SOCK EXCHANGE
I MAY BE WRONG, BUT... THE MICHIGAN ATHLETIC BOARD OF CONTROL HAS BOWED TO THE PUBLIC OUTCRY AND WILL REVIEW
A TAPE OF THE RECENT COURTNEY BURTON / EMANUEL AUGUSTUS FIGHT AT THE END OF AUGUST TO DETERMINE IF EVERYTHING WAS KOSHER.
BURTON'S SPLIT DECISION VICTORY IN THE JUNE 6TH BOUT HAS SPARKED CRITICISM FROM FANS AND JOURNALISTS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRYABOUT
THE OUTCOME OF THE FIGHT AND THE POOR STATE OF MICHIGAN BOXING.
THE RESULT ALSO RENEWED THE CALL FOR REFORM IN THAT STATE, WHERE A BILL FOR REFORM PASSED
IN THE STATE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES IN JANUARY 106-1, BUT HAS NOT YET COME TO A VOTE IN THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT AND SMALL BUSINESS AND REGULATORY REFORM.
REFEREE DAN KELLEY WAS CLEARLY BIASED AGAINST AUGUSTUS, AS WERE JUDGES ROBERT PAGANELLI AND
ED MOSLEY. MEANWHILE, AUGUSTUS STATED AFTER THE FIGHT HE EXPECTED TO TEST POSITIVE FOR MARIJUANA.
PROMOTER LOU DIBELLA HAS SIGNED AUGUSTUS TO AN EXCLUSIVE PROMOTIONAL CONTRACT.
SOCK EXCHANGE 2
DESPITE THE FACT THAT HE HASN'T BITTEN ANYONE OR THREATENED TO EAT ANY CHILDREN, THE KINDER, GENTLER "Titanium"
MIKE TYSON IS STILL PAYING HIS PENANCE AS ONE CO MISSION IS LOOKING TO REVOKE HIS LICENSE AND A SECOND COMISSION IS ABOUT
TO LAUNCH AN INVESTIGATION INTO HOW TYSON WAS GRANTED A LICENSE.
SINCE TAKING A BREAK FROM THE CENTRAL GYM IN PHOENIX, "Titanium" MIKE TYSON HAS JUMPED ON
THE MEDIA BANDWAGON, GRANTING INTERVIEWS TO JUST ABOUT ANYONE WHO WOULD TALK TO HIM.
AT THE SAME TIME, HIS ATTORNEYS APPEAR TO HAVE SETTLED THE $100 MILLION DOLLAR LAWSUIT AGAINST
HIS FORMER PROMOTER DON KING, WHOM TYSON HAS CALLED, "A PIG."
TYSON TOLD ONE SCRIBE, "I DON'T KNOW IF I WILL EVER FIGHT FOR HIM AGAIN, BUT ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE."
TYSON ACCEPTED THE $14 MILLION OFFER, $8 MILLION UP FRONT AND $3 MILLION A YEAR FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS.
HOWEVER, THE DEAL MUST FIRST BE APPROVED BY TYSON'S BANKRUPTCY JUDGE AS THE EX-CHAMP HAS AN
OUTSTANDING DEBT OF $18 MILLION WITH THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE.
TYSON, (50-4, 43) THEN APPLIED FOR AND WAS GRANTED A LICENSE TO BOX IN THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY
BUT GOVERNOR JAMES McGREEVEY SOUGHT TO REVERSE THE COMMISSION'S DECISION ADDING TYSON WOULD NOT FIGHT IN ANY STATE-RUN FACILITY.
TYSON STILL HAS A JULY 30TH DATE BUT HANDLERS HAVE DROPPED KEVIN McBRIDE IN FAVOR OF
DANNY WILLIAMS (31-3, 26) AFTER THE PURSE OFFERED DROPPED BY $250,000 . THE BOUT IS EXPECTED TO TAKE PLACE IN LOUISVILLE,
KENTUCKY.
BOXER SHORTS...
AUSTRALIAN DETECTIVES ARE LOOKING INTO WHETHER A DISPUTE ON JANUARY 4 IN WHICH FORMER CHAMPION JEFF FENECH
WAS SLASHED IN THE FACE WITH A BROKEN BOTTLE, LED TO SOMEONE TARGETING HIS HOME WITH GUNFIRE ON JUNE 17TH. AS INVESTIGATORS
CONTINUE TO LOOK FOR CLUES, THE FENECH FAMILY IS CONTEMPLATING LEAVING THE COUNTRY. ... PAULIE AYALA ANNOUNCED HIS RETIREMENT
AFTER HE WAS STOPPED IN THE 10TH ROUND BY MARCO ANTONIO BARRERA. ... JOE CALZAGHE'S RECENT BACK INJURY SEEMS TO HAVE BLOWN
ANY
SHOT HE HAD AT GETTING IBF LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION GLENCOFEE JOHNSON IN THE RING. JOHNSON WILL LIKELY SEEK
A $$$-BOUT AGAINST ANTONIO TARVER. CALZAGHE WILL LIKELY ABANDON ASPIRATIONS TO MOVE UP IN WEIGHT AND DEFEND HIS WBO SUPER
MIDDLEWEIGHT TITLE IN SEPTEMBER. ... WITH AN ENERGY AND WATER CRISIS IN LAS VEGAS ALREADY STARTING TO WREAK HAVOC, BOXING
INSIDERS ARE SPLIT ON THEIR OPINIONS OF THE RECENT MERGER BETWEEN THE MGM/MIRAGE AND THE MANDALAY RESORT GROUP, AND WHETHER
OR NOT IT WILL HELP OR HURT THE SPORT. ... ELVIR MURIQUI RECENTLY SIGNED WITH DON KING; THE "KOSOVO KID" TELLS US HE'S FIGHTING
JOSE SPEARMAN IN HIS NATIVE KOSOVO ON AUGUST 14TH AND POSSIBLY RODNEY MOORE, OR "SOMEBODY PRETTY GOOD," ON OCTOBER 2ND UNDERCARD
OF THE MAYORGA/TRINIDAD AFFAIR. MURIQUI SAID OF KING, "AS LONG AS HE GETS ME THE FIGHTS I WANT, THAT'S WHAT I NEED...
I DON'T NEED ANYTHING ELSE." WE UNDERSTAND TRAINER HAROLD KNIGHT HAD TO CHASE MURIQUI OUT OF THE GYM IN THE CATSKILLS AS HANDLERS
DIDN'T WANT THEIR PROSPECT TO OVERTRAIN.
NOT OVER THE WIRES...
JOEL CASAMAYOR PITCHED
A NEAR SHUTOUT AGAINST DANIEL SEDA; CASAMAYOR IMROVED TO (31-2, 19) AND IT WAS SEDA' FIRST LOSS IN 21 FIGHTS. ... ON THE SAME
TEAM FREEDOM/CEDRIC KUSHNER PROMOTED-CARD, ELISEO CASTILLO HAD AN EASY NIGHT AGAINST THE SKID-SKIDDING MICHAEL MOORER, WHO
STILL WON'T HANG UP HIS MITTS. ... MICHAEL WARRICK WAS QUICKLY SIGNED TO A PROMOTIONAL
CONTRACT A WEEK AFTER DECISIONING JEFFREY RESTO. ... PAUL
BRIGGS AND STIPE DREW HAD AGREED
TO FIGHT FOR THE WBC LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE EVEN BEFORE THE WORLD BOXING COUNCIL SETTLED THEIR LAWSUIT WITH GRACIANO ROCCHIGIANI...
