had their moments in round four, each enjoying success with their jabs, but it was Peterson who forced the fight in the fifth round. Bradley was never a threat to go down, but momentarily shook by a right hand along the ropes late in the round.

By the middle rounds, it was Bradley fighting in reverse while Peterson remained on the hunt. The strategy proved to be effective for Bradley, who was able to play defense for the first time in the fight and counter with right hands and left hooks.

It was more of the same for Bradley in the seventh, with the added bonus of a right hand that drew blood from Peterson’s nose late in the round. The trend was none too pleasing to head trainer Barry Hunter, who kept it real with his fighter in between rounds.

“You gonna’ feel pain you never felt before if you let this man walk out of the ring with this title,” explained Hunter, who has served as the surrogate father to Lamont and younger brother and current lightweight contender Anthony Peterson since they were teens.

Peterson began the eighth as if he took heed to the advice, flying off of his stool to land a straight left. The glory was short-lived; Bradley regained control soon thereafter, punching in bunches and slipping all of the incoming as he forced Peterson back into the role of boxer.

A rare moment of intervention was required by Russell when the fighters clashed heads early in the ninth. The sequence proved inconsequential, although would remind Peterson that he was beginning to run out of rounds. He went on the hunt, but Bradley proved to be just as effective fighting in reverse as he was at initiating the exchanges.

Bradley’s ability to slip punches and immediately jump into punching range proved to be the difference down the stretch. Peterson landed a solid left hook on the inside late in the tenth, but was unable to capture lightning in a bottle as he was very wide and very short with similar attempts in the championship rounds. Bradley easily avoided most of the incoming and came back to trade with his friendly rival to close the show.

While the final outcome was never in doubt, the final tallies were indicative of the judging issues that continue to plague the sport, more so in recent times. Ringside scores of 118-110, 119-108 and 120-107 didn’t quite tell the entire story, but were rightfully in favor of Tim Bradley, who continues to put distance between himself and the rest of the division.

Ever the humble warrior, at no point did Bradley attempt to bang his chest over what was ultimately a dominant performance against a top contender, instead appreciative of the challenge he was presented.

“It was a tough battle,” said Bradley, who improves to 25-0 (11KO) with the win. “He’s a beast. He made me fight like nobody else had made me in any point in my career. I have all of the respect in the world for him. He’s the toughest fighter I have faced to date.”

“My conditioning is superior. They came in with a game plan to break me down and slow me down in the later rounds. I felt a little gassed in there, but caught my second wind in the eighth and ninth round. I tried to pick it up, but he kept stepping it up. I knew I just had to keep moving, using my jab and listening to my corner.”

Peterson did his best to heed the advice of his corner throughout the fight. However, a game changer forced the 25-year old to go to Plan B much earlier than expected.

“My plan was to win the early rounds and put pressure on him so I can box in the end,” said Peterson, who falls to 27-1 (13KO) in losing for the first time as a pro. “When the knockdown happened and I lost a few rounds, it put me in a situation where I had to pressure him.”

It proved to be too little too late as the fight went on, as Peterson was simply unable to come from under the early deficit.

“I wanted to fight him more but he was smart, using the ring and doing his job. Regardless of whether he stood orthodox or southpaw, he proved to never be an easy target to hit.”

With each fight, Bradley proves to be the toughest out in the division as he continues to establish himself as a regional draw. After traveling to England to defeat Junior Witter for his first title, then unifying two belts with a points win over Kendall Holt earlier this year in Canada, Bradley has kept it home for his last two fights.

His previous appearance in this very arena was just as dominant for as long as it lasted, even though his aborted three-round shutout of Nate Campbell would wind up a no-contest. A review by the California State Athletic Commission showed that a cut that led to Bradley initially being declared a TKO winner was caused by a butt.

There were two separate headbutts in this fight, including one that opened a cut under Peterson’s left eye late in the fight. But neither would have an impact on the final outcome, which was Bradley winning at home for the first time since before he became a titlist.

Where he goes from here is immediately unknown. Home most likely won’t be the first option if he’s to secure the best fights out there, although wherever the ring is set up is of little concern to Bradley.

“Whoever they line up, it don’t matter. I’m a road warrior. I’ll go anywhere. Show me the money and I’ll be there.”

Even with the winter holidays approaching, the plan is to stay ready in case the right opportunity comes along, rather than having to get ready once he receives that phone call.

