Boxing News

I had the luxury of spending some quality time watching some old footage of Oscar de la Hoya’s two fights against Shane Mosley and a thought entered my mind right then and there. What would a fight be like between De La Hoya and Floyd Mayweather? This fight has the promise of rising to the occasion and presenting a huge plus sign to the sport of boxing. I could also be the springboard for Mayweather’s mainstream career. Let’s not forget the large paycheck, sold out tickets and a high amount of pay-per-view buys. Before you cast off De La Hoya as being an old boxer, listen to yourself and compare other attributes that could make these two boxers even. Oscar is thirty-two, Floyd is twenty-seven, Oscar’s height is five-feet ten or eleven, and Mayweather is five-feet-eight or nine. A seventy-three inch reach will help support Oscar's jab and Floyd's reach is seventy-two inches. Mayweather's speed is one that reminds you of Meldrick Taylor. More...

Floyd Mayweather backed all the trash talk up, predicted the outcome of this victory of Arturo Gatti and did it in amazing style. Yeah, the critics of Mayweather will have to retort, "He is so talented but he has a big mouth." Grant the new WBC champion a private parade and let’s prepare for him to bask in his new championship glory. It's boxing and with that being said, we cannot toss Arturo Gatti and his battling legacy out the window and into the dumpster. He showed up, apparently misread the referee’s intentions, was knocked down in the first round, made it back to his feet, walked to his corner and realized Mayweather was in the mood of backing up all his publicity speeches. What can you do? This is boxing, you don't have to admire the man’s personal flaws, bravado, bulk of self-confidence, which all contribute into major factors on inspiring you to turn the channel when you see him on your local sports channel. More...

Vivian Harris is a world champion but his name is not a power punch in the boxing world. He is the WBA's belt holder since 2002 and he is a man on a mission. Harris is a puncher in every sense of the word, and is always willing to

counter punch with his opposition. Pull up a ringside seat; you are invited to a champion’s quest to be respected in his own weight division. I am not a man to look at a boxer's record and declare them an automatic loser, if the system of debating was that simple, we would have no task in trying to capture a believable side to convince our readers, the boxer we are rooting for will come out of the ring with a win. Carlos Maussa is 17-2 with fifteen knockouts. He is durable and has some potential on making a mark in the richly talented junior welterweight division. Being durable and being a major threat to a world champion are two totally different traits. Harris is level headed and you have to applaud his low-key demeanor but convincing vocal protest when given some media time. The question at hand is, will Harris step it up? I do believe so.

Since we already had the Gatti-Mayweather Big Debate on our newly launched “TKO Boxing Show,” we bring you this breakdown of the WBA light welterweight title fight. Join us as Shaun Rico LaWhorn continues his argument in favor of champion Vivian Harris before Jonny Townsend’s counter in favor of Carlos Maussa. More...

This Saturday’s fight headliner consists of Floyd Mayweather and Arturo Gatti, for Gatti's WBC belt. Aside from that, did you know another world champion was sharing the same fight card? Vivian Harris, does the name ring a sign of recognition in your brain? He is the WBA world champion and

suffers from a lack of celebrity, and to make it even worse, he does not receive his just due. Not only in the sense of the sports world not granting him championship level coverage, but also in the sense of his own fellow weight class members. When asked about Harris in an interview, Floyd Mayweather clearly stated with a surprised look that he did not know who Vivian Harris was. A blow heavier than any left hook to the ribcage. It is something amazing to see a pound-for-pound educated boxer not know who holds the WBA welterweight crown, a respectable belt. Harris is an impressive boxer with a skillful consideration for sharing counter shots and beating down his opponents. This man defeated the seasoned Diosbelys Hurtado for the WBA junior welterweight title in two rounds. Why haven't the huge dump trucks of cash arrived? Why is Harris’s photograph not gracing the cover of a pay-per-view poster or a thirty-second commercial, showing Harris staring down his opponent on your television? More...

Mr. Floyd Mayweather will be the latest talented star in the gifted junior welterweight division to put a cap on this outstanding month of boxing. From this fight, we will see if Mayweather will earn his debate contention on why he should be number one on the pound-for-pound list, who should fight whom in the junior welterweight division or who should move up to fight someone of sufficient talent in the welterweight division. There is a quote in the Art of War that goes like this: "O divine art of subtlety and secrecy! Through you we learn to be invisible, through you inaudible." I think Mayweather is clearly disregarding this rule. It is his style; call him a loudmouth, over confident, a chatterbox, and too much in general. He is still a talented boxer and he has the undefeated record. When you are Mayweather, you can walk any which way you please. Some will say, he was never tested, but he has defeated Diego Corrales, Jose Luis Castillo and Carlos Hernandez, all who would become world champions after losing to Mayweather. That speaks loud against any argument that the man is ducking people. More...

