WEC Featherweight Champion “The California Kid” Urijah Faber Defends Title

in Epic Homecoming Bout Against MMA Legend Jens “Lil Evil” Pulver

VERSUS to Air Fight Preview Show WEC Outside the Cage™: Faber vs. Pulver

on Memorial Day, May 26, at 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. ET

VERSUS, the network that celebrates real competition and the exclusive cable television home of World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC), will televise the most anticipated fight in WEC history on Sunday, June 1, with a card that features a monumental battle between UFC® legend Jens “Lil Evil” Pulver and current WEC champion “The California Kid” Urijah Faber for the WEC Featherweight title.  The championship bout will air live on VERSUS at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT from the ARCO Arena in Sacramento, Calif.  In advance of the live event, VERSUS will air the one-hour fight preview show, WEC Outside the Cage: Faber vs. Pulver, on May 26 at 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. ET.  All live WEC events are presented in HD and Spanish language SAP where available. 

Current WEC champion and top-ranked featherweight in the world, Urijah Faber (20-1) captured the title in March 2006 with a decisive second-round stoppage of Cole Escovedo.  Since then, he has continued to dominate the division by defending his crown four straight times, including three first-round wins.  The Sacramento native has won 12 consecutive matches with his most recent victory coming against Jeff Curran in December, when he displayed top-notch submissions to earn the win after choking out Curran in the second round. 

Jens Pulver (22-8-1), the UFC’s first-ever lightweight champion, is a true MMA pioneer who put the lighter weight classes on the map.  Pulver recently reinvigorated his career with a return to the featherweight division and is currently undefeated in eight straight fights at 145 pounds, including a 35-second triumph over Cub Swanson in his WEC debut in December.  

“This is undoubtedly the highest profile featherweight fight in history and we’re beyond excited to be able to showcase this epic battle on VERSUS.  A fight like this solidifies the WEC’s position atop the MMA world,” said Marc Fein, Executive Vice President of Programming, Production and Business Operations for VERSUS.  “You couldn’t ask for better television—a quintessential champion who is arguably the best pound-for-pound fighter in mixed martial arts and a former champion who is a legend in the sport, battling it out for a title.  I can’t wait to see this fight.” 

Additionally, the card features Miguel Angel Torres (33-1) fighting to defend his WEC Bantamweight champion title against top-ranked Yoshira Maeda (23-4-2).  The June 1 telecast will also feature match-ups between former WEC lightweight champion Rob McCullough against Kenneth Alexander in a rematch of their 2002 fight as well as former NCAA wrestling champion Mark Munoz fighting Chuck Grigsby. 

VERSUS’ one-hour preview show on May 26 at 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. ET, WEC Outside the Cage: Faber vs. Pulver, will give viewers unprecedented access to Faber, Pulver and Torres in advance of their showdowns on June 1.  The special includes exclusive behind-the-scenes footage of each fighter in their hometowns, in their training facilities and in their homes as they prepare both physically and mentally for their respective fights.  

The network also launched a June 1 fight specific microsite (www.versus.com/pulverfaber) which features fighter bios, blogs, and interviews with Faber and Pulver as well as web-exclusive video.  The site also includes interactive user applications including “send a beating card to friend” and “the smack talk cage” in which users can show their support of either fighter and give a verbal beating to anyone who disagrees.The WEC brand is recognized as one of the premier mixed martial arts organizations in the United States. Founded in 2001, the WEC features many of the most prominent athletes in the sport of mixed martial arts today. Owned and operated by WEC Holdings LLC., and headquartered in Las Vegas, Nev., the WEC produces live and taped events annually that are distributed through the Versus network. In addition to its U.S distribution, WEC programming is shown on the TSN network in Canada. For more information and current WEC fight news, visit www.wec.tv.  World Extreme Cagefighting® and WEC™ are registered trademarks, trademarks, trade dress or service marks owned exclusively by WEC Holdings, LLC in the United States and other jurisdictions and are licensed to WEC Productions, LLC.

OPINION BY DAVID WILCOX

On May 3rd, this Saturday night, Oscar De La Hoya and his Golden Boy Productions are bringing their latest “Oscar” show to the Home Depot Center in Carson, California. For the first time since his split decision loss to Sugar Shane Mosley in 2000 at the Staples Center, Oscar is fighting in front of his hometown fans in a promotion being billed as “Homecoming”. Former IBF Super Featherweight World Champion and “Contender” alumni Steve Forbes will be the opponent for Oscar in what most people are calling a tune-up bout for “The Golden Boy”.

The tentative plan is for De La Hoya to beat Forbes and then move on to a lucrative rematch against Floyd Mayweather in September of this year. “Pretty boy” Floyd won a unanimous decision over De La Hoya in their first dance last year. The Pay-Per-View buys for their first scrap were a record 2.15 million which shattered the previous record of 1.99 million for the 1997 bout between Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield. The previous record for non-Heavyweight bouts was 1.4 million for the 1999 fight between De La Hoya and Felix Trinidad. With those numbers a rematch is inevitable. Of course the first fight was so boring, I wouldn’t expect numbers quite as high this time around. The fight this Saturday between De La Hoya and Forbes will not be on Pay-Per View, it will be shown Live on HBO. The last time Oscar was in a non PPV event was back in 2001 when he destroyed everybody’s favorite punching bag Arturo Gatti in 5 rounds.

Everyone I’ve spoken to on the bout against Forbes feels this is an easy fight for Oscar and only a tune up for the Mayweather rematch. During his media conference call earlier this week, Oscar tried to convince everyone this fight is more than just a tune up.

“I’ve been training since January for this fight and we’ve been taking the necessary steps to be ready for this fight, and ready I am” said De La Hoya. “Mayweather, Sr. has taken me to another level”

“Mayweather brings out the best in me and I’m not sure what I would have done without him”

Oscar of course is referring to Floyd Mayweather Sr. who is back as head trainer for Oscar following his Freddie Roach experiment.