AARON "Superman" DAVIS IN ATTENDANCE FOR THE WARRICK-RESTO THRILLER SAID HE WAS SUPPOSED TO RETURN ON APRIL 14TH BUT WAS THUMBED
IN THE EYE. CURRENTLY TRAINING AT WARRIORS BOXING, DAVIS SAYS HE WILL BE BACK IN ACTION ON AUGUST 21ST IN HOLLYWOOD,
FLORIDA AGAINST ARTY LAMBERT. ... ALSO AT RINGSIDE FOR THE BROADWAY BOXING SHOW, MICHAEL "The Silk" OLAJIDE TOLD US HE WILL
BE COMPETING WITH HIS FATHER, MICHAEL, SR., AND WILL BE OPENING HIS OWN GYM IN SEPTEMBER AT THE CORNER OF 13TH STREET AND
9TH AVENUE. ... A BIT OF SAD NEWS TO REPORT: ONCE-HOT PROSPECT JO-EL SCOTT HAS BEEN CHARGED IN THE BEATING DEATH OF A WOMAN
IN
LINCOLN PARK, NY. THE BOXER ADMITTED BEING DRUNK AND HIGH ON CRACK COCAINE BUT SAID TWO OTHER MEN WERE RESPONSIBLE
FOR THE CRIME. AN ALBANY GRAND JURY DECIDED TO INDICT SCOTT ON A CHARGE OF MURDER IN THE FIRST DEGREE. THE DISTRICT
ATTORNEY HAS FOUR MONTHS TO DECIDE ON WHETHER OR NOT TO SEEK THE DEATH PENALTY IN THE CASE... FORMER HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMP
HENRY
TILLMAN WAS SENTENCED TO 37-MONTHS AFTER PLEADING GUILTY TO IDENTITY THEFT AFTER HE AND A WOMAN WERE CAUGHT TRYING TO PASS
A PHONY CHECK. ... ROSS THOMPSON IS NO LONGER "The Boss" AFTER HE GOT TOSSED OFF THE MARRIOTT SHOW IN WHIPPANY, NEW JERSEY
AFTER FAILING HIS MEDICAL EXAM WITH THE NEW JERSEY STATE ATHLETIC COMMISSION. ... DID YOU CATCH RUBEN "Hurricane" CARTER'S
GUEST APPEARANCE ON ESPN 2's FRIDAY NIGHT FIGHTS. UNFORTUNATELY, IT WAS JOE TESSITORE'S NIGHT OFF AND BRIAN KENNY FILLED
IN FOR JOE AT RINGSIDE AND SUBSTITUTE STAN VERRETT GOT THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING WITH CARTER. ... FORMER UNLV FOOTBALL PLAYER
MARVIN EASTMAN MADE HIS PRO DEBUT, WHEN HE STOPPED WILLIE BROADIE IN THE FOURTH ROUND. ... NEARLY 300 AMERICAN BOXERS ARE
INTO THEIR FINAL PREPARATIONS FOR THE 2004 SUMMER OLYMPICS IN ATHENS, GREECE. WITH SUCH FOCUS ON SECURITY, WE HOPE THEY
CAN KEEP THE LIGHTS ON DURING THE GAMES HELD AUGUST 13-29, AFTER A RECENT POWER OUTAGE.
DIS AND DOT...
RICKY HATTON'S PATIENCE AND HARD WORK HAS PAID OFF AS HE GETS A CRACK AT WBA CHAMP VIVIAN HARRIS WITH A
BOUT IN MANCHESTER, ENGLAND IN OCTOBER. ... MICKEY WARD RETURNED TO RINGSIDE SATURDAY, WORKING THE CORNER OF HOT NEW PROSPECT
JEFF FRAZA, WHO STOPPED PAUL DELGADO IN THE 10TH ROUND. ... MUHAMMAD ALI RETURNED TO HOUSTON, TEXAS LAST TUESDAY NIGHT AS
THE FORMER CHAMP THREW OUT THE FIRST PITCH AT THE 75TH ANNUAL ALL-STAR GAME. A HOUSTON COURT FOUND ALI GUILTY OF DODGING
THE DRAFT IN 1967 BUT THEIR DECISION WAS LATER OVERTURNED. ... ANTONIO TARVER WAS HONORED AT THE ANNUAL ESPY AWARDS FOR, 'UPSET
OF THE YEAR,' FOR HIS DRAMATIC WIN OVER
THE ONCE INVINCIBLE ROY JONES. ... PROMOTER DON ELBAUM HAS BEEN TAPPED TO HOST
A NEW SHOW CALLED, 'BOXING PREVIEW,' A WEEKLY THAT WILL AIR ON THURSDAY NIGHTS ON TIMES WARNER CABLE. ... VERNON FORREST,
GUEST HOST ON ESPN 2 LAST FRIDAY, WAS BUSY DROPPING BOMBS AS HE CHARGED RONALD "Winky" WRIGHT HAS BEEN BULKING UP WITH STEROIDS.
FORREST ADDED, "EVERYBODY KNOWS IT." ... 'MODEL BOXING', THE SPORTS LATEST METAMORPHOSIS, WHERE SCANTILY CLAD YOUNG LADIES
BATTLE IT OUT LIKE IN THOSE MILLER LIGHT COMMERCIALS-- GOES LEGIT WITH A NATIONAL CARD AUGUST 6TH ON SHOWTIME. ...
FREITAS VS. CORRALES
THE ART PELULLO/BANNER
PROMOTIONS PRESS CONFERENCE ANNOUNCING THE BLOCKBUSTER FIGHT BETWEEN ACELINO FREITAS AND DIEGO CORRALES HAD A BRIEF DELAY
AS EMERGENCY SERVICE COPS REMOVED A SUSPICIOUS SUITCASE THAT TEMPORARILY CLOSED W. 57th STREET LAST WEEK.
FREITAS STATED, "BASICALLY, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO ASK IF HE'S GOING TO ADAPT TO ME IN THE
FIGHT, THAT'S WHAT HE HAS TO WORRY ABOUT."
FREITAS (35-0, 31) AND HOLDER OF THE WBO LIGHTWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP, WILL BE TRAINING IN THE
CATSKILL MOUNTAINS.
CORRALES (38-2, 31) ADMITTED TIME OFF HAS HELPED HIM AS A FIGHTER, STATING, "IT'S ALMOST LIKE
STARTING OVER... I FEEL LIKE I HAVE A NEW LEASE ON LIFE. I KNOW THAT I CHANGED A LOT DURING MY TIME AWAY FROM BOXING.
I AM STRONGER, MORE MATURE AND MENTALLY BETTER THAN I HAVE EVER BEEN."
ASKED IF HE PLANTED THE PHONY BOMB, BERT "The Hat" SUGAR RESPONDED, "NO, I HAD OTHER PROBLEMS.
I CAN'T EVEN GET BOMBED, LET ALONE A BOMB THREAT, THEY DON'T HAVE ANY LIQUOR."
ASKED WHO HE LIKED, SUGAR STATED, "I LIKE CORRALES BEHIND THE JAB. I DON'T THINK FREITAS
IS THAT GOOD, I THINK HE SWINGS TOO WIDE."
