Current WBC 140 lb title holder Junior Witter, 36-1-2 (21), can be described as anything but ordinary. Just ask him and he will be the first to tell you exactly how good he is.
In fact, ask anyone who has ever spent time interviewing Witter or attended one of his press conferences and more than likely, they will tell you that Witter never stops talking about himself, although, in all fairness, Witter has earned some bragging rights.
Witter has not tasted professional defeat in almost eight years and that was a unanimous decision loss in 2000 to a young, dangerous Zab Judah, who at the time reigned as the 140 lb IBF world champion and was steamrolling anyone brave enough to step into the ring with him.
Following the loss, Witter went on a 15 bout KO streak, and those he did not KO, he defeated rather easily, eventually picking up the division’s vacant WBC belt when he faced DeMarcus Corley in September of 2006.
After two defenses of the strap since that time, one being an impressive seventh round stoppage over highly regarded former WBA titlist Vivian Harris, Witter now feels it is his time to shine as the divisionʼs premier star.
But Witter has company in the division who seem to be much in the spotlight. One of these is the undefeated brash and even more self praising IBF titlist Paulie Malignaggi, a man who, with or without a belt, talks so much it is hard not to look his way.
The other fellow is a man that Witter seems to feel has been standing in the way throughout his entire career, Ring Magazine Champion Ricky “The Hitman” Hatton. More…
Someone once said “What’s in a name?” Exactly who it was that coined the phrase is beyond me, although I probably should know since I quoted them, but hey! I’ll be the first to admit that I am a boxing writer, not a journalist major, and the only person I can quote accurately is Shakespeare. That is only because my wife forced me to watch “Shakespeare In Love” some years back…anyhow, enough of that and on to the topic at hand.
In sports, to become remembered throughout history, one must accomplish something big. In basketball, Michael Jordan became famous for his tremendous skill and scoring ability. In football, Joe Montana became famous for being great in the clutch and being able to win the big game under pressure.
Baseball had home run hitters Hank Aaron and Willie Mays, Hockey had Wayne Gretzky…etc. Each man became legendary for their skills. Boxing is no different of course; the most famous men have been those who have won world titles.
Just winning a world title in boxing just isn’t enough though, especially with so many variations of the belt floating around today. One must be not only a world champion, a feat in and of itself, but they must be a dominant champion to leave an impression. If a champion is not dominant, their name, more often than not, ends up lost in the shuffle of the dozens of other current or former title holders, only to be remembered when the title lineage is examined.
It seems almost unfair, doesn’t it?
Well, boxing has always had one other way for a fighter to be remembered, even a fighter who barely made it past journeyman status. The “Nickname”! More…
Tonight, Alfonso Gomez, 18-3-2 (8), will be stepping in the ring with WBA Welterweight Champion Miguel Cotto, 31- 0 (25), for what will be his first opportunity at capturing a world title. Gomez, who made a name for himself on NBCʼs Contender series, has become more than a reality TV star and is perhaps the most successful cast member of that show.
Season one winner Sergio Mora has fought only three times against very limited competition, and although he has a shot at Vernon Forrest’s WBC 154 pound title this June, he has really failed to make a dent in his boxing career. By contrast, Gomez has beaten fighters such as former two division world champion Arturo Gatti, in what was Gattiʼs last bout, and more recently, world title challenger Ben Tackie.
Gomez has been dubbed a continuous underdog each time that he has stepped up in class, but in every instance, he has silenced his criticʼs. The question on everyoneʼs mind now is “Can Gomez once again prove the criticʼs wrong?” After all, Miguel Cotto is no Arturo Gatti or Ben Tackie. Cotto is undefeated and considered one of boxingʼs current pound for pound best fighters in the world. Cotto is also one of the sportʼs most feared punchers. When you add them together, Gomez starts looking like an even bigger underdog than usual. More…
2007 was a year that many of us will always consider one of boxingʼs best. We had Joe Calzaghe vs. Mikkel Kessler to decide the best super middleweight in the world once and for all, Israel Vazquez versus Rafael Marquez in the second bout of their trilogy, Floyd Mayweather Jr faced not only Oscar De La Hoya in the spring of 2007 for the WBC 154 lb title but Ricky Hatton in December in a pound for pound face off.
