Will Canelo Alvarez be “The One” to finally defeat Floyd Mayweather?

canelo00 LAS VEGAS (September 3, 2013) – If Canelo Alvarez is awestruck by the prospect of trying to do something that no one else has done – defeat pound-for-pound king Floyd Mayweather – he doesn’t show it.

Canelo maintained the same cool, calm expression throughout a nine-city press tour to promote “THE ONE: Mayweather vs. Canelo” – the highly anticipated, super welterweight world championship pay-per-view showdown at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, Sept. 14. It was the look of a man who is never hurried and never worried. All business.

continue

Floyd Mayweather, Saul Alvarez and the double standards of the boxing industry

Fight night is approaching, the tension in both camps is building up and the masks are falling. It’s time for mind games and a little psychological warfare. It will probably be a close fight most of the time and the judges scoring the points will be the main factor. This time Floyd may not benefit from the politics if it comes to that. So far he has been greatly privileged as far as point scoring is concerned. The best example of that would be his first fight with Jose Luis Castillo when Mayweather won by UD but was out landed 176:66 in the power punch department and 203:157 in total punches. Boxing isn’t about counting punches (tell that to Castillo) but when one of the boxers out-lands his opponent almost 3 to 1, questions and doubt will linger the outcome forever. Floyd was the beneficiary of a “political” decision when he was a rising prospect loaded with expectations.

continue

Frank Warren, Bill Ives and Queensberry Promotions announce formation of new super-promotional venture

It was announced today that Frank Warren, Britain’s leading boxing promoter, his sons George and Francis’ company Queensberry Promotions and Bill Ives, one of Britain’s leading businessmen, have signed an exclusive agreement to create a powerful, new, promotional organisation. The combination of the promotional powerhouse that is Frank Warren and the business acumen and financial investment of steel tycoon Bill Ives is designed to take boxing promotion in the UK to a new level.

Mr. Warren, an inductee in the International Boxing Hall of Fame, has been responsible for promoting many of the world’s best boxers and their highest profile contests. Mr. Ives is the Chairman and principal of Rainham Steel, the UK’s foremost independent steel stockholder. He regularly features in the Sunday Times Rich List as one of the country’s most successful businessmen.

continue

Ray Beltran ready for Ricky Burns

This Saturday afternoon Ray Beltran (28-6, 17 KO’s) will take on Ricky Burns for Burns’ WBO Lightweight championship on AWE & www.awetv.com beginning at 3pm eastern time.

To say Beltran earned this opportunity is an understatement as the native of Phoenix, Arizona via Los Mochis, Mexico has had to fight his way to this opportunity.

Beltran turned pro in 1999 took some losses early in his career but he was determined to realize his dream of becoming a world champion.

Beltran who lost a controversial decision to Sharif Bogere and a close loss to undefeated Luis Ramos Jr. before a magical three fight run where he defeated Number-one ranked contender Henry Lundy, former world title challenger Ji-Hoon Kim and Alejandro Rodriguez that catapulted him into this opportunity.

continue

Teddy & Tyson – A Few Words and a Hug

Mike Tyson, the former heavyweight champ of the world, who now is a boxing promoter, showed up ringside for ESPN’s season finale of Friday Night Fights. Iron Mike took the opportunity to make peace with Teddy Atlas. He said he was sorry for what he did years ago. Apparently, he was referring to a well-publicized incident that occurred years ago. Allegedly, it involved Tyson’s crude behavior toward a young girl related to Teddy’s wife. Tyson, after expressing his sorrow, then hugged Teddy. All is well. It was a release for Tyson, who constantly struggles to turn the corner on his recovery.

continue

Tommy Morrison passes away

44-year-old former WBO heavyweight champion Tommy “The Duke” Morrison has passed away in Omaha, Nebraska. Morrison died last night with his wife at his side. The cause of death hasn’t been revealed yet. Morrison started in the movie “Rocky V” with actor Sylvester Stallone. One of the top boxers in the late 80s and 90s, Morrison was said to have Gullain-Barre Syndrome, according to his wife Trisha.

Morrison tested positive for HIV back in 1996, which halted his promising boxing career. Morrison would later fight two more times in stopping John Castle in the 2nd round in 2007, and Matt Weishaar in the 3rdnd round in 2008. Morrison didn’t look good in the Weishaar fight, as he was badly out of breath before finally halting him.

continue

Jairo Castaneda makes Golden Boy debut in San Antonio, Texas

Newly signed Golden Boy Promotions prospect Jairo “El Increible” Castaneda (2-0, 1 KO) will make his GBP debut on tonight’s “Monday Night Fights” bout sheet in San Antonio, Texas, which will be aired on the new Fox Sports One at 9PM EST/6PM PST.

The talented Alamo City native will take on Warren Stewart (0-1, 0 KOs) of Austin, Texas, in a four round, Welterweight special attraction.

In what will be his third professional contest, Castaneda hopes to showcase his devastating, one punch knock-out power, as well as his technical boxing ability and capacity to fight at multiple ranges proficiently.
Castaneda’s trainer and mentor expounds on the noticeable maturity of the 22 year old prospect.

continue

Luis Collazo: Ready, willing, and able

Labor Day, the first Monday in September, has always paid homage to the American worker and served as a tribute to the contribution he or she has made to the strength, opulence, and welfare of the United States.

On a day that celebrates the worker’s fortitude and commitment to success, it seems only fitting that one of the more determined and resilient fighters in boxing gets another opportunity to “punch the clock” on network television.

Former WBA Welterweight Champion Luis Collazo (33-5, 17 KOs) will compete in the main event of the evening on Fox Sports One’s newest boxing series, “Monday Night Fights”, from San Antonio, Texas, against 22 year old prospect Alan Sanchez (12-2-1, 6 KOs) of Fairfax, California.
The perennial contender is excited to be a headliner on the Golden Boy/Leija Battah Promotions fight card.

continue

Left-Hook Lounge Mailbag: Mayweather/Canelo “All Access” Ep.2, Garcia/Matthysse, & Canelo Weight: Penalty or Remedy?

Kerri I. (Cincinnati, OH): Last week, you pointed out a few things from the first episode of Mayweather/Canelo “ALL ACCESS” that you felt gave insight on how the bout may end. What did you take from this weeks Episode 2?

Vivek W. (ESB): I’ve watched the initial two installments of “All Access” probably 6 or 7 times now. There were certain things that stood out in the first episode. But in this second episode there was one piece that continued to resonate with me well after it finished each time…..almost as a prelude of what’s surely destined to come. In a funny irony, leading into the Mayweather vs Ortiz showdown, I remember stating that of all the things I heard Mayweather say, the words “If you make a mistake, you have to pay” rang loud and clear, more so than any others. On fight night, it was those very words that embodied the final storyline and all subsequent headlines that went to press the next morning all over the globe!

continue

Pacquiao should be careful against Rios, says Del Rosario

pac Tambong, del Rosario, the former trainer of Rustico Torrecampo, thinks Manny Pacquiao (54-5-2, 38 KO’s) needs to be extra careful in his fight on November 23rd against Brandon Rios (31-1-1, 23 KO’s). Del Rosario’s concerns are that Pacquiao could hurt against Rios in the same way that he was in his 6th round knockout loss to Juan Manuel Marquez last December.

In that fight Pacquiao disregarded Marquez’s power, and walked into one of his hard right hands in the 6th round that resulted in Pacquiao getting knocked clean out.

Del Rosario said Philboxing “Manny should watch out and not make the mistake he committed against Marquez last December. Maybe Rios is younger and lacks experience, but he definitely possesses the strength and endurance that can connect when his rival gets careless.”

continue