HBO CEO forced to resign!
10th May, 2007
An arrest for allegedly abusing his girlfriend after Saturday's Mayweather-De La Hoya fight in Las Vegas has led to the shocking resignation of HBO CEO Chris Albrecht, according to tvweek.com. On Tuesday, it was announced that Albrecht had taken a leave of absence from HBO to battle alcholism. However a Los Angeles Times report that HBO had previously paid a $400,000 settlement to a female worker who had alleged that Albrecht physically abused her, may have been what pushed HBO's parent company Time-Warner over the edge. In any event, Albrecht was forced to resign today. HBO Chief Operating Officer Bill Nelson will assume Albrecht's duties on an interim basis.
Miranda: nothing will stop me!
10th May, 2007
With just over one week to go before his big showdown against Kelly Pavlik in Memphis Tennessee on HBO, middelweight contender Edison Miranda took some time to talk about his thoughts for his upcoming fight. "Kelly Pavlik is a very unlucky guy. I had a goal after I saw the horrible performance that Jermain Taylor gave when he undeservingly took the belt from Bernard Hopkins. My goal was to get in the ring with Taylor and show him how a true champion fights. I spent a lot of money flying to Las Vegas, getting a room and going to this fight. It was a waste of my money and I want a refund. I will pick Jermain up and shake the change out of his pockets if I need to. Now Pavlik is the last man standing in front of me before I have this shot. Nothing is going to stop me. When I step into the ring I will turn into a monster and destroy him. I have never been so motivated or trained so hard for a fight. I will not stop my attack until Kelly Pavlik is laying on the ground for good. If he is stupid enough to get up, he will get hurt badly."
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Greenburg: Boxing still connects!
10th May, 2007
"De La Hoya vs. Mayweather was a record-setting event from the moment the fight was announced," said Ross Greenburg, President of HBO Sports. "We are delighted that sports fans recognized the greatness of these two future Hall of Famers and tuned in for their showdown. It's satisfying to see that boxing still connects with sports fans throughout the country and we are determined to continue to present high-profile fights that capture the public's imagination." The fight set the all-time pay-per-view record of 2.15 million buys as well as establishing a new mark for revenue from a pay-per-view telecast.
Oscar De La Hoya, meanwhile, has now become the industry's all-time top pay-per-view performer and has participated in each of the top six non-heavyweight pay-per view events in history.
Duddy: I'm not saying goodbye!
10th May, 2007
Unbeaten middleweight sensation "Ireland's" John Duddy is gearing up for what is scheduled to be his last fight in the United States before heading to Ireland for two proposed bouts there this summer. "I'm not saying goodbye," Duddy noted about leaving the Big Apple for Ireland, "just see you later. I'm going home to do something I've always wanted to do and that's box in Ireland as a professional. Everything has been going great for my May 18 fight. It's all business as usual and I can't wait to fight again. I want to leave New York City on a high note with fans looking forward for me fighting there again after the summer." The Northern Ireland born Duddy (19-0, 15 KOs), rated #8 by the WBO, #9 by the WBA and #13 by the IBF, headlines "Tomorrow's Champions" in the 10-round main event against Dupre "Total Package" Strickland (18-1-1, 7 KOs) on May 18th at the famed Beacon Theatre in Manhattan.
Remembering Chico
10th May, 2007
The world was stunned by the news Monday night that two-division world champion Diego Corrales was killed in a motorcycle accident in Las Vegas. For statements from important boxing notables
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Floyd-Oscar: 2.15 million buys!
PPV telecast sets all time record 10th May, 2007
HBO Sports reported today that 2.15 million pay-per-view buys and $120 million in pay-per-view revenue was generated from last Saturday’s mega fight showdown featuring Oscar De La Hoya and Floyd Mayweather at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. The fight was promoted by Golden Boy Promotions in association with MGM Grand Hotel & Casino. In a fight that set the all-time pay-per-view record by eclipsing the previous mark by a sizable margin of 160,000 buys as well as establishing a new mark for revenue from a pay-per-view telecast, Mayweather scored a split decision victory and captured De La Hoya’s junior middleweight title. The showdown produced 1,225,000 buys from cable systems and 925,000 buys from satellite homes throughout the 50 states.
Povetkin to face L´Heureux!
