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OTTKE EDGES LARSEN
By Richard K. Redling
Sven Ottke retained his WBA/IBF supermiddle titles by the narrowest margin, winning a majority decision over Mads Larsen Saturday at Erfurter Messenhalle in Erfurt, Germany. Larsen won the early rounds as the slow-starting Ottke remained true to form. Larsen seemed to have the tools to dethrone the champion, but he gave Ottke too much respect. He was simply unable to pull the trigger. Ottke did his best work to the body of the southpaw Larsen, but he was unable to use his quick in-and-out style. Most rounds were very close and neither fighter was down or hurt. Scores were 115-113, 115-113, 115-115.
Fightnews scored it 115-113 for Larsen.
http://www.fightnews.com/
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Eye injury ends Lalonde comeback By PAUL FRIESEN -- Winnipeg Sun
The shine is off the Golden Boy -- this time, likely for good. Donny Lalonde's latest boxing comeback appears destined to end after just four fights. A potentially serious eye injury has the 42-year-old Winnipeg product reconsidering his future in the ring."I certainly can't be a boxer who can't see," Lalonde said yesterday from his home in Costa Rica. The news comes six weeks after Lalonde suffered a one-sided loss to Virgil Hill at an outdoor fight here, and less than a year after he began his latest comeback. The injury actually occurred while sparring a week before the Hill bout.
Taking a blow from middleweight Kingsley Ikeke, Lalonde's left eye became swollen and filled with blood. At the same time, he suffered from blurred vision and problems with depth perception. Although his condition improved by the time he fought Hill, Lalonde says he quickly realized he wasn't close to 100%.
Lalonde was checked out by Winnipeg doctors, who determined he had fluid on the eye, a scratched cornea and damage to a muscle just above the eye.
Doctors, friends and, in particular, his family are telling him to stop.
And Lalonde, former world champ, is listening, even though it will mean his dream of becoming the oldest fighter to win a world title is over. "I guess this would be the end," Lalonde said. "Weird. That's the first time I've actually said it out loud. A lot of people put a lot into this comeback. And to think it's over in such a strange way... I'm kind of at a loss, really."
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British Olympic champion signs deal to fight in United States Tuesday, August 19
Associated Press
NEW YORK (AP) _ British Olympic super heavyweight champion Audley Harrison has moved to America and signed a three-fight television contract in an effort to jump-start his stalled career.Harrison, who had come under criticism at home because of the quality of his opponents and his lack of fights, plans to train in Las Vegas for the televised series of fights.
The first one will take place Sept. 9, when the 6-foot-5 Harrison fights an opponent to be named on an ESPN2 card from Miami.
The 31-year-old Harrison is 11-0 with seven knockouts in the three years since he won the Olympic super heavyweight gold in Sydney. After winning the gold medal, he signed a $1.6 million, 10-fight deal with BBC that has since expired.
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SPADAFORA DISMISSES TRAINERS Spadafora dismisses troubling co-trainers Tuesday, August 26, 2003 By Chuck Finder, Post-Gazette Sports Writer
Paul Spadafora, his manager and his promoter officially cleaned out their corner yesterday, firing co-trainers Jesse Reid and Tom Yankello -- the latter having been at Spadafora's side for most of the past six years and all but two of his past 24 fights.
In making the announcement, Spadafora signaled a complete break from his past along with the aim to start anew soon after Labor Day and his 28th birthday next week.
Spadafora (36-0-1), the former champion from McKees Rocks, relinquished his 4-year-long International Boxing Federation lightweight title in late June and prepared to ascend from that 135-pound division to the 140-pound welterweight class. Now he'll begin there with a new trainer -- and only one.
"The bottom line is, I can't put up with it," Spadafora said in a conference call. "It's like fighting amongst each other. It's causing me too much trouble at camps. ... It's been bugging me, pffffft, practically the whole time. Ever since everybody's been together [before winning the IBF belt in August 1999]. You could tell everybody didn't like each other. They both kind of do the same thing. Just a lot of backbiting on each other. They're both great trainers. I just can't put up with their pettiness in camp. It's not about them; it's about me."
Added manager Al McCauley, who was on the call along with Erie-based promoter Mike Acri: "Make no mistake, Jesse has been with 19 world champions. Tommy has put a good, honest effort in. The problem is, they couldn't get along. Paul felt he couldn't make the choice between the two, and the only choice was to get rid of both. It wasn't Mike's choice. It wasn't mine. Paul made this decision. He wants to get one trainer, and he wants to use that trainer the rest of his career."
Acri characterized the co-trainer situation as "too much disarray."
McCauley telephoned Reid to inform him of the decision. "Jesse was disappointed. He wants what's best for Paul."
As for Yankello, Spadafora said he made it known throughout the springtime camp preceding his May 17 Leonard Dorin fight that he was discontented with the co-trainer arrangement. But he privately told people how Acri and McCauley were pushing him to sever his ring relationship with Yankello, to whom his late trainer P.K. Pecora sent him in 1997 and with whom Spadafora has worked basically since. Yankello, from Beaver, was forced out of the camp between February and August 2000, but back-to-back lackluster showings by Spadafora caused the fighter to force the issue and return Yankello -- who is only six years older -- to his corner.