Kelly Pavlik officially arrived by defeating Edison Miranda then lifted Jermain Taylorʼs Middleweight Crown just four months later to claim foot hold as 160 lb kingpin, Manny Pacquiao continued his dominance knocking out undefeated Jorge Solis then winning a rematch with Marco Antonio Barrera, Miguel Cotto defended his WBA Welterweight title against both Zab Judah and Shane Mosley, plus Nonito Doniare stunned the world by knocking out IBF Flyweight title holder Vic Darchinyan relieving him of his championship duties.
As good as all that sounds, it was just a preview of the many fights that took place in 2007.
2008 has kept the momentum going thus far with Pavlik vs. Taylor 2, Vazquez vs, Marquez 3, Pacquiao vs. Juan Manuel Marquez 2, Nate Campbell dethroned Juan Diaz to become the lightweight world champion and Paul Williams was relieved of his WBO Welterweight title by Carlos Quintana in his first defense after a year long layoff since winning the belt from Antonio Margarito.
If you ask me, that is a pretty good first three months.
In case there are any doubts on whether things will be letting up anytime soon, let me ease your mind because a few fights to look forward to in the next couple of months are, Ruslan Chagaev vs. Nicolay Valuev in a rematch for the WBA Heavyweight title, Miguel Cotto vs. Ricardo Mayorga in August for the WBA Welterweight title, Chad Dawson puts his WBC Light Heavyweight title on the line against former champion Glen Johnson. More…
Chicky said “Just do it” and I have been here ever since…”
There are the rare occasions in this sport when an achievement surpasses anything that could possibly have been dreamed of. A fighter dreams of becoming a world champion and after that, being inducted into the Hall of Fame while managers dream of managing a world champion and trainers dream of training world champions.
The world title is the peak of the mountain, so to speak, in boxing. Yet every now and again, we have those who go past that peak, they become the Mt. Everest of achievement. Fighters of the past like Ray Robinson, Ray Leonard, Muhammad Ali and Joe Louis. Promoters like Don King, Bob Arum and Tex Rickard. Trainers such as Nacho Beristain, Emmanuel Steward and Ray Arcel.
People starting out in these professions all aspire to become just like the men mentioned above, men who are true heroes of the game that so many of us looked up to as kids.
In the past, I have mentioned that as a kid I watched Muhammad Ali fights on television with my father and it was watching those fights with dad that made me a lifelong card carrying fan of the sport.
As almost everyone out there knows, be they a fan of boxing or not, Ali has not only been a favorite of millions but is also widely considered the greatest heavyweight of all time, or at least ranked second behind Joe Louis.
What is often forgotten is that there was a man who played a pivotal role in making Aliʼs career as successful as it was in the ring. The man who stood in the corner between rounds talking to the champion, giving him strategy, and at times even buying him an extra few seconds when needed. That man, of course, is the one and only Angelo Dundee. More…
IBF Featherweight Champion Robert “The Ghostʼ Guerrero, 21-1 (14), steps into the ring on February 29 to defend his title against Jason Litzau, 23-1 (19), in a bout that will be televised on Showtimeʼs ShoBox series. This will be the second defense of Guerreroʼs title in his second reign as IBF Featherweight Champion.
Guerreroʼs first reign as champion came when he defeated Eric Aiken in September, 2006. He then lost his title to Orlando Salido on points two months later. Salido tested positive for drugs after the bout and was stripped by the commission. In February, 2007 Guerrero defeated Spend Abazi via ninth round TKO for the vacant title and became champion for the second time in less than six months. It was a busy up and down half year to say the least for the then 23 year old fighter out of Gilroy, CA.
Since that time, Guerrero has defended his belt against the tough Martin Honorio, needing less then a round to dispatch the veteran from Mexico City. Come Friday, February 29, Guerrero is not just looking to make another successful defense of his title but make a statement as well.
