Super middleweight boxer Carl Froch is confident he can overcome Jean Pascal when the pair battle it out for the vacant WBC super middleweight on the 12th of December. Speaking to Setanta Sports News Froch described his opponent as predictable.
“You know what to expect from him. He’s going to be looking to counter punch and move around.
“I’m up against an unbeaten fighter who’s also gunning to be the WBC world champion. We’re both looking to become the champ. Neither of us has lost. It’s going to make for a great, spectacular fight.
“It’s down to me to do what I do best and start catching him with some big blows.”
Froch added that he hoped to fight Joe Calzaghe if the Welshman chose not to retire.
“He’s got mileage left on the clock. If I put in a good performance against Jean Pascal and win this WBC title then there’s good reason for him to fight me. Whether or not he will? Only Joe can answer that question.”
It’s De La Hoya-Pacquiao 24/7 in Times Square!
NEW YORK, NY (November 12, 2008) — HBO’s Emmy-Award-winning all access franchise “24/7” returns with Oscar De La Hoya and Manny Pacquiao in starring roles. The four-episode series “De La Hoya/Pacquiao 24/7” premieres This Sunday! November 16 at 8:30 p.m. ET/PT on HBO. Above and attached is a photo of a billboard for it being installed today in Times Square.
“The Dream Match,” the welterweight collision between two of boxing’s biggest attractions, Olympic gold medalist and 10-time world champion “The Golden Boy” OSCAR DE LA HOYA and current Ring Magazine No. 1-ranked pound for pound champion MANNY “Pacman” PACQUIAO, is scheduled to take place on Saturday, December 6 at MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada, the bout will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View, beginning at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.
Promoted by Golden Boy Promotions and Top Rank, Inc., presented by Tequila Cazadores and sponsored by Ceverza Tecate, DeWalt Tools, Full Throttle Energy Drink, and Southwest Airlines, the fight sold out in hours, making it the second largest grossing gate in boxing history.
The De La Hoya vs. Pacquiao pay-per-view telecast has a suggested retail price of $54.95, and will be available to more than 71 million pay-per-view homes. The telecast will be available in HD-TV for those viewers who can receive HD. HBO Pay-Per-View is the leading supplier of event programming to the pay-per-view industry. For De La Hoya vs. Pacquiao fight week updates, log on to www.hbo.com.
WBA heavyweight champion Nikolai Valuev will return to the ring on December 20 when he faces living legend Evander Holyfield in Zurich. The Russian Giant, the biggest and tallest champion in the history of boxing, is confident of success against the man who at the age of 46 will try to become the oldest heavyweight titlist of all time. “Holyfield was a great champion,” Valuev stated. “He is very experienced but I have no doubts that I will beat him. I take this fight very seriously.”
Valuev is looking forward to returning to Switzerland after clinching a third-round TKO victory over Jameel McCline in Basle in January 2007. “I only have the best of memories of Switzerland and I am happy to fight there again,” he added. The clash will take place in Zurich´s famous Hallenstadion where Muhammad Ali stopped German heavyweight Jurgen Blin in the seventh round of their meeting in 1971.
Wilfried Sauerland is thrilled to present what will be yet another historic fight. “Evander Holyfield is a boxing legend,” he stated. “It is great that we managed to bring him over to Europe.” And Sauerland Event managing director Chris Meyer added: “We are proud to stage this fight in December. Evander Holyfield will undergo a medical check-up and we will now submit the contracts and application to the WBA requesting approval for the world title fight.”
Four-time heavyweight champion Holyfield boasts a record of 42-9 with 27 KOs, while Valuev is 49-1 (34 KOs).
Cook In Great Shape
WBO World Super-Featherweight champion Nicky Cook has hailed one of his best-ever training camps ahead of his big December 6 clash with Steve Foster Jnr at the ExCeL London.
The Essex stylist will make the first defence of the crown he won in sensational style from Alex Arthur in Manchester in September.
Cook has been working hard for the fight under the watchful eye of his father and trainer Paul.
And he believes that the hours spent in the gym will lead him to make short work of Foster – and set up a unification fight in 2009.
“Steve’s a great fighter and had Arthur on the floor when he lost to him, so I need to be at my very best,” said Cook.
“But sparring has been going great and I believe that I’m going to make a big statement when I defend my title and knock out Foster.
“It’s always been my dream to be a world champion, and no one is going to take my belt away from me.
“But I won’t sit back and relax now I’ve finally got my hands on a belt.
“I’ve readjusted my sights and they are now firmly set on winning more than one world title at super-featherweight.
“There are some great fighters in this division, but I’ll be ready for them after I’ve made a couple of defences.
“I want to be challenging for another title by the end of 2009, and I know with promoter Frank Warren behind me then I can acheive my ambitions.”
Cook-Foster is part of an explosive fight card at London’s ExCeL, which includes the returning Amir Khan against rugged Irishman Oisin Fagan, as well as Enzo Maccarinelli’s WBO World Cruiserweight title challenge against America Johnathon Banks.