“Freddie Roach is a tremendous trainer, he is by far one of the top two or three trainers in the world, but me and Floyd have this connection and we work real well together.” Oscar would go on to say.

The day before Oscar’s conference call, Steve Forbes had one of his own. “I know I’m the underdog, but I’m here and I’m excited.” “I’m looking forward to being there and being 100%” said Forbes.

“Oscar is strong and can punch very hard.” I’m going to push the pace, I’m prepared to go 12 hard rounds.” “I’m a marathon guy, I’m a decision fighter.” If the knockout comes, that’s great, but that is not my game.” “I’m going to use my skills and get the points.”

While listening to Steve Forbes talk it almost sounded as if he was trying to convince himself that he had a chance against De La Hoya. Steve is a very nice guy and I wish him well in this one, but in this scribe’s opinion, I give him very little chance on Saturday. He has the same style as Mayweather without the speed, power and flamboyance of Floyd.

The Home Depot Center is expecting a sell out of around 28,000 people on their Soccer field this Saturday. It should be a wild night in Carson with all of Oscar’s Homers.

Yours truly could also be labeled as an Oscar Homer. Being a Southern California resident myself, I have to support my guy. I know I’ve spent many a night on a barstool..Errrrrrrrrrrrr I mean dinner table defending his manhood. Oscar De La Hoya fights are an event, and I’m darn happy that this event is in my backyard.

I’ll be Ringside this Saturday covering the action. See my ringside report on Ringsports.com

The Particulars:

The 35 year old De La Hoya comes into this bout with a 38(30 ko)-5( 1 ko) and no draws.

He stands 5’ 10.5” and has a reach of 73”

Steve Forbes is 31 years old and brings a nice record of 33(9 ko)- 5 (0 ko) and no draws.

He stands 5’ 7.5” and has a 68 reach.

Random Boxing thoughts

I hear that the Unified Cruiserweight Champion, David Haye is trying to entice Wlad Klitschko to give him a shot at the Heavyweight title. My first thought was this is a bad idea. After a few moments of deep thought, I changed my mind. After all, could it be any worse than the Ibragimov fight or the upcoming Tony Thompson fight? At least Haye has a unified belt and some power to test the alleged soft whiskers of Wlad.

I can’t help but wonder if we have seen the last of the Great Bernard Hopkins in a meaningful fight. After his decision loss to Joe Calzaghe, I don’t see another opponent that could motivate him or pay him enough to come out of retirement. The only chance would be if lighting struck and Roy Jones was able to upset Calzaghe. At this point, a Jones victory against anyone credible is a stretch. (don’t tell me about Trinidad, he was washed up and about three weight classes to high) I will miss “The Executioner” he is one of the last of the old school fighters. If there was ever a guy built for 15 round fights, it was him.

Speaking of Felix Trinidad, I just heard that he turned down a potential bout with Jermaine Taylor. He claimed a fight against Taylor wouldn’t motivate him to train hard. All I can say is thank you for being boring Jermaine because I don’t want to continue to see the once great Trinidad continue to embarrass himself. I would hate to put him in the Evander Holyfield posse of guys who can’t say retire.

Isn’t it about time that Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. stops making me pay $50.00 dollars on PPV to watch him in fights against nobodies? How about a live opponent Jr.? I don’t mind a guy learning his craft over time, but for crying out loud, get off my PPV because my lovely wife is ready to kick me out of the house. Pay-Per View is like crack. I can’t stop using it and it is depleting my bank account.

Banner Promotions president Art Pelullo has signed five fighters – IBO featherweight world champion Cristobal Cruz, and four prospects, Ruslan Provodnikov, Orlando Lora, Maxim Vlasov, and Ji-hoon Kim - to promotional contracts.

Art said, “I think all of these boxers have a lot of talent and determination, and the potential to become world champions. I’m looking forward to working with all of them.”

IBO featherweight world champion Cristobal Cruz, 36-11-1 with 23 knockouts, of Tijuana, B.C., Mexico, who is co-promoted by Golden Gloves Promotions, is coming off a sensational win in his last fight on March 7.

After the fight, Fightwriter.com’s Graham Houston reported, “Toughness, tenacity and a CompuBox punch record for a 12-round fight carried Tijuana veteran Cristobal Cruz to a bitterly hard-fought majority decision win over highly regarded South African Thomas Mashaba in an upset on Friday Night Fights.

“This was a terrific fight, almost non-stop action. A clear underdog, Cruz fought with a winner’s attitude, going right at Mashaba and throwing punch after punch from all directions, body and head, around the sides and up through the middle.

“Back and forth they went, but Cruz was often having the last word, seeming to throw six or seven punches after getting hit by two or three.

“Fights such as this are great for boxing - 12 intense and exciting rounds, the issue in doubt to the very end, with a veteran journeyman gritting out a surprise win over a world-class fighter adding a feel-good factor.”

The four prospects will fight on the undercard of the Chris Byrd-Shaun George main event at the Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas on May 16:

Ruslan Provodnikov – 7-0 with 6 knockouts, of Ekaterinburg, Russia; 24 years old, 5’6” tall, 140 pounds. Ruslan, who is co-promoted by German Titov of Titov Box Promotion, is scheduled to open the May 16 ESPN show.

Maxim Vlasov – 11-0 with 3 knockouts, of Tolyatti, Russia; 21 years old, 6’3” tall, 168 pounds. Vlasov is co-promoted by Rinat Yusupov.

Orlando “Olimpico” Lora – 20-0-1 with 15 knockouts, of Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico; 27 years old, 5’10” tall, 140 pounds.

