Boxing Info (please stick)

[Complex]

Joe Mesi Cleared to Fight

Mesi


Joe Mesi Free to Fight
By Max Brief (December 19, 2005)

After over 21 months away from the ring, Buffalo heavyweight Joe Mesi is free to fight again after a US District Court judge in Nevada today lifted his medical suspension. Mesi was suspended after suffering a subdural hematoma in his March 2004 bout with Vassiliy Jirov, and subsequent appeals to the Nevada State Athletic Commission upheld the medical suspension until today's victory for the 32-year-old Mesi, who is unbeaten in 29 fights with 25 KOs.

[Complex]

Sam Peter Victorious

Scores: 99-90 (twice), 98-91

Records: Peter 25-1; Hawkins 21-5

Rafael's remark: Peter knocked Hawkins down in the first round with a shot to the chest and cruised to a decision victory in his first fight since a unanimous decision loss to Wladimir Klitschko in September. But although Peter defeated Hawkins, this was not the dynamic, power-punching festival we expected. Peter looked happy to get in the rounds and win on points. We'd have preferred if he tried for the knockout. There was a 12-minute delay before the start of the fifth round because of a medical emergency at ringside. The ambulance took a spectator to the hospital and the fight could not resume until the ambulance was back in position at the arena, as per commission rules. Peter remains the youngest and most enticing of the top heavyweight contenders and should be back in a meaningful fight as early as April.

[Complex]

Re: Boxing Info (please stick)

http://www.boxingtalk.com/

Tarver on Tyson bout: "50-50 or there's no fight!"
By G. Leon

December 21, 2005 - Yesterday evening reliable sources informed Boxingtalk.com that light heavyweight king Antonio "The Magic Man" Tarver was demanding a 50-50 purse split for a PPV showdown against former undisputed heavyweight champion "Iron" Mike Tyson. At first we didn't believe the information to be accurate, however, a quick phone call to Tarver confirmed his demands. "Why I would take anything less? It's 50-50 or there's no fight, I'm not taking any more shorts and 50-50 is a fair offer," said Tarver. Boxingtalk understands that Tyson would have likely been willing to move forward under a 60-40 split in favor of Tyson. If Tarver's position doesn't change, the chances of Tyson-Tarver ever coming off look grim. Tyson was unavailable for immediate comment, but we plan on speaking with him shortly to see what he has to say about Tarver demanding parity. Stay tuned to our front page for all the latest.

[Complex]

Judah vs Tszyu

Judah still wants Tszyu: Undisputed welterweight champ Zab Judah says plainly that his biggest fight is a showdown with junior welterweight titlist Floyd Mayweather Jr., the pound-for-pound king.
They are on course for an April 8 showdown as long as Judah defeats mandatory challenger Carlos Baldomir of Argentina on Jan. 7 (Showtime).

If Judah wins and then for some reason the Mayweather fight isn't completed, Judah has a back-up plan in mind: A rematch with Kostya Tszyu.

"The Mayweather fight, definitely. It is a bigger money fight," Judah said about his preference. "The world wants to see it. Excitement is what thrills the people. If somehow the Mayweather fight does not happen, I am welcoming with open arms Kostya Tszyu."

Tszyu and Judah were both junior welterweight champions when they met for the undisputed title in 2001, and Tszyu scored a second-round knockout that was followed by Judah's emotional outburst.

Upset with referee Jay Nady's stoppage, Judah went berserk in the ring. He threw a stool toward Nady and shoved his fist under Nady's chin. Ultimately, Judah was fined $75,000 and suspended for six months by Nevada boxing officials.

But Judah (34-2, 25 KOs) has matured since then and rebounded from the worst night of his career. He moved up in weight and eventually claimed the undisputed 147-pound title with a knockout of Cory Spinks in February.

Tszyu (31-2, 25 KOs), meanwhile, reigned as 140-pound champ until June. That's when Ricky Hatton punished him until Tszyu retired on his stool after 11 rounds.

Now, Tszyu, 36, is quietly making plans for a comeback as a welterweight and has already been in touch with Showtime about a date in the first half of 2006.

Judah has pined for a rematch since their 2001 match.

