ADAMEK LOSES TO GLAZKOV- RETIRES

#3 Heavyweight Thomasz Adamek dropped a 12 round decision to undefeated #14 Heavyweight  Czar Glazkov.  Scores were 117-110, 117-111, 116-112.  Adamek announced his retirement at 49-3 due to lack of title opportunities in the near future.  Probably a good move.

WILDER KO'S SCOTT IN 96 SECONDS

Now 31-0 (31) - From Ringtv.com

=========================================

RingTV.com has live round-by-round update of tonight's WBC heavyweight title eliminator during which Deontay Wilder (31-0, 31 KOs) knocked out Malik Scott (36-2-1, 13 KOs) with a straight right hand after a left hook to the temple at 96 seconds into the fight.

Although it appeared to be partially blocked, Wilder's right hand followed a left and appeared to pierce the highly-held guard of Scott. It apparently had the momentum to cause enough damage that Scott could not beat the count of referee Roberto Ramirez Jr.

In victory, Wilder became the mandatory challenger to the Bermane Stiverne-Chris Arreola rematch.

Stiverne and Arreola are competing for the title vacated by Vitali Klitschko and their bout is reportedly taking place on May 10 at a site to be determined.

Although the 6-foot-7 Wilder, who is 28, once recruited the 6-foot-4 Scott, 33, as a sparring partner in advance of his first-round knockout of ex-beltholder Sergei Liakhovich in August of last year, the 2008 bronze medalist said they never broached the notion of one day being adversaries.

Wilder-Scott takes place at the historic Coliseo Ruben Rodriguez in Bayamon, Puerto Rico.

Back soon...

HOLYFIELD TO RETIRE ON FRIDAY

Evander Holyfield will announce his retirement from boxing on Friday October 19.  His 50th birthday.

A career span of 57 Bouts from November 15, 1984 - October 19, 2012.

Evander Holyfield calls out the Klitschko brothers again

(From Eastsideboxing.com)
======================

By Rob Smith: Evander Holyfield, 49, is hoping that one of the Klitschko brothers will give him a fight so that Holyfield can try and capture another heavyweight world title before he retires someday. Holyfield hasn’t been ranked in the top tier for quite some time in the heavyweight division so it’s going to be a tad difficult for him to get one of the Klitschkos to bite on his offer.

Holyfield said to Sky Sports News “They [Klitschkos] have got an opportunity to probably make the biggest payday of their lives fighting Evander Holyfield…With the Klitshkos, they aren’t choosing to fight me, I’ve said I’ll fight them. All they got to do is realize that both of us will make money, then we’ll see who the winner is.”

Ignoring the fact that this would be terrible mismatch and the Klitschko brothers would take heaps of criticism from boxing fans if they took this fight, A fight between one of the Klitschko brothers and 49-year-old Holyfield would still do really well in Germany where the Klitschkos fight. The Klitschkos could sell out one of their 50,000 seat football stadiums if they fought Holyfield. The Germans would probably love this fight and come in droves. They loved the Shannon Briggs vs. Vitali Klitschko fight, as well as Wladimir’s mismatches with Tony Thompson and Jean Marc Mormeck. Holyfield is about in their league, maybe a little worse in terms of what he’s got left in the tank at this stage in his career.

A fight between Holyfield and the Klitschkos would make a lot of money, but I’m not sure that Holyfield’s cut would be all that huge because he’s not in a good bargaining position right now. Holyfield hasn’t beat a high profile fighter in many years and he’s lost each time he’s fought for a world title in the past five years.

HOLYFIELD MAY NOT FIGHT AGAIN

(From Worldboxingnews.net)
=========================

‘The Real Deal’ left in limbo as he approaches 50

Boxing legend Evander Holyfield still feels as though he can compete at the highest level in the heavyweight division as the 49 year-old veteran seeks out opportunities to extend his boxing career even further.

The former undisputed cruiserweight champion and four-time heavyweight belt holder is on a run of two knockouts since his last world title loss to Nikolai Valuev in 2008 and will hit a landmark 50th year in October this year.

Asked by World Boxing News today whether he will fight again following a thirteen-month absence from the ring and if so, when that might be, ‘The Real Deal’ stated: “I don’t know when because nobody’s called me yet. I want to fight and feel strong, I just need the opportunity.”

Holyfield was linked to a WBA title challenge against Alexander Povetkin at the back end of last year and according to his senior advisor Tony Tortorici, the boxing icon is in better shape today than many active fighters of a much younger age.

“Evander practices what he preaches when he says ‘It’s easier to maintain than rebuild,” said Tortorici, who is currently in the process of weighing up the Atlanta fighter’s next move.

There is no doubt that Holyfield remains a fan favourite and deserves to test himself against one of the current crop of top heavyweights before retirement, although as it stands right now, he may not be given the chance.

Weekend Predictions

Chad Dawson W 12 Bernard Hopkins.  Scores 115-113, 116-113, something like that.  For World Lt. Heavyweight Title.

(Update:  Dawson W 12 Hopkins, scores 117-111, 117-111, 114-114)

Seth Mitchell KO 3 Chazz Witherspoon.  Mitchell #6 WBO continues towards title shot vs a Klitschko sometime next year.

(Update: Mitchell TKO 3 Witherspoon.  Mitchell stunned severely in 1st round)

LENNOX LEWIS TO RETURN?

(From Eastsideboxing.com)
========================

Lennox Lewis Announces September 29th “Done Deal” Rematch With Vitali Klitschko - An April Fool’s Or Not?

By James Slater -- For a while now, “retired” heavyweight great Lennox Lewis has been casually dropping hints that he might, just might, come back to face reigning WBC heavyweight boss Vitali Klitschko in a long awaited return of their epic 2003 battle.

