Fight Net

Nigerian man was in terror database

2009-12-27T21:41:00.000-08:00

Nigerian man was in terror database
http://waronyou.com/topics/nigerian-man-was-in-terror-database/
A Nigerian man charged Saturday with attempting to blow up a U.S. airliner on Christmas Day was listed in a U.S. terrorism database after his father told State Department officials that he was worried about his son’s radical beliefs and extremist connections, officials said.

The suspect, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, was granted a two-year tourist visa by the U.S. Embassy in London in June 2008 and has traveled to the United States at least twice before, officials said. His name was added to a catch-all terrorism-related database last month, when his father reported concerns about his son’s “radicalization and associations” to the U.S. Embassy in Nigeria, a senior administration official said.

Abdulmutallab, 23, was subdued by passengers and crew members aboard Northwest Airlines Flight 253 on Friday after he ignited an explosive device that set his pants leg and part of the airplane, which was preparing to land in Detroit, on fire. The incident marks the latest apparent attempt by terrorists to bring down a U.S. aircraft through the use of an improvised weapon and set in motion a series of urgent security measures that disrupted global air travel during the frenetic holiday weekend.

http://www.contractorhut.info/
Blog wandering? What is that?! I have seen it over and over again. A new blogger kick starts a blog with all intentions of hitting it big and growing a huge subscriber count. They are going to be the next big thing! Just you wait and see! So what does this new blogger do? Picks a domain name, spends countless hours looking at premium blog themes and finally gets around to installing every single cool plugin they can find. Everything is set and ready to blog!
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Savage Dog Show: Ed Soares

2009-07-30T00:19:00.005-07:00

Ed Soares joined Greg Savage and Jeff Sherwood on Wednesday�s Savage Dog Show

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[Source: Recent News on Sherdog.com - Posted by FreeAutoBlogger]

Barnett Questions Positive Test

2009-07-30T00:19:00.003-07:00

Sherdog.com received a statement Wednesday from Shannon Hooper, president of Excel Sports Management, on behalf of Josh Barnett. It follows in its entirety:

�The media has reported that Mixed Martial Arts Heavyweight fighter Josh Barnett would not be eligible

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[Source: Recent News on Sherdog.com - Posted by FreeAutoBlogger]

Beatdown: Mark DellaGrotte

2009-07-30T00:19:00.001-07:00

Beatdown returned to the Sherdog Radio Network on Wednesday, and was joined by Mark DellaGrotte

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[Source: Recent News on Sherdog.com - Posted by FreeAutoBlogger]

Sobral-Mousasi Moved to Strikeforce

2009-07-29T02:25:00.001-07:00

Renato �Babalu� Sobral will defend his light heavyweight title against Gegard Mousasi at Strikeforce �Carano vs. Cyborg� on Aug. 15

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[Source: Recent News on Sherdog.com - Posted by FreeAutoBlogger]

Savage Dog Show: Dan Henderson

2009-07-17T22:01:00.001-07:00

The Savage Dog Show returned on Friday, and was joined by Dan Henderson

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[Source: Recent News on Sherdog.com - Posted by FreeAutoBlogger]

Pictures: UFC 100 Weigh-ins

2009-07-12T20:57:00.003-07:00

Sherdog.com was on location in Las Vegas to photograph Friday�s UFC 100 weigh-ins

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[Source: Recent News on Sherdog.com - Posted by FreeAutoBlogger]

Beatdown: GSP�s Manager

2009-07-12T20:57:00.001-07:00

Jack Encarnacao, Lotfi Sariahmed and TJ De Santis were joined by the manager of UFC welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre, Shari Spencer on Monday

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[Source: Recent News on Sherdog.com - Posted by FreeAutoBlogger]

Update: Johnson Hospitalized After Shooting

2009-07-05T20:39:00.001-07:00

Heavyweight Lavar Johnson was shot in the abdomen by an unidentified assailant at 12:34 a.m. PST on July 5 in Bakersfield, Calif., according to a news release distributed by the Bakersfield Police Dept.

The Bakersfield Californian was the first to report on the incident

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[Source: Recent News on Sherdog.com - Posted by FreeAutoBlogger]

Alvarez Not Fighting �JZ� in Dream

2009-07-05T01:33:00.003-07:00

Despite reports to the contrary, Bellator FC�s first lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez will not be facing American Top Team product Gesias "JZ" Cavalcante in Japanese promotion Dream

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[Source: Recent News on Sherdog.com - Posted by FreeAutoBlogger]

Radio: Jordan Breen Show

2009-07-05T01:33:00.001-07:00

Jordan Breen returned to the Sherdog Radio Network Tuesday with his usual brand of listener-led discussion

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[Source: Recent News on Sherdog.com - Posted by FreeAutoBlogger]

Kimbo's next move

2009-06-02T03:43:00.000-07:00

LAS VEGAS – Kimbo Slice, the controversial heavyweight who in 2008 headlined the most-viewed mixed martial arts card in history, will be one of 16 contestants on the forthcoming season of “The Ultimate Fighter,” the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s reality TV series.

Dana White, the UFC’s outspoken president, has repeatedly mocked Slice for his lack of fighting ability. Slice, whose real name is Kevin Ferguson, became a cult figure by competing in street fights that were posted on YouTube. Slice’s “bouts” drew tens of millions of views and led him to turn professional.

He fought for the now defunct Elite XC, garnering massive media attention but getting mocked by White and others affiliated with the UFC for a lack of ability.

White has called him a “joke,” a “bum” and “not a real fighter,” among other less than kind descriptions. He said that Slice would “get murdered if he fought in the UFC” and suggested that his lightweight champion, 155-pound B.J. Penn, would “annihilate” the 230-pound Slice.

The UFC president has repeatedly insisted he would not allow Slice to compete in the UFC unless he won his way onto the show by competing on “The Ultimate Fighter,” which beings taping Wednesday and is scheduled to air in September.

Slice has called White’s bluff and will appear on Season 10 of the highly rated Spike TV series, White has confirmed. Fighters live in the same house and train together, and then fight during the show in a bid to earn a UFC contract.

His appearance, along with that of former UFC light heavyweight champions Quinton “Rampage” Jackson and Rashad Evans as coaches, should guarantee massive ratings.

“It should be interesting, given some of the things I’ve said about him,” White said.

Slice, who has a 3-1 professional record, appeared in the main event of the first MMA card shown on network television in the U.S. when he fought James Thompson on May 31, 2008, on CBS.

Slice won by third-round stoppage in a bout that attracted a record 6.5 million viewers and remains the most-viewed MMA bout in history.

But Slice hasn’t fought since Oct. 4, when he was knocked out by a jab from late replacement Seth Petruzelli, a light heavyweight, just 14 seconds into another fight broadcast on CBS. The plug was pulled on Elite XC, which reportedly lost millions of dollars, in the aftermath of the fight.

White promised “some major surprises” as he announced on a Thursday conference call that Jackson and Evans, each of whom is a former light heavyweight champion, would serve as coaches on Season 10.

He declined to say anything further but urged reporters on the call not to miss media day, which is Tuesday at the UFC Training Center in Las Vegas.

White worked hard to keep Slice’s appearance on the show a secret, hoping to have unveiled him Tuesday. Season 10, which is being called “The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights,” was originally slated to feature a cast of eight heavyweights and eight middleweights, but the UFC quietly informed the middleweights who tried out that it was going with an all-heavyweight show.

And unlike in recent seasons, where the competitors had to win a fight to earn their way into the house, there will be no such arrangement this time. All 16 fighters – Spike and the UFC are keeping names of the others a closely guarded secret – will automatically move into the house.

Though White goes to great lengths to insist that nothing on the show is scripted, it’s virtually guaranteed that Slice won’t fight early in the competition. Having him around and alive in the competition is going to keep ratings elevated.

If Slice is able to advance to the live Dec. 5 finale, with a chance to earn a UFC contract with a win, ratings would likely be the largest in Spike history.

Javon Walker Had Surgery Without Telling the Raiders

2009-05-18T21:31:00.001-07:00

Filed under: Raiders, NFL Injuries
Oakland Raiders wide receiver Javon Walker had knee surgery last month. No surprise there; hundreds of NFL players have surgery each offseason. But here’s the odd twist: Walker didn’t inform the Raiders that he was having the procedure.
It’s not completely clear what is wrong with Walker’s right knee — the same [...]

