Yardbarker: Boxing

Marco Huck retains title with unanimous decision over Ola Afolabi

Sat, 05 Dec 2009 18:19:12 -0500

Marco Huck successfully defended his WBO cruiserweight title this afternoon by defeating Ola Afolabi on scores of 115-113, 115-113 and 116-112. Bad Left Hook scored the fight 115-113 in favor of Huck. As expected, Afolabi was extremely slippery all fight, and Huck had a hard time landing clean shots on the Nigerian-born, American-based Englishman. Most of the rounds in the fight played out very similarly - Ola would control the outside with his jab, and would land the...

Amir Khan rips through Dmitriy Salita in 76 seconds

Sat, 05 Dec 2009 18:12:27 -0500

It was no contest in Newcastle. About 10 seconds into the evening's main event, WBA junior welterweight titlist Amir Khan sparked Dmitriy Salita with a right hand that sent the New Yorker to the mat. It was over then. On jelly legs and with glassed-over eyes, Salita attempted to fight on. Desperately, he clutched and grabbed at Khan, hoping to get his legs back beneath him. Another Khan flurry sent him back to the mat. Salita got up once more, but again the young Brit threw his li...

Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. fails Nevada drug test

Sat, 05 Dec 2009 17:53:30 -0500

Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. could be in hot water after failing a post-fight drug test. (Photo by Al Bello / Getty Images) View full size photo » Top Rank cash cow Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. has failed his post-fight drug test in Nevada from his November 14 win over Troy Rowland. Dan Rafael has the details: Middleweight Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., the son of the former three-division champion and Mexican icon, tested positive for a...

Two Weeks Down, Eight to Go

Sat, 05 Dec 2009 16:17:18 -0500

What's up everyone, its your boy Andre Berto. I'm down here in Winter Haven, FL, training for my January 30th fight with Shane Mosley in Las Vegas. We are just finishing up the second week of camp and are working hard every day go get ready for Shane.

My brother, Cleveland, is my Strength and Conditioning coach and my trainer, Tony Morgan, have us doing all different things in the gym plus work in the pool and on the track. I'm definitely going to be ready for Shane when January 30th hits. I know this is my time.

Check out some of the photos from my second week of training:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/45327693@N06/sets/72157622817528837/show/

Bad Left Hook Live Boxing Results and Commentary: Amir Khan v. Dmitriy Salita

Sat, 05 Dec 2009 13:39:50 -0500

Live coverage begins at 3pm ET. AMIR KHAN DMITRIY SALITA Main Event Record: 21-1 (15 KO) Record: 30-0-1 (16 KO) Age: 22 Age: 27 Hometown: Bolton, England Hometown: Brooklyn, New York Height: 5'10" Height: 5'9" Reach: N/A Reach: 69" Ranks/Titles: WBA, Ring #3, Bad Left Hook #7, ESPN #4, BoxRec #6 Ranks/Titles: BoxRec #63 TV: Sky Box Office, 3pm ET Venue: Metro Radio Arena -...

Bad Left Hook Live Boxing Results and Commentary: Marco Huck v. Ola Afolabi

Sat, 05 Dec 2009 13:35:23 -0500

In Germany, adopted cruiserweight star Marco Huck will be facing interim titlist Ola Afolabi. As usual for Sauerland cards, there is a loaded undercard, and no official word as to which undercard fights will be televised. Most likely, we'll get to see Alexander Povetkin taking a tune up fight against Leo Nolan, and Bulgarian amateur heavyweight star Kubrat Pulev, who's only 2-0, take on crafty and underrated veteran Zack Page. Also, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern time, there wi...

Fight Preview: Marco Huck v. Ola Afolabi

Sat, 05 Dec 2009 13:06:19 -0500

Marco Huck defends the WBO cruiserweight title against Ola Afolabi today in Germany. View full size photo » Bad Left Hook will have live, round-by-round coverage and scoring of this card today, starting at 4:15pm ET. Perhaps the most overlooked bigger fight of the weekend is the meeting in Germany between WBO cruiserweight titlist Marco Huck and Ola Afolabi. Huck (26-1, 20 KO) is no mystery. He's a powerful guy and ...