THE PAIR MEET AT THE FOXWOODS RESORT CASINO ON SATURDAY, AUGUST 7; BOUT WILL BE TELEVISED
OVER SHOWTIME.
QUOTE OF THE MONTH
"WATCHING
THESE, AND I HAVEN'T SEEN THIS IN MANY, MANY YEARS, WATCHING THIS SHOWS ME HOW EASY IT IS TO LEARN HOW TO HURT SOMEBODY, AND
I DON'T WANT TO HURT PEOPLE ANYMORE."
--RUBEN "Hurricane" CARTER
UPCOMING BOUTS....
IN
UPCOMING BOUTS AND BOXING ON TELEVISION...
ON TUESDAY IN KANSAS CITY, JORGE LACIERVA (25-5-4, 17) FACES JOE MORALES (19-8-4) IN A
FEATHERWEIGHT CONTEST ON ESPN 2.
ON FRIDAY IN ATLANTIC CITY, DAVID DEFIGABON (21-0) MEETS THE NEW,
IMPROVED OLEG MASKAEV
(28-5, 23) IN A TEN-ROUND HEAVYWEIGHT MATCH ON ESPN 2.
THE FOLLOWING NIGHT IN ATLANTIC CITY, ARTURO GATTI DEFENDS HIS WBC SUPER LIGHTWEIGHT TITLE
AGAINST LEONARD DORIN. ON THE SAME SHOW FRANCISCO BOJADO FACES "JESSE" JAMES LEIJA IN A JUNIOR WELTERWEIGHT CONTEST.
FOR THE LATEST UPCOMING FIGHT SCHEDULE, CLICK THE FUTURE FIGHTS ICON IN THE UPPER LEFT-HAND
CORNER OF THIS PAGE.
TOLL
THE TEN...
WE 'TOLL THE TEN' FOR ONE-TIME BOXER, TRAINER AND CUTMAN AL GAVIN, WHO DIED A WEEK AFTER SUFFERING A STROKE.
GAVIN TOOK THE REIGNS OF THE OLD GRAMERCY PARK GYM AFTER CUS D'AMATO MOVED TO THE CATSKILLS. GAVIN LATER WORKED OUT
OF THE FAMED GLEASON'S GYM IN BROOKLYN AND WORKED WITH SUCH CHAMPIONS AS LENNOX LEWIS, MICKEY WARD AND OTHERS.
WE ALSO SAY GOODBYE TO SACRAMENTO'S SID TENNER, 81, WHO FOR FOUR DECADES WORKED AS A MANAGER,
MATCHMAKER AND PROMOTER TO JUAN LAZCANO AND OTHERS.
AND OUR HEARTFELT CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILY OF SCOTT POPE, BETTER KNOWN TO FIGHT FANS AS "FLATTOP,"
THE MANAGING EDITOR OF FIGHTNEWS.COM, AFTER HIS MOTHER DORIS GAIL POPE RECENTLY SLIPPED INTO 'THE GREAT BEYOND'.
(THIS PAGE WAS UPDATED ON TUESDAY, JULY 19, 2004. WE WILL BE BACK NEXT
SUNDAY, JULY 25TH WITH ALL OF THE LATEST NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD.)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
SOCK EXCHANGE...
I
MAY BE WRONG, BUT... THE ISLAND OF MANHATTAN CAME TO LIFE ONCE AGAIN AS LOU DIBELLA BROUGHT HIS 'BROADWAY BOXING' SERIES BACK
TO THE MANHATTAN CENTER ON WEST 34TH STREET, THIS PAST THURSDAY NIGHT.
IN THE MAIN EVENT, JEFFREY RESTO OF THE BRONX PROVED HE HAS STAYING POWER AS HE CAME BACK
FROM WO KNOCKDOWNS TO FIGHT ON BUT IN THE END DROPPED A CLOSE DECISION TO MICHAEL WARRICK OF LANDOVER, MARYLAND. WARRICK
IMPROVED TO (18-1, 11) AND RESTO FELL TO (17-2, 11.)
RESTO ADMITTED DURING A PRESS CONFERENCE EARLIER IN THE WEEK AT GALLAGHER'S STEAK HOUSE, "I'VE
NEVER SEEN HIM BOX AND I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT HE LOOKS LIKE. A LOT OF PEOPLE SAY HE'S A BOXER, THAT'S ALL I KNOW."
HOWEVER, WARRICK DID NOT BOX BUT STOOD AND SLUGGED IT OUT WITH RESTO, WHO WAS DROPPED WITH
A RIGHT HOOK TO THE CHIN IN ROUND TWO. RESTO HAD WARRICK IN TROUBLE IN ROUND SIX BUT COULDN'T FINISH HIM. AND
RESTO WAS DROPPED AGAIN IN ROUND EIGHT AFTER A SERIES OF BODY-BLOWS.
RESTO'S MANAGER JOHNNY "Buzz-Buzz" BOS, DISAPPOINTED WITH THE DECISION, COMMENTED, "I'D LIKE
TO FIGHT THIS GUY AGAIN." HOWEVER BOS' GOOD FRIEND KEN MINUS REMARKED OF WARRICK, "STAY AWAY FROM THIS GUY, FIGHT SOMEBODY
ELSE FIRST," TO WHICH BOS RESPONDED, "THIS GUY AIN'T GOING TO BE AROUND A YEAR FROM NOW."
AFTER THINKING ABOUT IT FOR A MOMENT, BOS SAID HE SCORED THE FIGHT SEVEN ROUNDS TO THREE IN
FAVOR OF RESTO, AND ADDED, "IF THERE WAS ONE MORE MINUTE WE WOULD HAVE KNOCKED HIM OUT, HE COULDN'T STAND UP... AND THE REFEREE
HELPED HIM BACK TO THE CORNER TWICE".
ON THE UNDERCARD, A MATCH FOR FELLOW BRONXITE "Punchin'" PAT NWAMU (8-1, 3) WAS SCRATCHED
AFTER HIS OPPONENT MARK TETTEB OF GHANA FAILED HIS MEDICAL AND COULD NOT GET LICENSED.
JUNIOR FEATHERWEIGHT GARY STARK OF STATEN ISLAND IMPROVED TO (9-0, 4) WHEN HE GAVE A DOMINATING
PERFORMANCE IN HIS UNANIMOUS DECISION VICTORY OVER JOSE ESPINAL OF QUEENS, NY., WHO FELL TO (3-3-1.)
JUNIOR WELTERWEIGHT EDGAR SANTANA OF MANHATTAN IMPROVED TO (11-2, 7) WHEN HE STOPPED JOHN
TEMPLE OF WEST MONROE, LOUISIANA WHO FELL TO (5-6-1.) AND FINALLY, LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT ANEUDI
SANTOS OF LONG ISLAND ALSO GOT A DISAPPOINTMENT AS HIS BOUT AGAINST TYRONE GLOVER OF PHILADELPHIA WAS ALSO CANCELED AT THE
LAST MINUTE BUT WAS SPOTTED AT RINGSIDE CHEERING FOR RESTO, SANTANA AND NWAMU WITH HIS FIANCE ANNA GONZALEZ.