10th May, 2007
Unbeaten 2004 Olympic super heavyweight gold medalist Alexander Povetkin (11-0, 9 KOs) of Russia will face Canadian Patrice L´Heureux (20-3, 12 KOs) on the big May 26 Sauerland Event card in Bamberg featuring Arthur Abraham and Marco Huck in separate fights. The following month in Moscow, Povetkin is scheduled for the biggest fight of his career against former world title challenger Monte Barrett. "Already in the amateurs I've won everything there is to win," says the hard-punching 27-year-old. "Now I want that success in the pros." Povetkin is highly concentrated on becoming world champion, especially after the April 14 loss of countryman Nikolai Valuev. "I was incredibly sad that Nikolai Valuev lost his title against the Uzbek Ruslan Chagaev. I will avenge my stablemate and restore the honor of Russia." An Uzbek restaurant directly opposite the gym is a constant reminder. "One cannot begin the preparation early enough," said Povetkin.
Skelton-Sprott still May 26!
10th May, 2007
Following some reports in the media that Matt Skelton's Commonwealth heavyweight title defense against Michael Sprott has been moved to July, promoter Frank Warren would like to clarify that this is inaccurate and that Sports Network's show on Saturday May 26th at the ExCeL London will go ahead as scheduled. The only change to the fight card is Souleymane M'Baye's WBA world light welterweight title defence against Gavin Rees, which has been put back until July.
Sylvester ill, fight delayed!
10th May, 2007
Sebastian Sylvester's attempt to win back his European middleweight title from Amin Asikainen has been moved from May 26 in Bamberg to June 23 in Zwickau. The reason for the delay is a heavy cold which had mixed up Sylvester's training plans. "The fight against Asikainen will restore my honor as a sportsman," said Sylvester. "Therefore, I won't take any [unnecessary] risks. However, in Zwickau I will finally fetch back my title." The May 26 Sauerland Event card in Bamberg will go on as scheduled, featuring the long awaited return of unbeaten IBF middleweight champion Arthur Abraham.
Julio Diaz seeks unification!
10th May, 2007
IBF lightweight champion Julio Diaz says he wants to teach a boxing lesson to WBA/WBO lightweight titleholder Juan Diaz. "All the fights that he has had are just old guys against the ropes and he just punches at them," says Julio. "He is like an amateur. Diaz needs to learn what I learned from the [Jose Luis] Castillo fight, and that is why I want that fight. He gets more respect that I do because of his exposure, because Don King is there, because he is fighting on HBO. It helps a lot that he is a kid that is going to college and they always use that. But when it all comes down and he eventually fights, the books are not going to help him, this is boxing, and this is a different subject."
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IBO twinbill at Emperor's Palace!
By Ron Jackson 10th May, 2007
Promoter Rodney Berman of Golden Gloves Promotions present two world title fights featuring Silence Mabuza (19-2, 15 KOs) against Mbwana Matumla (17-2, 10 KOs) and an all South African clash between Isaac Hlatshwayo (25-1, 9 KOs) and Joseph Makaringe (30-3, 25 KOs) at the Emperors Palace Casino, near Kempton Park on Saturday night. The promoters have listed the Mabuza vs. Matumla fight for the vacant IBO bantamweight belt as the main event but the top fight of the night could be the clash for the vacant IBO welterweight belt between Makaringe and Hlatshwayo. In another highlight, 41-year-old former WBU and WBO heavyweight champion Corrie Sanders (41-3, 31 KOs) has the second fight in his comeback campaign when he meets Daniel Bispo (19-6, 13 KOs) of Brazil over a scheduled 10 rounds
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Comeback victory for Larsen!
By Frank Bleydorn 10th May, 2007
 After a long layoff, former European super middleweight champion Mads Larsen (46-2, 37 KOs) successfully returned into the ring on Tuesday evening. The 34-year-old Dane unanimously outscored the Russian Vasily Andriyanov (7-13, 1 KO) in Guadalajara, Spain over eight rounds. From the beginning, Larsen dominated the fight with his right jab. Because of his long break he had in the initial stage a few problems finding the right distance. However, starting from the third round, that changed. The left from Larsen now found its goal more frequently. The Scandinavian continued to raise the the tempo and in round six, after a fast combination, Larsen's left hit his opponent hard. In the next round, a hard right-left combination landed to Andriyanov's chin, giving the Russian problems again. Andriyanov remained quite passive, so the fight went over the rounds.
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Bautista ready for De Leon!
