Holyfield v Tyson III ?

From CNN:

LONDON, England -- Evander Holyfield has raised the prospect of a rematch of his infamous world heavyweight title fight with Mike Tyson despite both men being into their 40s.

Holyfield (right) grimaces after being bitten by Tyson in their 1997 fight.

Holyfield took Tyson's crown in an epic bout in 1996, but it was their second fight a year later that is remembered for all the wrong reasons with Tyson disqualified for biting a chunk out of his opponent's ear.

Holyfield, 45, has revealed he is considering an offer from 41-year-old Tyson's camp to meet in the ring for a third time. "There has been some talk between us," Holyfield told The Guardian newspaper on Thursday.

"Mike had Jeff Fenech, who's been training him, call me a few months ago. Jeff says Mike wants to fight me again - but he needs to know if I would agree to it.
"I said, 'It all depends on what they are going to give us - because I'm gonna catch a lot of flak if I say I'm fighting Mike Tyson again.

I've already said I don't want to fight Mike no more'. "Jeff says, 'What if Mike gets in proper shape?' I told him that's OK but I can't be part of it if Mike's going to pull out.
Jeff said, 'The main thing Mike wants to know is if you would be willing to fight him again?' I said, 'Yeah, if the price is right, I probably would'."

Both fighters have made largely unsuccessful attempts at comebacks in recent years with Holyfield continuing his pursuit of an unlikely fifth title against the advice of boxing experts.

He is believed to have held on to a large portion of his career earnings, but, by contrast, Tyson has suffered well-publicized financial problems.

Klitschko decisions Ibragimov

By TomH:

Wladimir Klitschko, 238 unified the IBF and WBO heavyweight titles with a methodic unanimous 12 round decision tonight over Sultan Ibragimov, 219, in New York’s Madison Square Garden.

Ibragimov controlled the first two rounds by being the busier fighter as Klitschko was content to use his jab as a range finder on his opponent.

Klitschko was able to start controlling the action with his jab from round three until the end of the bout. The eighth round was a good round as both fighters landed some nice shots. Round nine was huge for Wladimir, 50-4 (44), as he landed a nice 4 punch salvo that sent Sultan, 22-1-1 (17) in to the ropes that surely would have been a knockdown if they had not kept him on his feet.

Both fighters seemed fairly ineffective from round 10 onwards with Ibragimov clinching and Klitschko jabbing, and controlling the action. I had the score 118-110. The Referee’s scorecards were: 119-110, 117-111, and 118-110.

In world title fights Klitschko is now 11-2 (9), while Ibragimov dips to 2-1 (0). Up next for Wladimir could be a mandatory defense later this spring as his brother Vital has his sights set on the winner of the March 8 title bout between Sam Peter and Oleg Maskaev; assuming Vital doesn’t become mysteriously ‘injured’ again.

TomH: hathewayboxing@yahoo.com
Link to Article: http://www.eastsideboxing.com/news.php?p=14545&more=1



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

Klitschko Wins Lackluster Decision

Wladimir Klitscko decisions Sultan Ibragimov by scores of 119-110, 117-111, and 118-110. I had it 118-110.

Klitschko v Ibragimov

Review of tonight's heavyweight unification bout coming up later tonight.

Mamby Fails Physical - -

From Fightbeat.com:
---------------------

Saul Mamby was rejected to fight in tonight's big card in Lapwai, Idaho. According to our sources Mamby failed his medicals so the commission didn't approve him to fight tonight. Regarding Barkley, he's currently in Spokane Washing without a contract to fight and no word on who he will fight. Our source tells us that the promoter, Chauncy Welliver, was going to fight Barkley--a fight that Barkley will ultimately refuse. So, Mamby and Barkley will most likely not be on tonight's card, and it's possible the entire event will be called off.

TomH: Had to fix some grammatical errors on this article, but it is intact as stated.

Tubbs returns at age 50!

Former WBA Heavyweight Champion Tony Tubbs (47-10, 25 KOs) will take on Paul Rocky Phillips (21-14, 19 KOs) on March 1 at Shimmers in Ft. Wright, Kentucky. Tubbs, who turned 50 last Friday, is unbeaten in five fights since 2003. One of those being an upset win over the then-unbeaten Brian Minto (now 29-2, 18 KOs). The 43-year-old Phillips has been KO'd in eleven of his last twelve dating back to 1999.

TomH----------------
Minto was 18-0 when he fought Tubbs in December 2004. Tubbs was WBA Heavyweight Champion from 1985-1986.

Mamby and Barkley to fight again?

Iran Barkley To Fight Again?
by James Slater: Whilst scanning website BoxRec.com, this writer had to do a huge double take earlier today. The reason? What is listed to be taking place in Idaho on February 23rd. No other legendary fighter than the warrior that was Iran "The Blade" Barkley is apparently set to return to the ring against a TBA. Can this be true?

