ARCHIVESINDEX

AUSSIEBOX NEWS

:::HOME:::

WORLD BOXING COUNCIL NEWS

WORLD BOXING COUNCIL 831-423-4824 (tel.), 775-254-6595 (fax), wbcnews@aol.com (email) WBC webpage: www.wbcboxing.com. MOSCOW - Thursday, October 9, 2003 World Boxing Council 41st Annual Convention The WBC Conventon closed this afternoon at the Cosmos Hotel in Moscow. After hours of discussion and debate that were spread over two days, the WBC resolved an exhausting conflict during the morning's general assembly meeting -- to honor and show tribute to super lightweight world champion Kostya Tszyu and his tremendous accomplishments in the ring, and to follow the WBC's rules and regulations regarding his lack of a mandatory world title defense for over two years. The motion was passed by the WBC Board of Governors to create an honorary new category, "Champion Emeritus of the World," for only those fighters who are recognized as the greatest of WBC world champions. Another motion was passed that named Tszyu the first WBC Champion Emeritus of the World and will allow him to carry his WBC championship belt, with his new status, into his next fight. WBC President Jose Sulaiman said, "He is being elevated." The motion was then passed to vacate the super lightweight world title and approve the fight between No. 1 ranked Gianluca Branco of Italy and No. 2 ranked Arturo Gatti of the United States, scheduled for January 24, for the vacant WBC super lightweight championship of the world. Other motions that were passed are as follows. The fight between No. 3 ranked Ricky Hatton of Great Britain and No. 4 ranked Oktay Urkal of Germany will determine the official challenger in the super lightweight division. Urkal is the European Boxing Union champion. Featherweight world champion Erik Morales of Mexico, who is moving up in weight to challenge for the super featherweight world title, was named WBC Champion Emeritus of the World and the featherweight world title was vacated. Another exhausting conflict in the super middleweight division was resolved. World champion Markus Beyer of Germany will next fight former world champion Eric Lucas of Canada, with the winner being commited to fight Danny Green of Australia within 90 days. In the afternoon's general assembly meeting, the WBC Annual Convention sites for the next two years were approved. Cardiff, Wales, had previously been approved as the site of next year's convention, but withdrew. Phuket, Thailand, has now been approved for 2004. Toledo, Spain, was approved as the site for the 2005 convention. NABF Vice President Mauricio Sulaiman of Mexico showed the features of the new and expanded WBC webpage and demonstrated how to access them. The WBC's webpage address is wbcboxing.com. Dr. Paul Wallace of the United States discussed and described the project to create an unprecedented new internet website that would make fighters' medical information available to certified ringside physicians. Dr. Wallace said, "It's a huge undertaking. I'm proud to be a part of it. I'm proud to have received the call from Jose saying, 'Make it happen.' I'm glad we at the WBC are leading the way." President Sulaiman said, "This is the start of a gigantic project, but I'm sure that it will be successful. All of the nine Continental Federations of the WBC will participate in something that can change the history of boxing." WBC World Medical Advisory Board co-Chairman Dr. Francisco Massa of Spain and European Boxing Union Medical Board Chairman Dr. Mario Sturla of Italy reviewed and discussed several of the important medical issues in which the WBC is involved. The ring officials held their meeting in the afternoon. WBC Ring Officials Board Chairman Tom Kaczmarek of the United States said, "We had a very successful seminar with referees, judges and observers from around the world in attendance. The referees' clinic focused on safety in the ring. The judges' clinic focused on concentration and the mental-computer aspect of scoring. The WBC's goal is to provide fairness and excellence in officiating." WBC Vice President John Allotie Cofie of Ghana was appointed Honorary Lifetime WBC Vice President. In his closing statement, WBC President Jose Sulaiman said, "In closing the convention, I would like to express my gratitude to all the people that came. The WBC is going through a very good time. It is false that we are going through grave times. We are working very hard, we are getting visits and requests from all of the important, and more modest, promoters of the world. All the boxers want to fight for the green belt. We are seeked out for our opinions of boxing in the world. Everybody believes that without the WBC's participation, whatever is done doesn't have the same impact. And I believe that, regardless of what we are commited to because of our problems with the law, the WBC has not changed its objectives nor its goals. We might have problems there, but the WBC is working as well and as hard as ever. "I love the WBC and I love every single member of the Board of Governors that have been close to the WBC for years. I would give my right arm for any of you. Everybody knows it, and they know what I mean. I live to serve others, not to serve myself. I have never asked anybody to favor me, but I have asked everybody to serve others. In this moment of time, I am paying one hundred-percent of the expenses of my presidential office, not the WBC, because I do not want to subject the expenses that we have always offered for the benefit of this organization to the authorization of a judge. "I think that the operations of the WBC are not understood. We don't sell nor buy anything. Those operations don't belong to us. Our operations are to help boxing, with promoters, with doctors, to help boxing in any manner with the media and to keep the image of the WBC at its highest level. As long as I live, I will dedicate my life to behave exactly in the same way. I will not accept humiliation from anyone. I would not look up to king, nor will I look down at a shoeshine boy. To me, we are the same. You are my friends. "So, the WBC will live, will continue working, will continue being the voice of boxing in the world, to fight against