FOR MORE ON SANTOS, A STUDENT AT HOFSTRA UNIVERSITY, CLICK THE 'SANTOS' ICON IN
THE UPPER LEFT HAND CORNER OF THIS PAGE FOR SOCRATES PALMER'S EXCLUSIVE STORY ON THE YOUNG PROSPECT AND YOU CAN SCROLL DOWN
THAT PAGE TO READ OUR EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH NEW YORK PROMOTER LOU DIBELLA.
TO FIND THE DAY AND TIMES THE CARD WILL AIR ON FOX SPORTS NET, LOG ONTO THE DIBELLA
ENTERTAINMENT' WEBSITE AT: WWW.LDB1.COM.
SOCK EXCHANGE 2
SINCE TAKING A BREAK FROM THE CENTRAL GYM IN PHOENIX, "Titanium" MIKE TYSON HAS JUMPED ON THE MEDIA BANDWAGON,
GRANTING INTERVIEWS TO JUST ABOUT ANYONE WHO WOULD TALK TO HIM.
AT THE SAME TIME, HIS ATTORNEYS APPEAR TO HAVE SETTLED THE $100 MILLION DOLLAR LAWSUIT AGAINST
HIS FORMER PROMOTER DON KING, WHOM TYSON HAS CALLED, "A PIG."
TYSON TOLD ONE SCRIBE, "I DON'T KNOW IF I WILL EVER FIGHT FOR HIM AGAIN, BUT ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE."
TYSON ACCEPTED THE $14 MILLION OFFER, $8 MILLION UP FRONT AND $3 MILLION A YEAR FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS.
HOWEVER, THE DEAL MUST FIRST BE APPROVED BY TYSON'S BANKRUPTCY JUDGE AS THE EX-CHAMP
HAS AN OUTSTANDING DEBT OF $18 MILLION WITH THE INTERNAL REVENUE
SERVICE.
TYSON, (50-4, 43) THEN APPLIED FOR AND WAS GRANTED A LICENSE TO BOX IN THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY
BUT GOVERNOR JAMES McGREEVEY SOUGHT TO REVERSE THE COMMISSION'S DECISION ADDING TYSON WOULD NOT FIGHT IN ANY STATE-RUN FACILITY.
TYSON STILL HAS A JULY 30TH DATE BUT HANDLERS HAVE DROPPED KEVIN McBRIDE IN FAVOR OF
DANNY WILLIAMS (31-3, 26) AFTER THE PURSE OFFERED DROPPED BY $250,000 . THE BOUT IS EXPECTED TO TAKE PLACE IN LOUISVILLE,
KENTUCKY.
FREITAS VS. CORRALES
THE ART PELULLO/BANNER
PROMOTIONS PRESS CONFERENCE ANNOUNCING THE BLOCKBUSTER FIGHT BETWEEN ACELINO FREITAS AND DIEGO CORRALES HAD A BRIEF DELAY
AS EMERGENCY SERVICE COPS REMOVED A SUSPICIOUS SUITCASE THAT TEMPORARILY CLOSED W. 57th STREET LAST WEEK.
FREITAS STATED, "BASICALLY, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO ASK IF HE'S GOING TO ADAPT TO ME IN THE
FIGHT, THAT'S WHAT HE HAS TO WORRY ABOUT."
FREITAS (35-0, 31) AND HOLDER OF THE WBO LIGHTWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP, WILL BE TRAINING IN THE
CATSKILL MOUNTAINS.
CORRALES (38-2, 31) ADMITTED TIME OFF HAS HELPED HIM AS A FIGHTER, STATING, "IT'S ALMOST LIKE
STARTING OVER... I FEEL LIKE I HAVE A NEW LEASE ON LIFE. I KNOW THAT I CHANGED A LOT DURING MY TIME AWAY FROM BOXING.
I AM STRONGER, MORE MATURE AND MENTALLY BETTER THAN I HAVE EVER BEEN."
ASKED IF HE PLANTED THE PHONY BOMB, BERT "The Hat" SUGAR RESPONDED, "NO, I HAD OTHER PROBLEMS.
I CAN'T EVEN GET BOMBED, LET ALONE A BOMB THREAT, THEY DON'T HAVE ANY LIQUOR."
ASKED WHO HE LIKED, SUGAR STATED, "I LIKE CORRALES BEHIND THE JAB. I DON'T THINK FREITAS
IS THAT GOOD, I THINK HE SWINGS TOO WIDE."
THE PAIR MEET AT THE FOXWOODS RESORT CASINO ON SATURDAY, AUGUST 7; BOUT WILL BE TELEVISED
OVER SHOWTIME.
BOXER SHORTS...
PAUL SPADAFORA RETURNS TO HIS HOMETOWN OF PITTSBURGH WHEN HE STEPS BACK IN THE RING FOR THE SECOND TIME
SINCE HIS ONE-YEAR LAYOFF, ON JULY 17....AUSTRALIAN DETECTIVES ARE LOOKING INTO WHETHER A DISPUTE ON JANUARY 4 THAT LEFT FORMER
CHAMPION JEFF FENECH STABBED IN THE FACE WITH A BROKEN BOTTLE, LED TO SOMEONE TARGETING HIS HOME WITH GUNFIRE ON
JUNE 17TH. AS INVESTIGATORS CONTINUE TO LOOK FOR CLUES, THE FENECH FAMILY IS CONTEMPLATING LEAVING THE COUNTRY. ...
PAULIE AYALA ANNOUNCED HIS RETIREMENT AFTER HE WAS STOPPED IN THE 10TH ROUND BY MARCO ANTONIO BARRERA. ... JOE CALZAGHE'S
RECENT BACK INJURY SEEMS TO HAVE BLOWN ANY SHOT HE HAD AT GETTING IBF LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION GLENCOFEE JOHNSON IN THE
RING. JOHNSON WILL LIKELY SEEK A $$$-BOUT AGAINST ANTONIO TARVER. CALZAGHE WILL LIKELY ABANDON ASPIRATIONS TO
MOVE UP IN WEIGHT AND DEFEND HIS WBO SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHT TITLE IN SEPTEMBER. ... WITH AN ENERGY AND WATER CRISIS IN LAS VEGAS
ALREADY STARTING TO WREAK HAVOC, BOXING INSIDERS ARE SPLIT ON THEIR OPINIONS OF THE RECENT MERGER BETWEEN THE MGM/MIRAGE AND
THE MANDALAY RESORT GROUP, AND WHETHER OR NOT IT WILL HELP OR HURT THE SPORT. ... ELVIR MURIQUI RECENTLY SIGNED WITH DON KING;
THE "KOSOVO KID" TELLS US HE'S FIGHTING JOSE SPEARMAN IN HIS NATIVE KOSOVO ON
AUGUST 14TH AND POSSIBLY RODNEY MOORE, OR
"SOMEBODY PRETTY GOOD," ON OCTOBER 2ND UNDERCARD OF THE MAYORGA/TRINIDAD AFFAIR. MURIQUI SAID OF KING, "AS LONG AS HE
GETS ME THE FIGHTS I WANT, THAT'S WHAT I NEED... I DON'T NEED ANYTHING ELSE." WE UNDERSTAND TRAINER HAROLD KNIGHT HAD TO CHASE
MURIQUI OUT OF THE GYM IN THE CATSKILLS AS HANDLERS DIDN'T WANT THEIR PROSPECT TO OVERTRAIN.
