There’s a big card on tonight at the Domo De La Feria in Leon, Mexico with Top Rank promoting four high level bouts. While there’s only one genuine world title contest, there are three other intriguing fights that all add up to a massive bill.
WBC Light Flyweight Champion Edgar Sosa, 30-5 (16), puts his title at risk for the fourth time in meeting Culiacan based challenger Jesus Iribe, 13-4-3 (7), over twelve scheduled rounds.
28 year old Sosa turned his career around after losing a Mexican Light Flyweight title bid by majority decision to current IBF Champion UIises Solis in 2003 and there’s been no stopping the Mexico City man since as he’s racked up 18 straight wins, including high profile victories over the likes of Roberto Carlos Leyva, Lorenzo Trejo, Brian Viloria, Luis Albero Lazarte and Noel Arambulet since 2006. 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…
The upcoming December 8 showdown between boxing’s top pound for pound performer Floyd Mayweather and British wrecking ball Ricky Hatton has captured the imagination of fans of the sport the world over as the date draws near.
Most in the media are tipping Mayweather to extend his dominance over the sport with a comprehensive victory over Hatton. But the hopes of an entire nation are riding on the shoulders of the stocky Mancunian as British fans are banking on the idea that once again “The Hitman” can return to the Colonies with the intent of proving his legion of American doubters wrong.
The Brits are a hardy lot and when they love, they love hard but in this instance, their affection for Hatton’s Vegas dream will be crushed by the flying fists of none other than the man they love to hate, Floyd “Pretty Boy” Mayweather.
Mayweather became a world champion when Hatton was still fighting no hope Englishmen in leisure centers and has faced so many top class opponents since that time that it this piece would have to be a multi-part article to fully cover the quality of opposition in his career. More…
After emerging victorious from the biggest PPV fight of all time against modern day great Oscar De La Hoya this past May, is WBC Welterweight Champion Floyd Mayweather headed for a shocking upset against Ricky “Hitman” Hatton on December 8?
Mayweather has a long history of rubbishing Hatton and spent most of his publicity tour with the world light welter champion contending that the Englishman didn’t belong in the same ring.
Additionally, Mayweather signed on for a stint this Autumn on the TV show, “Dancing With The Stars”, hardly the actions of a fighter who believes that he is going into a dangerous fight.
Conversely, Hatton has had what insiders are calling the training camp of his life and once again, finds himself with nothing to lose against a fighter that many are giving him zero chance to upset. More…
Intro and concept by Jim Everett, project managed by Daxx Khan and Jane Warburton
The World Awaits for the highly anticipated match up this Saturday between six division world champion, Oscar De La Hoya and four division world champion, Floyd Mayweather, Jr.
De La Hoya puts his WBC Light Middleweight title at stake against the #1 pound for pound fighter in the sport in what has already made a record breaking gate of $19 million selling out the 16,800 seats at the MGM Grand within hours after going on sale.
The showdown between the Golden Boy and Pretty Boy are expected to break all previous PPV and merchandising records. The heavy marketing campaign was highlighted by a four part reality series showcasing the fighters during training camp providing an excellent opportunity for non-boxing fans to get interested in the mega-fight.
Friends and family who rarely show interest in boxing have called giving their opinions of the upcoming fight as well as ask my opinion of who I think will win.
Various internet polls show a variety of opinions some favoring De La Hoya while others feeling Mayweather will dominate the fight. SaddoBoxing took a few moments to compile our thoughts and opinions to offer our predictions of the most anticipated boxing match in recent history. More…
IBF 154-pound champion Roman Karmazin defends against former undisputed welterweight champion Cory Spinks in yet another terrific main event Saturday on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING (10 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the west coast).
So who is going to triumph? The experts expect it to be very close.
Of the 29 boxing media sorts who participated in a SHOWTIME Prediction Poll, 15 picked Karmazin, 13 liked Spinks, and one predicted a draw.
Here’s how they see the evenly matched Karmazin-Spinks world title fight: More…
Showtime Boxing: Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. training at Caesars Palace in LasVegas for his fight with Jeremy Stiers on the televisied undercard of the Corrales vs Castillo rematch at The Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas live on SHOWTIME Pay Per View,9:PM ET,6:PM PT.Oct.8th.,2005
Boxing Rematch: “Uno Mas!” . . . “One More Time!” — the world lightweight championship rematch between Diego Corrales and Jose Luis Castillo, takes place Saturday, October 8, at Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas, NV. Promoted by Gary Shaw Productions and Top Rank, in association with Caesars Palace and Wynn Las Vegas,
will be broadcast live on SHOWTIME Pay-Per-View begining at 9 P.M. ET / 6 P.M. PT
Diego Corrales, WBC/WBO lightweight champion (r): “This is round 11. We are picking up where we left of in the first fight five months ago. This is the final battle and I will win the war. If necessary, I will go to Hell’s end to finish this fight and keep my belts.”
Jose Luis Castillo, former two-time WBC lightweight champion (l): “I know I lost the battle but THIS is a war. And I know I will win the war. Saturday’s fight will be much better than the first one … because I will leave the ring as world champion … again.”