injustice, against abuse. You saw the convention. It was open to everybody. Everybody participated. We didn't stop anybody from talking. Everybody came and expressed themselves as they wanted, and the great majority of the WBC decided everything. Nobody took a personal position. We tried to help. We tried to make people negotiate and reach agreements. "So, in closing, I would like to express my deepest appreciation to everybody. As my son said, at every convention, my smile comes back to me as well as my desire to work. Because you and your friendship, having the same objectives, make my life. I deeply appreciate your support, I appreciate also your disagreements because in this WBC, democracy is the absolute credo. "It's time to close the convention. Good luck, and see you in Phuket." [TOP] MOSCOW - Wednesday, October 8, 2003 World Boxing Council 41st Annual Convention The general assembly meeting on Tuesday was devoted mainly to ratings. The heavyweight ratings were not completed until Wednesday morning and the new ratings will be available soon. A number of other issues were discussed on Tuesday, as well. One motion that was passed by a unanimous vote of the WBC Board of Governors increased the weight limit of the cruiserweight division from 190 to to 200 pounds. The Wednesday meeting was devoted mainly to mandatory defenses. Several promoters and other fighter representatives participated in the discussions with WBC President Jose Sulaiman and the WBC Board of Governors, including Salvatore Cherchi of OPI 2000, Lou DiBella, Philippe Fondu, Raul Jaimes of Golden Boy Promotions, Klaus-Peter Kohl of Universum Promotions, Joe Koizumi, Sampson Lewkowicz, Don Majeski, Leon Margulies of Team Freedom, Yvon Michel of Interbox, Carl Moretti of Main Events, Jesse Robinson of Warrior Boxing, Wilfred Sauerland and Vernon Smith. Boxers Danny Green and Corrie Sanders also spoke during the meeting. Strawweight: No. 1 ranked Isaac Bustos of Mexico was confirmed as the official challenger for world champion Jose Antonio Aguirre of Mexico. Bustos is also the North American Boxing Federation champion. Light flyweight: World champion Jorge Arce of Mexico is in a voluntary defense phase. The motion passed for No. 1 ranked Juanito Rubillar of the Philippines to fight No. 2 Erick Ortiz of Mexico to determine the official challenger. Rubillar holds the WBC International title and Ortiz is the Central American Boxing Federation champion. Flyweight: World champion Pongsaklek Wonjongkam of Thailand is scheduled to fight No. 1 ranked official challenger Hussein Hussein of Australia on November 14. Super flyweight: World champion Masamori Tokuyama of Japan has reached an agreement to fight No. 1 ranked official challenger Dimitri Kirilov of Russia on January 3. The motion was passed for No. 2 ranked Reymando Hurtado of Colombia to fight No. 7 ranked Jose Navarro of the United States in an elimination bout to determine the new No. 1 ranked challenger. Bantamweight: World champion Veeraphol Nakhonluang of Thailand is in a voluntary phase. Super bantamweight: World champion Oscar Larios of Mexico is scheduled to fight No. 1 ranked official challenger Napopol Kiattisakchocchoi of Thailand on November 22. Napopol is the WBC International champion. Featherweight: An interim world championship fight is scheduled next week between No. 1 ranked Injin Chi of Korea and No. 2 ranked Michael Brodie of Great Britain. World champion Erik Morales of Mexico has informed the WBC that he is moving up in weight to fight for the super featherweight world title next year. When he vacates the title, the winner of the interim title will become undisputed world champion. The motion was conditionally passed that the fight between No. 3 ranked Marco Antonio Barrera of Mexico and Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines, the 122-pound champion of another organization, will determine the official challenger. Super featherweight: World champion Jesus Chavez of the United States is in a voluntary phase. Chavez has informed the WBC that he has signed to fight featherweight world champion Erik Morales next February. Lightweight: World champion Floyd Mayweather of the United States is in a voluntary phase and is scheduled to fight No. 2 ranked Phillip Ndou of South Africa on November 1. The winner of that fight is committed to fight No. 1 ranked Juan Lazcano of the United States. Super lightweight: Still in discussions. Welterweight: World champion Ricardo Mayorga of Nicaragua is in a voluntary phase. The motion was passed for No. 1 ranked Thomas Damgaard of Denmark to fight No. 3 ranked Carlos Baldomir of Argentina to determine the official challenger. Super welterweight: World champion Shane Mosley of the United States did not pay his sanctioning fee when he won the title and legal processes are underway to resolve the issue. The motion was passed to schedule a meeting with Mosley's representatives in Dallas in 15 days. The Board of Governors indicated that if Mosley does not pay the sanctioning fee, he will be stripped of the title. Interim world champion Francisco Castillejo of Spain is scheduled to defend the title against Fernando Vargas of the United States. Middleweight: World champion Bernard Hopkins of the United States is in a voluntary phase and is scheduled to fight WBA champion William Joppy of the United States. The motion was passed for No. 2 ranked Cristian Sanavia of Italy to fight No. 5 ranked Jermain Taylor of the United States to determine the No. 2 rating. Super middleweight: Still in discussions. Light heavyweight: World champon Antonio Tarver of the United States is scheduled to fight Roy Jones Jr. of the United States in November. The motion was passed for No. 1 ranked Paul Briggs of Australia to fight No. 4 ranked Stipe Drews of Croatia to determine the official challenger. Cruiserweight: World champion Wayne Braithwaite of Guyana is in negotiations to fight No. 1 ranked official challenger O'Neil Bell of the United States. Heavyweight: World champion Lennox Lewis of Great Britain is in a voluntary phase. Determining the official challenger is still in discussions. [TOP]

KLITSHKO-JOHNSON IN NY DEC 6?

