Boxing Insider Notebook: Golovkin, Lemieux, Mosley, Roy Jones Jr, Santa Cruz and more…

By: William Holmes

The following is the Boxing Insider notebook for the week of August 11th to August 18th, covering the comings and goings in the sport of boxing that you might have missed.

Golovkin and Lemieux Press Kick Off Quotes

WBA, IBO, and WBC Interim Middleweight World Champion Gennady “GGG” Golovkin (33-0) and IBF World Champion David Lemieux (34-2) held a New York City press conference to kick off their three city press tour.

Below are what the fighters had to say:

GENNADY “GGG” GOLOVKIN, WBA, IBO and WBC Interim Middleweight World Champion:

“I want to thank my team, K2 Promotions, HBO and Golden Boy for the most amazing deal this is by far the biggest present for the fans. This fight will go down in history as one of the best.
“HBO and Madison Square Garden are a family to me, they have helped shape my career and we have so far created great history here.”

“I think that we have heard a lot of talk about performances, but I promise an amazing show on October 17. Not just for the main event but for all the fights in the card. And I want to welcome all my fans to come watch this event live at Madison Square Garden on Oct. 17.”

DAVID LEMIEUX, IBF Middleweight World Champion:

“Who would have thought a small kid like me would end up fighting at Madison Square Garden, ‘The Mecca of Boxing’. I am extremely proud to be here, this event is already historical breaking MSG’s record for most tickets sold for a boxing event during a pre-sale.

“You can expect what you see and what you know from us on Oct. 17, two exciting fighters ready to give the fans a really fight.

“In boxing you have to be ready for anything, patterns change. I am ready to be part of that change and become the unified middleweight world champion.

“I respect Golovkin I think he is great fighter, but I’m not here to be his friend I am here to be is opponent. I promise you, there will be blood.

“I am extremely proud to be here and I just want to say that you will see history in the making on Oct 17.”

Roy Jones Jr. Wins by Knockout

Former four division champion Roy Jones Jr. (62-8) picked up his third victory of the year with a 6th round knockout of Eric Watkins (12-10-2) in the Knockout series brought to you by NUVOtv.

Jones stopped Watkins at the end of the 6th round with a check left hook that Watkins couldn’t recover from. The official time of the stoppage was 2:59.

The co-feature bout featured local fan favorite Mike Oliver (26-6-1) getting upset by Jonathan Arrellano (16-6-2) who stopped him in the fourth round with a one punch knockout.

Shane Mosley Comments on Upcoming Bout with Mayorga

Sugar Shane Mosley recently held a media workout at Barry’s Boxing Gym in Las Vegas as he prepared for his upcoming August 28th pay-per-view showdown against former two-division champion Ricardo Mayorga at the Forum in Inglewood, California.

“This fight is to prove I am back,” Mosley told the press. “I took some time off to heal some nagging injuries that I had but I stayed in the gym and stayed in shape. I think I can fight another 3-4 years. I don’t know if I can go on till I am 50 like Bernard but I think I have a lot of fight left in me. The goal is still to have rematches against Floyd Mayweather, Manny Pacquiao, Miguel Cotto, and Canelo Alvarez. I want to avenge those losses.”

Puerto Rican Boxing Classic Set for Friday, October 2nd

The first annual Puerto Rican Boxing Classic, scheduled for Friday, Oct. 2, at the 2300 Arena, will serve not only as a prelude to Philadelphia’s annual Puerto Rican Day Parade on Oct.4, but also as a tribute to all great Puerto Rican fighters, past and present.

It is fitting to do this in Philadelphia since the city boasts the third-largest population of Puerto Ricans in the United States.

The seven-bout fight card figures to attract a sold-out crowd.

From bantamweight Sixto Escobar, who became the first Puerto Rican world champion in 1935, to current title-holder Danny Garcia, of Philadelphia, Puerto Ricans have had a long and storied history in boxing.

Among those area fighters looking to display their talents on the Oct. 2 card are local Puerto Rican fighters from Philadelphia and New Jersey. Many of them bring a loyal following to their fights.

Already committed to the show are lightweight Victor Vasquez (19-9-1, 9 K0s) and junior welterweight David Gonzales (5-0-2, 1K0), both of Philadelphia. Also set is junior middleweight Ismael “Tito” Garcia (8-0-1, 4 K0s), of Vineland, NJ.

In addition, invitations to attend and sign autographs will be sent to outstanding Puerto Rican fighters up and down the East Coast.

First fight is 7 pm.

Leo Santa Cruz Media Workout Quotes

Leo Santa Cruz recently held a media workout at the Who’s Next Boxing Academy in La Puente, California before his bout with Abner Mares on Premier Boxing Champions on ESPN on Saturday, August 29th.

Santa Cruz stated the following at his workout:

“We’re going to show everyone that we are on top when we’re in that ring. This has been a great promotion and we have hope that it’s going to be a big fight.

“I have been in other big fights and I’m doing everything to prepare for my audience and fans. They respect our team and they are the reason why we are doing this fight. I’m going to continue to fight for my fans and I’m going to do it until I’m the best in the sport.

“I’m 100 percent with my strength and conditioning. We’re ready to go 12 rounds if it takes that long.

