TJ Cline

Q & A With Antonio Tarver: I'm Gonna Close The Book On This Guy!

12.09.05 - By Scoop Malinowski - boxinginsider.com - Antonio Tarver solidified his status as an all-time legend of the ring with that unforgettable one-punch destruction of Roy Jones Jr. on May 14, 2004 in Las Vegas. Yes, sometimes just one night of genius does make a great fighter. Now Tarver, 36, will have to do it again. Roy Jones hungers for redemption. Roy Jones believes he can solve the mystery of The Magic Man. Roy Jones is willing to lay it all on the line one more time - at the risk of getting himself knocked into dreamland for all the world to see again. The always eloquent IBO Light Heavyweight champion spoke recently about this upcoming Superfight trilogy with Roy Jones which will take place in Tampa, FL on October 1 on HBO pay-per-view:

Are you a little surprised that Roy Jones is taking this fight? Almost everyone in boxing was surprised he did, they think he could possibly get seriously hurt.

Antonio Tarver: "Surprised? I think they should commend the guy. I mean, in his career, you look back, you say that he never stepped up to the plate, he's always avoided his toughest challengers.. That's what the word was on Michalczewski, he didn't give James Toney or Bernard Hopkins a rematch. So we need to take our hats off to Roy Jones Jr. He don't want to come back and pad his record. He don't want to steal from the fans. He wants to come back and really have that opportunity to capture that moment. So that he can always be revered as one of the best that ever did it. And the only way that he can do that is through Antonio Tarver. This gives him vindication, this gives him redemption. And I'm the only man that can give that to him. So why not take this fight?

Is there any way he can beat you? He must be confident about something to take this fight, are you a little concerned that maybe he knows something?

Antonio Tarver: "I'm not...you know what? I'm not gonna say that the guy can't win. I mean, I don't know what he's doing in preparation. But I will make sure that I do everything in my power to make sure that victory escapes him. So that's my responsibility in this fight. I didn't come this far right now to take a back step. So that's my motivation and my determination. I'm gonna close the book on this guy. So get your tickets early because this will be your last RJ sighting and I'm determined to get rid of the guy once and for all."

When did you realize you were going to knockout Roy Jones in the last fight?

Antonio Tarver: "I had to train hard, man, because I didn't want the politics to interfere with an injust decision. When you go to the scorecards, it's the possibility there that you can get jerked. So that's why I was so determined to stop the guy. And I knew I would have to lay my butt on the line to take the risk and it was a gamble. And it paid off."

Do you think you broke him down psychologically and then it just took the one punch to do it physically?

Antonio Tarver: "I don't know where his psyche is but if I had a guy beating down on my door like that, a thorn in my ass for so long and then the way things turned out, I think that you could say I broke his psyche, yes. Because I never looked at him as the great Roy Jones Jr., the immortal champion, the guy that was unbeatable, unstoppable. I never looked at him like that. I always looked at him outta my eyes. And when I looked at him I saw him as a regular person. Just a man. And that's why I was able to go in there and have the confidence - and to know if I got the opportunity - I would be revered as the best fight he's ever faced. He was coming off of winning the heavyweight championship of the world when he faced Antonio Tarver. So I know, excuses aside, he hadn't faced a real fighter until he faced me."

Do you think your confidence heading into both fights spooked him a little bit, didn't it?

Antonio Tarver: "I don't know about that. But like I said, I always felt in my hear that I was a great fighter. And it just took the world a long time to recognize that. But when you go back and look at my amateur caeer - how can you not know? That's what's so confusing to me. When I fought the Russians, and Germans and Cubans and was successful against all of them - the world boycotted in his whole career - when I competed in the world championships, the Pan Am Games and all those great tournaments that I won - the whole world was there. And I beat the best. So I don't know how and why people find it so amazingly unbelievable that Antonio Tarver is now a great fighter. I've always been a great fighter. My amateur record proves it."

How has your life changed since the KO and the now world famous, What excuses are you gonna use tonight Roy? quote? You out-Ali'd Ali with that one.

Antonio Tarver: "It changed my life. Because, you know, that's why God is so powerful. He lives. I couldn't have wrote that script. That was bigger than mankind [smiles]. When things happen like that, you know that God is involved. I'm jus thankful He allowed me the courage to really feel in my heart and to really believe in what I said. And then to go out there and knock this guy out two rounds later, oh my God, and I told the world at the Ruiz press conference, I told the world, I want your legacy to be intact when I knock you out. When am I gonna get my shot at history Roy? You have to really go back and recognize the power, the power of the mind, and a vision. I had that vision. And I never let it go. I didn't care what the politics said, what the sportswriters wrote, I never lost my vision and that's why I went in there and did my thing."

What is the greatest moment of your career?

Antonio Tarver: "Beyond a shadow of a doubt, Do you have any excuses tonight Roy Jones? And seven punches later - seven is the number of completion - seven punches later is Roy Jones no more. So you have to look back, it's a powerful, powerful statement. I told Roy Jones when he was the heavyweight champion, You're not even the best fighter in Florida. And I got to prove it. So it's a spiritual thing when you think about it, man. And I'm just so thankful. Going through the transition from amateur to the pros - they can't deny me no more. I refuse to be denied. And I told the world that it will recognize, before it's all over, they will recognize. And now they do."

Are you expecting this to be a very challenging fight on October 1?

Antonio Tarver: "It's going to be a challenge. I will be the best Antonio Tarver ever. You're gonna see the speed, you're gonna see the determination, you're gonna see the power. I have to. Because if this fight goes the distance, you never know. I gotta be at my best. I'm gonna train hard. I'm gonna take this fight as if I'm coming to fight the best Roy Jones ever. Because this is what it means. It means everything. He will only be judged by October 1st."

Closing comments: As you can see Tarver has a tremendously articulate gift of gab. He is not only a great champion but a remarkably adept ambassador and representative for what is good about the sport. At the initial New York press conference to announce the fight at Copacabana last month, you could see the HBO executives listening intently and admiringly as Tarver spoke. As if maybe, just maybe they were wondering or considering, Hey, maybe Antonio Tarver would make a splended HBO color commentator someday.

When it became apparent Roy Jones would fail to show up to the press conference, HBO President of Sports Ross Greenburg, seemed more than a little peeved when he stepped to the podium and said, "I'd like to credit Antonio Tarver for being the class champion that he is. And I'd like to admonish Roy Jones for not being here. I hope he'll get his little rear-end through the ropes in Tampa on the night of the fight."

Are the HBO decision-makers tiring of the primadonna ways of the former pound-for-pound king? And are they in appreciation of the wonderfully polite and endearing qualities of the always affable Antonio Tarver? We shall see.

TJ Cline

Erik and Oscar, a tale of fading champions

11.09.05 - By Andy Meacock: Erik Morales shockingly lost a 12 round points decision to Zahir Raheem in Los Angeles on Saturday night. This fight was the joint main event of a double bill that featured Manny Pacquiao and Hector Valazquez on the undercard. This was intended to be a promotional selling tool for the eagerly awaited Morales/Pacquaio rematch intended for early next year. Raheem had different ideas. The heavy underdog out-boxed Morales for much of the fight and despite a late rally from Morales, which included a couple of questionable knock downs not given, it was all too late.

So why did it all go wrong for the great from Tijuana, Mexico?

Well first of all we have to give Raheem his due, nobody gave him a chance against Morales and he proved them wrong. Raheem’s stock has risen dramatically due to this unexpected win and at least for now, he is something of a player in the lightweight division..

People will also look at the loss as a case of styles making fights. Whilst Morales can box efficiently, he’s known as a proud man who enjoys fighting in wars. When preparing for Morales, Raheem must have been aware of the aggressive tendencies Morales has in the ring and set his strategy accordingly.

So was it a case of styles?

It’s possible but I really don’t think so. The fact is Morales looked very slow in the ring against Raheem, you have to think that a Morales who was firing on all cylinders would have got the job done.

