Pacquiao and Hatton Light Up a Dim Las Vegas

Manny Pacquiao and Ricky Hatton are genuine 'A-listers' on the Las Vegas strip. In a city that has been beaten down by the world's economic malaise, the appearance of the pair is a welcome sight.

Nearly two percent of all homes in Las Vegas are in foreclosure, the unemployment rate in Nevada is over ten percent, visits to the city are way down, and some of the companies that own the mammoth casinos along Las Vegas Boulevard South have filed for bankruptcy protection.

But a representative of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority believes that this weekend's big fight at the MGM Grand is just the type of shot in the arm the city has been needing. Sure, Wayne Newton, Lance Burton and the Blue Man Group all do their part, but there is nothing like a big fight to motivate fans to travel to "Sin City" in the post Tyson and post De La Hoya era.

“People here who are older than me can talk about the days of Muhammad Ali, Larry Holmes and 'Sugar' Ray Leonard and the times that established Las Vegas as a destination for boxing,” said the representative. “But in this new generation without De La Hoya it is Ricky Hatton. This is his fifth fight here that has helped to define Las Vegas as the sports and entertainment capital of the world – so we love him for that.”

Over 35,000 Brits made the trek to Las Vegas to watch Hatton face Floyd Mayweather, Jr. in 2007. Despite the credit crunch and recession, 20,000 are expected for this weekend's fight against Pacquiao. In modern times, or any time for that matter, there have been few fighters in boxing history that have been able to mobilize the masses like Hatton can.


Hatton is making another appearance in Las Vegas and he is happy to be fighting where all the big names of the past have made their mark.

“You know, Ricky Hatton has been the catalyst for a whole new group of British people that have visited Las Vegas,” said an employee from the mayor's office.

“People come here, they go back home and tell their friends that there is lots of things to do in Las Vegas besides see Ricky Hatton. So for our city, he has been great.”

But all the credit for the big crowd this weekend that has seen the fight at MGM Grand Garden Arena be a sold out show, cannot go solely to Ricky Hatton.

Manny Pacquiao from the Philippines, universally regarded as the world's best pound-for-pound boxer, has a large and devoted following of his own. On Tuesday afternoon, Pacquiao made his “grand arrival” in the lobby of the MGM Grand and he was mobbed by a throng of supporters and well-wishers. The crowd was deemed uncontrollable and because of a lack of security, Pacquiao was immediately escorted away from the over-enthusiastic throng of people.

The little Filipino spitfire is riding the crest of a virtual tidal wave of popularity since he vanquished Oscar De La Hoya in December in the same ring where he will meet Hatton. Pacquiao is making his tenth appearance in the city and will be paid $12 million for the fight whereas Hatton will pick up $8 million for his efforts. Both men have incentives built into their contracts that will see them earn even more if the pay-per view revenues meet expectations.


Pacquiao and Hatton have their hands raised by actor Mickey Rourke who was once a boxer himself and was recently nominated for an Academy Award.

Pacquiao has begun to transcend the sport in the manner that few fighters have. Feature profiles devoted to him on ESPN and CNN, endorsement contracts with several multi-national corporations and a brief meeting this week with former President Clinton in Las Vegas are all testament to his surging popularity.

Bob Arum, Pacquiao's promoter, says that if his man defeats Hatton on Saturday night that, “He then becomes the biggest draw and the biggest attraction in the sport. Everyone who fights Manny Pacquiao, even now, has to be considered the B-side and as the opponent.”

While boxing has always been considered a global sport, that notion is amplified with this match-up that really, for the first time, pits two fighters from countries other than the United States into a high profile pay-per view event. One million PPV buys are expected, more than 15,000 will fill the arena and several thousand more seats have been added for pay-per view at casinos throughout Las Vegas.

Pacquiao can boast that on the nights he fights that crime in his native Philippines is non-existent as criminals become fans and congregate around television sets to see him. When Hatton faced Mayweather, Jr. over one million British fans tuned in to see him – at 4 a.m. local time.


