Author: Boxing Press

Three significant professional signings occured in Montreal recently. Three very promising amateur stars signed professional contracts respectively for Quebec’s major promotional firms, Interbox and GYM (Group Yvon Michel). Former Interbox chief Yvon Michel began GYM, his own promotional outfit due to the financial difficulties that beset Interbox towards the end of his tenure with them. Michel’s amateur catch is Jean Pascal, a fighter of Haitian descent raised in Quebec. Pascal is said to have an exciting professional style which should make his transition to the pro ranks quite effortless. Interbox, now headed by former super middleweight champion Eric Lucas gathered themselves the signatures of both Antonin Decarie and Benoit Gaudet, amateur stars that may be future world stars and almost certain fixtures in the Canadian boxing scene. GYM also promotes Otis Grant and Joachim Alcine. Stay tuned for more news of Canadian fighters.

WBO minimumweight champion of the world Ivan “Iron Boy” Calderon of Puerto Rico will return to action next month for the first time since his thorouh drubbing of recent challenger Carlos Fajardo. On the undercard of Barrera-Morales III, Calderon was completely dominant over Fajardo in making the latest defense of his title. Having already beaten Alex Sanchez and Roberto Carlos Leyva, Calderon will fight his return bout in his native Puerto Rico and is looking for a challenge. Calderon is a snappy southpaw somewhat lacking in the power-punching stakes but certainly not wanting for speed and style. We will keep you informed of the latest challenger for Calderon’s WBO title.

Light welterweight Ricardo Williams Jr. looked set to be back in the ring facing an undisclosed opponent in February of this year. Now it looks like the former Olympian will be facing a very recognizable foe: Prison. Williams’ career looked very promising at one point, he was a star of the US 2000 Olympic games campaign, winning a silver medal before receiving a sizable signing bonus to turn professional. He racked up a series of wins with his slick southpaw style but began to look fatigued in fights and drew consistent criticism that he was indisciplined. After losing efforts against Juan Valenzuela and Manning Galloway, the Ricardo Williams story appears to have taken an even deeper dive. Williams has been indicted on charges of distributing cocaine and if convicted, he would face the possibility of ten years incarceration.

A date is yet to be disclosed but the word is that former three weight world champion and current heavyweight contender James “Lights Out” Toney will return to action very soon. Since making the transition to heavyweight, Toney has made some noise by knocking out heavyweight legend Evander Holyfield and only last September, Toney thoroughly outpointed then unbeaten heavyweight contender Rydell Booker. Toney has had several fights fall through due to injury, one of which would have been particularly interesting against heavyweight giant Jameel “Bigtime” McCline. One rumor is that Toney may be about to receive a title shot against WBA champion John “The Quietman” Ruiz. We will keep you updated to the latest news in this story.

“Scotland will be like a ghost town when I knock Harrison out.” Tough words from Victor Polo, the man who will face two-time WBO featherweight champion Scott Harrison later this month. Polo is thought to be a stern enough test for Harrison as the Scotsman looks for a high-profile fight with the

featherweight elite such as Marco Antonio Barrera. Comments the like of which Polo has been coming out with are very likely to raise the ire of the Scottish champion and the Scottish fans when all converge in the Braehead Arena in Glasgow. Polo also had this to say: “Not only will it be dark and raining in Scotland – as people have told me it always is – but it will be a nation in mourning at their champion’s loss.” Polo is the latest of several fighters to travel to Scotland to face Harrison only to speak in unsavory terms and to find themselves going home empty handed and on the wrong end of a beating. Source BBC. Stay tuned for more on this story as it happens.

Hennessy Sports, the promoter of soon-to-be middleweight title challenger Howard Eastman has called upon the British public to back their man as he goes up against the one and only middleweight champion Bernard “The Executioner” Hopkins. The Staples Center in Los Angeles, USA will host Hopkins’ record middleweight title defense against Eastman and it is hoped that the loyal British fans will turn out in force to see what may be a historic win for Eastman. Originally from Guyana, Eastman missed the chance to become world champion once against William Joppy and he is determined not to let the chance slip by him again. This may be Eastman’s last chance to become the world champion and it is coming soon.

WBC/IBF super featherweight champion and pound for pound contender Marco Antonio Barrera looks set to return to the ring in May this year against an opponent yet to be disclosed. Barrera won the super featherweight titles against hated

rival Erik Morales, a third weight world championship for Barrera. But it seems that Morales is the fighter that will steal the thunder that should be Barrera’s in the aftermath of that great win; Morales has signed to fight Filipino phenomenon and former Barrera conqueror Manny Pacquiao in March. With a May date virtually assured, Barrera seems to be winding down his boxing schedule as he looks to be fighting only twice a year. With revenge against Pacquiao on his mind and seemingly few opportunities left to claim it, who will Barrera choose to fight in May to ensure that Morales and Pacquiao do not eclipse him in 2005? Saddoboxing.com will let you know as soon as we do.