Undefeated IBF light heavyweight champion Tavoris Cloud (20-0, 18 KOs) has become the Rodney Dangerfield of boxing – he can’t get any respect, especially from “Bad” Chad Dawson, allegedly the top dog in the 175-pound division. “Chad Dawson won’t be able to run 12 rounds against me,” Cloud said. “My pressure will be unbelievable and I hit hard with both hands. He’ll have to stand and fight and that will be his ultimate demise. We’re totally different. If I went around saying I could beat the No. 1 contender, like Chad did when I was the No. 1, I’d fight him to prove it..
“I’m baffled, I guess, more than frustrated. All my life watching boxing, I thought the champion had to fight the next available, most deserving challenger, or unify the title. I was the No. 1 contender and he was the champ, but that’s when all the politics of boxing came in – extensions and exceptions – and his promoter lobbied to duck this hungry fighter. I understand the promoter building a fighter and arranging puff fights for more money. At some point, though, a real fighter has to fight the best. You can’t be great just fighting hand-picked, over-the-hill guys.”
Cloud, fighting out of Tallahassee (FL), has beaten everybody put in the ring against him during his perfect 4 1/2–years pro career. He’s fresh, entertaining and throws nearly 100 punches a round, something practically unheard of from a light heavyweight. The Ring magazine has him rated No. 6 but he still hasn’t been able to get Dawson into a fight because, reportedly, Tavoris isn’t well enough known by fans to justify a fight against Dawson on HBO.
What’s Cloud have to do?
His last four opponents – Clinton Woods (DEC12), Julio Cesar Gonzalez (TKO10), Mike Wood (KO1) and Jacob Rodriguez (RTD3) – have either officially retired or simply haven’t fought since being ‘rained on’ by Cloud.
After stopping Wood in the first round of their March 28, 2008 fight in Chicago for the USBA and NABA titles, Cloud became the No. 1 IBF contender and he then took out former WBO titlist Gonzalez in the 11th round of their Aug. 8, 2008 IBF Title Eliminator to become the mandatory challenger for the then reigning Dawson.
Dawson was first supposed to defend his IBF strap against Cloud by January 8, 2009, but Dawson was granted an exception to fight Antonio Tarver in a rematch last March. Dawson won and the IBF mandated that he fight Cloud by May 1, 2009 or be stripped of his title. Rather than take on Cloud, Dawson relinquished his IBF title belt after Tavoris refused to fight a non-title bout against another opponent, not Dawson, on an HBO show. Cloud’s promoter, Richie Boy Promotions, declined the offer and promoted a fight for the then vacant IBF crown between Cloud and former IBF champion, Clinton Woods, who Tavoris impressively defeated by unanimous 12-round decision (116-112 scoring by all three judges).
After defeating Woods, HBO offered Cloud a spot on its network against Dawson or in the co-feature on a show headlined by Dawson, whose promoter, Gary Shaw, once again, refused to fight Tavoris or even allow Chad to fight on the same HBO card.
Team Cloud believes there’s another reason why Dawson won’t fight Cloud and it doesn’t have anything to do with purse structures or name recognition. “Back in 2001,” Cloud’s head trainer Al Bonanni explained, “Dawson and Cloud were both outstanding amateurs. They sparred in 2001 at the U.S. Olympic training camp. Tavoris floored Dawson and hurt his eye. After that, Dawson was moved down to 168 pounds, instead of competing with Cloud at 175. Dawson still fears Tavoris Cloud and that’s why he won’t get in the ring with him. We’re willing to fight Dawson or any of the top light heavyweights in the world.”
Cloud hopes to defend his IBF title in the first-quarter of 2010 against WBC champion Jean Pascal in a unification bout, or, there’s always the possibility of fighting one of the over 40 greats such as Bernard Hopkins, Roy Jones, Jr., Glen Johnson and Antonio Tarver.
If Dawson ever mans-up, that deal can still be made but, like Dangerfield, right now Cloud ‘can’t get no respect!’
“I think Dawson will fight me in the not too distant future,” Cloud added. “As long as I keep winning impressively in exciting fights, fans will call for it. I don’t understand his logic (for not fighting Tavoris) because I’m not that type of fighter. I want to fight the best and it doesn’t matter if they’re boxers, punchers or southpaws. That’s the way to be great. One world title belt isn’t enough for me; I want more.”