NOT OVER THE WIRES...
PAUL BRIGGS
AND STIPE DREW HAVE AGREED TO FIGHT FOR THE WBC LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE EVEN THOUGH THE WORLD BOXING COUNCIL IS IN FINAL LIQUIDATION
AFTER BEING FLOORED BY A BANKRUPTCY JUDGE. ... AARON "Superman" DAVIS IN ATTENDANCE FOR THE WARRICK -RESTO THRILLER SAID HE
WAS SUPPOSED TO RETURN ON APRIL 14TH BUT WAS THUMBED IN THE EYE. CURRENTLY TRAINING AT WARRIORS BOXING, DAVIS SAYS HE
WILL BE BACK IN ACTION ON AUGUST 21ST IN HOLLYWOOD, FLORIDA AGAINST ARTY LAMBERT. ... ALSO AT RINGSIDE FOR THE BROADWAY
BOXING SHOW, MICHAEL "The Silk" OLAJIDE TOLD US
HE WILL BE COMPETING WITH HIS FATHER MICHAEL, SR., AND WILL BE OPENING
HIS OWN GYM IN SEPTEMBER AT THE CORNER OF 13TH STREET AND 9TH AVENUE. ...AND FINALLY, A BIT OF SAD NEWS TO REPORT: ONCE-HOT
PROSPECT JO-EL SCOTT HAS BEEN CHARGED IN THE BEATING DEATH OF A WOMAN IN LINCOLN PARK, NY. THE BOXER ADMITTED BEING
DRUNK AND HIGH ON CRACK COCAINE BUT SAID TWO OTHER MEN WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CRIME. AN ALBANY GRAND JURY DECIDED
TO INDICT SCOTT ON A CHARGE OF MURDER IN THE FIRST DEGREE. THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY HAS FOUR MONTHS TO DECIDE ON WHETHER
OR NOT TO SEEK THE DEATH PENALTY IN THE CASE...
ROSS THOMPSON IS NO LONGER, "The Boss" AFTER HE GOT TOSSED OF THE MARRIOTT SHOW IN WHIPPANY,
NEW JERSEY AFTER FAILING HIS MEDICAL EXAM WITH THE NEW JERSEY STATE ATHLETIC COMISSION. ... DID
YOU CATCH RUBEN "Huricane" CARTER'S GUEST APPEARENCE ON ESPN 2's FRIDAY NIGHT FIGHTS. UNFORTUNATLY, IT WAS JOE TESSITORE'S
NIGHT OFF AND BRIAN KENNY FILLED IN FOR JOE AT RINGSIDE AND SUBSTATUTE STAN VERRETT GOT THE PRIVLEDGE OF WORKING WITH CARTER.
UPCOMING BOUTS....
IN
UPCOMING BOUTS AND BOXING ON TELEVISION, ON SATURDAY, SUPER FEATHERWEIGHT JOEL CASAMAYOR MEETS DANIEL SEDA AT THE ARENA IN
MIAMI, FLORIDA IN A BOUT THAT WILL BE TELEVISED ON SHOWTIME.
ON SATURDAY, JULY 17, MARK "Too Sharp" JOHNSON WILL DEFEND HIS WBO SUPER FLYWEIGHT TITLE AGAINST
HUGO ROMERO IN MARYLAND.
THE FOLLOWING DAY RAY JOVAL WILL DEFEND HIS IBO MIDDLEWEIGHT TITLE AGAINST SAM SOLIMAN IN
TEMECULA, CALIFORNIA.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
"WATCHING THESE, AND I HAVEN'T SEEN THIS IN MANY, MANY YEARS, WATCHING THIS SHOWS ME HOW EASILY
IT IS TO LEARN HOW TO HURT SOMEBODY, AND I DON'T WANT TO HURT PEOPLE ANYMORE."
-RUBEN "Hurricane" CARTER
FOR THE LATEST UPCOMING FIGHT SCHEDULE, CLICK THE FUTURE FIGHTS ICON IN THE UPPER LEFT-HAND
CORNER OF THIS PAGE.
(THIS PAGE WAS UPDATED ON TUESDAY, JUNE 29, 2004. WE WILL BE BACK NEXT SUNDAY, JULY 4TH WITH
ALL OF THE LATEST NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD.)
*******************************************
Trinidad Returns to the Garden;
Faces Mayorga Oct. 2
by David Greene
As the boxing world turned its attention
to Canastota, NY., this past weekend for
the annual inductions of the International
Boxing Hall of Fame, boxing legend Felix
Trinidad quietly slipped into the Big
Apple.
In town to kick off the promotion for,
'Back With a Vengeance,' Trinidad
stopped by the Juan LaPorte Gym in
the South Bronx on Friday. Trinidad
joined fellow boxers Ivon Calderone and
Miguel Cotto who were being honored at
the gym.
Trinidad then made an appearance
Sunday at the Puerto Rican Day Parade
along Fifth Avenue before Monday's
press conference at Madison Square
Garden.
Trinidad (41-1, 34) will face two-time
world champion Ricardo Mayorga (27-4-1,
23) on Oct. 2. Although Mayorga
appeared to have some type of visa
problem getting out of his native
Nicaragua, the two were linked for
reporters over a telephone and tap
danced with each other for a few
minutes.
Trinidad said of the annual Puerto Rican
Day Parade in Manhattan, "Seeing all of
the Puerto Rican flags made me proud.
Yesterday I felt like I was home... and I'm
glad to be home." Trinidad last fought
in
the Garden on September 29, 2001, when
he was stopped for the first time in his
career by Philadelphia fighter Bernard
Hopkins.
"I hope he makes it to the ring because I
will be waiting in the ring on October 2,"
Trinidad joked, before adding, "I will
continue to show the whole world that I
am the best."
Also through a translator, Mayorga
vowed, "I'm getting rid of all these
problems and I will be there." Mayorga
then told Trinidad, "You know I am a
better man than you and I'm going to
knock you out."
Trinidad posed for photographers near a
giant poster promoting the fight and even
slugged the photo of Mayorga a few
times to demonstrate what he would do
to Mayorga in the ring. It was later
reported that Mayorga
had been arrested
in his native Nicaragua for making death
threats while displaying a pistol.
The bout will still likely be held and
tickets are on sale at the Madison Square
Garden box office.
FOR MORE ON THE JUAN LAPORTE
GYM, CLICK 'GYM' IN THE UPPER LEFT
HAND CORNER.
SOCK EXCHANGE
I MAY BE WRONG, But... the boxing
world paid homage this past weekend to
its heroes of yesterday during the 15th
annual induction weekend at the
International Boxing Hall of Fame in
Canastota, NY.
This year's inductees included AZUMAH
NELSON, DANIEL ZARAGOZA, CARLOS
PALOMINO and DWIGHT MUHAMMAD
QAWI, who were all on hand. Also
honored in the non-participant category
were promoter RUSSELL PELTZ, referee
STANLEY CHRISTODOULOU and writer
W.C. HEINZ.
The weekend kicked off with a fight card
at the Turning Stone Casino in Verona,
NY., that was attended by ALEXIS
ARGUELLO, ANTONIO TARVER,
WINKY WRIGHT, TOMMY "Gun"
MORRISON and BRIAN KENNY of ESPN.