Knowing full well his opponent is the type of fighter who can not only bang, but box, Robert is doing anything but overlooking Litzau and will not allow this bout be just a routine title defense where the champion does just enough to retain the belt.
When all is said and done, at the final bell, Guerrero wants the boxing world to know that not only has he arrived, he is looking to go nowhere except higher in the ranks towards becoming one of boxing’s elite.
After a long training camp and full week of press conferences, SaddoBoxing was able to get in touch with the IBF Featherweight Champion, who was nice enough to give us a few minutes of his time to speak about Friday’s bout, what his plans for the future are and even a prediction on the Manny Pacquiao vs. Juan Manuel Marquez bout coming up this March. Here is what Robert Guerrero had to say exclusively to SaddoBoxing. More…
Featherweight Jason “The American Boy” Litzau, 23-1 (19), seems to have one mode when in the boxing ring; seek and destroy! Anyone who has seen Jason in action knows exactly what I mean. Over recent years, Litzau has been showcased on many ESPN fight cards and each time out, his bouts become more and more exciting. The reason is not because Litzau becomes a more complete fighter in each outing, but it has more to do with the frame of mind in which Jason steps into the ring.
Prior to his return bout after a lone career blemish, a KO loss to Jose Andres Hernandez in a bout he was winning comfortably up until the knockout, Jason was asked in an interview if he would change his style and add more defense. His reply was, “I am still going to fight the same way I always do, I step in the ring and it will be either me or him. The fans pay money to see the fight and with me they will get their money’s worth”.
A statement that we as fans appreciate, but also one that some observers have to question; how long can a fighter with that mentality last in this business? Especially with the featherweight and adjacent divisions being so deep in talent.
On February 29, Litzau will face IBF Featherweight title holder Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero, 21-1-1 (14), another 24 year old fighter who has gained a reputation for being all business in the ring and letting it all hang out once the bell sounds.
Add Guerreroʼs southpaw stance and the challenger from St. Paul, MN will be in for a tough task come fight night. More…
He was deceiving to the eye. His smile was crooked in a goofy teenager fashion; his curly hair always looked in desperate need of a trim. Other than a flat nose, one would never have guessed this kid was a professional fighter.
Even those who did know of him could have never guessed the young man born in Santiago, Tianguistenco, Mexico, who turned professional boxer at the age of 16, would become a legend before his time.
Sanchez made his debut in Veracruz, Mexico and ran a string of victories up to 18-0 before meeting Antonio Becerra, a crafty veteran who had less fights in the pro ranks, sporting a record of 13-2 at the time, but possessing more all around experience.
After a hard fought bout for the vacant Mexican Bantamweight Championship, Becerra was given the win by narrow split decision. The bout would be a learning experience for Sanchez and his lone career defeat.
Sanchez would go another 16 bouts, winning 15, ten by KO and one draw before getting a second chance at becoming champion. This time, it would not be for a regional or national title but for the WBC Featherweight title, held by another all time great, who by this time had already cemented his legacy, Danny “Little Red” Lopez!
On February 2, 1980, the champion Lopez entered the ring as a favorite; he held wins over Mike Ayala in a bout that was named Ring Magazine’s 1979 Fight of the Year and Sean OʼGrady. More…
Philadelphia born super middleweight Yusaf Mack entered the sport in the year 2000 and started out full throttle. He built up his resume to 17-0-2 (11) and had earned himself a shot at capturing the vacant USBA Super Middleweight title October of 2004 when he faced Shannon Miller at Philly’s legendary venue, the Blue Horizon.
Mack showed his potential at becoming a future star of the sport when the referee was forced to halt the action after the eighth round, earning Mack not only his first title but putting the division on notice that there’s a new force to be reckoned with and his name is Yusaf Mack!
Since that time, Mack made four defenses of his title and during a bout to decide the #2 ranked IBF Super Middleweight in the world in May of 2006 against Alejandro Berrio, Mack suffered his first career loss, sixth round TKO that caused Yusaf to take a step back in his progress towards a world title.
