In Boxing News: James Toney Big, Beautiful … and Sexy?
In heavyweight boxing news, Hasim Rahman and James Toney stuck to trading insults at the press conference Tuesday to promote their fight scheduled for March 18 in Atlantic City (HBO). Rahman and Toney had to be separated after running into each other in Cancun, Mexico in December, when the World Boxing Council was holding an awards ceremony there. He tried to slap me, but he missed and scratched me like a little woman, Toney said. He’s going to get his payback. It will go four to five rounds. I’m not going to play with him. Rahman countered: The worst thing you can do is stand in front of me. Undaunted, the heavy-looking Toney – always one to try to get the last word no matter what he weighs – quipped, I had to drop some weight in Cancun. I looked at myself in the mirror – ‘Dang, who’s having a baby? Even while I was big, I was still beautiful and still sexy. Somebody called me a Buddha last fight, but this Buddha will kick your (butt). Weight doesn’t mean nothing – it’s skills. You chip at the Rock long enough, the Rock falls apart.
Ricky Hatton – Floyd Mayweather Will Happen
The Press Association in the UK reports that Ricky Hatton is ready to throw his best-laid plans out of the window and jump straight into a career-defining super-fight with Floyd Mayweather. Ray Hatton – Ricky’s father and manager – told PA Sport: The Mayweather fight has been on the cards ever since Ricky beat Kostya Tszyu – and if someone came along and said ‘Here is the Mayweather fight’ we would take it. We are very close to finalising a deal for his next fight now, but what we do know is that Ricky is going to be fighting in America in either April or May. Roger Mayweather, meanwhile, told BBC Sport: The fact Floyd’s fight against Judah is off means a fight against Hatton is much bigger now and much easier to make. Floyd wants it, but he isn’t going to fight in front of Hatton’s home crowd. Roger Mayweather also said Floyd may fight WBC welterweight titlist Carlos Baldomir before facing Hatton. All credit to Carlos Baldomir and what he accomplished against the under-prepared Zab Judah, but that one has blow-out written all over it. As for Hatton, Roger Mayweather had one last parting shot: I’m confident Floyd will beat anyone in the world. Hatton’s going to be a punch bag because he’s got no defence. He’s a tough guy and takes risks. But against Floyd, those risks are going to cost him.
Zab Judah Needs To Grow Up
Looking back at the weekend fights at MSG, Benn Schulberg gives some props to the cruiserweight co-feature: Judah’s supposed celebratory homecoming began after one of the greatest cruiserweight fights in history … After putting on his own unique, sub-par version of the rope-a-dope in which he took heavy shots to the head and body for the first half of the fight, O’Neil “Supernovaâ€? Bell came back with a vengeance to knockout Jean-Marc Mormeck in the tenth round of their unification fight. Though Schulberg was not completely overwhelmed himself, I know there were some readers who were unhappy with George Kimball’s ringside assessment. (Kimball was underwhelmend by Bell-Mormeck.) Regardless, those of you who emailed us, please take note that there were some of us at TheSweetScience.com who did appreciate Bell and Mormeck’s efforts. Schulberg also has some cautionary advice for Zab Judah: just days after basking in his self-righteous glory, he’s left not to prove his greatness, but rather to salvage both a sense of dignity and a promising career that is in serious danger of being permanently derailed. He is Brooklyn’s finest no more, at least until he demonstrates that he’s capable of being a man deserving of champion adulation.
Scott Harrison Says Bring It On
The Glasgow Herald says Joan Guzmán’s peripheral status in Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Gloves stable has ensured Stateside interest for a defining fight in Scott Harrison’s quest for eventual unification and distinction at super-featherweight. The two will meet on March 25th in Scotland. While Frank Maloney, Harrison’s promoter, has questioned the wisdom of the Scot agreeing to face Guzman, Harrison remains confident: Why should I move up in weight to avoid someone like Guzman who I am well capable of beating? [Guzman's] got a great record, but who has he fought? No one compared to the guys I have fought. I don’t think he is in my league and he’ll find that out on 25 March. I can’t see why anyone is getting nervous about this fight on my behalf. Frank is always nervous about my fights, but I’m not worried about it.
