Posts tagged boxing
Joe Frazier looks up at George Foreman after being knocked down in the second round of their Jan. 1973 fight in Kingston, Jamaica. Frazier was knocked down three times in the first round and another three in the second before the referee stopped the fight. (Neil Leifer/SI)
SI VAULT: Foreman clobbers Frazier in earning TKO victory (2.5.73)
Training camp update from undefeated cruiserweight Lateef Kayode, who fights 5X champion Antonio Tarver in the main event of SHOWTIME Championship Boxing on June 2, “My body can take anything he throws at me. If he wants to trade, I will trade and if he wants to box, I will box. I can go 12 rounds without a problem, but there is no way he will be able to withstand the kind of punishment I will give him unless he plans on running away all night. Either way, I am knocking this man out. If it goes the distance, they might try to rob me, so I am going to put Tarver to sleep before the 12th round. That way I am the judge and the jury.”
Dusty Harrison & Ty Barnett Prop Up DC Boxing
by Gautham Nagesh
WASHINGTON, D.C.—It’s been a rough month for boxing in the nation’s capital.
Most of the momentum gained in recent months appears to have been squandered, after a series of events connected to December’s Khan-Peterson fight. That night’s big winner Lamont Peterson is facing intense scrutiny and possible suspension after testing positive for a banned substance, leading to the cancellation of the rematch scheduled for Saturday.
In addition, Amir Khan’s promoter Golden Boy has pulled out of a scheduled June 30th card at the Verizon Center, reportedly still smarting after some hometown officiating helped Peterson upset the British 140-lb titlist. Finally, NoVa junior middleweight and crowd favorite Jimmy Lange injured his left in training, forcing the postponement of the June 23rd card at the Patriot Center headlined by Lange vs Tony Jeter.
That means the only action in town this summer will be at the Convention Center, where local welterweight prospect Dusty Harrison (above) and lightweight Ty Barnett are quickly becoming staples of the local fight scene. The pair won lop-sided bouts as headliners on May 12 in front of a packed house; fans will have four more chances to catch the duo in action this year at the same venue under the banner of Keystone Boxing.
The most impressive male prospect of the night was probably Marcus Browne, 20, who has already qualified for the 2012 Olympic trials. He won the 178-lb. open division by out-boxing the courageous DeVaun Lee, 23, of Queens.
Philly junior welterweight Danny Garcia tells Stiff Jab how his life has changed since beating Mexican legend Erik Morales for the WBC 140-lb strap in March.
Sugar Ray Leonard taunts Roberto Duran during their Nov. 1980 fight at the Superdome in New Orleans. Duran famously gave up in the eighth round when he absorbed an uppercut, walked to his corner and told the ref, “No mas,” giving Leonard the victory. (Manny Millan/SI)
SI VAULT: Duran blames stomach cramps as he quits against Leonard (12.8.80)
Opening Bell: Miguel Cotto Stands Tall In Defeat
by Gautham Nagesh
One of the benefits of working at Washington’s premier policy publication is that I share office space with Tim Starks of TQBR, who scored Saturday night’s main event between Floyd Mayweather and Miguel Cotto a draw. I spoke briefly with Starks about the fight and his verdict, which was not far from my card of 115-113 Mayweather. We were both in agreement on one note: the quality of the fight was a credit to Cotto, not an indictment of Floyd.
The fighter that showed up at the MGM Grand on Saturday night was the Miguel Cotto of old, not the man that fought Manny Pacquiao in 2009. Miguel brought pressure and made the fight, but he also used his hard jab beautifully to control Floyd and draw blood early. That Floyd was eventually able to gain control of the fight and finish strong is a testament to his will and hard work in the gym. Cotto has nothing to be ashamed of after giving the world’s best boxer his toughest fight in a decade.
HBO replays the fight this Saturday at 10:15 p.m., followed by the debut of the new boxing studio show “The Fight Game with Jim Lampley.”
Floyd Mayweather Edges Miguel Cotto, Canelo Wins
by Gautham Nagesh
Floyd Mayweather survived a tough challenge from Miguel Cotto with his unbeaten record intact on Saturday night, winning a unanimous decision at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Mexican prodigy Saul “Canelo” Alvarez pummeled Shane Mosley for 12 rounds en route to a points win in the chief support.
Mayweather was the overwhelming favorite against Cotto, Ring Magazine’s top-rated fighter at 154 lbs. But Miguel showed the heart of a champion, repeatedly trapping Mayweather against the ropes and peppering him with shots on the inside. Floyd was bleeding from the nose and mouth early as a result of Cotto’s hard jab, which might have been the most effective punch of the fight. Had Cotto looked to use it a bit more regularly, he would have done better on the final scorecards.
