Boxing

The embarrassing actions of disgraced heavyweight Dereck Chisora continued last night after losing a Unanimous Decision to Vitali Klitschko whose face he spat water in during introductions. After the bout’s conclusion, Chisora got into a physical confrontation with fellow heavyweight (and former champion) David Haye who showed up at the post-fight press conference to taunt Chisora and challenge Klitschko to a rematch. Klitschko outpointed Haye in a 2011 meeting. ...

There’s no question Dana White is one of the more outspoken executives in the sporting world but even he may have crossed the line in recent comments addressing the Nevada State Athletic Commission’s treatment of Floyd Mayweather Jr. According to the UFC President, “Money” Mayweather, who is poised to fight in May despite a looming prison sentence, has been given preferential treatment while the UFC has not received the same considerations. ...

In a move capitalizing on one of the most memorable results in 2011, albeit not for the right reasons, boxing is ready to right any perceived wrongs and has matched Amir Khan with Lamont Peterson for a second time in six months after their original bout resulted in a number of strange events affecting the fight’s outcome. Peterson, who hails from Washington D.C., drew then junior welterweight champion Khan in a hometown situation with a hometown referee who docked the Brit points for pushing. Khan eventually went on to lose a Split Decision as a result of the rarely penalized foul. ...

In what has turned out to be one of the year’s biggest shows it looks like “Sugar” Shane Mosley will return to the ring in May to fight unbeaten junior middleweight champion Saul Alvarez on the same card as the recently announced bout between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Miguel Cotto. Mosley has struggled over the past few bouts, losing two and fighting to a draw in his last three outings, but remained competitive against the best in the world with the defeats to Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao involving a decision rather than strike-based stoppage. Mosley holds an overall record of 46-7-1 in his career and has held titles at multiple weights. ...

Fan-favorite welterweight Manny Pacquiao will put his impressive run in the ring on the line against fellow champion Timothy Bradley Jr. this summer in Las Vegas. In addition to risking his six-year winning streak, the 33-year old Pacquiao will also put his belt up for grabs against junior welterweight title-holder Bradley. While the June 9 fight isn’t quite official yet, both sides have verbally agreed to the match-up and are finalizing things with promoter Top Rank. ...

Two of boxing’s surging talents took to the ring this past weekend and were in fine form, as Nonito Donaire and Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. took care of business in San Antonio and departed from Texas with titles in tow. Donaire, who hasn’t lost in a decade, improved his record to 28-1 via Split Decision against apt adversary Wilfredo Vazquez to add a junior featherweight belt to his mantle after already winning championships at flyweight and bantamweight. “The Filipino Flash” improved his overall record to 28-1 with the performance, though appeared to have suffered some sort of injury to his hand during the bout and could be on the shelf for awhile depending on what doctor’s find. ...

While fans (and even Floyd Mayweather Jr.) may have had their fingers crossed a long-awaited bout against Manny Pacquiao would materialize in May it appears that will not be the case. However, as fortune would have it, the outspoken 34-year old will still face a decorated champion with a title on the line, as a match-up between Mayweather Jr. and Miguel Cotto has been announced for May 5 in Las Vegas. Adding to the intrigue, the pairing also means Mayweather Jr. will move up to meet Cotto at a heavier weight. ...

“Iron” Mike Tyson was once the most feared boxer in the sport and holds the distinction of not only being a longtime champion but the youngest heavyweight to ever hold the honor. Now he will be honored for his work in the ring…just not as a boxer. With his status in the International Boxing Hall of Fame already in place after joining the elite group this past summer, Tyson will be honored in late March by World Wrestling Entertainment with enshrinement in the Celebrity Wing of their Hall of Fame. WWE announced the news earlier today with an official reveal expected tonight on RAW. ...

The controversy surrounding the finish to a bout between light heavyweights Bernard Hopkins and Chad Dawson moved one step closer to being resolved today when it was revealed the two men would face off again in April in hopes of determining a clear-cut winner. Their original fight, an October 15 affair, ended after Dawson threw Hopkins down to the canvas during an exchange and injured the 46-year old’s shoulder. The contest was originally scored as a TKO win for Dawson but was overturned to a “No Contest” by the California State Athletic Commission. Hopkins vs. Dawson II will take place on April 28 in Atlantic City, New Jersey. News of the rematch was first reported by ESPN, citing sources from both camps. ...

Floyd Mayweather Jr. may be all about “the green” when it comes to his career but, at least for a short while, his mind was on the color pink after donating $100,000 to the Susan G. Komen organization, a non-profit specializing in breast cancer research. The contribution was made by Mayweather Jr. as part of a promise he made to the judge who sentenced him to 90 days behind bars this past December in relation to a battery case. ...

The roller-coaster ride in potentially pairing decorated champions Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao took a strange twist this week when it was revealed Mayweather Jr. called Pacquiao at his home. Even more intriguing, the two of them spoke for an undisclosed amount of time about the particulars of fighting on May 5 in Las Vegas. Mayweather Jr. has actively lobbied for the bout to take place before he starts serving a 90 day jail sentence in June. Pacquiao’s camp had come out to say their client was not interested in taking the fight based on money/timing. Previously hold-ups in the much anticipated fight have typically involved similar issues or drug testing procedures. ...