Arum on Pavlick
Our own Rick Folstad says that promoter Bob Arum could open an umbrella concession in Death Valley and somehow make it rain. Right now, Arum is selling undefeated middleweight Kelly “The Ghostâ€? Pavlik , a white kid in a sport dominated by minorities. Arum calls Pavlik a “banger,â€? one of those rare punchers who comes along once every few years. And Arum himself isn’t pulling any punches: Here’s the problem. The (Jermain) Taylor people will not fight at this point against Kelly Pavlik because they’re afraid of him. He presents a real danger. He has tremendous knockout power, and in boxing, if you have a champion, you try to keep him away from a puncher. Which makes it a tough fight to put together. So what do you do? If an entity like HBO stops rolling over and giving spots to the Sam Solimans of the world, guys who are pretty decent fighters but can’t punch or anything … They’re talking about Taylor fighting Sam Soliman on HBO. Well that’s ludicrous.
(As always … more Boxing News Links at TheSweetScience.com)
I BELIEVE THE FIGHT BETWEEN MAYWEATHER & HATTON WILL BE A VERY EASY FIGHT FOR FLOYD, BECAUSE IT WOULD BE HATTON’S FIRST BIG BIG!! & HIS FIRST IN THE U.S. PLUS HE’S ALL OFFENSE, & MAYWEATHER WILL EAT THAT UP!!!
I AGREE MAYWEATHER VS HATTON, JUDAH VS SPINKS 2
hatton and mayweather will be amazin!!!
i think your underating ricky hatton,i think he’l rise to the challenge and get the recognition that he deserves
mayweather wld destroy baldimor even though i respect him i wana see, gatti/kostya and castillo/cotto after he loses to corrales mayweather will take hatton and tko him after floyd take the belt from baldimor
I think Hatton’s suffocating style will be too overwhelming for Floyd. Hatton will chase Mayweather down and wear him out. Kostya would thrash Gatti.
i’ve been following hatton since an amateur and he has been in some wars, but he can box as well and will definitely surprise mayweather. his heart and will to win will help him to knock mayweather out in the 10th round.
It might be Hatton’s first BIG BIG fight, but I’ll predict that Hatton and Floyd will be a great fight no matter which way you think it will go … it will come down to the scorecards and if it does the cards will be borderline between both of them … in the end I hope that Hatton will win
remember this – mayweather was a strong champion at lightweight – his natural weight … hatton is supremely strong at this his natural weight … floyd is a really good technician but ricky hatton will knock mayweather cold in the 7th round … mark my words.
man…
i’m speechless…
i can’t wait…
i don’t care who wins…
i just wanna see blood, sweat, and haymakers.
C’mon let’s be real here, Hatton is tough, no doubt, but his skills are very limited compared to Floyd. Floyd is an exceptional fighter – all around (Total Package) Hatton is tough with all offense. He’s just like the Diego Corrales that fought Floyd and you see what happened to him. I say Floyd looks fantastic once again, proving to everyone, that he is the best POUND 4 POUND!
Hasim Rahman and James Toney fight may never happen. Toney is so drugged out I can’t see him fighting a high caliber Heavyweight fight. He’s got the flab to take a little punishment, but he’s no real Heavyweight. Him getting hurt all the time and not being able to pass a drug test should say it all. No onto you guys who think Hatton has a chance to test Mayweather. I’ll give Hatton this…”he’s got plenty of heart”. But much like Gatti and how his fans were “shocked and amazed” by the ass whoopin he took!!…With Hatton and Gatti being pretty much the same style fighters what gives any of you guys the “elusion” the outcome would be any different?