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Arturo Gatti is a boxing star in every sense of the word. He went from an average fighter, to a decent slugger, to an entertaining boxer and now a whole new boxer with improved skills while training under former champion, Buddy McGirt. I used to watch Gatti fights with major concern, due to Gatti being easily cut over the eyes, hindering his eyesight

and placing him in potential danger from a powerful punch. At one point in time, Gatti had to rethink his whole approach on boxing. He was a slugger giving his all, and this proved evident in his three straight losses, one to Angel Manfredy and two in a row to Ivan Robinson. He was overtly outmatched when accepting a fight with Oscar de la Hoya and with that loss, many fight fans thought Gatti’s better days were all said and done. It is clear now that Gatti accepted that fight with intentions of making it big and was not thinking intelligently, because if he had waited, he would have had a better chance of beating De La Hoya. Yet, you have to pay attention to the inspiration within Gatti; a light is inside of him, one dating back to his loss to King Solomon in 1992. That loss came as he entered his seventh professional fight, but the loss did not hamper Gatti, as he progressed and continued on his quest of becoming a respected fighter. More...

Antonio Tarver is in a division with very few shining stars and come this Saturday night, he has a chance to increase his fan base, future match-ups and bragging rights to the sports world with a win over Glen Johnson. Do not judge Johnson’s record, he has

nine losses; however his only convincing loss was to Bernard Hopkins in 1997. Tarver’s first fight with Johnson was a complete representation of an unprepared Tarver. Pull out the chairs and watch the reputation of Tarver, the man who enjoys rematches. I don't know if it is Tarver's way of securing lucrative bouts in a two-fight package deal, by giving lackluster performances in the first fight and campaigning arduously for a second fight, thereby winning the public interest and inspiration. Let's accept the heat in the kitchen and admit that Tarver is a loudmouth, but with the leverage of challenging Roy Jones in one fight and knocking him out in a second one, he has the ammunition to fire. If you observed the first Johnson fight, Tarver was just in the ring for the sake of being in the ring; maybe it was the lack of training, the public appearances, or him receiving Johnson as a light challenge. Regardless of the subjective reasons, a second fight is going down and Tarver has his war paint on his face.

Read on as Shaun Rico LaWhorn and Jonny Townsend go head to head in this week’s big debate over the Johnson-Tarver rematch. More...

Boxing has to be one of the best sports in the world. You have a union consisting of a boxer, trainer and the concentration on building the best boxer one can possibly be. It is a sport of mental willpower and intense physical preparation. Yet, you do have a dark side to boxing, a side that happens and it can leave the fan to admire a boxer for his sense of appreciation for being a warrior. The average boxer dedicates his life into this sport that we love with high aspirations of becoming a respected and loyal world champion. Meldrick Taylor is a warrior who shares the bright side of boxing and the dark side of boxing. If you think Floyd Mayweather’s hand-speed is one to marvel, you need to treat yourself to some of Meldrick Taylor’s early fights and then you will truly have the pleasure of viewing and comparing these two tremendous boxer's hand speed. The Philadelphian’s tough, hard as nails boxing mentality that Bernard Hopkins displays so well is a twin soul that Taylor shares. More...

We were all surprised at Antonio Tarver landing that knockout punch so early on Roy Jones Jr. in the second round of their second fight. What was equally surprising was the lack of Tarver's effort in his first fight with Glen Johnson, or was it? If you look into Tarver's fight history, you can see how he tends to be an outstanding rematch fighter. In June of 2000, Tarver fought with the energetic Eric Harding, and if you ever had the chance to watch that fight, you can see that Harding out-boxed Tarver. In 2002, Tarver destroyed Harding and walked away with a fifth round technical knockout. The first Roy Jones Jr. fight happened in November of 2003 and Tarver captured the boxing world's attention with his bold and dominating style over the pound-for-pound king. The decision went to Jones, but there was spacious room to argue on Tarver’s case, yet the need to want to see Jones lose could have clouded some people’s decision. Jones and his fans used reasons like Jones' sudden weight drop and not being completely focused on fighting Tarver was part of Jones’ not taking over the fight and knocking out Tarver. More...

Miguel Cotto stepped it up last night. His fight with Mohamad Abdulaev was a display of a boxer who had matured into a top prizefighter. In Abdulaev’s defense, he did step it up and applied a lot of pressure to Cotto in the early rounds, but it was not enough to contain Cotto's swiftness and commitment to standard boxing. Cotto would

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stick and move, even moderating Abdulaev’s punching power by controlling his desire to counterpunch. In the sixth round, Cotto landed a punch that would be the started Abdulaev’s right eye swelling, leading to the stoppage in the ninth round. A true stepping-stone for Cotto was present tonight, as Abdulaev gave it his all and at times, he did hurt Cotto. Aside from losing, Abdulaev still will be a force in the junior welterweight division. This fight was a clear indication that Cotto accepted and received the promise of growing as a stronghold in the junior welterweight division. More...