Pacquiao and Mayweather agree on 50-50 split

Sat, 05 Dec 2009 12:37:40 -0500

Every time I say it, I feel like I should knock on wood, but this fight is a go for March 13. Make no mistake about it, this is going to happen in just a few months. Dan Rafael says that the two sides agreed to a 50-50 split, among other things. Here's the rundown: The camps agreed to a 50-50 split of the money, which could be gargantuan. Many experts expect the fight to eclipse the all-time pay-per-view record for sales, which is the 2.44 million buys generated by Mayweather...

Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. Tests Positive For Banned Substance

Sat, 05 Dec 2009 10:15:00 -0500

Filed under: WBA, WBC, IBF, WBO, HBOUndefeated middleweight (160 pounds) prospect Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. tested positive for a banned substance following last month's 10-round unanimous decision over Troy Rowlands, his promoter, Top Rank, confirmed on Saturday.The 23-year-old Chavez Jr. (40-1-1, 30 knockouts) could forfeit his Nov. 14 win over 34-year-old Rowland (25-3, seven KOs) and will apparently have to fork over some cash as a result of the penalty.Nevada State Athletic Commission E...

Source: Manny Pacquiao signs contract to fight Floyd Mayweather Jr. on March 13

Sat, 05 Dec 2009 00:51:48 -0500

Manny Pacquiao signed a contract to fight Floyd Mayweather Jr. in boxing's biggest fight on March 13, a source with knowledge of the meeting told ESPN.com on Friday night.

Early Weekend Results

Fri, 04 Dec 2009 22:39:49 -0500

Early Weekend Results Eddy Gutknecht SD12 Karoly Balzsay. Well, either that was an awfully short prime for Balzsay, Inkin was never as good as some made him out to be, or the super middleweight division is even deeper than I thought. THe German moves to 18-0 and moves near the top of the rankings for the title currently held by Robert Stieglitz. Anselmo Moreno TKO11 Frederic Petrac. This was Moreno's sixth defense of his bantamweight title. From what I hear, Moreno p...

Vazquez-Marquez IV on May 22 in Los Angeles

Fri, 04 Dec 2009 19:39:52 -0500

Israel Vazquez and Rafael Marquez will square off one more time on May 22, 2010. (Photo via www.notifight.com) View full size photo » Like it or not, want to see it or not, Israel Vazquez and Rafael Marquez are going to wage war one more time on May 22 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Rick Reeno reports that the two sides were waiting for Showtime's final approval, and that it has been received. Even though it&#...

Mandatory Eight Count: Khan-Salita Edition

Fri, 04 Dec 2009 15:24:15 -0500

Amir Khan defends his title against Dmitriy Salita tomorrow in Newcastle. (Photo by John Gichigi / Getty Images) View full size photo » Khan inside the weight, Salita on point (Sky Sports)Dmitriy Salita had to strip down to make 140 pounds, and word is Salita had to run in the morning to get down and make the weight. Khan said, "It's a big chance for him but I can see fear in his eyes. He looked very drained with...

Mayweather fight likely as Pacquiao agrees to deal

Fri, 04 Dec 2009 12:14:42 -0500

Manny Pacquiao is likely to fight Floyd Mayweather Jr. on March 13 after agreeing to a proposal from promoter Bob Arum on Friday, an adviser of the Philippine boxing idol said. Arum presented "what he thought was the best proposal he can bring" during a two-hour breakfast meeting with Pacquiao in Manila, said Michael Koncz. "Manny has some additional requirements, requests, which Arum didn't think was a problem," Koncz said.

Breaking News: Mayweather vs. Pacquiao To Be Announced Dec 8th

Fri, 04 Dec 2009 12:04:55 -0500

Manny Pacquiao’s promoter Bob Arum has stated it is a done deal that Manny has signed off on the fight for March 13th. Arum is on his was back to the states to meet with Floyd Mayweather’s camp to go over some minor details and the fight should be announced on December 8th. Here is a [...]

Roy Jones Jr.: End Of An Era

Fri, 04 Dec 2009 10:55:44 -0500

There was a time Roy Jones Jr. was the greatest boxer in the world. But then Antonio Tarver stopped him in the second round. Then Glen Johnson knocked him out in the 9th. Then Antonio Tarver stopped him again. He won some more fights. He firied a nasty combination in [...]