The weekend culminated with a parade
of champions through downtown
Canastota.
BOXER SHORTS...
"Titanium" MIKE TYSON (50-4, 44) has
made it official, sort of: he'll
battle
great-white-dope KEVIN McBRIDE (31-4-1,
26) of Brockton, MA. However, promoters
are now talking about another unknown
stiff, but would generate more viewers by
not cheating fans and puting the show
on standard premium cable. Besides,
Tyson's recent knock-out of a pair of
tourists in a non-TV battle, was his best
since his days with ROBIN GIVENS. ...
After being stripped of his 'super
champion' status from the WBA for his
inactivity, KOSTYA
TSZYU is expected
to return November 6, for a rematch with
SHAMBA MITCHELL. The bout will
be
aired over Showtime from Tszyu's native
Australia. ... Antonio
Tarver spends his
spare time drawing cartoons
but has
drawn a real doosy if he thinks
GRACIANO ROCCHIGIANI will drop his
lawsuit against the
World Boxing
Council. Tarver agreed to fight
Rocchigiani if he drops his recent $$$
court award that found the WBC guilty
of
improperly taking Rocchigiani's belt.
The
recent court decision has forced the
organization into chapter 7 bankruptcy
and the WBC has begun
liquidation. ...
New Jersey junior welterweight SCOTT
DEPOMPE has decided to hang up his
mitts after suffering serious facial
injuries
against ART MEDINA during a May 22nd
bout in Atlantic
City. DePompe, who is
currently recovering from
a broken nose,
cheekbone and eye socket, leaves
behind a (25-5, 10) ring diary. ... WAYNE
McCULLOUGH has postponed his long
anticipated ring
return after the former
bantamweight champ reinjured
his left
hand during training. ... The lightweight
showdown between ACELINO FREITAS
and DIEGO ORRALES
is expected to
take place on August 7 and STEVE
FORBES and YODSANAN "3K Battery"
NANTHACHAI will appear on the same
show. ... JOE CALZAGHE's
defense
against GLENCOFFEE JOHNSON
seems
to be in jeopardy as Johnson appears to
be holding out for more money. ...
The
second annual F.I.S.T. Golf Tournament
and dinner to help
retired pugs will be
held July 19 at the Suburban Golf Club in
Union, New Jersey. For more information
contact FIST at (1-888) 765-FIST. ...
Viewers of College Sports
Television(CSTV)
enjoyed a :30 minute
documentary featuring bantamweight
ROBERTO BENITEZ
and other Olympic
hopefuls.
NOT OVER THE WIRES...
Riverdale light-heavyweight ELVIR "The
Kosovo Kid" MURIQUI (29-1, 17) has
quietly signed with promoter DON KING
and will reportedly appear on the
Trinidad/ Mayorga
card October 2 at
Madison Square Garden. ... WBO
Featherweight champion SCOTT
HARRISON was found
not guilty of
assault; however, a friend and co
defendant was fined. ... "Pretty-boy"
FLOYD MAYWEATHER
wasn't as lucky
as he was found guilty in
a barroom
assault. The judge stated she was
"shocked" at some of Mayweather's
testimony. Mayweather
was given a 1
year suspended sentence and mandatory
counseling for, "impulse control." ...
Former female featherweight sensation
DEIRDRE GOGARTY has
been appointed
to the 7-member Louisiana
State Boxing
and Wrestling Commission. Gogarty
retired in November with her title and
becomes the first woman to sit on the
Louisiana commission.
... KINGSLEY
IKEKE picked up another win after he
stopped FREDDIE CUEVAS on cuts. ...
DANIEL SANTOS is expected to defend
his WBO Jr. Middleweight
Title against
ANTONIO MARGARITO on the
September
11 HBO card featuring MIGUEL COTTO
and KELSON PINTOR. ... A press
conference in Manhattan
will kick off the
promotion for the August
7 showdown
between ACELINO FREITAS and JOEL
CASAMAYOR that will take place at the
Foxwoods Casino.... Sportsfest! A three
day extravaganza
held the weekend of
July 9-11 in Allentown,
PA., will bring
together 5,000 athletes who will compete
before 100,000 spectators. Four
Corners
Boxing Promotions is expected to host
a
free amateur show
July 10th. The
following day, VICTORIO ABADIA (22-4-1)
defends his IBC Super Bantamweight
Title and IBC Lt.
Heavyweight champ
ORLANDO RIVERA will also
appear on
the same show. For more information
on the show, log onto the events website
at: www.sportsfest.org.
... KEA Boxing
will host a night of
boxing at the Hanover
Marriott in Whippany, New Jersey,
featuring ROSS "The Boss" THOMPSON
(26-9 2, 17) against
RICO CASON (16-10-
2, 4); for tickets and directions,
call: (973)
538-8811. ... And finally, our old
pal RON ROSS, the author of "Tomato
Can" is back\ with
another book on the
squared circle, titled, 'Bumphy Davis and
Murder Incorporated.' The book
looks
back on the sport when a handshake
meant something and
a doublecross
meant you went swimming with the
fishes. ...
UPCOMING BOUTS...
In what is being anticipated as an
explosive featherweight showdown on
HBO, MARCO ANTONIO BARRERA
faces
PAULIE AYALA Saturday night and on
the same show JERMAIN TAYLOR steps
up in competition as he battles veteran
RAUL MARQUEZ. ... Also on Saturday,
Heavyweight CLIFFORD ETIENNE steps
back in the ring in Reno, NV., during
CEDRIC KUSHNER'S, "Heavyweight
Heroes" at the City Center Pavilion in
Reno. The card will also feature
a match
with TONY THOMPSON and Reno super
welterweight JESSE BRINKLEY. ...
"A
Night of Boxing" debuts at the Siena
Restaurant in Kinnelon, New Jersey,
Friday, June 25, as ROSS "The Boss"
Thompson faces RICO CASON in a 10
round middleweight contest. For
tickets
contact One More Round at (973) 207-
5236. ... ACELINO FREITAS steps in with
DIEGO CORRALES, his tuffest opponent
to date, on August 6 at Foxwoods Casino.
...
OTHER FIGHT NEWS...
The Mirage Hotel in Las Vegas has made
a $$$-money bid for the Mandalay Bay
Casino. ... Frustrated he couldn't get a
television deal in the states, UK promoter
FRANK WARREN has announced he will
produce live shows over the world wide
TOLL THE TEN...
We Toll The Ten this week for Shane
Patrick, the one-time Australian Jr.
middleweight champ, who died in Hong
Kong after the slugger lost his battle with
cancer. Patrick lost his title and retired
before ever getting a shot at a world title.
Patrick spent the next years battling his
own demons and then drugs but
bounced back and took a job as an
advertising executive that he held when
he died.
LATE FLASH...
On Thursday night PAUL MALIGNAGGI,
unbeaten now in 18 pro fights, maked his
Showtime debut when he decisioned
RAMIRO CANO (18-2, 14.) ...
(This page was updated on Friday, June
18th, 2004. We will be back again with
the latest boxing news on Thursday,
June 24th)
REPRINTED WITH PERMISSION. SEND
COMMENTS, QUESTIONS, NEWS TIPS,
RESULTS AND FUTURE FIGHT LISTINGS
TO DAVID GREENE AT:
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
ROBBERY IN VEGAS
In one of the worst decisions in years, judges gave OSCAR DE LA HOYA
a generous gift with a unanimous decision over Germany's FELIX STRUM. Strum, making his U.S. debut, pounded on De La
Hoya almost at will and his power rocked "The Golden Boy" from pillar-to-post.
