Former world cruiserweight champion David ‘The Hayemaker’ Haye has signalled the importance of the upcoming weeks for British boxing and has warned that fight fans could either witness a glorious renaissance of the sport in this country or a dramatic collapse. Starting with Joe Calzaghe’s light-heavyweight super-fight with Roy Jones, Jr. on November 8, the next four weeks will see all four of Britain’s leading players involved in captivating, hard-to-call matches..
Haye will battle New York heavyweight Monte ‘Two Gunz’ Barrett on November 15 at The O2 and Ricky ‘The Hitman’ Hatton will look to get to grips with Paulie ‘Magic Man’ Malignaggi on November 22. Finally, super-middleweight Carl ‘The Cobra’ Froch gets his deserved shot at world title glory against Jean Pascal on December 6.
Given the competitive nature of the match-ups, Haye is receptive to any kind of outcome in each bout.
“This is probably the best month for boxing I can remember in this country,” admits Haye, the former WBC, WBA and WBO world cruiserweight king now looking to light up a flagging heavyweight division.
“The four best fighters in Britain are all taking risky fights and it’s now time for each of us to stand up and be counted. We have to represent our country and show that British boxers can really fight.
“We sometimes get a reputation for being over-protected in this country and it’s down to us four to show that isn’t the case. This is what boxing should be all about. We’ve all taken potentially ‘lose-able’ fights and that’s exciting to me as a boxing fan.”
Nobody could ever accuse the go-getting Haye of being over-protected or handed the easy path to the top. After all, within merely 22 pro bouts the Bermondsey puncher has snared three world titles and unified the cruiserweight division. However, in moving up to heavyweight, Haye is adamant the job is only half complete.
Alternatively, Welsh hero Calzaghe is nearing the end of his career. He looks to bow out in style against all-time great Jones, Jr. in a fight Haye warns could surprise a few people.
“Joe needs to kick things off in style with a win over Roy, but it’s definitely not going to be as easy as people think,” explains Haye. “Roy probably isn’t the fighter he once was, but he still knows enough and has the kind of style to give Joe a headache or two.
“Joe is a great fighter and has a work-rate that most opponents just can’t live with. That alone will be enough to beat most fighters. However, he’s not an awkward, hard-to-hit southpaw like Antonio Tarver. Calzaghe will be there for Jones to hit and when Roy is offered a target he’s usually very quick to the trigger and lands clean, eye-catching shots. It may be a case of Calzaghe’s quantity versus Jones’ quality.”
A massive fan of Pensacola’s Jones, Jr., Haye was able to finally meet his hero in Las Vegas during the summer – ironically, at Calzaghe’s light-heavyweight showdown with Bernard Hopkins.
“I met Roy at the roulette tables in Vegas,” says Haye. “He was playing just as hard he fights and was every bit as competitive as I expected him to be. He wouldn’t let anyone get the upper hand and would sulk if he lost.
“He was also constantly talking about his wish to fight Calzaghe and was spelling out the game plan to me. He wouldn’t stop going on about it. The one thing you can say about Jones is that he’s a very measured and calculated kind of fighter. He doesn’t go near fights he doesn’t feel he can win. He believes he knows exactly what to do to beat Calzaghe.”
Ultimately, though, Haye will be hoping for a Calzaghe victory to rejuvenate boxing in this country and set up his own bout with Barrett the following week at The O2.
“We all have our jobs to do and should we get four wins out of four we can then look forward to some even bigger fights in 2009,” adds Haye. “I already know that should I get the win over Barrett we could be doing something special with Wladimir Klitschko next year in England. That’s the sort of fight Britain needs.
“The same goes for Joe, Ricky and Carl in their fights. This is our chance to prove ourselves on the biggest stage and deliver some big fights for this country in 2009. I can’t wait.”
*** Haye’s November 15 showdown with Barrett, as well as Calzaghe’s November 8 duel with Jones, Jr., are both screened live and exclusively by Setanta Sports – the undisputed home of British and world boxing.
*** To purchase tickets for HAYEMAKER2: ‘One Hayemaker vs. Two Gunz’ contact the Box Office on 08448 560 202 or visit www.ticketmaster.co.uk. For further information on Haye’s heavyweight curtain raiser or any other forthcoming Hayemaker shows, log on to the official website, http://www.hayemaker.com/.
