Boxing News

Tonight, Saturday, July 7, 2007, Vic "Raging Bull" Darchinyan, 28-0 (22), attempts to defend his IBF and IBO World Flyweight titles against Nonito "The Filipino Flash" Donaire Jr, 17-1 (10).

Darchinyan, Armenian born and currently fighting out of Sydney, Australia, is regarded by most as the top flyweight in the world and has been working hard to dispel the perception of limited power associated with the lower weight classes. At 112 pounds, his aggressive style and unusual strength has earned him knock outs in 9 of his last 10 contests, as well as a reputation as one of the more dangerous and exciting men in boxing.

Darchinyan's only decision in his last 10 bouts came nine months ago against his opponent's brother, Glenn Donaire. This has become somewhat of a sore subject between these fighters, as it was the referee's ruling that the broken jaw suffered by Glenn Donaire was not the result of a punch that forced the technical decision and denied Darchinyan the knockout.

On one side, this fight is about a brother's revenge and world title dreams, and on the other, it's about Darchinyan adding the knockout to his record that he feels owed. Darchinyan has even gone so far as to say that he intends to "knock him out twice" because of the decision and the dispute since. While he gave no explanation at to how this could be done, the intention is clear and should make for an exceptional contest between these fighters.

The bout is to be televised from the Harbour Yard Arena in Bridgeport, Connecticut this Saturday July 7, 2007 on Showtime's Championship Boxing at 9pm ET/PT, tape delayed on West Coast. More...

Considered as one of the top prospects in the super flyweight division, Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire Jr., 17-1 (10), prepares for a move to flyweight to challenge Vic “Raging Bull” Darchinyan, 28-0 (22), for his IBF and IBO world championship belts.

Donaire, born in General Santos City, Philippines (the current hometown of Filipino phenomenon Manny Pacquiao), presently fights out of San Leandro, California. A solid contender at 115 pounds, ranked at #8 by the IBF, #7 by the WBA and #6 by the WBO, Donaire earned the opportunity to challenge for the flyweight championship after a dominating 1st round stoppage of the usually durable Kevin Hudgins on May 12.

In addition to the belts at stake, the bout has developed into a revenge match as a result Darchinyan’s defeat of Glenn Donaire, Nonito’s brother, by technical decision just nine months ago. The outcome of the bout left both fighters wanting more. While Nonito would certainly get a measure of satisfaction in taking the championship from the man who beat his brother, Darchinyan feels that this is an opportunity to gain the knockout he rightfully deserved, but was denied, when a referee’s ruling determined that they go to the scorecards.

Nonito, considered by most to be the faster, stronger and more skilled of the brothers, should provide a tougher test for Darchinyan. If it will be enough for Nonito to take Darchinyan’s belts, or even provide a different outcome than that of his brother’s, is the challenge he’s faced with.

The bout is to be televised from the Harbour Yard Arena in Bridgeport, Connecticut this Saturday July 7, 2007 on Showtime’s Championship Boxing at 9ET/6PT. More...

With Massive Photo Diary

Click for larger image © Jane Warburton / Saddo Boxing

Last night, Ricky "Hitman" Hatton put his undefeated record and IBO Light Welterweight title on the line against Jose Luis "El Terrible" Castillo, before the over 13,000 in attendance at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.

With nearly 10,000 British Hatton fans expected in Las Vegas for the event, it was obvious that most of them made it since the crowd was unmistakably pro Hatton, easily drowning out any support that was present for his opponent.

A rough estimate, based on the crowd response, would put the support at about 3-1 in favor of Hatton. Their raw enthusiasm was contagious, as they came with their own band, complete with its own horn and percussion section, chanted the Ricky Hatton theme song at every opportunity and cheered wildly with every connected blow.

The fight opened with high energy as both fighters met in the center of the ring. From the beginning, most of the action took place in close quarters. Ricky, with the obviously quicker hands, seemed to consistently connect first, while Castillo seemed to be most effective in the clinches, primarily throwing uppercuts while they were tied up. More...

As he put the final touches on his last workout before facing Jose Luis Castillo in front of 10,000 screaming British fans at the Thomas and Mack Center in Vegas this Saturday night, the Ring Magazine 140 lb Champion Ricky Hatton spoke to the media in attendance.

Saddo Boxing was there to record what he had to say... More...

Click for larger image © Peter Porto Saddo Boxing

In a much anticipated bout between the two top 140 pound fighters in the world, Ricky “The Hitman” Hatton will face off against Jose Luis “El Terrible” Castillo tonight, Saturday, June 23, 2006 at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas, NV. At stake will be Ricky Hatton’s IBO Junior Welterweight title.

Scheduled for 12 rounds, the bout promises to be a crowd pleaser. With both fighters sporting aggressive styles and a preference for bringing the fight to their opponent, this match-up has the potential for explosive exchanges and almost non-stop action. As a result, expectations for this fight are high as many are already predicting it as a fight of the year candidate.

Ricky Hatton, 42-0 (30), from Manchester England, arrived as a major figure in boxing two years ago when he shocked Kostya Tszyu to claim the IBF Junior Welterweight title. Since, he has added the WBA Welterweight title to his record in defeating Luis Callazo by unanimous decision, before moving back down to compete at his more natural 140 pounds.

Jose Luis Castillo, 55-7-1 (47), from Hermosillo, Mexico, is a former lightweight world champion who has faced some of the biggest names in boxing. Perhaps best known for his dramatic battles against the late Diego Corrales, he can also boast a win over Joel Casamayor and two close contests against Floyd Mayweather Jr. More...