This is an interesting crossroads fight for two former light middle weight champions. Vargas has already comeback from one shattering defeat at the hands of Felix Trinidad, only to have his titles and hopes snuffed out again by Oscar De La Hoya. This may
be the last go round for the intensly proud warrior from Oxnard, California and it’s fascinating to watch and see just how far Vargas can go this time. Castillejo will come to fight and do his best to insure that the newest version of Fernando Vargas does not get past him. The man from Madrid has twice as much experience as his much younger opponent and will have to use that to try and repeat the success both Trinidad and De La Hoya enjoyed against Vargas.
We’re also covering the undercard of this bout, an interesting featherweight contest between Ricardo “Rocky” Juarez and Humberto Soto for the Interim WBC title.
The winner of these fights will move on to contend for a major world title but you’ll have to read our writer’s expert predicitions to find out just who will prevail and go onto reshape their respective weight classes.
These two fighters are considered the best chances of any other heavyweights around to dethrone WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko. Rahman already knows the taste of championship glory, having shocked former undisputed champion Lennox Lewis in five rounds on that infamous night in Carnival
City, South Africa, 2001. Barrett has yet to compete in a world championship fight, but few heavyweights can claim to be more deserving. Barrett saw victory disappear before his eyes when he fought former contender Joe Mesi to a ten round decision, and the New Yorker has become known as the division’s gatekeeper. Rahman has plans to return to the championship fold in a blaze of glory since rededicating himself and blasting out New Zealander Kali Meehan last year. But Barrett is quite skillful at destroying the best intentions of fighters, as shown when he inflicted the first defeat upon Jamaica’s Owen Beck earlier this year.
Whoever wins will fight Klitschko for the title, but exactly which of Rahman and Barrett will prevail is something you will just have to check in with the SaddoBoxing writer’s to find out.More…
This Saturday as part of the huge Don King pay-per-view event being held in Chicago, former welterweight titlist Ricardo Mayorga returns to the ring in a title fight against Italy’s Michele Piccirillo. When this fight happens, we will get the chance to find out two things: was Mayorga ruined by the spectacular beating
he received from Felix Trinidad, and is former IBF welterweight titlist Piccirillo for real? What we can say for sure is that Mayorga at his best is one of the toughest and most unorthodox brawlers in the game, and if Piccirillo is unprepared for that challenge, he might have to go through the hardest night of his long career to date. The winner of the fight will receive the WBC light middleweight championship of the world, and moreover, ideal placement to dictate a big money fight with the likes of former two-time light middleweight champion “Ferocious” Fernando Vargas.
If you’re looking for the inside word on this fight, look no further as the SaddoBoxing writer’s give you their pick.More…
Jose Antonio Rivera was the WBA welterweight champion of the world and looking forward to signing some lucrative fights. Not anymore, and the reason being is none other than Bronx puncher Luis Collazo. Once beaten and not intending to be so again this weekend, Collazo is the WBA champion now, albeit under the
reign of undisputed welterweight champion Zab Judah. First to challenge Collazo for championship rights is warhorse Miguel Angel Gonzalez. Years of brutal encounters against some of the world’s most talented fighters are obviously not enough for Gonzalez, he wants more. Gonzalez is not long removed from losing a decision to former welterweight champion Cory Spinks and one must assert that if he loses to the less experienced Collazo, where else is left for Gonzalez to try to recapture past glories?
The SaddoBoxing writer’s have their opinion on what will happen in Collazo’s first defense of his crown. Read on as we at SaddoBoxing continue our big fight build-up.More…
Robin Reid has one last chance to become a major world champion, and if he does so against America’s Jeff Lacy, not one person could say he did not earn it. Lacy would already be a major attraction if he was placed anywhere else than in the super middleweight division, where champions like to defend
their titles against mandatory contenders rather than risk unifications. Lacy is strong and has explosive power but he does have fundamental flaws that, while making him that much more exciting, do give Robin Reid considerable encouragement for this weekend’s main event. The true extent of Lacy’s power might well be tested against Reid, as the Briton has yet to suffer a single stoppage in his long career. Lacy may not remain as a super middleweight champion for long with the lure of huge matches against Jermain Taylor and Antonio Tarver either side of his weight class, but if Reid has his way, Lacy will be a champion for an even lesser time than anyone reckons.
The SaddoBoxing writer’s predictions are in for our return to bigtime boxing action, and the beginning of a hot August in the fight game. Read what our staff writer’s have to say on this exciting match-up.More…
If there is going to be a changing of the guard in the middleweight division, it must happen tomorrow night at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas when Bernard Hopkins puts every relevant middleweight title at stake against hungry young contender Jermain Taylor. Hopkins has perhaps one fight left after this one, but a loss,
a conceivable eventuality, might speed up his retirement. Taylor’s success was earmarked from the day we first came to know him as an entity in the boxing world and throughout his progression from the 2000 Olympics, he has been though of as Hopkins’ heir apparent. Having beaten every single middleweight contender of note, and having secured a career highest paycheck against Oscar de la Hoya, there really is little motivation for Hopkins to remain in boxing. With one foot out of the door as a partner in De La Hoya’s promotional outfit, Hopkins wishes to leave on his own terms and yet, if he does, he will take with him whatever credibility the division has. By Sunday morning, we will know if a new era has begun, or an old one remains on course to end on its own terms.
