Calzaghe-Jones Jr; Minto vs Brown; Shawn Estrada

Top five reasons Roy Jones Jr. “could” beat Joe Calzaghe – By Mike Cassell 10/29/08 – As the Michelangelo in Bernard Hopkins painted the ceiling of Boardwalk Hall with Kelly Pavlik’s blood, a very quiet and confident Roy Jones Jr. sat smiling on a darkened stage that was set up behind the press area near the back of the arena. He was bearded with sunglasses a hat, and a cane, resembling one of the men who may have set the stage up, as opposed to one who will be firmly in the center of it on November 8th when he faces the Italian Dragon, Joe Calzaghe in Madison Square Garden..

Joe CalzagheAs he watched 43 year old Bernard Hopkins school Kelly Pavlik, I was wandering what was going through his mind. Did Bernard’s performance give him some inspiration? Or did watching Kelly Pavlik get thoroughly whipped give him a glimpse of the beating he may have to endure to get that big payday against Hopkins down the road. No one knows except Roy Jones, and he isn’t telling.

Since losing three times in 2006 and 2007, Jones didn’t need any disguise to be invisible. He was already there. He was cast into pugilistic purgatory and couldn’t get a decent fight with a big name, and no one coming up wanted to take a shot on him. He was searching for a way back into the limelight, when he decided to take a page out of Bernard Hopkins book. He took a fight with Felix Trinidad. It worked wonders for Hopkins, and the Jones, Trinidad match up did much better than most thought on PPV. All of the sudden the phone started ringing. As Golden Boy promotions were negotiating with Joe Calzaghe, Roy Jones was calling Joe out, in the media, and in direct communications with his people. He was even slapped with a cease and desist letter, when Hopkins and Golden Boy claimed he was hurting their negotiations by contacting Calzaghe. He stepped aside quietly, and waited. Trinidad was his first move, and stepping aside was his second. His third is an immovable obstacle from Whales, and this one will take everything he has got.

Jones won’t admit it, but the fight with Calzaghe is one big British stepping stone that will lead him to possibly the largest payday of his career. In 2006, Bernard Hopkins personally told The Philadelphia Boxing Report that he wouldn’t fight Roy Jones, because he was no longer credible. Well, if Jones somehow pulls off an incredible upset beating one of the longest reigning champions in the History of boxing, credibility will not be his problem. There are a few scenarios which could give Jones this victory. Here are our top five.

5. Who wants it more? This is a no brainer. Jones wants this win more than he has ever wanted any win in his professional career. It will make his devastating knockout losses a forgotten stumbling block, in an otherwise hall a fame career.

4. Calzaghe is old too! He is no spring chicken at 36 years old, and maybe he gets a little bit older in another twelve round slugfest.

3. Bernard Hopkins. The associated press had Hopkins winning against Joe Calzaghe in their last fight, and most felt if Hopkins pushed the envelope, the judges ringside would have too.

2. Been there done that. Calzaghe has been a few big fights, but Jones has been in a bunch more, and against younger versions of Bernard Hopkins and James Toney, and oh yeah, he was once the Heavyweight champion of the world.

And the number one reason is the oldest and most believable, and that is styles. It is an undisputable fact that Calzaghe has never faced a style like that of Jones. If he got frustrated chasing Hopkins for twelve rounds, he may get completely lost running after Jones. Later in his career, Jones chose to play the peek-a-boo, possum role in the ring, but if he displays any of incredible speed and movement that he once had, this fight will become very interesting, very fast. Given those reasons, one could walk away with a warm and funny feeling about a Jones victory, but it seems like Joe Calzaghe always has an answer for any competition. He can bang with a hitter, and stalk down the boxer. He connotes an aura of confidence that is borderline arrogant, but it is for real, and Jones knows it, because he once had the same thing. A Jones victory will give him some big guaranteed money and that swagger back. A Jones loss will send him back into a purgatory that not even Bernard Hopkins could bring him back from.

New foe for Minto!

WBO#11, WBA#15 heavyweight Brian “The Beast” Minto (31-2 20kos) will now face Galen Brown (31-9-1 19kos) this Saturday at Slippery Rock University in Pennsylvania. The ten round bout will be for Minto’s WBA Fedecentro heavyweight title. The original challenger, Marcus McGee, suffered a shoulder injury over the weekend which will require reconstructive surgery. Minto, a former linebacker at ‘The Rock’ and a winner of four in a row by 1st round knockout, hopes to extend his streak in hopes of landing a world title shot in the near future. Promoted by Beatdown Promotions in association with Brian Minto Boxing, the six bout card tabbed the “Minto Mash” will begin at 8PM at the University’s Morrow Arena. The show is almost sold out with a capacity crowd expected.

The undercard is highlighted by five Pennsylvania vs. Ohio matchups. Welterweight Khristian Geraci meets Tom Joseph, while Shane Gierke battles Cliff Gregory in another welterweight four. Also, middleweight Chris Archer faces Don Shrock, and heavyweight Joe Vusick tangles with Billy Greenawalt. A cruiserweight fight between Josh Harris and Julius Jackson is also scheduled. General admission tickets are $35 and ringside seats $100. Tickets are available at the Slippery Rock Athletic Dept. by calling (724) 738-2767. Doors open at 7PM.

Shawn Estrada Signs With Goossen Tutor Promotions

Los Angeles, CA (October 28, 2008) – 2008 U.S. Olympic Middleweight Shawn Estrada officially signed on with Goossen Tutor Promotions by signing in the presence of Dean Lohuis of the California State Athletic Commission.Said Estrada, “I am very happy with my decision to sign with Goossen Tutor. They have a solid stable of successful fighters, big enough to still focus on actually promoting and growing my career as a professional boxer. I am a great fighter, so my hard work and dedication will show my dad, who is resting in peace, and the public that I am a true champion.”Offered Goossen, “Shawn is a tough and talented fighter and a great addition our company. We can’t wait to see him begin his pro career.”