Boxing Info (please stick)

[Complex]

Sturm defeats Masoe in unanimous decision



HAMBURG, Germany -- Germany's Felix Sturm took away Maselino Masoe's WBA middleweight title Saturday in a one-sided fight.

The German won a unanimous decision, taking control of the fight when he staggered the Samoa-born New Zealand fighter with a straight right in the sixth round.

Masoe (26-3, 25 knockouts) took a lot of punishment until the later rounds, when the German chose to backpedal to preserve his victory. That was booed by the spectators.

"I can understand the spectators," Sturm said. "But it was tactical against a fighter that can decide a fight with one punch. I'm not Mike Tyson, I'm a boxer."

The judges ruled the fight 117-111, 117-111 and 115-113 for Sturm.

The only loss for the German (25-1, 11 knockouts) came two years ago when he dropped a controversial decision to Oscar De La Hoya, costing him the WBO belt.

Masoe won the title with a two-round knockout of Kenya's Evans Ashira.

"I don't know why the spectators were unhappy," said Masoe, whose right eye closed steadily during the bout. "He [Sturm] fought very well. My corner told me I could only with a knockout."

The best moment for Masoe, 39, came when he jarred Sturm on the ropes with a right uppercut. But the German moved outside and proved too fast and slick.

[Complex]

RICKY HATTON last night issued Joe Calzaghe with a call to arms, saying: 'Let's break America together.'

Hatton is all set to be a standard bearer for Britain's resurgent boxing fraternity in the coming months.

He's hoping to prove once and for all to the US audience that Brits don't cross the pond simply to make up the numbers.

But Hatton would love to be joined on his American adventure by reinforcements - and who better to have at your side than a fearsome gunslinger like Joe Calzaghe?

Joe's profile has sky-rocketed Stateside after his annihilation of Jeff Lacy, a man previously hailed as 'the next Mike Tyson'.

Now Hatton is challenging Calzaghe to join him for a double strike on the big hitters of US boxing.

"The Americans might realise us Brits can fight a bit now," Hatton told Wales on Sunday.

"They look on British boxing with contempt. They seem to think we win world titles then defend them in our country before coming unstuck against an American. It's a very arrogant and unrealistic view.

"So, after Joe demolished Lacy it was nice to see the Americans go home with their tails between their legs. The Lacy camp have treated Calzaghe with disrespect.

"They didn't look closely at the videos to see how good he was.

"The Americans have this tunnel vision on British fighters; they think it'll be a walk in the park. So Lacy's defeat made it rather embarrassing for them.

"I remember all the Americans seemed to think that Gerald McClellan would knock Nigel Benn clean out in under three minutes.

"But we saw how good Nigel could be over the years, at his best, and knew it was a 50/50 if he could produce his best.

"McClellan couldn't figure out the low style of Benn. He had the perfect tactics to beat McClellan: get under his long punches and come up with hooks.

"Lacy and his people had no answer to Joe's tighter, faster hooks on the inside and judgement of distance. It was exactly what I predicted beforehand.

"Joe made a very good fighter look like a novice. It was nothing short of a boxing master-class.

"It has been a long time since we've seen a British fighter win such a big fight in such a convincing fashion. I'm sure it won't happen again for a while.

"Lacy was totally outclassed and outgunned."

Unbeaten Welsh hero Calzaghe is set for a Cardiff homecoming at the Millennium Stadium on July 8 and he'll be dreaming of flooring an opponent with the kind of stature in keeping with such an event. Four-weight world champion Roy Jones Jnr would be ideal. Light-welterweight world champion Hatton - himself dreaming of world domination and a unification showdown with the awesome Floyd Mayweather - believes Calzaghe is right to reward his Welsh fans with a big show at home. But then it's got to be time for inroads into the lucrative American market.

"It's never a mistake fighting in front of your home crowd," said Hatton, who will begin his American assault against Juan Lazcano on May 13 in Connecticut.

"When I fight in Manchester, it's not just a boxing match but a great occasion. And it should be the same for Joe in Cardiff now.

"He's a champion and I'm sure the Welsh know what a sporting legend they've got on their hands.

"Great sportsmen like Joe Calzaghe don't come along very often. But we've both got ourselves into a very fortunate position and should be looking at the States.

"I don't want to hang up my gloves without having topped a bill at Madison Square Gardens or one of famous arenas like the MGM Grand or Caesars Palace. I've taken it upon myself to make that happen. I've worked too damn hard to get to this position and not reach the very top. Fighting at one of those world famous venues is when you've made it.

"I'm sure Joe is from the same mould as me. I'd love for us to jointly top the bill. Joe is a great mate; we've jointly topped bills twice before and it would be great if us two pals could go over there together.

"But I'm sure Frank Warren would have a view on that."

To say that Calzaghe's promoter Warren and Hatton aren't best of pals right now is an understatement.