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[Source: NFL Access - Posted by FreeAutoBlogger]

Silva not winning over fans or boss

2009-04-19T13:45:00.000-07:00

MONTREAL – Anderson Silva wasn’t one of the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s biggest pay-per-view draws despite a slew of highlight reel knockouts and a reputation as the finest mixed martial arts fighter in the world.

After Saturday’s performance, the toughest job in sports may belong to the person who has to devise a marketing campaign for his next fight.

Silva won a unanimous decision over Thales Leites in the main event of UFC 97 on Saturday night at the Bell Centre, but it was such a mystifying and dreadful performance that it left UFC president Dana White angry and embarrassed.

“I can honestly tell you that I’ve never put on an event that I was embarrassed to be at until tonight,” White said. “I want to publicly apologize to all the fans.”

Leites was flopping onto the ground at the first sign Silva would throw a punch at him, hoping to turn it into a grappling contest. Silva, though, wouldn’t fall for the bait and forced Leites repeatedly to stand.

And while it was admittedly hard to look good with the way Leites was fighting, the man who is supposedly the best fighter in the world needs to find a way to force the action.

It’s the second consecutive time that Silva has been in such a fight. At UFC 90 in October, White was so mystified by Silva’s lack of aggression that he said he thought he was in “bizarro world” watching it.

Silva had an unlikely ally Saturday in Chuck Liddell, whose career likely ended earlier in the night when he was knocked out by Mauricio “Shogun” Rua. Liddell clearly placed more of the blame for the lack of action on Leites’ unwillingness to engage even a little.

“He was attacking the whole time,” Liddell said of Silva. “It’s a frustrating fight for a striker when every time you go to hit a guy, he falls on his back.”

Silva is paid big money to hit his opponents and then knock them on their backs. For the second fight in a row, he failed to let his hands and feet go and fought a measured, controlled fight.

The crowd of 21,451 at the Bell Centre was booing a minute into the fight and by the final round, it was chanting an obscenity in an attempt to convey its displeasure.

White planned to have a long conversation with Silva and manager Ed Soares following the postfight news conference. During the fight, White got up from his cageside seat and walked over to Soares and gave him an earful.

Just as he was in Chicago, though, Silva was singularly unaffected. He had the air of a man who had just performed his job exceptionally, rather than one who had more than 20,000 people in the building and thousands more watching on television at home feeling he’d cheated them out of their money.

“Everything I trained to do, I did,” Silva said.

It’s one of his stock answers these days, as he repeated it incessantly prior to the fight in response to numerous queries about his performance against Cote.

But the bottom line is this: If Silva is going to be the big star, if he’s going to make the big paycheck, then he has to realize it’s incumbent upon him to put on a show. Liddell has now lost four of his last five and has been knocked cold in three of them, but he came to fight and made his bout entertaining for as long as it lasted.

The same can’t be said of Silva, who doesn’t seem to grasp that he’s not carrying his end of the bargain.

“I apologize. I personally apologize for what happened tonight,” White said. “You guys know, this isn’t what the UFC was built on and this isn’t the way the fights usually go. Listen, any night you can have an off-night. When a guy is that talented and can literally end a fight whenever he wants to, wow.”

Leites clearly deserves his share of the blame for the debacle that was the main event. He had a three-month training camp and knew he’d have to deal with Silva’s striking at some point.

The challenger, though, simply ignored that facet of the game. He backpedaled until he could go back no more and then, more often than not, fell to his back hoping to sucker Silva into a jiu-jitsu fight.

It never worked. And when Silva did manage to keep the fight standing, he didn’t force the action and try to knock Leites out.

“I’m comfortable with people’s opinion, because they have a right to their opinion, but when I went out there, everything I [prepared for] in training, I felt I executed in the fight. My game plan was that I wanted to go to the later rounds with Thales. I was unable to finish. Sometimes I’m able to finish guys and sometimes I’m not able to. But I felt I proved to everybody that I’m able to go five rounds and that I’m in good shape.”

Nobody really wanted to see that, though. They purchased big money for the tickets – the paid gate at the Bell Centre was $4.9 million – to see him blast Leites and get rid of him as early and as violently as possible.

The only thing that may change Silva’s performance at this point is to give him an opponent he feels may be able to defeat him. White was pressed a lot about making a fight between Silva and welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre, but he noted St. Pierre has a difficult bout upcoming against Thiago Alves.

The other option is for him to move up again, however briefly, to light heavyweight and challenge one of the slew of great strikers who compete in that division.

“We’ve got to do something,” White said, shaking his head. “Watching that was hard. That was tough to take. It was embarrassing, honestly. It was really and truly embarrassing.”

Katsidis Stops Chavez in 7; �Lightweight Lightning� Undercard Results

2009-04-05T19:09:00.001-07:00

By Paul Upham: The relentless pressure of Michael "The Great" Katsidis finally wore down former two-division boxing world champion Jesus Chavez, stopping him at the end of round 7 on Saturday night on the �Lightweight Lightning� promotion at the Frank Erwin Center in Austin, Texas, USA.

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[Source: Boxing Fight Reports - Posted by FreeAutoBlogger]

Maskaev Scores First Round Win

2009-03-18T19:38:00.007-07:00

Former WBC heavyweight champion Oleg Maskaev scored a first round TKO over Rich Boruff at the Ice Palace in Saransk, Russia on Saturday night.

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[Source: Boxing Fight Reports - Posted by FreeAutoBlogger]

Afolabi Knocks Out Maccarinelli in 9

2009-03-18T19:38:00.005-07:00

By Michael Norby: California based Englishman Ola Afolabi claimed the WBO interim cruiserweight boxing world title and in the process, exploded onto the world stage on Saturday night after he demolished former world champion Enzo Maccarinelli with a massive right hand in the ninth round at The MEN Arena in Manchester, England.

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[Source: Boxing Fight Reports - Posted by FreeAutoBlogger]

Khan vs. Barrera: Post Fight Quotes

2009-03-18T19:38:00.003-07:00

UK lightweight Amir Khan defeated Mexican boxing great Marco Antonio Barrera via a five round technical points decision on Saturday night at the MEN Arena in Manchester, England. Barrera sustained a bad cut from an accidental head class in round 1. Both boxers spoke to the media after the match.

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[Source: Boxing Fight Reports - Posted by FreeAutoBlogger]

Arthur Is Still King

2009-03-18T19:38:00.001-07:00

�King� Arthur Abraham made a successful ninth defence of his IBF middleweight world boxing title with a unanimous but hard fought 12 round points win over American Lajun Simon in Kiel, Germany on Saturday night.

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[Source: Boxing Fight Reports - Posted by FreeAutoBlogger]

Macklin Is new British Middleweight champ

2009-03-14T23:40:00.003-07:00

Matthew Macklin win the British middleweight title via a third round tko win over Wayne Elcock in Birmingham on Saturday night.

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[Source: Boxing Fight Reports - Posted by FreeAutoBlogger]

Martinez Stops Cook to Claim WBO 130lbs Title

2009-03-14T23:40:00.001-07:00

By Michael Norby: Undefeated Puerto Rican Roman �Rocky� Martinez overcame a shaky opening on Saturday night to capture the WBO junior lightweight boxing world title with a sudden fourth round stoppage of Englishman Nicky Cook at the MEN Arena in Manchester, England on the Khan-Barrera undercard.

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[Source: Boxing Fight Reports - Posted by FreeAutoBlogger]

Delvin Rodriguez Wins Decision; Raises Questions

2009-03-10T21:33:00.001-07:00

By Derek Bonnett: ESPN2 returned to Uncasville, Connecticut, USA for a lively night of professional boxing at The Mohegan Sun. Joe DeGuardia�s Star Boxing card featured seven bouts with Delvin Rodriguez-Shamone Alvarez headlining the night.

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[Source: Boxing Fight Reports - Posted by FreeAutoBlogger]

Aydin Destroys Hernadez/Hide Wins

2009-03-10T21:32:00.001-07:00

Graciano Rocchigiani�s first show as trainer to �Mini-Tyson� Selcuk Aydin and �Dancing Destroyer� Herbie Hide was a success as both scored wins in front of a sold-out crowd in Cuxhaven, Germany on Friday night.