In ring circles, Emanuel Steward was purported to be the likely successor to Reid and Yankello as recently as July, about the exact same time Yankello landed another boxing gig: His two-time amateur champion Verquan Kimbrough turned professional. Certainly, Kimbrough selecting a different promoter and joining ranks with Mountaineer Race Track & Gaming Resort boss Ted Arneault couldn't have sat well with Spadafora's handlers.
"No one has notified me, and as far as I'm concerned I am still under contract," Yankello said last night. "I had talked to Paul five, six days ago, and the conversation was nothing about that. He told me he was coming back to the [Ambridge] gym in a week and a half."
"Tom's my man," Spadafora said, then he referred to Kimbrough. "It isn't like he's not doing his thing, either. I'm not leaving him out in the cold. Now I'm going out to do what's best for me."
McCauley and Acri whittled their list of trainer candidates to 15, of which they plan to interview two or three within the next week or two. They declined to divulge names. They said a November or December rematch with Dorin remains possible, but the hiring of a new trainer wouldn't delay any potential timetable of fights.
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RAGING BULL DARCHINYAN MAULS MONTIEL ‘Raging Bull’ Darchinyan mauls Montiel By Paul Upham: Australian based Armenia flyweight ‘Raging Bull’ Vic Darchinyan, 18-0 (13), confirmed his genuine world title contender status with a dominant 10 round points win over Mexico’s Alejandro Montiel, 47-6 (27), on Friday night at the Panthers World of Entertainment in Penrith, Australia. IBF No.4 Darchinyan’s punching was very impressive and while not stopping the tough Mexican who showed an iron chin throughout the ten rounds, the Armenian Olympian’s raw power was just too much for IBF No.6 Montiel to handle.
Read full article by Paul Upham at Seconds Out
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SKINNY & HAMDAN WIN WELL AT PANTHERS Hussein wins in one; Hamdan wins over 10 By Paul Upham: WBC No.2 junior featherweight Nedal ‘Skinny’ Hussein, 31-1 (18), scored his tenth career first round knockout win on Friday night against Argentine Marcelo Gabriel Ackermann, 20-10 (5), at the Panthers World of Entertainment in Penrith, Australia on the Vic Darchinian-Alejandro Montiel card.
Fenech says he will petition the WBC at their annual convention in October in Russia to order an eliminator between Hussein and WBC No.1 Napapol Kiattisakchocchoi for a shot at WBC champion Oscar Larios.
“We need a tough fight before that,” said Hussein. “I want to fight for a world title to win the world title. I want to pick up my competition a bit.”
Also on the card, ‘Lionheart’ Nader Hamdan 33-1 (15), made a successful return after his first career loss to Sam Soliman in June, with a unanimous ten round points decision over ten rounds against Josh Clemshaw, 19-12 (11). Facing each other for the fourth time, 29 year-old Hamdan and 26 year-old Clemshaw put on an entertaining brawl with many hard fought exchanges.
Read full article by Paul Upham at Seconds Out
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BIG BOB IS OFF TO GERMANY !
Australian heavyweight boxing king "Big" Bob Mirovic, has jetted out to Germany as a last minute replacement to fight on the Danny Green-Markus Beyer world title fight.
Mirovic, a two time Australian champion and current WBF International champion will face off against German Timo Hoffman for a scheduled 8 rounds. Known as "The Body" Hoffman stands at 6 foot 7 inches and weighs 118kg. "Big" Bob stands at 6 foot 6 inches and weighs 120kg, so it's hoped there will be extra ring reinforcement before the big men go at it.
Hoffman holds a very impressive record of 27 wins 3 losses 16 ko's and he has the distinction of pushing recent Lennox Lewis victim, Vitali Klitchko for 12 rounds in 2001. He has held various titles including the German heavyweight crown and the IBF Inter-continental title.
"Big" Bob is not underestimating his opponent but believes he will welcome facing a similar sized boxer and Hoffmans record doesn't faze him as Mirovic believes whoever Hoffmans has beaten in the past won't help him one bit when "Big" Bob's explosive right hand bombs come raining down on the German. Mirovic was clearly disappointed with his lasting outing, a 3 round KO win against Danny Buzza but puts that down to fighting a lower standard of boxer and he is relishing this opportunity to test his limits against a top class international boxer of Hoffmans standard and he wants to show Australia at the age of 37-years-old what levels he can reach on the world stage.
"Big" Bob's trainer Angelo Hyder will be assisting Jeff Fenech in the corner of Danny Green and is quietly confident that if his big charge can land his right hand, then the German crowd could be watching two Aussie victories against their favoured hometown stars. Hyder knows it will be highly unlikely that "Big" Bob would score a points decision and says 'tongue-in-cheek' that there is a strong chance that Mirovic may have to knockout Hoffman for the German judges to even give "Big" Bob a draw such is the Germans reputation. Hyder knows Mirovic is supremely fit and is extremely excited about this sudden opportunity.
The bout will be broadcast around Australia on the Main Event channel on Sunday 17th, live at 4am, with replays at 12 noon and 6pm.
Article link : Mirovic faces Hoffman on Beyer-Green card
by Paul Upham at Seconds Out
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