Argenis Mendez headlines Aug. 23rd ESPN FNF on Iron Mike Productions card

ESPN FNF 8-23-13 DEERFIELD, Fla. (August 7, 2013) – International Boxing Federation (IBF) junior lightweight champion Argenis “La Tormenta” Mendez (21-2, 11 KOs) has been training in England for his first world title defense on August 23, airing live on ESPN Friday Night Fights, against challenger Arash Usmanee (20-1, 10 KOs), from Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, New York.

Mendez vs. Usmanee represents the main event on the intitial event promoted by Iron Mike Productions, “Tyson Is Back!”, a scheduled 12-round war between the 2004 Dominican Republic Olympian (Mendez) and Afghanistan-native (Usmanee) who lives in Montreal.

Acquinity Sports, under CEO Garry Jonas, partnered with Hall of Famer Mike Tyson to form Iron Mike Productions, which is presenting “Tyson Is Back!” in association with Greg Cohen Promotions.

Mendez, rated No. 2 in the world by The Ring Magazine, fights for the first time since he captured his IBF belt this past March, dismantling defending champion Juan Carlos Salgado (26-1-1) in a rematch that ended with a sensational knockout in the fourth round.

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Floyd Mayweather is not Chicken!

floyd33 Manny misspoke when he said Floyd Mayweather, Jr. runs, which implies he’s chicken. No one really buys that. However, they do go along with the idea that Floyd is guilty of same thing as Wladimir Klitschko. Hall of Famer Larry Merchant explained it best when he corrected someone for calling bouts – boxing. Larry quickly explained, in no uncertain terms, that that is not what people pay to see. According to Larry, they’re paying to see prize fighting, with emphasis on fighting.

Floyd has been boxing since he got out of diapers. His father and uncles were either boxing or training/coaching others how to box before Little Money was born. It’s a safe bet to say Small Change was boxing while still in his crib. He doesn’t know anything else. Boxing has been his life. If he was a chicken, there’s no way he could have carried on the family’s tradition.

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Pacquiao vs. Rios: The Full New York City Presser

After a tour through Asia, Manny Pacquiao and Brandon Rios returned to the U.S. for a press event in the Big Apple.

HBO Pay-Per-View will broadcast at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT Fighter of the Decade, Congressman MANNY “Pacman” PACQUIAO (54-5-2, 38 KOs), the lone congressional representative from the Sarangani Province of the Philippines, versus former world champion BRANDON “Bam Bam” RIOS (31-1-1, 22 KOs), of Oxnard, Calif.

Remaining tickets, priced from $1,275 to $115, and various ticket-hotel packages at Sands China’s Cotai Strip Resorts Macao, are now on sale and can be purchased online at www.venetianmacao.com/manny. U.S.-based fans may also order via a special toll-free number: 1-855-234-4410.

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David Tua injured, fight with Alexander Ustinov still on

THE highly anticipated heavyweight clash between David Tua and Alexander Ustinov has not yet been postponed, promoter David Higgins said today.

Tua, who is slated to fight the giant Russian in their Hyrd8ZERO David vs Goliath blockbuster at Claudelands’ Arena on August 31, suffered a minor calf strain while training.

The initial professional advice from Team Tua’s doctor is that it is a Grade One tear – the least serious of muscle strains.

Mr Higgins – whose company Duco Events is promoting the Hyrd8ZERO David vs Goliath show – said Tua will continue to be accessed over the next few days.

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Pacquiao And Rios Disagree On Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Is Shane Mosley over the hill or is he still capable of fighting?

Is Manny Pacquiao still the same fighter that he was before being knocked out by Marquez?

Does Floyd Mayweather Jr. run or fight?

To all the above mentioned questions, as well as any other similar ones, there will always be as many opinions as there are people discussing them. For instance, in the recent video discussion with Pacquiao and Rios posted by ESPN, both fighters disagree on how Mayweather Jr. fights.

“His style and my style if you look at it, he has an advantage because he always keeps running and not fighting,” stated Pacquiao.