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[Source: Boxing Fight Reports - Posted by FreeAutoBlogger]

Delvin Rodriguez Wins Decision; Raises Questions

2009-03-08T21:35:00.009-07:00

By Derek Bonnett: ESPN2 returned to Uncasville, Connecticut, USA for a lively night of professional boxing at The Mohegan Sun. Joe DeGuardias Star Boxing card featured seven bouts with Delvin Rodriguez-Shamone Alvarez headlining the night.

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[Source: Boxing Fight Reports - Posted by FreeAutoBlogger]

Tombs Scores Remarkable Comeback And Carl and Ally Fight Out A Wild Draw

2009-03-08T21:35:00.007-07:00

By Andrew Wake at ringside: In his first fight for almost 18 months, Steel City light-heavyweight Danny Tombs made a Rocky-esque comeback to halt Llanellis Adam Wilcox at the Grosvenor Hotel in Sheffield on Sunday afternoon (March 8).

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[Source: Boxing Fight Reports - Posted by FreeAutoBlogger]

Murat stops Sanavia, Sylvester knocks out Nespro

2009-03-08T21:35:00.005-07:00

Karo Murat retained his European super-middleweight title with a tenth-round TKO victory over Cristian Sanavia in Neubrandenburg on Saturday night.

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[Source: Boxing Fight Reports - Posted by FreeAutoBlogger]

John and Juarez Draw over Twelve Exciting Rounds

2009-03-08T21:35:00.003-07:00

By Paul Upham: WBA featherweight boxing world champion Chris John and challenger Ricardo Rocky Juarez fought an exciting twelve round draw on Saturday night at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas, televised in the USA on HBO World Championship Boxing.

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[Source: Boxing Fight Reports - Posted by FreeAutoBlogger]

Classy Sutherland eases to victory

2009-03-08T21:35:00.001-07:00

By Craig Phillips at ringside: Irelands Darren Sutherland easily moved his professional record to 2-0 (2), stopping Siarhei Navarka inside three rounds at the Robin park Arena in Wigan this evening (March 6).

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[Source: Boxing Fight Reports - Posted by FreeAutoBlogger]

Marquez Stops Diaz in 9 Round Thriller

2009-03-08T01:49:00.013-08:00

By Paul Upham: Juan Manuel Marquez overcame a furious initial onslaught from Juan Diaz to knockout the younger challenger in round 9 of their lightweight boxing world title battle on Saturday night at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas, televised in the USA on HBO World Championship Boxing.

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[Source: Boxing Fight Reports - Posted by FreeAutoBlogger]

John and Juarez Draw over Twelve Exciting Rounds

2009-03-08T01:49:00.011-08:00

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[Source: Boxing Fight Reports - Posted by FreeAutoBlogger]

Kirkland Beats Up Julio On HBOs Boxing After Dark

2009-03-08T01:49:00.009-08:00

By Michael Norby: Undefeated junior middleweight power puncher James Kirkland stormed his way to a career best victory on Saturday night after he pummeled Colombian Joel Julio en route to a sixth round stoppage at The HP Pavilion in San Jose, California, USA.

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[Source: Boxing Fight Reports - Posted by FreeAutoBlogger]

Murat stops Sanavia, Sylvester knocks out Nespro

2009-03-08T01:49:00.007-08:00

Karo Murat retained his European super-middleweight title with a tenth-round TKO victory over Cristian Sanavia in Neubrandenburg on Saturday night.

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[Source: Boxing Fight Reports - Posted by FreeAutoBlogger]

Undercard Results from the Mohegan Sun

2009-03-08T01:49:00.005-08:00

ESPN2 returned to Uncasville, CT for a lively night of professional boxing at The Mohegan Sun. The Star Boxing card featured seven bouts with Delvin Rodriguez-Shamone Alvarez headlining the night. Unbeaten Demetrius Andrade and Raymond Serrano helped get the night started as part of the televised undercard.
In an untelevised bout Tyrone Miles of Philadelphia, PA made his professional debut with a hard fought majority decision over Ontario, Canadas Chris Aucoin. Over the four rounds, both m

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[Source: Boxing Fight Reports - Posted by FreeAutoBlogger]

Moore Finally European Champ

2009-03-08T01:49:00.003-08:00

By Wayne Bartlett: After whats seemed an eternity of waiting, postponements, injuries and pullouts, Jamie Moore is finally the European light middleweight champion after dismantling the seasoned Michele Piccirillo in 3 one sided rounds.

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[Source: Boxing Fight Reports - Posted by FreeAutoBlogger]

Classy Sutherland eases to victory

2009-03-08T01:49:00.001-08:00

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[Source: Boxing Fight Reports - Posted by FreeAutoBlogger]

Aydin Destroys Hernadez/Hide Wins

2009-03-08T01:48:00.001-08:00

Graciano Rocchigianis first show as trainer to Mini-Tyson Selcuk Aydin and Dancing Destroyer Herbie Hide was a success as both scored wins in front of a sold-out crowd in Cuxhaven, Germany on Friday night.

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[Source: Boxing Fight Reports - Posted by FreeAutoBlogger]

Marquez Stops Diaz in 9 Round Thriller

2009-03-07T21:10:00.003-08:00

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[Source: Boxing Fight Reports - Posted by FreeAutoBlogger]

Murat stops Sanavia, Sylvester knocks out Nespro

2009-03-07T21:10:00.001-08:00

Karo Murat retained his European super-middleweight title with a tenth-round TKO victory over Cristian Sanavia in Neubrandenburg on Saturday night.

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[Source: Boxing Fight Reports - Posted by FreeAutoBlogger]

Marquez Stops Diaz in 9 Round Thriller

2009-03-03T21:15:00.003-08:00

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[Source: Boxing Fight Reports - Posted by FreeAutoBlogger]

Hussein Comeback Cancelled After Ronald Ruled Medically Unfit

2009-03-03T21:15:00.001-08:00

By Paul Upham at ringside: Australian veteran Hussein Hussein will have to wait a little longer to return to the ring. The 33 year-olds match with Dedy Ronald was cancelled late on Friday afternoon after the Boxing Authority of NSW ruled the Indonesian was medically unfit to compete.

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[Source: Boxing Fight Reports - Posted by FreeAutoBlogger]

Marquez Stops Diaz in 9 Round Thriller

2009-03-01T23:14:00.001-08:00

Shooto: Gig Tokyo Vol. 1 Results

2009-03-01T16:18:00.001-08:00

28/08/2009: Shinjuku Face, Tokyo, Japan Yasutaka Ishigami def. Yuya Kaneuchi via Decision (Unanimous), Round 2, 5:00Yoshihiko Matsumoto def. Yuki Yasunaga...

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Pavlik Defends Youngstown, Rubio Retires after 9

2009-02-27T20:02:00.001-08:00

By Jason Pribila: On Saturday night Kelly Pavlik returned home. Home to defend his middleweight championship, and home to defend his blue-collar town of Youngstown, Ohio. After nine one-sided rounds, order was restored, and Pavlik returned to his winning ways.

Cotto Returns With Stoppage Win

2009-02-22T03:36:00.001-08:00

Miguel Cotto returned to the boxing ring on Saturday night at Madison Square Garden in New York, to defeat brave British fighter Michael Jennings by fifth round TKO.

Full reports to follow.

Salems Lot Meets Friday Night Fights Prescott Wins By DQ

2009-02-21T22:01:00.001-08:00

By Michael Norby: Undefeated Colombian lightweight Breidis Prescott was expected to win his ten round nationally televised showcase on Friday night, but the manner in which he defeated Ecuadorian Humberto Toledo was completely out of left field as a tenth round biting incident lead to a disqualification at Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida USA.

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[Source: Boxing Fight Reports

Arce Ok Apart From Bruised Pride

2009-02-20T21:13:00.009-08:00

By Raj Sharma: Former WBC light flyweight and interim flyweight titlist Jorge Arce is okay following his eleventh round TKO defeat to junior bantamweight king VicDarchinyan Saturday night.

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[Source: Boxing Fight Reports - Posted by FreeAutoBlogger]

Haughian Is New Irish Welterweight Champion

2009-02-20T21:13:00.007-08:00

By David Boyle at ringside: Following an excellent undercard, a lot was expected of the Irish title fight between the Cork Champion Billy Walsh Stephan Haughian at the Craigavon Leisure centre onSaturday night.