So the question we ask is, why was Morales so slow and lethargic?
The one thing that many people love Morales for is that his fights are rarely boring. He’s an entertaining fighter, there’s no denying it. His battles with Marco Antonio Barrera and Pacquaio tell us that. The problem with having wars is that it takes its toll on the body in the long term. This fact is obvious but often overlooked.

Morales has had fifty one fights. His last five fights have all gone the full twelve rounds and have all been fairly close and he’s looked slower. He’s lost two of those last five fights. So without wishing to jump on the ‘fathertime’ bandwagon, I feel that Morales recent struggles (Pacquaio fight aside) are down to long term fatigue.

Top calibre boxers are first and foremost athletes but they are also human. Everyone has limits as to how far they can go and how long they can stay at their peak but then they begin to decline. After peaking, the muscles start to tire, reactions get slower and so on. Erik Morales is probably as game and determined fighter that there is in boxing but the fact remains that whilst Morales’ will is strong and his body is jaded.

You can compare this analogy to any great champion in any sport.

I know this is a strange cross-over to make but look at tennis for an example. A few years ago you had Pete Sampras destroying all that came before him. He was very accomplished and had great success but he eventually began to fade and lost his way. It’s sad seeing any great champion in any sport decline and sadly that’s what I see happening to Erik Morales.

The title of my article is, ‘Erik and Oscar, a tale of fading champions’. The Oscar I refer to is none other than Oscar de la Hoya. When I was thinking about Morales loss, I saw many parallels with Oscar. Both men have been at the top for a long time, both men are multiple champions at various different weights and both men are destined for the hall of fame once their careers finally come to a close.

Sadly, there are some negative comparisons to be made between these two greats.

They have been in there with the best and have the physical scars to prove it. Morales has fought great fighters like Junior Jones, Wayne McCullough, Marco Antonio Barrera, Jesus Chavez and Manny Pacquaio. Oscar’s list of opponents is equally as impressive, names like Julio Cesar Chavez, Pernell Whitaker, Ike Quartey, Felix Trinidad, Shane Mosley and Bernard Hopkins. I could have named more great previous opponents for both men.

The point is that you can’t continually fight guys of that calibre without experiencing long term fatigue, it’s a sad inevitability. It also has to be stated that another significant factor in the demise of these two men is moving up in weight. Whilst it’s admirable to want to challenge bigger fighters in higher weight classes, it’s also draining on the body and especially in de la Hoya’s case; it can have a negative effect of stamina and conditioning.

As for the future of these two men. Morales will go ahead with his rematch with Manny Pacquaio early next year. I’m having problems deciding who I think will win this one. On the basis of last nights performance I’d have to pick Pacquaio, maybe even by knockout but then if there’s one thing that sums up Morales, it’s that he’s determined and very proud. He’ll come out like a wounded lion against Pacquaio but whether that will be enough against the quicker opponent is to be seen.

Oscar de la Hoya worries me even more than Morales as at least Morales still seems have the fire in him and attitude. It seems to me like Oscar is already proud and at peace with his accomplishments. Lack of desire and motivation is a fighters worst enemy and sadly that what I think of modern day Oscar de la Hoya. It’s widely reported that Oscar will be back in May 2006, possibly against Fernando Vargas.

I just want to state that this article wasn’t written to ridicule, criticise or sound hateful towards either man. The truth is that I’m a huge fan of both and whilst I think their better days are behind them, I still hope and wish they do well...

If you agree or disagree with this piece or simply have an opinion on these two fighters then please leave it in the comments section below.

The Monkey Man

"that's why God is so powerful. He lives. I couldn't have wrote that script. That was bigger than mankind [smiles]. When things happen like that, you know that God is involved. I'm jus thankful He allowed me the courage to really feel in my heart and to really believe in what I said"

Have Problems?... Chances are its due to overpopulation
Save The Oceans, Save the Planet, Save Your Family, Save Yourself!

TJ Cline

God is love
Love is blind
Ray Charles is blind
.....................fill in the blank

The Monkey Man

Ray Charles is GOD!?!? -

Have Problems?... Chances are its due to overpopulation
Save The Oceans, Save the Planet, Save Your Family, Save Yourself!

TJ Cline

Gary Shaw Blasts Warren/Calzaghe

WAYNE, NJ (September 12, 2005) -- Professor Moriarty? Colonel Mustard? Who dunnit?! Who killed the biggest super middleweight title fight in 11 years -- Jeff Lacy vs. Joe Calzaghe? "It sure as hell was not the butler," said promoter Gary Shaw. "SHOWTIME had November 5 reserved. Jeff was ready to fight in Cardiff, London, or any other homecourt venue Team Calzaghe desired. Calzaghe's promoter, Frank Warren (aka "Less Than" Frank Warren) has been sitting on the contract I sent him for nearly three weeks.. I should have known he did not want Calzaghe to fight Jeff. Having Calzaghe take a meaningless fight against a meaningless opponent. Evans Ashira was the WBO's No. 9-rated MIDDLEWEIGHT contender in its July 2005 ratings! Warren didn't want rounds for Calzaghe, he wanted an escape hatch from fighting Jeff!

"Jeff satisfied his mandatory against top-rated contender Robin Reid in August so he wouldn't be stripped and the fight would be a true world title unification fight," continued Shaw. "Reid was no warm-up fight."

The (Frank) Warren Commission found further evidence that proceeding with the Calzaghe-Ashira fight was folly as stated in Calzaghe's August interview with the BBC following Lacy's victory over Reid.

"Lots of things can also happen between now and then, not least among them injuries." he said. "I have had problems with my hand and back on and off over the years, which is hardly surprising when you have been fighting since the age of nine like I have."

Calzaghe continued: "He [Lacy] wants it and I want it and the prospect really excites me, but I haven't even talked money yet so nothing is cut and dried." http://www.secondsout.com/UK/news.cf...Joe%20Calzaghe

EXHIBIT A: If you have injuries, why take a warm-up fight and risk blowing the biggest fight of your career?

EXHIBIT B: Did Calzaghe proceed with the Ashira fight because he did not have his deal in place for the Lacy fight with his promoter?

"Jeff will defend his titles November 5 and Showtime will televise it," said Shaw. "Jeff is not only the most active world champion in boxing, he is the shining light of the 12stone division. Jeff has successfully answered every challenge in his professional career, but when it came time for Calzaghe to face Jeff, his team threw in the towel."

Calzaghe the king of the bums....what a loser

TJ Cline

An Open Letter To Calzaghe & Boxing Fans

12.09.05 - By Evans Ashira: I want to use this opportunity to thank my promoter, Don King and all the boxing fans who came out for my fight with WBO Super Middleweight Champion Joe Calzaghe in Wales. I made it back home safely. I think the fans got their worth of their money but I want you all to know that what I read in the media about Calzaghe hurting his hand is not true. He's trying to make excuses, so I want the public to know the truth..

I want you all to go back to that fight tape, watch it and be the judge. Who was really hurt? I was, I injured my right shoulder in the fourth round when I tried to hit him with an uppercut but I ended up hitting his elbow so I pulled my right shoulder. I fought with one hand, my left, throughout the rest of the fight.

Now, Joe Calzaghe and his people are claiming he hurt his hands, that's BS. I don't think so, this maybe is a way to avoid Jeff Lacy. If he thinks he beat me with one hand, lets do it again. This time somebody will get knocked out. Calzaghe never hurt me once in the fight, I was just moving fine but I couldn't use my right and he's a southpaw. He was disappointed by his performance, he told the world he would knock me out but he was hitting me behind my head and just trying to survive. I was the one fighting with one hand go check out the tape, I did my best with one hand and I'll be back soon. Thank you all for your support!

"The African Warrior" Evans Ashira Oure

Former IBF Intercontinental Middleweight champion

TJ Cline

The Klitschko-Peter Press Conference

21.09.05 - By Scoop Malinowski / Boxinginsider.com: Round one began yesterday between Wladimir Klitschko and Samuel Peter of this Saturday's fascinating high-stakes heavyweight world title Elimination bout. To the uneducated eye, both appeared very relaxed and very confident. And of course both said all the right things.