“I have a great team behind me… and a lot of faith in myself. I never take a few months off. I’m always running, always working out in the gym. I’m just focused and hungry for the top.”

As long as the one man with lineal claims keeps his attention affixed elsewhere, at the top is exactly where Timothy Bradley currently resides among all active super lightweights.

DARCHINYAN RETURNS TO 115 WITH A VENGEANCE

In the televised co-feature, Vic Darchinyan returned to the win column, as well as the super flyweight division over which he presides, with a vicious second round knockout over mandatory challenger Tomas Rojas.

Straight lefts figured to be the weapon of choice for power punching southpaws. Such was the case early, with Rojas taking the fight to the champion from the opening bell, only for Darchinyan to come on towards the end of the first round with a pair of left hands upstairs.

The early moments of the second round would mark the last time ebb and flow of any kind would be featured in the fight. Darchinyan soon took over, going left hand crazy to force Rojas on the defensive.

Three left hands towards the end of the round would lead to the end of the fight; two shots to the temple had Rojas trapped on the ropes; a final straight left to the chin would put the Mexican down for the full ten count.

The official time was 2:54 of round two.

Darchinyan’s pure punching power proved ineffective in his failed bantamweight title bid against Joseph Agbeko earlier this summer. The transplanted Armenian appeared to be back in his comfort zone at 115, although he believes a different type of strength was what led to Saturday’s knockout win.

“I don’t think it’s a difference about being stronger at a different weight. It’s about being mentally stronger,” claimed Darchinyan, who improves to 33-2-1 (27KO). “He was punching me, but I knew my time would come. I wanted to work on my boxing skills. I landed a three-punch combination to end the fight.”

Rojas dips to 32-12-1 (22KO) with the loss, snapping a seven-fight unbeaten streak.

The win was the second successful defense of the lineal super flyweight crown for Darchinyan, who turns 34 next month. What’s next is immediately unclear, though he can think of at least two options for 2010 – Agbeko and Nonito Donaire, the only two fighters to hand him a loss.

“Every night when I go to sleep, I think about how I’m going to fight these guys (again). Gary Shaw knows what I want to do.”

A rematch with Donaire had been problematic in the past, given that the Filipino bolted from Shaw’s stable, defecting to Top Rank last year. But with marching orders now in tow, Shaw claims to be fully committed to appeasing his fighter’s wishes.

“We’ve contacted the WBA to order a purse bid. Top Rank isn’t calling us; nobody’s calling us anymore, but that’s the fight my guy wants.”

The televised doubleheader was presented by Gary Shaw Productions and Thompson Boxing Promotions, in association with Top Rank.
 
Jul 24, 2005
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Paulie Malignaggi Gets Revenge, Decisions Juan Diaz

By Mark Vester

At the UIC Pavilion in Chicago, Paulie Malignaggi (27-3, 5KOs) won a unanimous twelve round decision over Juan Diaz (35-3, 17KOs). All three judges had it scored 116-111. The fight was a rematch of a controversial first bout that was won by Diaz.

Diaz stalking at the start of the first. He was beinbg picked off by Malignaggi's quicker hands. Diaz tried working his way in with the jab but couldn't follow up much. Malignaggi continued to use his speed to outhustle Diaz in the second. A cut opened up above the left eye of Diaz during the action from a Malignaggi combination. Diaz was on the attack in the third, landing multiple combinations with both hands as he lured Malignaggi into a minor war. Malignaggi slowed the pace down and started outlanding Diaz with shots off the quick jab.

Diaz started to get busier in the fourth by throwing more punches and landing some of them. Malignaggi continued to push his own tough pace. Diaz had a good round five by landing some good combinations and doing some good work. During the sixth, Diaz was once again doing well but then got stunned by a Maliganggi uppercut. He began to unload some punches and taunted Diaz. In the seventh, it was again a close round. Diaz was pushing forward trying to land while Malignaggi was jabbing and countering well.

The action was full Malignaggi in the eight. He was catching Diz with quicker punches and holding Diaz when he came in. The two of them engaged in some wild exchanges in the final minute. Malignaggi was boxing well once again in the ninth, he was keeping Diaz at the distance and using his jab to keep Diaz at bay. The tenth round was fought at a slower pace. Malignaggi was landing his jab and then caught Diaz with a punch to the back of the head that turned him around to the point where he bent over backwards and lost his balance. His glove touched the mat and the ref ruled it as a knockdown.

