NEW YORK-Ring Magazine light-heavyweight champion Joe Calzaghe recently issued a statement in which he called boxing “a dying sport.” Light-heavyweight contender Shaun George took offense to those words, criticizing the undefeated Welshman for being part of the problem.
“All he is doing is fighting the older guys,” says Shaun George, 17-2-2 (8 KO), a native of Brooklyn, NY. “He’s not letting the younger fighters in the division come up. The way boxing creates new stars is by having the younger guys pick up where the older guys leave off. By fighting people in their 40’s like Roy Jones and Bernard Hopkins, Calzaghe is feeding into the problem.
“Boxing is not dying, but what hurts the sport is when the top stars don’t want to fight the rising contenders in their divisions. Why not fight a young guy like me or Chad Dawson? He won’t because he just wants to cash in.
“The light-heavyweight division is loaded with talent. You have Adrian Diaconu and Zsolt Erdei, both are undefeated champs. There are also exciting newcomers like Tavoris Cloud, Chris Henry and Yusaf Mack. I would not hesitate to fight any of those guys. In fact, HBO should do a ‘Night of the Young Light-Heavyweights’ tournament to showcase how hot this division is.”
The 29-year-old George is rated #7 by the WBC, #10 by the IBF and #12 by the WBA. He is currently recovering from a hand injury sustained in training camp which has temporarily sidelined him. George wants to pick up in 2009 where he left off after his star-making knockout of two-time heavyweight champion and future Hall-of-Famer Chris Byrd earlier this year.
“I’ve never ducked anyone. I’ve fought in other countries, in my opponent’s hometowns, I’ve never been afraid of a challenge. If HBO or Showtime is willing to have us, I’m ready and willing to fight anyone in the division. I don’t care if you’re southpaw, orthodox, tall, short, undefeated, my contract is already signed. Call my promoter Lou Dibella and let’s get it on.”
Anyone interested in fighting Shaun George, call Dibella Entertainment at (212) 947-2577.
USS Cunningham Sails On, Battle Scarred, Not Sunk As Reported!
Recently deposed IBF cruiserweight world champion, Steve ‘USS’ Cunningham, speaks out for the first time since the epic battle at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey on December 11th, which saw Tomasz ‘Goral’ Adamek from Jersey City, NJ. capture his crown by a contentious split decision.
Steve, who has been receiving the highest accolades from luminaries in the sport and media for his performance during the action packed bout, which is being hailed by all sectors of the media as ‘The Fight Of The Year’, spoke shortly after his return to his home town of Philadelphia after taking a well deserved short break.
“Firstly, I want to congratulate Adamek on his Victory.
It was a tough fight, one that we were easily winning without the flash knockdowns. We feel that the work that was put in was enough to win the fight, but understand that the judges saw differently.
I could be disappointed in the outcome of the fight, but these things happen in boxing. I put my trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, and I believe that everything happens for a reason. I am proud of my performance, I think the fans saw a different side of me that they have not seen before. Despite being put down three times in the fight, I fought with everything I had in me; I was not going to quit or give Adamek an easy night. As a matter of fact, I won the fight but lost the decision and that’s not just my view, I’ve read most of the fight reports, I see that a lot of guys who know what they are talking about also think I had done enough to win or at least get a draw. I want the fans to know that I will be Champion again, I want the rematch as soon as Adamek would be willing to get back in the ring.”
As the fight was a mandatory defense there is no automatic rematch option in the contract. Tomasz Adamek and his team have made it clear that the only way they would consider a rematch if there was “big money and serious television on the table,” something that Steve understands and accepts as Adamek is now the champion and it is his prerogative. However, Steve feels
that the he deserves the opportunity to win back his title and the fans deserve the opportunity to see him and Adamek in gladiatorial battle again. If you think the same call or write to HBO and Showtime and tell them.