“I’m very determined to win this fight. It’s the biggest fight of my career. I have a lot to lose I have a lot to prove. I want to prove to all of the fans that I deserve to be on this level. A win against Mares will put me on the level to get more big fights.

“I wanted this fight three years ago and they said I wasn’t on Mares’ level. I said I was going to work hard to get on that level so one day we can make it happen and here we are.

“This is the toughest fighter I’ve faced. A fight against him will be the biggest of my career. Even bigger than my first title. Mares has a bigger name, everything is bigger.

“With two Mexicans fighting, it’s always a war. There have been a lot of great battles like that in the past and I think this will be too. We could end up with a trilogy of fights.

“We both have our fan base in Los Angeles and this fight will determine who is the king and who gets all the fans.

“My dad has always been there since the beginning. I’ve always been comfortable with him. He’ll scream at me and tell it like it is.

“I think Abner moves more since his loss to Jhonny Gonzalez. He knows this fight is very important for him. There’s a lot to lose for him too. I think he’s going to bring everything this fight. That makes it an even better fight for the fans.”

Oscar Valdez and Jesse Hart Headline September 11th Card at the Cosmopolitan

Oscar Valdez, Jesse Hart, Chris Avalos, and Aaron Pryor Jr. will headline the fall season debut of “The MetroPCS Friday Night Knockout on TruTV” kicking off the Mexican Independence Day weekend on Friday, September 11th at the Chelsea inside The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. This card will be televised live on truTV beginning at 10:00p.m. ET.

Hard will defend his NABO and USBA Super Middleweight Championship titles against Aaron Pryor Jr., followed by the featherweight bout between Valdez and Avalos.

“I am very happy to be fighting on September 11 in Las Vegas,” said Valdez. “I have a difficult opponent that night but the plan is to win and get myself closer to that world title shot I desire.”

“I am excited for the fight. It’s an interesting matchup because not a lot of prospects get matched up with tough opponents these days,” said Avalos. “I am looking forward to not only winning the fight but moving on to another world title shot. The best part about facing undefeated fighters is erasing the zero from their loss column. Valdez is next on my hit parade.”

“This is the battle of fighters’ sons. We will see who is the better fighters’ son inside the ring,” said Hart. “I am predicting it won’t go past four rounds. Pryor is an OK fighter but he is old news, and I believe I am the future of boxing, so he has to go!”

“I am looking forward to fighting Jesse Hart on September 11,” said Pryor. “Hart is a tough opponent, and it’s a great opportunity for me. See you at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, live on truTV.”

Don King Presents Trevor Bryan Against Derric Rossy on August 28th

Trevor Bryan (15-0) will put his undefeated record on the line when he faces Derric Rossy (30-9) in the main event of a ShoBox: The New Generation card live on Showtime on Friday, August 28th at the Downtown Las Vegas Events Center across from the D Las Vegas.

The co-feature will feature two-time Dominican Republic Olympian Juan Ubaldo Cabrera (23-) taking on Mike Gavronski (18-1-1) in a 10 round middleweight bout. The opening bout of the fight will feature Natu Visinia (11-1) facing Joey Dawejko (14-4-2) in an eight round bout.

Promoter Don King stated, “It gives me great pleasure to help you and old prospects, men and women, chasing their dreams, grasping for an opportunity to transform their dreams in living reality.” He continued, “Trevor Bryan is such a prospect seeking an opportunity to fulfill his dreams. Well Don King and Showtime are giving him that opportunity to capture the imagination of the people on ShoBox on August 28th. However, Derric Rossy, a great challenger and a ‘Dreambreaker’ is blocking the door to greatness. And Trevor Bryan has to fight like hell to get through that door. The fight will be the power of dreams. I urge all fight fans to tune in on ShoBox and don’t blink.”

Irish Olympic Silver Medal Winner John Joe Nevin to Make NYC Debut

On Tuesday night, August 25th at Coney Island two-time Olympian John Joe Nevin will be in action at MCU Park. Nevin was a silver medalist in the 2012 Olympics and has a record of 3-0.

“I’m excited to be boxing in New York for the first time ever,” the 26 year old Mullingar, Ireland native said. “I’ve fought all over the world but I’ve always dreamed of boxing in New York. I know there are lots of Irish fans in the area and hopefully we can bring some out.

Nevin went on to state, “I haven’t fought since last year so we’re looking forward to getting the rust off and showing what I can do.” He also stated, “The boxing I get in Philly gyms is just what you need, working against world class boxers in the summer heat. I’m ready for the challenge. I can’t wait to get back in the ring and get my career moving again.”

Promoter Dmitriy Salita stated,”John Joe Nevin is a great prospect and I am very happy that he will make his American debut in NYC on the “Brooklyn Brawl” series,” Salita said. “The Irish community has a very rich history of coming out in droves to see great boxing champions and I believe John Nevin has all the tools to follow in the rich lineage and impress the boxing fans of all cultures, in NYC! John Joe is managed by one of the best managers in the sport, Cameron Dunkin, who has a great eye for elite talent, so we can all be assured he is the real deal. As a fan, I am excited about the John J oe Nevin fight August 25th in Coney Island, at MCU Park!”

The main event of the night will feature former world title challenger Alex Miskirtchian (25-3-1) against Cornelius Lock (22-7-2).