Boxing

Witter out to restore Yorkshire pride
by Mark Doyle, 05 May 2008

Bradford’s Junior Witter is determined to hold on to his WBC light-welterweight title after seeing fellow Briton Clinton Woods stripped of his belt in a unification bout with Antonio Tarver last month.

Sheffield light-heavyweight Woods lost his IBF strap to IBO titlist Tarver in a one-sided bout in Tampa three weeks ago.

Witter has plenty of sympathy for his fellow Yorkshire native but felt that Woods froze on the big occasions, something The Hitter has no intention of doing in his May 10 bout with Timothy Bradley.

“This is a chance for me to pick up Yorkshire boxing after Clinton’s loss. It was disappointing because I really wanted him to win, but Clinton was well beaten,” he lamented.

“The big lights seemed to get to him but I bet if the fight was in Sheffield Clinton could have beat Tarver.

“It’s up to me now to make sure I keep my world title because there are not that many world champions left in Britain now.

“I’ve not taken Bradley lightly and have had a long training camp for this one, so expect to see the best from me.”

Source: sports.setanta.com

Williams steps in to fight Froch
by Mark Doyle, 04 May 2008

Rubin Williams has been confirmed as Carl Froch’s opponent for his May 10 date at the Nottingham Arena.

Froch was originally scheduled to fight Denis Inkin in a WBC super-middleweight title final eliminator but the Russian twice pulled out of the proposed bout.

The Cobra’s team then saw a fight with Alejandro Berrio also fall through, so, unsuprisingly, Froch is relieved that he has finally managed to find someone that is willing to fight him.

“Williams is a tall, rangy box puncher so he will be a good test for me,” stated Froch, who is now the mandatory challenge for the WBC title, which is currently held by Joe Calzaghe, who is now campaigning at light-heavyweight.

“He has been very active this year and has already fought against two world-class fighters that’s why he is ready to fight me right now.

“Williams deserves a lot of credit: he’s obviously prepared to fight anyone, he has a true fighter’s heart. Unfortunately, I can’t say the same for Inkin or Berrio.

“I’ve heard all of Inkin’s excuses - viruses, bad back, etc - I don’t buy it for a second. After doing this a second time to me, the man’s got no honour, he is a coward. He does not deserve to share a ring with me.

“I am disappointed with Team Inkin for allowing this to happen. I could compile a list of things that have gone wrong with me in the lead-up to both of these fights, from viruses to injuries to everyday niggles, but as fighters we would never fight if we took Team Inkin’s attitude.

“Berrio was just as bad by mucking us about, one minute saying he was in and the next saying he was out.

“It doesn’t matter who is in the corner though, I will still win in style and show everyone why Joe Calzaghe is avoiding me,” he added.

Source: sports.setanta.com

Witter lashes out at Hatton - again
by Mark Doyle, 04 May 2008

Junior Witter has claimed that he could have been Ricky Hatton’s opponent at the City of Manchester Stadium next weekend – and not Juan Lazcano.

WBC light-welterweight champion Witter has long been seeking a bout with Hatton and the Bradford native has revealed that their respective camps were recently on the verge of finally agreeing terms on an all-British dust-up.

However, Witter claims that Hatton changed his demands at the last minute, scuppering the deal.

As a result, Hatton will now be fighting Lazcano on May 24, while Witter will be putting his title on the line next weekend against Timothy Bradley.

“There was a very real chance of me being in the ring on that night [May 24], and not Lazcano,” Witter declared.

“There was agreement in principle, and I again had my hopes up, but then the goalposts were moved.

“I believe that Ricky is letting down his fans by ignoring me. Ricky has been banging on about how great his fans are and how much he loves them - but I know that the fight they all want to see is Ricky against me.

“I have heard Ricky say repeatedly that he hates my guts - or words to that effect - and if that’s the way he feels I’m amazed that he is not chasing me for a fight.

“I’m a professional boxer and for me it’s about respect and honour, and it has nothing to do with it being personal.”

And Witter again reiterated his belief that Hatton is avoiding him purely out of fear.

“It’s a joke - the British fight public are being denied the mega-fight they want,” he is quoted as saying the Sunday Mirror.

“Ricky has been ignoring my calls for a fight for a long time - I wasn’t surprised when the latest negotiations collapsed.

“A fight between me and Ricky would be the biggest British fight in history, but I believe he is scared of losing in front of all his fans.”

Source: sports.setanta.com

DLH confident on Mayweather deal
by Mark Doyle, 04 May 2008

Oscar de la Hoya comfortably outpointed Stevie Forbes in his ‘tune-up’ bout before his autumnal rematch with Floyd Mayweather but then revealed that his bout with Pretty Boy has not yet been finalised.

However, De La Hoya insisted that that an agreement has been all but reached and the fight is expected to go ahead on September 20.

“It’s not set yet but I’m confident,” The Golden Boy said during his post-fight interview on HBO. “I’m definitely going after him [Mayweather] anyway because I know now that I can beat him.”

De La Hoya boxed well behind his ever-impressive jab in his unanimous points win over Forbes but he struggled to deal with his opponent’s awkward, elusive style.

However, De La Hoya was not too downhearted about the frustrating nature of the fight as he believes it served as the ideal preparation for his Mayweather rematch.

”That was always the game plan. That’s the way he fights. That’s the way he is. I was hoping that I would stop him but seeing as he’s never been stopped I knew that he’d be a tough customer,” the former six-weight world champion explained.

“I’m a little bit disappointed, as I worked very hard in the gym, but that’s a great credit to the fighter that he is.

“I’m very happy that I took on Forbes. After 12 hard rounds I feel sharp. I had a year off but I feel good now. I accomplished my goal, which was to win the first of three fights this year,” he added, alluding to the fact that he will have a farewell fight after his proposed clash with Mayweather.

