By: William Holmes
The following is the Boxing Insider notebook for the week of March 19th to March 26th, covering the comings and goings in the sport of boxing that you might have missed. Pacquiao stated the following:
Manny Pacquiao Sets Sights on September Return
It was recently reported on ESPN that Manny Pacquiao has confirmed that he will return to the ring in September.
“Tell them [the fans] to be patient. Bob Arum [promoter of Top Rank boxing] and myself have been talking and will continue talking. What is definite is they’ll see me fight again come September. Not April nor immediately after that as speculations are going. Tell the public that it won’t be long before I make them happy again when I fight,” Pacquiao is quoted as saying to the Manila examiner.
He also stated that it’s up to Marquez if they fight for a fifth time. He continued:
“Marquez, according to news reports, doesn’t want to fight me for the fifth time. It actually is up to him,” Pacquiao said on the boxer he first took on in 2004.
“Me? Well, everybody knows I’ll fight anyone. I am not scared of anybody. And that is the reason why boxing fans like me so much. I never avoid anyone. I don’t choose easy fights. I will fight anybody, anytime, anywhere. If he doesn’t want to fight me then I don’t want to fight him either. So be it. It’s that simple. He says he doesn’t want to fight me because he won our last fight? Well, I am still ahead in the tally of our last four fights. I won two, lost one and drew one.”
Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero and Wife Casey Appear on the 700 Club
Robert “The Gohst” Guerrero and wife Casey appeared on the Christian news and talk program “The 700 Club” on March 25th when they visited the Christian Broadcasting Network in Virginia Beach, Virginia to discuss Casey’s battle with cancer and Robert’s May 4th world title challenge against Floyd Mayweather. Their appearance can be seen here: http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001Jk8vY4en3AxKnugL-_zpx-PFW0iwxuvLhQ7B2DXhNvlMJLR7tge4KVDPPK34SIgHKPuOlhz2wSkxzJoCWe_ANoW_Yin3850fKXPou_kxEsjtC1oPdIdc4Kwk4Zxq6K6ZDZbJCBdEuqDCK9GySd2-ldjUXx038uvT4XoGgQFy_J0LbNdsdeS13g6DHdwif2Yt
Zahir Raheem Finishes his Comeback Fight in 2nd Round
Zahir Raheem fought for the first time in two years in Tacoma, WA in the Main Event of Battle at the Boat 91 at the Emerald Queen Casino. Raheem (31-3) went against Santos Pakau (28-7-2) and stopped Pakau in the second round. Pakau was dropped three times before the referee stopped it at 2:20 of the second round.
Jonathan “Bomba” Gonzalez and Verdejo Win in Puerto Rico
Jonathan Gonzalez (12-0) defeated Joseph Rios (13-8-2) by a third round TKO in the flyweight division on Saturday night in Trujillo Alto, Puerto Rico. Gonzalez was the first person to ever stop Rios. Rios suffered a cut in the third round due and the ringside doctor took a look at the cut that was over the eye. The referee called off the about at 1:01 of the third round.
Felix Verdejo (4-0) fought on the same card and stopped Martin Quezada (2-4) in the second round of their junior lightweight clash. Verdejo knocked Quezada down once in the first round and again in the second round. The second knockdown forced the referee to stop it at 0:51 of the second round.
Stevenson Wins Revenge Bout Against Darnell Boone
Adonis Stevenson (20-1) and Darnell Boone (19-21-3) fought once, which resulted in a huge upset with Boone scoring a second round TKO victory. They fought again on Friday night in Montreal and the result was much different. Stevenson and Boone fought in the light heavyweight division and Stevenson started off strong and never looked back. He hurt Boone in the first round, and dropped him in the sixth round with a body shot. Boone was able to get back up but was dropped again from a two punch combination that forced the referee to stop the fight. The end came at 2:43 of the sixth round.
Solis and Aydin Win in Germany
Odlanier Solis (19-1) decisioned Leif Larsen (17-1) in the heavyweight division on Friday night in Berlin, Germany. Larsen suffered his first loss against the former Cuban Olympian and was simply out boxed by the technically superior Solid. The final scores were 117-111, 116-112, and 115-114.
Selcuk Aydin (24-2) won on the same card with a shutout decision victory over Giuseppe Lauri (53-12) in the junior welterweight division. The final scores were 100-90 on all three scorecards.
Mayor Rob Ford to Give George Chuvalo Key to the City
George Chuvalo will receive a key to his hometown during a special ceremony at City Hall. Mayor Rob Ford will formally recognize Chuvalo’s extraordinary boxing career and philanthropic contributions with a Key to the City of Toronto. This will occur on Tuesday, March 26, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. in the Toronto City Council Chambers, Member’s Lounge, Toronto City Hall, 100 Queen Street West.
Zou Shiming: “Fists of Gold” Has a Theme Song
Macau’s First World Championship Boxing Card becomes the first boxing event to have it’s own theme song and music video. The Venetian Macao Resort Hotel is pulling out all the stops for world championsip’s boxing first appearance in Macau by producing a music video and theme song for Zou Shiming. It will be performed by Stephanie Chenge. It can be viewed at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aqGyxCqltdw&feature=youtu.be
UK Boxing Star Junior Saba to Train in Las Vegas
Grind 2 Def Entertainment has announced that eighteen year old UK boxing star Junior Saba will be traveling from the UK to train in Las Vegas starting on April 16, 2013. Saba had previously trained at the Mayweather Boxing Club.