The debate between boxing fans and MMA fans in relation to whose sport is superior may wage on for years to come, but at least one man known for his PhD in the sweet science has decided to express his appreciation for those who take to the cage and throw down – Wladimir Klitschko. The 56-3 Klitschko, who currently holds five heavyweight championships and hasn’t lost in seven years, recently came forward to talk about Mixed Martial Arts in a positive light even if his opinion may not be popular amongst his supporters in the boxing community. While the 35-year old has no designs on ever attempting to leave boxing for MMA he has contemplated incorporating some related techniques into his training and generally appreciates the level of skill involved at the highest levels. ...

A new chapter in the ongoing saga between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. was written this week when the notion of a May 5 match-up in Las Vegas was teased with “Money” Mayweather providing the bait, Tweeting a message to Pacquiao challenging him to the bout. However, Pacquiao’s camp isn’t biting, meaning fans will ultimately be left waiting even longer to see the long-anticipated fight materialize if it ever actually does. According to Pacquiao’s people the issue has to do with seating capacity as the MGM Grand, where the fight would take place, can only host about 17,000 people while a new 45,000 seat venue is in the process of being built right now. The difference, according to the popular Filipino’s financial manager, could be upwards of $30 million. ...

Heavyweight great Vitali Klitschko is tired of people worrying about his age. Though the 40-year old Russian certainly has fewer fights ahead of him than behind, an eleven-fight winning streak including eight in a row since returning to the ring in 2008 should be enough to silence the critics. And yet they remain. Klitschko addressed their unfounded concerns at a press conference yesterday promoting his upcoming bout with Dereck Chisora where he explained, “I am 40 but I feel 25. I am in great condition, great form and have great experience.” ...

A boxer doesn’t get to be 42-0 without an ability to elude damage or a well-rounded gameplan in each battle. In the case of decorated champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. those skills apparently carry over into the courtroom as well, as the polarizing pugilist saw his three-month sentence for assault pushed back until early summer rather than serving the time starting last week as had been originally mandated by a Las Vegas judge. According to Justice of the Peace Melissa Saragosa, Mayweather Jr. would be allowed to train for a May fight in Sin City based on having previously committed to the bout in addition to the economic impact the match-up would have. As a result the welterweight will start his sentence on June 1. ...

With Floyd Mayweather Jr. off the table due to not only his legal woes, not to mention the general difficulty in coordinating a deal with his camp, it appears fan-favorite champion Manny Pacquiao has four fighters to choose from as far as who he’ll face in his next bout and all appear to be solid selections. The 33-year old will be presented with the quartet of competitors by promoter Bob Arum who will visit Pacquiao in the Philippines this weekend. According to Arum, the names on the list are Lamont Peterson, Timothy Bradley Jr., Miguel Cotto, and a fourth fight with rival Juan Manuel Marquez. The match-up is expected to take place this summer. ...

Boxing fans in Houston entered the New Year with news of a title-fight on the horizon after watching one slip through their fingers last week when a January 28 defense from WBC junior welterweight king Erik Morales was cancelled. Fortunately it appears that very bout will now take place on March 24 after Golden Boy Promotions was able to book Reliant Stadium where Morales’ match-up with undefeated Danny Garcia (22-0) was originally scheduled to go down. ...

December has been a rough month for decorated boxing champion Floyd Mayweather Jr., though deservedly so based on a pair of incidents in 2010 involving the 34-year old physically attacking an innocent person. Fresh off being sentenced to ninety days in jail after pleading guilty in a domestic violence case where he punched a mother of his children in front of them, the outspoken title-holder’s name was back in a Las Vegas court room today stemming from a slightly less salacious situation involving a security guard who he assaulted over parking tickets. ...

Super Bowl Weekend is shaping up to be an amazing few days for fight fans, as it appears 25-year old sensation Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. will put his WBC middleweight title and unbeaten record on the line against 53-5-1 Marco Antonio Rubio. Adding to what should already be a great environment, the event will take place in San Antonio, Texas giving Hispanic fans in the area an opportunity to cheer on two of boxing’s top Mexican competitors. Chavez Jr. holds an overall record of 44-0-1, having won twenty straight scraps since enduring his career’s lone blemish six years ago. The upcoming bout with Rubio will be the rising star’s second consecutive clash in Texas, racking up a fifth round TKO against Peter Manfredo Jr. in Houston last month, and second time he’s visited the home of The Alamo in his previous five fights. ...

Junior welterweight Erik Morales has only been finished a single time in 59 professional fights. However, as tough as the multi-time champion is it appears the 35-year old is indeed mortal and could be pulled from an upcoming bout due to recent gallbladder surgery. Though the procedure was relatively minor, removing gallstones, according to Morales’ camp is apparently unsure if their fighter will be ready or not to defend his WBC title against Danny Garcia on January 28. ...

