In Boxing News: Nicolay Valuev, Pacquiao, Jermain Taylor & More
By Boxing News January 16th, 2006In Boxing News: Nicolay Valuev Smashes Faces and More
Nicolay Valuev, the new WBA Heavyweight champion, is not a beastly presence, but a thoughtful, teetotal family man says the Guardian’s Big Interview. As I’ve said before, the Big Interview is one of the best sports features available online. This week it provides some insight into a heavyweight champion who very few people in North America know anything about. By all reports, the Russian giant is a down to earth and thoughtful man. Valuev is quoted as saying, this is how I was brought up. Yes, I am a boxer and also a giant man, but a person needs to be interested not only in how to smash someone in the face or how to be a winner or where to look for the flash of a camera. Every person is more, much more, than what people see. To me, a person should be interested in surroundings and in surrounding people, because the human is not an animal. God made him for things other than fighting. I want [my son] to know and understand this, and one day he will. I have no idea if Valuev can actually fight, but - still - I’m impressed.
Denmark’s Mikkel Kessler retained his WBA super middleweight title when Canada’s Eric Lucas quit in the 10th round on Saturday.
As everybody knows by now, a soft tissue injury to his ribs has forced Diego Corrales to pull out of his much anticipated trilogy rubber match with Jose Luis Castillo (originally scheduled for Feb. 4 in El Paso, Texas). Though he is reported to be deeply disappointed, it may be a blessing in disguise for Corrales: Joe Goossen, Corrales’ trainer, said Friday that nine months would have been an appropriate rest period for Corrales and Castillo after the brutal war they fought in May. Goosen was right when he said, we talked it over with Diego and his management and promoters, and the decision was made that if he can’t spar, he can’t fight. That’s the fact of the matter. It’s killing Diego, because he wanted this so badly, but you know how it is when you hurt your ribs. How can you fight like that? An interesting footnote to this story is that Jose Luis Castillo was allegedly still a long way from making weight Benn Schulberg reported on this BLOG: sources told me yesterday that Castillo was weighing around 150 pounds at the time the fight was called off. If that was the case, then he would’ve had a hard time shedding 15 pounds in time to make the lightweight limit.
In his bid to prime up boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao, trainer Freddie Roach has ordered changes. Shifts have been ordered in Pacquiao’s fight plan for his rematch with Erik Morales. The Pacquiao camp are remaining tight-lipped about what those changes might be, but Pacquiao is reported to be looking very sharp in the gym. Light-flyweight champion Brian Viloria likes the Pacman in the rematch: I see Manny winning this time and I am looking forward to a third fight … Manny’s in really great shape now and he’s worked on his footwork after seeing what (Zahir) Raheem did to Morales.
Jermain Taylor delivered the first salvo Saturday in what might become a war of words with top middleweight contender Winky Wright. Taylor, holder of three of the division’s four title belts, said he is not impressed with Wright and believes Wright is not a good draw among fans. I feel I’m bigger than Winky, I’m stronger than Winky and it’s a style thing. I don’t see (Wright) giving me any problems. I’m really not that impressed with him, said Taylor. The middleweight champion also questioned Wright’s market appeal: You put Winky out there on a pay-per-view, he wouldn’t sell one. Wrong Jermain, I’d as soon pay to see Winky fight as pay to see you. Your last two fights - your only fights of meaningful significance - didn’t exactly set the pulse racing. In fact, the only guarantee I’m paying to see either of you is if you are fighting each other.
The Independent has an interesting column on English former super middleweight Chris Eubank. Eubank, who is used to rolling with the punches, is now not only the newly crowned ‘most eccentric man in Britain’, but also bankrupt and wifeless. Says the Independent, the taxmen may yet dispossess him of his worldly goods but they can never confiscate his courage. This he showed in the ring in his two battles with Michael Watson, two with Nigel Benn, two with Steve Collins, that blood-curdling scrap with Joe Calzaghe and the final wars with Carl Thompson. He was knocked down, but he got up again in situations when lesser men might have considered timely discretion the better part of any valour. Having spent some time living in the UK at the time, it really surprised me just how big some of these rivalries were and just how much of a character Eubank was. He supposedly used to get out of his Hummer truck and wash his hands in Evian water at gas station forecourts to avoid using the tap. And still controversial, Eubank - for all it brought him - is no great advocate of the sweet science. He admits to a distaste for boxing even before the infamous night when his measured punches put Michael Watson in a coma for 40 days and left him with permanent disabilities. He has called boxing barbaric, and a mug’s game. This is not a reasonable business. You get damaged; you get disfigured; you get used. You are partaking in a tragic form of entertainment. I can hear the slurred speech of many ex-boxers. I certainly don’t want to put my sons through that. Whatever else can be said about him, you certainly can’t deny Eubank truly is an eccentric.