Malignaggi continued with a slow pace in the eleventh, not allowing Diaz to step up the tempo with his incoming combinations. Malignaggi stuck to the plan by moving and landing his quick jab. Diaz was able to land some good punches when he was able to get close. Diaz did his best work in the twelfth and final round. He came on strong by making it a fight and broke Maliganggi's plan to box. They traded everything they had in the final ten second
 
Oct 3, 2006
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Malignaggi is a dumbass he had hella open shots to knock diaz out if he wanted, instead of just stickin out his fuckin tongue out and actin like he in the wwe everytime he stunned him. And that klithschko/johnson fight was boring as fuck!
 

Joey

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Malignaggi is a dumbass he had hella open shots to knock diaz out if he wanted, instead of just stickin out his fuckin tongue out and actin like he in the wwe everytime he stunned him. And that klithschko/johnson fight was boring as fuck!
Yeah but he aint a knock out fighter with only 5 of them in his career.....He wants to entertain the crowd and put on a show......But there was a slight chance for a kO i feel you on that...

Whatever he is and does....Now hes the champion.....Dude is quick as fuck and seems to never get tired....I felt he won the first fight anyways.....
 
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“Fighting Words” – Tough Love: Jermain Taylor and DiBella

by David P. Greisman

Promoters can be parents, nurturing their fighters from the early years, recognizing their potential, providing them with opportunities, celebrating with them when they succeed and mourning with them when they fail.

Promoters can be pimps, sizing up fighters and signing them for what they can do – and what the fighters can do for them. They ply the fighters with play and pay, giving them attention so long as the investment is beneficial to both.

Some fighters remain worthwhile, their name value carrying forth long after their talent has faded. Others wind up treated like a flavor-of-the-month girlfriend. If they cannot sell tickets, or if they lose their titles, promoters lose interest. They become ignored, inactive.

Most promoters are a mix of both.

That is why the latest chapter in the story of Jermain Taylor and Lou DiBella is so different than the norm.

Taylor is 31 years old. Four years ago, he was the new middleweight champion, an undefeated talent with the backing of HBO marketing him a star. He was the heir apparent made heir actual. The future looked bright.

Today, everything about Taylor is former. He is the former champion, formerly undefeated, formerly on HBO, formerly a star. The future looked dark the moment his lights got turned out for the third time in his career.

That loss was in October, in the opening round of the round-robin “Super Six” super middleweight tournament. It was the 12th round when a straight right hand from Arthur Abraham sent Jermain Taylor falling backwards. Taylor’s head slammed onto the canvas. He was unconscious, his right arm angled stiffly above.

There were six seconds on the clock, just six seconds left in the fight, when the referee stopped counting.

Six months before, that number was 14. Just 14 seconds remained when Jermain Taylor was knocked out for the second time in his career.

That loss came in April against Carl Froch. Taylor was ahead on two of the three scorecards, 106-102. He had knocked Froch down in the third round, but Froch got up and battled back. In the final round, Froch hurt Taylor, knocked him down and then finished him soon thereafter against the ropes.

Ahead early. Knocked out later. That was the same story as when Jermain Taylor was knocked out for the first time in his career.

That loss came in September 2007 against Kelly Pavlik. Taylor put Pavlik down in the second round but could not seal the deal. Five rounds later, Pavlik hurt Taylor with a right hand that sent him staggering to the ropes, following with a fusillade that left Taylor unconscious in a limp heap.

Lou DiBella was there with Taylor in January 2001, the night the Olympic bronze medalist made his professional debut. While other DiBella prospects eventually fell short of expectations, Taylor succeeded on the path so many promoters use for their fighters, a path DiBella has also used for Andre Berto and Paulie Malignaggi – build up their record, get them experience, get them on television, get them in the rankings, get them to challenge for a world title.

DiBella was there in July 2005, eyes closed, hands on Taylor’s shoulders, when Michael Buffer announced that Taylor had outpointed middleweight king Bernard Hopkins. DiBella jumped in the air and then cried as he embraced his fighter. He was there when Taylor retained the title in a rematch with Hopkins and for every subsequent defense of his championship.

DiBella was there with Taylor after the knockout loss to Pavlik, after the decision loss to Pavlik in their rematch, after the technical knockout loss to Froch, and after the knockout loss to Abraham.

DiBella can’t be there anymore. It’s hard to blame him.