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[Source: Boxing Fight Reports - Posted by FreeAutoBlogger]

Cleverly KOs Onyango in 1; Francis not so Clever

2009-02-20T21:13:00.005-08:00

By Wayne Bartlett: Its two title defences and two stoppages now for Nathan Cleverly, as the Welsh Commonwealth light heavyweight champion dispatched Kenyan challenger Samson Onyango inside a round at the Oasis Leisure Centre in Swindon tonight.

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[Source: Boxing Fight Reports - Posted by FreeAutoBlogger]

Woods Too Good For Muriqi

2009-02-20T21:13:00.003-08:00

Clinton Woods kept his world title hopes very much when clearly out-pointed opponent Elvir Muriqi in Jersey on Saturday night.

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[Source: Boxing Fight Reports - Posted by FreeAutoBlogger]

Salems Lot Meets Friday Night Fights Prescott Wins By DQ

2009-02-20T21:13:00.001-08:00

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[Source: Boxing Fight Reports - Posted by FreeAutoBlogger]

Mundine outpoints Taylor in Rugged Battle

2009-02-19T23:30:00.001-08:00

By Paul Upham: Shannan Taylor promised to give Anthony Mundine a real fight and while he didnt get the win, he was good to his word. The Man won a unanimous twelve round points decision on Wednesday night in Wollongong, Australia, but he had to work hard every single round in a rugged battle.

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[Source: Boxing Fight Reports - Posted by FreeAutoBlogger]

Narvaez Retains Title In Impressive Style

2009-02-13T17:54:00.003-08:00

By Juan Pablo Manfredi: In what was supposed to be one of his toughest assigments Omar Narvaez retained his WBO flyweight with a marvelous display of his skills, against Rayonta Whitfield on Saturday night.

Top Rank Goes Without HBO Help For Two-City PPV Boxing Twinbill

2009-02-13T17:54:00.001-08:00

Top Rank later this month will offer a unique pay-per-view boxing event featuring middleweight Kelly Pavlik and former welterweight champion Miguel Cotto - with each fight originating from different cities.

Barrera Wins via Disqualification But Suffers Cut Eye

2009-02-05T21:42:00.001-08:00

Marco Antonio Barrera suffered a bad cut above his left eye during his third round disqualification win over late replacement Freudis Rojas in Jalisco, Mexico on Saturday night.

Swedish boxing transplant is more than just a pretty face

2009-02-04T01:22:00.001-08:00

Tue, Feb 3, 2009 Becoming a Pro You need to upgrade your Flash Player "Donatella the Destroyer" You need to upgrade your Flash Player Donatella Hultin You need to upgrade your Flash Player Mary Ann Owen ...

Brute Pt. 5: You Won't Be Wearing The Swimsuits

2009-02-02T15:50:00.001-08:00

"I saw Mike fight at Arco," the bartender said. "I think he'd just gotten out of jail. Looked like he was fighting somebody's dad."

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Staples Center Undercard: Korobov/Guerrero Deliver 1st Round KOs

2009-02-01T20:04:00.005-08:00

By Jason Pribila at ringside: Top Rank Inc. and Golden Promotions put together a seven fight undercard in support of Saturdays welterweight boxing world title fight between Antonio Margarito and Sugar Shane Mosley. During Thursdays press conference each promoter took the time to single out a fighter from each of their stables. Robert The Ghost Guerrero (Golden Boy) and Russian Olympian, Matvey Korobov (Top Rank).

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[Source: Boxing Fight Reports - Posted by FreeAutoBlogger]

Rose blossoms In Blackpool

2009-02-01T20:04:00.003-08:00

By Craig Phillips: Blackpools Brian Rose put in one of his best performances to date in stopping Jon Harrison at the Blackpool Tower on Saturday (January 24) night.

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[Source: Boxing Fight Reports - Posted by FreeAutoBlogger]

Huck Retains Title In Riesa

2009-02-01T20:04:00.001-08:00

Marco Huck made a successful defence of his European cruiserweight title in Riesa, Germany on Saturday night with a third round tko win over Belgian challenger Geoffrey Battelo.

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[Source: Boxing Fight Reports - Posted by FreeAutoBlogger]

Cintron Takes Sweet Offer To Meet Martin

2009-01-31T19:18:00.005-08:00

Forget candy, cards and candlelight. Instead of whispering sweet sentiments to a significant other near a cozy northeastern fireplace, Kermit Cintron will be spending his Valentine's Day in south Florida, ...

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[Source: Boxing News - Posted by FreeAutoBlogger]

RELIEF! Montreal Judges Do Right By Urango

2009-01-31T19:18:00.003-08:00

The Judges Did The Right Thing! Should We Celebrate Mere Competence? Sometimes, Yes!

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[Source: TheSweetScience.com Boxing - Posted by FreeAutoBlogger]

Brook Destroys Elwell In 2

2009-01-31T19:18:00.001-08:00

By Wayne Bartlett: Kell Brook continued to cut a swathe through the domestic welterweight division after destroying Stuart Elwell in 2 rounds at Bethnal Greens York Hall.

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[Source: Boxing Fight Reports - Posted by FreeAutoBlogger]

Munroe and Booth Retain European Titles, Sutherland Cruises Debut

2008-12-31T02:55:00.003-08:00

Champions Jason Booth and Rendall Munroe both retained their respective European titles at The Helix in Dublin tonight whilst at the other end of the spectrum, Irish bronze medal Olympian Darren Sutherland cruised his much anticipated professional debut.

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[Source: Boxing Fight Reports

Avila's List Of Boxing's Best In 2008

2008-12-31T02:55:00.001-08:00

AVILA CHOOSES TSS'S FIGHT OF THE YEAR!

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[Source: TheSweetScience.com Boxing

Ishii Upsets WBC #6 Lightweight Suico in Tokyo

2008-12-23T02:42:00.003-08:00

At Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, WBC # 6 / WBA # 11 rated lightweight Randy Suico lost his OPBF 135 pound belt via split decision to Japanese titlist Ichitaro Ishii on scores of 117-110, 115-113 and 113-114. Reportedly, Ishii utilized good movement and boxing skills to build up an early lead before Suico came on strong in the second half of the fight.

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[Source: Boxing Fight Reports

Russia's Roman Karmazin Beats Bronco

2008-12-23T02:42:00.001-08:00

Russia's Roman Karmazin Beats Bronco McKart in middleweight contest

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[Source: TheSweetScience.com Boxing

Evander Holyfield Vs Nikolai Valuev

2008-12-20T21:04:00.000-08:00

If you are a boxing fan you are going to get your rocks off the Evander Holyfield Vs Nikolai Valuev fight. And if you are not a fan, just the name of Evander Holyfield will make you want to know about this fight.

Tonight on Saturday December 20, World Boxing Association champion Evander Holyfield has some plans. And those plans do not portend something warm and fuzzy for the current WBA champ Nikolai Valuev. For both these boxers are set to fight in Zurich tonight.

Guess what is Evander Holyfield’s age? Yup, that’s right. All of 46 year old and still kicking screaming on the boxing rink. Holyfield is bent on proving that age is not going to prove a handicap for him. And you can imagine the ecstatic crowds who have sold out.

But its not just the age that go against this great American boxing great, its his weight, which is 40 kgs lighter than his opponent, his height, which is around 30 cm shorter and of course I have already told you about the age.

Nikolai, on the other hand is the heaviest and tallest WBA champ so far. This face off reminds me of the Rocky movies which used cold war propaganda to see their movies.

Check out this page for live webcast of the fight between Evander and Nikolai. I will be posting the youtube video clip as well here.

A Polite Call-Out From Kessler

2008-12-17T20:05:00.001-08:00

Kessler Wants To Ring In 2009 With a BIG Fight

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[Source: TheSweetScience.com Boxing

Ramos Wins In California Scrap

2008-12-13T19:40:00.001-08:00

Ramos Takes Down Vallecilo In California

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[Source: TheSweetScience.com Boxing

Barker Dazzles McKay To Retain Commonwealth Crown

2008-12-13T19:39:00.001-08:00

By Andrew Wake: Last week it was Carl Froch winning the WBCs super-middleweight crown that wowed millions of viewers on ITV and this week saw the opportunity for Hennessy sports stable mate Darren Barker to shine in front of a terrestrial television audience.

