International Boxing Federation super middleweight champion Lucian Bute (21-0, 17 KOs) will put his unbeaten record on the line when he takes on former World Boxing Association middleweight champion William Joppy on February 29th, at the Bell Centre, Montreal, in Quebec, Canada. In his last bout, Bute, 27, defeated knockout artist Alejandro Berrio by 11th round TKO on October 19th, a bout in which Bute spent most of the fight running from Berrio and trying to prevent getting hit from his bombs.
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Jones Trinidad: Is This Fight Worth $49.95?
Like many people, you might be asking would be interested in forking over $49.95 to watch former champions Roy Jones Jr. (51-4, 38 KOs) and Felix Trinidad (42-2, 35 KOs) go at next week on January 19th, at Madison Square Garden, in New York City, New York. Much as this fight would have been an intriguing bout around 10 years ago, when both Jones and Trinidad were in their prime, it’s hardly interesting to watch either of them know that they’re badly faded as fighters.
Trinidad, who turned 35 today, has done little in the ring in the past seven years, fighting only four times and losing half of the bouts, both resulting in retirements on Trinidad’s part. In his last bout, Trinidad was beaten by Winky Wright, losing a 12-round unanimous decision on May 2005. The loss was made worse by the fact that it was completely one-sided, with Trinidad losing almost every round of the fight. He looked old and shot, even then, and he doesn’t figure to have gotten any younger since then. Of course, Wright, a fighter with excellent defensive skills, is the type of opponent that would give almost any fighter big problems. However, instead of moving on and continuing fighting, Trinidad retired for the second time. Not something that exactly made him look good to his many fans. Trinidad’s fan, however, are quick to forget his defeats and the way he gave up boxing afterwards.
Is Mayweather Afraid Of Paul Williams?
Now that World Boxing Council welterweight champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. (39-0, 25 KOs) has gotten by the business of beating to consecutive easy gimme fights, I think it’s high time that he start facing real challenges in his career rather than the same easy set up fights that we’ve been used to seeing from him for most of his career. One fighter out of all the welterweights jumps out at you when one thinks of the welterweight division, and that’s undefeated World Boxing Organization champion Paul Williams (33-0, 24 KOs), who is arguably the best fighter in not only the welterweight division but in all of boxing.
Miranda Faces Banks On Friday
Former middleweight contender Edison Miranda (29-2, 25 KOs) returns to the ring this Friday against former reality television fighter David Banks (15-2-1) on Friday Night Fights at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, in Hollywood, Florida. Miranda, 27, now fighting in the super middleweight division, is hoping to erase the sting from his embarrassing 7th round TKO loss to Kelly Pavlik on May 18th, 2007, by destroying the 24 year-old Banks on National television. It will effectively be a boxer vs. a slugger in this bout, as Banks, who’s mainly known for competing on “The Contender” boxing program on ESPN, has almost zero power to match his zero knockouts on his record. He’ll likely be running for his life against Miranda, as he doesn’t have the type of power to stand in front of Miranda and trade like Pavlik did.
Tyson Interested In Holyfield Bout: “I’d just be looking to knock him out”
Boxingnews24.com has learned that former world heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson (50-6, 44 KOs) is reportedly interested in a third bout with former heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield (42-9-2, 27 KOs), according to boxingtalk website. Tyson, 41, said that he’d only take on a third fight with the 45 year-old Holyfield “if the money’s right,” meaning that Tyson would be looking to get a million plus payday for the the bout. Tyson went on to say that he’d be looking to “knock him out,” perhaps a signal that he would want to ensure that the fight doesn’t get into the later rounds like their first bout, a fight where Tyson ran out of gas and was ultimately stopped in the 11th round.
It’s doubtful that Tyson could fight hard for more than several rounds, judging by his last two fights against Danny Williams and Kevin McBride, both of whom stopped Tyson after he started quickly in the first two rounds and then almost immediately tired out. Tyson said that he’s not interested in taking on any preliminary bouts, and wants to “go straight at him.” Again, at this stage in his career, even a journeyman fighter would be a threat to Tyson if the bout was to beyond three rounds. It’s understandable that Tyson would want to avoid this happening, and possibly ruining a shot at Holyfield.
Valuev Fined For Slugging Man In Russia
According to Rueters, former World Boxing Association heavyweight champion Nikolay Valuev (47-1, 34 KOs) has been sued by a Russian man, Yuri Sergeyev, 61, for slugging him two years ago in an altercation in a parking lot outside of a Sports center in Saint Petersburg, Russia. Valuev, 34, was fined thirty thousand roubles, which comes out to roughly $1228, and will have to pay another hundred thousand roubles to compensate the man for his injuries. Valuev, currently ranked #1 in the WBA heavyweight rankings, says that he was merely shaking the man after he insulted Valuev’s wife, Galina, but the man says that he was actually punched by Valuev.
Calzaghe vs. Hopkins Bout Deal Close To Being Finished
In the latest boxing news, the promoter of super middleweight champion, Frank Warren, is reportedly close to finishing up on the business of arranging a bout between the 35 year-old Calzaghe and light heavyweight Bernard Hopkins, now 42. The bout will likely be taking place on April 12th in Las Vegas, Nevada. Warren had this to say to the Guardian, “Nothing can ever be definite until the contracts are signed,” said Warren, “but the paperwork is with the lawyers, and it looks as though it will be done. It is a huge fight for both men, and it would give Joe the big American date that he has been looking for.”
Johnson Destroys Pineda, Earns Shot At Dawson
Two-time light heavyweight champion Glen Johnson (47-11-2, 32 KOs) was too much for his limited opponent Hugo Pineda (39-4-1, 28 KOs), stopping him in the 8th round of a scheduled 10-round fight on Saturday night at the Bally’s Hotel & Casino, in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The 36 year-old Pineda was taking severe punishment by Johnson on the ropes in the 8th when Pineda signaled to the referee that he’d had enough and wanted the fight to be stopped. The referee David Fields then moved in and halted the fight at 0:49 of the 8th round.
Witherspoon Decisions Releford
Undefeated heavyweight prospect Chazz Witherspoon (21-0, 14 KOs) had a tougher time than expected in winning an eight-round unanimous decision victory over Kendrick Releford (15-10-2, 6 KOs) on Saturday night at the Bally’s Hotel & Casino, in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Witherspoon, a slow, methodical-type fighter with very heavyweight hands, but not a real big punch, wasn’t able to break down Releford like he’d done against his previous 20 opponents, and found him self in a dog fight by the fourth round when Releford’s speed advantage began to turn the fight around.
Malignaggi Decisions Ngoudjo
In a bout that in now reflected the final judges’ scores, International Boxing Federation light welterweight champion Paulie Malignaggi (24-1, 5 KOs) received a gift 12-round unanimous decision over challenger Herman Ngoudjo (16-2, 9 KOs) on Saturday night at the Bally’s Hotel & Casino, in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The final judges’ scores were 117-111, 116-113 and 115-113, giving the 27 year-old Malignaggi the decision.