Finally, I’d be remiss were I not to mention the Boston Globe’s column on the renewed visibility of A.J. Liebling’s classic boxing omnibus, The Sweet Science. Truly a must read for all educated boxing fans.
(As always … more Boxing News Links at TheSweetScience.com)
January 16th, 2006 at 4:20 pm
Taylor is sure talking a lot of bull for a fighter that could not get a KO in his last to fights. I really do not see Taylor holding onto those belts that long. He still has things to learn. Winky has more experience and a better boxer in my eyes. I see Winky taking the belts from Taylor. I think if both of these fighter do meet, they should split the purse 60 to the winner and 40 to well you know. This would be a good fight to watch and will bring some life back to boxing. I sure miss the old days when boxers were fighters and fought a good fight! Now all we see are guys with gloves that are dancing in the ring and no action. Thank g*d for the lighter weight fighters.
January 16th, 2006 at 6:52 pm
It was inevitable problems would occur before Jermaine Taylor and Winky Wright fight. That Taylor is being tough on the negotiations shouldn’t surprise. Although money has been offered as an excuse by Taylor, I doubt it’s all a money issue.
It all comes down to the belts. Lou Dibella, after Taylor’s second controversial decision win over Hopkins said he wanted Taylor to fight a ‘patsy’ next.
Wright isn’t a ‘patsy,’ despite the difficulties he had with Sam Solimon, who fights like an octopus dances.
Taylor is worried about losing his belts, hard earned nonetheless. Wright makes fighters look silly. I believe he’ll do the same to Taylor. Taylor might think so too.
If I was in Wright’s corner I’d take the 60-40 split then sit back and watch Taylor and Dibella throw up other reasons why the fight shouldn’t happen - like an injury.
This one could get very messy, if the sanctioning bodies are forced to act unethically (is it ever otherwise?).
It’s probably better to get the fight over with anyway. Taylor isn’t a pay-per-view fighter, nor is Wright. The fight probably won’t result in an exciting knockout. There certainly won’t be the drama of Hopkins - Taylor 1 or the unrealised expectation of Hopkins - Taylor 2.
It’ll be a shutout, the type of pay-per-view event that is saved by the undercard.
Taylor and Wright being tough on the negotiations is doing more harm to their credibility and legacy than hurting the boxing fan. How many boxing fans are desperate to see Taylor and Wright fight? Not this one. A possible Wright - Taylor fight will create interest, not manic desire.
Time for Taylor to realise he’s not fighting Hopkins. Time for Taylor to look through the middleweight rankings and see Wright is the best fight for him, now and in a year. Time for Taylor to shove fear aside and agree to fight Wright.
Wright needs to study boxing history as well. It wouldn’t be the first time a challenger has fought for less money than the champion. Wright isn’t Mike Tyson or Roy Jones or Sugar Ray Leonard. His appearances in the ring demand respect, not multi-millions.
Wright needs the win over Taylor because there’s no one else for him right now.
Boxing fans don’t care about the purse split or which man’s ego is bigger.
It’s all about the fight, being on or off.
So, as Mills Lane said, ‘Let’s get it on.’
January 16th, 2006 at 7:47 pm
YOU ARE SO RIGHT MIGUEL. SEEMS LIKE ALL THESE SO CALLED FIGHTERS ARE AFRAID TO GET HIT, TOO MUCH POSING AND RUNNING. WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO BOXING? I CANT BELIEVE TAYLORS CAMP ARE AFRAID TO PUT HIM IN THE RING WITH WINKY, THEY WOULD RATHER PUT HIM IN THE RING WITH A NOBODY OR HAS BEEN. MARK MY WORDS.
January 17th, 2006 at 1:17 am
I’m still pissed off that hopkins was robbed of his belts , now this bs
Twinky would destroy taylor in the ring and that’s why this fight won’t happen
and I highly agree Wright should take the 60-40 split and we can all watch DiBella babble out excuses
January 17th, 2006 at 12:39 pm
We can all nag until we’re blue in the face about the Taylor-Wright fight, but like the old saying goes - “to be THE MAN, you have to BEAT THE MAN!” Taylor won on the judge’s scorecards and that’s really all that matters.
We can’t rewrite history, folks. Was the first fight a draw in my book? Yes, but I wasn’t at ringside judging the fight. Was the second fight a repeat of the first? Almost, since it was after the headbutt in the first fight that Taylor started to lose.
