(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."
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Thursday, March 17, 2011
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.
=============================
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.
=======================
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.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
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.’
====================
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.’
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