Canelo Alvarez vs. Erislandy Lara media conference call transcript
Kelly Swanson Thanks everyone, for joining us today for what will be the final conference call before “Honor and Glory: Canelo vs. Lara” takes place on Saturday, July 12th at MGM Grand. Live on SHOWTIME PPV®. What an exciting fight! Even out on the street people are talking about who’s going to win this one. So, it’s a pleasure and an honor to have both of the main event fighters taking time out of camp today to talk to us.
Canelo Alvarez, Erislandy Lara, Chepo Reynoso (Canelo’s trainer) and Ronnie Shields (Lara’s trainer), and we’re going to start the call with Lara and Ronnie Shields. But to make the official introductions I’d like to introduce Oscar De La Hoya, president and founder of Golden Boy Promotions. Continue reading
Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov celebrates new world heavyweight champion Ruslan Chagaev
When he realized that he had really done it again, former heavyweight champion Ruslan Chagaev went down to his knees on Sunday night at Ahmat Arena in Grozny, Russia. It was legendary Michael Buffer who announced Chagaev’s close but well deserved majority decision win (115:113, 115:113, 114:114) over Fres Oquendo which earned the 35-year-old Uzbek the WBA heavyweight championship for the second time in his career.
No other but Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov was the first to congratulate Chagaev in the ring. While the fight lasted Kadyrov even took charge as chief second coaching “his” champion in the corner. It was the leader of the Chechen Republic who brought this world title fight to Grozny along with promoter Timur Dugazaev (TEREK Box Event). Accordingly Chagaev thanked the President for all his help and support. Continue reading
Ruslan Chagaev wins “Regular” WBA heavyweight title with majority decision win over Fres Oquendo
Tonight in Grozny, Russia, former WBA heavyweight champion Ruslan Chagaev became a two-time champ, as he won a 12-round majority verdict over Fres Oquendo to pick up the “regular” WBA strap. The scores were 115-113 twice and 114-114. 35-year-old Chagaev is now 33-2-1(20). 41-year-old Oquendo, who felt he had won, fell to 37-8(24).
It was a bizarre night in many ways. The setting for the fight was quite impressive, as was the ring set-up and the pre-fight entertainment. The presence, too, of Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov was quite unique. As for the fight itself, the action was intriguing enough in the early rounds, with southpaw Chagaev pressing the action in his usual bull-like fashion. Fast-handed, Chagaev out-jabbed the taller Oquendo, winning the early to middle rounds. Neither man was noticeably hurt, until Chagaev picked up a nasty cut above the left eye in the 7th. Continue reading
Mares to stay at 126 for a while before moving to 130
28-year-old former three division world champion Abner Mares (26-1-1, 14 KO’s) will temporarily be putting the brakes on his career and staying put at featherweight following his 1st round knockout loss to Jhonny Gonzalez from last year in August.
Mares had intended on moving up to super featherweight to challenge WBC champion Takashi Miura to try and win a 4th division world title, but Mares now has decided to stay put at featherweight to go after the big names in the division, such as Vasyl Lomachenko, Evgeny Gradovich, Nicholas Walters, Nonito Donaire, and a rematch against Gonzalez. Continue reading
Remembering the great Arturo Gatti five years on from his untimely death
Sadly, as we all know, Arturo “Thunder” Gatti passed away five years ago next week (July 11th). This special – very special – fighter gave his all in the ring too many time to remember. Yet no-one will ever forget Gatti; least of all his millions of fans and those men who had the honor of meeting him in the ring.
Gatti, who retired with a 40-9(31) ledger, was recently – and deservedly – inducted into The Hall of Fame. These highlights and more from the incredible career of “The Human Highlight Reel” go to show why:
WU12 Tracy Harris Patterson, Dec. 1995 – Gatti’s first world title winning fight and one of his first classics.
WU12 Patterson, Feb. 1997 – the rematch.