“I have just been informed through numerous press reports that Jermain Taylor has elected to continue with his participation in the Super Six: World Boxing Classic tournament and will face Andre Ward in April,” DiBella said Friday, Dec. 11, in a press release. “It is with a heavy heart, but strong conviction, that I will recuse myself and DiBella Entertainment as Jermain’s promoter.

“Jermain’s career has been outstanding, and it has been a pleasure and honor to promote him,” DiBella said. “His victories against Bernard Hopkins remain the highlights of my career as a promoter. Jermain is not only a great fighter, but a good and decent man with a wonderful family. It is out of genuine concern for him and his family that I am compelled to make this decision.

“I informed him, as I do all my contracted fighters, that my goal was to help him secure financial stability for his family, maximize his potential, and leave our unforgiving sport with his health intact,” DiBella said. “It is my belief that the continuation of Jermain’s career as an active fighter places him at unnecessary risk. While he is undoubtedly capable of prevailing in future bouts, I cannot, in good conscience, remain involved given my assessment of such risk.”

Few would have batted an eyelash had DiBella instead played the part of the pimp, profiting while Taylor continued for a minimum two more bouts in the Super Six tournament.

Rather, DiBella is acting like a parent, worried about Taylor’s wellbeing, resorting to tough love.

The consensus following the knockout loss to Abraham was that Taylor should withdraw from the tournament and consider retirement. Reports were that Taylor had suffered a concussion and short-term memory loss. He had fought five times in the past 25 months, losing four of those fights, three by knockout.

Taylor could try to convince himself that he wasn’t done as a fighter, that he had gassed out in the first fight with Pavlik and done better despite coming up short in the rematch, that he was beating Froch and was just 14 seconds from victory when he lost, that Abraham is favored to win the tournament and there should be no shame in being beaten by a world-class opponent.

But to many, Taylor has a pattern of getting knocked out against the upper tier of competition. In a time when there is more awareness of head injuries and how every concussion makes a person more vulnerable for suffering another, continuing in the tournament would be akin to playing Russian roulette.

That was the decision Taylor had to make: Was it worth it to bet his health, to say the knockouts were not part of a pattern, but a fluke, and to assume he could come back and redeem himself? And if he were to drop out of the tournament, would it be worth it to no longer compete at the highest level, to swallow his pride and face lesser opposition for smaller paychecks?

Taylor made his choice. And so DiBella made a choice of his own.

Parents nurture their children, recognizing their potential, providing them with opportunities, celebrating with them when they succeed and mourning with them when they fail. They give their children second and third chances, hold their hand when they struggle and hold them upright when they are unsteady.

Sometimes, however, there is nothing more that can be done.

Their love never dies. But the best choice left is to walk away and hope their children will understand why before it is too late.

The 10 Count

1. How bad was Kevin Johnson’s performance against Vitali Klitschko?

He was so defensive that he was offensive – offensive to those of us watching, that is.

What made it even worse is how much Johnson had talked in the past few years about what he was capable of – even while putting on putrid performances that did little to back up his words.

This is what he said on ESPN2 before a fight in April 2008, responding to criticism:

“Teddy Atlas said, ‘How far does a one-note jab take you?’ I’ve got an answer for that. It takes me very far. It takes me very far. As a matter of fact, you’ll see how far that jab takes me, because that jab is unspeakable. Nobody could stop it. It’s so fast that it scares me.

“If I want, my jab can take me to a title. That’s if I want. But if I want fans behind me, I’ma have to put a little bit more on there, put the combinations [sic], be a little bit more entertaining, market myself a little bit.”

Here’s what he said last month about the Klitschko fight:

“If he tries to jab with me, his mouth will be wide open and his eyes will be closed by the middle of the fight. If he wants to fight, I’ll go toe-to-toe with him and use my speed to knock him out.”

And here’s what he said after the Klitschko fight:

“I showed about 90 percent of my skills,” Johnson was quoted as saying on German television, according to BoxingScene.com correspondent Andrey Krikunov. “And I’m able to do much more than that.”

Yeah, no kidding.

2. How bad was Kevin Johnson’s performance against Vitali Klitschko?

Johnson landed 5 of 54 power punches in 12 rounds against Klitschko.

Arturo Gatti landed 10 of 56 power punches in six rounds against Floyd Mayweather Jr.

In Gatti’s case, he couldn’t do more. In Johnson’s case, he just wouldn’t do more.

The CompuBox punch counter assigned to Johnson must’ve had an easy night.