"Kostya Tszyu has a personal invitation from Zab Judah, and anytime that he feels that he is ready to step up to the plate, I am ready to show the world that our first fight was a fluke," Judah, 28, said. "You see how Ricky Hatton beat the life out of him? He's dead right now. Let me finish him off and show the world that I am the best pound-for-pound fighter. Please bring him on. Bring him back from the dead and let's just do it. It's been five years now? Let's stop playing."

Judah said he would stop Tszyu in far quicker fashion that Hatton did.

"I promise you. I had him out in the first round; you saw that," Judah said about the first meeting. "He was holding on for life. Listen, my speed and power is nothing to play with. A lot of guys look at it and take it as a joke, but you see time and time again they are hitting the floor like dust."

Tszyu, in a statement, said if he returns to the ring a rematch with Judah is appealing.

"I read about Zab Judah's invitation for me to move up to welterweight for a rematch and it is nice to have options," Tszyu said. "The fight could be interesting, but many things have to happen first and I have to clear my mind."

Looking forward to this one

[Complex]

Miguel Cotto to fight March 4th

Cotto returns: Junior welterweight titlist Miguel Cotto will return March 4 in Puerto Rico, either on HBO or, in the unlikely event that they can't make a deal, as the headliner on a Top Rank pay-per-view card.

According to Top Rank promoter Bob Arum, Cotto will probably face former lightweight titlist Raul Balbi, although HBO has not approved him yet.

Another name Arum raised as a potential opponent is Andreas Kotelnik, who lost a close decision to highly regarded contender Junior Witter in July but rebounded to outpoint 2000 Olympic gold medalist Mohamad Abdulaev on Nov. 26. Cotto scored a ninth-round TKO of Abdulaev in June.

Arum also said that Cotto's perforated ear drum -- which led to balance problems in recent fights -- is fully healed.

He needs to take on Hatton or Floyd.

[Complex]

Judah vs Mayweather set for April 8

An April 8 superfight between WBC/WBA/IBF welterweight champion Zab Judah and WBC super lightweight champion Floyd Mayweather was inked today. According to Team Judah, no venue has been finalized and the bout, which will take place in Las Vegas. The Thomas & Mack Arena was mentioned as a possibility, due to the large seating capacity. Zab's WBC belt will be the only title on the line. The total pot for the fight is 9.5 million, with Judah making $3.5 million.

This is huge

[Complex]

Rahman, Toney have deal for heavyweight title bout

Rahman vs Toney set

The promoters for heavyweight titlist Hasim Rahman and mandatory challenger James Toney avoided a purse bid at the last minute Tuesday, instead making a deal for the championship fight.

Under terms of the deal, Rahman's promoter, Top Rank, agreed to buy out Toney co-promoters Dan Goossen and Don King for $2.8 million after two days of negotiating in Cancun, Mexico, where the WBC is hosting its 2005 "night of champions."

Top Rank vice president Todd duBoef, King and Goossen agreed to a deal minutes before the bid was scheduled to take place Tuesday afternoon. With Top Rank securing promotional rights, Rahman-Toney probably will air as a live HBO bout from Atlantic City, N.J., on March 18. Top Rank and HBO are working on their deal.

"We're talking with HBO. We want to do this fight on non pay-per-view," Top Rank chairman Bob Arum told ESPN.com. "We want to see if it's possible to do the fight on HBO, and I am optimistic we can do that."

Had a purse bid taken place and the Goossen/King side won, they were planning to take the fight to Showtime for a March pay-per-view event.

Part of the WBC festivities included presenting Rahman with his championship belt, which he was awarded after Vitali Klitschko retired last month.

In addition, Toney married fiancé Anjanette Corulli, the mother of five of his children, Tuesday in a pool-side ceremony.

Rahman (41-5-1, 33 KOs) and Toney (69-4-2, 43 KOs) already appear in form for the fight. They got into a brawl at the Le Meridien Cancun Resort & Spa on Monday night before they were to attend a WBC cocktail party.

According to WBC executive secretary Mauricio Sulaiman, son of WBC president Jose Sulaiman, Toney was being interviewed in the hotel lobby when Rahman arrived. Toney was telling his interviewer about his impending nuptials when he noticed Rahman.