I’ll tell you what will be different, unlike Gatti (which I was suprised he didn’t) Hatton will certainly bleed like a stuffed pig. Mayweather is pound for pound the baddest black man wearing boxing gloves since Aaron The Hawk Pryor. Go back to the end of his last fight against Mitchell. Mayweather got down on his knees center ring and started to cry almost uncontrollably with passion. With his hands raised up in communication with the almighty. If I was a prospect looking at that ring side or on TV…â€?I wouldnt think about fighting a brotha like thatâ€?….You gotta come with a whole lot of heart to skin Mayweather. He seems to have plenty of victims ready to line up to get waxed. I would be suprised if he doesn’t move up in weight and show us what he’s really got! After he skins these bums like Hatton,Witter and Cotto. Who else is there? Let’s just hope he doesn’t turn out like Sugar Shane. Although I think Mayweather is a much better figther and has the potential to become the next darling of boxing. With African American fighters in today’s boxing game (myself an African American) I’d have to say it’s about damn time!!
MAYWEATHER IS THE BEST FIGHTER IN THE WORLD. AND COTTO DOESN’T HAVE THE CHIN OR SKILLS TO COMPETE. HATTON MAY HAVE HEART BUT IT WILL TAKE A MIRACLE .THE ONLY MAN THAT CAN BEAT MAYWEATHER IS MARGARITO – HE HAS SKILLS AND POWER AND HE’S MEXICAN.
Hatton-Mayweather? Mayweather wins via late stoppage but only after surviving a few ferocious Hatton assaults, who gives Mayweather by far his toughest fight to date and maybe even earn himself a rematch in the process. Ultimately, though, Mayweather is the most talented human to lace them up since a prime Roy Jones. Agreed?
Hatton v. Mayweather in England would be a fight of the decade candidate for sure and for those who think Mayweather wins easily would have another thing coming. With that said, Mayweather is by far the most talented boxer/puncher in the game today and Hatton would definitely lose a decision if it went the distance. If they fight in America, Mayweather stops Hatton easily but in England it would be a much different fight due to all of the energy a huge crowd would provide. Floyd is the best boxer I have seen since Roy Jones in his prime and he has more power than Roy did at this weight class. Mayweather by decision in England and by 10th round KO in America.
Hatton-Mayweather no doubt will be a hell of a fight I just hope Floyd is prepared to gladiate with Ricky because his back WILL eventually get against them ropes. I don’t think footwork and head movement will be enough to get away from the constant pace of punches Ricky throws Floyd is gonna have to BEAT Ricky off of him put him in check and keep him there…I KNOW EASIER SAID THAN DONE.GOOD LUCK 2 THEM BOTH THEY ARE TRUE CHAM-PEENz.
i think many of you yanks will be very surprised when hatton takes mayweather apart.this has got benn-barkley written all over it,and when hatton decides too use them he’s got very good defensive skills.can’t wait.
Mayweather vs hatton would be just like Mayweather vs gatti .
I do not agree with the comment made earlier regarding the similarity between Corrales and Hatton. Corrales did not press Mayweather the way Hatton would. Also, let’s look at the 2 fighters that have given Mayweather a bit of trouble. It’s still questionable on whether or not Floyd even beat Castillo their first fight. Also, Demarcus Corley almost knocked Floyd into the next county when they fought. All of these fighters have a few things in common. They all press the action and are a bit awkward. I believe that Hatton is much superior to Corley and he could hold his own against Castillo, as well. I definitely think that Hatton is the only man out there right now that could possibly beat Floyd. (He will never fight Margarito because it is a size mismatch for Floyd)
All I have to say is check out Mayweather’s profile. He has a tremendous background. What about Hatton’s?
All the hype over Ricky Hatton? Who has he fought other than an old Kostya Tyszu? Floyd’s the truth! I see Floyd boxing the s*** outta Hatton. Hatton has no defense. He’s all offense, pressure, but with a fighter like Floyd he could make Hatton’s style look real amateurish. It’ll be like the Mayweather/Corrales fight.