Lewis, now aged 46, said recently that he would “take off the pyjamas and go back to the gym for $100 million (which particular currency Lennox never stated).” While Klitschko, now aged 40 (41 in July) has been almost begging for a rematch ever since being busted up and halted on cuts by “the strongest man I’ve ever met in my career..”

Well, it may not prove to be anything more than a quite tantalising April Fool’s Day gag, but Lewis today announced - on his Twitter page and on his official web site (Lennox Lewis.com) - that he is all set for a “done deal” of a rematch with Vitali, on September 29th.

Lewis wrote:

“Lennox returns to the ring for Sept. 29th mega fight with Klitschko.”

And:

“I’ve enjoyed retirement but there is unfinished business at hand & 125 million reasons to finish. Sept. 29th LLVK2#done deal. Klitschko looking forward to Sept. 29th.”

So, has Lennox decided to actually come back and “save” the heavyweight division that is “currently dead,” or is the whole thing nothing more than another example of Lewis’ oft-quirky sense of humour (this is a man, after all, who once signed an enthusiastic fan’s autograph “Don Corleone”!)

It probably is nothing more than a gag, but it’s odd that Lewis would both submit a date and place the “news story” on his official site. Could it be that we are all set to see the “epic fight” Lennox says the heavyweight division of today is in need of?

Has Lewis shed the pyjamas and been secretly working his ass off in the gym? Let’s all be honest, September 29th would absolutely, definitely, magnificently, be a date us fight fans would set aside in the diary if this eight-years-too-late rematch did come to fruition!

And at 46 (Lewis will be 47 in September), Lewis just might be young enough to be able to pull off a “George Foreman.” 

Boxing Recap - October 2011

Oct. 29

Odlanier Solis (17-1) vs. Varol Vekiloglu (18-2)

Brian Minto (35-4) vs. Tony Grano (18-2-1) 

Oct. 28

Eddie Chambers (36-2) vs. Tony Thompson (36-2) (Showtime)
Eloy Perez (22-0-2) vs. Ira Terry (24-6) (Salinas)

Oct. 22

Chazz Witherspoon (28-2) vs. Ty Cobb (14-2)

Oct. 21

Pongsaklek Wonjongkam (82-3-1) vs. Edgar Sosa (43-6) (Ring 112)

Malcolm Tunacao (28-3) vs. TBA 

Oct. 20

Jose Luis Castillo (62-11-1) v Anton Decarie (25-1)

Oct. 19

Anthony Mundine (42-4) W 12 Rigoberto Alvarez (28-3)

Oct. 15

Bernard Hopkins (52-5-2) ND 2 Chad Dawson (30-1) (Ring 175) (PPV)

Ivan Jukic (11-0) TKO by 1 Mamadou Thiam (49-10)
Oct. 7
Tye Fields TKO 6 Rafael Butler
Oct. 3
Chauncy Welliver W 12 Rob Calloway
Oct. 1
Sergio Martinez KO 11 Darren Barker (World 160)

Dawson not keep title

Guaranteed.  Will be overturned.  Was a foul, Dawson put his left glove on Hopkins' hamstring and lifted up.  Foul.  Should be a DQ, will be stated as a no contest later next week.  Expect Hopkins camp to file protest to start process.  Ref Russell normally excellent, but dropped the ball here.

De la Hoya to return to the ring in 2012

A prediction...

Boxing Recap - September 2011

Sep. 24
Alexander Dimitrenko (31-1) W 12 Michael Sprott (36-16)
Sep. 21
Anthony Mundine (42-4) v Rigoberto Alvarez (27-3) - Postponed to Oct. 19 
Sep. 17
Floyd Mayweather Jr. (41-0) KO 4 Victor Ortiz (29-2-2) - PPV
Saul Alvarez (37-0-1) TKO 6 Alfonso Gomez (23-4-2) - PPV - Ret. WBA 154
Tyson Fury (15-0) TKO 5 Nicolai Firtha
Sep. 16
Paul Nave (19-8-2) L 8 Brandon Hoskins (15-0-1) - Maj. Dec.
Sep. 10
Vitali Klitschko (42-2) TKO 10 Tomasz Adamek (44-1) - HBO (Retains WBC Heavy)
Daniel Ponce de Leon (41-3) TKO by 8 Yuriorkis Gamboa (20-0) - HBO
Breidis Prescott (24-2) L 12 Paul McCloskey (22-1) (WBA 140 Eliminator)
Sep. 3
Gary Russell (17-0) W 8 Leonilo Miranda (32-3) - HBO
Andre Berto (27-1) TKO 5 Jan Zaveck (31-1) - HBO (cuts, IBF 147)
Sep. 2
Eloy Perez (21-0-2) KO 2 Daniel Jimenez (20-3-1) - Telefutura
James Parison (14-1) W 6 Paul Mendez (6-1) (split dec)

Mayweather-Ortiz

Look for a Mayweather Kayo in the 3rd quarter of the bout tonight...

KLITSCHKO RETAINS TITLE VIA TKO

Klitschko stops Adamek to retain WBC belt - From AP

Vitali Klitschko stopped Polish challenger Tomasz Adamek in the 10th round to retain the WBC heavyweight title Saturday night.

Italian referee Massimo Barrovecchio stepped in 2 minutes, 20 seconds into the round, ending an utterly dominant performance by the Ukrainian.

The 40-year-old Klitschko was six inches taller than his opponent and used his size advantage, with the 34-year-old Adamek staggering back in the second, sixth and ninth rounds.

Klitschko improved to 43-2 with his 40th knockout. Adamek dropped to 44-2.

Klitschko and younger brother Wladimir retained their hold on all three major heavyweight titles.

"I think the referee made the right decision. He probably could have stopped it a minute earlier," said Wladimir, who holds the IBF and "super" WBA titles as well as the minor WBO and IBO belts.

Wladimir revealed the next Klitschko fight will be in December.

Adamek was cheered on by the majority of the 42,000 fans at the sold-out municipal stadium.