Johnson-Vitali Klitschko heavyweight bout talks heat up in Buffalo Updated at 16:27 on September 26, 2003, EST. (CP) - Arrangements for a heavyweight clash between Vitali Klitschko of the Ukraine and Kirk Johnson of North Preston, N.S., might move closer to completion this weekend, Johnson's co-manager said Friday. Ken Lilien said Dino Duva, Johnson's promoter, was to meet with Klitschko promoter Klaus-Peter Kohl in Buffalo, N.Y., where heavyweight Joe Mesi is to face DaVarryl Williamson on Saturday night. Lilien said Duva is "supposed to be getting the contract there." "We have a verbal agreement," added Lilien. "As far as we're concerned about it, it's a matter of getting the contract." The proposed bout between Johnson (34-1-1) and Klitschko (32-2) is expected to take place Dec. 6 at Madison Square Garden in New York and be broadcast live in the United States on HBO. The fight was originally to be a rematch between Klitschko and World Boxing Council champion Lennox Lewis, but Lewis announced on Aug. 4 he was pondering retirement and did not want another fight this year. Klitschko's promoter was looking for another opponent and apparently settled on Johnson. Klitschko had Lewis in trouble in their bout June 21 in Los Angeles and was leading on all three judges' cards when the fight was stopped after six rounds due to a 60-stitch cut over Klitschko's eyes. It was Klitschko who replaced Johnson in that fight, as the Canadian was forced to pull out two weeks earlier after pulling a chest muscle in training. Klitschko is ranked second by the WBC while Johnson is rated eighth. When asked a month ago about the possibility of fighting Johnson, Klitschko said: "He's a good fighter. I don't underestimate him. It would be a good and interesting fight, not only in Canada, but around the world." A win over Klitschko could put Johnson into contention for a title bout if Lewis opts to fight next year. In his only previous title fight against World Boxing Association champ John Ruiz in 2002, Johnson was disqualified for repeated low blows. The six-foot-eight Klitschko won the World Boxing Organization heavyweight belt in 1999 and defended it twice before losing it to American Chris Byrd on April 1, 2000. © The Canadian Press, 2003 Garden could get heavies by Tim Smith, New York Daily News The Garden could land a heavyweight bout as Vitali Klitschko and Kirk Johnson near agreement to fight there on Dec. 6. "We've got a verbal deal. They offered us something and we took it," Ken Lilien, Johnson's manager, said of Klitschko's German-based promoter, Klaus Peter Kohl. "There are a couple of small things that are left, but as far as we're concerned, we have a deal." The Garden has had discussions with the two boxers' reps about the match, which would be broadcast on HBO. The Dec. 6 date is open at the Garden, which is waiting for the fight contract to be signed before trying to put a site deal together. If Klitschko-Johnson lands at the Garden, it will break a boxing drought there of more than 17 months. There is a possibility Klitschko-Johnson could land in Las Vegas. Klitschko and Johnson are coming off disappointments involving champ Lennox Lewis. Johnson was supposed to meet Lewis on June 21 but tore a pectoral muscle 10 days before the bout and had to pull out. Klitschko, who was supposed to be on the same card against Cedric Boswell, took Johnson's place and nearly upset Lewis, but cuts over his eyes led to a TKO being declared after the sixth round. Klitschko wanted to meet Lewis in a rematch on Dec. 6 but Lewis said he won't fight anymore this year and may retire. [TOP] ARCHIVES INDEX AUSSIEBOX NEWS