Miguel Cotto will be entering Saturday night’s fight with a lot of weight on his shoulders. Cotto must follow Ricky Hatton’s great show, face a former opponent who defeated him in his Olympic days, conquer the challenge of making another positive impression on the junior welterweight division, fight on a card that rivals a Mike Tyson

card, all the while knowing that he is on the cusp of being Puerto Rico's next boxing giant. Cotto has paved his way to rightful recognition in an outstanding weight class, yet, he still has a long way to go to gain the acceptance and respect as the ruling junior welterweight. In comparison to his 2000 Olympic class, Cotto has entered the ring with the most durable and difficult opposition. Lovemore N 'Dou really placed himself, along with his competitive style into the ring with a patient Cotto. Victoriano Sosa, who at the time some people thought would be a quality test for Cotto, turned out to be a four round workout. Kelson Pinto and the hard-hitting Randall Bailey really raised the bar and placed a lot of attention on the growth of Cotto as a fighter. He defeated Pinto with a technical knockout in the sixth round and matched that with another sixth round demolition of Bailey. More...

Joel Casamayor is on the road of rebuilding, even though many considered him an established boxer with a future championship reign. Being located in the lightweight division can lead to second place acclaim, as Diego Corrales, Jose Luis Castillo and even Acelino Freitas are featured names in a competitive weight

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division. Casamayor fought in a classic with Corrales in 2003, with Corrales going down twice and the fight ended due to two cuts in Corrales’ mouth; the fight should have been a stepping-stone for Casamayor. Corrales protested the stoppage and along with Casamayor, they both pushed and secured a quick rematch. This rematch would be much closer, as both fighters respected the other’s power. I have always thought of Casamayor as underrated and promoted lightly. He trains hard and holds a solid record of respectable opponents, including the distinction of being the first man to test Acelino Freitas, albeit losing a hard fought decision. Casamayor is growing as a fighter, and aside from his frequent changing of trainers, he still manages to be a major force in the lightweight division. This fight has landed Casamayor with Jose Bonilla. Hopefully, Casamayor will form a bond with Bonilla and together, they can form a more powerful and successful Casamayor.

Check in for this report on Joel Casamayor, one of this weekend's featured boxers as SaddoBoxing continues with its big fight build-up. More...

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Ricky Hatton presented the game plan and executed it with precision. My prediction coming true, was based more on the determination of Hatton, more than his experience. Even though his fight record holds an overwhelming amount of nameless opponents, this small feat is not one to judge the

ambition and fortitude of a boxer. I offer a round of applause to Kostya Tszyu for training hard, traveling to his opponent's homeland, and accepting the challenge. Tszyu’s loss will not delete my personal opinion of him being a strong and lasting champion. Yet, you have to hand Hatton a plate of respect for defying the odds and doing it in textbook boxing fashion. Hatton used the game plan Sharmba Mitchell wanted to use. I have always believed that Mitchell fought with his emotions, thus catching heavy shots from Tszyu and ending the fight by being stopped in dramatic fashion. Hatton made reference towards the Mitchell fight and had very clear observations on Tszyu’s stamina. We are very fond of Tszyu’s power in the early rounds, but his power in the later rounds was always a question unanswered. Hatton has done more than win a world title and recognition as being the top junior welterweight, the man changed the whole outlook of future matches. More...

Kostya Tszyu is the king of the junior welterweights, but also one of the most inactive boxers in the richly talented division. Pure boxing ability, patience when picking his shots, arduous training and a power punching combined in one and you have Tszyu. Earning wins over Diosbelys Hurtado, a past his prime Julio Cesar Chavez, Zab Judah and two wins against Sharmba Mitchell, Tszyu’s record of 31-1 (25 KOs) seems fit enough to reside in the number four or five slot in the top pound-for-pound rankings. Due to injuries, he has been less active than the other pound-for-pound members have, but, his presence has been felt, because, we are all aware of Tszyu’s dominance over arguably the best weight class in all of boxing. In Tszyu’s defense, accepting a fight with Ricky Hatton is a move that has earned the champion credit, being that he just destroyed Mitchell in November of 2004. Kostya Tszyu could have handled a tune up bout and pushed Hatton aside until winter, forcing the very active Hatton to fight another dangerous junior welterweight from the deep talent pool. More...

Roy Jones Jr., the former number one pound-for-pound great, needs to contemplate on regaining his top status. Read carefully, this is not an immature thought. It is a plea to push a talented fighter into believing in himself and his craft to sweep though the boxing world once again. Why is it that the silent critics waited so patiently and long for the quick fall of Jones, to step up and say, "He is completely done?" Roy Jones Jr. is and will always be a competitor. Look at his outstanding past, clearly the winner of the 1988 Olympic gold, even though the judges awarded him the silver. A middleweight, super middleweight, light heavyweight and world heavyweight champion, his path to claiming greatness was clear and solid. More...