Ji-hoon Kim – 13-5 with 10 knockouts, of Goyang, Korea; 21 years old, 5’9” tall, 130 pounds.

Kim will fight Koba Gogoladze, 20-2 with 8 knockouts, in the co-featured bout. The opponents for Lora, Provodnikov, and Vlasov are to be announced.

April 19th, 2008 – Thomas & Mack Center Las Vegas, Nevada

By Kent Wallace

Race baiting and nobody’s biting. Bernard Hopkins tried to do what neither Hillary or Obama have been able to capitalize on - Race. Who buys the white boy B.S. anyway? White’s are now top tier NBA players, and hell, the undisputed heavyweight champ is a white guy and he’s not even labeled a “Great White Hope.” So essentially, Bernard was playing an empty hand and he fought that way to.

The fight itself was dirty and uneventful. No one got hurt. And although Calzaghe went down in the first round from a solid punch, he was up in no-time and Bernard never came close to closing the deal—that round or any other for that matter.

Rather than jumping on the offensive in the 2nd (which would have been out of character for Hopkins but perhaps a judicious strategy), Hopkins lured and countered - Calzaghe simply didn’t make the same mistake he made in the first and fought more cautiously. The fight’s dirty demeanor established itself in the 3rd, with both fighters hitting while holding. I began to think the outcome of the fight wouldn’t be 10-8 rounds due to knockdowns but rather 10-8 rounds due to point deductions!

In the 4th Calzaghe began to get confident which made Hopkins play even dirtier - it was messy going at this point - if it were a horse race rather than a boxing match the track would have been labeled sloppy!

The 5th and 6th saw Hopkins making Calzaghe miss but Hopkins did nothing to stop Calzaghe from moving forward. It was like Sherman marching on Atlanta but having only two sticks to rub together to create the fire. God bless drunken Welshmen, they kept me from falling asleep!

In the 7th it looked like maybe Bernard had had enough of the feather duster disturbance but alas he allowed Calzaghe to steal the final moments of the round and once again lose whatever momentum he might have garnered.

The 8th again saw Bernard seemingly ready to rumble but those moments were fleeting and he never hurt Calzaghe who just kept coming.

By the 9th Calzaghe seemed to know that Bernard could not hurt him - not that he seemed to feel he could hurt Hopkins either, but if it boiled down to a Pat-A-Cake contest than he was going to be calling the shots.

In the 10th Hopkins showed his true colors and it wasn’t white or black but a bit yellow. He was tired, not hurt, but tired. A questionable low blow (Ref Joe Cortez didn’t even issue a warning) brought Bernard to his knees. The crowd booed. I looked for the grassy knoll wondering if he’d been shot. Hopkins used most of his allotted 5 minutes (which provided ample time for me to run get a Frank and a brew) before continuing, having taken a much-needed breather.

The 11th and 12th showed that Hopkins had nothing, and that Calzaghe either suffered jet lag or that Bernard is simply that good at making people look as old as he is. In any event, the judges final tally offered little insight to this contest. Hopkins was given the nod by the lone female judge (maybe that’s the way girl’s fight), one judge had it close for Calzaghe, while Chuck Giampa had it the way I saw it - Calzahge’s by a wide margin. People wondered aloud if the judges had watched the same fight, but how could they, it wasn’t a fight!

Oscar de la Hoya and Steve Forbes will both arrive in Los Angeles this Saturday and immediately partake in activities to promote their May 3 “Homecoming” bout at The Home Depot Center’s 27,000 seat soccer stadium in Carson, CA which will be televised live on HBO’s World Championship Boxing.

De La Hoya, who will be arriving in the afternoon from his training camp in Puerto Rico, will go immediately to Dodger Stadium where he will throw out the ceremonial first pitch for that evening’s Dodgers vs. Colorado Rockies game. Simultaneously, Forbes, flying in Saturday afternoon from his Las Vegas training camp, will head to the Home Depot Center Soccer Stadium midfield—the same spot where the ring will be placed for his bout against De La Hoya—to participate in the ceremonial coin toss and official LA Galaxy team photo prior to the start of the Galaxy’s game against Chivas USA that night.

Congratulations to the 130 Gleason’s Gym amateurs that entered this years Golden Gloves Tournament and the unprecedented 22 boxers that went to the finals.

Pro Boxing
Paradise Theater
2413 Grand Concourse (near Fordham Road)
Bronx ,New York
Friday April 25th

Spectacular Main Event featuring local world rated contender
Andrey Tsurkan vs. the exciting Jesse Feliciano Plus:
Polish heavyweight contender Albert Sosnowski vs. “The Baby Bull” Terrell Nelson
$30, $50 and $100 tickets now on sale
Call Star Boxing at (718) 823-2000 now!

Pro Boxing
Bally’s Grand Ballroom
Atlantic City, New Jersey
Friday May 9th

Awesome co-main events.
Mighty Mike Arnaoutis v. Undefeated mandatory challenger Lanardo Tyner 12 Rounds for the USBA Jr. Welterweight Championship Plus:

Light Heavyweight showdown between world rated Elvir “Kosovo Kid” Muriqi and Omar Sheika.

Tickets: $90 and $60 are available by calling.

Star Boxing at (718) 823-2000 now!

Pro Boxing
Final Forum
Presents “Fists-A-Flying” II
May 17, 2008

At: Aviator Sports and Recreation
Paul “Raging Bull” Wolak vs Troy Browning
Tickets on sale at Gleason’s Gym
$100, $75, and $50

Professional Massages
Starting on Monday, April 21, 2008, Guenevere Johnson will give Professional Massages by appointment only. She will charge $1.00 per minute. The appointments will be for Mondays only.

Gleason’s Monthly Club Show
Saturday, May 24, 2008

Gleason’s will resume the monthly boxing shows now that the Golden Gloves are over. All bouts are pre-matched by New York’s finest matchmaker, Angela Querol. If you wish to participate call Angela at (718) 797-2872. The weigh-in starts at 5:00PM and the first bout will be at 7:00PM.