So, now that Taylor is “THE MAN”, he can negotiate being that the titleholder has leverage. Then again, there is always the purse bid.
If the tables were turned, would you expect Wright to do otherwise?
January 17th, 2006 at 2:42 pm
This is the pretty boy still trying to take care of a few thangs before i even thank about a bout, but Im interested and overdue so if capable , i’ll be there. Im trying to work several projects and was trying to find out where i could look at myself, to findout, while on this covert operation whats up? its hard to keep up.
I’ve lost a large part of my team since 1996 and I’m just getting over my grandmother at my last big performance 2003. THAT’S THE LAST PROFORMANCE SHE SAW LIVE, CURTURSY OF PAY-PER-VIEW FAM ORG.The lies and other things still got me wonder if i would ever be able to return to the ring but if family ready to move forward than we will. I’M loving the” WBC BELT ” as much as the eating of the profit “STEAK” so hopefully we can get together and chat but let me know in advance to get my team together .I know this might be unprofessional but are there any new rules and regulations being specified and what are your ranking and prodictions for M. MAYWEATHER JORDAN AKA Philip Carpenter74.Hope not but if i can’t caught my promotion team in time how do i go about get atleast the press time of some of the heavy hitters circulating around me and it will due my family justice to air it all out and get away for a day. they are normal way ahead of me because im business in there business and don’t want to leave, and to good to retire so i talk to them about a possilbe exclusive(pending) my acceptance after this ongoing mission “Look out for me let me see myself in action on your site please” sikles family hopefully”.GOD REST DUVA
I’M OUT,
Mayweather
January 18th, 2006 at 8:20 am
I don’t know why Taylor and his camp are doing everything possible to avoid fighting Wright. Wasn’t Taylor’s questionable wins over Hopkins supposed to be like the passing of the torch. If that is the case why doesn’t he defend title like Hopkins did. I mean Hopkins didn’t have to give Taylor a shot at the belt, but he did because the best should always fight the best.
I believe Taylor is a little unsure of himself and fighting Winky would expose him. Winky is not given all the credit he deserves. I do think he should take the 60-40 split just so he can embarass Taylor.
January 18th, 2006 at 2:45 pm
Jermain Taylor lost both fights to Bernard Hopkins. Boxing experts & fans know the real results of those fights. Hopkins was robbed of his place in Boxing history. Bernard is the man!!! Dirty boxing politics should be made a crime, it only hurts the sport and it’s athletes. I used to order pay-perview fights. After so many unfair decissions I stopped ordering them. Comp-u-box scoring is the one and only route to go, get ride of ring side Judges. The evidence is on tape to be viewed over and over. I’m a Big Boxing Fan - let me see fair decissions and I’ll be happy to order another great fight. Teddy Atlas talked about this last year. Listen to him, he knows what he’s talking about. And another thing, Taylor is afraid that Wright will embarrass him and take the title he holds. Titles he has only because of dirty Boxing politics.
January 20th, 2006 at 9:22 am
Jermain is defintely scared of Winky and it shows. I mean, how in the world are you gonna sit up there and say that you’re not impressed with Winky as a fighter? “WHAT”!? Winky has beaten Mosely twice, and he destroyed the Puerto Rican Sensation “Trinidad”, who once was regarded as the best pound for pound fighter in the world - he made that look like a sparring match. No one has ever shut Tito down like that! Not even the Golden Boy! Jermain’s true colors are showing now (Yellow) and if you ask me it’s not doing a lot for the sport of boxing. “He will not”, and I repeat “will not”, be a great Middleweight Champion like the Old Bernard Hopkins! I don’t think the fight will take place.
January 20th, 2006 at 7:27 pm
I disagree with Donald that Bernard was robbed of both fights with Taylor. Not that Taylor was that great either, but he did just enough to win. Bernard did absolutely nothing in the first half of the fights to deserve victory. Actually, I believe Hopkins is one of the most overrated middleweights in history. Yes, he has the record of consecutive defenses, but it came in a time of very weak opponents. Just name at least five good opponents of the over twenty he defeated. His glory came by beating two inflated welterweights in De LaHoya and Trinidad. He fought Taylor only because he thought he could take advantage of Taylor’s inexperience. If he really fought the best, he should’ve fought Winky or even Felix Sturm (who we all know destroyed De LaHoya) instead of Taylor. He could’ve even fought Roy Jones Jr, by accepting less money. I hope he stays retired. His place in history is set…whatever that is.