Until then, read on for the SaddoBoxing staff writer’s predictions on this momentous and historical boxing occasion.More…
Every once in a while, a fighter comes along exhibiting a toughness and resolve that is difficult for anyone to argue against. It could be said that Kassim “The Dream” Ouma is one such fighter, perhaps the fighter of that description in these modern boxing times. Considering
varying degrees of danger extremity leads one to believe that boxing and all its inherent hazards might well be enjoyable for Ouma, who was forced to engage in heated combat in the Uganda of his youth. Certainly, it seems as if he has a unique perspective on the sacrifices required to become and remain a world boxing champion. The Kassim Ouma story is merely beginning, and Roman Karmazin is the man that must write it a premature ending. Ouma is set for a career defining fight with Ronald “Winky” Wright later this year; therefore, his determination will likely be unshakable. Unless Karmazin has a fight plan “Made in Hell,” nothing will deter Ouma from taking up a place amongst the great middleweight fighters of the day.
SaddoBoxing brings you a handful of writer’s predictions ahead of tonight’s light middleweight main event.More…
The boxing world is looking for a heavyweight to come along and make a clean sweep of the division, restore credibility and embody the spirit of past champions that made the heavyweight division boxing’s flagship. It is true that the glamour days are gone and optimism is
difficult to find that we will see any kind of true quality to make the heavyweight division a truly viable attraction any time soon. However, the more open minded of us look for answers instead of heaping their sorrow on an already desperate situation. The conclusion of most of those brighter souls is that Samuel Peter is the man upon which our hope should rest. Peter is only twenty-four, and whether by his own admission or not, has much to do to convince heavyweight purists that he is ready to assume the throne. His brute power is effective, but there is nothing graceful in its delivery, and yet with the lack of pure talent evident in the division, Peter may have enough to justify what seems like over–zealous hope. One man who does not believe so is Taurus Sykes, and he has the chance to prove his point firsthand this coming Saturday when he faces Peter on Showtime’s feature presentation.
The SaddoBoxing writer’s now offer you their verdict on Samuel Peter and how his clash with Taurus Sykes will turn out.More…
This fight card represents the end of the light welterweight business for this half of 2005 as in addition to the main event, WBA champion Vivian Harris faces Carlos Maussa on the under-card. Arturo Gatti has nothing left to prove in terms of being a true fighter, he has done it all in the
ring. What Gatti can prove is that he is the man to finally defeat the seemingly undefeatable whiz-kid Floyd Mayweather Jr. Question marks hang over Mayweather who has never stood in with a physically stronger fighter and been able to overwhelm him. Expectation is high on Mayweather to produce a performance to become a world champion in his third successive weight class, but it will not likely be as easy as he thinks. When all is said and done, we will have witnessed a great night of boxing. Whether Gatti remains the hardcore hero or Mayweather soars ever higher as one of boxing’s untouchables are all questions we are eager to have answered.
Check out what the SaddoBoxing writer’s think as we wrap up our preview coverage of this exciting fight.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…
As the week progresses towards the fight which many of us cannot wait to watch, I caught up with WBA lightweight titlist Juan Diaz to get his take on what to expect this Saturday night. “I think it’s going to be a great night for boxing and I think that it’s a great fight for the fans. You have Arturo Gatti who is a blood and guts warrior that always gives great fights and you have a true talent like Mayweather. If Floyd comes into the ring trying to prove that he can stand in there and fight with Gatti, he may get knocked out. Gatti is the bigger guy and stronger guy. In the end, I think that Floyd is just too talented for anyone and you just can’t hit him. He moves a lot and has a lot of defensive skills. I think Mayweather is going to win a decision.” As for the “Baby Bull,” he has an upcoming non-title fight scheduled for July in which he is taking on Arthur Cruz. This fight is really more of a “stay busy” contest as Diaz is coming back from his eye injury which kept him out of the first ESPN pay-per-view card in March of this year. Should everything go well for Juan in July, he told this writer that his team expects him back on ESPN’s second pay-per-view card which is scheduled for September or October of this year. Possible opponent being mentioned, “El Temible,” Jose Luis Castillo. WOW! There is really nothing more to say.
It seems as if every win Glen Johnson achieves these days is an upset, begging the question, when are people going to truly believe in him? Antonio Tarver fought beneath himself in the first fight, and paid the price. This time, the rematch specialist in Tarver will have to come to the fore in
order to avoid another loss and more than that, defeat to Johnson again might bury Tarver’s career for good. There is really no other significant light heavyweight fights to be made after this one. Whichever fighter wins, it will likely be at different weights that they find challenges suitable for their profile. But for tonight, we can savor the fight that will affirm exactly who is the greatest light heavyweight fighter in the world.
The SaddoBoxing writers have weighed in with their predictions; don’t miss them as we wait for the opening bell to ring.More…