Tickets are $20 general admission and $10 for gym members and amateur fighters with passbooks in hand.

Johnny Rodz Professional Wrestling Show
Saturday, May 31, 2008

Gleason’s Gym
First Bout 7:30 PM.
General Admission $20
This Year’s Fantasy Camp
August 29-September 1st, 2008

SAN DIEGO, Calif. (April 25, 2008) – World Boxing Organization (WBO) Junior Lightweight Champion Joan Guzman (28-0, 17 KOs) has obtained a visa that will allow him to travel to Scotland to defend his title against interim champion and Scotland-native Alex Arthur.

“This was the last hurdle that we needed to clear before we could make our title defense,” Guzman said.  “Now we’re just waiting on the new date.”

The fight was scheduled for Saturday, May 3 at Meadowbank Sports Centre in Edinburgh, Scotland, but due to Guzman’s visa issues, the fight will now have a new date.

“All we need now is for Frank Warren (promoter) of Sports Network to give us the new, rescheduled date,” said Sean Gibbons, matchmaker for Sycuan Ringside Promotions, the company that promotes Guzman.  “Guzman cleared up his visa issues and is now ready to go to Scotland to successfully defend his WBO junior lightweight belt.”

Frank Warren won the rights to this championship fight in a WBO purse bid.

NEW YORK -Nick Charles, who serves as host and play-by-play announcer for the critically acclaimed SHOWTIME boxing series ShoBox: The New Generation, will receive the prestigious Sam Taub Award for excellence in broadcast journalism at the 83rd Annual Boxing Writers Association of America Awards Dinner on Thursday, May 1, 2008, in Los Angeles.

The lifetime achievement award, now bestowed upon all four boxing announcers serving SHOWTIME Sports telecasts (Steve Albert, Al Bernstein for Championship Boxing and analyst Steve Farhood for ShoBox), is sweet for the broadcast veteran.

“I’m absolutely thrilled to receive the lifetime achievement award,” said Charles, an Atlanta resident who is known for his accurate, colorful and refreshing delivery. “It means a lot when the Boxing Writers Association of America looks at your entire body of work and decides that you deserve to be recognized for it.”

If you tuned in to CNN during the 1980s and 90s, chances are you saw Nick Charles. Hired to help launch the network in 1980, Charles won three Cable Ace Awards as co-host of CNN’s “Sports Tonite.”

During his time with the news network, Charles covered some of the all-time greatest boxers in many of their greatest fights, including Muhammad Ali, Sugar Ray Leonard, Marvin Hagler, Thomas Hearns, Riddick Bowe, Evander Holyfield, Mike Tyson and Oscar De La Hoya.

“In the early years of CNN, we had such a can-do attitude,” Charles said.  “It was new horizons, un-chartered waters.  Ultimately, not only did we not drown, we sailed around the world.

“They had me camp out in Miami after Roberto Duran’s ‘No Mas’ fight until I got an interview.  They sent me to Japan to see Buster Douglas knock Tyson on his butt.  I was in camp with Hearns in Detroit and at home with Hagler.  Through the years, I witnessed boxing history.”

In 2001, SHOWTIME tabbed Charles as its blow-by-blow announcer for the new boxing series, ShoBox: The New Generation, which features up-and-coming fighters in tough match-ups in all boxing divisions.  Thus far, Charles and his partner Farhood have called the action for nearly every ShoBox telecast since its inception—nearly 125 shows and 250 fights. In that time, Charles has witnessed many fighters advance from prospect to contender; from contender to world champion.

“You know little about these guys except that they better have a blazing desire to succeed,” Charles said.  “The fighters have no entourages, and we do not feature ring walks.  It is just boxing where two guys are matched tough, and it is a question of who moves forward and who falls back.  That is the central theme of every ShoBox.”

With Charles and Farhood at the helm, ShoBox has found a niche with boxing fans and sports enthusiasts.

“Nick is a highly respected sports commentator who has traveled to more than 50 countries and covered all of the major sports stories for the last 25 years,” said Gordon Hall, SHOWTIME vice president and executive producer of ShoBox. “He brings a vast knowledge of boxing and great passion to each telecast.  He is a true professional who brings out the best in those around him.”

Charles says the match-ups are what make ShoBox so intriguing.

“We usually have these young undefeated fighters who have never lost, and other times these guys who cannot afford to lose again,” Charles said.  “It is all about acclaim and redemption, risk and reward.  Ultimately, in this series, people’s careers have either taken off or have ended.”

The well-traveled journalist has worked as a site reporter and host for six Olympics, five Goodwill Games and the Pan-Am Games in Havana, Cuba.

“Nick’s love for boxing, and specifically for ShoBox, makes every show special,” said Farhood. “He’s the ultimate professional, and his enthusiasm never wanes. If you ask Nick, he’ll tell you he’s lucky to have boxing. But if you ask me, boxing is lucky to have Nick.”

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Contrary to information circulated on the internet, undefeated World Boxing Organization (WBO) Junior Lightweight Champion Joan Guzman (28-0, 17 KOs) will travel to Scotland to defend his title against interim champion Alex Arthur.

Inaccurate reports across the internet have stated that Guzman has pulled out of his title fight against Arthur (26-1, 19 KOs), which is currently scheduled for Saturday, May 3 in Edinburgh, Scotland.  The highly anticipated fight, however, will likely be rescheduled.

“Guzman is not giving up his belt,” said Jose Nunez, Guzman’s long time manager.  “He’s worked extremely hard and gone through tremendous sacrifices to become a world champion.  He’s simply not going to give up his belt.  Guzman will go to Scotland and he will successfully defend his title. The date will most likely be pushed back a bit.”