WTKO5 Gabriel Ruelas, Oct. 1997 – an awesome slugfest with a stunning ending.
LS10 Ivan Robinson, Aug. 1998 – Gatti lost this one, and the return, but he sure gave his all in providing some of his most mesmerising action.
LU10 Robinson, Dec. 1998 Continue reading
Joseph Parker stops Brian Minto
Tonight up and coming New Zealand heavyweight Joseph Parker takes on tough veteran Brian Minto (39-7) in Auckland City, New Zealand.
Minto, 39 years of age, last bout was against another New Zealand heavy Shane Cameron. Minto did a number on Cameron in simply outhustling and muscling him in consistently beating him to the punch. Cameron unable to make it out for the eighth round.
Parker (8-0) appears on the fast track to contender status as Duco his promotional team flag the usual potpourri of patsies in matching Parker with a solid journeyman like Minto. Continue reading
Erislandy Lara Grateful To Be An American On This Fourth Of July
On independence day in the USA, Erislandy “The American Dream” Lara, is grateful to be an American as he celebrates “Fourth of July” in Las Vegas in anticipation of his showdown with Canelo Alvarez. The opportunities that Lara has experienced since arriving in the United States of America have been unbelievable. Having come from a communist country, Erislandy knows firsthand how important freedom is.
“When you’ve lived in a communist country, you really don’t understand how important your freedom is until you lived it,” said Erislandy Lara. “In America if you work hard the opportunities to prosper are endless, that’s why I’m so grateful to be living in the States. To the people who have sacrificed to make this country great, I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart. America is the best country on earth and I’m proud being an American…I’m living the American Dream!”
Adrien Broner – The Real Problem
If someone compiled a list of the most well known boxers in the world the name Adrien Broner would appear rather early. Adrien “The Problem” Broner was touted as the second coming PPV star based off his performances in the 130 and 135 pound divisions. And for a while a majority of the boxing world fell into a love-hate relationship with him.
After his loss to Marcos Maidana, Broner has relatively stayed on a low profile and held back on the public antics( most likely due to a changed lifestyle after getting married).
However in the ring, he faces some serious issues. After his bouts against the likes of Fernando Quintero and former WBA Welterweight Titlist Paulie Malignaggi, it showed that boxers who use angles and movement frustrate the relatively flat footed Broner. Continue reading
Huck defends WBO Crown vs. Larghetti on August 30!
Unbeaten in 21 fights with thirteen knockout victories to his credit – Mirko Larghetti will be facing Marco Huck (37-2-1, 26 KOs) for “The Captain’s” WBO Cruiserweight World Championship on August 30. The Gerry Weber Stadium in Halle/Westphalia, Germany will play host to Huck’s 13th defense of the title he acquired back in August of 2009. If successful, the protégé of coach Ulli Wegner will equal Johnny Nelson’s record for the most title defenses in the cruiserweight division.
However, Larghetti has other plans. The Italian is still fuming over the cancellation of his title bid on March 29, which saw Huck injuring the thumb of his right hand in preparation of their fight. “I was ready back then and I am even more ready now,” said the 31-year-old, adding: “Hopefully, Huck is more careful with his hands this time. I want to show him and the boxing fans that I am a better fighter and the man to put an end to his title reign.” Continue reading
Mike Tyson: “My Fighter Can Beat Kovalev and Stevenson”
Miami, FL (July 3, 2014) Next Thursday night, July 10, top rated light heavyweight contender HUMBERTO SAVIGNE will battle former world champion JEFF “Left Hook” LACY from the American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida and LIVE on FOX Sports 1.
Presented by Iron Mike Productions, the Savigne/Lacy scheduled ten rounder at “JUDGMENT DAY” for the World Boxing Council (‘WBC’) Latino Light Heavyweight Title is the co-featured attraction to the highly anticipated IBF Super Featherweight Title Rematch between ARGENIS “La Tormenta” MENDEZ and RANCES “Kid Blast” BARTHELEMY.