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Froch vs Groves: Brutality vs Stealth

In terms of boxing, what can be said of Carl Froch? He’s not just ‘as tough as they come’, he’s tougher. He’s the epitome of resolve. He’s a vicious and hurtful puncher. He’s hugely experienced at the highest levels of boxing. He’s a very serious risk to any fighter in the world at any given moment in a fight, regardless of whether it’s the first round or the twelfth. He’s a world champion boxer. How could one argue over these statements when the world witnesses the aforementioned whenever Carl steps into a ring? It’s fact, Carl Froch is a resilient, hard-hitting world champion.

What of George Groves? He’s got power. He can box and move with skill and grace. He’s gathering experience and maturing as a fighter. He’s beating everyone that’s put in front of him, he remains undefeated, and, according to the world boxing organisations, has worked his way up through the ranks with only Carl Froch to beat in order to claim the ‘numero uno’ spot. It too is fact that George Groves is a slick, undefeated boxer with power in his punch, and is in possession of the right to challenge for a world title.

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Shane Mosley vs. Amir Khan on December 7?

According to Fightnews.com, it looks as though Shane Mosley might be the next in line to face Amir Khan on December 7, 2013. (http://www.fightnews.com/Boxing/boxing-buzz-316-216957)

This is an interesting fight, because it’s hard to tell which fighter is actually supposed to be the better one.

Is Amir Khan the young champion coming to retire Mosley? Maybe, but his losses to Peterson and Garcia expose him as nothing more than an average fighter with luck of the draw in the past. Not only do his losses shade his record, but his recent wins as well. His victory over Carlos Molina was solid, but it wasn’t sensational, and of course his barely pulled of win over Julio Diaz makes it seem like Khan at his young age may be over the hill.

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Coach Mike Kozlowsky: fight or die!

Call Michael Kozlowsky! That advice was given to me not only wholeheartedly, but also seemed to be a very good one indeed: in New York I was looking for a man, who would be able to help me to understand a problem of young immigrants, aspiring martial arts athletes, trying to assimilate into our society. How would a teenager or a young adult – find the path of their own, to feel as comfortable as possible inside an environment – totally new, and not familiar to them. And those persons are clearly the most aggressive and spontaneous in their respectful generation. All right, I am on the phone. After some waiting, self-assured, slightly crackled voice answers me. He speaks with some obvious Russian accent – so, after I introduced myself, I switch to Russian too. My counterpart apologizes politely, and asked me to call back in ten minutes – because he needs to finish his recent session with his trainee. Of course – I’ll call later.

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“Colonel” Bob Sheridan Says The Klitschkos “Need David Tua”

As fans will possibly be aware, heavyweight powerhouse David Tua, arguably one of the best fighters never to have captured a major title, will be back in action later this month, when the 40-year-old will tangle with Russian giant Alexander Ustinov.

The fight, a big deal in New Zealand like all of Tua’s fights, will mark “The Tuaman’s” first ring appearance for two years (his rematch loss to Monte “Two Gunz” Barrett) and the Samoan slugger’s fans are hoping their hero can launch one last assault on the heavyweight championship of the world.

I’ve always been a fan of Tua, since he burst onto the scene with his chilling destruction of John Ruiz. And I do think that a prime Tua – say the wrecking machine that ruined Ruiz and went to war with the could-have-been-great Ike Ibeabuchi – would have given Wladimir Klitschko a fierce argument.

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Left-Hook Lounge: Mayweather/Pacquiao Demands, Khan/Alexander Riff, & Adrien Broner!!!

Byron M. (Tacoma, WA): Please tell me that Mayweather is joking about Pacquiao having to sign with Mayweather Promotions in order to secure a fight with him in the future! What is that about?

Vivek W. (ESB): I think the comments as printed were blown out of context. I’d be the first to say that Mayweather absolutely meant what he said. But the actual purpose behind the statement was never defined through the media source that initially reported, which made it appear that Mayweather was just doing what some feel Mayweather always does (talk). There appears to be a major disconnect relative to what he meant by this statement, so I think it can only help to add clarity.

In a nutshell, what it all comes down to is the fact that Mayweather, without question stands as the bigger draw. Once upon a time there may have been a debate. But right now, unequivocally, there are no questions. Without needing to elaborate much further, ask yourself this: why would Floyd – (who clearly feels he should get the lions share of the entire promotion) – take the bigger portion of the fight purse, yet concede the lions share of the promotional element of the purse (which isn’t small)?

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