Report: Pacquiao agrees to Mayweather bout

Fri, 04 Dec 2009 10:51:44 -0500

Filipino boxing sensation Manny Pacquiao has agreed in principle to battle Floyd Mayweather, Jr. on...

Fri, 04 Dec 2009 10:28:14 -0500

Filipino boxing sensation Manny Pacquiao has agreed in principle to battle Floyd Mayweather, Jr. on March 13. This was confirmed by Pacquiao’s lawyer Jeng Gacal in an interview with Fightnews moments ago. Friday night, Pacquiao went on air via GMA-7’s "24 Oras" newscast and said he is willing to fight Pacquiao on the said date. "He’s been trash talking too much and I want to put a stop to it. I don’t want kids who are watching us to emulate him," said Pacquiao. Pe...

Report: Pacuiao agrees to Mayweather bout

Fri, 04 Dec 2009 08:51:23 -0500

Check out this press release on my Training Camp for the Shane Mosley fight

Thu, 03 Dec 2009 20:59:19 -0500

WBC Welterweight World Champion Andre Berto Opens Training Camp for “Sugar” Shane Mosley

(WINTER HAVEN, FLA.) – WBC Welterweight World Champion Andre Berto (Winter Haven, Fla.) has opened training camp in his hometown of Winter Haven, Fla., for his title unification bout with WBA Champion “Sugar” Shane Mosley. Berto is returning to his roots for the second straight training camp, holding his 10-week camp in Central Florida at his long-time amateur training facility, the Winter Haven PAL gym.

While he is zoned in on Mosley in Florida, Everlast is featuring Berto on the cover of their 2009 Holiday Catalog, showcasing the 26-year-old champion to over 300,000 boxing fans nationwide.

With the biggest fight of Berto’s career quickly approaching, his team is working feverishly to prepare him for battle with one of the sport’s living legends. Long-time trainer Tony Morgan has joined forces with Berto’s brother, Cleveland Berto, who is serving as the Strength and Conditioning Coach for the Mosley Training Camp, his second straight with his brother’s team. They are using a wide range of training techniques to prepare for Mosley, incorporating swimming, strength and agility exercises, track work, and standard boxing workouts into the regimen, which includes three workouts a day.

Using the backdrop of his Winter Haven to prepare for January 30 has provided his hometown fans with the opportunity to watch and share in his fight preparations. Berto conducts his track workouts at his High School track and when he completed his training on Thursday morning, a student from his Alma Mater, Winter Haven High School, was waiting anxiously in his Andre Berto t-shirt take a photo with his boxing idol. The 26-year-old provides much a needed role model for the youth in his area. “I wanted my son to see that there was more out there than being a thug or getting into drugs,” the fan’s mother said as the pair waited excitedly for Berto to finish his workout. “Andre Berto is proof that you can make something of yourself no matter where you are from if you work hard enough.”

Berto has also reached out to one of his closest friends from his amateur days to join him during the early portion of his training camp, bringing in 2004 U.S. Olympian, Ron Siler, to Florida, to participate in training camp. Siler hopes to make his long-awaited professional debut in early January, and Berto wanted to make sure that he was prepared to step back into the ring. The two traveled the world together as amateurs, racking up trophies and medals, and now provide outstanding motivation and encouragement to one another during the extremely grueling training camp.

Yet Berto knows that he is no longer fighting for a trophy, and plans to make his mark on the welterweight division and the professional boxing world with a victory over Mosley. The highly-anticipated match-up will take place on Saturday, January 30 at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, Nev., and live on HBO. Tickets are now on sale and can be purchased through www.ticketmaster.com or mandalaybay.com. Berto will be posting regular training camp updates and photos to his official website, www.andreberto.com, to keep all the fans informed about his preparation for January 30.

Bad Left Hook Fight of the Month Poll: November 2009

Thu, 03 Dec 2009 13:16:05 -0500

In a very rare occurrence, Cello Renda and Paul Samuels actually knocked each other down simultaneously on this double left hook. View full size photo » Bad Left Hook had a banner month for round by round coverage in November, providing full fight coverage on no less than 17 cards. While some of the more prominent fights were duds, there were a whole bunch of great sleeper fights, and one megafight that at least partially l...