However there were some highly respected veteran boxing observers in attendance, who are experienced enough to see through the carefully constructed postures and facades of the top fighters in these situations. Klitschko arrived to the press conference at Planet Hollywood in midtown Manhattan exactly on time. He looked comfortable and relaxed, wearing a red sweatsuit. He looked very good and in excellent physical condition.

LeRoy Neiman, the artist, who has closely followed the sport since the 1940's liked what he saw in the Ukrainian. "He's not about to lose," opined the artist who has never been particularly impressed by Klitschko in the past. "He's got the look of a man who's not considering losing in any way. It's more than confident. It's not temporary confident, it's something that he lives with all the time. He's got great social conscious. He's very socially prepared, confident socially. When he gets in there, look at him, he looks more like a fighter every day."

When I suggested that perhaps Klitschko has already made the decision in his own mind - to win this fight no matter what, Neiman agreed. "He decided. He's decided the fight."

Former top ten heavyweight Renaldo Snipes, whose powerful right hand had Larry Holmes in dire straits in their 1981 world title fight in Pittsburgh, by contrast, detected a little bit of tension in Klitschko. "From what I've seen, he's a little nervous now. He's a little bit too nervous for this particular fight. He's already been to the parade before. The moment of truth is coming out. The true nerves and jitters are coming out. I gotta see the other guy when he walks in."

At that point in the press conference, Peter had still not arrived and so Team Klitschko's Bernd Bonte decided they weren't going to wait and proceeded to start speaking at the podium. Of course, all hell nearly broke loose as co-promoter Dino Duva did not approve of this power play. But Bonte would not be denied and Klitschko made his statement and then began to do one-on-ones. They would not wait.

It was a stunning turn of events. These things happen sometimes at press conferences. It's part of the mental warfare. I'm the one in charge, you will wait for me. No I'm the boss, I don't wait for nobody. I recall Lennox Lewis at the Rahman rematch press conference - Lewis made his statement on the podium, then quickly departed, without even bothering to listen to Rahman. New champ Rahman and the rest of us were all left in the dust. But the subliminal message was clear. Lennox was the boss, and he certainly was not going to sit around and wait and listen, like a subordinate, to a man he perceived as just a lucky, one hit wonder.

Klitschko was almost done speaking with the media when Peter finally arrived about 40 minutes late. He looked stoic and serious but not exactly eager to be there. Peter, dressed in a native Nigerian robe type outfit, slowly walked through the crowd and up to the makeshift stage. He walked by Klitschko who extended his hand to shake. Peter politely shook the hand. Shortly thereafter, the two posed for photographers and then locked in on the staredown. They look into each other's eyes. These moments are always riveting. Klitschko had about four inches on Peter. Klitschko looked very confident with that European reservedness - but also there was a slight hint of wicked disdain in his demeanor. As if he could not wait to explode his steel hammers onto Peter, as if he was absolutely ready and eager to regain his stature in the boxing world. Peter looked confident also. He appeared tense and intense, sporting a very impressive scowl. But there was something about the two standing there together that suggested to me that Klitschko was the predator, the hunter in this fight. I can't quite put a finger on it, but Peter almost seems to be beginning to realize what he is up against. That he will be the prey to the more experienced and physically superior warrior.

They stared into each other's eyes for about 30 seconds with the room in near silence, except for the sounds of the cameras and a few random hecklers and cheerleaders. Peter looked away first, and looked around to all the photographers. As did Klitschko. But then Klitschko wanted to look at or study his adversary some more. Peter sensed this and reconnected the eye contact. It was at that point that Klitschko quietly said something to Peter, straight to his face. Peter did not respond. It was unclear if he ignored the words of Klitschko, or that he was maybe too frozen or surprised to say anything.

(Later on I asked Peter what Klitschko had said to him during the staredown, Peter recounted, "We were waiting for you." Then Peter added, "That's right.")

Shortly after that, Klitschko left the press conference with his team. And Peter was left behind. Peter spoke with the media and almost appeared more comfortable with Klitschko out of the room. Peter revealed he hadn't studied Klitschko on video and that "I know he's going to be knocked out on Saturday night."

Peter's trainer Pops Anderson said, "Samuel is very focused. Styles makes fights and (Klitschko's) style is perfect for Samuel...You haven't seen Samuel do everything he can do. He'll take it right to him."

Ibn Cason, also a member of Team Peter denied that his man is just a one-dimensional knockout machine with mediocre technical savvy, "If someone out there makes Samuel do something else (other than early KO wins), you will see a different Samuel Peter. Im telling you the man is a complete fighter...I say it goes two. But if it goes more than four, you're gonna see a complete Samuel Peter. A complete boxer. Samuel Peter is a complete boxer. You will hail him as the truth - as the up and coming heir apparent to the heavyweight division. I guarantee you. IF it goes more than four. But it's not gonna go more than two."

I asked Neiman for his comments on seeing Peter live and in person for the first time. "He has a Joe Frazier quality. He seems a little bit like Joe Frazier. But he looks a little bit overwhelmed by the, he's catering to the scene a little bit. Not so good. He's very comfortable, he's very confident, he's very tough. But you can't...when you go against a guy who's clever, I mean a guy that's got some moves, it's a different thing. It's not a matter of him getting hit. It's a matter of how many punches he misses to get the good one in. And what the other guy's gonna be doing in the meantime...He may be a little too short. Klitschko may be a little too sophisticated for him."

I just had to get Renaldo Snipes final comments on what he saw in Peter's behavior. Snipes would know, he was one of the best heavyweights in the world for a decade, who fought many of the best in his time. I asked Mr. Snipes if Peter seemed a little tense? "Yeah, yeah. Quiet, quiet storm. I think his inside is eating him up. I saw it. I'm back with Klitschko. At first I thought Klitschko was, I could tell he was jittery and stuff. But then Peter is more afraid than he is."

When asked if he was reasonably certain of those observations, Snipes replied, "Well, it's one thing...this can lie to you. Your mouth can lie to you. I saw Klitschko's body language, he was a little jittery. You're coming down to the true nerves. Everything is coming down right now. So this guy here (Peter), to show up so calm and all that kind of stuff, he's trying to hide something. He's trying to hide his heart."

Final comments: I believe there is a chance this fight could resemble Trindad Mayorga. It seems to me Team Peter is too overconfident about knocking out Klitschko, as El Matador was with Tito. It seems they are not fully aware of what they're up against - a hungry and still confident man who is absolutely committed to redeeming his previous failures. It's almost as if they are banking on Klitschko to fall at the first sign of trouble. I sense they are underestimating Klitschko who is back on track now. After defeating Williamson and Castillo and frightening Chris Byrd away from multi-million dollar jackpots to much safer but much smaller six figure paydays, Klitschko is eagerly ready for action.

I believe Wladimir Klitschko is ready to prove to the world what Byrd, Don King, the IBF, DaVarryl Williamson and a few others already know. Samuel Peter is going to be a hard man to conquer though. That's part of why this battle is so intriguing.

The Monkey Man

Monkey begins some fundamentals this week,
to get warmed up for the Pre-Vegas cut -

Have Problems?... Chances are its due to overpopulation
Save The Oceans, Save the Planet, Save Your Family, Save Yourself!

TJ Cline

A Question of Courage

23.09.05 - By Jim Amato: If a fighter did not have heart and courage he would never step into a ring. The boxer's mind is a fragile item. Case in point, Roberto Duran. He was and still is my favorite boxer. Therefore you can understand how I felt when he uttered the now infamous "No Mas"! My God, not Roberto. Not Duran. He later came back. He did not quit against Benitez or Hagler. He took his whoopin' like a man against Hearns. No excuses. He sucked it up and came back to upset Iran Barkley. Duran was later battered from pillar to post by William Joppy in 1998. He could have quit but he didn't. Finally a compassionate referee intervened and stopped the fight in the 3rd round.