The boxers exchanged words and the "verbal assaults escalated into a full-fledged brawl soon thereafter that took many people [by surprise], and over 15 minutes to quell while hotel guests and staff members looked on in stunned disbelief," Sulaiman said.

"It was a huge skirmish. I saw the end of it when they had been separated. I guess it looks like a hot fight now," duBoef joked.

Neither fighter was injured in the meleé.

[RockinDaMike]

Re: Judah vs Mayweather set for April 8

cool, Zab vs Mayweather....but i still think that no one can beat Jr

[Complex]

Re: Boxing Info (please stick)


Judah Loses !

16-1 underdog Carlos Baldomir did what few thought possible as he upset hometown favorite and undisputed welterweight champion Zab Judah Saturday night before a sellout crown in the Theater at Madison Square Garden.

Looks like April 8th vs Maywether is off. Zab needs to take his career a little more seriously.

[Complex]

Re: Boxing Info (please stick)

Bell KOs Mormeck in ten!
'Supernova' now rules cruisers

Saturday, January 7 2006

By Matt Richardson and Jason "J-Gon" Gonzalez at ringside

IBF cruiser champion O'Neil Bell (26-1-1, 24 KOs) added the WBA/WBC titles with a tenth round KO of Jean-Marc "The Marksman" Mormeck (31-3, 21 KOs) Saturday night at Madison Square Garden Theater in New York City. Bell becomes the first fighter to unify the cruiserweight division since Evander Holyfield in 1988. Both fighters had their moments in an exciting round one. The powerful Mormeck landed a number hard shots in round two, sending Bell's mouthpiece flying into the second row. Mormeck appeared to hurt Bell with a hard left hook late in round three and snapped Bell's neck back in a violent fouth round barrage. Bell had a good round five, outboxing Mormeck from the outside. Both had their moments in the sixth. Bell had Mormeck in all kinds of trouble in round seven although Mormeck, in Holyfield-like style, came back to land some decent shots. From round eight on Bell seemed fresher. Bell was in command the rest of the way, finally battering Mormeck to the canvas for the count in the tenth round. Official time was 2:50.

http://www.fightnews.com/fightnews_2...kJEsVjEqW.html

[thegreatone0381]

Re: Boxing Info (please stick)

Judah Loses !



Looks like April 8th vs Maywether is off. Zab needs to take his career a little more seriously.

Zab lost at home?? Wow.

[Complex]

Re: Boxing Info (please stick)

Judah, Mayweather to fight in Vegas on April 8By Dan Rafael
ESPN.com

LAS VEGAS -- One week ago, Zab Judah's claim as welterweight champion went up in smoke when he was shockingly upset by unheralded Carlos Baldomir. Also up in smoke: Judah's planned spring super-fight with pound-for-pound king Floyd Mayweather, Jr.

Or so everyone thought.

But this is boxing and the show apparently must go on.

Mayweather promoter Bob Arum and Judah promoter Don King told ESPN.com on Friday that regardless of Judah's stunning loss, he and Mayweather will still meet here in a 12-rounder on April 8 at the Thomas & Mack Center in an HBO PPV main event.

"We've reworked our deals but the fight will still go on," Arum said. "There are a lot of people who want to see the fight even though Judah lost. Is it as big as it was had Judah not lost? Probably not. Can it still be an exciting event for boxing fans? Sure."

Mayweather and Judah, both fast and flashy fighters, were once close friends. But they have grown more distant as they have viciously trash-talked each other for the past several months in anticipation of an eventual meeting, which, prior to Judah's defeat, figured to be one of the most significant fights of 2006.

A news conference announcing the fight is planned for Feb. 1 in New York, Arum said.

Longtime rivals Arum and King have reworked their deal, both confirmed. Arum also said that he and Mayweather worked out a new deal and that an agreement with HBO PPV was in place.

The one item remaining to be finalized is King and Judah agreeing to terms with each other. However, that appears to be a formality given that Judah has few options coming off a loss, and none nearly as lucrative as a fight with Mayweather (35-0, 24 KOs).

"Don't worry about that. Me and Zab are together. The fight will happen," King said.