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[Source: Boxing Fight Reports

TSS Holiday Gift Guide Selection

2008-12-10T19:07:00.005-08:00

The author revisits the Golden Age of Boxing heavyweights that included Ali, Foreman, Frazier, Norton, Quarry, Chuvalo and Shavers.

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Las Vegas Prefight Journal: Pacman-De La Hoya

2008-12-10T19:07:00.003-08:00

Las Vegas Journal Pacman-De La Hoya

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Froch delivers super-middleweight title for Britain

2008-12-10T19:07:00.001-08:00

Carl Froch unanimously out-pointed Jean Pascal to capture the vacant World Boxing Council super-middleweight title after a classic encounter.

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[Source: Boxing News - Posted by FreeAutoBlogger]

Macc Attack Wipes Out Ellis While Harrison's Career Is On the Rocks

2008-12-10T19:06:00.004-08:00

By Andrew Wake: Wales Enzo Maccarinelli had a week to forget until he blasted heavyweight Matthew Ellis in two rounds this evening. At the start of the week Maccarinelli was due to take on undefeated Johnathon Banks for the vacant WBO he had lost to David Haye earlier this year but when the American pulled out a mad rush was on to find another opponent.

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[Source: Boxing Fight Reports - Posted by FreeAutoBlogger]

It Was One Fight Too Many--Oscar Is Done

2008-12-10T19:06:00.003-08:00

Prefight talk had been about the size difference between Oscar and Manny, but the story was speed. PacMan had it, Oscar didn't.

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[Source: TheSweetScience.com Boxing - Posted by FreeAutoBlogger]

Former heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis tops 2009 boxing Hall of Fame list

2008-12-10T19:06:00.001-08:00

In this June 21, 2003 file photo, Lennox Lewis holds aloft his champions belts following his WBC/IBO heavyweight championship bout against challenger Vitali Klitschko in Los Angeles.

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[Source: Boxing News - Posted by FreeAutoBlogger]

Pacquiao makes De La Hoya quit after eight

2008-12-06T21:35:00.000-08:00

Round-by-round coverage of pound-for-pound kingpin Manny Pacquiao’s welterweight victory over Oscar De La Hoya. Pacquiao won via TKO when De La Hoya couldn’t answer the bell for the ninth round.

ROUND 1
De La Hoya closed as a 2-1 favorite. De La Hoya is minus-200 and Pacquiao is plus-170. The over-under is 9½ rounds. Pacquiao comes out with a slight weight advantage tonight. On the unofficial HBO scales, he weighed 148½ and De La Hoya was 147. De La Hoya is the aggressor early, but nothing lands in the first minute. Straight left from Pacquiao and then a combination from Pacquiao connects. Lead left by Pacquiao. Right to the body by Oscar. Manny misses a big hook. Straight left by Pacquiao. Combination to the head by De La Hoya backs Pacquiao up. Right by Oscar connects. Straight left by Manny.
Iole scores it 10-9, Pacquiao

ROUND 2
Lead right by De La Hoya and a right hook from Pacquiao. Double jab by De La Hoya. Pacquiao is circling away. Combination from Oscar but doesn’t land flush. Combination to the body by De La Hoya. Right-left from Pacquiao. De La Hoya’s face is reddened from the punches. Pacquiao left lands and then an uppercut. Lead left by Pacquiao keeps getting through. Difference in hand speed is stark. Hard jab and then a left by Pacquiao. Lead left by Pacquiao.
Iole scores it 10-9, Pacquiao.

ROUND 3
Lead left from Pacquiao to open the round connects. De La Hoya has to stop that. De La Hoya is doing nothing offensively in first minute of round. Pacquiao flicks a jab that is short. Right to the head and left to the body from De La Hoya. Lead left again by Pacquiao. Left to the body from Pacquiao. Oscar seems befuddled. Right hook to the body from Pacquiao.
Iole scores it 10-9, Pacquiao

ROUND 5
De La Hoya connects with a jab, but first 30 seconds of round are very slow. They’re circling but not throwing much. Pacquiao lands a right hook. Triple jab from Pacquiao. Combination from Pacquiao backs De La Hoya up. The way this is going, it wouldn’t be a shock if De La Hoya were to quit on the stool at some point. He’s taking a tremendous amount of punishment. Body shot by Oscar lands and then two lefts. Oscar’s left eye is closing. He looks like a beaten, old and shot fighter.
Iole scores it 10-9, Pacquiao

ROUND 6
Nothing happens in first minute of round. Pacquiao lands left to body and a left to the cheek. They trade in the corner and Pacquiao gets the best of it. Straight left from Pacquiao lands. Hard straight left by Pacquiao snaps Oscar’s head back. De La Hoya’s left eye is a mess. Right by Pacquiao lands on that eye. This may be stopped soon by the corner.
Iole scores it 10-9, Pacquiao

ROUND 7
Lead right by De La Hoya lands to open the round. Pacquiao rakes De La Hoya with a three-punch combination. Double jab by Manny. Pacquiao batters De La Hoya into the corner. He’s pinned on the ropes and Pacquiao is firing away. Fight is close to ending. Pacquiao is hitting De La Hoya hard with everything he throws. Oscar is in big, big trouble. Left to the body by Pacquiao hurts Oscar. Oscar has never been beaten like this in any of his 44 previous fights. Pacquiao is overwhelming him.
Iole scores it 10-8, Pacquiao

ROUND 8
Pacquiao goes to the body and is warned by referee Tony Weeks to keep them up. Lead right by Oscar connects. Combination by Pacquiao pins Oscar in the corner. Lead left by Pacquiao buzzes De La Hoya. Combination wobbles him in the corner. Double jab by Pacquiao. Combination by Pacquiao lands. De La Hoya goes to the body. Four-punch combination by Pacquiao lands and hurts Oscar.
Iole scores it 10-9, Pacquiao

ROUND 9
Fight is stopped just as the round is set to begin. Manny Pacquiao is the winner. Official time is 3:00 of the eighth.

TSS Prospect Watch: Luis Carlos Abregu

2008-12-04T21:24:00.011-08:00

Watch Abregu On Showtime Friday

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[Source: TheSweetScience.com Boxing - Posted by FreeAutoBlogger]

Friday Night US Round-Up/Abell 'Fouls Out' in Sioux Falls

2008-12-04T21:24:00.009-08:00

At the Sheraton Sioux Falls & Convention Center in Sioux Falls, SD, heavyweight Jason Nicholson was awarded a DQ 1 victory over Joey Abell when Abell hit Nicholson while still down from a clean knockdown. The referee initially deducted two points, but later ruled a DQ when Nicholson could not continue.

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[Source: Boxing Fight Reports - Posted by FreeAutoBlogger]

Mexican War: Miguel Torres-Manny Tapia

2008-12-04T21:24:00.007-08:00

Mexican War: Miguel Torres-Manny Tapia. Torre is considered one of best pound for pound. Tapia wants to KO him.

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[Source: TheSweetScience.com Boxing - Posted by FreeAutoBlogger]

Confident Taylor reaches another final

2008-12-04T21:24:00.005-08:00

Katie Taylor: meets China's Cheng Dong in the final. BOXING NEWS: IRISH LIGHTWEIGHT Katie Taylor meets China's Cheng Dong this morning with a 60kg gold medal up for grabs at the Fifth AIBA Women's World ...

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[Source: Boxing News - Posted by FreeAutoBlogger]

Yefimovich Stuns Maggio In Donetsk

2008-12-04T21:24:00.003-08:00

Oleg Yefimovich made a successful first defence of his European featherweight title with an impressive first round stoppage win over Italian Luca Maggio at the Druzhba Sports Palace in Donetsk, Ukraine on Saturday night.

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[Source: Boxing Fight Reports - Posted by FreeAutoBlogger]

WEC 37: Torres Vs. Tapia Results

2008-12-04T21:24:00.001-08:00

Miguel Torres def. Manny Tapia via TKO (Strikes), Round 2, 3:04 (WEC Bantamweight Title)Wagnney Fabiano def. Akitoshi Tamura via Submission...