"He's a very good boxer," Klitschko said. "He was a cruiserweight champion, he was a light heavyweight champion, but he's not good enough to be a heavyweight champion because it's a whole other league."

Adamek tried to force the issue in the second round but was caught by a huge right hook that left him wobbling against the ropes and the crowd fearing an early outcome.

Adamek recovered slightly in the fourth, despite a bloody nose and mouth, but failed to really trouble Klitschko, who was in control throughout.

Barrovecchio checked Adamek after taking a powerful left-right combination in the sixth, and Klitschko's left foot gave way while pushing Adamek into the corner in the eighth.

"I twisted my foot and lost my balance," he explained.

Despite the delight it brought the crowd, the outcome was never in doubt, and Klitschko again had Adamek staggering after delivering a straight left jab to the head in the ninth.

It was only a matter of time before Adamek's challenge was brought to a halt.

"He was simply the better fighter and he won. That's sport. You win some and you lose some. This time I lost," Adamek said.

Klitschko's win set up a possible bout with David Haye, who was beaten by Wladimir for the WBA belt in July.

Haye planned on retiring before his 31st birthday in October, but the 30-year-old Londoner has indicated he'd welcome a fight against the older Klitschko.

Klitschko's trainer Fritz Sdunek said Thursday that the 40-year-old would only fight two or three bouts more, and that Haye would be a preferred opponent.

HELENIUS STOPS LIAKHOVICH

Wins Inter-continental title via 9th round TKO.  Now 16-0 (11).

After slow start, hook and uppercut by Helenius ends it.

POVETKIN GETS PAST CHAGAEV

Unanimous decision.  Moves to 22-0 (15).  Wins WBA Heavyweight (Regular) Title

Scores: 116-112, 117-113, 117-113.

Boxing Recap - August 2011

Sep. 2
Eloy Perez (21-0-2) v Daniel Jiminez (20-3-1) (Telefutura)
Aug. 27
Marcos Maidana v Robert Guerrero (HBO-San Jose) - Cancelled due to injury (RG).
Alexander Povetkin v Ruslan Chagaev (EPIX)
Robert Helenius v Sergei Liakhovich (EPIX)
Aug. 26
Karoly Balzsay (23-2) W 12 Stanyslav Kashtanov (28-0) - Won WBA 168. 
Aug. 20
Oliver McCall (55-11) W 10 Damon Willis (30-2-1)
Aug. 19
Matthew Hatton W 12 Andrei Abramenka 
David Diaz TKO by 6 Henry Lundy (Espn2) - Diaz will retire. 
Aug. 13
David Tua L 12 Monte Barrett now 52-4-2 (43) 
Eric Morel TKO 4 Daniel Quevedo now 45-2 (23) 
Aug. 12
Kermit Cintron W 10 Antwone Smith (Espn2)-97-93 now 33-4-1 (28)   
Aug. 6 
Kelly Pavlik v Darryl Cunningham (Showtime) - Cancelled.
 

THE INTERNATIONAL BOXING COMMISSION
HEAVYWEIGHT RANKINGS
"THE TOP TWELVE"
As of: August, 2011
RANKING		(PVS)	FIGHTER		AGE	RECORD		NEXT		LAST	POINTS
Champion		CH	W KLITSCHKO		35	56-3 (49)		Nov. tbd		7/2 D Haye (W 12)	150
1		--	V KLITSCHKO		40	42-2 (39)		9/10 T Adamek		3/19 O Solis (KO 1)	140
2		--	T ADAMEK		34	44-1 (28)		9/10 V Klitschko		4/9 K McBride (W 12)	127
3		--	A POVETKIN		31	21-0 (15)		8/27 R Chagaev		12/18 N Firtha (W 10)	106
4		--	D HAYE		30	25-2 (23)		---		7/2 W Klitschko (L 12)	101
5		--	R HELENIUS		27	15-0 (10)		8/27 S Liakhovich		4/2 S Peter (KO 9)	90
6		--	E CHAMBERS		29	36-2 (18)		10/28 T Thompson		2/11 D Rossy (W 12)	84
7		--	R CHAGAEV		32	27-1-1 (17)		8/27 A Povetkin		11/19 T Walker (W 8)	79
8		--	A DIMITRENKO		29	31-1 (21)		9/24 M Sprout		3/26 A Sosnowski (KO 12)	54
9		--	C ARREOLA		30	33-2 (28)		---		7/9 F Ahyunanya (W 10)	54
10		--	T THOMPSON		39	36-2 (24)		10/28 E Chambers		5/27 M Harris (TKO 3)	46
11		--	D BOYTSOV		25	28-0 (23)		---		11/19 M Sheppard (KO 2)	29
12		--	O SOLIS		31	17-1 (12)		10/29 V Vekiloglu		3/19 V Klitschko (KO by 1)	20
Comments
Others receiving votes: T Fury, K Pulev, N Valuev
Upcoming Bouts: #1 V Klitschko-#2 T Adamek, #3 A Povetkin-#7 R Chagaev

NEW BARE KNUCKLE CHAMP - 1ST SINCE 1889!

(From Thesweetscience.com)
======================

Gunn shoots down Stewart with Round 3 KO

In the first sanctioned bareknuckle boxing match since 1889, Bobby “The Celtic Warrior” Gunn defeated boxer Rich Stewart via KO in round 3.  With the win Gunn claimed the vacant bareknuckle boxing title that was last held by John L. Sullivan.

“It’s mean a great deal to me to have won the way I did,” said Gunn.  “Early on I was able to go out there and establish my pace to the fight, and executed the way I planned.”

Leading up to this fight Gunn was adamant about bringing back bareknuckle boxing on a competitive level.  Many critics claimed the sport was barbaric and questioned the safety of the fighters.