CHRIS BYRD DEFEATS FRES OQUENDO UD12

Sunday, September 21 Byrd wonders what's next after beating Oquendo -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Associated Press UNCASVILLE, Conn. (AP) _ After a less-than-convincing title defense, IBF heavyweight champion Chris Byrd is once again shopping for opponents. Byrd's unorthodox and technical style has made him a fighter that few want to face. And he knows the unanimous, and disputed victory over Fres Oquendo on Saturday night will not likely draw Lennox Lewis into the ring. So, he's looking to Roy Jones Jr. Promoter Don King said Byrd is the best heavyweight in the world, but needs more fights to prove it. Other likely opponents for Byrd include Hasim Rahman and David Tua. ``He wants to fight more, so that he can get an opponent to demonstrate his skills and talents to the public,'' King said. Oquendo believes Byrd's next fight should be a rematch. ``The world thought I won,'' Oquendo said. ``Byrd's a so elusive, slick fighter. He's never been hit at a consistent pace in his career until he met me.'' Byrd (37-2) controlled the pace Saturday, leading Oquendo around the ring for much of the bout. But Oquendo's counter punches dominated the middle rounds and appeared to take Byrd off his plan. Oquendo (24-2) had wanted to lure in the speedy champion, whose usual strategy is to launch a flurry of awkward combinations and retreat. Oquendo said he was trying to surprise Byrd. It worked. Byrd said he expected the larger and stronger Oquendo to charge. When he didn't, the champion did not hesitate to set the pace. Oquendo acknowledged the strategy might have hurt him in the scoring. ``Still, I don't understand this,'' Oquendo said. ``This is terrible for boxing.'' He said he wants an investigation into the judging, likening the decision to last week's Oscar De La Hoya-Shane Mosley fight, in which Mosley won despite throwing fewer punches. Byrd dismissed that notion. The champion hit the mat twice, though neither was ruled a knockdown. Oquendo felt it was his combination that sent Byrd to the canvas in the final round. A replay suggested Byrd may have tripped. ``Look at me,'' Byrd said. ``I went 12 tough rounds. I'm still pretty as a girl.'' John Lawson scored it 117-111, Donald Ackerman favored Byrd 115-113, and Stephen Epstein had it 116-112. Byrd got the win, but not with the exclamation point he wanted in his first fight since beating Evander Holyfield for the vacant belt last year. ``I was talking about Roy Jones and Lennox Lewis, but this guy showed me a lot,'' Byrd said. And Oquendo's camp believes that should be enough for another shot. ``We always felt Fres Oquendo was one of the best heavyweights out there. Now, after this fight, I believe he is the best out there,'' said Jose Ramos, Oquendo's trainer. Byrd wins unanimous decision over Oquendo -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Associated Press UNCASVILLE, Conn. (AP) _ Chris Byrd won an unanimous decision over Fres Oquendo to retain his IBF heavyweight title Saturday night. Byrd (37-2) controlled the pace, leading Oquendo across the ring, but Oquendo's counterpunches dominated the middle rounds and appeared to take Byrd off his game plan. ``I give Fres a lot of credit,'' Byrd said. ``He never really hurt me, but there were a couple of times where I reminded myself that I had to hold my hands up high.'' Oquendo (24-2) was stunned by the decision, as was the crowd at Mohegan Sun casino. John Lawson scored it 117-111, Donald Ackerman favored Byrd 115-113, and Stephen Epstein had it 116-112. ``The judges once again shafted another great fighter,'' Oquendo said. A southpaw, Byrd led Oquendo with an extended right hand for the first two rounds, but Oquendo's hard counters forced Byrd to draw back and protect his head as the fight progressed. That left Oquendo free to stun Byrd with several strong jabs, even while backing away from the speedy champion. ``He was strong and crafty, and there was no doubt that he was ready and wanted it,'' Byrd said. Byrd appeared to have more energy than the challenger in the later rounds and threw more punches, but Oquendo managed to keep slipping strong counters. The champion fell to the mat in the 12th round after an effective combination from Oquendo, but the referee ruled it was not a knockdown. The replay showed Byrd might have tripped over Oquendo's feet. That fall aside, Oquendo said he felt he won the fight by successfully fending off Byrd's rapid-fire attack. ``He hardly hit me,'' Oquendo said. ``I was the aggressor.'' It was Byrd's first title defense since beating Evander Holyfield for the vacant belt last year. Byrd had hoped the title would draw the sport's big names into the ring. Instead, he got Oquendo, the No. 2 IBF contender. ``I was talking about Roy Jones and Lennox Lewis, but this guy showed me a lot,'' Byrd said. [TOP] Byrd v Oquendo - can a real fight break out? Article by Patrick Kehoe at Seconds Out ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Friday, September 19 Byrd heavy but says stamina, speed are up -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Associated Press UNCASVILLE, Conn. (AP) _ The number was a little higher than expected when Chris Byrd weighed in Friday. The speedy IBF heavyweight champion said he will still be slippery and quick when he defends his title Saturday night. Byrd said he had a full stomach when he tipped the scales at 211} pounds Friday and he expects to be around the 200 mark when he takes on No. 2 contender Fres Oquendo at the Mohegan Sun Casino. Oquendo (24-1) made his target weight of 224 pounds. ``If he tries to rough me up, I won't even be there,'' Byrd said. Though Byrd (36-2) was surprised by his weight, he said he has more stamina and quickness than when he beat Evander Holyfield for the vacant title last year. For endurance, Byrd runs the hills of Red Rock Canyon outside Las Vegas, climbing higher each day as the fight approaches. He reached the summit at nearly 4,700 feet just once before fighting Holyfield. He reached it three times before leaving for this fight, he said. ``We're going to run the marathon, and I'm up for it,'' Byrd said at the weigh-in. That's fine by Oquendo, who is also known for speed and elusiveness. Byrd thought Oquendo might try to drop a few pounds for this fight. ``Most guys come down for me,'' he said. Holyfield stayed heavy, he said, because he wanted to out-slug the younger, lighter Byrd. Oquendo said he never considered dropping weight. At 224 pounds, he said he has the power he wants and the quickness he needs to match up with Byrd's rapid-fire, unconventional southpaw attack. Oquendo said he will not change his style and try go toe-to-toe with Byrd. ``Accuracy is what gives him problems,'' Oquendo said. ``I want to keep him at a distance.'' Las Vegas oddsmakers have given Byrd the edge in a fight many people expect will go the full 12 rounds. If Oquendo is to take the belt by decision, he said, he needs to win convincingly. He cannot dance with Byrd all night and he wants a strong showing in the early rounds to force the champ to change his style. Not a chance, Byrd said. ``I don't change for anybody,'' he said. In the co-feature, WBA welterweight champion Alex Garcia (21-0) and Rhoshii Wells (17-0-2) each weighed in Friday at 153 pounds. [TOP] ARCHIVES INDEX AUSSIEBOX NEWS