'The Hitman' left British boxing's highest-profile promoter to 'go it alone' after beating Kostya Tszyu last summer and the well-documented fall-out has, as Hatton so eloquently puts it, 'gotten messy'.

Warren is suing Hatton's old man and trainer Ray for alleged breach of contract. But 'The Hitman' is desperate to ensure his issues with Calzaghe's promoter do not impinge on his friendship with the record-breaking Welsh boxer.

And as a friend Hatton wants the best for Joe.

The undisputed super-middleweight king has ruled his division for a world-record eight-and-a-half years. But Calzaghe has made no secret of his ambition to be a two-weight world champion.

Roy Jones Jnr would be an ideal fight for Calzaghe as it would be a gigantic pay-day against a fallen hero, a fighter whose career is on the wane. Warren has tried to make the big fight with Jones Jnr many times over the years, but it's fair to say that the American wasn't too keen on clashing with Calzaghe. But that option now might represent the quickest path to wider acclaim for Calzaghe, a less-pressured step forward than tackling light-heavyweight hardman Antonio Tarver or Glen Johnson.

While Jones Jnr has kudos in the boxing world, he doesn't bring any titles and that's why Warren has been looking at a potential match-up with German WBA super-middleweight champ Markus Beyer. Hatton's advice is simple.

"I'd move up to light-heavyweight; there's nothing left for him at super-middleweight," he said. "Beyer is a southpaw and that won't make for an entertaining fight. I can't see American TV being interested.

"Joe needs a statement of intent to fight one of America's big boys. If he fights a Mr Average then American TV may lose interest in him.

"There's no real big names in the super-middleweight division and I can't see Joe being interested in any of the other champions; they're not in his class. Joe has dealt with the most dangerous fighter in that division by beating Lacy, so a move up to light-heavyweight is what he needs now to keep challenging himself.

"And if Joe loses to an average super-middle fighter, all the hard work to beat Lacy could be for nothing. He needs to capitalise.

"It's funny because no-one was bothered about light-heavyweight a few years ago, but now it's among the best divisions."

[Complex]

IBF Orders Rabah-Hatton Fight!

IBF Orders Rabah-Hatton Fight!

Rabah trainer/manager Craig Christian praises IBF's actions

On September 19, 2005, Naoufel Ben Rabah defeated Arturo Morua to become the #1 mandatory challenger for Ricky Hatton's International Boxing Federation (IBF) title. In accordance with the IBF rules, Hatton would be obligated to defend against Rabah either before or on March 5, 2006.

Due to Hatton's pending court case pertaining to the WBA title, the IBF respectfully decided to hold off notifications. However, with the case still pending and Team Hatton recently considering fighting someone other than Rabah on May 13, the IBF has rightfully now taken action.

On March 21, the eminent IBF Championship Chairman Lindsey E. Tucker, Jr. ordered for negotiations to commence immediately between both parties. We appreciate and applaud Mr. Tucker and the IBF for holding to their word.

It is now time for Team Hatton to enter talks with our Las Vegas-based representative and the Picasso of boxing, Mr. Sampson Lewkowicz.

In the event a Hatton-Rabah fight is not negotiated by April 21, the IBF will order for a purse bid to be held on Tuesday, May 2, 2006.

We know Ricky Hatton is a respectable gentleman that would rather lose the title in the ring than in the office. He is a true champion and we hope his handlers allow him to be a man of honour.

[Complex]

Mayweather-Judah Card is Loaded

Quote:

"Sworn Enemies' on April 8 featuring Floyd Mayweather Jr and Zab Judah is loaded underneath with two world championship bouts and with the the Son of the Legend, Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. Here is how Top Rank's big fight card is shaping up at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas: Jorge Arce vs. Rosendo Alvarez, 12 Rds., WBC Interim Flyweight Title - Arce and Alvarez had a 'bad encounter' in the ring following Arce's last fight Jan 28 in Cancun, Mexico. After Arce had his hand raised for victory, Alvarez got into the ring, got into Arce's face and told him off to flame this riveting showdown. "Alvarez knows I am the man, the best in this division," said Arce, the champion. Arce is promoted by Top Rank; Alvarez fights for Don King Productions. Arce is 43-3-1; Alvarez, 37-2-2. Juan 'El Torito' Diaz vs. Jose Miguel Cotto, 12 Rds., WBA Lightweight Championship - Tremendous matchup of undefeated fighters. Diaz, 28-0, of Houston is the world lightweight champion. Cotto, older brother of Miguel, is 27-0 and fights out of Caguas, Puerto Rico. Diaz: "I want to be the best in my division - that motivates me." Cotto, a tremendously skilled challenger who strikes with power, boxed for Puerto Rico in 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. Diaz is promoted by Main Events; Cotto by Top Rank. Special Attraction - Julio Cesar Chavez Jr, 24-0-1 - The Son of the Legend, Julio just turned 20 years old. "I'm young, a rookie in this great sport. I want to be a champion like my father and I'm going to work hard to get there." Julio Jr. fights out of Culiacan, Mexico. He is scheduled to box six rounds and his bout will be on the HBO Pay Per View telecast. Chavez Jr. will open the PPV telecast followed by Diaz vs. Cotto and then Arce vs. Alvarez. Mayweather vs. Judah 'Sworn Enemies' is promoted by Top Rank, Don King Productions in association with Caesars Palace and Wynn Las Vegas at the Thomas and Mack Center, Las Vegas. Mayweather vs. Judah will be on HBO Pay Per View.