MADDALONE LOOKS TO BRING EXCITEMENT TO FRANCE
When heavyweight fan favorite Vinny Maddalone (32-5, 23KO) takes on former two-time cruiserweight champion Jean Marc Mormeck (33-4, 22KO) this Thursday, one thing is for sure, the fans in attendance will be treated to one very exciting fight. The bout, scheduled for eight rounds, will take place at the Halle Carpentier Arena in Mormeck’s native Paris, France.
“I can’t wait to get into the ring and go to war with Mormeck,” stated Maddalone. “Mormeck comes right at you and likes to bang, which is exactly the type of fight I dream about being in. There isn’t going to be any dancing around or pop shotting from the outside, this is going to be one of those old school fashion wars that boxing fans love to see. We are both going to be right in each other’s faces from the start of the fight, saying, ‘here I am, let me see what you got’. I’m really looking forward to putting on a fun and exciting show for all those in attendance come fight night.”
Maddalone, coming off a 4th round TKO over Benji Baker in his last fight in April, is known for his crowd pleasing style, and punching power. Maddalone is also known throughout the boxing circles as a bleeder, something that Maddalone thrives off of.
“When I see blood, that’s when I really start to fight, I guess it gets me going,” says Maddalone with a smile.
This will be his second appearance for Maddalone in Europe in the last two years. Last November Maddalone traveled to Germany to take on highly regarded undefeated prospect Dennis Boytsov (26-0, 21KO).
Boytsov, who is ranked as the WBO #4, WBA #5, IBF #5, and WBC #12 ranked heavyweight in the world, had all he could handle with Maddalone, eventually winning a much closer then scored eight round unanimous decision.
While the French native Mormeck will be the favorite going into the fight it is worthy noting that while Maddalone has been relatively active, fighting four times in 2008, and once already in 2009, this will be Mormeck’s first fight since 2007 when he was stopped by now WBA heavyweight champion, David Haye. Also this will be Mormeck’s first trip into the heavyweight division. The 5’11 Mormeck started his career at light heavyweight and has never weighed more than 202 lbs. in any of his fights, while the 6’2 Maddalone has been at heavyweight his entire career, and will hold a substantial size advantage over Mormeck.
“We are optimistic about Vinny’s chances going into this fight,” stated Joe DeGuardia, CEO of Star Boxing and long-time promoter of Maddalone. “Vinny is a natural heavyweight, with real heavyweight power, it will be interesting to see how Mormeck reacts if Vinny catches him. Regardless of the outcome, you know anytime you have a fight involving Vinny that you are in for a special treat. He is one of boxing’s ultimate blood and guts warriors, and we expect nothing less from him come December 17th.”
Cristobal Cruz – Ricardo Castillo Update
The world championship fight promoted by Arthur Pelullo’s Banner Promotions and Rodney Berman’s Golden Gloves on Saturday, December 19, 2009, at El Palenque in Tuxtla Gutierrez, Chiapas, Mexico, will now televised on Cadena 3 in Mexico, and worldwide. The main event and featured bouts will be televised.
In the main event scheduled for 12 rounds, International Boxing Federation featherweight world champion Cristobal “Lacandon” Cruz, 39-11-1 with 23 knockouts, now based in Tijuana, Mexico, will make his third defense of the title against IBF No. 15 ranked contender Ricardo “Piolo” Castillo, 38-7 with 25 knockouts, of Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico.
An exciting undercard is being planned, and will include:
Jr. featherweight contender Alex De Oliveira, 16-0 with 12 knockouts, of Guarulhos, Brazil, in a 12 round bout for the WBC FECARBOX super bantamweight title against an opponent to be announced;
Daniel Olivo, 18-1 with 17 knockouts, of Tuxtla Gutierrez, Chiapas, in a challenge against Oscar Blanquet, 18-3-1, 9 knockouts, of Mexico City, Mexico, for the WBC Continental Americas flyweight title, scheduled for 12 rounds;
Gilberto Luque, 13-7-2 with 8 knockouts, of Sinaloa, Mexico will fight Alberto Garza, 20-4-1 with 16 knockouts, of Mexico City, for the WBC Continental Americas featherweight title, scheduled for 12 rounds;
Arturo Camargo, 19-13-2 with 15 knockouts, of Guasave, Mexico, will face Christian Esquivel, 17-2 with 10 knockouts, of Edo, Mexico, in a 10 round bout for the WBC Intercontinental Youth bantamweight title;
Irish prospect “Irish” Michael Sweeney, 8-0-1 with 5 knockouts, of Ballinrobe, County Mayo, Ireland, in an 8-round light heavyweight fight against an opponent to be announced.
All bouts subject to change without notice.