Another fighter, Diego Corrales, could have gave up against Jose Luis Castillo but he didn't. Nevertheless, he fought through the pain and ended up winning. What I am trying to say here is that courage is already woven into the fabric of every fighter. At times, though, the mind out rules the spirit. Sometimes for the best, sometimes not. One more example...Buster Douglas was considered a "dog" after he gave up against talented Tony Tucker. Yet this is the same Douglas who got up off the
canvas and whipped the "baddest man on the planet," Mike Tyson, who was in his prime at the time of the fight. Yet in his next fight, the "dog" was to have returned when he was humiliated by Evander Holyfield. Go figure !!!

Did Leavander Johnson have too much courage for his own good? Probably, and now his family and friends live with the horror of his passing. Still, we all admire his tenacity and his will to overcome all obstacles. His courage...

TJ Cline

Team Klitschko Looking for Excuses (Again)? Demand fight gloves be weighed

23.09.05 - In what New Jersey State Athletic Commissioner Larry Hazzard described as a "new level of dumb," in boxing, Team Wladimir Klitschko demanded that the boxing gloves to be used tomorrow night, when the former WBO champion faces Samuel Peter at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, be weighed to ensure they are the regulation 10 ounces.

According to Hazzard, he was contacted by Klitschko "boxing adviser" Shelly Finkel, public relations advisor Bernd Bonte and K-2 Promotions coordinator Burt Watson and told that Klitschko's camp would be bringing a small scale to today's unercard weigh-in (the main event weigh-in was held yesterday) to ensure there was nothing irregular about the weight of either fighter's gloves.an implication that enraged glove manufacturer Grant Elvis Phillips.

"If I said it didn't bother me, I'd be lying. This one here crosses the line with me. I take it personally. For someone to insinuate that we would favor someone is pretty offensive. It shows zero confidence on the part of Klitschko's people. I only had one other experience like this when Roy Jones fought John Ruiz. Roy had custom brown gloves and John Ruiz had black. (Ruiz manager) Stony (Stone) started a whole thing about the gloves and got punched in his face for it. Unfortunately, the same thing didn't happen to Bernd Bonte tonight."

When informed of this highly irregular request, Peter manager Ivaylo Gotzev says he was mildly amused. "The problem is not the gloves," he explained. "What they should be worried about is what's in them: a left and a right hand from Samuel, and it's too late for them to stop that now." "Both camps agreed on the Grant gloves," added event promoter, Dino Duva. "They are sealed at the factory and were opened in front of them at the weigh-in.

After the weigh-in, the commission kept the gloves, so I haven't even seen them." This is not the first time Team Wladimir has suspected wrongdoing. After his last defeat (a TKO 5 to Lamon Brewster), the Ukrainian and his people leveled accusations of deliberate poisoning and overly vasolined legs to explain the loss.

"There is dumb sh** in boxing all the time," concluded an obviously annoyed Hazzard, "but this is definitely a first for me." Peter vs. Klitschko is presented by Duva Boxing, K-2 Promotions, and Top Rank; in association with Caesars Atlantic City and will be televised live on HBO's Boxing After Dark.

TJ Cline

Leavander Johnson Dies From Injuries

22.09.05 - By Jeff Bastasini: Former IBF lightweight champion Leavander Johnson (34-5-2, 26 KO's) died earlier today at the University Medical Center, 5 days after suffering a ferocious beating in a lightweight title fight with Jesus Chavez. Immediately after the fight, it was reported that Johnson complained of headaches in the dressing room. He was then put into a medically induced coma, following brain surgery to relieve pressure from a subdural hematoma on his brain.. Johnson was pounded relentlessly by Chavez (42-3), in a one-sided fight that was never close after the first two rounds. Finally, after 10 rounds of one-sided action, where Johnson's head was snapped back again and again by the force of Chavez's powerful punches, the fight was stopped at the beginning of the 11th round, when the referee stepped in an called a halt to the bout. In the final punch totals, Johnson was hit 409 times by Chavez.

TJ Cline

Explosive boxing action this weekend: Peter-Klitschko ,Cotto-Torres

22.09.05 - By Shon Macklin: Saturday, September 24th, at 10 pm E.T. on HBO. Boxing fans can look forward to some of the best fistic action Seen in some time now; witnessing highly competitive, hard-hitting action. Miguel Cotto will face off against Ricardo Torres, and Wladimir Klitschko will square off against Samuel Peter at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey..

The heavy- hitting Miguel Cotto, 24-0 (20 ko’s) is going in against a big puncher himself, One, Ricardo Torres 28-0 (26 ko’s) It’s easy to conceive that the sparks will fly when these two get in the ring. Expect a lot of punches thrown and even more punches landing. Both fighters have knockout power, and will probably look to finish things as soon as possible; as neither fighter often, if ever leaves it to be decided by the scorecards.

And when it seems like you’re clearly in for a treat this weekend, you’ll be witness To another intense fight where neither fighter will want to waiver. Wladimir Klitschko 44-3(40 ko’s) and Samuel Peter, 24-0 (21 ko’s) will do battle in the main event of the evening.

Again, we have two fighters squaring –off against each other, both of them possessing considerable amounts of punching power.

Klitschko will want to prove his career as a fighter, is not over. Once considered the air to the heavyweight crown, now is reluctantly mentioned when discussing who can step up and acquire championship status. Wladimir Klitschko will be looking to win this one in excellent fashion.

Peter wants to prove he is more than a heavyweight prospect, and is ready to take his career to the next level. Peter will want to test Klitschko early in the fight, and look to box and set up his power; if he does not find a knockout opportunity, in the early rounds. But no matter how this fight turns out, it is sure to be a scorcher.

HBO is putting on quite a show for boxing fans … And I wouldn’t miss this one for the world.

TJ Cline

Outside the Ring: Boxing’s Highs and Lows

22.09.05 - By Craig Parrish: Boxing has always had the reputation of golden opportunities. It is a sport that gives chances of dazzling success to Men who otherwise may have had very limited options. We have seen time and time again how these fighters achieve the greatest of all prizes in sports, a world Championship belt. Fame and fortune inevitably follow. Then, there comes a choice. Now that you’ve reached the top of the heap, what do you do with the rest of your life? How do you deal with the pressures of sustaining success, and also trying to give something back? Are you a role model? What are your responsibilities? What is next? These must be tough decisions to have thrust on a person who has spent their entire life focused on fighting.

Some Boxers have responded with incredible achievements outside the ring, which has added an extra luster to the sport, an air of respectability that goes beyond what they can do with their fists.

Others, unable to respond to the pressures of fame and success have fallen farther than one can imagine. I have collected a list of individuals that give examples of both categories. I have narrowed the list to Fighters who have been prevalent during my lifetime, and I’m sure there are many, many other examples that I am unaware of.

The Highs:

1.) Muhammad Ali: Ali transcended boxing. He became a political figure involved in Civil Rights, freedom of religion, freedom of speech. He ignited controversy wherever he went, as well as united people with his mesmerizing personality. His fights became world events, with people clamoring to see “The Greatest”. While he had his flaws, Ali demonstrated his convictions by standing up for what he believed again and again, even going to jail for it. Although he stayed in the game far too long, he remains today one of the most popular figures in sports in the world. Ali took the success he gained in the ring and used that clout as a force for change. He is “The Greatest” in many respects, not just for
being the brilliant fighter he once was.

2.) George Foreman: While Big George has not had the kind of social impact Ali has, he has shown the world what a person can do if he believes. It has been an amazing transformation that George has gone through since the early days, when he was the most feared fighter in the world. After his initial fall from grace, Foreman pulled himself out of a spiraling depression to become a Minister, a successful businessman, and oh yes, the oldest Heavyweight Champion of the World when he regained the title at age 45. If you look at the menacing young man who destroyed Joe Frazier and the joyous, charismatic personality of today, it is hard to believe that they are the same person. George has shown that, through faith, one can achieve greatness in more ways than one.