Source: sports.setanta.com

De La Hoya outpoints Forbes
by Mark Doyle, 04 May 2008

Oscar De La Hoya marked his return to the ring with a unanimous points victory over Stevie Forbes in California on Saturday night but the nature of The Golden Boy’s performance will have done little to add to the appeal of his upcoming rematch with Floyd Mayweather.

De La Hoya was a clear winner of the bout, which was reflected on the judges’ scorecards, the former six-weight world champion getting the nod by margins of 119-109 (twice) and 120-108.

However, while De La Hoya boxed well and was given the ideal preparation for his proposed bout with Mayweather, he failed to sparkle or force the stoppage he so desperately wanted in front of his home fans.

De La Hoya walked to the ring with a cold, determined look on his face. The Golden Boy’s last ‘tune-up’ fight, for his middleweight clash with Bernard Hopkins four years ago, had been a thoroughly unsatisfactory affair, De La Hoya gaining a highly dubious unanimous decision over Felix Sturm.

There was to be no repeat of that lacklustre display, De La Hoya stated during the week, and he was true to his word – to a certain degree.

He won this fight conclusively but at no point did he ever look truly capable of knocking Forbes out.

Indeed, Forbes was highly competitive throughout. He began brightly, too, utilising his jab to good effect in the first.

More to follow….

Source: sports.setanta.com

Mayweather against the greats
by Ciaran Baynes, 02 May 2008

Floyd Mayweather is by some distance the best boxer on the planet at present, but how would he have got on against the best lightweights/welterweights of all time? Expert historians Spencer Fearon and Boxing News editor Claude Abrams discuss this. Why not chip in with your views.

Source: sports.setanta.com

Khan reveals Mayweather interest
by Ciaran Baynes, 02 May 2008

Amir Khan told setantasports.com that Roger Mayweather is one of a number of American trainers interested in becoming his full-time cornerman.

While in Las Vegas to watch the Joe Calzaghe-Bernard Hopkins fight in Las Vegas, Khan stopped by Floyd Mayweather’s gym and was put through his paces by Money’s uncle and trainer.

The Olympic Silver medallist thoroughly enjoyed his time with in the company of the world’s pound-for-pound best boxer and revealed that they were suitably impressed by his skills.

With Khan in the market for a new trainer, Oliver Harrison’s replacement Dean Powell’s stint as chief cornerman is unlikely to last beyond the next bout on June 21, he admitted that joining Team Mayweather is an option.

Source: sports.setanta.com

Powell to replace Harrison in Khan corner
by Ciaran Baynes, 01 May 2008

Amir Khan’s father Shah told setantasports.com that trainer Oliver Harrison was dropped due to his refusal to communicate with the Olympic Silver medallist’s team.

Dean Powell will replace Oliver Harrison as Amir Khan’s chief cornerman for his June 21 date in Birmingham.

Khan’s team insist this was not a situation they wished to come revealing that Harrison refused to meet with Shah Khan for the fortnight before the Bolton fighter’s last bout and has not spoken to Amir or anyone else in the team since his victory over Martin Kristjansen last month.

“There was a situation there,” Shah Khan told setantasports.com. “But unless you sit down and resolve it. That was out biggest problem we couldn’t get Oliver to meet.

“We’d have love to have had Oliver Harrison there for Amir’s entire career , when he became world champion and when he retired.

“It was always the plan to get an American trainer to help out and Oliver knew that but we wanted to keep him on board just like we have Amir’s amateur trainer Mick Jellings.

Powell, who works chiefly as a matchmaker for Frank Warren’s Sports Network, has been part of Khan’s corner team for his entire professional career.

Although everyone involved including the fighter himself insist no decision has been made as to how long Powell will be Khan’s chief trainer, it is no secret that they are looking at American trainers, such as Buddy McGirt and Freddie Roach, and are likely to have one in place soon after his June 21 date.

Source: sports.setanta.com

Froch moving on from Inkin blow
by Ciaran Baynes, 30 April 2008

Carl Froch admitted to setantasports.com to being devasted by Denis Inkin’s withdrawal from their May 10 WBC world title eliminator, but vowed to give Nottingham a night to remember whoever he steps in the ring against.

Initially Froch was set to fight Inkin on March 28, but the Russian fighter withdrew citing a virus, before a slipped disc ruled him out of the rearranged date.

Froch admits to being affected by the decision, but vowed to keep mentally strong in the run-up to his bout. 

“Its devasting to be honest,” Froch told setantasports.com. “You’re in the gym training, doing all the things you need to do.

Source: sports.setanta.com

Harrison baffled by Khan axe
by Ciaran Baynes, 30 April 2008

Amir Khan’s recently ousted trainer Oliver Harrison has spoken about his disappointment at being sacked by the Olympic Silver medallist.

Harrison has guided the Bolton fighter since shortly after his run to the final in Athens, including his rematch victory over three-time gold medallist Mario Kindelan prior to him turning professional.

Since then Khan has beaten 21 opponents, without being in any real danger - despite his flash knockdown against Willie Limond - and after his victory against Martin Kristjansen, is the mandatory challenger for Nate Campbell’s WBO lightweight title.

Harrison is baffled that in this stage of Khan’s career they would change his trainer.

“We were just around the corner from a world title, which we would have won,” Harrison told the Bolton Evening News.

“I thought we got on so well on a personal basis as well as professional, but I haven’t heard anything from Amir since the Bolton fight. I have just read what has happened in the papers.

“It just doesn’t add up. I don’t understand why he has gone to an American trainer.

“I trained him for all 17 of his fights, which he won with 13 knockdowns. He improved with every fight.”

Khan is expected to announce Buddy McGirt as his new trainer at a press conference on Thursday.

Source: sports.setanta.com