“A big misconception was that the fight was going to be a street fight or bar fight,” said Gunn.  “That couldn’t be farther from the truth.  Fighters only have a 3 ½” gap to strike, from the eyes to the nose, around the side of the temple.  When you throw a shot to the jaw you have to be careful to hit the side of the jaw.  The teeth can split your hands wide open, and if you hit too high above the eyebrows you can shatter your hand on the forehand.  Bareknuckle boxing is not about wasting shots throwing wild punches; it’s about precise, accurate shots that are effective.”

Gunn displayed the sweet science as he carefully moved around the ring through the first and second rounds, keeping Stewart at bay and avoiding getting hit.

In the third round Gunn launched a devastating assault on Stewart’s body, followed up with a crisp left hook to the jaw, brining Stewart to the canvas.  Upon getting up, Stewart was grazed with a right cross on the top of his head, dropping him again.  The referee called the fight in the best interest of Stewart’s health.

“Waking up the next day my hands were a bit sore, but that was the extent of the damage,” said Gunn.  “Neither of us fighters suffered any real damage, due to the safety precautions that were put into place.”

Making history with the first bareknuckle boxing match since 1889, Gunn is confident that the sport will take off.

“The public enjoys watching fights because they want to see two professionals who know what they’re doing stand there and throw hands,” said Gunn.  “I believe that following this first match the sport is going to take off and become huge.”

And the numbers don’t lie.  Over 800,000 tuned in to Ustream.tv to watch the bout.

“I am hoping we can line up a big name for our next fight,” said Gunn.  “I will fight anybody they put in front of me, and I promise we’ll put on a show for the fans.”

“Lastly, I want to thank everybody on my team for all their support, and a very special thanks to McDuffy’s Sports Grill in Chandler, Arizona, for sponsoring the fight and being a part of bareknuckle boxing history.

KHAN PUNKS JUDAH - QUITS IN 5TH

(From AP)

==============

LAS VEGAS (AP) -- Amir Khan got another big win, even if he would have liked to do it in a bit more spectacular fashion.

Khan stopped Zab Judah in the fifth round of their scheduled 12-round unification fight Saturday night, winning another piece of the 140-pound title and cementing his claim to being one of the top fighters in the division. He did it with a body shot that landed legally, though Judah claimed it was a low blow.

No matter, said Khan, who was landing big blows even before the punch that put Judah down.

"If it had gone another few rounds, I would have knocked him out with a clean shot," Khan said.

Khan was dominating the fight when he threw a right hand that landed just at the belt line of Judah, who went to the canvas. Judah stayed there on his knees as referee Vic Drakulich counted him out at 2:47 of the fifth round.

Judah acted as though he was surprised to be counted out, but got up and went to his corner as Khan celebrated with his cornermen. Judah had earlier complained about being butted by Khan and was bleeding from his nose and cuts to his face.

"It was a low blow. I was trying to get myself together," Judah said. "That was self-defense right there."

The win was an impressive one for Khan, the former Olympic silver medalist who likes to call himself the best pound-for-pound boxer in England. He came in as a 5-1 favorite, and had no trouble against the southpaw Judah, using his quickness to beat him to the punch in almost every exchange.

Khan won the first four rounds on all three ringside scorecards.

"I think my speed overwhelmed him, along with my power," Khan said. "I thought I was hurting him and it was only a matter of time."

The end came when Khan landed a right hand that appeared to be legal, but just barely. Judah went down and stayed there with his back to Drakulich as the referee counted him out.

FRIDAY NIGHT FIGHTS MAY 27 2011

ESPN2

============

CHRIS ARREOLA 31-2 (27) v KENDRICK RELEFORD 22-14-2 (10). Arreola ranked #2 WBC, #5 IBF, #10 RING, #13 WBO, #15 WBA.

TONY THOMPSON 35-2 (23) v MAURICE HARRIS 24-14-2 (10). Thompson ranked #7 IBF, Harris #6 IBF.

HOPKINS OLDEST CHAMP!!

Hopkins becomes oldest champion at 46

(AP)

MONTREAL (AP) — Bernard Hopkins became the oldest fighter to win a major world championship, taking the WBC light heavyweight title Saturday night from Jean Pascal at the age of 46.

Hopkins (52-5-2) is the oldest fighter to take a major world belt since Geroge Foreman took the heavyweight title with a victory over Michael Moorer in 1994.

"I won't retire until I'm 50," Hopkins said.

He won the WBC, IBO and The Ring magazine titles from the 28-year-old Pascal (26-2-1), the Montreal fighter who was making his fifth defense before 17,560 at the Bell Centre.

The bout was a rematch of their Dec. 18 draw in Quebec City.

"He's a great champion. He has great defense and a lot of tricks. I was a young champion," Pascal said of Hopkins in the ring afterwards. "These two fights will help take me to the next level. I learned a lot from Bernard and his style."

The Philadelphia native played up his uncanny fitness in the pre-fight banter and looked the fresher man throughout the bout, taunting Pascal by doing push-ups as he waited for him to start the seventh round and doing them again after the fight.

Hopkins landed more punches and was able to slip many of Pascal's power shots, answering with clever jabs and scoring more than once on right-hand leads.

In the co-feature, Chad Dawson showed masterful defense and crisp punching in scoring a 12-round unanimous decision over Montreal's Adrian Diaconu in a light heavyweight elimination bout.

Hopkins will next fight Dawson (30-1).

Jones suffers Lebedev KO

Veteran multiple champion handed seventh defeat in 12 fights

(From Skysports)

================

Roy Jones Jr. lost for the seventh time in 12 fights when suffering a 10th-round knock out defeat against Denis Lebedev in Moscow on Saturday.

The 42-year-old former multiple world champion was caught with a flurry of punches in the final round of their light-heavyweight non-title bout.

Four fierce lefts did the damage before a final right hand prompted referee Steve Smoger to wave it off, before Jones then collapsed to the canvas moments later.

He said: "I really don't know what I'm going to do now. I'm going to think about it.