3.) Alex Ramos/Gerry Cooney: I put Ramos and Cooney together because they both had a common goal: To help former fighters after they retire. Ramos started the Retired Boxers Foundation, and two years later he and Cooney started the FIST foundation, which helps boxers get jobs after they have retired. With no boxing union, these organizations are sorely needed, and Alex and Gerry should be applauded for their efforts.They truly exemplify “giving something back."

4.) Oscar De La Hoya: “The Golden Boy” certainly has the Midas Touch. Oscar has parlayed his ring fame into Promoting, and his “Golden Boy Promotions” has been wildly successful. Ever the businessman, Oscar looks past rivalries, hiring former foe Bernard Hopkins to run the East Coast branch of his business. Whether he fights or not again remains to be seen, but Oscar has many other irons in the fire in the meantime. Oscar is also a grammy-nominated singer for his first album, the self-titled “Oscar De La Hoya”. Oscar founded the Oscar De La Hoya Foundation in 1995 to provide athletic and educational opportunities to the children of East Los Angeles.

5.) Sugar Ray Leonard: Although “The Contender” might not have been everyone’s cup or tea, you have to admire Sugar Ray and Stallone for trying to help thrust boxing back into the mainstream by creating a primetime network show. The show has been picked up for a second season by ESPN, and hopefully it will draw more fans to the sport. He also has his own management company, started the Sugar Ray Leonard Youth Foundation, and is heavily involved with D.A.R.E. America, which are anti-drug and anti-violence organizations for young people.

The Lows:

1.) Ike Ibeabuchi: Although there are others that have probably committed even more heinous deeds, I rank Ibeabuchi # 1 because of the sheer waste of talent and potential. This Fighter had the ability to rule the Heavyweight Division for years, but instead decided to commit rape on a stripper. Currently in prison.

2.) Paul Spadafora: This is a classic case of alcoholism. Spadofora basically knew two things, how to fight and how to drink. “The Pittsburgh Kid” would go on tremendous benders between fights, which culminated in shooting his pregnant girlfriend in the stomach because she accidentally flattened the tires on his SUV.

3.) Clifford Etienne: Some Fighters learn boxing in Prison and it saves their lives. Some fighters learn boxing in Prison, get out, are mildly successful, and then go back to prison. That’s where the “Black Rhino” currently is, after robbing a check cashing establishment and firing a shot at a Police Officer.

4.) Tommy Morrison: Apparently, Morrison has cleaned up his act, but what a fall from grace it was. After holding a Heavyweight Championship belt, Morrison was diagnosed with HIV and banned from boxing. After that his life was a chaos of drugs, bigamy, and prison.

5.) Mike Tyson: The worst part about Tyson’s antics, apart from the deeds themselves, was the coverage they got. Tyson continued to give the sport a black eye again and again, from his rape conviction to his road rage incidents to his bizarre statements and dirty fighting. Hopefully Mike has settled his Demons and will live a quiet life outside the ring. In his prime, one of the greats.

TJ Cline

Wladimir Klitschko Prevails in One Heck of a fight!

25.09.05 - By Izyaslav “Slava” Koza: Suffice it to say that both Klitschko and Peter earned their respect when they agreed to fight each other. Thankfully, the same respect can be paid to both men based on what happened tonight in Atlantic City. Both fighters did what they did best, and the clashing styles melded to create a masterpiece that would make even the best painters jealous.

Obviously, more praise should go to the winner of this fight, in Wladimir Klitschko because, if I were to travel back in time and explain to fans that he would win this fight ala coming back from three brutal (and they were) knockdowns, I would kill them from manic hysteria and laughter. Wladimir Klitschko has definitely redeemed himself, and that is really the bottom line based on the conditions and the result.

First of all, let me just say that Samuel Peter’s punches that did land behind the head, were what I can best describe as relatively legitimate, and here is why. In the actual sense, it is against the rules to punch your opponent in this manner. It is classic rabbit punching and a fighter would get called on it were it not for the circumstances taking place in the ring.

However, the problem was that Wladimir Klitschko was holding way too much. Honestly, I was not surprised by this, as if anybody who has read some of my thoughts before the fight knows, while I did not predict the winner, I firmly believed the clinch was Wladimir Klitschko’s key to coming out victorious in the fight. Samuel Peter could only win from in close, or land lightning from far, if Wlad did not keep his right up, ala what happened in the Peter vs. Williams fight. Obviously, Wladimir definitely protected himself from the lightning threat, and the clinch was his best chance on the inside.

Again the brutal truth is that it’s the essence of a style known as the "Jab and Grab," as performed by John Ruiz. The difference is Wladimir Klitschko actually has boxing skills, as opposed to just the Jab and Grab, which is Ruiz’s only real way to win a fight, in my opinion. However, just because Wladimir is a better technical fighter, that does not change the fact that the amount of clinching in this fight, in truth, was borderline illegal and grounds for point deductions, and possibly a disqualification (although I would lean against the DQ, as Wladimir was actually boxing in more instances than clinching).

This is the reason why I was not against Peter getting away with illegal rabbit punching. A lot of fans think that my personal beliefs are that a fighter can and should only win fairly, and that is not true at all. A fighter should win by any means necessary. Many believe I was against Ruiz’s ability to clinch in the Jones Jr. fight and thought I was laughing at Ruiz because Nady took that away. No, the reason I was laughing at Ruiz and still do is because he didn’t do all he could to win. If the Jab and Grab is his only way to win, then he should have gone out on his “dirty boxing” shield, rather then get out boxed and complain in the dressing room later on. The same goes for Trinidad vs. Vargas, and his low blow to save himself after the knockdown, and the same goes for Corrales vs. Castillo in their epic war. A fighter should always do whatever they can, illegal or no, to try and win, and that is what I saw from both these guys, and why referee intervention (from a referee who doesn’t like to do that anyway in Neuman) was not necessary, and part of the reason why this was such an exciting fight. Both guys did whatever they had to try and win and you can’t ask for more then that from either man.

Wladimir Klitschko paid the price fine enough, by not only getting knocked down twice by way of technically illegal blows, and losing points but almost losing the fight via TKO. Samuel Peter, as I suspected, had no way to nullify the clinch, as I honestly thought he was weak inside, and when he realized this, the illegal blows were his only answer to try and win the fight. Nobody can take away from him the fact that he tried to win this fight every second of every round. He was less technically skilled, but he wanted it just as much as Klitschko, yet if we nullify that desire for both men Wladimir’s technical ability is left to slide the scale in his favor.

With that said, let me throw in a few words about the trainers of both fighters. Both Steward and Anderson did an outstanding job, for the most part. Anderson, for his part, didn’t say anything wrong during the fight, but he didn’t really prepare his fighter to get on the inside better, in my opinion, or stalk and crouch low, and that was part of his glaring deficiency in the fight, at which point it was impossible to tell him how to improvise that stand up home run swing style. Steward, for his part, did all the right things in both the training camp and in the “after knockdown” coaching in which he kept calm, and didn’t tense his fighter with nervous energy more then he had to. Now, the only thing I disagree with Steward about is attempting to force Wlad to be more aggressive towards the latter part of the fight. It is, in my opinion, the biggest reason why Wlad got caught in trouble and found himself in the cleanest knockdown of the three Peter put on him. When he was telling Wladimir to drop the right after Peter misses I shook my head no and screamed in disgust because mixing it up, even if fundamentally technically sound, was exactly what Peter wanted. That is when Wlad is close and when Peter could land his best stuff. I don’t remember if that is exactly what happened but were they to follow the same pattern Lennox Lewis followed against David Tua, (who, although less hungry and prepared than Peter, was still as dangerous), Wladimir would win much more convincingly on the cards, and have less scary moments and instances where he gets beat. A wide points win is and will always be a better and more telling indicator of a great fighter, than a knockdown. Wladimir Klitschko does not have the chin to go after a big puncher like Peter in that manner. Other than that, Steward did a near flawless job and once again proved that he is easily a hall of fame trainer.