De La Hoya never gave up and continued to work Strum's midsection but De La Hoya,
who just didn't look the same as a middleweight, didn't have the power to get to Strum. Strum, with a terrific jab,
was tagging De La Hoya and snapping his head back at will.
Despite the fact that even fans of De La Hoya saw him lose the fight, all three
judges scored the fight
115/113 for De La Hoya. Judges MIKE GLIENNA, DAVE
MORETTI and PAUL SMITH should all receive glasses
for their next fight or never work again.
The card
at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas was a tune up for both De La Hoya and BERNARD HOPKINS, who will meet on September 14th.
However, Hopkins seemed to be taking the night off against ROBERT ALLEN, 'tho he did catch Allen off balance and dropped him
in round eight.
In the end, judges gave Hopkins the nod with scores 119/107, 119/107 and 117/109
and De La Hoya vs. Hopkins is a go despite the fact that it doesn't look to be a very competitive match. Oscar better
rethink his career because it doesn't look like there is any room for him in the middleweight division.
On the same card JOSE LUIS CASTILLO pounded JUAN LAZCANO for 12-rounds and captured
the vacant WBC Lightweight Title. The left eye of Lazcano,
nicknamed "The Hispanic Causing Panic" was nearly shut
in the bout.
In a non-televised match, KINGSLEY IKEKE retained his NABF Middleweight Title
with an 8-round unanimous technical decision over FREDDIE CUEVAS, after a clash of heads ended the bout early.
In one of the best bouts of the evening at the MGM Grand, fight writer MICHAEL
KATZ and RON BORGES of the Boston Globe came to blows during a heated exchange as promoter BOB ARUM was discussing Hopkins'
threat to pull out of the match.
Katz reportedly said something and Borges told Katz, "I'm really sick and tired of
your shit," when the argument escalated.
Sources tell us Borges slapped Katz on the right side of his face, a blow that
sent the writer into the arms of fellow reporters, and Katz shot back, "How can you hit a cripple." After Borges charged
Katz has been hiding behind fake ailments for years, Katz took his cane and poked Borges in the chest before pandemonium ensued,
when Arum and several others got knocked to the floor.
We suggest that Katz gets rid of the neck brace and call EMANUEL STEWARD or BUDDY
MCGIRT and challenge Borges to a match for charity.
Once again fans had to use the remote as one of the Spanish language channels
broadcast the ARTURO URENA vs. CESAR BAZAN bout on Saturday afternoon
at the same time Smarty Jones was attempting to win the Triple Crown at the Belmont Stakes
and President GEORGE BUSH was commenting on the death of former President RONALD REGAN.
The remotes got a lot of use later in the evening as HBO aired the Hopkins/De
La Hoya debacle while Showtime aired the JEFF LACY/ VITALI TSYPKO card from Missouri. Someday promoters will learn that
they will draw a bigger audience by working together instead of competing for viewers.
MARK YOUR CALENDER
MIGUEL COTTO, who gets his first crack at a world title on September 11th against KELSON
PINTO of Brazil for the WBO title, will be honored on Friday at the JUAN LAPORTE Gym in the South Bronx as he and WBO Minimum
champ IVAN CALDERON will be inducted into the gym's 'Wall of Fame.' NY Daily News writer and cartoonist BILL GALLO will
also be receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award. Since the weekend is also the induction weekend at the International Boxing
Hall of Fame in Canastota, NY., it's unknown if invited guests EMILE GRIFFITH, IRAN "The Blade" BARKLEY, "Sweet" SAOUL MAMBY
or LUIS RIVERA will be attending, but former lightweight champion CARLOS ORTIZ will be in Upstate, NY. The Juan LaPorte
Gym is located at 700 Elton Avenue and can be reached at (718) 585-6753. ... Heavyweight CLIFFORD ETIENNE steps back in the
ring in Reno, NV., on June 19th during CEDRIC KUSHNER'S, "Heavyweight Heroes" at the City Center Pavilion in Reno. The
card will also feature a match with TONY THOMPSON and Reno super welterweight JESSE BRINKLEY. ... ACELINO FREITAS steps in
with DIEGO CORRALES, his tuffest opponent to date, on August 6 at Foxwoods Casino.
OTHER FIGHT NEWS...
Troy, NY., native VINCE PHILLIPS who was supposed to meet KASSIM "The Dream" OUMA, instead
faced CARLOS BOJORQUEZ, whom he stopped at the end of round-six, thus capturing the IBF Jr. Middleweight Title. Phillips,
who improved to (38-9-1, 20), used a shot to the body to crumple Bojorquez to the canvas. Phillips, now a 2-time champion,
will face #1-rated Ouma. Ouma was reportedly sidelined by a sprained thoracic nerve in his spine spine and muscle spasms that
were affecting his breathing. ... Brooklyn's PAUL MALINAGGI makes his Showtime debut Thursday. Meanwhile, Malinaggi's
promoter LOU DIBELLA, who just held his second card of his new, 'Broadway Boxing,' series where CHRIS SMITH dramatically stopped
LUIS HERNANDEZ in the final round, has just announced that he has sgned IBO Middleweight champ RAY JOVAL to an exclusive contract.
Joval defends his title July 18 against SAM SOLIMAN. ... Handlers for WBO Super Middleweight champ JOE CALZAGHE have
just announced he has pulled out of the biggest match of his career, a showdown with GLENCOFFE JOHNSON on June 12, due to
a back injury that comes a week after his arrest for, "Threatening behavior," directed at his wife MANDY. ... German super
middleweight
champion MARKUS BEYER lost his second bout in 29-outings to former European champ CRISTIAN SANAVIA, who captured the WBC Super
Middleweight Title. Judges scored the 'Battle of
Southpaws,' 116/113, 116/115 and 115/114. ... VINCENZO CANTATORE improved to (29-3-1)
and held
onto his European cruiserweight title after he battled
German contender RUDIGER MAY to a draw. ... Also in
Germany, SINAN SAMIL SAM improved to (19-2) when he stopped EDGAR KALNARS (3-7) in round
five. ... Swedish Junior middleweight TONTON SEMAKALA (15-0) is preparing to step back in the ring after a two-year layoff
due to a contract dispute with former manager MICHAEL "The Breeze" MARLEY. ... RIDDICK BOWE is done with his house arrest
and is expected to begin training with Buddy McGirt for one last shot at the heavyweight crown. Bowe is now with the
managerial team of JIMMY ADAMS and JIMMIE LAWSON. ... Heavyweight RAY MERCER decided he no longer had what it takes and announced
he will retire rather than face DEVARRYL WILLIAMSON. ... The International Boxing Federation has joined the other sanctioning
organizations in raising the cruiserweight limit to 200 pounds. ... Heavyweight LEON TURNER needed just three rounds to dispose
of RON BELLAMY. ... SCOTT HARRISON's WBO Featherweight Title defense against COLIN REID has been scratched as Harrison will
stand trial for assault of a patron of a Glasgow pub.
NOT OVER THE WIRES...