JONES v TARVER AT L.HEAVY

Jones Lines Up Bout With Tarver He Calls Lennox Lewis 'a Punk' By Kevin Iole Special to The Washington Post Sunday, September 14, 2003 LAS VEGAS, Sept. 13 -- Roy Jones Jr. said he wanted to fight again as a heavyweight, but he couldn't find anyone who would fight him. So Jones opted to take care of some old business. Jones, widely regarded as the best pound-for-pound fighter in boxing, announced today that he will fight long-time rival Antonio Tarver on Nov. 8 at Mandalay Bay for Tarver's WBC and IBF light heavyweight titles. The two fought as 13-year-olds in the gold medal match of Florida's Sunshine State Games. Jones said he remembers the fight vividly. "I tore his [butt] apart." At the news conference to hype the bout here, Tarver just smiled and said that's not the way he remembered it. Tarver won the titles that Jones surrendered when Jones moved up to heavyweight to fight John Ruiz in March for the WBA heavyweight title. Tarver pounded Montell Griffin to win the belts and bravely vowed to unseat Jones as boxing's best. He also said he would bring class to the sport and chided Jones for being more than an hour late to the news conference. Jones, though, said Tarver will pay for that comment. He said he has been eager to punish Tarver and was disappointed when Tarver lost to Eric Harding on June 23, 2000, a bout in which the winner was promised a shot at Jones. "You're going to wish I was late on November the 8th," Jones said to Tarver. "That's the one time I will be on time and you will be a very, very sorry man." Tarver, 34, said he is proud that he was able to rebuild his career after what he termed a devastating defeat. He avenged that loss on July 20, 2002, when he dominated Harding from the opening bell and stopped him in the fifth round. He then got the opportunity to fight Griffin on April 26 for the titles Jones had surrendered, winning every round. "I proved my heart and my character by the way I came back," Tarver said. "And I've got what I've always wanted, a shot at Roy Jones Jr. "A lot of people may doubt me, and that's fine, but it's time for a changing of the guard. I have great respect for his talent and his accomplishments, but I believe in my heart that I am going to be the one to destroy the legend." For his part, Jones wasn't impressed. He spent little time talking about Tarver and a lot talking about his prospects at heavyweight. Regarding WBC heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis, Jones said he called Lewis and the two spoke about a possible bout. Lewis promised Jones he would call back. "He never called," Jones said. "He's a punk." Jones said he will sue if the WBA strips him of its heavyweight title. He said he has never been asked to make a mandatory defense, though the WBA plans to hold a purse bid on Monday for David Tua and Hasim Rahman to fight for the vacant belt. Jones said they would fight for the interim title, because he wasn't giving his belt up. Jones also said he's hopeful of landing a fight with former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson sometime next year, a bout that likely would be the richest in boxing history. Tyson has been difficult to deal with and has frequently postponed bouts in recent years, but Jones said he was confident he wouldn't have a problem working with Tyson. "He's crazy, but he's not crazy like you all think he's crazy," Jones told reporters. "He's different and he don't want to be what everyone else thinks is normal. I'm the same way. . . . But Mike, I know, has too much respect for me to do anything. So that's the fight that I would hope gets done." © 2003 The Washington Post Company http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A7000-2003Sep13.html LAS VEGAS -- AAP Roy Jones Jr.'s reign as a heavyweight champion is about to come to a close. Jones has scheduled a news conference for Saturday to announce a fight Nov. 8 with Antonio Tarver, who holds two light heavyweight title belts Jones used to own. Taking the fight means Jones probably will lose the WBA title he won in March from John Ruiz in his only fight as a heavyweight. The WBA has scheduled a purse bid for Sept. 15 for David Tua and Hasim Rahman to box for what it labels an interim title fight. Tarver (21-1, 17 KOs) won the bronze medal in the 1996 Olympics and beat Montell Griffin in April to win the WBC and IBF 175-pound titles vacated by Jones when he moved up to the heavyweight division. [TOP] ARCHIVES INDEX AUSSIEBOX NEWS