3. How bad was Kevin Johnson’s performance against Vitali Klitschko?

Johnson threw only 332 total punches over 12 rounds, an average of about 28 punches for every three minutes. Johnson landed just 65 of them, a 20 percent connect rate, an average of about five landed shots for every three minutes.

Almost all of those punches were jabs – Johnson threw 278 of them, landing 60. He was 5 of 54 when it came to power punches – on average, less than half a power punch landed for every three minutes.

Johnson didn’t even throw a single power punch in the first round, instead opting for the superior strategy of going 3 for 22 with his jabs. Here’s his power punch connect rate for rounds 2 through 12: 0 for 2, 1 for 5, 0 for 6, 1 for 2, 1 for 5, 0 for 6, 0 for 4, 1 for 4, 0 for 3, 0 for 5, and 1 for 12.

Klitschko, for comparison’s sake, threw 1013 punches over 12 rounds, an average of about 84 punches for every three minutes. Klitschko landed 298 of them, a 29 percent connect rate, an average of about 25 landed shots for every three minutes.

Most were jabs: Klitschko threw 749, landing 157 against an opponent who refused to engage in much of anything but awkward defense. He did land 141 of his 264 power shots, a 53 percent connect rate, an average of about 12 landed power punches for every three minutes.

4. How bad was Kevin Johnson’s performance against Vitali Klitschko?

BoxingScene’s own Cliff Rold described Klitschko-Johnson as “but another candidate for worst heavyweight title fight of all time in perhaps the worst heavyweight decade since the gloved era began in the late 19th century.”

Klitschko-Johnson is up there – or down there, really – with recent heavyweight title fight snoozers such as (but, sadly, by no means limited to) Wladimir Klitschko-Sultan Ibragimov, Chris Byrd-DaVarryl Williamson, and Shannon Briggs-Sergei Liakhovich.

And as Bart Barry of 15rounds.com noted Saturday night on Twitter, with the WBC world title fight taking place in Switzerland, open scoring was in use – Johnson knew he was getting shut out on the cards and still didn’t show any sign of desperation, of going for the win.

It’s amusing that Klitschko-Johnson took place in Switzerland – after all, forcing anyone to watch that fight would surely violate the Geneva Conventions.

5. “Nate Campbell Settles With [Don] King; Golden Boy Deal Close?” reads the headline on this very Web site.

Say what?

This is the same Nate Campbell who had railed against the politics of boxing – in particular, Golden Boy Promotions – whose owner, Oscar De La Hoya, also owns “The Ring” magazine.

To Campbell, Golden Boy once was freezing him out from the magazine’s lightweight championship belt (seen by many as signifying the division’s lineal champ) by only having fighters from Golden Boy face each other for it.

The problem, at the time, was that Campbell had three of the four lightweight world titles and was seen as having a claim to the top of the division, though he lacked that lineal recognition.

Campbell, in a posting some 19 months ago on the MaxBoxing.com message board, said he wouldn’t sign with Golden Boy, “because that won’t make it right, just make me a part of the people doing it.”

So now that Campbell could be leaving Don King and signing with Golden Boy, what changed?

“What changed is Nate getting a better understanding of the nuts and bolts of the industry,” Campbell’s adviser, Terry Trekas, said via e-mail. “He finally accepted that it’s business, it’s not personal. And to give himself the best possible chance to get the fights that are best for him, he needs to be with the company that has the most opportunities.

“Even though we may not agree with everything [Golden Boy] does, there is no denying that they are the company that can best maximize Nate’s opportunities,” Trekas said. “They have the dates and the working relationships to get Nate the fights that just weren’t available through [Don King].

“To quote a common political catch phrase, ‘It's the economy, stupid.’ Nate’s economy, that is,” Trekas said.

Campbell, now competing at junior welterweight, has fully recovered from the eye injury he suffered earlier this year against Timothy Bradley, Trekas said. There will be a purse bid Tuesday (Dec. 15) for a bout with Kendall Holt.

“The decision on whether to do that fight or a different fight will be discussed with Golden Boy in the next few days,” Trekas said.

6. Boxing Trainers Behaving Badly: I hesitate to include this because it seems so utterly ridiculous, but, well, a boxing writer has sued Freddie Roach, alleging assault, according to TMZ.com.

Some dude named Alex Vidal filed a lawsuit a couple of weeks ago in Los Angeles County Superior Court, claiming Roach got angry with Vidal over an article called “Sick Roach Misses Conception’s Last Workout.”