Handlers for EBO ELDER had a dilemma as the fighter was scheduled to fight in California
on July 15th on ESPN 2 and on July 9 in Atlanta on Showtime. Elder later stated he will be on board the show from Atlanta.
... KEITH HOLMES pulled out of his ring return against RODNEY JONES at the last minute; by ROBERT GUERRERO's 8-round
stoppage of ENRIQUE SANCHEZ was substituted. ... HAROLD GREY was a no-show for his bout against OSCAR LARIOS. ... Ring Sports
editor RUSTY RUBIN has announced the release of his first book titled, "Off The Canvas," a work of fiction that details the
rise and fall of two brothers who go on to win world titles. Rusty explained, "it's historically accurate, as it starts
in the great depression in Pennsylvania and looks at the way the sport and society have changed." The book can be purchased
on-line at: www.Amazon.com. ... JULIO DIAZ was honored by his hometown of Coachella, California after hundreds turned out for Julio
Diaz Day after the fighter recently captured the IBF Lightweight Title. The 24-year old pugilist was given the key to
the city.
Toll The Ten...
Sadly, we say good-bye today to Marie Wilson, 69, of Brooklyn who battled hard against the
cancer that killed her and hung on for six months longer than doctors predicted. Condolences to JON, RICKY, BARBARA
and the entire Wilson family.
(This page was updated on Monday, June 7th, 2004.
We will be back again with the latest boxing news on Friday, June 11th.)
REPRINTED WITH PERMISSION. SEND COMMENTS, QUESTIONS, NEWSTIPS, RESULTS AND FUTURE FIGHT
LISTING'S TO DAVID GREENE AT: FISTICSCENE2004@AOL.COM.)
***********************************************************
SOCK EXCHANGE
I MAY BE WRONG, BUT... One-time, "Great White
Hope" Gerry Cooney appears to be the leading
candidate to head the New Jersey State Athletic
Commission after the
embattled Commissioner Gerard
Gormley was forced to resign shortly after the recent
ticket scandal, where Gormley was accused of
accepting hundreds of ringside seats he passed out
to friends.
However some in opposition to Cooney to head the
$85,000 a year post believe Cooney would be in
conflict-of-interest as President of the non-profit
Fighters In Support and Training (FIST); however,
Cooney has stated he would step down from that post,
if tapped by Governor James McGreevey.
BOXER SHORTS...
In other boxing news from around the world... After 18
months behind bars for kidnapping his ex-wife and
children, Riddick "Big-Daddy" Bowe walked out of
federal prison a free man. Unable to speak clear
sentences-- Bowe will likely turn to boxing to fund his
new life. Last week Bowe apologized to former
promoter Rock Newman and subsequently dropped
his $55 million lawsuit.... A heated argument between
Norman Stone, the manager of John Ruiz, and Kelvin
Davis, the IBF Cruiserweight champ, nearly came to
blows and ended with Stone challenging Davis to a
street-fight and members of both camps separating
the pair. If only a match could be held, with Ron
Borges of the Boston Globe facing Judd Burstein, the
advisor for Wladmir Klitschko, whom Borges recently
called, "an ex-mob lawyer," and Stone going against
Diaz, and the four could settle their differences. They
can call it: Survivor USA. ... "Titanium" Mike Tyson is
reportedly in Phoenix training for a possible July 31
match against Kevin McBride (31-4-1) after his
rumored bout with "Baby" Joe Mesi fell apart. ... Mesi
claims reports of brain damage are exaggerated and
believes he will be given a clean bill of health for his
next match. Mesi has been on the offensive since
reports of swelling
on his brain surfaced several
weeks ago. ... Las Vegas press conference over the
weekend kick-started the media machine that will
promote the October 2nd showdown, featuring the ring
return of Felix "Tito" Trinidad as he faces Ricardo "El
Matador" Mayorga. The show will be televised live
over HBO P-P-V. ... Julio Cesar Chavez made a rare
public appearance over the weekend during a 'Boxing
Day' celebration in Mexico. ... Sylvester Stallone was in
the Big Apple today at the Trinity Boxing Gym to select
possible contestants for his upcoming reality-based
television show where 16-fighters will compete for
cash and glory. During the session Sly got in the ring
with rocker-brother Frank and wrestled for the
cameras. ... And finally today we say good-bye to
boxing columnist Royce Feour of the Las Vegas
Review Journal, who will be shutting his laptop after
37 years. In his latest column today he recalls his
days covering Rebels basketball and the teams reserve
Marc Ratner, who went on to head the Nevada
commission, and his memories of being on the upper
deck at Candlestick Park when the quake hit during
Game 3 of the '88 World Series. Feour also had his
lucky rabbit's foot with him as he was returning from a
fight with promoter Bob Arum and fellow reporter
Kevin Iole, when their twin engine plane went down
outside Great Bear, California. The award-winning
columnist will definitely be missed.
NOT OVER THE WIRES...
Railbirds Say... Maselino Masoe has filed a lawsuit to
sever his promotional ties to Mike Edwards a week
after he captured the WBA Middleweight Title. Masoe
said the lawsuit will not affect his defense against
mandatory challenger Bert Schenk of Germany, within
90-days. ... The Regal Riverfront Hotel in St. Louis has
appealed the $13.7 million jury verdict in the brain
damage injury of Fernando Ibarra. Ibarra collapsed
after his match with Ratanachaisor Vorapin; however,
an ambulance was not on stand-by as required and his
trip to the hospital was delayed 30 minutes. ... In news
from across the pond, the British Boxing Board of
Control has suspended 39-year old Carl Thompson
for a six-month period, after Thompson was found to
be wearing illegal gloves before the start of a match
against Sebastian Rothmann in February. Sources say
the thumbs were purposely detached from the glove. ...
Scott Harrison suffered a wrist injury, delaying his
match with William Abelyan for the second time.
RING
RECAP
In the latest results from around the world... Ann Wolf
needed just two-minutes to finish off Vonda Ward to
capture the vacant IBA Lt. Heavyweight Title and looks
for a summer showdown with Layla Ali. ... Steipe
Drews remained unbeaten in 26-pro fights when he
defeated Konstintin Shvets to capture the European
Boxing Union's Lightweight Title.... Omar Sheika ended
his 4-bout losing streak when he stopped Etienne
Whitaker. ... Thursday in San Diego, Julio Diaz
suffered some swelling under his left eye after a
first-round head-butt, but managed to tame slugger
Javier Jauregui to earn a majority decision and capture
the IBF Lightweight Title....Friday at the Dodge in
Phoenix, Miguel Cotto needed just one round to
outscore Mexican Luiz Lizarriaga to capture the IBC
Intercontinental Lightweight Title. Also Friday in
Brooklyn, Tiger Martinez pitched a shutout against
Jose Quintana in a junior welterweight contest. ... On
Saturday, NBC and its sister-station, Spanish language
Telemundo aired a series of fights including a
heavyweight battle between Calvin Brock and Terry
Smith that led into the live broadcast of the Preakness,
the second leg of racing's Triple Crown....And finally in
the biggest upset in years, Roy Jones and Antonio
Tarver enjoyed one competitive round in the center of
the ring before Tarver caught Jones with one
devastating counter left hand in round 2 and it was
goodnight for Jones. Tarver captured the WBC Lt.
Heavyweight Title and improved to (22-2, 18) while