One of the world's top trainers, Roger Mayweather, spoke to the media at the last workout by the legendary Mexican banger, Jose Luis Castillo, who will face off with the world's top 140 pound fighter, Ricky Hatton, this Saturday in Las Vegas.

SaddoBoxing was there to record what he had to say... More...

Click for larger image © John McDonald

To be honest, when it was first suggested that I write about boxing in Las Vegas, I was a little unsure about how to approach it. I have been to many boxing matches throughout the years and, for the most part, have always believed that if you appreciate the aspects of boxing which makes you a fan to begin with, it really doesn't matter how big the event is, or if you're in Las Vegas or anywhere else.

When it comes right down to it, you have two combatants who have studied the science of boxing and trained for success. They have prepared their bodies, minds and resolve to meet the challenge of the other, and everything that they have is about to be exposed for the world to see.

Everything is on the line, their hopes, their egos, their fear of failure and their dreams of glory. It's all there to be lost or gained, and once the bell rings, there is nowhere to hide from the coming judgment. Not from the world, and more importantly, not from themselves. More...

Photo ©Jim Everett/SaddoBoxing

This past Friday night undefeated heavyweight "Fast" Eddie Chambers was pitted against Dominick "The Southern Disaster" Guinn, headlining "The Next Great Heavyweight Contender", presented by Goossen-Tutor Promotions and aired on Showtime from the Pearl at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas.

Chambers, a somewhat undersized heavyweight by today’s standard at 6’1" and 214 pounds, relies primarily on his speed and boxing skill. He is the current USBA heavyweight champion, ranked #13 by the WBO and #12 by the IBF, and considered by many to be one of the top prospects in the heavyweight division.

Guinn, after struggling over the last few years by going 4-4-1 in his last nine contests, is trying to work his way back into heavyweight contention.

Round one opens with both fighters feeling each other out in the center of the ring. On the whole, Guinn is setting the pace of the fight, but most punches by both fighters are being blocked as they are both keeping their hands and guard up. The round ends with few decisive exchanges. More...

While most eyes in Las Vegas are looking forward to the upcoming mega fight next week, Crown Boxing Inc. and the Orleans Hotel and Casino showed this past Friday night that there is more to an entertaining night of boxing than million dollar promotions and endless hype.

In the Mardi Gras Ballroom of the Orleans Hotel & Casino, a capacity crowd was treated to an exciting night of boxing, featuring a world championship bout for the GBU title between “Amazing” Layla McCarter and Melissa “Hurracan” Hernandez as the co-main event.

This was a rematch of a February bout in which the champion McCarter retained her title after stopping Hernandez in the eighth round. Hernandez, while not originally scheduled for this fight, stepped in on short notice to take the opportunity.

It was evident from the very beginning, however, that Hernandez had no intention of simply playing the role of a fill in. She was there to avenge her only loss and capture the belt that she failed to only a couple months earlier. More...

Acelino "Popó" Freitas is one of the most accomplished champions currently in the sport. Growing up in impoverished conditions in his native Brazil, Freitas put aside an early interest in soccer and instead chose to pursue boxing as the path to a better life.

Primarily known throughout his career for his aggressive style and fearsome punching power, Freitas began with an extensive amateur career, stacking up an impressive 84-4 record on his way to his first major success in boxing, a silver medal in the 1995 Pan American Games.

Freitas followed that success by turning professional on July 14, 1995 at the age of 19, and immediately began earning his reputation as one of the most dangerous fighters in the sport by knocking out each of his first 29 opponents.

A four time world champion in two weight classes, Freitas won his first on August 7, 1999 with a dramatic first round knock out of the reigning WBO Super Featherweight champion, Anatoly Alexandrov. His destruction of the reigning champion was particularly overwhelming. In less than one round of action, Alexandrov was knocked unconscious for nearly five minutes and eventually removed on a stretcher.

While such success made him a huge celebrity in his native Brazil, a celebrity that rivaled, if not surpassed, that of the legendary Brazilian Bantamweight Eder Jofre, one of Freitas’ childhood heroes, he believed that the respect deserved from the rest of the boxing world, primarily in the United States, was slow in coming. More...

May 5, 2007 Junior Middleweight Bout

What makes a great boxing match? What makes a match up for the ages? There are several ingredients that can go into the making of a memorable fight; personal grudges, a clash of styles, and furious action, just to name a few, but in my opinion, this coming battle between Oscar De La Hoya and Floyd Mayweather Jr. has one of the best ingredients, a mismatch between reality and perception.

Going into this fight, it is the perception of Floyd Mayweather Jr. that is dominating the debate. All eyes are on him. He is widely regarded as the best pound for pound fighter in the world and has met virtually every challenge in dominating fashion. His speed and defensive skills appear to be more than a match for any fighter out there and, certainly in the perception of many, more than a match for an aging Golden Boy. That is the perception, but that is not the reality.

To begin, first consider the physical attributes of Mayweather. Here, the tell of the tape does not give the whole story. He is 5’ 8”, but he is a small 5’ 8”. He is a man with a slight build. While that build accommodates his impressive speed and defensive skills, it is not well suited for packing on the pounds for a trip up the weight classes. If you remember, it wasn’t too long ago that a seemingly frail Mayweather was making almost as many headlines for routinely breaking his hands as he was his superior skill and dominating style. More...