UNDERCARD ANNOUNCED FOR STAR BOXING’S NOVEMBER 7TH BALLY’S SHOW
BRONX, NY – Nov 03, 2008 The undercard has been announced for Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing show at Bally’s Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City, NJ on November 7th. The card, which is being broadcast live on GoFightLive.tv, and will feature the WBA #5 rated heavyweight in the world Kevin “Kingpin” Johnson (20-0-1, 7KO) taking on Matt Greer (12-3, 11KO) in the main event, will also showcase some of boxing’s hottest young talent, along with some very intriguing cross road battles.
In addition to the ten round welterweight clash between New Jersey products and top contenders Terrance “Heat” Cauthen (33-4, 9KO) of Trenton, NJ and Shamone “The Truth” Alvarez (19-1, 11KO) Atlantic City, NJ, there are five additional bouts scheduled to appear on the card.
SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHT PROPSECT CURTIS “SHOWTIME” STEVENS RETURNS
Star Boxing’s Curtis “Showtime” Stevens (18-2, 13KO) looks to get back into top contention when he takes on Ray Smith (8-2, 2KO) in an eight round super middleweight contest. The 23 year old Brooklyn, NY native was one of the most decorated amateurs to come out of New York in many years when he turned pro back in 2004. Stevens is a very aggressive fighter who looks to put on an exciting show each time out. In his last fight, Stevens got off the canvas against Thomas Reid and went on to stop Reid in the 8th and final round in a very exciting fight.
Former heavyweight champion of the world Bruce “The Atlantic City Express” Seldon (38- 7, 34KO) takes on up and comer Brad Gregory (11-1, 9KO) in an eight round heavyweight contest. As witnessed by their records, both Seldon and Gregory have knockout power which is sure to make for an exciting match up between the two heavyweight bangers.
RISING WELTERWEIGHT, UNDEFEATED RAYMOND SERRANO
Star Boxing’s welterweight phenom 19-year-old Raymond Serrano (7-0, 5KO) from nearby Philadelphia, PA looks to continue on his path of destruction up the welterweight ladder when he takes on Shakha Moore (10-12-3, 2KO). Serrano has been terrific each time out and seems sure to become a serious threat to the welterweight division in the years to come.
Rounding out the card are two of Atlantic City’s own, hot bantamweight prospect, 19-year-old Qa’id “Kid Dynamite” Muhammad (3-0, 3KO) and cruiserweight Lavarn “Baby Bowe” Harvell (1-0). Both are scheduled to participate in 4 round contests.
Tickets are priced at $90 and $60 and can be purchased by calling Ticketmaster at 1(800) 736-1420 or going online to ticketmaster.com. Tickets are also available by calling Star Boxing at (718) 823-2000 or by going online to www.starboxing.com.
Joey Dawejko Wins Gold at the 2008 Youth World Championships
Adam Lopez and Luis Arias Take Home Bronze Medals
(COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO.) – Super Heavyweight Joey Dawejko (Philadelphia, Pa.) traveled to Guadalajara, Mexico for only his second major national event, and returned home with a gold medal draped around his neck. He recorded four victories at the AIBA Youth World Championships to win gold at the inaugural event, October 25-November 2. Flyweight Adam Lopez (San Antonio, Texas) and middleweight Luis Arias (Milwaukee, Wis.) joined Dawejko on the medal stand, winning bronze in their respective divisions.
Dawejko opened the event with two victories in preliminary round competition, and continued his winning streak into his semifinal and championship bouts on Friday and Saturday to claim his first international medal. He was the lone U.S. boxer to record a win in semifinal action, claiming an 8-3 win over Ukraine’s Plevako Iegor to advance on to championship round action. Once again, Dawejko showed off his defensive prowess in his final round contest with Switzerland’s Ergun Mersin, holding the Swiss boxer to only one point over four rounds. He claimed a 9-1 win over Mersin in their bout to win a gold medal. Dawejko becomes the first U.S. boxer to win gold at the event, previously known as the Junior World Championships since Juan McPherson in 2002.
Dawejko moved on to the semifinal round with a 16-4 win over the Virgin Island’s Clayton Laurent in the first round and a 10-8 victory over Bauyrzhan Akshabay of Kazakhstan in quarterfinal round action.
Lopez put on a strong performance in his first major national event, advancing to the semifinal round but dropped a 12-3 decision to Jonathan Gonzalez of Puerto Rico. Arias’ impressive run to the medal round ended in the semifinals with a 7-1 loss to Germany’s Enrico Koelling.
