By Bill Phanco: It seems that Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer is cool to the idea of letting WBC junior middleweight champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez fight a unification bout against Austin Trout for May 4th at the MGM Grand, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Schaefer has someone special in mind and he’s not about to give boxing fans any hints about who that fighter might be other than to rule out Trout as the guy that gets the fight.
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Roach likes Pacquiao vs. Robert Guerrero fight
By Rob Smith: Trainer Freddie Roach would like the idea of Manny Pacquiao possibly facing WBC interim welterweight champion Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero sometime in the future. Obviously, that’s not a fight that can happen in 2013, as Top Rank promoter Bob Arum badly wants to match his struggling star Pacquiao back up with Juan Manuel Marquez in September if Pacquiao can pass the medical exams for the fight. But a fight between Pacquiao and Guerrero would be an interesting one if Guerrero doesn’t get beaten too badly by Floyd Mayweather Jr. in their possible fight on May 4th.
Roach told the boxingchannel.tv “He [Guerrero] did quite well with Manny in sparring, it was quite competitive. If this sparring session was like a fight, it would be a great fight because it was give and take for both guys Would we fight him? We’re not afraid of him [Guerrero] that’s for sure. Guerrero is a great fight.”
Obviously isn’t in great shape right now having been knocked out badly last December by Marquez, and it might not be a good idea to put Pacquiao in with a high volume puncher with a great chin like Guerrero because Pacquiao’s stamina and chin are both questionable at this point.
Haye: If Vitali retires, I may follow him
By Michael Collins: David Haye wants a fight against WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko in the worst way imaginable and Haye’s not interested in staying busy while Vitali decides what he wants to do with his boxing career. Haye says might retire if he doesn’t get the Vitali fight. He’s telling everyone that’s willing to listen to speak how badly he wants the Vitali fight. It’s one of those things where he’s totally dialed into this fight and doesn’t want fight anyone else for some peculiar reason.
Canelo vs. Mayweather possible for 2013
By Rob Smith: Golden Boy Promotions president Oscar De La Hoya says that his record 2.4 million pay per view buys that he got for his fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr. in 2007 could be broken on either May 4th or September 14th this year. On both dates, Mayweather and WBC junior middleweight champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez will be in action, although not necessarily against each other. Golden Boy wants to match the two fighters together on one of those dates, and De La Hoya thinks that enough boxing fans will be interested in seeing a fight of that nature that it will break his PPV record.
De La Hoya said to RingTV “Those two dates – May 4th and September 14, I’m actually looking forward to one of those dates to break my all-time pay per view record. Those two dates, you’re going to see a blockbuster. Blockbuster, that’s all you need to know.”
There’s no question that an Alvarez-Mayweather fight would do well, but it wouldn’t break De La Hoya’s record. In fact, I don’t think it’ll come close. De La Hoya was an established star when he fought Mayweather in 2007. De La Hoya was an ex-USA Olympian, he had fought the likes of Felix Trinidad, Shane Mosley, Julio Cesar Chavez, Pernell Whitaker, and Fernando Vargas by the time he fought Mayweather. What can you say about Canelo?
Judah: My goal is to destroy Danny Garcia on February 9th
By Jeff Sorby: Former two division world champion Zab Judah (42-7, 29 KO’s) sees a victory over WBA/WBC light welterweight champion Danny Garcia (25-0, 16 KO’s) on February 9th as a mere formality for him when the two fighters meet up on Showtime at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
Malik Scott: “I’m Looking to Fight Anybody in the Top 10….I’m Just a Phone Call and Contract Away”
Exclusive Interview by Charles White
Hey Malik, it’s been awhile since our last interview. How’s it going?
MS: What’s up bro? Everything is good man. I’m blessed. Just staying sharp and keeping myself in great shape.
Last time out, you beat Bowie Tupou decisively, securing a solid win and a step in the right direction. Fellow undefeated heavyweight Bryant Jennings also just defeated Tupou on NBC Sports. Compare and contrast your win over Tupou with Jennings’.
MS: Well that’s an easy comparison, I beat Bowie with one hand and he quit from a so-called arm injury or some other coward-ass excuse he came up with. Bryant Jennings got off the canvas and iced him in 5 rounds and looked good doing it. Bowie made history by getting his ass whipped by two Philly fighters in the same year. I don’t think that ever happened to any other heavyweight in boxing history.
Both you and Jennings are Philly guys as you know. Have you ever sparred each other, and if so, how competitive was it?
Woodhall: Rees needs to swarm Adrien Broner
By Michael Collins: Former WBC World super middleweight champion Richie Woodhall thinks that the key to former WBA light welterweight champion Gavin Rees (37-1-1, 18 KO’s) beating WBC lightweight champion Adrien Broner (25-0, 21 KO’s) on February 16th is to “swarm” Broner in massive all out blitzkrieg attack that will, in theory, overwhelm Broner’s Mayweather-esque shoulder roll defense.
Price vs. Thompson: Tony’s only chance of winning is to close his eyes and swing for Price’s chin
By Michael Collins: David Price’s promoter has found another older fighter for Price to fight in 41-year-old Tony Thompson (36-3, 24 KO’s) on February 23rd at the Echo Arena in Liverpool, England. Price’s fans think this is a great step up fight for the 29-year-old Price. It isn’t.
Barthelemy wins first controversial decision of 2013
By Joseph Herron – If fight fans were hopeful for less controversy throughout the boxing New Year, their optimism was quickly dashed after watching the season opener of ESPN’s Friday Night Fights.
Highly touted Super Featherweight prospect Rances Barthelemy (18-0, 11 KOs) was awarded a very questionable unanimous twelve round decision over Canadian resident Arash Usmanee (20-1, 10 KOs) in the main event of an entertaining fight card at the Magic City Casino in Miami, Florida.
The three judges at ringside scored the bout 115-113, and 116-112 twice…all in favor of the local fighter, Rances “Kid Blast” Barthelemy.
Going into the contest, most fight pundits favored the Cuban exile because of his natural athletic gifts, extensive amateur pedigree, and the world class sparring during preparation in Miami and Las Vegas.
But for much of the twelve round contest, Arash Usmanee looked to be the more technically sound pugilist.
Lamont Peterson vs. Kendall Holt possible for February 22nd on ESPN2
By Bill Phanco: IBF light welterweight champion Lamont Peterson (30-1-1, 15 KO’s) looks to be finally about to defend his IBF title after having won it over a year ago in defeating former IBF/WBA light welterweight champion Amir Khan in December 2011. Peterson and #4 IBF Kendall Holt (28-5, 16 KO’s) could be facing each other on February 22nd on ESPN2 at the D.C Armory in Washington, DC.