Just a little over year later, Mack returned to the ring with an impressive unanimous decision win over Jose Juan Vasquez. Feeling rejuvenated, Mack faced the tough iron chinned Librado Andrade in October of 2007. After dropping Andrade in the first round, Mack had things going his way, until the seventh when a combination of Andrade, frustration and anxiety caused Mack to hit the canvas three times and gave him his second career loss.
Since the Andrade bout, Mack has decided that he will campaign at 175 lb, a division where he has fought before and feels more comfortable at. In Mack’s first act as an official light heavyweight, he has called out none other then former undisputed division champion Antonio Tarver, as Tarver/s dance card has become free after former super middleweight title holder Jeff Lacy pulled out of a proposed bout between the two scheduled for this April. Mack feels this was a great way to start things off. More…
Happy New Year one and all, I hope everyone’s holiday was good because it’s now time to get back in the groove. Let’s start out 2008 with a few rumors, updates and fights already signed making headlines.
But, before we get started, a word of condolence. The boxing world recently lost a true warrior in the ring. Yo-Sam Choi of South Korea defended his WBO Inter-Continental Flyweight title against Heri Amol on Christmas in Seoul, Korea, and after the bout, Choi collapsed and was rushed to a near by hospital where he slipped into a coma.
Choi was pronounced brain dead a short while later and on January 2, pronounced dead after he was taken off life support. Choi’s family had the fighter removed from the support system and his vital organs will immediately go to four different patients on the transplant list.
We here at SaddoBoxing want to give our heartfelt best wishes to the family of Yo-Sam Choi and a “thank you” for all he contributed to the sport. He was a true champion, not only in the ring, but outside as well.
Pound for pound number one ranked fighter in the world Floyd Mayweather Jr., fresh off his December 8 TKO win over Ricky Hatton, is rumored to be in negotiations to enter the world of Mixed Martial Arts. Although Mayweather himself has not confirmed these rumors, there has been more than one member of his camp to whisper that is where “Pretty Boy” Floyd will be headed in the near future. More…
I guess this was no real surprise. Mayweather seems to have these departments locked up as of late, my assumption that being the pound for pound number one ranked fighter wasn’t already enough for him? Floyd not only took part in the two highest profile bouts of 2007, which is a feat in itself considering what a year it has been, but was victorious by performing almost flawlessly.
On May 5 of this year, Mayweather jumped up to his highest weight thus far when he met the “Golden Boy” and “PPV King” himself, Oscar De La Hoya. At stake was not only Oscar’s 154 lb WBC title, but bragging rights on who boxing’s most celebrated warrior really is.
After a highly publicized and often childish build up of the fight, two of this era’s most revered pugilist stepped into the ring for a see saw battle that often had Mayweather on the receiving end, something we rarely witness. At the final bell, the judges had it scored 116-112, 115-113, 113-115, giving Floyd his 38th victory and world title in his fifth weight class. More…
A look at those we lost in the boxing community in 2007
The end of every year, we look back and try to remember what has transpired over the last 12 months and debate the good, dismiss the bad and hope the next year brings more fortune than not.
We give thanks for what and who we have in our lives because no matter how bad things seem, there is always someone out there who has it worse than we do or no one at all to spend their holiday season with. That is one of the good things about December; it makes us realize and appreciate.
One thing we also tend to forget as fans is that while our attention is usually focused on the currently active high profile figures of the sport, it is a combination of not just present but past participants both in ring and out, that have made boxing what it is. That list ranges from small time promoters, contenders and journeymen to referees and judges. Each and every one of these people played a pivotal role in keeping the sport of boxing a revolving one on one level or another.
Keeping in mind the words written above, I would just like to take a moment and remember some members of the boxing community that we have lost in 2007. Some names will sound familiar while others haven’t been involved in the sport for decades. All are going to be sorely missed.
Fighters:
Diego Corrales: Fans stood up and applauded during his bouts and chanted his name, even after the bell signaled to end his fights. Diego was just that exciting of a fighter, be it during a win or loss. His series with Jose Luis Castillo may be one of boxing’s greatest rivalries and his comeback in the tenth round of their first bout just may be the most memorable in the last half decade. More…
Less than three weeks remain in the year fight fans and OH WHAT A YEAR IT HAS BEEN! I will be the first to admit this year has knocked me off my feet on more then one occasion. With that being said, here is a quick look at the remaining world title fights left in 2007.