Great fight

"It was a great fight. I love Moscow and hope to come back here again. Denis is a good fighter but I think overall, it was a close fight.

"I just lost concentration near the end and didn't see his punch coming."

Lebedev, 31, improved his record to 22 wins with 17 knockouts and one defeat, suffered against German Marco Huck in his previous fight for the WBO cruiserweight title in December.

"I was prepared for a long fight," he said.

"I knew it would be a tough fight because Roy is a legend. People, who had said it would be easy, just don't know anything about boxing."

PACQUIAO EASILY DECISONS MOSELY

(From AP) - May 7, 2011

============

Pacquiao wins lopsided decision over Mosley

AP – Manny Pacquiao, left, throws a punch against Shane Mosley in the fourth round during a WBO welterweight …

LAS VEGAS – Manny Pacquiao caught Shane Mosley early, then chased him the rest of the night. Not much more he could do against an aging fighter who seemed only to want to survive.

Pacquiao won a lopsided 12-round decision Saturday night, retaining his version of the welterweight title in a fight that was roundly booed over the late rounds because Mosley refused to trade punches.

Pacquiao won every round on two ringside scorecards in extending the remarkable run that has made him the most exciting fighter in the sport.

He also won the ungrudging respect of a veteran fighter who has been in with some of the best in the world.

"I fought the best fighter in the world," Mosley said. "He has exceptional power, power that I've never been hit like this before."

Pacquiao knocked down Mosley with a left hook in the third round, a punch that sapped Mosley's willingness to engage. Pacquiao ran after Mosley the rest of the fight, but the former champion who has never been stopped in 18 years in the ring managed to stay away enough to finish the 12th round upright.

Pacquiao won 120-108 on one scorecard, 120-107 on a second and 119-108 on the third. The Associated Press had him winning 118-110.

(From Copenhagen Post) - May 7, 2011

===================

Evander Holyfield proved too strong for Brian Nielsen in his comeback fight

Nielsen lands one of the blows during Saturday's bout that had his Danish fans hoping he mark his return to the ring with a win (Photo: Scanpix)

Boxer Brian Nielsen gave everything he had in Saturday’s bout of the veteran champions, but eventually he had to bow to Evander Holyfield in the tenth round.

Nielsen was on the ropes throughout most of the fight, while a superior Holyfield was heading for a points victory. The referee stopped the fight in the tenth round after a technical knockout by Holyfield.

Shortly after midnight on Saturday night the legendary ring-announcer Michael Buffer – the man famous for the phrase “let’s get ready to rumble” – stepped into the ring to announce the four-time world heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield, followed by an announcement saying it was ‘teddy bear time’ again after nine years, as Brian Nielsen approached the ring at public broadcaster DR’s concert hall to a standing ovation.

Nielsen took a blow in the first round, but shrugged it off with a gesture that seemed to signal “is that the best you’ve got?” While the 46-year-old Danish heavyweight lacked depth in his punches, he worked well with his blocks.

By the end of the third round, however, Holyfield took control of the fight, helped along with two quick left hooks which sent Nielsen to the canvas. Nielsen was back on his feet in no time, but it had become clear to the audience that it was only a matter of time before he ran out of breath, inviting his American opponent in for a decisive blow.

During round four and five Nielsen hit the ropes again several times while Holyfield was punching away. That didn’t stop Nielsen, though, as he made a comeback in rounds eight and nine, getting back to level terms with Holyfield, who was starting to look tired.

In round ten, however, Holyfield landed a big punch to Nielsen’s stomach, which sent him to the floor. After that Holyfield was in total control and after a short series of blows from the American legend, the referee stopped the fight and Nielsen lost on a technical knockout.

WEEKEND RECAP

Salido defeats Lopez in 8th round TKO
(From AP)
==============


SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP)—Challenger Orlando Salido upset Juan Manuel Lopez on Saturday, stopping the WBO featherweight champion with a technical knockout in the eighth round.

Referee Roberto Ramirez ended the fight with 1:39 left in the round. Salido also knocked down Lopez at the end of the fifth.

Judges Lisa Giampa, Thomas Miller and Jose Torres all had the fight even at 66-66 when Ramirez stopped the bout.

The 27-year-old Lopez was defending his title before a home crowd at the Ruben Rodriguez Coliseum in Bayamon.

Salido improved to 35-11-2 (23 KOs). Lopez fell to 30-1 (27 KOs).

Next up for the 30-year-old Salido will most likely be a unification bout against Yuriorkis Gamboa, the WBA and IBF champion. Salido lost a unanimous decision to Gamboa in September.
----------------------------------------

Ortiz upsets Berto for title in unanimous decision
(From AP)
==============

LEDYARD, Conn. (AP)—Victor Ortiz got some advice from Manny Pacquiao before his title fight against unbeaten Andre Berto.

“Manny told me to stick to my game plan,” Ortiz said.

Ortiz listened to boxing’s biggest star and the result was three knockdowns in an upset victory over Berto in a World Boxing Council welterweight title fight Saturday night.

Ortiz (29-2-2) won a unanimous decision despite having a point taken away for hitting behind the head. The three judges scored it 114-112, 114-111 and 115-110.


“That wasn’t me in there tonight,” Berto said, adding that he hurt his right thumb in the second round at the MGM Grand at the Foxwoods Resort Casino.

Berto had made five successful title defenses since he took the WBC welterweight crown in June 2008, when he knocked out Miguel Rodriguez in the seventh round.

Berto (27-1) was nearly knocked out in the first round against Ortiz, who came out firing combinations from the bell, stunning the champion with a right hand followed by a left hook that put him on the canvas.

With Berto clearly dazed, Ortiz tried to finish his rival off. He produced another knockdown, but Berto made it out of the round.

“I noticed he was vulnerable on the inside,” Ortiz said. “Part of my game plan was to smother his shots and overwhelm him.”