[Complex]

Quote:

Pound-for-pound king Floyd Mayweather, focused on bigger fights at heavier weights, vacated his junior welterweight title this week, Mayweather adviser Leonard Ellerbe told ESPN.com. Mayweather, who has held belts at junior lightweight, lightweight and junior welterweight, moved up to welterweight late last year and beat Sharmba Mitchell but was considering a return to 140 pounds to defend his title in marquee fights. However, Mayweather instead decided to take a second consecutive fight at 147 pounds against Zab Judah on April 8 (HBO PPV). Ellerbe said that because Mayweather didn't plan to go back to 140 pounds, he felt the right thing to do was to vacate the WBC belt and give other contenders a chance to win the title. Ellerbe said he sent a letter to the WBC informing the organization of the decision. Junior Witter of England, who has been the mandatory challenger, is expected to face former titlist DeMarcus "Chop Chop" Corley of Washington, D.C., for the vacant belt this summer. The only significant fight for Mayweather at junior welterweight would have been a unification fight with division kingpin Ricky Hatton, "but he's not even looking Floyd's way until at least 2007," Ellerbe said. "So there's no need to hold up the belt and the division. The only reason to keep the title would be to make a big fight at 140 in a unification fight with Hatton, but that isn't in the cards right now. So Floyd has given up the title. This way guys like Witter and Corley will have the opportunity to fight for the title and the opportunity to reach their dream." Hatton, the recognized division ruler, is also planning to go up to welterweight for a May 13 fight with titlist Luis Collazo. Mayweather won the 140-pound belt with a dominant sixth-round TKO of Arturo Gatti in June 2005 and never defended it. Witter, of England, hoped to fight Mayweather but is happy to get a shot at the vacant belt. "I would have happily fought Mayweather for the title," Witter said. "He is one of the biggest names in boxing, but this will mean I don't have to hang around for anything. Things are mapping themselves out nicely for me." Witter said he intends to defend his European title against Giuseppe Lauri in Italy in April and then expects to fight Corley for the vacant WBC belt this summer. "I have seen a few of Corley's fights on tape," Witter said. "I was down to fight him once when he had the WBO title, and although it never came about, I took a look at him. He's a decent fighter, but he doesn't scare me at all. I see opportunities. He's going down."

I hate to see him not fight Hatton, but moving up makes sense and dollars.

[Complex]

Quote:

Cotto on pay-per-view: After listening to offers from both HBO and Showtime, promoter Top Rank has decided to move forward with plans to go it alone on pay-per-view June 10 with a card headlined by junior welterweight titlist Miguel Cotto vs. Paulie Malignaggi at New York's Madison Square Garden. The card, which will go head-to-head with HBO PPV's Antonio Tarver-Bernard Hopkins light heavyweight championship card, figures to draw well in New York given that Malignaggi is from Brooklyn and Cotto is Puerto Rican, and the fight is in the New York the night before the annual Puerto Rican Day parade. Official announcement of the fight is scheduled Wednesday at a news conference at the Garden. Top Rank plans to air at least five live bouts on the pay-per-view, including junior lightweight Carlos Hernandez vs. Kevin Kelley as well as bouts involving hot middleweight prospect John Duddy -- who recently sold out Madison Square Garden's Theater -- and prospects Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. and Juan Manuel Lopez. Top Rank is going to add a sixth fight to the broadcast -- doubling the amount of fights planned for the Tarver-Hopkins pay-per-view, which will cost more. Had Top Rank accepted HBO's offer of about $1.4 million, Cotto-Malignaggi would have aired live on the network June 9, a Friday night. However, the offer didn't meet Top Rank's financial expectations, and neither did Showtime's. Showtime was prepared to add a second card to its March schedule even though the network's Championship Boxing series normally airs only on the first Saturday of the month.

Cotto and Top Rank can go to ....... you know

[Complex]

[Complex]

Griffin Wins...

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The name of the game in the sport of boxing is not necessarily to knock out your opponent, but rather hit your opponent and stay away from getting hit yourself. On Friday night at the Mohegan Sun Resort and Casino in Uncasville, CT, Montell Griffin (48-6, 30KO’s) put on a boxing clinic by scoring a one sided unanimous decision victory over Norman Jones (28-15-3, 9KO’s) on ESPN2’s Friday Night Fights, and in the process captured the vacant USBA light heavyweight belt. Scores of the bout were 118-110 twice and 119-109.