Guzman, who has fought in the U.K. once before, has had some trouble securing a visa that will allow him to travel to Scotland.  According to Nunez, the issue is being resolved.

“Rest assured that team Guzman will have all the appropriate paperwork for this fight,” Nunez said.  “We know what has to be done and we understand the time frame that is needed to accomplish this.”

“Right now we’re taking a wait-and-see approach,” said Sean Gibbons, matchmaker for Sycuan Ringside Promotions, the company that promotes Guzman.  “We are waiting for Frank Warren of Sports Network to give us the new, rescheduled date.”

Frank Warren won the rights to this championship fight in a WBO purse bid.

By David Martinez / Boxing Historian www.dmboxing.com

Let me bring you a feature story that you will probably not read any where regarding, all together, the five best black heavyweights at the turn of the 20th century.

I got the idea when I overheard some mutual friends talking about the best black baseball players that never got the chance to play in the major leagues, and had to settle playing against each other in the old negro league.

I have rated many boxers in many categories throughout my 48 years of boxing. On this website alone you will find that I have rated the best heavyweights, the best lightweights, the best Mexicans fighters; and now I will personally rate the best black heavyweights in a time period when only one of them, Jack Johnson, had the opportunity to fight for the heavyweight championship.

#1) Before Johnson came onto the scene, I must acknowledge Peter Jackson. He was a true pioneer in the brass knuckle days, and the first black heavyweight that set the stage for the top recognition of the black boxers, and that was before the turn of the 20th century.

Racial prejudice was the only thing that kept Jackson from his chance to win the heavyweight championship. In a ten year span, 1882-1892, when which Jackson was in his prime, the heavyweight champion was John L. Sullivan, who stated that he would never fight a Negro for his crown.

Sullivan lost his coveted belt, in 1892, to James J. Corbett. A year prior to that fight, in 1891, Jackson fought Corbett to a grueling 61 round draw, in a bout that lasted over four hours. Jackson would never fight Corbett once he held the title, and lost to another future heavyweight champion, Jim Jeffries, seven years after the Corbett fight, in a bout that virtually ended his career.

At the peak of his career, Jackson, “aka” The Black Prince, was considered by many boxing experts (even to this day) to be one of the most complete heavyweights ever.

After the turn of the 20th century, I rate Jack Johnson the best at that time, and in his prime he was truly the top heavyweight. Johnson was a master defensive boxer, and well ahead of his time among any of the great boxers, black or white, in his era. He won the heavyweight championship when he was 32 years old; Ali was 22, and Joe Louis was 23. He was the central figure in the most dramatic fight in heavyweight boxing history; his July 4, 1910, bout with Jim Jeffries caused more national repercussions than any thing ever seen in the sport. Johnson fought the best in his time, and lost the championship to Jess Willard on a controversial knockout. The late Nat Fleischer, Ring Magazine founder, said Johnson was simply the best heavyweight champion ever; that is my opinion, as well.

#2) Harry Wills is probably the most underrated heavyweight that never won the title. He was ranked many times as a top contender for Johnson’s belt, but they never fought. He also was ranked the number one contender when Jack Dempsey was champion, but they never fought.

Wills was forced to fight continuously against many of the best black fighters in his era such as Sam Langford, Sam McVey, and Joe Jeannette; but in a career that spanned six heavyweight champions, not once did he get
a title shot.

Wills was known as The Black Panther, and was a big six-foot, three inches, and 220 pounds. Although many of his early bouts were unrecorded, I found his ring record to be 65 wins, 8 losses, 2 draws, 47 knockouts, with 25 no-decisions and 3 no-contests. His best punch was a right cross which was so powerful that, in his 47 wins by KO, those bouts only lasted an average of three rounds.

Had he been given the opportunity to fight for the title, I truly believe Willis would have changed the history of boxing and would have been the second black heavyweight champion.

#3) Sam Langford, was recognized by the late Nat Fleischer, Ring magazine founder, as the seventh best heavyweight of all time, and in a recent issue of Ring Magazine, he was rated number two on their all time list of best punchers.

Langford was known as the Boston Tar Baby, and he was not a big heavyweight in stature, being only five foot, seven inches, and 185 pounds. His career spanned a quarter of a century, from 1902 to 1926, with 164 wins, 38 losses, 37 draws, 117 knockouts, with 48 no-decisions, and 3 no-contests.

Langford, was truly considered by many boxing historians, including myself, as good as any heavyweight during the first 15 years of the 20th century.

#4) Joe Jeanette was actually a look-alike in styles to Sam Langford, was not big by heavyweight standards at five foot ten inches, and 190 pounds. His ring record was most impressive: 79 wins, nine losses, 6 draws, 66 knockouts, with 62 no-decisions, and 1
no-contest.

He is best known for his quote to Jack Johnson, in which he repeatedly said “that Jack forgot about his old (black) friends after he became champion and drew the color line against his own people.”

Jeanette had fought Johnson seven times prior to Johnson winning the title, and held his own with one win, one loss, one draw, and four no-decisions. He also fought Langford 15 times, and held a 15 round decision over future light heavyweight champion Georges Carpentier.

His most memorable fight was in 1909 against Sam McVey, in which he overcame 27 knockdowns to win by knockout in 50 rounds, a fight that lasted three-and-a-half hours, and was recorded as the longest fight of the 20th century.

#5) Sam McVey (or as some refer him to, McVea), was actually a Mike Tyson look-alike in many ways. He was compact, had a powerful physique, with tremendous punching power, and he stood 5 foot ten inches, at a solid 215 pounds. His ring record was 65 wins, 15 losses, 11 draws, 47 knockouts, with 1 no-decision, and 4 no-contests.