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[Source: The Fight Site News Feed - Posted by FreeAutoBlogger]

Fatton, Schmatton: Hatton Blows Out Paulie

2008-11-25T20:28:00.007-08:00

Hatton Was Strong, And Sharp, And Smart, And Too Much For Paulie, Who Was Game But Outclassed

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[Source: TheSweetScience.com Boxing - Posted by FreeAutoBlogger]

Ruiz, Singwancha Shine in Las Vegas Off-TV Bouts

2008-11-25T20:28:00.005-08:00

By Mike Sloan at ringside: Entering tonights bout at the MGM Grand in, having won three straight bouts since his first round TKO loss to Daniel Ponce de Leon, Rey Bautista was intent on regaining another chance at a world recognized title.

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[Source: Boxing Fight Reports - Posted by FreeAutoBlogger]

Gonzalez Impresses Against Lopez

2008-11-25T20:28:00.003-08:00

By Raj Sharma at ringside: Former bantamweight titlist Jhonny Gonzalez tuned up for a possible title shot with an impressive fourth round knockout of veteran Reynaldo Lopez Friday night at the Morongo Casino in Cabazon, California, USA.

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[Source: Boxing Fight Reports - Posted by FreeAutoBlogger]

Pavlik excited to fight at Chevy Centre

2008-11-25T20:28:00.001-08:00

Prior to his ascent to the top of the middleweight class, Kelly Pavlik fought Lenord "The Haitian Sensation" Pierre at the Chevrolet Centre; one of four fights that he has fought locally during a stellar ...

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[Source: Boxing News - Posted by FreeAutoBlogger]

FX3 November Event Postponed

2008-11-20T21:05:00.001-08:00

The Fight Site has received news that FX3's 10th outing on 29th of November has been postponed, we received that...

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[Source: The Fight Site News Feed - Posted by FreeAutoBlogger]

Report: Anderson Silva could headline UFC 95, against Chuck Liddell

2008-11-18T21:17:00.000-08:00

When the UFC returns to London, England, for a show at The 02, UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva (23-4 MMA, 8-0 UFC) could headline the event—possibly in a non-title fight at 205 pounds against Chuck Liddell (21-6 MMA, 16-5 UFC).

The Sun, a reputable newspaper from the U.K., reported the possibility of the UFC 95 main event overnight.

However, neither fighter has been officially booked for the Feb. 21 event, and the Silva-Liddell fight is only being discussed a possibility.

“SunSport understands middleweight champion Anderson Silva, 33, has been asked to appear on the card, with a potential bout with light heavyweight star Chuck Liddell already being mooted,” the report stated.

If it does pan out, the fight is certain to raise some eyebrows.

While Silva, who’s made easy work of the UFC’s 185-pound division since his arrival in 2006, has been granted permission to fight in the 205-pound division once before, his fight with James Irvin was largely considered pointless. However, with UFC Fight Night 15 being a late-booked event and in desperate need of a main event to counter Affliction Entertainment’s debut event on July 19, the circumstances warranted even a non-ideal booking.

The UFC 95 fight, meanwhile, could be—and perhaps should be—criticized on two fronts. Not only would the light-heavyweight fight put the UFC’s middleweight title picture on hold again (Silva made just two title defenses in 2008), he’d also be competing against a fighter—though surely a future UFC hall-of-famer—who’s lost three of his past four fights and whose stock has never been lower. In fact, the 38-year-old Liddell hasn’t scored a knockout victory in nearly two years.

Liddell is still a draw, and the fight could be marketed. However, a loss for “The Iceman” could be a disaster and force him into retirement. Worse yet, a loss for Silva would greatly impact his standing as the world’s top pound-for-pound fighter and would likely derail any future plans for the 33-year-old Brazilian to fight outside the 185-pound division.

Silva is currently riding a nine-fight win streak, which includes eight consecutive victories in the UFC. None of his UFC fights has gone to a decision, including his most recent title defense. Last month at UFC 90, he defeated Patrick Cote via third-round TKO due to a knee injury suffered by the Canadian fighter.

Cruz Wins IBF Featherweight Title: Andrade Impressive in Pro Debut

2008-10-27T04:05:00.003-07:00

By Jason Pribila: Christobal Cruz won the vacant IBF featherweight boxing world title by scoring a split decision win over Orlando Salido on Thursday night October 23 at the Northern Quest Casino in Spokane, Washington, USA.

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[Source: Boxing Fight Reports - Posted by FreeAutoBlogger]

Bute vs. Andrade: Post Fight Quotes

2008-10-27T04:05:00.001-07:00

It was a controversial finish on Friday nights special edition of ShoBox: The New Generation on Showtime. Hometown hero Lucian Bute of Montreal, dominated the No.1 rated challenger Librado Andrade of La Habra, California, en route to a unanimous decision victory of his IBF super middleweight boxing world title. However, it was Bute who appeared to be out on his feet at the end of twelve rounds.

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[Source: Boxing Fight Reports - Posted by FreeAutoBlogger]

EliteXC's Death

2008-10-23T00:00:00.000-07:00

Well, it has finally happened. ProElite/EliteXC has closed up shop. The struggling promotion had lost upwards of $55 million, but in the end it seems an unlikely nemesis drove in the final nail. Showtime was working on a deal to purchase a majority stake in the company, which would have alleviated the financial concerns. According to MMA Junkie, Showtime changed their mind after the Seth Petruzelli controversy surfaced. So not only did Seth Petruzelli take out their biggest draw Kimbo Slice, he also managed to put ProElite/EliteXC out of business. Ken Shamrock also deserves some blame, because if it was not for his suspicious cut, Petruzelli would have never been in the main event. Although, booking Shamrock to headline a major show probably was not the best idea. He is not the most reliable fighter, as EliteXc found out.

The real culprits of EliteXC's demise are the executives who ran it into the ground. Yes, the controversy surrounding the Petruzelli incident probably was the last straw for Showtime. No, it was not the ultimate reason they died. As I have pointed out numerous times, EliteXC repeatedly made stupid mistakes. They never grasped what fans wanted. Instead they gave viewers a shoddy product that could never compare to the UFC.

Their biggest problem was they never understood how to form a fight card. Their top fighters routinely fought mediocre competition (Silva vs Eilers for the Heavyweight Title, Diaz vs Denny), which goes against the UFC branded philosophy of no easy fights. Like it or not, MMA formed with the UFC's influence. You cannot expect to pass off less than stellar match-ups and get away with it. Fans flocked to the sport because for many reasons, but one of the biggest is the notion that every fight matters. Any one can win on any given night. EliteXC broke the rule and paid the price.

The death of EliteXC should start a bidding war between the UFC and Affliction for the services of the defunct promotion's top fighters (also throw WEC in there under the UFC banner). This is part of the reason I was always hard on EliteXC. They had quite a bit of talent. They just never used it properly. Here is a list of some of the notable names who now find themselves without an employer:

Jake Shields
Nick Diaz
Robbie Lawler
Antonio Silva
Gina Carano
Kimbo Slice
Eddie Alvarez
Rafael Feijao
Wilson Reis
KJ Noons
Murilo Rua
Brett Rogers

The most intriguing names are Jake Shields, Nick Diaz, Antonio Silva, Eddie Alvarez, Gina Carano, and of course Kimbo Slice. Diaz was already in talks to fight in Japan. It seems that will be his first stop. On GracieFighter.com, they claim Jake Shields going to the UFC is a "real possibility". The other four could conceivably land just about any where. Silva would be a solid addition to any promotion's lineup. He has some talent and it would be nice to see him face quality competition. Alvarez will not have trouble finding work, either. Carano and Kimbo are the toughest to predict. Women's MMA is still in its infancy and most promotions are not serious about it, most notably the UFC where Dana White basically treats it as a joke. Hopefully Affliction is not as closed minded and goes after her.

Last is Kimbo Slice. I find it hard to believe he will accept a low salary and fight for a small promotion. He could go to Japan, where they love novelty fighters. Affliction might be interested in his drawing power, as they get ready for their second PPV. Even the UFC is a possibility. Dana White has badmouthed him in the past, but it would not be the first time he changed his opinion when the wind blew in the other direction.

Another name not on the list is Tito Ortiz. He gushed at EliteXC's final CBS event that he was a week away from signing. I never believed it. EliteXC was in enough money trouble without adding his salary to the mix. Now he finds himself caught between the UFC, where he is hated, and Affliction, who have shown mild interest in his services. EliteXC's death hurts him more than the others because now there is a large market of free agent fighters. Affliction has more options and could decide to sign a few fighters for the price of Ortiz's salary. That would be the sensible and logical thing to do. I'd much rather have Alvarez, Rogers, and Reis than Tito. Even with those three, you would probably still save money.