Still, let us not take anything away from the man of the night. Nobody can take away credit from Wladimir Klitschko, a man who rises up from two relatively illegal knockdowns and a third devastating one, and goes on to win. I won’t lie when I saw him go down the third time, I believed that the fight was over. I was screaming at the TV from my knees for him to get up, and yet believed that it was a hopeless waste of lung energy. Yet, he got up like many great fighters before him, sucked it up and went on, you can question his chin, but not his will to win. Congratulations to Wladimir Klitschko on winning the hardest and most dangerous fight of his career.


Bonus Thoughts:

The bout between Miguel Cotto and Ricardo Torres could easily outgun Corrales Castillo as fight of the year. First of all, you had a fighter in Torres, who I thought had a good chance of being knocked out viciously, in this his first step up in class. Torres came in looking to win and wasn’t afraid to throw leather, and forcing Cotto to show what I and many suspect is his unflinching desire and dedication to prove his greatness by overcoming unexpected adversity. The reason I think this fight overtook Corrales vs. Castillo is because both guys threw and were hit with obviously debilitating shots. Each punch that landed put the receiver in dream land, something that in my opinion did not happen enough in Corrales vs Castillo war. On the other hand, the ending of that fight was as huge a round as a fight can have, so really it is a tough choice to make, and it is hard to say which of these two deserves fight of the year honors. I will say that at the very least this fight between Miguel Cotto and Ricardo Torres proved without a shadow of a doubt why the 140 division is the single best in boxing today.

TJ Cline

Klitschko Conquers Peter, His Questionable Chin And Stamina

25.09.05 - By Aidan Monaghan: Despite being deposited on the canvas twice in the fifth round and once in the tenth, Wladimir Klitschko - looking much like his brother Vitali in his ability to box and move and much like the former student of his current trainer, Lennox Lewis, through his ability to hit and tie up his opponent when it mattered - Wladimir Klitschko pulled out a close unanimous twelve round decision victory over Samuel Peter, Saturday night in Atlantic City.

It was the type of result that was least expected by anyone - a twelve round decision.

Unlike previous losses for Klitschko when fatigue and knockdowns took their toll, Klitschko overcame these difficulties to return to his game plan that revolved around the most movement ever displayed by Klitschko, combined with timely lefts, rights and hooks..

Stalking Klitschko throughout, Peter was unable to unload accurately or with regularity, due to Klitschko's movement and legal - if not crowd displeasing - use of clinching. Although Peter scored 3 official knockdowns, none were the result of remarkably clean punches.

In the twelfth and final round, Klitschko staggered Peter seriously, but was unable to follow through with any significant punches that could result in a KO. Although Wladimir seemed on the verge of exhaustion throughout the second half of the bout, he never succumbed. And it was Peter who was feeling and showing the effects of the Klitschko attack, with swelling around both eyes.

With this victory, Klitschko now becomes the number one - if less than convincing - uncrowned heavyweight fighter in the world, by improving his record to 45-3, while Peter falls to 24-1, suffering the first loss of his career.

IainDaniel

ZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzz............ Who Cares?

Obstacles don't have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don't turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it.

Michael Jordan

TJ Cline

Troll I agree with you 100%

The Monkey Man

So, you agree with that particular breakdown of the fight?!

Have Problems?... Chances are its due to overpopulation
Save The Oceans, Save the Planet, Save Your Family, Save Yourself!

TJ Cline

No I never agree with Iain

IainDaniel

Oh I am sure we agree on somethings

Obstacles don't have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don't turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it.

Michael Jordan

TJ Cline

I disagree with that statement.

IainDaniel

I agree with this statement.

I see

Obstacles don't have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don't turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it.

Michael Jordan

TJ Cline

Klitschko - Peter: Observations, Rants and Raves

26.09.05 - By Michael Montero: I know, I know – yet another article on this fight. Hey, let’s face it – we haven’t had much to talk about in the heavyweight division lately – and this was an important, and entertaining, heavyweight bout. Several questions were answered, and yet still a few remain. Upon watching the fight three times, and dissecting it, here’s my break down:

My analysis of the fight:

Besides the 5th and 10th rounds, in which he made critical defensive errors, Klitschko controlled the entire fight. I scored it 115-109 in favor of the Ukrainian – scoring the 3rd round 9-9 (due to Peter’s bomb at the end of the round and Klitschko’s heavy clinching), the 5th round 9-8 for Peter (counting only one knock down, as the 2nd was clearly a push, and taking a point from Peter for rabbit punching), and the 10th round 10-8 for Peter (for the solid, and clean, knock down of Klitschko). I had every other round 10-9 in favor of Klitschko (you could argue that the 6th round was a 10-8 round for Klitschko as Peter failed to land anything, and Klitschko landed several shots without holding once). Samuel Peter was clearly the aggressor, always coming forward. Wladimir Klitschko fought in a mostly defensive stance, but poured on enough offense to clearly win the majority of the rounds. “The Nigerian Nightmare” showed very little technique and athleticism, but an iron chin, along with a big heart and solid determination. He was off balance several times after missing with wild shots, and a more offensive-minded Klitschko could have taken advantage of that. CompuBox numbers showed that Klistchko landed 204 out of 523 total punches (39%), and Peter landed 100 out of 440 (23%) as Klitschko beat Peter in every punching category. All in all, it was an entertaining heavyweight fight complete with drama, fireworks, and anxiety for fans of both warriors.

The “knockdowns”

In my opinion, there was only one legit knockdown in the fight – which was in the 10th round. The first knockdown in the 5th round was the obvious result of a rabbit punch. Peter was rabbit punching and hitting off breaks from the first round, and Wlad should have remembered the #1 rule in boxing – “protect yourself at all times”. The referee incorrectly scored this as a knockdown, and failed to warn Peter for blatant rabbit punching. The second knockdown, also in the 5th, was the result of a push, and nothing more (although Peter continued his illegal rabbit punching). Again, the referee incorrectly counted this as a knockdown. As a result of poor officiating, the 5th was scored as a 10-7 round for Peter by all three judges. This made the fight appear much closer than it really was. The third and final knockdown was completely legit. Wlad made a HUGE fundamental error by backing into the ropes, only to take a huge shot from Sam, than ran away with his hands down, only to take another shot to the chin that dropped him.

What did Sam show us?

The freakishly strong Nigerian proved to the world that he can take a punch – and he continued to show us what we already knew – that he packs some serious power. However at the same time he proved to be easy to hit, and seems unable to throw a straight punch. His weapon is his left hook – that’s about it. Neutralize that weapon by staying back, moving to his left, and bruising his face with jabs – and you can beat him. It’s clear that the man’s goal is to back his opponent into the ropes, and throw wild haymakers until something big lands. He is also content to fight dirty on the inside, blatantly throwing rabbit punches – especially during clinching and coming off breaks. The question is will the man improve as a fighter? Will he use this loss as a learning lesson and get better?

Most of the top fighters in the heavyweight division could probably out-box Peter to a unified decision, yet only a few could actually knock him out. At the same time – with his power, chin, and determination – Sam could knock out any of the top heavies on any given night with one punch (if he can land it). Bottom line – this guy is hittable and beatable – but will be a tall order for anybody in the division to defeat.

What did Wlad show us?

Well he showed us that he can get off the canvas, collect himself, and come back to win a fight. He showed us that he can last 12 rounds with a guy constantly putting pressure on him. He showed us that the fire is back, with the confidence and killer instinct slowly returning to boot. Though he did show some improved defensive fundamentals - he still has gaping holes in his defense. When seriously hurt he panics, backs up with his arms flailing (and no guard), and leaves himself open to taking a big shot. He simply MUST fix this bad habit if he wants to be champion again.