Ortiz appeared to be in command in Round 2, when out of nowhere, Berto connected with a short right hand that sent Ortiz backpedaling. He didn’t go down, but took a brief count from referee Michael Ortega.

The brisk pace continued in Round 3 with Ortiz continuing to apply the pressure. The 24-year-old Ortiz continued to stalk Berto in Round 4. Berto kept waving at his opponent to keep coming forward, and Ortiz was happy to oblige.

“I wasn’t surprised the way he tore into me,” Berto said. “I knew he would come out the way he did.”

The 27-year-old Berto turned it around in the sixth round and knocked Ortiz down with a right hand. But just seconds before the round ended, Ortiz flattened Berto with a left hook. Berto got up with no trouble just before the bell sounded.

“That was a beauty of a right hand he hit me with and it was a heck of a round,” Ortiz said. “I’d vote it the round of the year.”

After three uneventful rounds, Berto landed a good right to begin Round 10. Ortiz, who had been warned earlier about hitting in the back of the head, had a point taken away by Ortega. That seemed to motivate him, and he finished the round with a solid combination.

The crowd gave both fighters a standing ovation when the bout ended.

“I would rather have won than just be in an exciting fight,” a dejected Berto said.

Ortiz now has a six-fight winning streak. He hasn’t lost since June 2009, when he was knocked out in the sixth round by Marcus Maidana.

“I think this is where I’m going to stay now at 147 pounds,” Ortiz said. “I’m the king here. “I’m the king of the welterweights.”
-----------------------------------------------------

Khan keeps WBA light welterweight title on points
(From AP)
=================

MANCHESTER, England (AP)—Amir Khan retained his WBA light welterweight title on points after Paul McCloskey was stopped by the referee in the sixth round because of a nasty cut over his left eye on Saturday.

Referee Luiz Pabon deemed the cut to have come from an accidental clash of heads, and summoned ringside doctor Phil Sahu, who believed McCloskey couldn’t continue with blood seeping into his eye and impairing his vision.

McCloskey disagreed but Pabon sent the fight to scorecards, and the Irish challenger and his team were livid.

All three judges had Khan leading 60-54 halfway through the scheduled 12-round bout, and the Englishman improved to 25-1 with 17 knockouts.

McCloskey, the European champion, was furious with the decision that cost him his first loss in 23 fights, and his team believed Khan should have been disqualified.

Khan started patiently against the challenger’s rangy southpaw style. But Khan landed a big right at the start of the second that visibly shook McCloskey, who recovered with a few shots of his own by the end of the round.

McCloskey grew in confidence, and his left crosses in the third pushed Khan back.

Another tactical few rounds followed, with Khan the main aggressor.

In the decisive sixth, a five-punch combination from Khan staggered McCloskey and moments later the pair went toe-to-toe before McCloskey wheeled away and noticed blood coming from around his left eye.

The referee immediately brought the fight to an abrupt end to a chorus of boos from the 6,000-strong crowd of McCloskey fans.
-------------------------------------------

Perez wins by unanimous decision, wants title shot next
(By Dennis Taylor)
=====================

AN FRANCISCO — World ranked super featherweight Eloy Perez used a sharp jab, crisp combinations and a left hook that couldn't miss Friday to win a 10-round unanimous decision over Alejandro Rodriguez at Longshoreman's Hall.

Perez won every round on all cards (100-90) to retain his NABO belt and improve to 21-0-2.

Rodriguez (12-2, 6 KOs) cringed from a first-round body shot and fought the rest of the bout in survival mode, backing up, circling and jabbing but refusing to engage.

Perez was ranked this week as the No. 1 super featherweight contender in the world by the WBO.

"We caught him with a great shot to the body and he was just surviving from that part on," said Max Garcia, Perez's trainer. "He was a good boxer but he didn't want to fight."

Perez also was frustrated by Rodriguez's lack of aggression.

"I felt like I had to make something happen because he kept going backward. I tried to fight smart and listen to my corner but it was frustrating," said Perez.

There were no knockdowns or cuts in the fight, though Perez sent Rodriguez stumbling backward on several occasions.

"I'll fight whoever Golden Boy or my manager Kathy Garcia want me to fight at this point," Perez said. "If I keep winning they can't keep me from a title shot."

Ricky Burns of Scotland is the reigning WBO super featherweight champion.

Kirkland Stopped in One!

(From The Sweet Science)
============================

James Kirkland hit the deck in the first round, off a left hook, against Nobuhiro Ishida, just 30 seconds into the first round of the undercard clash at the MGM Grand on Saturday night in Las Vegas.

He went down again at 1:44, and was up on shaky legs. A one-two put him on the mat and the ref Joe Cortez said no mas. The end of this middleweight "Action Heroes" clash came at 1:52 of the first, by KO.

Kirkland, the 27-year-old Texan who was in the can for two years on a weapons charge, is now 27-1, while the 35-year-old Ishida rises to 23-6-2. Kirkland said after to Max Kellerman that the knockdowns were flash knockdowns.

He was asked if he might go back to training with Anne Wolfe, and he said his camp went well, and he is ready to fight, so he didn't take the bait.

Morales falls just short of upset of Maidana!

(From The Boxing Tribune)
===========================

MGM Grand, Las Vegas, Nevada– There was no Cinderella story Saturday night at the MGM Grand, but Erik “El Terrible” Morales (51-7, 35 KOs) came closer than anyone imagined to pulling off the upset of the decade against a younger, bigger, and mega-aggressive Marcos Maidana (30-2, 27 KOs).

In the first round, the Argentine slugger, Maidana, jumped on Morales and put some serious hurt on the Tijuana native with a a feverish offensive output. Morales would finish the round with his right eye nearly swollen shut and the critics of the contest rallying the “I told you so” refrain.

However, as the fight progressed, Morales’ skill and craft found a way around Maidana’s physical advantages and turned an apparent mismatch into a candidate for Fight of the Year.