At one point in his career, from 1906 to 1912, he had a stretch of 38 victories, 2 losses, and 3 draws, with an incredible 32 knockouts in 43 bouts, with the two lone losses only to Joe Jeanette.

Early in his career, with less than ten fights under his belt and before he was even 20 years old, he fought Jack Johnson three times and lost all three. Johnson was 26 years old and had over forty fights to his credit. The two would never fight again after Johnson won the world heavyweight championship in 1908.

Although boxing historians will agree that his 50 round bout with Jeanette in 1909 was a classic, and it was, McVey’s best winning performance was on June 29, 1915 against Sam Langford. He won a 12 round decision, in which McVey had Langford on the verge of a knockout in the 8th round, in a thrilling fight from start to finish.

In closing, from Peter Jackson to the five I have mentioned above, ironically each one of these men at one time in their famed careers held what was called during their era the “World Colored Heavyweight Championship.”

LAS VEGAS, Nevada (AFP) — Unbeaten Welshman Joe Calzaghe made his first foray to the United States a successful one, winning a split decision over US veteran Bernard Hopkins in a 12-round light heavyweight bout.

Calzaghe, the reigning World Boxing Council, World Boxing Association and World Boxing Organization super middleweight champion, survived a first-round knockdown to take his record to 45-0, with 32 wins inside the distance.

Hopkins, 43, fell to 48-5-1 with 32 knockouts.

The cagey American dropped Calzaghe with a straight right in the first round, and once again used his defensive skills to wrong-foot a talented opponent.

As the fight progressed, however, Calzaghe seemed to find his rhythm, and was able to step in and land effective punches.

“He caught me in the first round,” Calzaghe said. “He caught me with a flash knockdown. It was only the third time I’ve been on the floor.”

He admitted he found it difficult to solve Hopkins in the early going.

“I had to be patient,” he said. “It’s very difficult to pin Bernard down. He’s very wiley. I knew it wasn’t going to be pretty, but a win is a win.”

Calzaghe’s aggressive pursuit of Hopkins and his clean punches earned him the decision from two judges, with Chuck Giampa seeing it 116-111 and Ted Gimza making it 115-112 for the Welshman. Adalaide Byrd scored it 114-113 for Hopkins.

Hopkins was defiant in defeat, implying the decision should have gone to him.

“Look at my face, I don’t have a bruise. I busted him up,” Hopkins said. “I took a guy to school who was undefeated.”

The aging warrior denied that he slowed down in the middle rounds, with his few punches losing their sting.

“I was just pacing myself for the long haul,” he said.

Hopkins said he would talk to his partners at Oscar de la Hoya’s Golden Boy promotions and his wife before making any decision about his future in the ring.

Calzaghe, who is the longest-reigning world champion in boxing and has defended his various titles 21 times, said he didn’t yet know who he would seek to take on next.

Unbeaten WBC middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik, who will defend his crown June 7 against Welshman Gary Lockett at Atlantic City, New Jersey, has been mentioned, as has the man Pavlik took his title from - Jermain Taylor - and another US legend, Roy Jones.

“I’m not sure,” Calzaghe said. “I’m a legend killer - maybe Roy Jones.”

By David Martinez / Boxing Historian

On Saturday night, April 19, 2008, in a much anticipated fight, unbeaten and Super Middleweight champion, Joe Calzaghe, made his debut in the United States by stepping up to light-heavyweight to challenge the crafty 43 year-old champion, Bernard Hopkins.

The bout was held at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, in a Hollywood-type atmosphere which featured such stars as Sylvester Stallone, David Beckham, Jim Belushi, Katherine Zeta-Jones, Simon Cowell, Michael J. Fox, Pete Sampras, Whitney Houston, and Arnold Schwarzenegger, just to name a few.

Hopkins floored Calzaghe in the very first round with a sneaky right hand, and proceeded to win most rounds early in the fight. However, Calzaghe captured control as the fight progressed, winning in a very close 12 round split decision.

After the fight, HBO judge Harold Lederman said “that in my eyes, this was not a tough fight to score: 116 to 111, nine rounds for Calzaghe and three rounds for Hopkins.” But as much as I respect the judgment of my personal friend, Harold, I will disagree; this was a tough fight to score – I had it by just a whisker for Calzaghe.

The official judges at ringside had this fight as follows: Ted Gimza 115-112 for Calzaghe; Adelaide Byrd 114-113 for Hopkins; and Chuck Giampa 116-111 for Calzaghe. My scorecard had Calzaghe 114, Hopkins 113, with the first round being a 10-8 round for Hopkins; thus, Calzaghe winning seven rounds and Hopkins five rounds.

What is next for these two champions? I do believe that a huge pay day is awaiting Calzaghe to fight Roy Jones; and for Hopkins, he still has plenty of fight in him, even at his young age of 43 years old!

Jim Moriarty, Brothers Boxing Gym, RIP
Jim Moriarty, well known in the Southern California Boxing
Community, passed away Monday, April 21, 2008, from heart
failure.

The Retired Boxers Foundation is sad to inform the boxing community
that James “Jim” Moriarty passed away yesterday, April 21, 2008. He was having chest
pains, and like the tough Irishman that he was, he drove himself to the hospital, but passed away shortly after he arrived.
Jim owned Brothers Boxing Gym in Winnetka California for many years and it was his
sincere love of the sport that made him a beloved boxing trainer, manager, friend and most of all, a true boxing fan. On more than one occasion, a fighter or a retired fighter would find themselves without a place to stay, and Jim would open the door to the gym and let him stay there. As a matter of fact, no one knew this but Jim used to leave the door to the gym unlocked. He trusted the fighters, even when they were down and out and for that, there is a lot of love and respect for Jim. Brothers was always spotless and Jim always expected the fighters to behave and show respect to the sport and to the gym.
RETIRED BOXERS FOUNDATION
3359 Bryan Avenue
Simi Valley, CA 93063
Phone (805) 551-3449
www.retiredboxers.org
JaxFacts@gmail.com
rbfalex@gmail.com
For Details, Contact:
Alex Ramos or
Jacquie Richardson
Retired Boxers Foundation
Phone (805) 955-9064