Though Vidal writes for the PhilBoxing.com Web site, the article, for some reason, isn’t available online.

TMZ.com says the sequence of events went like this: “Roach … allegedly challenged Vidal, claiming ‘he was not sick and that he only went to a clinic.’ Vidal says he apologized and said he was merely quoting a statement from boxer Bernabe Conception’s [sic] manager. Roach was unmoved, allegedly went on a tirade, pushing him ‘roughly’ in the left shoulder and yelled, ‘The next time you write about it, I will kill you.’ ”

The article doesn’t indicate that Vidal ever pressed any criminal charges, and it says the writer is “suing for all sorts of unspecified damages.”

Oy.

7. Boxers Behaving Badly, part one: Miguel Cotto and his father have been sued for sexual harassment by one of Cotto’s former employees, according to the Associated Press.

The lawsuit was filed in August in Puerto Rico. The woman, who ran a residential property Cotto owns, claims the former 140- and 147-pound titlist made advances toward her, and she gave in because she was afraid of losing her job.

She claims she was fired in October 2008 after ending the relationship.

The article says the lawsuit went unreported until last week, when the Cotto family released a statement calling the litigation “frivolous, empty and a total fabrication.”

The woman is asking for $261,000, according to TMZ.com.

8. Boxers Behaving Badly, part two: A former heavyweight titlist could spend as much as a year in prison, according to The Cincinnati Enquirer.

Tony Tubbs, 51, pleaded guilty Nov. 30 to a charge of cocaine possession. His sentencing, scheduled for Jan. 14, will decide whether he will serve time in a drug rehabilitation facility or in prison.

Tubbs, according to the article, “has been to prison [before] for cocaine-related crimes and not paying child support for some of the 16 children he said he has.”

Tubbs captured the World Boxing Association heavyweight title in April 1985, winning a 15-round unanimous decision over Greg Page. Tubbs lost the belt in his next defense, a majority decision loss in January 1986 to Tim Witherspoon.

Tubbs is listed as 47-10 with 2 no contests. His last fight was in 2006, a six-round decision over some dude named Adam Smith.

9. Boxers Behaving Badly, part three: Ryan Scott, one of three men charged in the beating death of a 36-year-old man outside of a social club in Scotland, has been found guilty – not of murder, though, but of assault, according to the Hamilton Advertiser.

Scott, 26, is a boxer with one pro fight on his record, a first-round stoppage in November 2008 of some dude named Mark Bett.

Scott’s brother, Gary Scott, 22, was convicted on a charge of culpable homicide. The third man, Brian Smith, 23, was found guilty of assault.

10. And, with this, I’ve now taken as many shots at Kevin Johnson as the number of power punches he landed on Vitali Klitschko…
 
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Roach's Jab To Roger Mayweather: "I'd Knock You Out!"

By Terence Dooley

Freddie Roach has stoked the flames ahead of the Floyd Mayweather versus Manny Pacquiao super-fight by claiming that he would beat Roger Mayweather, the trainer/uncle of Floyd, in a fight. Roach told The Telegraph that Roger was a better boxer than him in the ring but insisted that he’d prevail if they met on the cobbles.

“Floyd Senior does no harm, he has his poems but he is not mean,” admitted Roach. “Roger and I don’t get along. He puts everybody down. Saying Eddie Futch wasn’t sh*t and stuff like this - why say that about people who have passed away?”

He added: “He says he would knock me out, he was a better fighter than me, I know that, but I’d beat him now! If we did fight now I’d win – but it would be on the street. If he gets disrespectful about me he’s gonna have a fight on his hands. It will be exciting. I won’t take that sh*t from him. He didn’t have that good a chin, we know that - but he could punch though.”
 
Jul 24, 2005
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Edison Miranda: "Only Way To Beat Stieglitz is By KO"

Los Angeles, CA – All World Contender Edison “Pantera” Miranda wanted when he and his promoter Warriors Boxing’s Leon Margules agreed to a co-promotional contract with Goossen Tutor Promotions and renowned trainer Joe Goossen three months ago was a second opportunity to challenge for a World Championship title fight. He didn’t have to wait very long!

After annihilating former Mexican Super Middleweight Champion Francisco Sierra in just one round in his October 22 debut with his new team to win the WBO NABO Super Middleweight Title, the 28-year old Colombian native’s next fight will come against WBO 168-pound World Champion Robert Stieglitz.