Moving smartly away from Maidana’s wide, looping punches, Morales was able to avoid the full force of the incoming shots while maintaining balance to score big with a bruising uppercut, an educated jab, and solid straight right hands.

Although shaken on occasion and clearly gassed from his sustained offensive output, Maidana kept coming forward and kept scoring with wide left hands that found a home on a completely one-eyed Morales.

With the score getting close, Maidana found the energy to close the show big, winning rounds eleven and twelve and ensuring the majority decision victory by scores of 116-112, 116-112, and 114-114. The Boxing Tribune also scored the bout 116-112 in favor of Maidana.

After the bout, the former three-division champ, Morales, sporting a hideously swollen right eye, boldly claimed that he should’ve gotten the decision and insisted on a rematch.

Adamek beats McBride - Klitschko next.

(From The Boxing Tribune)
=============================

NEWARK, New Jersey (AP)
Top heavyweight contender Tomasz Adamek took a step toward a championship showdown with one of the Klitschko brothers, unanimously outpointing Kevin McBride on Saturday night.

Adamek (44-1 with 28 knockouts) has a deal in place to face either Vitaly or Vladimir Klitschko for either of their heavyweight championship titles sometime in September in Poland.

”When I moved to heavyweight, my dream was to get to fight for the heavyweight championship,” Adamek said. ”Now, I’ve made it. I’ll get that chance. I want that chance. This is my chance and I’m ready.”

Adamek dominated from the outset, using his speed to outscore and outpunch his opponent, winning every round on all three judges’ scorecards. Judge Robert Grosso had the fight 120-107 in favor of the Polish-born Adamek, who now lives in Kearny, N.J., while judges Lynn Carter and Larry Hazzard Jr. had the fight 119-108.

Lemieux Upset! Stopped by Rubio

(From The Boxing Tribune)
===========================

Bell Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada (ESPN2 Friday Night Fights)– Hot prospect, David Lemieux (25-1, 24 KOs) looked exactly like a 22-year-old fighter accustomed to walking through his opposition while Mexico’s Marco Antonio Rubio (50-5-1, 43 KOs) played the role of patient, well-seasoned pro in their WBC middleweight eliminator Friday night.

As expected, Montreal’s hometown hero, Lemieux, charged his veteran opponent, looking for an early ending to the contest. However, Rubio worked defense, blocking much of Lemieux’s offense and letting his younger rival blow through his enthusiasm and endurance before really going to work.

Around the fourth round, Rubio started landing a solid straight right hand and jab, bloodying Lemieux’s nose and causing a hush among the partisan, pro-Lemieux crowd at the Bell Centre.

The beginning of the end came in the final moments of the sixth round when Lemieux was clearly stunned from a couple of strong, straight right hands by the suddenly offense-minded Rubio.

The actual end came in the second half of the seventh round when a Rubio right hand behind the ear leveled his opponent in the corner and, although Lemieux managed to get to his feet, he clearly didn’t have steady enough legs or a clear enough head to finish.

Lemieux’s corner would wave off the contest at the 2:36 mark of the round to save their fighter from more punishment.

Rubio is now in line to face the winner of the Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. – Sebastian Zbik WBC middleweight title fight in June.

Big Weekend Wrapup - Morales, Kirkland, Lemieux

All three in exciting fights, and all lost, and all have something to look forward to. Full recap - shortly...

Roy Jones to fight rugged Cruiser in Russia

(From ESPN.Com)
===============
(By Dan Rafael)

Roy Jones Jr., despite losing three of his last five fights and two in a row in lopsided fashion, will continue his boxing career.

On Thursday evening, Jones signed on to face rugged cruiserweight contender Denis Lebedev on May 22 in Moscow, John Wirt, CEO of Jones' Square Ring promotional company, told ESPN.com.

Wirt said the fight, scheduled for 10 rounds, will take place at cruiserweight limit of 200 pounds.

Jones (54-7, 40 KOs), who turned 42 in January, is nowhere close to the fighter that he was when he ruled as a pound-for-pound king for about a decade, but he has continued to fight sporadically.

He has not fought since April 2010, when Bernard Hopkins easily outpointed him in their rematch. Before that, Jones was knocked out in the first round by Danny Green in Australia in December 2009.

In Lebedev (21-1, 16 KOs), Jones is facing a quality contender who is a bigger man with solid power. The 31-year-old Russian's only defeat came in his last fight in December when he lost a controversial split decision to cruiserweight titleholder Marco Huck in Germany, Huck's home country.

"I actually think he beat Huck and got ripped off in Germany," Wirt said. "I think he's the legitimate WBO cruiserweight champion and he is one of the toughest opponents in the division."

Although Jones figures to be a heavy underdog, Wirt said the fact that the fight is at 200 pounds could be a positive for him.

"I do believe the weight is to Roy's advantage," Wirt said. "Roy has had a lot of trouble getting down to 175 pounds in the last few fights. He was so dried out for the Hopkins fight and I think that showed in his performance."

The fight with Lebedev came about, Wirt said, because he was approached by a representative for Vlad Hrunov, Lebedev's promoter.

Wirt said he rejected the original offer and gave Hrunov a counter offer.

"We didn't budge and they came to our number and when they did, we signed," he said.
There is no American television deal in place for the fight, although Wirt said he was looking for one.

He also said Jones had other offers but went with Lebedev because it was the most attractive one.

"We had some different things on the table. We had an offer in Canada, something in the U.S., but this was a unique opportunity," Wirt said. "How many big fights have been in Russia? That was kind of a neat aspect that was intriguing about this. Roy has no problem and no issue with going to Russia. He is not concerned about fighting over there. We'll have fair judges and a fair referee. We've already been in contact with the Russian federation to make sure we know all the rules."