Saturday, December 15
Meadowbank Sports Center, Edinburgh, Scotland
“Amazing” Alex Arthur, 25-1 (19), puts his WBO Super Featherweight title on the line for the first time since capturing the belt in July of this year. Alex, who has not tasted defeat since 2003 at the hands of Michael Gomez, is looking to keep his nine bout win streak alive and retain his title when he meets England’s Stephen Foster, 23-1-1 (16).
Foster is coming off a first round KO win over Jean-Marie Codet this past October and looking to put gold around his waist once again. His last championship reign ended when he lost his WBU featherweight title to Derry Matthews by UD just over a year ago.
Lin Plaza de Toros, Cancun, Quintana Roo, Mexico More…
Recent events, upcoming bouts and rumors of the sport at a glance
Well fight fans, Christmas is almost here and if you’re anything like me this time of year, it is almost impossible to accomplish everything you need to in a single day, let alone keep up on the latest news. So here are a few recent happenings and future bouts coming up this Winter.
WBC Welterweight Champion and current Pound for Pound King Floyd Mayweather Jr., 39-0 (25), was victorious last weekend in his bout held at the Las Vegas MGM Grand with Britain’s Ricky Hatton, 43-1 (31).
While Hatton gave Mayweather one of his toughest bouts to date, pressuring “Pretty Boy” from the opening bell, Floyd showed why he is the pound for pound best in the world when he caught Hatton with a perfect left hook in the 10th round, dropping the two division champion.
Hatton made it back to his feet before the 10 count, only to be on the receiving end of another Mayweather combination that ended the bout at 1:35 of the round. More…
15,670 fans piled in Madison Square Garden on December 20 1946 to watch Youngstown, Ohio’s Tommy Bell face off against Ray Robinson for the welterweight title vacated by Marty Servo in September of the same year. Those in attendance and around the world had one question that night before the start of the bout; “Was Robinson as good as he appeared?”
The bout would be Robinson’s 73rd as a pro and while he held wins over several top fighters of the era, including Jake LaMotta, this would be his first chance at becoming World Champion. After all the particulars were announced, the signal sounded to start the bout and all questions would soon be answered.
Bell came out of his corner, clearly the aggressor, chasing Robinson down to initiate the exchanges, while Ray used his jab to try and control the tempo of the bout. Bell continued to press the action, determined to take full advantage of his opportunity at becoming champion, with little respect for the reputation Robinson had built up in the sport as an offensive master.
Bell found his left hook landing on a regular basis early on and in the second round, one finally found its mark, putting the “Sugar” man down for a count of seven.
In the third round, Robinson found his niche and began to land on a regular basis, jabbing to Bell’s face and body. In the fourth round, Ray’s combinations began to flow freely, often making the difference in skill level obvious. While Bell had a moment here and there, it was becoming more obvious with each round that Ray was the man of the evening. Tommy Bell was looking to be nothing more than a guest speaker for the festivities. More…
The build up has been almost unbearable, not since the 1980’s when greats of the era such as “Sugar” Ray Leonard, Thomas “The Hitman” Hearns and Roberto Duran squared off has there been so much anticipation for a welterweight showdown.
We have discussed it, argued it and broke it down in every way possible. The time is here the time is now and I for one will be counting the hours till the bell rings.
In one corner will be Floyd Mayweather Jr., 38-0 (24), boxing’s reigning pound for pound best and five division world champion. Floyd is without a doubt one of the best fighters to grace this sport not only in the last 50 years, but ever. More…
In its own way boxing is like Hollywood, they have their character actors, B list celebrities and box office superstars, while we have our journeyman, top contenders and pound for pound greats. Each fighter has a story written and waiting to be told on screen with one of these Hollywood celebrities playing their part, but unlike Hollywood in boxing there no producers or directors to mold the fighters story and no prescreening to project how well a fighter will do in their career. In boxing your story is sold in the ring and if it sold well enough there Hollywood may someday sell it to the world. Sadly unlike Hollywood in boxing there is rarely the opportunity to recover from a box office bomb.