Arum and King spent the past week reworking the terms of the fight after Baldomir won a unanimous decision against a woefully underprepared Judah (34-3, 25 KOs) on Jan. 7 in New York.

Mayweather, a junior welterweight titlist moving up to welterweight, had been scheduled to earn a minimum $6 million to face Judah while the Judah/King side was to earn $3 million plus a percentage of the profits.

However, with Judah losing, the deal points have changed significantly. Mayweather will earn a minimum $5 million while the Judah/King side will be guaranteed $1 million plus a percentage of profits above $7 million.

In addition, host casinos Caesars Palace and Wynn Las Vegas reduced the amount of their promised ticket buy by $600,000. Arum also reduced the top ticket price for the fight from $800 to $700.

Yes I am surprised.

[Complex]

Middleweight champ Taylor will fight Soliman in April

Middleweight champ Taylor will fight Soliman in April

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- Middleweight champion Jermain Taylor will fight Australian Sam Soliman on April 15, Taylor's trainer, Lou DiBella, says.

The location has yet to be decided, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported in Tuesday's editions.

DiBella told the newspaper the championship fight will be televised on HBO, not pay-per-view. Dan Goosen, Soliman's promoter, was unavailable for comment.

DiBella said the undercard will feature a televised junior-middleweight bout between two-time former welterweight champion Vernon Forrest and former welterweight champion Ike Quartey.

Soliman fought Dec. 10, losing by unanimous decision to Winky Wright, a week after Taylor retained his titles with a rematch victory over Bernard Hopkins.

There were talks of Taylor fighting Wright after the WBC, the sanctioning body of one of Taylor's three belts, ordered negotiations. But DiBella broke off the talks with Gary Shaw, Wright's promoter, after Shaw demanded a 50/50 split. DiBella had offered 60/40 favoring Taylor.

The WBC is to hold a purse bid Jan. 30. The winner will hold the right to promote a fight between Taylor and Wright.

I was hoping for a fight against Wright, but oh well....

[Complex]

Re: Boxing Info (please stick)

On Friday (ESPN2, 7:30 ET), former junior middleweight champion Kassim Ouma takes on Francisco Mora in the main event from Tucson.

Ouma is a good fighter, but just needs to fine tune his skills, and establish a good jab.

[Complex]

DiBella says deal with Soliman not done yet

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- Jermain Taylor is considering fighting Australia's Sam Soliman, but the middleweight champion's promoter says no deal has been completed.

"He's a quality opponent and we've spoken to his people, but nothing is signed yet and there's nothing done yet," said Lou DiBella, who represents Taylor.

Taylor (25-0) beat Bernard Hopkins in July to win the middleweight championship, then beat him again last month. The WBC has ordered Taylor to make his next defense against Winky Wright (50-3), and if Taylor and Wright don't reach an agreement by next Monday, a purse offer could be held in which other promoters would have the chance to bid for the fight.

Wright's team asked for a 50-50 split of the purse two weeks ago, and talks appeared to break down. Now, Taylor is looking at other options.

The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported Tuesday that, according to DiBella, Taylor and Soliman will fight April 15 at a site to be determined. Later Tuesday, DiBella distanced himself from the report.

"I have not signed a contract with Soliman yet and the purse bid is still Jan. 30," DiBella told The Associated Press. "And I'm not saying for certain right now who we're fighting."

The Democrat-Gazette reported the fight with Soliman would take be broadcast on HBO, not pay-per-view, and the undercard would feature a junior middleweight fight between two-time former welterweight champion Vernon Forrest and former welterweight champion Ike Quartey.

The paper said the fights would likely take place in Memphis, Tenn., or at North Little Rock's Alltel Arena. Taylor, of Little Rock, has said he would like to fight close to home. He's fought at Alltel in the past.

Taylor gave up his IBF title when he fought the rematch against Hopkins instead of a mandatory IBF defense. DiBella has said Taylor would risk losing the WBC belt as well, rather than accept an unfair deal with Wright.

Soliman (31-8) lost a unanimous decision to Wright on Dec. 10, a week after Taylor defended his titles against Hopkins.

DiBella is going to ruin Taylor's career....why fight a guy who just lost to the guy you NEED to fight?