MAYORGA : LINE UP & SIGN UP

Sept 11, 2003; A press conference was held yesterday afternoon at Don King Television Studio. Other than making a major announcement regarding the future of the unified welterweight champ, DKP, along and Ricardo Mayorga spoke with Staff Sergeant Franklin Eldridge via satellite, live from the middle east. "What you did cannot be measured in words. I can't tell you how thankful we are. You cannot imagine the smiles on these soldiers faces," said Eldridge, referring to the care package DKP sent the troops of the 101st Airborne Division, which has enabled them to hold a boxing tourney on September 20th. Promotional merchandise from past fights was also included in the care package. Eldridge would go on to say, "We asked so many companies and you were the only ones who heard us. You have no idea, no idea at all, how this helps. We know you did it from the heart, and that's what makes it so special to us all." Read on to see what else happened at the press conference and learn what lies ahead for "El Matador". Ricardo Mayorga, who referred to himself as a 'black Bob Hope' has signed a lucrative multi-fight agreement with Don King . He has signed his bout agreement to face Cory Spinks on December 13th. But he didn't stop there. After spending hours going over the fine details with his attorney, Tony Gonzalez, Mayorga signed bout agreements to face Oscar De La Hoya, Bernard Hopkins, Shane Mosley, Fernando Vargas, and Antonio Margarito. His minimums for each fight have already been set, and total $20,000,000 Last night, promoter Don King told Boxingtalk.com "Ricardo 'El Matador' Mayorga is truly amazing! He's excited me to an extent that's unheard of. Because of him I am not 72 years old, I am 72 years young... I never thought we'd have the opportunity to recreate Julio Cesar Chavez, and he's like Chavez combined with Roberto Duran. He's a mini Muhammad Ali. He told the troops that he would love to have an exhibition over there and bring Vernon Forrest as his sparring partner. He's truly unbelievable." http://www.boxingtalk.net/pages/leon536.htm [TOP] ARCHIVES INDEX AUSSIEBOX NEWS

TUA-RAHMAN iii ?

By Lem Satterfield Sun Staff Originally published September 14, 2003 LAS VEGAS - Baltimore heavyweight Hasim Rahman and co-manager Steve Nelson said they expect to close a deal on a third meeting with David Tua by the middle of the week. The fight, for the World Boxing Association's interim heavyweight crown, would be held Dec. 13 in Atlantic City, N.J., on HBO pay-per-view. A source close to the negotiations and Tua's promoter, Cedric Kushner, said that Tua and Kushner "are satisfied," came to terms and signed a deal with Rahman's promoter, Don King, for a bout on the same card as a welterweight title fight between Ricardo Mayorga and Corey Spinks, and a middleweight championship between Bernard Hopkins and Silver Spring's William Joppy. Rahman (35-4-1, 29 knockouts) is 1-0-1 against Tua (42-3-1, 37 KOs). His last meeting with Tua ended in a draw in Philadelphia in a fight most thought Rahman had won. As the WBA's top two contenders to the title that Roy Jones won by decision against John Ruiz on March 1, they will meet again for the interim crown. Jones announced yesterday at the Mandalay Bay Hotel that he will drop to light heavyweight and challenge two-belt champion Antonio Tarver. "We understand David Tua and his promoter [Kushner] came to terms, and we're going to meet with Don King this week and try to come to terms ourselves," said Rahman, who has moved to Las Vegas, where he is training under Roger Mayweather. The decision will eliminate the need for the purse bid, scheduled for tomorrow, Nelson said. "The negotiations are really going to take place after this weekend and it shouldn't take long or not come to terms," Nelson said. "But we're optimistic that we'll be able to reach an agreement because if Rock beats David Tua, Rock becomes WBA champion and then Rock can continue his quest to become unified heavyweight champion once again." Meanwhile, in a news conference at the Mandalay Bay Hotel yesterday, Jones (48-1, 38 KOs) announced he would drop down to take on World Boxing Council and International Boxing Federation light heavyweight champ Tarver (21-1, 17 KOs) on Nov. 8 at the Mandalay Bay, but he said he is not giving up his heavyweight crown to do so. Although initially mandated to defend his WBA crown within 180 days of winning it, Jones, whose deadline was Sept. 1, threatened legal action if the organization tried to strip him. Copyright © 2003, The Baltimore Sun | [TOP] Baltimore heavyweight Hasim Rahman apparently will get a third shot at David Tua, this time for the World Boxing Association title held by Roy Jones, in accordance with a mandate by that organization. The WBA has ordered a purse bid for a title bout between Rahman and Tua, the organization's next-highest contenders for Jones' title. Jones, who rose from the light heavyweight division to dethrone then-WBA champ John Ruiz, said he is dropping back down to light heavyweight for a bout against highly rated Antonio Tarver on Nov. 8. "We received a letter from the WBA advising us that the title is becoming vacant and that they were mandating Rock to fight David Tua for the title," said Steve Nelson, Rahman's co-manager, along with Stan Hoffman. "Roy made his choice, and for him, I think it's a good one," Hoffman said. "But he's going to be stripped [for failure to defend against the next highest-rated contender]. That's the name of the game." Rahman (35-4-1, 29 knockouts), the former World Boxing Council, International Boxing Federation and World Boxing Organization champ, is 0-1-1 against Tua (42-3-1, 37 KOs), but he feels he is 2-0. Rahman was far ahead on points in their 1998 fight when a late punch after the ninth round hurt him and Tua won by knockout in the 10th. Having failed to receive recovery time for the foul, Rahman felt cheated. In a March rematch, Rahman jabbed Tua's eyes puffy, bloodied his nose, and floored him at the bell ending the 12th and final round. "I had a feeling Roy didn't want to fight me or Tua, and that this fight was going to happen," said Rahman, the only heavyweight with knockout wins over both WBC champ Lennox Lewis and WBO champ Corrie Sanders. "Once I knock out David Tua, I can put an end to our rivalry." Don King, who promotes both Rahman and Jones, said the purse bid is schedule for Sept. 5. "The next step is for Don to start negotiations with David Tua's promoter, Cedric Kushner," Nelson said. "If they can work out a deal together before the purse bid, they'll come to their fighters with it." Copyright © 2003, The Baltimore Sun [TOP] ARCHIVES INDEX AUSSIEBOX NEWS