There’s also room for offensive improvement - when he has his opponent off balance, he needs to go for the kill. He also needs to punch at angles – instead of standing right in front of a guy and hitting him with straight rights. The only punch that seriously hurt Peter (in the final frame) was a left hook from a sideways angle. Peter looked like he was going to collapse right then and there from that single blow. Had Klitschko thrown 5 or 6 of those throughout the fight – we would have never scene the 12th round. The question of stamina is a question no more. Round after round, Peter looked slower, and Klitschko still looked fresh. As the bell rang for each round, Wladdy was waiting in the middle of the ring for his opponent. Even after the fight, he looked like he could go a few more with no problem.

What did Randy Neumann show us?

That it’s time to hang it up and do something else. He got on Wladimir’s case for holding several times – but only mentioned rabbit punching once or twice to Samuel. He certainly could have given a warning to Klitschko for holding - but there was absolutely no doubt that he should have warned, and penalized, Peter for constant illegal hits to the back of the head. Without a doubt, Peter should have eventually had a point deducted for his tactics. I counted 25 rabbit punches (including hitting on the break - as well as hitting behind, and on top of, the head) in the fight – this is completely unacceptable. Not even an official warning? Are you sh*tting me? I counted 66 clinches for Klitschko. Over a 12 round fight that’s nowhere near extreme – especially given the fact that he didn’t clinch at all in the 6th and 12th rounds. A fighter is supposed to clinch when he’s too close, and/or in trouble – and that’s what Klitschko did. Averaging a little under 6 clinches a round over a physical 12 round bout may not be too pleasing to the eye – but let’s be real people - it’s nowhere near John Ruiz’s output!

Another thing, in the 10th round when Peter floored Klitschko, Neumann should have made him walk to the farthest corner. It is common knowledge that anytime a fighter is knocked down, the referee is supposed to make the other man go to the farthest corner and wait. That’s elementary officiating, it’s nothing new. Anyway, I honestly feel that it’s time for Randy to do something else – b/c he incorrectly scored two knockdowns, and failed to penalize a guy who was clearly throwing illegal punches throughout the fight. Had this contest been remotely close – these officiating failures could have seriously affected the outcome of the fight.

Post-fight comments:

After the fight the men’s faces reflected the judges’ decision. While Klitshcko had some slight bruising and swelling under his left eye (caused more by heads colliding than punches), Peter’s eyes were almost swollen shut, and he had been bleeding from the nose and mouth through the end of the fight. Klitschko told HBO’s Larry Merchant that “Peter is a strong fighter with a good chin, but not much technique”. He also mentioned the rabbit punching, and even looked upset about it as he was pacing back and forth (as if he was still in the rhythm of the fight) while talking to Larry. Peter looked exhausted, and he looked defeated while stating “he beat me, what can I say?” to Merchant. He refused to give Klitschko any credit however, blaming his loss on his opponent’s holding. After the fight, Wlad told reporters that he would prefer to fight Brewster to “answer questions” – let’s hope that’s not all talk. This would be another good one.

Rematch?

At the post-fight press conference Peter’s manager demanded a rematch, which is just ridiculous. If the situation was reversed, Peter’s camp wouldn’t want to go backwards either – they’d want to go after a belt as the current IBF/WBO mandatory. Perhaps in the future Klitschko will hold one of those belts, and Peter will earn a mandatory position. Then, and only then, should these guys do a rematch. Besides, if they did an immediate rematch we’d only see more of the same – the better boxer out-boxing the plodding brawler.

What does the future hold for both men?

Peter stepped into the spotlight on Saturday night, now he needs to keep with Nigerian express rolling. There is nothing wrong with one “tune-up” fight against a gate keeper – but then he needs to go after a top ten guy. I would favor him to KO Monte Barrett, Jameel McCline, Kirk Johnson and Davarryl Williamson. A fight with Calvin Brock is a toss up, and I would expect James Toney to out-box him. Fundamentally Peter needs to work on his foot movement, and learn to box. He also needs to learn that there’s more to boxing that throwing looping left hooks, hoping to catch a guy with a big bomb. Although power will always give you a chance to win, a fighter MUST be able to box himself back into contention when he’s behind on points.

For Klitschko there’s only one choice – Lamon Brewster. In this rematch he could accomplish several things. Not only would he be avenging a loss, but he’d also be defeating another heavy handed, heavy chinned slugger. This would silence even more of his critics, and prove that the man is serious about taking on the most dangerous opponents out there. Finally, it would give him a belt alongside his big brother – something that they have always dreamed about. If and only if Brewster loses to Luan Krasniqi later this week – should Wladdy go after Chris Byrd. Fundamentally Klitschko needs to learn to stay away from the ropes, keep those hands up, and to protect himself at all times (including breaks). The defense still has holes in it, but it’s getting better. As long as he stays in the middle of the ring he can out-box most, if not all, of the top heavies out there – and simply over-power the others.

TJ Cline

Where is Our Promised Heavyweight Tournament?

30.09.05 - By James Allan: Less than a year ago Don King was busy telling everybody that he was quite happy to let his fighters take part in a unification tournament, along with Vitali Klitschko, to crown an undisputed heavyweight champion. "I'm willing to gamble all three of my champions," King said. "Let's throw Klitschko in there with them and see who comes out on top. The guy who is left standing will get the respect of the public because he did it with his talent and skill, not because of the manoeuvrability and machinations of the promoters." Now, 10 months since that quote, not one tournament unification fight has taken place. Instead this week has seen more matches that will still leave the division in its fragmented condition and nobody any wiser as to whom the real champion is.

While this weekend’s fights between James Toney v Dominick Guinn and Chris Byrd v DaVarryl Williamson might turn out to be exciting match up’s, they are not the fights everybody wants to see, nor are they the fights that the division so desperately needs.

Byrd should have fought Wladimir Klitschko a few months back. That is the fight everybody wanted to see and it is the fight that should have taken place. Byrd might argue that Williamson deserved a shot more than Wlad, but it fools nobody. He took it because he sees Williamson as an easier option. Williamson lost to Wlad in five rounds back in 2004 and wins against Oliver McCall and Derrick Jefferson do not make him a legitimate contender, in my opinion.

James Toney is now 37 years old and started his career at Middleweight. While he beat John Ruiz in his last fight for the WBA title, he also tested positive for a banned substance. He can make whatever excuses he likes about not knowing he had taken a banned substance and how it didn’t make any difference to the result of the fight, but the buck has to stop with him. It is his body, he is a professional athlete and he should know what he is putting in it. That six months later he is back fighting again really does show you the mess that the division is in. If he had been a track or field athlete he would have been out of his sport for a minimum two years instead of only not being allowed to fight for the WBA title for two years. The fact is, Toney is entertaining and probably the best actual boxer of all the leading title contenders. This means that he will be allowed to box on, despite positive doping results.

Dominick Guinn fights under the nickname ‘The Southern Disaster’ and that’s exactly what his recent record is. In reality, Guinn has only been put there to make up the numbers. He isn’t a good enough boxer to outpoint Toney and he probably doesn’t hit hard enough to knock him out. Of course in boxing anything can happen, but I’m pretty sure the Las Vegas bookmakers aren’t trembling at the thought of a Guinn victory. In fact they would probably be quite happy about it. Any body that likes a flutter on the fights must surely have marked Toney down as a certain winner in this one.

As far as Ruiz goes, he doesn’t seem to have anything lined up at the moment, and most people seem quite happy about that. He has made a good living from the game, but that doesn’t mean he has been good for the game. He has, in the main, held onto his title by spoiling and holding. Roy Jones and James Toney handed him boxing lessons. Only Toney’s inability to monitor what substances he is taking has allowed Ruiz to still be in the shake up for any proposed tournament. The Brewster v Krasniqi fight only told us what we already knew, that Krasniqi also, is not a legitimate challenger, and the Wladimir Klitschko v Samuel Peter fight while exciting, hasn’t really taken us any further forward either. It proved that Wlad’s chin, while not exactly granite, isn’t pure porcelain either and that Peter can survive against a far better class of fighter than he had faced up until then. Wlad’s back in the hunt for a shot at another title, but Peter isn’t ruled out of it either as he is still young enough to learn from this defeat and to come back a better fighter for it. Two or three victories against decent calibre opposition and who would bet against Peter getting a title shot.

