BERNARD HOPKINS, IBF Light Heavyweight World Champion
“Everyone the age of 40 and over had better be on my side on October 26, or I’ll kick their ass.
Bernard “The Alien” Hopkins Philadelphia media workout quotes
Joel Diaz: “There are no other opponents for Tim Bradley until we settle our business with Manny Pacquiao”
On this week’s edition of “The Pugilist KOrner”, expert trainer and former Lightweight contender Joel Diaz gave the listeners his thoughts on Tim Bradley’s boxing future in 2014.
Although most boxing pundits have stated that a fight with the winner of this weekend’s Junior Welterweight Championship contest in Denver, Colorado, between Mike Alvarado and Ruslan Provodnikov would be the most appropriate return bout for “Desert Storm”, the talented young fight trainer insists that the WBO Welterweight Champion has unfinished business with Manny Pacquiao.
“There is a wound that absolutely will not heal in my life until we make things clear and set things straight with Manny Pacquiao,” states expert trainer Joel Diaz. “I would love to get a rematch with Manny Pacquiao for the simple reason that we need to clear things up in the minds of the fight fans as well.”
Arthur Abraham warms up against De Carolis for another world title shot
Arthur Abraham (37-4, 28 KOs) is a man on a mission. On October 26, he defends the WBO Intercontinental Belt against Giovanni De Carolis (20-4, 10 KOs) in Oldenburg, Germany. However primarily, the 33-year-old wants to prove that he still has it in him to become again the WBO Super-Middleweight World Champion. Over a year ago, in August 2012, he won that very belt against Robert Stieglitz. But in March, he had to hand the title back to his fellow countryman due to a freakish eye injury.
Now that the score is even, Abraham is making himself ready for a third meeting with Stieglitz in 2014. He already made the first move in this direction with a victory over Willbeforce Shihepo in August to become the mandatory for Stieglitz. That would have been enough to get another crack at the world championship, but Abraham has other plans.
Legendary Nights: The Tale of Gatti-Ward premieres Saturday at midnight on HBO
Other HBO playdates: Oct. 21 (9:15 a.m.), 24 (5:10 p.m., 12:05 a.m.), 26 (11:00 a.m., 4:45 a.m.) and 30 (1:00 p.m., 1:00 a.m.), and Nov. 3 (7:55 a.m.), 7 (9:00 p.m.) and 15 (7:30 p.m.) HBO2 playdates: Oct. 23 (6:00 a.m., 10:00 p.m.) and 29 (11:30 p.m., 4:50 a.m.), and Nov. 2 (2:45 p.m.), 10 (8:45 a.m.) and 12 (4:30 p.m.)
50-Cent signs James Kirkland, returns to ring Dec. 7 on HBO
Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson’s SMS Promotions officially announced its signing of world light middleweight contender James “Mandingo Warrior” Kirkland (31-1, 27 KOs) to an exclusive promotional contract.
“James concentrates on conditioning and building strength,”50 Cent said. “He brings the fight to you and is aggressive in the ring. The crowd loves the action and I’m excited to make him a part of our team.”
“I had a relationship with 50-Cent before he came into the boxing business,” Kirkland explained. “We already had a friendship when he got this group together. He can do what no other promoters can do. He’s a different type of promoter who can make things happen in and out of the ring for me. It’s clear to me that I made the right decision.”
Kell Brook says he will avenge Ricky Hatton’s loss, is ready for Senchenko
Unbeaten welterweight contender Kell Brook had an open workout in his native Sheffield earlier today, training in front of enthusiastic fans at a big shopping mall. Brook said afterwards that he is “counting down the days” to his October 26th bout with Ukraine’s Vyacheslav Senchenko and that he is relishing the idea of the Ricky Hatton conqueror giving him a stern test.
Brook, 30-0(20) said he aims to avenge the 9th-round KO Senchenko scored over Hatton last November.
“I’m feeling great. It really gets me up when I come to Meadowhall, seeing all the fans come out,” Brook said to Sky Sports. “Training’s gone really well and I’m ready. I’ve a lot of respect for Senchenko, he’s a proven champion and ex-world champion. He’s come over here and he’s got a point to prove like he had last time with Ricky Hatton. I now want to get revenge for the fans and also for myself. I want to go out there and show why I’m talked about at the elite level.”
Alvarado & Provodnikov Interview Transcript
BOB ARUM: There is not much I can say as a promoter. You don’t have to sell this fight. Everyone that knows anything about boxing knows that this fight will be a candidate for ‘Fight of the Year.” Two great warriors – two guys that entertain the public. You don’t need a sales pitch for this one and it’s showing at the box office as there are so few tickets left and by fight time it will be sold out.
Judah vs Malignaggi quotes, videos and photos
(Photo credit: Tom Casino/Showtime) BROOKLYN, N.Y. (Oct. 15, 2013) – Golden Boy Promotions formally announced at a press conference today a major fight card for Saturday, Dec. 7, at Barclays Center live on SHOWTIME® highlighted by a 12-round match between two of the most talented fighters in Brooklyn’s boxing history, Five-Time, Two-Division World Champion Zab “Super” Judah (42-8, 29 KO’s) and Two-Time, Two-Division World Champion Paulie “The Magic Man” Malignaggi (32-5, 7 KO’s). The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® telecast will air live at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.
In the 12-round co-main event WBA Interim Super Welterweight titleholder Erislandy Lara (18-1-2, 12 KO’s), of Miami by way of Cuba, battles former WBA world champion Austin “No Doubt” Trout (26-1, 14 KO’s), of Las Cruces, N.M,by way of El Paso, Texas for the interim WBA 154-pound world title.
Danny O’Connor Stunned After Robbery Loss To Vivian Harris
New York, NY (10/15/13) – This past Saturday, New England fan-favorite Danny O’Connor traveled to Pennsylvania to take on former world champion Vivian Harris in their 10-round main event bout at the sold-out Electric Factory in downtown Philadelphia.
Should Juan Manuel Marquez plan his retirement party?
Degrading physical attributes due to inevitable aging, is generally the main reason for fighters losing their fights and being forced into retirement. Some believe that it’s the boxing abilities that abandon a fighter first, but in reality, technical ability is more than just muscle memory, over time it gets hardwired into one’s brain and forgetting it requires a very long period of inactivity.
Juan Manuel Marquez hasn’t displayed a decline of either physical or technical aptitude yet. Every one of his fights is not only competitive, but also consistently crown pleasing. His ability to box as well as brawl makes him a very unpredictable challenger. At the age of 40, his experience and participation in the fight game is legendary. As far as his late career goes, his loss to Floyd Mayweather Jr. is the only one that cannot be disputed or questions by the fans.