The United States’ three medals puts them in sixth place in the rankings by nation, following Cuba, Russia, home country Mexico, Germany and Ireland. The eight boxers joining the three medalists were: light flyweight Oscar Cantu (Kingsville, Texas), bantamweight Joshua Berrelleza (Riverside, Calif.); featherweight Kevin Rivers (Fort Washington, Md.); lightweight Traon Bynum (Fort Washington, Md.); light welterweight Roscoe Hill IV (Spring, Texas); welterweight Errol Spence (Desoto, Texas); light heavyweight Robert Brant (Oakdale, Minn.); and heavyweight Nicholas Kisner (Glen Burnie, Md.). Spence and Kisner advanced to quarterfinal action before being eliminated only one win short of a medal.
The U.S. team was led by Head Coach Candy Lopez (San Jose, Calif.), Israel Acosta (Milwaukee, Wis.) and Bill Meartz (Portland, Ore.). Bobby Lee (Hayden, Colo.) served as Team Leader with Don De Verges (Los Angeles, Calif.) working as the AIBA official. Dr. Garth Wright (Jackson, Tenn.) joined the squad as the Team Physician.
U.S. Results
November 1 – Championship Bouts
201+ lbs: Joey Dawejko, Philadelphia, Pa./USA dec. Ergun Mersin, SUI, 9-1
October 31 – Semifinal Bouts
112 lbs: Jonathan Gonzalez, PUR, dec. Adam Lopez, San Antonio, Texas/USA
165 lbs: Enrico Koelling, GER, dec. Luis Arias, Milwaukee, Wis./USA, 7-1
201+ lbs: Joey Dawejko, Philadelphia, Pa./USA dec. Plevako Iegor, UKR, 8-3
October 29 – Preliminary Bouts
Evening Session
152 lbs: Boturjon Mahmudov, UZB, dec. Errol Spence, Desoto, Texas/USA, 11-4
201 lbs: Ivan Dychko, KAZ, dec. Nicholas Kisner, Glen Burnie, Md./USA
201+ lbs: Joey Dawejko, Philadelphia, Pa./USA dec. Bauyrzhan Akshabay
October 29 – Preliminary Bouts
Afternoon Session
112 lbs: Adam Lopez, San Antonio, Texas/USA dec. Orlando Felix Perez Zapata, DOM, 12-3
165 lbs: Luis Arias, Milwaukee, Wis./USA dec. Oskar Lakomy, CZE, 14-4
October 28 – Preliminary Bouts
Evening Session
152 lbs: Errol Spence, Desoto, Texas/USA dec. Makarov Taras, UKR, 15-1
October 28 – Preliminary Bouts
Afternoon Session
165 lbs: Luis Arias, Milwaukee, Wis./USA dec. Felix Rodriguez, PUR, 27-1
October 27 – Preliminary Bouts
Evening Session
125 lbs: Vitali Varabyeu, BLR, dec. Kevin Rivers, Fort Washington, Md./USA, 12-11
201 lbs: Nicholas Kisner, Glen Burnie, Md./USA dec. Martin Krelina, CZE, 11-4
201+ lbs: Joey Dawejko, Philadelphia, Pa./USA dec. Clayton Laurent, ISV, 16-4
October 27 – Preliminary Bouts
Afternoon Session
119 lbs: Jonathan Valarezo, ECU, dec. Joshua Berrelleza, Riverside, Calif./USA, 11-5
141 lbs: Alfonso Felipe Ugalde, MEX, dec. Roscoe Hill IV, Spring, Texas/USA, 15-12
October 26 – Preliminary Bouts
Evening Session
132 lbs: Juan Garcia, CUB, dec. Traon Bynum, Fort Washington, Md./USA, 16-8
165 lbs: Luis Arias, Milwaukee, Wis./USA stopped Tamas Gumdi, HUN, RSC-2
October 26 – Preliminary Bouts
Afternoon session
106 lbs: Saul Tuarez, MEX, dec. Oscar Cantu, Kingsville, Texas/USA, 11-3
112 lbs: Adam Lopez, San Antonio, Texas/USA dec. Oualid Belaouara, FRA, 12-11
152 lbs: Errol Spence, Desoto, Texas/USA dec. Alex Theran, COL, 11-4
October 25- Preliminary Bouts
Evening session
141 lbs: Roscoe Hill IV, Spring, Texas/USA dec. Sandro Mrdenovic, CRO, 16-6
October 25- Preliminary Bouts
Afternoon session
112 lbs: Adam Lopez, San Antonio, Texas/USA dec. Geier Dieter, GER, 10-4
125 lbs: Kevin Rivers, Fort Washington, Md./USA dec. Tyrone McKenna, IRL, 16-5
178 lbs: Artur Schmidt, GER, dec. Robert Brant, Oakdale, Minn./USA, 10-10