By Dennis Principe 10th May, 2007
For a while, Rey "Boom Boom" Bautista admitted he swallowed his pride just to make sure he will end up the winner. The 20-year-old Filipino fighter said he got staggered by a right straight connected by Sergio Manuel Medina of Argentina in the 6th round that put him through the ropes. "I wanted to retaliate immediately but my corner was telling me to back off. I'm not that type really but I also realized I need to recover from the punch as I need to win the fight," said Bautista. The win over Medina makes Bautista the mandatory title challenger to reigning WBO super bantamweight champion Daniel Ponce De Leon
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Salado defeats Keb Baas!
By Felipe Leon at ringside 2-05-07
Last night from the historic El Foro Theatre in Tijuana, MX, KO Entertainment brought a sizzling fight card bursting with local talent. In the main event, unbeaten junior flyweight Omar "Mosco" Salado (16-0-1, 12 KOs) barely overcame a valiant effort by Gilberto Keb Baas (28-16-1, 16 KOs) in a WBC sanctioned eliminator bout to earn a rematch the newly crowned champion Edgar Sosa. Salado was awarded the unanimous decision with scores of 115-113, 115-112, and 114-113.
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Oscar aims at all-time PPV mark!
2-05-07
If Saturday's Oscar De La Hoya vs Floyd Mayweather super clash does as well as expected, the Golden Boy will walk out of the ring as the new PPV revenue king. Mike Tyson currently has the lead with $545 million in pay-per-view revenues through his events. Evander Holyfield is second on the all time list with $543 million and third is De La Hoya with $492 million. So if De La Hoya-Mayweather generates around 965,000 buys, Oscar will become the all time highest grossing attraction in pay-per-view history.
Dib-Gonzalez clash Saturday!
By Ray Wheatley -- World of Boxing 2-05-07
Australian super featherweight Billy "The Kid" Dib (15-0) will have the toughest test of his professional career when he steps in the ring against tough Mexican Jose Alberto Gonzalez (14-3) in a scheduled ten round bout on the undercard to the Oscar De La Hoya-Floyd Mayweather WBC light middleweight title bout at the MGM Grand on Saturday. Dib has been staying at the LA home of Shane Mosley for several weeks while preparing for Gonzalez. He is a regular sparring partner of IBF jr welterweight champion Lovemore Ndou and IBF flyweight champion Vic Darchinyan, who both predict the 21-year-old Dib has the tools to go all the way in boxing. This will be Dib's third USA outing - he outpointed Phillip Payne in a December 2006 bout in Tampa, Florida and in February won every round of a ten rounder against Carlos Contreras in Las Vegas. Gonzalez, 24 years, is a former IBA Featherweight champion he holds two wins over well credentialled Marcos Licona but dropped a split twelve round decision to Daniel Maldonado in November 2006. Dib is managed by Joey Melhem.
Toney ready to fight!
2-05-07
"I'm rested and ready to fight anyone, anytime and anywhere," says former world champion James Toney (69-6-3, 43 KOs), who will headline Goossen Tutor's May 24 "Fight Night at the Tank" card at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, California. "It begins here in San Jose. I promise you will see the best heavyweight in the world on May 24. I come to fight. You won't see me dancing. Hell no! I'm coming for the knockout. I am more determined than ever!" This will mark Toney’s first fight since his two battles with heavyweight Samuel Peter. He will take on Danny Batchelder (25-4-1, 12 KOs). Also on the card is local favorite and recent Goossen Tutor signee Ricardo Cortes (19-1-1, 14 KOs) in a scheduled 10-round middleweight co-feature. Tickets ($25-$75) go on sale Monday.
Dawson wins PABA belt!
By Ray Wheatley -- World of Boxing 30-04-07
WBO #5/WBA #13 rated light middleweight Daniel Dawson (28-0, 19 KOs) scored a fifth round knockout over Lee Oti (7-6) of New Zealand to capture the PABA 154lb title at the Lords Sports Club, Perth, Western Australia on Saturday. Dawson dominated the visitor and referee Brad Vocale crowned the Perth boxer at 2:55. Dawson is trained by Ron Parr.
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Zamora, Lovato defend belts
Ringside report and photos by Chris Cozzone 30-04-07
Some subs don’t sink - Zamora pounds on Crayton in another high-action card in Acoma, NM: A fight card that, in all probability, should’ve lived up to a down and out fight card, last night at Sky City Casino in Acoma, NM, defeated all odds and kept a packed house of 800 cheering through half a dozen bouts that were, for the most part, action-packed, despite nearly half a dozen fallout opponents. The card’s billing of “Championship Showdown,” should’ve been changed to “Championship Show-up,” for all but one of six bouts were made with less than a week away—and at least two, with less than 36 hours . . .
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