Miguel Cotto plans to retire after two more fights

Thu, 03 Dec 2009 03:33:36 -0500

Miguel Cotto is looking to an early retirement in 2010. (Photo by Al Bello / Getty Images) View full size photo » Reaffirming his long-held desire to retire from boxing by the age of 30, Miguel Cotto told Primera Hora that the plans aren't changing, and that he expects to fight twice in 2010 and then hang up his gloves. Cotto (34-2, 27 KO) turns 30 in October 2010. "That's ten months, so one, maybe two fi...

Bernard Hopkins: Going Strong, Looking Forward

Thu, 03 Dec 2009 00:42:40 -0500

Bernard Hopkins will have plenty of options in 2010, but what will he want to do? (Photo by Nick Laham / Getty Images) View full size photo » OK, so Bernard Hopkins' win over a game but overmatched Enrique Ornelas tonight wasn't a head-turner. It wasn't exactly the sort of jaw-dropping, "Whoa!"-inducing performance that we saw from what was supposedly an old Hopkins when he faced and demolished Anton...

Report: Pacquiao doesn't want to fight until September

Wed, 02 Dec 2009 16:47:57 -0500

It looks like Manny Pacquiao won't fight Floyd Mayweather Jr. or anyone else until September. (Photo by Ethan Miller / Getty Images) View full size photo » Reports out of the Philippines are that contrary to reports last night, Manny Pacquiao is not willing to fight on March 13 or May 1 against Floyd Mayweather Jr. or anyone else. The Filipino superstar wants to wait until after the May elections in his home country b...

Roy Jones Jr. Loses in First Round TKO, Spurs Superb Announcer Hyperbole

Wed, 02 Dec 2009 14:37:23 -0500

There was a time when Roy Jones Jr. was regarded as the best boxer in the world. Was is key: His TKO loss to Danny Green in Sydney would suggest that he might not be the best boxer in any given room he passes through.Jones throws fewer than twenty punches, buckles after the first clean shot he takes, and generally looks like a shadow of his former self, or even a shadow of that shadow. Mercifully, this ends before the first round is over.But the best part of the video is the announcer, ...

Fight Preview: Bernard Hopkins v. Enrique Ornelas

Wed, 02 Dec 2009 12:22:45 -0500

Enrique Ornelas will look to shock the world tonight against Bernard Hopkins. (Photo by Jeff Zelevansky / Getty Images) View full size photo » Tonight in Philadelphia, live on Versus at 8pm ET, living legend and Hall of Famer-in-waiting Bernard Hopkins returns from a 14-month layoff to take on Enrique Ornelas. This won't be a long fight preview, because it's really pretty simple. If Hopkins (49-5-1, 32 KO) hasn&#...

Hopkins and Ornelas on weight

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 18:22:04 -0500

Bernard Hopkins weighed in at the light heavyweight limit of 175 pounds and Enrique Ornelas was under at 173 1/2 for tomorrow night's fight in Philadelphia, live on Versus at 8pm ET. Hopkins, 44, is making his first in-ring appearance since dismantling middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik last October. It's a tune-up fight for "The Executioner," who looks to rematch Roy Jones Jr. in spring 2010 should both win their Wednesday fights. The 29-year old Ornelas last fought...

Boxing Claims Another Victim - Francisco Rodriguez

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 09:04:00 -0500

All the talk about the dangers of MMA is again shown to be unfounded as 25-year-old boxer Francisco Rodriguez, a native of Guadalajara, Mexico, was removed from life support last night. Rodriguez... Full story: http://www.bobsblitz.com Best Amazon prices for Blitz Subscribers: http://got.to/BlitzBestDeals

Floyd Mayweather Jr: I have Nothing to Gain by Fighting Manny Pacquiao

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 10:26:49 -0500

After seeing Manny Pacquiao dismantle Miguel Cotto on Saturday night, I said that a Pacquiao/Floyd Mayweather Jr. fight has to happen for the sake of boxing’s integrity. There’s only one fight left that makes sense for each fighter. One fight, and one fight only, and it’s between them. Unfortunately Pacquiao expressed no [...]