MAYORGA v SPINKS DEC 13

It's Mayorga vs. Spinks, etc. Posted September 14 2003 Ricardo Mayorga left the Deerfield Beach office of Don King Productions Inc. last week with contracts to fight just about everyone good in his 147-pound division. First up for the WBA and WBC welterweight champion from Managua, Nicaragua, is Corey Spinks on Dec. 13 in Atlantic City. Spinks is the son of former heavyweight champion Leon Spinks. Mayorga-Spinks will share the card with the middleweight title bout between Bernard Hopkins and William Joppy. Hopkins trains in Coconut Grove. "I have a fistful of contracts here," said King, Mayorga's promoter. "Ricardo has signed contracts charging every one of the fighters that's out there today for the minimum of $18 million. He is signed to fight Corey Spinks, Oscar De La Hoya, Sugar Shane Mosley, Fernando Vargas, Bernard Hopkins and Antonio Margarito. This man is the only guy I have seen in boxing in many years that has inked these kinds of contracts." Managed by Boynton Beach's Carl King of Monarch Sports Management, Mayorga (25-3-1, 22 KOs) became the unified champion in January by knocking out Vernon Forrest in the third round. The 29-year-old decisioned Forrest in a 12-round rematch in July. Mayorga said Wednesday that he is in his best shape. "I feel I am at the peak of my career," Mayorga said. "I am very healthy. I have a lot of enthusiasm to keep on winning and keep on earning money at the same time. Don is my promoter and compensates me very well for my fights. "I don't know if I have earned the respect I deserve completely yet, but I am going to keep putting the effort in to gain that respect. After four more wins, I will be as complete as I can get. I want to fight Mosley or De La Hoya, whoever wins that fight. I have to beat someone known like those fighters to make a name for myself." [TOP] SPINKS : MAYORGA WILL GET JINX! August 28, 2003 By Ludo Saenz - fightnews.com IBF welterweight champ, Cory Spinks 31-2 (10 KOs), has an answer for WBA/WBC champion Ricardo Mayorga. "He is nothing more than a fu&*%# bum," said Spinks to Fightnews.com. Mayorga suggested, in Nicaragua, that Cory will make "the biggest mistake of his career" in facing him in a possible unification bout on December 13. Finally, it looks now like Spinks will get the marquee fight (televised by a major TV network) that he has hoped for so long to showcase his skills in front of the boxing world. "On December 13, Mayorga will get the jinx. This will be my easiest fight, even easier than Piccirillo. Mayorga makes to many mistakes. I am the most superior fighter. There is no way that a man with such primitive skills like Mayorga will beat me," said Spinks. Mayorga said you will only take this fight for the money, since you will lose your pride and your title. What are your thoughts? "If I wanted to milk my title, I would have took an easy fight here and there. I would have fought two or three easy title defenses and make money like that. But, Mayorga is not better than these other contenders out there, so why screw around with title defenses when I can fight a bum for an unification bout for all the titles?" Mayorga is overlooking you and he is already talking of challenging Oscar De La Hoya next year... "That's good, I like that. I hope he overlooks me and the sad part about it is that he will never see Oscar De La Hoya, because what good he is going to be once I get done spanking him in the ring." TRAINER-MANAGER KEVIN CUNNINGHAM "There is nothing special about Mayorga. He is not extremely fast, he is not a one punch knockout artist and he has no skills. He just runs out throwing wide wild crazy punches." You saw what happen to Vernon Forrest in his two fights with Mayorga. What will you do different to stop Mayorga? "In my opinion, Vernon did not fight up to his capabilities. I believe that Vernon is capable of boxing and executing in the ring better than what he showed in both fights. Foe whatever reason, in the first fight he did not have any respect for Mayorga and went out there and walk into some stuff that he did not have any business walking into. In the second fight, I think his head was so screw off from the first fight that he just could not get it together." The fight is close to be done deal and Mayorga has already started with his verbal attacks. How will Team Spinks handle his intimidation tactics? "Well, I tell you what. Cory was born and raised in one of the most vicious ghettos in the United States (East St. Louis). Cory has seen some of his best friends murdered, with their brains blown out. He has seen some of the most violent crimes ever. He saw his brother assassinated. Do you think that there is anything that a little faget like Ricardo Mayorga, from a poor country, has to say that is going to shake Cory behind Cory's upbringing?" Have Team Spinks signed the contract to fight Mayorga yet? "We already signed a bout agreement to fight Mayorga. He has not signed anything. If Mayorga's nuts are as big as he says they are, sign the %$#@ contract! [TOP] ARCHIVES INDEX AUSSIEBOX NEWS