When Pacquiao arrived in Las Vegas on Tuesday, he was mobbed by his fans and had to be escorted from the scene by his promoter Bob Arum.

Richard Sturm, President of MGM Grand Entertainment and Sports, says that each man's popularity is key to building an event that causes Las Vegas to become a destination point for people from around the world.

“There has been a tremendous support for both men here in the city,” said Sturm on Tuesday. “But I don't think I've ever seen a group of people that have more fun than the Brits. They come here and they sing and dance and stay up all night. It's probably the only time the MGM ran out of beer is when Ricky Hatton fought Floyd Mayweather, Jr.”

So for those that had thoughts of pounding the final nail in the sport's coffin and were prepared to begin heaping dirt on what they call a “dying sport” - think again. Manny Pacquiao and Ricky Hatton have flipped the switch in Vegas and the lights are burning bright.


April 2009

Carl Froch Praises Trainer Robert McCracken

Robert McCracken and Carl Froch take a moment from their gym workout to pose for a picture in front of the heavy bag.

WBC super middleweight titlist Carl “The Cobra” Froch gives all praise to his trainer Robert McCracken for ushering him to his sensational victory over Jermain Taylor this past Saturday night at the MGM Grand at Foxwoods in Mashantucket, Connecticut.

Though he won by stoppage with only 14 seconds remaining in the 12th and final round, Froch had a rough night, especially early on. He was decked in the third round by a Taylor right hand and it was the first time Froch had been down as an amateur or pro. Froch said that the advice his trainer gave to him in the corner helped keep him calm and composed and he gave all credit to one man.

“The professional advice of my corner man, Rob McCracken,” Froch said. “Rob's been there himself, he's been hurt in fights, he knows what it's all about. That's the reason I've got Rob in my corner. That's the reason I'm a professional because of Rob McCracken. I probably would have retired from the amateurs and gone to work in an office if I hadn't met Robert and that's the truth of it. The knowledge he brings to the game, the knowledge he has instilled in me, takes me through these kinds of fights.”

McCracken, 40, was a very accomplished fighter in his own right who fought as a middleweight between 1991 and 2001. After consecutive losses to Keith Holmes in a shot at the WBC middleweight title, and a decision loss to Howard Eastman, McCracken retired at age 32 with a record of 33-2, 20 knockouts. Not long after he retired he began training fighters.

McCracken has been with Froch practically since the very beginning and he says that his charge is unique.

“Carl Froch is a special fighter. He is the only fighter I have ever came across that you just know he is going to win,” he says. “Be it sparring, be it a fight, you know he is going to get 'em. It can be the last round, it can be the first round. He is a phenomenal puncher. When I was a kid I used to watch the Tommy Hearns fights and stuff like that. This kid punches every bit as hard hard as any of 'em. His knockout record is phenomenal. He is a phenomenal puncher and he is a phenomenal athlete. And I tell the press this all of the time 'We won't get a Carl Froch again for a long, long time.' He is a special fighter.”

McCracken says that Froch will look better next time out and that the pressure of coming to America threw him off his game on Saturday.

“I noticed that he was a little bit different on the night of the fight,” said McCracken. “The nerves got a little bit to him. He wasn't himself. I don't think anybody would be the same in coming over and fighting Jermain Taylor.”

Although he is a tremendous asset to him inside the ropes, Froch says that McCracken is an asset to him outside the ropes as well.

“He has installed a sensibility and calmness in my character,” says Froch. “I'm a different man than I was seven years ago when I met Rob. He has helped me so much in my personal life and with my character, and even when I'm not in the gym. I'm a different person since I met Rob.”

As for McCracken, he said he knew the first time he laid eyes on Froch that he could be a special fighter one day and that the man now known as “The Cobra” had the makings of a world champion from the very beginning.

“He's like an old-time fighter. He doesn't fight conventionally, you know, with the left and right,” McCracken said. “He's got loads of ability and he's a heavy, heavy puncher. With his reach and his athleticism, I mean, you 'd have to be blind not to see when he was an amateur you could make something really special out of him. He's always had the potential, but it was just making him believe in himself.”