“Super Six” Champion Andre Ward Won with Broken Hand Undefeated super middleweight Andre Ward looked particularly impressive against British brawler Carl Froch when the two locked horns last weekend with the “Super Six” crown on the line. However, making the Olympian’s offering even more impressive was the fact he outpointed his opponent with a banged up hand he ultimately broke midway through his fight with Froch. Ward came out to reveal the status of his moneymaking mitt earlier today, Tweeting a picture of the X-Ray while assuring fans he expected to be back by early summer. ...

I caught Saturday night’s Strikeforce event. Strange as this may sound, I’m pretty sure Cristiane Santos could beat some of the male 145-pounders. No, not anybody in the Top 20 or so, but I think she could probably take some a few guys out there. They talked about doing a fight with Ronda Rousey, maybe at a catchweight. I think at 135 it would be a good fight because I don’t think Ronda is big enough to go up to 145. I think Ronda being inexperienced on her feet benefits "Cyborg" because most girls who strike with her don’t do so well. Santos is a finisher as well and when she has someone hurt, she doesn’t mess around. Ronda is super slick and quick on the ground though. I thought Gilbert Melendez deserved the decision and I'd originally picked him to win too. I thought he out-struck Jorge Masvidal who waited too long to really get going. The fifth round was the closest frame by far. I didn’t think Masvidal used his reach the proper way. Melendez was a lot busier and throwing combinations and I definitely think he won the fight. ...

Decorated boxing champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. may be untouchable in the ring but the trait doesn’t carry over to his life outside of the squared-circle. The polarizing pugilist plead guilty earlier today to charges of domestic violence/harassment based on a 2010 incident where he hit the mother of two of his children in front of them and made threatening statements towards them. As a result he has been sentenced to 90 days in hail, as well as issued 100 community service hours and fined $2,500. Mayweather Jr. will report to jail on January 6, 2012. ...

It took more than two years to get to last weekend’s final of the Super Six Super Middleweight Tournament and for good reason too, as the proceedings have ultimately determined the cream of the 168-pound crop and his name is Andre Ward. Ward, an Olympic Gold Medalist with a 25-0 record, used his mongoose-like reflexes to pick apart Carl “The Cobra” Froch in Saturday night’s showdown. The judges’ scores read as 115-113, 115-113, and 118-110 with all the nods going to the likeable Californian. The two were supposed to meet earlier this year but Ward was injured while training. ...

The WBC has stepped in to resolve a situation involving light heavyweights Bernard Hopkins and Chad Dawson relating to the controversial result of their October 15 fight. The headlining match-up featured what was originally ruled a TKO win for Dawson when he threw Hopkins to the canvas, injuring the popular 46-year old’s shoulder in the process and rendering him unable to continue. The California State Athletic Commission quickly changed things to a “No Contest” after Hopkins complained and the WBC allowed “B-Hop” to retain his title. Now the two will face off again in hopes of determining a more conclusive, less questionable outcome. The rematch is expected to take place immediately unless both sides agree to allow an interim bout beforehand. ...

When Roy Jones Jr. stepped into the ring this past weekend it’s likely he could have been doing so for the final time had things not gone his way. A loser of three straight prior to the bout against Max Alexander, the 42-year old had been stopped by strikes in two of the stumbles and appeared to have reached the end of the road in his storied career. However, after picking up the Unanimous Decision win, the flashy Jones Jr. not only wants to keep fighting – he wants a divisional belt. "I'm feeling wonderful. I want a cruiserweight title, the world title," explained the former champion in a conversation with the Associated Press. "This is just a start. I'm not through yet." As far as what may have made the difference in the performance in comparison to the previous fights he’d lost, Jones stated, “The thing I worked on was not spending so much energy, so much useless energy. Don't be bouncing around for nothing." After improving his record to 55-8 with the victory, as well as possibly finding a new lease on life, it sounds like Jones Jr. may have a reason to be bouncing around after all. ...

Xtreme Couture trainer Gil Martinez might be best known for his work with Mixed Martial Artists but there’s no doubting the highly-respected striking coach also has a PhD in the sweet science as a long-time lover of boxing and general guru on the mitts. Fighters.com recently caught up with Martinez to get his thoughts on the recent bout between 37-2 Miguel Cotto and 38-8 Antonio Margarito. The two light middleweights duked it out a little over a week ago in an action-packed affair ultimately seeing Cotto come away with a TKO win due to damage inflicted on Margarito’s troublesome eye. ...

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Even with eyes closed, it’s not easy to mistake the slapping sounds of glove meeting mitt and the whispering whoosh as breath is expelled on contact. Jab, jab, jab. The one-two combo, and the fighter drifts back as he is met with the fast hands of Xtreme Couture striking coach Gil Martinez. To the casual observer, it looks like a choreographed dance. Martinez moves forward, muscles bunched as his body absorbs the kinetic energy of each blow. To those in the know, it is either a test of the mettle of the fighter, or one of the long hours of training in preparation for the cage or the ring. The soft tenor and shyness in his voice belies the fact that he is a fierce coach who gives it his all each and every time he steps into the cage with someone trying to achieve their dreams of fighting success, whether that dream is as a boxer or a mixed martial artist. ...