Mayweather still seeking opponent

Friday, August 22, 2003 By David Mayo The Grand Rapids Press Courtney Burton's soaring star may not be enough to get the Benton Harbor boxer into a Nov. 1 lightweight title fight against Grand Rapids' Floyd Mayweather at Van Andel Arena, but not because Burton lacks interest. Mayweather remains without an opponent for his World Boxing Council defense. A proposed fight with Philip N'dou of South Africa remains tentative. Mayweather is expected to make a decision after reviewing videotapes of N'dou. A fight with Burton (19-1) would be a regional blockbuster, but far less than that internationally. Burton's knockout of Angel Manfredy last month propelled him up the 135-pound ratings. He is only the No. 15 contender for Mayweather's WBC title, after not being ranked in the top 30 previously. But the highly respected ratings from The Ring magazine pushed Burton all the way from unranked to No. 6, the same position he occupies in the International Boxing Federation, which ranked him No. 15 previously. The five fighters ahead of Burton in The Ring's ratings are big names: Jose Luis Castillo, whom Mayweather defeated twice last year; Leonard Dorin, the World Boxing Association title-holder; two-time former champion Steve Johnston; top-ranked WBC contender Juan Lazcano; and Artur Grigorian, the World Boxing Organization title-holder. Xavier James, HBO Sports' vice president of programming, said Burton has been discussed as a potential challenger, though the network still would prefer to see Mayweather matched with N'dou. "I'm going to press the issue as much as I can," Burton said. Mayweather said he vaguely remembers Burton from their amateur days. Burton always was a heavier amateur than Mayweather, boxing in the 132- and 139-pound divisions, while Mayweather topped out at 125. "We just knew each other," Burton said. "It wasn't like we were friends. We never ate dinner together, we never did anything together. I knew he was Floyd from Grand Rapids, I was Courtney from Benton Harbor, and we both box. That's all it was." Burton said home-region loyalties between ranked fighters at the same weight should not detract from making the fight. "Things have to be dealt with at certain times," he said. "I say let's do it. But if Floyd doesn't want the fight, I can't make him fight. I'll just have to wait until I'm the mandatory contender, and fight whoever the champion is then. "I think it would be a good show. We're both the kind of fighters who put it on the line. We both give people what they want to see. It would be great for boxing fans and great for Michigan." One person who remains unimpressed by Burton's victory over Manfredy is Mayweather himself, who knocked out Manfredy in two rounds in 1998, in his first title defense at 130 pounds. "I dismantled Manfredy in five minutes, five years ago, when he was on top of his game," Mayweather said. "It took (Burton), what, eight rounds? I laugh at these young guys. "Hey, he's supposed to shout out, 'I want Mayweather.' I'm the top lightweight in the world. You aren't going to get on TV and shout out the number-two guy's name, are you? I don't get on TV and shout out, 'I want Burton,' I get on TV and shout out, 'Oscar De La Hoya,' or, '(Ricardo) Mayorga,' guys who have made statements, and who I can make statements against." BOXING NOTES THE FEATHERWEIGHT unification proposed on the Mayweather card, matching IBF champion Juan Manuel Marquez and WBA champion Derrick "Smoke" Gainer, remains a strong possibility. The fight originally was scheduled for last Saturday, but Gainer withdrew with a pulled pectoral muscle on fight week. Marquez stopped late substitute Marcos Licona, as Gainer observed from ringside. HBO's James confirmed hopes to reschedule the fight here as part of a televised tripleheader. "Marquez's people seem apprehensive because they're afraid Gainer isn't going to show up, so we still have to firm that up. But I think 'Smoke' is very interested in fighting Marquez," James said. Also on the November card, Antonio Margarito defends his WBO welterweight title against an undetermined opponent. THE DISCLOSURE that Oscar De La Hoya injured his left hand in sparring a few days ago will not threaten his Sept. 13 rematch against Shane Mosley, according to Floyd Mayweather Sr., who trains the junior middleweight champion. "It's evidently not that bad, and Oscar wants to go on with the fight," Mayweather said. "When you look at the fight, remember I told you this -- Oscar will be faster than Shane. Last time they fought, Oscar got down on Shane's level, bent his head down, bent at his knees. He fought like a robot. He'll be the taller fighter this time. Shane won't be able to do anything with him now." Both fighters are training in Big Bear City, Calif. DORIN WAS offered the Mayweather fight in what would have been a WBA-WBC unification. But the 21-0-1 Romanian demanded $1 million, according to Top Rank executive vice president Todd duBoef. HBO has refused to kick in more than its $3.05 million allotment for the fight, all of which goes to Mayweather. Hence, Dorin's purse would have to come out of Mayweather's end, which killed the talks. JESUS CHAVEZ, the loser in Mayweather's last WBC super featherweight defense, won that title last week from Thailand's Sirimongkol Singmanassuk. Chavez fought here in 2001, on the undercard of Mayweather's win over Carlos Hernandez. Hernandez holds the IBF title, so Mayweather's last two foes at 130 pounds now own titles at that weight. Brazilian veteran Acelino Freitas holds the WBA and WBO titles. [TOP]

ARCHIVES INDEX AUSSIEBOX NEWS [TOP]

:::HOME:::