Hopkins dominates Pavlik

2008-10-19T04:35:00.000-07:00

Bernard Hopkins gave Kelly Pavlik a boxing lesson and a first loss that he will never forget.

The 43-year-old Hopkins used lightning quick combinations and a cagey, near-perfect defense to embarrass and confuse Pavlik in a 12-round non-title bout Saturday night at Boardwalk Hall.

Hopkins, who dominated the middleweight class for a decade, made the 26-year-old Pavlik—the WBC and WBO middleweight champion—look slow and powerless in fighting at 170 pounds, 10 pounds over his weight class.

“I think this was my best performance, better than (Antonio) Tarver, better than (Felix) Trinidad, better than Oscar (De La Hoya), better than my 21 defenses,” Hopkins said. “I am extremely happy.”

Hopkins received winning scores of 119-106 from judge Alan Rubenstein, 117-109 from Barbara Perez and 118-108 from Steve Weisfeld.

The mismatch was obvious from the opening bell, and Hopkins reveled in the beating he gave the Youngstown, Ohio boxer. By the fifth round, Pavlik was bleeding from the nose and by the seventh Hopkins was taunting him.

During one stretch in the round, Hopkins landed four or five straight punches, and then stepped back started winding up on his punches before delivering them.

“He was a great fighter but I knew my style and quickness was underrated and it was going to give him problems tonight,” Hopkins added.

Pavlik (34-1) never stopped stalking Hopkins of Philadelphia, but he never seemed to hurt him.

“I just could not get off tonight,” Pavlik said. “I don’t know why? It was not his slickness. It just wasn’t me out there tonight. I couldn’t do anything I’m used to doing. We’re going back to the drawing board. it just wasn’t me tonight. I’ll be more comfortable going back to 160.”

With tinges of gray in his beard, Hopkins even looked the fresher fighter. He came into ring wearing an executioner’s mask and black robe with an ‘X’ on both, and he terminated Pavlik’s perfect mark in improving to (49-5-1).

The crowd had come to hail Pavlik, who had battered Gary Lockett in his first title defense in June.

When he was in trouble early, they chanted “Kel-lee! Kel-lee!”

Halfway through the fight the chants become “B-Hop! B-Hop!”

Hopkins landed a barrage of blows in the 12th round and started yelling at Pavlik in a move that was no more than a gleeful taunt.

“I wanted to pick it up and step it up,” Hopkins said. “I wanted to stop him.”

When the final bell sounded, both fighters continued to throw punches, forcing referee Benji Esteves to dive between them.

Hopkins then walked over to the television cameras and glared, wondering how so many had predicted that Pavlik would knock him out for the first time in his career.

In hindsight, it’s a wonder Pavlik was still standing at the end.

Hopkins praised Pavlik after the fight.

“I was a fan of yours before the fight and I am a fan of yours now,” Hopkins told Pavlik in the corner. “You just need to get a little more slickness. You need to bend you knees more like your coach was telling you. Middleweight is your destiny.”

Hopkins drops fighting words before Pavlik bout

2008-10-17T05:27:00.000-07:00

Bernard Hopkins has tried everything short of hypnosis on Kelly Pavlik and, for all we know, he may have even hired someone to try that.

This is the guy nicknamed “The Executioner,” who speaks incessantly of his days in a Pennsylvania prison, who often wears an executioner’s mask to the ring, and who frequently uses prefight news conferences and interviews as an opportunity to strike fear into his opponent’s heart.

Hopkins, who will meet Pavlik on Saturday in a non-title light heavyweight fight at Atlantic City, N.J.’s Boardwalk Hall on HBO Pay-Per-View, has been all but killing Pavlik with kindness.

The death stare that Hopkins has been known for throughout his 20-year career has been absent. Hopkins has stared largely off in the distance rather than attempting to bore a hole through Pavlik.

Hopkins praised Pavlik’s skills, spoken admiringly of Pavlik’s heart and generally has responded as if Pavlik deserved to be a heavy favorite.

The wily Hopkins, though, has never entered a fight he didn’t believe he couldn’t win. And if his strategy has been to somehow lull Pavlik into a false sense of security, well, Team Pavlik insists it has too much respect for Hopkins and his accomplishments to fall for that.

“Kelly has been prepared very well for this fight, in all areas, and when I say that, I mean physically as well as mentally,” promoter Bob Arum of Top Rank said. “He knows what Hopkins has accomplished. Look at what the guys has done, how long he was (middleweight) champion and all the defenses he has had and he’s still up there now, at his age. Nobody is fooling anybody here. Kelly knows he’s got his hands full. And he’s been prepared for anything that may happen.”

That Hopkins is still fighting now, at 43, is testament to his fanatical conditioning and to a significantly better than expected performance against Antonio Tarver in 2006. He had promised his late mother, Shirley, that he wouldn’t fight past 40 and, even though he was five months past his 41st birthday when the Tarver fight occurred, he had vowed it would be his last.

But then he went out and routed Tarver so easily, and looked so good in doing so, he realized that he still had the capacity to defeat world-class talent and make big money in the process.

So, since he’s fought Tarver, he’s beaten Winky Wright and lost to Joe Calzaghe. The penurious Hopkins, who carries a Costco card in his wallet, has a simple explanation for why he’s still at it after all these years: The money.

Or, as he prefers to call it, back pay.

Hopkins once used to rage against the system, feeling he was being cheated out of monies due to him. Now, Hopkins is one of the game’s top earners and he hasn’t been cleanly beaten yet even though he’s nearly at the midpoint between the legal drinking age (21) and the retirement age (65). He’ll hit that when he turns 44 in two months.

“My motivation is back pay,” Hopkins said. “And I’m a late bloomer and I’m a late start in everything in boxing. As you look at my history for years, the last five years have been a blessing for Bernard Hopkins and my family and it reflects that I’ve done well.

I’ve done well in the ring and I’ve done well financially and dealing with (Golden Boy Promotions CEO) Richard Schaefer, who comes from the banking industry. I’ve made some great investments.

“But in saying that, I am a late bloomer. Whether history reflects whether it was worth it or not, I can tell you it was for the years that I didn’t get the chance to shine. And you wrote about it many years and, you know, some believe that my decisions were going in the wrong direction and it bought me time. It bought me time to be here at 40-plus years old, still doing what I do at my best.”

What Hopkins has been best at over the years has been finding what his opponent has been best at and taking it away. Pavlik is 34-0 with 30 knockouts, but he’s still a young fighter on the rise and getting better.

Clearly, his power and his right hands are his drawing cards and Hopkins knows that if he neutralizes the right, the chances of a victory increase exponentially.

In 2001, he was such an underdog when he was fighting in Don King’s Middleweight Championship Series that King had Felix Trinidad’s name engraved on the Sugar Ray Robinson Trophy as the series champion before the final bout.

Hopkins, though, broke down film of the then-unbeaten Trinidad and quickly figured out that Trinidad wasn’t so fearful without that left hook. Hopkins neutralized the left hook, turned Trinidad into a puppy and stopped him in the 12th round.

He’s not predicting a stoppage of Pavlik, but he is cautioning anyone expecting Pavlik to walk right through him to remember the lessons of the past.

“Kelly Pavlik is the perfect opponent for me … because he comes forward, he comes to fight, and look – he wants to knock Bernard Hopkins out,” Hopkins said. “At least that’s what he says. But he’s going to find it difficult and that’s going to change the fight. I guarantee you, that’s going to change the fight. Tito tried to walk me down. Tito had one bullet in the chamber and that was a left hook. If Kelly Pavlik thinks he’s going to beat Bernard Hopkins because he has a right hand, he’s a damn fool.”

Pavlik is hardly a trash talker and he hasn’t predicted a knockout. Prodded about Hopkins’ claims, he said, “I haven’t in one fight ever predicted a KO. I go in there to win. If the knockout comes, that’s great.”

Hopkins clearly wants him to try for it, though. There are some defensive coordinators who blitz all the time. But then there are situations that call for a prevent defense. Hopkins is the master of knowing when to blitz and knowing when to play the prevent.