If it is, many questions spring immediately to mind - the most relevant one being, how on earth did Barkley manage to get a license? It is common knowledge that Barkley, now aged 47, has diminished eyesight due to the number of ferocious battles he engaged in in the ring.. Many fans will no doubt recollect the recent and numerous whispers that clamed Barkley was interested in fighting again, but can Iran have possibly got his wish now?

According to BoxRec, Barkley's fight will take place on a card that will be promoted by Chauncy Welliver, and will be approved by the Idaho state athletic commission. Surely, if an Iran Barkley fight takes place in 2008 it will be one of the biggest shocks of the year!But the craziness doesn't stop there. Also listed for the February 23rd card is a fight featuring Saoul Mamby. That's right, the Saoul Mamby who is now SIXTY years of age!

Surely, this must be either some kind of joke or a big mistake on the part of BoxRec? Mamby has not fought since 2000, and he has not won a fight since 1998. Come to think of it, Iran Barkley hasn't won a fight since 1998, either.Can a card featuring these two once great, but now broken down, warriors really be happening as soon as 10 days from now? For all those who care about the sport of boxing and Iran Barkley and Saoul Mamby's health, let's hope not.

Sure, any human being has the right to pursue whatever it is that makes them happy and feeling content in life - but is this not going way too far?Again, surely there is simply a mistake afoot. For what it's worth, Barkley's record currently stands at 43-19-1(27). Mamby's reads 45-33-6(19).

TomH:---------------------------------------
Saoul Mamby was the first fighter in boxing history to fight in five different decades. Turning pro in 1969 and having his last fight in 2000. Most believe Roberto Duran was the first to do this but not so. His fight on May 19, 2000 preceded Duran's 2000 bout on June 16 of that year.

Duran beat local Pat Lawlor in that bout via 12 round decision. He went on to decision Patrick Goosen on August 12, and finished up with a decision loss to Hector Camacho in July 2001.

Mamby was the WBC Lightweight Champion from 1980-1982, making five successful defenses.

Barkley active 1982-1999 was WBC Middleweight Champion from 1988-1989, IBF Supermiddleweight Champion from 1992-1993, and WBA Lt. Heavyweight Champion in 1992. He is also the only man to beat Thomas Hearns twice.

TomH: Hathewayboxing@yahoo.com
Link to Article: http://www.eastsideboxing.com/news.php?p=14464&more=1

Pavlik - Taylor Post Fight Comments

By Dave 'Large" Larzelere Post-fight Just to recap - Kelly Pavlik won a unanimous decision over Jermain Taylor.

Here's Pavlik's interview with Larry. Calls Jermain a very smart fighter. Thought it was a very good fight, thought Jermain won some middle rounds but he closed it out. Thought the pressure was what told the tale in the end. This win not as satisfying as the first one, because that was for the world title. But he's still very happy cause he has a lot of respect for Jermain.

His wish list for future fights? He'll fight anyone that Top Rank gives him. Now Jermain - he thought he was doing good - thinks he won the fight, thought he did the better work early. Obviously very disappointed. Big body shot from Kelly in the 11th hurt him, took his wind.

Will he continue as a super-middle? He's heartbroken, says he doesn't know. I've never been a fan of Jermain's but I gotta say I'm feeling for him right now, because he fought his heart out. I don't know how you all are feeling out there, but I am VERY impressed with Jermain after this thing. I think it's the best performance of his career, better than the first Hopkins fight, better than Winky.

I didn't think he had it in him to fight a strategic bout and so I thought he'd get knocked out in much the same fashion as the first fight. But he figured out Kelly's straight right hand and found holes in Pavlik's defense to exploit with all manner of punches.

I think the decision is a good one, but Jermain should be proud of himself tonight because he turned around what was essentially a mismatch in the first bout to a highly competitive and strategic fight in the second. And make no mistake, Kelly Pavlik is a HELL of a fighter.

Pavlik Decisions Taylor in rematch.

Scores were: 117-111, 115-113, 116-112

Morrison by TKO

Morrison stops Weishaar!

Former WBO heavyweight champion Tommy Morrison, 233, (48-3-1, 42 KOs) scored a third round TKO over Matt Weishaar (3-0-2, 2 KOs) in an off-TV bout on Saturday night in Leon, Mexico. The fight was stopped at the 1:40 mark as Morrison blasted away while Weishaar was against ropes. The bout proceeded despite a protest from the Association of Boxing Commissions, however a late decision was made to bump the bout from the US pay-per-view telecast in favor of showing the bout of Omar Chavez.

TomH - Morrison has decided to comeback and give boxing one final try in 2008. This bout was scheduled for 4 rounds.

Celaya loses to Chavez Jr.

Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. (35-0-1, 28 KOs) scored an eighth round TKO over Jose Celaya (31-4, 16 KOs) in a bout for the WBC Continental America super welterweight title on Saturday night at the Domo de la Feria in León, Guanajuato, Mexico.

Chavez dropped Celaya with a big left hook in round two, but Celaya with a bad mouse under his left eye fought back gamely. Celaya's tactic of switching between orthodox and southpaw stances, however, began to give Chavez problems. In the ensuing rounds it was Celaya outfoxing and outlanding Chavez, although it was Junior landing the harder shots.

In the end, though, it was Chavez' power that made the difference as he finally dropped Celaya again with a right hand in round eight and Celaya, with his face badly busted up, told referee Rocky Burke that he had had enough moments later after absorbing another wicked right. Time was 2:14. "I wasn't myself," said Junior afterward. I know I have it in me. Ths was just a bad night. I know I can do a lot better."

TomH - At this point, Celaya needs to seriously consider his options. If he continues, his future might be that of "opponent".

Moorer by KO in Dubai

Michael Moorer KO1 Shelby Gross... In Dubai, Michael Moorer knocked Shelby Gross down twice in thirty two seconds. The second blow that finished Gross off was a lead right uppercut. Moorer, a former world heavyweight champion improves to 52-4-1 (40) while Gross sinks to 16-4 (14).

Moorer, 40, is now 5-0 with 3 KOs on his current comeback that started in December 2006.

Cortes Stopped in 1st!

FROM FIGHTNEWS.COM
---------------------------

Angulo KOs Cortes in one!

Unbeaten prospect Alfredo Angulo (12-0, 9 KOs) continued his reign of terror in the junior middleweight division with an electrifying first round knockout of Ricardo Cortes (22-2, 15 KOs) on Friday night at the Grand Casino Hinckley in Hinckley, Minnesota. Angulo dropped Cortes twice in round one, the second time Cortes took a knee and watched referee Mark Nelson count him out. Time was 2:58.

By TomH: This is Cortes' first loss by stoppage. His other loss was by DQ.

Jose Celaya on Showtime Tonight

Cortes has the power!
February 1, 2008
By Marc Lichtenfeld

Jr. middleweight prospect Ricardo Cortes (22-1-1, 15 KOs) would rather be going head to head with David Beckham on a Major League Soccer field than mano y mano with Alfredo Angulo at the Grand Casino in Hinckley, MN in tonight's ShoBox main event.
Angulo (11-0 8 KOs) has been featured on Showtime's ShoBox several times before - each time blowing out his opponent. The former Mexican brawler has won his last seven by knockout, all within four rounds.

But don't confuse Cortes' love of soccer with being afraid of swapping leather, even with a formidable power puncher like Angulo. While most in the boxing community believe Cortes should use his three inch height and four inch reach advantage to box the hard charging Angulo, those who've seen Cortes before expect him to meet Angulo in the center of the ring.
Cortes is fueling that expectation. "I'm going to match his power with my power," says the former high school soccer star.
And there should be plenty of power in his punches. His first twenty-one fights were fought at super middleweight or above, where he amassed fourteen knockouts in nineteen wins. However, in his past three bouts he has weighed 160 pounds twice and 156 in his last fight in November, when he stopped Joseph Onyango in two rounds.

"At 154 pounds, I'll have the natural advantage in body weight as well as height and reach," says Cortes regarding the decision to move down in weight class. He states that under the tutelage of new trainer Joel Diaz, he doesn't have to starve himself to make the lower weight. "I don't have to suffer. I can still eat well and train hard," the twenty-eight year old declares.
Though Angulo has only eleven fights on his ledger, the former Olympian is a step up in class for Cortes. The only recognizable name on his resume is Fernando Zuniga, who Cortes beat on a disqualification in September of last year.
Angulo, for his part, also hasn't fought much top competition, although he annihilated former prospect Archak TerMerleksitian on ShoBox last November.

Cortes, who is married with a two year old son, got his start in the sweet science thanks to his beloved soccer.
There was a boxing program at his school to help curb gang activity. Cortes would watch the outdoor workouts from the soccer field. After noticing the kid who was always peering at the fighters, the boxing coach asked Ricardo if he'd like to try it. He did and thirty-five fights later he had won three Northern California Golden Gloves titles as well as several other regional championships.

Other than his third pro bout which took place in Reno, all of Cortes' fights have been in his home state of California. Angulo certainly can't call Minnesota his hometown, but the card is being put on by Angulo's promoter Gary Shaw.

None of that fazes Cortes, who is promoted by Goossen Tutor.
"I know I'm ready," states the confident San Jose native. "I'm in great shape and had an excellent camp."

Considering his 68% knockout ratio, no doubt Beckham and company are glad they don't have to face Ricardo Cortes on the pitch. After Friday night, he hopes Angulo will wish Cortes had stuck with soccer.