Boxer Leon Spinks is one of many sports figures mentioned in the lyrics of a Beastie Boys song. Adam Yauch (aka - MCA), one of the group’s three members, died on Friday at the age of 47. Spinks is name-checked in the song B-Boys In The Cut with the line, “A-D-R-O-C-K spells relief. There’s holes in my story like Leon Spinks’ teeth.” (Lane Stewart/SI)
GALLERY: Athletes In Beastie Boys Songs
Shane Mosley Misses Weight, Needs Second Chance
Photo by Tom Hogan/Golden Boy Promotions
by Gautham Nagesh
Friday’s weigh-in for the Mayweather-Cotto HBO Pay Per View card at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas was largely uneventful, with a large crowd and several networks lending themselves to the hype. The solitary sour note came when future Hall of Famer “Sugar” Shane Mosley missed weight on his first attempt, coming in half a pound over the junior middleweight limit.
Mosley passed muster after a second weigh-in, presumably having sweated off the extra weight. Shane seemed genuinely surprised at coming in over 154 lbs., but cutting it so close is surprisingly unprofessional for a veteran ahead of a championship fight. Mosley was already a heavy underdog against Mexican sensation Saul “Canelo” Alvarez tomorrow night, and the perception that Shane is only in it for a paycheck wasn’t helped by today’s events. We didn’t make a prediction for this fight, but the weigh-in has me thinking Canelo stops Mosley for the first time in Sugar Shane’s career.
Weekend Preview: Mayweather vs Cotto
by Gautham Nagesh
There aren’t too many hard-core boxing fans thrilled with tomorrow night’s Pay Per View card headlined by Floyd Mayweather vs Miguel Cotto. That’s because most fight fans wanted to see this fight five years ago, before Cotto suffered brutal beatings at the hands of Antonio Margarito and Manny Pacquiao. But Saturday night’s main event, which pits a battle-scarred Cotto against the still largely untouched Mayweather, features the two biggest draws in boxing not named Pacquiao. Which means it’s all anyone will be talking about in the fight world for the next 48 hours.
Few people give Cotto much of a shot to beat Floyd, and we’re no different. Miguel is a warrior, a boxer-puncher with good skills. But he’s in deep against the best defensive fighter since Pernell Whitaker, and no longer appears to have the speed or self-confidence to trouble Mayweather. Floyd is deadly accurate with his straight right hand, which should be there for the taking all night against the southpaw Cotto.
Michael Reed, Danny Kelly Lose In National Golden Gloves
From left: Michael Reed, Danny Kelly, and Jerry Odom at the 2012 Golden Gloves Regionals last month
by Gautham Nagesh
The latest results from the National Golden Gloves tournament are a mixed bag for Washington-area fight fans: reigning 141-lb national champion Michael Reed of Dream Team Boxing fell in the quarterfinals to Preston Freeman of St. Louis by decision, while super-heavyweight Danny Kelly of Headbangers lost on points to Owen Minor. But four other DMV prospects advanced to the semifinals, including Jerry Odom and D’Mitrius Ballard of No Xcuse Gym.
DMV Amateurs Roll At National Golden Gloves
by Gautham Nagesh
Washington-area prospects swept through the first two rounds of the National Golden Gloves tournament this week in Mesquite, Nevada. Local stars David Grayton (above, center), D’Mitrius Ballard, Jerry Odom, and Danny Kelly all scored stoppages in the second round on Wednesday to roll into the quarterfinals.
According to the official results, all the local fighters advanced through the opening round except Albi Sadikas of LA Boxing in the 201-lb division, who lost to Jonathan Thrasher of Knoxville by decision. The big surprise of round two came at 132 lbs, where Kendo Castaneda of Texas upset Gary Antonio Russell on points. Russell is the younger brother of featherweight contender Gary Russell Jr. and considered one of the area’s top prospects.
Floyd Mayweather lands a hard right to the face of Arturo Gatti during their 2005 fight. Mayweather, who fights Miguel Cotto on Saturday, knocked out Gatti in the fifth round for the victory. (AP)
GALLERY: Floyd Mayweather’s Greatest Hits
MANNIX: Cotto confident despite long odds
VIDEO: Behind the scenes with Mayweather
Welterweight Champion Carmen Basilio jumps into the arms of his handlers after knocking out Tony Demarco in the 12th round of their 1955 fight. (Hy Peskin/SI)
SI VAULT: Basilio courageous in victory over Demarco (6.20.55)
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