Nobody in this area has ever been better at it.

“You’ve got an offensive guy and you’ve got a defensive guy (in this fight),” Hopkins said. “That’s the perfect match. That’s the perfect match. You’ve got a guy that comes forward and you’ve got a guy that specializes in guys coming forward so he can let them punch so he can punch. That’s what – that’s been my game. So there will be no strategy put out there for people to hear (who may be) listening. But there will be a fight where you know the Mack truck is coming and can Bernard Hopkins derail the Mack truck? I say I will flatten the tires. It will slow up, and then it will conk out.”

Gamboa, Angulo & Martinez Deliver on HBO

2008-10-16T01:10:00.005-07:00

By Raj Sharma at ringside: Promoter Gary Shaws Night of the Rising Stars series once again delivered. Fans in attendance at the Pechanga Casino and Resort in Temecula, California, USA, and a national HBO audience were treated to sensational performances by prospects Yuriorkis Gamboa and Alfredo Angulo and contender Sergio Martinez.

Gare Shows His Class

2008-10-16T01:10:00.003-07:00

By Lwazi Ndzobongo: Champion William Gare showed great boxing skills to outpoint Jindrich Velecky at the Bloemfontein City Hall on Friday night.

Nathan Boxes Cleverly To Claim Title

2008-10-16T01:10:00.001-07:00

Welshman Nathan Cleverly claimed the vacant Commonwealth light heavyweight crown via a unanimous 12 points decision over Portsmouths Tony Oakey at the Everton Park Sports Centre in Liverpool on Friday night.

Soto wins vacant WBC Crown

2008-10-16T01:09:00.001-07:00

Humberto Soto won the vacant WBC super featherweight world title at the Auditorio Centenario in Coahuila de Zaragoza, Mexico on Saturday night, via a 10th-round TKO against Gamaliel Diaz.

Final curtain for the Kimbo show

2008-10-05T16:27:00.000-07:00

SUNRISE, Fla. – The legend of Kimbo Slice was built by beating bums in boat yards and back alleys not far from here. It came crashing down Saturday courtesy of a quick punch from a pink-haired journeyman giving up two inches in height, four in reach and 30 pounds in muscle and might.

One simple shot sent Slice to the canvas and from there some guy named Seth Petruzelli needed just 12 punches and 14 seconds to put an end (we hope) to one of the great sporting charades of all time.

It was just a matter of time before Kimbo got exposed. He was little more than a character out of central casting, a bunch of addictive YouTube videos and a lot of insane hype by CBS, which made him a headliner before he made himself a fighter.

He was the Kimbo the Cash Machine, everyone lining up to exploit the lie that this was the baddest man on earth as long as he could walk through hand-picked tomato cans.

Only this time his match with 44-year-old Ken Shamrock, who hadn’t won a fight in over four years, fell apart when Shamrock cut his eye in a light training session Saturday and was deemed unfit to fight by state officials.

In the scramble to find a suitable replacement that Slice couldn’t possibly lose to, EliteXC considered Shamrock’s brother, Frank, who was there to be CBS’s color commentator, hadn’t fought lately due to a broken arm and would have given up around 45 pounds. Despite all this, Frank likely would have submitted Kimbo in the first round.

When that matchup couldn’t happen (EliteXC said state officials wouldn’t clear him, Frank said they did but CBS blocked it), EliteXC promoters turned to Petruzelli. The Fort Myers, Fla., native had been dumped by the big-league UFC, was just 2-2 since 2004, had recently taken a year off to start a business, weighed just 205 (to Kimbo’s 235) and was so lightly regarded he was competing in the non-televised undercard.

Despite the oft-repeated propaganda that Slice was a man of “courage” for taking a fight with this smaller guy who was likely to stand and trade punches anyway, EliteXC paid Kimbo a cash bonus just to get him to step into the cage.

“We made it up to him,” said Jeremy Lappen, EliteXC’s head of fight operations. He wouldn’t disclose the amount.

For the myth of Slice, the matchup may not be a 44-year-old on a losing streak or someone from the broadcast booth, but really, what was the worst thing that could happen?

“It didn’t feel too flush,” Petruzelli said of the first punch that apparently didn’t even need to land squarely to fell Kimbo.

Make no mistake – or listen to the EliteXC spin – this was a disaster for Slice and the company. “This is MMA, all the best have lost,” said Lappen. True, but Kimbo wasn’t defeated by a crafty Brazilian jiu-jitsu master. He wasn’t caught in a submission by an experienced wrestler. He didn’t lose a decision after a three-round brawl.

Those would be understandable considering his novice status.

Kimbo was KTFO by a guy he absolutely towered over yet was willing to bang with him anyway. Not that Kimbo did any banging. Slice charged him (“He was like a truck,” Petruzelli said) but he never actually landed a punch.

In the end, Kimbo’s hand speed, defense and chin proved incapable against even an average mixed martial artist. Which was pretty much what every hardcore fan had predicted.

Not that CBS didn’t keep up with the Slice willing to fight, “anyone, anywhere, at anytime.” This was a 100 percent true statement if “anyone, anywhere, at anytime” means “no one any good, anywhere, ever.”

Slice seemed stunned and a bit saddened at the turn of events. After it was over, he initially began wrestling the referee. Whether that was a protest for the decision or because he was dazed isn’t certain. Then he walked around the cage complaining to fans about the stoppage.

Later he walked out on his CBS interview (“Kimbo?” asked a stunned Gus Johnson), although not before inviting America to an after party at a local nightclub. Then he showed up 45 minutes late for the main press conference, where he gave a quick statement and bailed.

“I got my first black eye,” he laughed. He later turned to Petruzelli and joked, “You knocked me out in front of my family; that’s (expletive) up.”

Through it all Slice remained the only likable character of this foolish farce. He wasn’t the one claiming he was the best in the world. He was just a working-class dude who figured out how to beat the system and cash in on his 15 minutes of fleeting fame.

He’s got kids to feed and bills to pay and right to the end, he was milking bonuses out of the promotion, a one-time homeless man holding the Tiffany Network’s prime-time programming hostage. Only in America.

He was the grand actor in the middle of a three-ring circus, a tall tale that would eventually come tumbling down under the bright glare of reality.

Where Slice goes from here is anyone’s guess. He can’t rebuild his reputation without stepping up in competition from the guy who just beat him in seconds. He can’t headline a card and have anyone believe he’s legit. He can’t claim he, “just got caught” when it wasn’t some wild, roundhouse right or sneaky arm-bar that did him in.

The truth was always coming for Kimbo. Saturday it arrived sooner rather than later, the money train grinding to a halt courtesy of a smaller, less heralded fighter that no one can claim is some elite champion.

No, this was it. It’ll never be the same, not for the fighter and not, perhaps, for his entire promotion that just lost its signature star on top of the $58 million it’s burned the past two years.

Afterward, EliteXC execs tried to paint a bright future but admitted they needed a drink. Lower-level employees used gallows humor about finding new jobs.

Kimbo just said he was going home to see his kids.

In 14 seconds flat, the whole mirage was gone.

Video Kimbo Knocked Out

Seth Petruzelli (11-4) def. Kimbo Slice (3-1)

2008-10-05T14:13:00.000-07:00

Ref stoppage in 14 seconds
Turning point: Petruzelli dropped Slice immediately with a jab and pummeled him with punch after punch until ref Todd Waugh stopped it.
Analysis: The ramifications here are numerous. Even if the television rating is big, the goose that laid the golden egg was exposed by a fighter who previously was known only to the most hardcore fans. In the long run, that is devastating to the company and for MMA on CBS. The future is very much up in the air.

David Blaine Vs. Kimbo Slice

Final curtain for the Kimbo show

SUNRISE, Fla. – The legend of Kimbo Slice was built by beating bums in boat yards and back alleys not far from here. It came crashing down Saturday courtesy of a quick punch from a pink-haired journeyman giving up two inches in height, four in reach and 30 pounds in muscle and might.

One simple shot sent Slice to the canvas and from there some guy named Seth Petruzelli needed just 12 punches and 14 seconds to put an end (we hope) to one of the great sporting charades of all time.

It was just a matter of time before Kimbo got exposed. He was little more than a character out of central casting, a bunch of addictive YouTube videos and a lot of insane hype by CBS, which made him a headliner before he made himself a fighter.