“I didn’t think a title shot would come this quick,” said Miranda (33-4, 29 KOs). “I thought it would take longer. I am really happy to be fighting for a world title.”
Bordelandhalle in Magdeburg, Sachsen-Anhalt, Germany will be the site of the January 9, 2010 event.

In his first attempt to win a world title, Miranda, who now lives and trains in Los Angeles, was 26-0 when he lost in his bid at the IBF Middleweight Championship belt worn by Arthur Abraham by decision -- coincidently in Germany – back in 2006. In that hotly-contested bout, the heavy-handed Miranda broke the champion’s jaw, but it was Miranda who was left with a bad taste in his mouth that he carries with him still today from losing that controversial decision that even the hometown fans believed he won.

“I felt very awkward going to Germany because that is not my home, but the home of my opponent. Everybody knows I won that fight. I feel like the only way I am going to win over there is by a knockout. And that is what I plan to do.”

Ranked #5 by the WBO and #8 in the IBF and WBC, the big-punching Miranda has undergone a near complete makeover in his training methods and boxing style under the tutelage of Joe Goossen, while maintaining his punching power.

“Miranda has taken to our gym ethic which is very demanding,” Joe Goossen stated. “By his own admission he never came even close to putting this type of effort into the gym. Edison is really a superior athlete, but he was an athlete in hiding because as much power and strength that he brought into the ring, he either neglected or didn’t learn some of the more subtle things to use in a fight, which is using both hands and not just relying on the one big right hand. Now he can match skills with skills, not just power against skills. He is going to bring a more complete package to the table in January. I am very excited!”

For the 28-year old Russian-born Stieglitz (36-2, 22 KOs) taking on Miranda in Magdeberg will be a homecoming. Now living there, Stieglitz will be making his first defense of the title he won in Hungary back in August when he stopped Karoly Balzsay in the 11th round. His losses came against Alejandro Berrio in a battle for the vacant IBF Super Middleweight Title in his 30th pro fight in March 2007 and Librado Andrade in an IBF Title Eliminator in March of last year.

“I am so happy to be able to defend my title for the first time in my hometown,” said Stieglitz. “I know Miranda is a tough guy who has knocked out many fighters. But I have worked long and hard to win my world title and there is no way he is going to win here – let alone knock me out.”

Promoter Dan Goossen feels that the transition of Miranda from a one-punch fighter to complete boxer with lethal power in both hands will not only serve him well against Stieglitz, but will also align him with the other great stars making up arguably boxing’s most talented division – the super middleweights.

“I’m excited, along with my partner Leon Margules of Warrior’s Boxing, to see if Miranda will indeed show another weapon or two to his already lethal knockout power,” Goossen exclaimed. “If he does, and gets a win over Stieglitz, he would immediately put himself back into any talk about the fully loaded Super Middleweight division.”
 
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Amir Khan Plans To Ignore "Jealous" Carl Froch

By Mark Vester

WBA junior welterweight champion Amir Khan will not go any further in the war of words with WBC super middleweight champion Carl Froch. Over the last year, the two British fighters have exchanged plenty of words in the press. It all started when Froch was critical of Khan's loss to Breidis Prescott and his title win over Andreas Kotelnik. Khan has called Froch a jealous fighter. Froch shot back over the weekend and told Khan to "grow up." He vowed to continue speaking his mind on Khan's career.

Khan told Express & Star that he plans to ignore Froch's comments in the future. He sees no reason to continue their verbal battle.

“I think it’s childish, talking about another fighter, and I think that he has shown that he is just jealous. He is making himself look silly and it’s always the same thing – me, Joe Calzaghe, Ricky Hatton, even David Haye get the treatment from him," Khan said.

“It makes you think, what don’t you just support people Carl? We are both different weights, would never meet in the ring, so what’s his problem? Maybe that is the way it is when someone’s career is not going the way they want it to go. He’s 32, I am 23, and I am already doing the things that he has done. Maybe it’s just jealousy, and I am just going to ignore him.”

Khan also touched on his recent controversial comments having to do with his race. In an interview with the press, Khan said his status would be much bigger if his skin color was white. He claims the comments were taken out of context and twisted by the press.

“Those comments were taken out of context, my point was that you got a lot of haters in this sport. My criticism was more of these guys that keep taking a pop at me whatever I do, I suppose it was getting close to a fight and I was a bit agitated," Khan said.