“Junior Saba has been in serious boxing training under the guidance of his trainer/manager Tunde Ayaji since he was eleven years old. Junior Saba is very mature and focused for an eighteen year old fighter. I know boxing talent when I see it and Junior Saba is the goods. The US based promoter who signs Junior Saba to a promotional contract better get ready to cash in the winning megabucks lottery ticket with this kid.” said Macke Roberts, U.S. based advisor for Junior Saba.
“Coming to Las Vegas has always been our plan since Junior was eleven years old. I have been accredited for being the first boxing trainer to bring the Mayweather style of boxing to the UK. The Mayweather Boxing Club was an ideal place to take him to train. Soon as we entered the gym eyes were turning to this young boxing talent. Roger Mayweather said publicly with Junior Saba were looking at a world champion in the making. We have trained at Mayweather Boxing Club twice when Junior was sixteen & seventeen. This will be our third time training in Las Vegas and three times will be our lucky charm.” said Tunde Ayaji, the trainer/manager of UK boxing star Junior Saba.
Umberto Savigne Set to Make Major Statement Against Undefeated Junior Jackson on ESPN FNF
Cuban Light Heavyweight prospect Umberto “El Don” Savigne (10-1) is set to make a major statement on this week’s ESPN Friday Night Fights show. He takes on undefeated Brazilian Jackson Junior (14-0) in the ten round co-feature. Savigne is a two-time Cuban National Champion and a gold medalist at the 1998 World Cup.
“A week after my last fight (Nov. 30),” Savigne said, “I was back in the gym working with my team: German Caidedo, Micky Ward and Claudio Lamont. Our goal is to go far beyond Jackson Junior. We know it’s in the gym where we can achieve our goals.”
“His fights and record definitely don’t impress me,” Savigne added, “We’re talking about a fighter who has made his career largely in Brazil. The level of his opponents is not something that scares me.
Khan Vs. Diaz Live on BoxNation
Amir Khan’s first fight in the UK in two years will be screened live and exclusively on BoxNation. He takes on former World Champion Julio “The Kidd” Diaz on Saturday April 27th at the Motorpoint Arena in Sheffield.
“I’m very excited to be on BoxNation, a channel which has shown some of the biggest fights around. It’s proved to be a great platform for boxing and on April 27thI can’t wait to display my skills against Julio Diaz. I know Julio will be bringing it and is coming to fight but I’m determined to put on a show in what will be my first bout back in Britain in two years. I’m delighted we have managed to secure this deal and all I’m concentrating on is making sure that everyone who tunes in gets to see an exciting matchup. It will be a night not to be missed.” Said Khan.
Cunningham Not Bothered by Fury Rantings
Tyson Fury pulled no punches at last week’s press conference in New York City to promote his upcoming fight with Steve Cunningham. He promised not only to KO the former champion but to end his career as well. Fury’s tirade included calling Cunningham a weak-chinned small man and requested to sponsor the soles of Cunningham’s shoes.
”He talks so much,” Cunningham said.”It brought me back to when I was a teen.Guys talked, talked, talked, because they didn’t want to fight.They talked so big and bad to try to make you scared of them. What they wanted was to talk you out of a fight.”
Cunningham is not the trash-talking type.Always the consummate gentleman, Cunningham remained calm, cool, and composed while Fury laid into him at the presser.He prefers to save it for the ring.
“It felt disrespectful,” Cunningham said.”Tyson did get under my skin a little, but I’m a veteran.I’m 36, and I’ve been doing this for 12 years.I once fought a guy named Marco Huck who did the same thing.He talked all this big talk, disrespected me, and made a big old scene at the press conference.”
Loaded Broadway Boxing Card Shaping Up
DiBella Entertainment’s Broadway Boxing Series Returns Thursday, April 4th, at the Roseland Ballroom in New York City. It will feature of a number of DiBella Entertainment’s top young prospects and contenders including former WBA Junior Middleweight Champion Yuri Foreman (29-2), Luis “Orlandito” Del Valle (16-1), Ionut “Jo Jo” Dan Ion (30-2), and Gabriel Tito Bracero (21-1). Foreman will face Gundrik King (18-9), Del Valle will face Andre Wilson (13-5), Ion will face Damian Frias (19-6-1), and Bracero will face Pavel Miranda (19-9-1). Tickets can be purchased at ticketmaster.com
Denis Lebedev vs. Guillermo Jones Meet in WBA Cruiserweight Championship on May 17th
The unification bout between WBA Cruiserweight champion Denis Lebedev (25-1) and WBA Cruiserweight champion in recess Guillermo “El Felino” Jones (38-3-2) will take place on May 17th at Crocus City Hall in Moscow Russia.
Don King stated the following:
“My Russion co-promoters named the fight, “The One Will Stand,” and it will be from Russia with love.” King said. “This is a gigantic promotion between Russia and Panama and I want to thank Andrey Ryabinsky for making this possible.