LOS ANGELES (Dec 26) – 2013 was one of the best years boxing has had in recent memory, and as Sports Illustrated recapped the past 12 months, it honored Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer as the iconic publication’s Promoter of the Year.
“This is obviously an unexpected award, but I’m very appreciative and honored,” said Schaefer. “But I must point out that a single person can’t do what Golden Boy Promotions has done in 2013, so I’d like to thank my staff, our fighters, our sponsors and TV partners for their continued support and efforts in 2013. In the end, this is all about the fans of our great sport and I will continue to deliver the best fights and fighters to them in 2014 and beyond.”
If George Groves (19-1, 15 KO’s) is going to get a rematch against IBF/WBA super middleweight champion Carl Froch (32-2, 23 KO’s), then it’s probably going to take a change of tactics for him to get Froch to start showing interest in giving him a second chance.
After witnessing Floyd Mayweather Jr. make numerous posts poking fun at Manny Pacquiao as well as other possible opponents using his Twitter account, it is no secret that he is trying hard. But what is he trying to do?
2013 was a very good year for boxing by and large, and the elite operators of the last 12 months really had a chance to show their class. The mythical but always interesting/debatable/essential pound-for-pound rankings saw some old stars remain where they were, whilst some new stars burst into the charts.
If Marcos Maidana ends up being the one that faces Floyd Mayweather Jr. in his next pay-per-view bout on Showtime on May 3rd, Sergio Martinez sees Mayweather as having problems in trying to beat him. Sergio, a tough fighter from Argentina, thinks Maidana won’t be an easy out for Mayweather if he chooses to face him.
Toughness of mind and skill in facing toughest oppositions are equal to gallantry. It is the virtue most supreme and compatible to boxing as a combat sport. Thus beyond ring performances, gallantry should be topmost as criteria in choosing the Fighter (not “Fighter”) of the Year award.
Former WBC welterweight champion Victor Ortiz (29-4-2, 22 KO’s) is expecting big things if he can get past 32-year-old former WBA World welterweight champion Luis Collazo (34-5, 17 KO’s) next month in their scheduled 10 round fight on January 30th at the Barclays Center, in Brooklyn, New York, USA.
Floyd Mayweather Jr. wants to rebuild little Mayweather [Adrien Broner] by keeping him away from Marcos Maidana, by moving him down to 140, and having him fight on his next pay-per-view card on May 3rd. Mayweather thinks Broner can be brought back to his former status as one of boxing’s youngest up and coming stars, but he feels that he needs to be in the right weight class. If Broner can win a world title at 140 against someone like IBF light welterweight champion Lamont Peterson, Broner would be a 4 division world champion.
Dan Rafael of ESPN pointed out recently that Floyd Mayweather Jr. (45-0, 26 KO’s) with his fame and fortune will never be able to have a legacy because he’s failed to fight Manny Pacquiao (55-5-2, 38 KO’s). I’m not sure that a fight against Pacquiao is really needed for Mayweather to cement his legacy.