Saturday's great match up of Felix "Tito" Trinidad vs. Ronald "Winky" Wright is more than just a fight for contention to continue Trinidad’s legacy in boxing or an addition to Wright’s search for respect. It is easy to pay strict attention to the potential outcomes of this match up; the potential of an outstanding knockout or a judges’ decision causes you to change your mind each time you view your recorded version of the fight. As I place my thoughts on the middleweight division, one king of the division comes to mind and that is Bernard Hopkins. Yes, Bernard is the man to beat in this middleweight division. A young and hungry fighter in Jermain Taylor will try just that come July 18. It is well publicized that Hopkins has plans to end his career fighting the best. The winner of Trinidad vs. Wright will be next on Hopkins plate, if Hopkins can get past Taylor. Hopkins also has his mind set on the winner of Antonio Tarver vs. Glen Johnson on June 16, and a rematch with Roy Jones, if Jones ever decides to enter the ring with concrete intentions on wanting to earn his pound-for-pound crown back. Yes, the Jones part of the equation seems highly unlikely, but, this is boxing and miracles can happen. More...

Ronald "Winky" Wright will enter Saturday's fight, still the unknown fighter in the eyes of the mass media and the boxing public. With a record of 48-3 (25 KOs), Wright has to be one of the most underrated boxers in the sport with over fifty fights. Having had a rollercoaster of a career, Wright fought well and hard against Fernando Vargas in 1999, in what would be his opening towards bigger paydays and the public’s respect. In that fight, he suffered a loss, and some fans will stick to their opinion that Wright earned the win. Nevertheless, the consolation of giving Vargas a run for his money proved empty. As the days went by, the attention and controversy on the fight dwindled and Wright continued on the path of fighting average opposition for mediocre paydays. With a seasoned record, Wright is a well-traveled boxer, fighting in countries, such as France, Argentina, England, Germany, South Africa and all over North America. He has faced the chance of losing in another person's homeland for the sake of keeping busy, and staying on track to capturing his dream of being a world champion and being recognized. More...

Felix "Tito" Trinidad is a boxer, fighter and first class individual, when it comes to loving his sport unconditionally. At the time it was announced, Trinidad's retirement seemed shocking and as time evolved, it felt official. Once in a while, we would hear things like "Tito is coming back," the Don King public appearances, laced with wit and hidden promotion of Tito's return. Either through missing the sport or a need to make a statement, Tito, made his return to the ring on October 2, 2004 to a very dangerous and hard puncher: Ricardo Mayorga. Indeed, this match was a test of power and determination for Trinidad. Mayorga is not the definition of a textbook boxer, but he certainly defines a tough chin and powerful punching. The end result? Trinidad earning a spectacular eighth round TKO win and the list of potential opponents increased. Landing a Trinidad fight can be lucrative and promising, and Ronald "Winky" Wright is in this position. More...

Diego "Chico" Corrales and Jose Luis Castillo’s Saturday night boxing match was complete with courage, captivation and commanded our attention with its pure excitement, round after round. Last week, when writing an article about this potential match-up, I indicated the chances of this fight being the inspiration for a second fight. After this clash of two brave warriors, the evidence of Corrales vs. Castillo I will be leverage used by the promoters and the boxing public to campaign for a Corrales vs. Castillo II. The outcome of this fantastic match was unforeseen and will be a hot topic in the boxing world. Referee Tony Weeks’ stoppage of the fight could be debated for days. With Castillo knocking down Corrales two times in the tenth with physically powerful left hooks, I thought the fight was going to end with Castillo earning the win via knockout. Corrales, who displayed his heart in fights with Joel Casamayor and Acelino Freitas, walked a similar line of courage while recovering from the two knockdowns and proceeded to pressure Castillo, leading Weeks, to call the bout to an end. More...

Jose Luis Castillo will enter the ring this Saturday against WBO champion, Diego Corrales, one of the most feared knockout artists in all of the lightweight division. Making a mark in the featherweight division, Castillo’s talent for boxing and determination could be sensed early on. His 2000 majority decision win over Stevie Johnston caused some uproar, but still displayed a boxer's true heart and ambition as he walked away with a win. In the lower weight divisions, rematches are not a bargaining chip and these gutsy boxers are always willing to immediately get it on, if there is room for doubt. This would be the case as a Castillo vs. Johnston rematch would end in a draw. It was a very interesting fight indeed, as a judge's scorecard was mishandled and with this slight error, Johnston was declared winner. To keep the story as concise as possible, Johnston ended up in Castillo’s locker room handing back the WBC lightweight title. A very interesting tale of two fights. More...