Seldom does a fighter even those who win world titles and spend their careers in the spotlight manage to endure themselves to fans not only professionally but personally to the point anyone wants to take the time to find out about them after the final bell rings. It takes not only a special kind of fighter but individual in general to garner such admiration. Micky Ward is one of those men.
“Irish” Micky Ward is a man who needs no real introduction to fight fans, he built a reputation as a tough stand up and brawl type fighter with a gentleman demeanor. Born in Lowell Massachusetts Micky was no stranger to fistic engagement, long before ever stepping into a boxing ring he had fought in the neighborhood streets along side his brothers and sisters against the fellow neighborhood toughs. Yet somewhere during that time Micky decided after watching his elder siblings have run in’s with the law he would use his aggression to further himself rather then have it used against him. Micky Ward became a boxer and while he was not the first in his family to do so he is certainly the most known. More…
We laid down the choices, weighed them out, measured them, and then came to the unanimous conclusion. The month of November is one where glory belongs to the Pride of Wales and undisputed super middleweight champion Joe Calzaghe.
On November 3, Calzaghe faced off against Mikkel Kessler in one boxing’s most anticipated bouts over perhaps the last two years and between possibly the two most skilled super middleweights to face off since Roy Jones Jr., met and outpointed James Toney in 1994.
Calzaghe finally put to rest any doubts that even the sternest of his detractors may have had by sweeping former WBA/WBC division titlist Mikkel Kessler in a 12 round masterpiece. More…
NABF Cruiserweight Champion and WBC’s number one ranked contender Matt “Too Smooth” Godfrey, 16-0 (9), was ready and set to settle any doubts that Jeremy “Half Man Half Amazing” Williams, 42-5 (35), had about his validity as a future star of the sport this coming Saturday in a bout scheduled to take place in Connecticut’s Convention Center in Hartford. The bout would have had Godfrey’s NABF title on the line and number one ranking in what would have been his toughest opponent to date.
Godfrey, who spoke with SaddoBoxing earlier this week, stated he was looking forward to this bout taking place so he could come out victorious and move on to face number two ranked Czech Republic native Rudolf Kraj, 12-0 (9) and determine the mandatory for newly crowned WBC, WBA and Ring Magazine Cruiserweight Champion David “Hayemaker” Haye.
Today it was announced by the card’s promoter, CES boxing, that the bill was canceled in an untimely fashion as a promotional partner had pulled and they were sorry for the inconvienience and would keep everyone updated on when the fight would take place.
Also scheduled on the undercard was undefeated cruiserweight prospect Aaron Williams, 15-0 (11), undefeated super featherweight Matt Remillard, 11-0 (7), and super middleweight Joe Spina, 20-1 (15).
Getting ready to be “Too Smooth” for Jeremy Williams
On November 24, undefeated NABF Cruiserweight Champion Matt “Too Smooth” Godfrey, 16-0 (9), sets to defend his title for the second time against Jeremy “Half Man Half Amazing” Williams, 42-5 (35), in Hartford, Connecticut’s Convention Center.
Godfrey, who will be fighting for the third time in seven months, will be taking on his most experienced opponent to date in a bout that honestly has some people shaking their heads, wondering how it all came about, including Godfrey.
Williams, who has not fought under the 195 lb mark since 1992 and had not stepped into the ring since being starched by Samuel Peter via second round KO in December of 2005, began his comeback towards the cruiserweight division in August of this year with a lackluster eight round split decision victory over lightly regarded Gary Gomez, 18-8-1.
Shortly after the Gomez bout and a performance that has been described as “painful to watch”, Matt Godfrey’s name suddenly began to spout out of Williams’s mouth like a geyser shooting water, even making comments such as “Matt Godfrey hasn’t done anything to impress me” and “Matt Godfrey is what stands in my way of a world title”. Words said with such a tone of conviction that one would think there was bad blood between the two dating back to grammar school. More…
