Miguel Cotto: Leverage

Congratulations to Miguel Cotto the Lineal middleweight champion. Not too long ago Cotto turned down a cool $10M guarantee from Canelo Alvarez to instead fight Sergio Martinez then recognized as THE middleweight champion. Why Cotto turned down this offer was a calculated risk on the former 154lb champions part. Having previously lost to Mayweather and then losing again to Austin Trout in an upset, there was no way that Cotto would carry his skills and power up to 160lbs and beat Martinez, or could he?

Why then would Cotto embark on an endeavor that many even the odds makers saw as a ‘fool’s errand’? Cotto always saw himself as the A-side but against some of the elite fighters always came up short. Against Canelo, Cotto would’ve been the B-side, even with $10M in his pocket, and Alvarez would’ve made twice that. So what other’s saw as ‘fools gold’, Miguel Cotto and more importantly Freddie Roach saw as the ‘pot of gold’ and the end of the rainbow. Stepping up and beating the lineal middleweight champion would propel Miguel Cotto to the highest heights of his 14 year career and return him to the A-side status he always believed himself to be.

continue

Paul Butler Says Best Is Yet To Come Following Title Win

New IBF World Bantamweight Champion Paul Butler says the best is yet to come from him after he dethroned Stuart Hall at the weekend.

The Ellesmere Port ace won the title by split-points decision – in just his 16th professional fight and only his second at bantamweight – by using his quick footwork and hand speed to beat the bigger and stronger Hall.

Butler, 25, thanked his loyal fans who cheered him to victory to become Ellesmere Port’s first ever world champion.

“That was the best night of my life, unbelievable, something I’ll always remember,” Said Butler.

continue

Could Andy Lee be next for middleweight champ Miguel Cotto?

Even though Sergio Martinez resembled an aging armored knight clumsily bumbling around the ring on shoddy wooden stilts, Miguel Cotto still shocked the world with his history making performance when he stopped the former middleweight king in dominant style. The victory puts Cotto in a great position to land some big name opponents and some nice paydays. Miguel has loads of lucrative options out there right now, and everyone near or around 160 is going to want a piece of him. Everyone.

It is therefore logical to assume he may soon wind up facing one of boxing’s big 3 money makers, which would involve a possible match with Canelo Alvarez or a return bout with either Floyd Mayweather or Manny Pacquiao. But looking into the immediate future, a rematch with either P4P star seems unlikely. Cotto and Pacquiao have formed a brotherly bond since they are now both under the tutelage of Freddie Roach. And with Mayweather expected to fight again in September, that’s probably a little too soon for Cotto to make his return after such an awesome win. That makes Alvarez the default frontrunner based on process of elimination.

continue

Bryant Jennings vs. Mike Perez Set for July 26 MSG/HBO

New York City (June 9, 2014) Undefeated heavyweight’s BRYANT “By By” JENNINGS and MIKE “The Rebel” PEREZ will clash in a World Boxing Council (“WBC”) Heavyweight Title Eliminator on SATURDAY, JULY 26 at The Mecca of Boxing, Madison Square Garden. The fight will be televised Live on HBO World Championship Boxing® beginning at 9:30 p.m. ET/PT, it was announced today by K2 Promotions and Gary Shaw Productions in association with Antonio Leonard Promotions.

The winner of the 12-round bout will become the mandatory challenger for the WBC Heavyweight Title, which was vacated by longtime champion Vitali Klitschko earlier this year.

continue

Miguel Cotto dethrones Sergio Martinez by RTD 10 – a state of the art assault and battery

This was a bright sunshiny day for boxing and the bout brought memories of the golden days of boxing – a sold out Garden, two gladiators without any “0s” to protect and seemingly free of corporate clog and Swiss bank restraint jackets.

Another great ingredient was the job done by the referee. If you didn’t catch his name or even notice him most of the time than he did a rare feat – he did his job right without even touching the boxers. The most impressive thing a referee can do is remain unobtrusive and unimposing. Michael Griffin set a very high standard and quietly outclassed noisy star referees who won’t stop hollering and physically engage the fighters with the risk of injury to all parties.

continue

Mayweather/Pacquiao: Will It Ever Happen?

The world is waiting for the most anticipated fight of our time, the clash of the titans in Floyd “Money” Mayweather the pound for pound king and Fighter of the Decade Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao”. But the question is, will it ever happen?

Fans around the world hungers for a mega-fight that could well reinstate boxing back to its glory days more so if the two soon hall of fame boxers agree to its terms for the much awaited fight.

Boxing’s popularity have declined in the past years while counterpart MMA’s popularity skyrocketed and is currently at its height.

continue

G4 Quotes: Golovkin-Geale & Jennings-Perez

New York City (June 9, 2014) Saturday afternoon in New York City, a Press Conference was held for “G4”, the boxing extravaganza set for SATURDAY, JULY 26 at ‘The Mecca of Boxing”, Madison Square Garden and Live on HBO World Championship Boxing® beginning at 9:30 p.m. ET/PT.

In attendance were WBA/IBO Middleweight World Champion GENNADY “GGG” GOLOVKIN, Two-Time World Champion DANIEL ‘The Real Deal” GEALE along with undefeated heavyweight contenders BRYANT “By By” JENNINGS and MIKE “The Rebel” PEREZ in addition to undefeated welterweight prospect DUSTY HERNANDEZ-HARRISON. Hosting the press conference were Tom Loeffler of K2 Promotions and Gary Shaw of Gary Shaw Productions.

continue

Andy Lee Scores Devastating KO Win at MSG on His Path to Title Shot

Andy Lee, Irish light middleweight contender (33-2, 23 kos) scored a massive 5th round KO win over John Jackson, WBC #4 to win the vacant NABF light middleweight (154lb) title last night at Madison Square Garden, New York City.

The courageous Lee showed character and determination in the early going following a knockdown in the first round caused by a heavy overhand right hook delivered by Jackson.

The Irishman was behind on the judges’ scorecards 39:36 as the 5th round commenced. Jackson launched a vicious assault with Lee against the ropes at the start of the round; Lee moved to his left out of the danger zone and quickly re-established his shape and composure. As Jackson moved in again Lee countered with a devastating right hand counter. Bang! Jackson was out cold as he slumped to the canvas.

continue

One Step at a Time for the Kid Marvin “Marvelous” Sonsona

Marvin “Marvelous” Sonsona is the new NABF Featherweight champ after defeating Wilfredo Vazquez Jr of Puerto Rico last Saturday night in New York. He outpointed and avenge his only loss of his career from the same fighter who conquered him and ran away with his WBO Flyweight title almost 5 years ago by knocking him out on the fourth round of that fight.

Many Sonsona fans, especially Filipino fans were disappointed and had crushed-hearts when he lost to Vazquez on their first bout because the fighter from General Santos, Philippines was being tagged as the next Manny Pacquio. Intriguingly, Sonsona and Pacquiao hails from the same province and were both considered as knockout artists of General Santos province.

continue

Brækhus defends WBC, WBO & WBA titles in Schwerin, sets sights on IBF crown

Cecilia Brækhus (25-0, 7 KOs) successfully defended her WBC, WBO & WBA Female World Welterweight titles with a unanimous points victory over Jessica Balogun (24-4, 12 KOs) at the Sport and Congress Center in Schwerin, Germany last night.

Balogun proved a tough opponent but was ultimately outclassed by Brækhus. The judges scored the fight 100-90, 99-91 and 98-92 all in favour of the pound-for-pound number one.

‘’It was a tough fight, but I expected that. Jessica is one of the toughest fighters around,’’ said Brækhus. ‘’All in all I was pleased with my performance.

continue