On Saturday, a British boxer looked starstruck in America as Clinton Woods lost in deferential fashion to Antonio Tarver. This coming Saturday, a great deal more is expected from Britain’s Joe Calzaghe when he meets Bernard Hopkins in a light heavyweight 12-rounder at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas (HBO, 9:45 p.m. ET). This is Calzaghe’s first fight in the U.S. and his first in this weight class after being a 168-pound champion for 10 years and 21 title defenses. It is his biggest fight and one that will decide his place in ring history, and it’s hugely important to him that he wins. Hopkins’ legacy is assured. At 43, he has defied the aging process to remain a formidable proposition, big and strong at light heavyweight after draining himself to make the middleweight limit. Calzaghe is the betting favorite at about 5-2 — and it’s easy to see why. At 36, he has comparative youth on his side, he is unbeaten and he has the fast-paced, busy, southpaw style that should give an older fighter a great deal of trouble. Hopkins, though, says he loves being the underdog and points out that he is unbeaten against southpaws, including dominant wins over Tarver and Winky Wright (both were favorites) in his past two fights. There is, one senses, the same air of certainty that Hopkins had as he headed into the fights with Tarver and Wright.

	Calzaghe, right, is the betting favorite, but Hopkins can never be counted out.

Speaking to ESPN.com last week, Hopkins said: “Being the underdog is always something that has motivated Bernard Hopkins. Love me or hate me, like my quotes, like my sound bites or not, the bottom line is that Bernard Hopkins can flat-out fight, and he’s normally right about what will happen in his fights. When you analyze these things, you’ve still got your opinions — but watch how you bet.” The remarkable ring mechanic from Philadelphia will tell you that he respects Calzaghe, but he clearly believes he is a different class of fighter. “He’s going to get exposed as being an ordinary European fighter that’s called great on the other side of the world but over here nobody knows him,” Hopkins said. “They think it’s the infomercial for him, but now the world gets to see the difference between American athletes and European athletes. Yes, Calzaghe is the younger man — although not at all a young fighter at 36 — but Hopkins feels that dealing with age can simply be a mind-over-matter type of thing. “People were calling me old 10 years ago,” Hopkins said, “but they want you to think you’re old, so a little cramp here or a little soreness here — because you just happen to be human — you start second-guessing yourself, and in that split second of hesitation you become old, you become vulnerable. But I’m a true, strong-minded man. It comes from my past that wasn’t always good and molded me into something that Joe can never be — and that doesn’t make him a bad person either — but at times like this, and events like this, that separates him from who I am, and that’s what gets played out in every fight that I fight. “I don’t want to look like no jailhouse bully looking for my prey coming through the gates for the first time. So Joe, I hope you read this, please don’t make me look like a bully.” The inference here is simple: Hopkins expects to dish out a beatdown similar to the ones he administered to Tarver and Wright. In the Calzaghe camp, though, they are talking about not just a win but also one that will establish the Welsh fighter as a superstar in the U.S. as well as in the U.K.

	Joe Calzaghe isn’t one to be thrown off his game very easily.

Calzaghe’s trainer and father, Enzo, told ESPN.com: “We know for a fact that Joe’s got the tools to do the job that he’s got to do. We’re just waiting for the bell to ring and you’re going to see a spectacular performance. Joe will attack. He doesn’t want it to be a boring fight. What Hopkins will do, I do not know, but I can guarantee he will definitely be on the shy side of every bit of action.” Calzaghe himself talks of an easy win, although he seems to be concerned that Hopkins will use rough tactics, mentioning head butts and low blows. He says he will be much stronger and punching much harder, as a light heavyweight. Yet while Calzaghe had huge wins at home in Britain against Jeff Lacy and Mikkel Kessler, he has not yet had to face the pressure of a big fight night in Las Vegas, of hearing boos as well as cheers when he is introduced. Calzaghe seems to be strong mentally, but it could be unsettling if he is made to miss and starts getting hit by punches he wasn’t expecting. Lacy was a straight-ahead, wide-punching, pressure fighter, easy for Calzaghe to figure out. Kessler, while strong and technically sound, boxed in a conventional way and did not offer a lot of imagination. Calzaghe was able to overcome him with versatility. Hopkins is different, though: a savvy, tough, crafty veteran who is an expert at shutting down his opponents. He hits hard and fast, then moves away or gets inside to maul the other man around. Suddenly, a competent boxer can find himself fighting Hopkins’ fight. That’s the prediction offered by Miami trainer Pat Burns, who guided Jermain Taylor to two very close wins over Hopkins. “I think it’s a very tough fight for Calzaghe,” Burns told ESPN.com. “Hopkins is very cagey, and you know Calzaghe likes to move a lot. And I don’t think that’s the right style to beat Hopkins. When you’re moving, you’re working your angles and you’re staying away, and Hopkins is very hard to hit — it’s very hard to get clean shots on Hopkins. “There’s no one in professional boxing who makes adjustments throughout the fight better than Hopkins. What he shows you in the first three rounds is different than [what] he shows you in four, five and six, and then what he shows you in the eighth and ninth are totally different, and then, when he finishes, that’s something you haven’t even seen. So the guy makes adjustments all the time. A 50-50 fight? I would say it’s 60-40 — with Hopkins winning.” What Calzaghe has shown, though, is the ability to rise to the occasion. In fights in which it seemed there was a very good chance he could lose — against Lacy, Kessler and even the much more experienced Chris Eubank back in 1997 — he has not only won, but done so convincingly. He is fast, and has great stamina and a very good chin. And even though he’s not considered an especially big hitter, he can hurt people. Lacy looked beaten up after 12 rounds with Calzaghe, while Kessler was almost doubled up by a body shot. Calzaghe’s speed, his ability to punch from unusual angles and the authority of his blows might surprise even Hopkins. The psychological warfare that Hopkins employs — including his “won’t lose to a white boy” comment — might not work on Calzaghe, who seems to have an unshakable belief in his own ability and strength of character. In what will be a close, competitive contest, Calzaghe’s ability to fight the full three minutes of every round should decide the fight. Hopkins may have some big moments in which he will catch Calzaghe and perhaps hurt him. And his right hand is going to be a constant threat. In the overall flow of the fight, however, if Calzaghe moves in and out, this way and that, and gets in with his quick punches and withstands Hopkins’ heavier single hits, he’ll win a hard-fought, close but deserved decision.

Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. is looking to turn up the heat on Top Rank’s Latin Fury championship card on Saturday, April 26. Today in a press conference in Mexico City, Chavez Jr. said: “I have being working very hard to give fans a better performance then I gave them last February in Leon, Guanajuato, where I felt that I could have done better”

Thanks everyone, Ricardo, Top Rank

MIKE ALVARADO, RAY SANCHEZ IN ALBUQUERQUE ON THURSDAY!

Tickets start at $15 and are available right now at tickets.com or the Isleta Players Club Box Office
(505-244-9181).


Top Rank Schedule

Friday, April 25, Coliseo Antonio R. Barcelo, Toa Boja, Puerto Rico
10 Rds., Super Featherweights
ROMAN ‘ROCKY’ MARTINEZ, 18-0, 11 KOs, Vega Baja, Puerto Rico
vs. TBA

Saturday, June 28, Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, Las Vegas - HBO PPV
12 Rds., WBC Lightweight Championship
Champion DAVID DIAZ, 34-1-1, 17 KOs, Chicago
vs. MANNY PACQUIAO, 46-3-2, 34 KOs, General Santos, Philippines

Art Pelullo/Banner Promotions, Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino, and UNLVtickets.com will present a sensational fight card on Friday, May 16, in the PH ring at the Cox Pavilion, which is connected to the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. The main event and co-featured bouts will be televised live on ESPN’s “Friday Night Fights.”

In the light heavyweight main event scheduled for 10 rounds, former two-time heavyweight world champion Chris Byrd, 40-4-1 with 21 knockouts, of Las Vegas, will fight Shaun George, 16-2-2 with 7 knockouts, of Brooklyn, New York.

Now 37 years old, Chris won the WBO heavyweight world title in April, 2000, with a TKO against defending champion Vitali Klitschko. He fought at the Cox Pavilion in August, 2001, and beat David Tua in an IBF heavyweight elimination bout. He went on to win the vacant IBF heavyweight world title in December, 2002, with a 12 round decision against Evander Holyfield, and made four successful title defenses. A native of Flint, Michigan, Chris represented the United States in the 1992 Olympics and won the silver medal at 165 pounds.

This will be his first fight at 175 pounds since his second pro fight in 1993, and the first time he hasn’t been at a weight disadvantage in the ring since January, 2000.

George, 29 years old, is a seven-year pro. He has won three fights in a row, which includes a decision win against former light heavyweight contender Richard Hall in May, 2007.

Koba Gogoladze, 20-2 with 8 knockouts, will battle Ji-hoon Kim, 13-5 with 10 knockouts, of Goyang, Korea, in the co-featured featherweight bout scheduled for eight rounds.

Planned televised bouts currently include a six-rounder featuring talented Russian jr. welterweight prospect Ruslan Provodnikov, 7-0 with 6 knockouts, against an opponent to be announced.

Three more bouts are planned to complete the card. All bouts are subject to change without notice.

Doors open: 4:00 P.M. (all times PT)

Fight fight: 5:00 P.M.

Ticket prices: $28, $48, $78.

Tickets are available at: www.unlvtickets.com, all UNLVtickets outlets, and by phone at 702-739-FANS.

Rusty Rubin is the editor-in-chief of the Ringsports.com magazine, website and the author of three highly acclaimed boxing books! “Woozel, Boxing and Me” (Authorhouse.com #31810). This book has been rated 4½ stars at Amazon.com. “Off the Canvas” and “Billy Soose, the Champion Time Forgot” #31809, co-authored by Tom Donelson. 

This just in, the California Boxing Hall of Fame will honor many great fighters at their June 21^st induction ceremonies. The event will take place on June 21, and be held at the Sportsman Lodge in Studio City, Cal.

Among those being honored are Joe Louis, Jackie McCoy, Eddie Futch, Laila Ali, Mando Ramos, and many more. 

For more information or tickets for this Saturday afternoon event, call: (818) 761-4887 or via e-mail at neicyrox@sbcglobal.net.

Fellow scribe Clay Moyle has a new book out about Sam Langford…Check it out at Amazon.com.

I again remind you that many people are spamming using my name and e-mail address. It’s not me or Ringsports.com, who are sending these ads. I advise everyone is not to open anything you’re not expecting. Feel free to check with me if you have any questions.***

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A big fight is in the offing this weekend when two veterans Joe Calzaghe and Bernard Hopkins face off….This is an interesting match-up of a speedy veteran from Wales, in Calzaghe and future Hall of Famer Bernard Hopkins. This HBO televised event will be shown live from the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas.

How do we separate these two solid chin combatants? Hopkins is a smart, strong fighter and also gets the home-field advantage. For the undefeated Calzaghe, making his first start in America is hoping that a win over BHop also puts him in line for a Hall of Fame slot.

Both fighters trained very hard for this encounter and neither will be giving up much ground in the ring.

A pick? Calzaghe by decision….Speed wins.