“I didn’t mean it the way it has been reported, because the support I have got is tremendous. But there are a lot of haters in this game and they can get you down, from now on they will only motivate to do better as a boxer. I don’t mind if they hate me now, my actions will prove them wrong. It will only make me a better fighter.”
 
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Cloud: "Chad Dawson Can't Run For Twelve With Me"

Chad Dawson won’t be able to run 12 rounds against me,” Cloud said. “My pressure will be unbelievable and I hit hard with both hands. He’ll have to stand and fight and that will be his ultimate demise. We’re totally different. If I went around saying I could beat the No. 1 contender, like Chad did when I was the No. 1, I’d fight him to prove it.

“I’m baffled, I guess, more than frustrated. All my life watching boxing, I thought the champion had to fight the next available, most deserving challenger, or unify the title. I was the No. 1 contender and he was the champ, but that’s when all the politics of boxing came in – extensions and exceptions – and his promoter lobbied to duck this hungry fighter. I understand the promoter building a fighter and arranging puff fights for more money. At some point, though, a real fighter has to fight the best. You can’t be great just fighting hand-picked, over-the-hill guys.”

Cloud, fighting out of Tallahassee (FL), has beaten everybody put in the ring against him during his perfect 4 1/2–years pro career. He’s fresh, entertaining and throws nearly 100 punches a round, something practically unheard of from a light heavyweight. The Ring magazine has him rated No. 6 but he still hasn’t been able to get Dawson into a fight because, reportedly, Tavoris isn’t well enough known by fans to justify a fight against Dawson on HBO.

What’s Cloud have to do?

His last four opponents – Clinton Woods (DEC12), Julio Cesar Gonzalez (TKO10), Mike Wood (KO1) and Jacob Rodriguez (RTD3) – have either officially retired or simply haven’t fought since being ‘rained on’ by Cloud.

After stopping Wood in the first round of their March 28, 2008 fight in Chicago for the USBA and NABA titles, Cloud became the No. 1 IBF contender and he then took out former WBO titlist Gonzalez in the 11th round of their Aug. 8, 2008 IBF Title Eliminator to become the mandatory challenger for the then reigning Dawson.

Dawson was first supposed to defend his IBF strap against Cloud by January 8, 2009, but Dawson was granted an exception to fight Antonio Tarver in a rematch last March. Dawson won and the IBF mandated that he fight Cloud by May 1, 2009 or be stripped of his title. Rather than take on Cloud, Dawson relinquished his IBF title belt after Tavoris refused to fight a non-title bout against another opponent, not Dawson, on an HBO show. Cloud’s promoter, Richie Boy Promotions, declined the offer and promoted a fight for the then vacant IBF crown between Cloud and former IBF champion, Clinton Woods, who Tavoris impressively defeated by unanimous 12-round decision (116-112 scoring by all three judges).

After defeating Woods, HBO offered Cloud a spot on its network against Dawson or in the co-feature on a show headlined by Dawson, whose promoter, Gary Shaw, once again, refused to fight Tavoris or even allow Chad to fight on the same HBO card.

Team Cloud believes there’s another reason why Dawson won’t fight Cloud and it doesn’t have anything to do with purse structures or name recognition. “Back in 2001,” Cloud’s head trainer Al Bonanni explained, “Dawson and Cloud were both outstanding amateurs. They sparred in 2001 at the U.S. Olympic training camp. Tavoris floored Dawson and hurt his eye. After that, Dawson was moved down to 168 pounds, instead of competing with Cloud at 175. Dawson still fears Tavoris Cloud and that’s why he won’t get in the ring with him. We’re willing to fight Dawson or any of the top light heavyweights in the world.”

Cloud hopes to defend his IBF title in the first-quarter of 2010 against WBC champion Jean Pascal in a unification bout, or, there’s always the possibility of fighting one of the over 40 greats such as Bernard Hopkins, Roy Jones, Jr., Glen Johnson and Antonio Tarver.

If Dawson ever mans-up, that deal can still be made but, like Dangerfield, right now Cloud ‘can’t get no respect!’

“I think Dawson will fight me in the not too distant future,” Cloud added. “As long as I keep winning impressively in exciting fights, fans will call for it. I don’t understand his logic (for not fighting Tavoris) because I’m not that type of fighter. I want to fight the best and it doesn’t matter if they’re boxers, punchers or southpaws. That’s the way to be great. One world title belt isn’t enough for me; I want more.”