The Vitali Klitschko v Hasim Rahman fight comes across as being the most interesting fight of all the recent Heavyweight activity. But the excitement seems to be generated around whether or not, Rahman can land one big shot on Klitschko and knock him out. In truth, Rahman had his fifteen minutes against Lennox Lewis and then was soundly thrashed in their return fight, since then his record consists of losses to Evander Holyfield, John Ruiz a draw with David Tua and victories over such luminaries as Alfred Cole, Rob Calloway and Kali Meehan. His win over Monte Barrett, while a confidence booster doesn’t put him back at the top of the pile, nor does it prepare him for Klitschko who is heavier, stronger and a better fighter than many give him credit for. In truth, if Rahman wins the only people it will be good for is Rahman himself and Don King, as he will now control all four pieces of the heavyweight title.

That should be the cue for him to launch the long awaited unification tournament, but there will be problems there also. As already mentioned, Toney is banned from fighting for the WBA title for the next two years. If anybody can get round that I’m sure Don can, but it would make the WBA title worth virtually nothing. The belts are mostly gaudy baubles anyway, but for some reason they still seem to have a fascination for fighters, who seem quite willing to fight for whatever belt an organisation makes up. Wladimir Klitshcko should be involved in any tournament that is organised, but would he be willing to give Don King rights to promote any of his future fights. Maybe to get his chance he would but then again maybe he wouldn’t. Would Don be willing to allow him to participate in the tournament knowing that if he won it, he could to all intents and purposes be out of the picture as far as promotional rights are concerned. And all of this conjecture is based around Rahman beating Klitschko.

If Klitschko wins, as I fully expect him to, then he and Wlad have already made it clear that they will never fight each other. Thus meaning that the titles would remain fragmented for the foreseeable future. Of course even if the tournament took place, the titles would eventually break up anyway. The sanctioning bodies are only interested in their own financial well being, not in the good of the sport. But even when the tournament winner was stripped, for whatever reasons, of sections of the title, he would still in the public’s eyes be seen as the true champion with the rest as pretenders no matter what titles they may claim to hold.

What all of this basically adds up to, is that the division is a mess. There are so many different potentialities that can be exploited to the advantage of almost everybody but the fan, who is the person being asked to pay out their money in order to keep the whole business moving. It should never be forgotten, in any sport, that once the fans cease to care, then the sport could soon find itself moving off the back page and into the shadows.

I said in an article a few months ago, that Don King was the only man with the power to clean up the chaotic mess that currently passes for the Heavyweight division and I stand by that statement. The Klitschko’s may not like Don, but they will work with him if they have to in order to secure the big fights. Ali worked with him, Foreman worked with him, Larry Holmes worked with him, Tyson worked with him and Lennox Lewis worked with him. Don produces. Don gets the job done and Don is the only man with enough clout to make the tournament a reality. Vitali is already working with him, after all isn’t Hasim Rahman promoted by Don King. If Vitali gets through this and a unification match up is made with one of the other three champions he will be working with Don again. After all, doesn’t Don hold the promotion rights to John Ruiz, Lamon Brewster and Chris Byrd. He also has promotional rights to James Toney and just about any other viable heavyweight contender that you care to mention.

This unification tournament has to happen. It is vital for the sake of the division, a division that is now so bad that there seems to be a frightening apathy towards it from the general fight fans. In the main, boxing fans aren’t stupid, they can see terrible fights and terrible fighters a mile away, the heavyweight division is now so full of both of these that many fans don’t seem to care who wins this weekend. If what many people say is true, and boxing is only as healthy as its glamour division, then boxing must be in a pretty bad state at the minute. But we all know that that is not true. Boxing is in fact enjoying something of a renaissance at the moment. Good fighters are coming through and good fights are being made in many of the lower divisions. It’s about time the Heavyweight division joined in.

TJ Cline

Tarver-Jones: The Thrilla in Tampa

30.09.05 - By Scoop Malinowski / Boxinginsider.com - "No two men can be half an hour together but one shall acquire an evident superiority over the other." --Samuel Johnson

It's a classic confrontation, one for the ages. The outspoken, articulate ambassador though vastly underrated and underappreciated hero vs. the once-mighty superstar me-first primadonna who has fallen heavily from his pound-for-pound pinnacle.

Tarver and Jones collide again in one of the most fascinating showdowns of the modern era.

Will the faded superstar be able to overcome the shock and humiliation of two one-sided drubbings in his last two fights? Will Jones be able to find the magic one more time? Or has his ego tricked him into believing he can offset Tarver when the truth is he is finished at the highest level of the sport because his greatest power - his speed - has dissipated?

By Jones's antics this week in Tampa, refusing to share the same room with Tarver, etc., it would seem to indicate Jones is uncomfortable being around Tarver, to some degree, somewhat like Ali's verbal mastery always seemed to discombobulate Joe Frazier. Tarver naturally seems to know which buttons to push, he seems to have Jones completely figured out. No matter what Roy says in the media, Tarver always has the wittier comeback. Never was it so apparent as when we heard Tarver say, I have a question, what excuses are you gonna use tonight Roy?

Tarver out-Ali'd even Ali with that historic line which will always be one of the most memorable one-liners in sports history.

Jones just can't seem to find an exploitable weakness in Tarver. It is my contention that Tarver totally conquered Jones psychologically before the last fight with all those interviews in which he exposed Jones' lies and hypocracies. Tarver knew Jones tried to avoid the rematch - with the help of HBO - and he never shut up until Jones finally signed on the dotted line. Tarver knew he had Jones mentally and once you win the psychological fight, the physical fight is easy. That's why it only took seven punches to destroy the great Roy Jones.

No one can say it was a lucky punch or Jones was not quite right, blah blah blah, that's nonsense. Antonio Tarver performed one of the greatest, most spectactular upset shockers in the history of boxing and all of sports. He absolutely deserves all the credit for slaying the Goliath of Roy Jones. And he did it with style that even Ali, Jordan, Tiger, Tyson and The Babe surely had to admire.

And I believe he is going to do it again. Tarver is taking this fight more seriously than the last one. He knows Jones is a desperate man to salvage his legacy and reputation. He knows Jones would risk all his millions, his health, everything really, to go out a winner - and not a knocked out loser. Tarver understands Jones better than any of us, he knows the Jones ego and is confident he can handle anything that comes his way in the ring on Saturday night.

Jones is the wildcard in this fight. Superman will try to conjure up the magic one last time. WIll he be able to turn back the clock and somehow re-find that superhuman hand and foot speed and utilize one of the greatest weapons in ring history to defeat Tarver? You can never count out Jones. Like he has shown many times, he is capable of almost anything in the ring, even stopping a challenger with a punch launched from behind his back!

If Jones is able to be successful in Tampa on Saturday night I believe it has to be considered one of the greatest comebacks ever. To witness Jones after the Glen Johnson massacre - laying there prone, as if in some kind of imaginary coffin - it is almost unfeasible to believe he can rise from that.

But Roy Jones is not the average normal human being. He is capable of superhuman feats.

The problem is Antonio Tarver has that kind of capacity and determination just as well.

It just may come down to who wants it more. It may turn into that kind of vicious struggle we don't often see at the highest level of boxing any more, such as The Thrilla in Manila.

I'm leaning for Tarver to do it again, but Jones is a dangerous warrior who, for the first time, is the clearcut underdog - and in a fight he really, desperately needs to win. We could see an aspect of Jones' greatness we have never seen before.

TJ Cline

Glen Johnson just KO'd George Khalid

TJ Cline

Glen Johnson was only the second man ever to KO Roy Jones

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Roy Jones and Antiono Tarver fight this Sat on PPV HBO

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Glen might and probably fight the winner