Martinez stops Dzinziruk in 8th round

(From Yahoo Sports) 3-12-11
=============================

LEDYARD, Conn. (AP)—There wasn’t a lot of trash talking before the Sergio Martinez-Sergiy Dzinziruk middleweight bout.

That didn’t mean that Martinez was without a sense of purpose.

“I had my highest level of motivation ever,” Martinez said. “I want to be the best in the world.”

Martinez sure looked the part at the MGM Grand at Foxwoods Saturday night.

Martinez stopped Sergiy Dzinziruk in the eighth round, knocking down the Ukrainian middleweight three times Saturday night at the MGM Grand at Foxwoods Casino.

Referee Arthur Mercante Jr. stopped the bout at 1:43 of the eighth after Martinez (47-2-2, 26 KOs) of Oxnard, Calif., sent Dzinziruk down for the third time.

“I was able to hit the gas and accelerate,” Martinez said. “I got a new wind, That happens to every human.”

After three uneventful rounds to begin the fight, Dzinziruk (37-1, 23 KOs) briefly went down on one knee at the start of Round 4 from a tap on the top of his head.

Dzinziruk argued that he slipped. Mercante, however, ruled that Dzinziruk was hit by a punch and called it a knockdown.

In Round 5, Dzinziruk was knocked down again by a left hand just seconds before the bell rang. He got up smiling, but Martinez now firmly appeared to be in control of the fight.

Martinez had won the WBC middleweight title with a knockout of Paul Williams last November, but had that title stripped from him earlier this year.

The Martinez-Dzinziruk bout was for the WBC Diamond Championship. Martinez was awarded a diamond encrusted belt worth $50,000 for his victory. The WBC also refers to Martinez as the WBC champion emeritus.

“It is a dream of mine to be the best pound for pound fighter in the world,” Martinez said. “I’m obsessed with it. I want to fight the best fighters out there.”

It was only the second fight since November of 2008 for Dzinziruk.

Legal wrangling with promoters kept Dzinziruk out of the ring until he returned in May 2010 and scored a technical knockout victory over Daniel Dawson.

That fight was in California, marking the first time Dzinziruk had fought in the United States. Dzinziruk is the World Boxing Organization super middleweight champion, but did not have to put that title on the line against Martinez.

Cotto stops Mayorga in 12th

(From USA Today) 3-12-11
=======================

LAS VEGAS — Miguel Cotto successfully defended his 154-pound (70-kilogram) title on Saturday night, dominating Ricardo Mayorga throughout their bout before stopping him in the final round.

Cotto fought with discipline for 11 rounds and was ahead by five points on all three ringside scorecards entering the final round. He then unleashed a vicious left hook that sent the wild-swinging Nicaraguan to the canvas.

Although Mayorga got up, he told referee Robert Byrd when the fight resumed that he couldn't go on.

"It was a really good fight with an amazing finish," Cotto said.
Mayorga said it wasn't the effects of the left hook that made him quit, but an injury to his thumb during an exchange early in the 12th round.

"I hate the way this fight ended," Mayorga said. "I tried to finish the final round but the pain in my hand was too much."

Cotto, who is trying to resurrect his career after a defeat to Manny Pacquiao in November 2009, improved his record in title fights to 17-2. It was his first defense of the title he won from Yuri Foreman last June.

"The game plan was not to get caught up in any of his antics," the Puerto Rican fighter said. "He was very heavy handed, I felt his punches the whole fight."

Cotto was a big favorite to retain the title, but Mayorga fought a competitive bout and landed well in flurries to the head. However, Cotto outscored him 249-176 in total punches tallied at ringside.

"I told myself, keep calm and be myself," Cotto said. "He has very strong hands and punches that hurt."

Cotto, who earned $1 million with the win, improved to 36-2 with 29 knockouts. Mayorga, who has now lost five of his last nine fights and may be at the end of his career at the age of 37, fell to 29-8-1.

David Haye: I still have time to KO both Wladimir and Vitaly Klitschko

(From metro.co.uk)
====================
David Haye believes he can still unify the world heavyweight division before retiring in October by beating both Klitschko brothers.

The Londoner hopes contracts will be signed to fight Wladimir Klitschko in July and dreams he can then fight the Ukranian’s brother Vitaly to add the WBC and IBF titles to his WBA belt.

Haye is so determined to enter the ring with his chief rivals he is prepared to give up thousands of pounds in order to make the fights happen.

The Bermondsey boxer admitted: ‘They can have their name first on the billing, they can enter the ring before me, they can do anything they want.

‘I don’t care as long as we have a referee who can count to ten. All I want to do is to fight Wladimir and then Vitaly, if possible, before I retire.

‘But if they continue to mess me about then so be it. I don’t care about that as I know my legacy will be a good one.
‘It won’t be the same as Lennox Lewis but it will be up there alongside the best of the rest, especially when you take into consideration what I achieved as the undisputed world cruiserweight champion.’

Wladimir Klitschko fights Britain’s Dereck Chisora next month while Vitaly is to take on Cuban Odlanier Solis in a fortnight.

If contractual negotiations with the Klitschkos remain in limbo the Hayemaker should defend his title against Ruslan Chagaev or Alexander Povetkin in London before calling it a day.

Haye added: ‘I’ve fought the best – the best there was in their own backyards at cruiserweight and never dodged anyone.

'I was always happy to enter the ring with the main contenders for the title and can hold my head up high, safe in the knowledge I have done myself proud by not ducking potential dangers.’

Haye can pit his skills against the best in bygone eras in a new boxing computer game he has helped develop (pictured) with EA Sports.

And he said: ‘You can only box what is in front of you and I’ve been successful in that.

'I hope I will always be fondly remembered by true boxing fans when I retire and I’ll look forward to new careers in acting and the media when I pack it in.

‘I may even have a crack at Hollywood and I wouldn’t mind a biopic of my career with Will Smith portraying me on film.

‘It would be fun, but there’s work to be done before then.’