April 2009

Swine Flu Facts

Swine Flu

What is Swine Influenza?

Swine Influenza (swine flu) is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza virus that regularly causes outbreaks of influenza in pigs. Swine flu viruses cause high levels of illness and low death rates in pigs. Swine influenza viruses may circulate among swine throughout the year, but most outbreaks occur during the late fall and winter months similar to outbreaks in humans. The classical swine flu virus (an influenza type A H1N1 virus) was first isolated from a pig in 1930.

How many swine flu viruses are there?

Like all influenza viruses, swine flu viruses change constantly. Pigs can be infected by avian influenza and human influenza viruses as well as swine influenza viruses. When influenza viruses from different species infect pigs, the viruses can reassort (i.e. swap genes) and new viruses that are a mix of swine, human and/or avian influenza viruses can emerge. Over the years, different variations of swine flu viruses have emerged. At this time, there are four main influenza type A virus subtypes that have been isolated in pigs: H1N1, H1N2, H3N2, and H3N1. However, most of the recently isolated influenza viruses from pigs have been H1N1 viruses.

Swine Flu in Humans

Can humans catch swine flu?

Swine flu viruses do not normally infect humans. However, sporadic human infections with swine flu have occurred. Most commonly, these cases occur in persons with direct exposure to pigs (e.g. children near pigs at a fair or workers in the swine industry). In addition, there have been documented cases of one person spreading swine flu to others. For example, an outbreak of apparent swine flu infection in pigs in Wisconsin in 1988 resulted in multiple human infections, and, although no community outbreak resulted, there was antibody evidence of virus transmission from the patient to health care workers who had close contact with the patient.

How common is swine flu infection in humans?

In the past, CDC received reports of approximately one human swine influenza virus infection every one to two years in the U.S., but from December 2005 through February 2009, 12 cases of human infection with swine influenza have been reported.

What are the symptoms of swine flu in humans?

The symptoms of swine flu in people are expected to be similar to the symptoms of regular human seasonal influenza and include fever, lethargy, lack of appetite and coughing. Some people with swine flu also have reported runny nose, sore throat, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

Can people catch swine flu from eating pork?

No. Swine influenza viruses are not transmitted by food. You can not get swine influenza from eating pork or pork products. Eating properly handled and cooked pork and pork products is safe. Cooking pork to an internal temperature of 160°F kills the swine flu virus as it does other bacteria and viruses.

How does swine flu spread?

Influenza viruses can be directly transmitted from pigs to people and from people to pigs. Human infection with flu viruses from pigs are most likely to occur when people are in close proximity to infected pigs, such as in pig barns and livestock exhibits housing pigs at fairs. Human-to-human transmission of swine flu can also occur. This is thought to occur in the same way as seasonal flu occurs in people, which is mainly person-to-person transmission through coughing or sneezing of people infected with the influenza virus. People may become infected by touching something with flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose.

What do we know about human-to-human spread of swine flu?

In September 1988, a previously healthy 32-year-old pregnant woman was hospitalized for pneumonia and died 8 days later. A swine H1N1 flu virus was detected. Four days before getting sick, the patient visited a county fair swine exhibition where there was widespread influenza-like illness among the swine.

In follow-up studies, 76% of swine exhibitors tested had antibody evidence of swine flu infection but no serious illnesses were detected among this group. Additional studies suggest that one to three health care personnel who had contact with the patient developed mild influenza-like illnesses with antibody evidence of swine flu infection.

How can human infections with swine influenza be diagnosed?

To diagnose swine influenza A infection, a respiratory specimen would generally need to be collected within the first 4 to 5 days of illness (when an infected person is most likely to be shedding virus). However, some persons, especially children, may shed virus for 10 days or longer. Identification as a swine flu influenza A virus requires sending the specimen to CDC for laboratory testing.

What medications are available to treat swine flu infections in humans?

There are four different antiviral drugs that are licensed for use in the US for the treatment of influenza: amantadine, rimantadine, oseltamivir and zanamivir. While most swine influenza viruses have been susceptible to all four drugs, the most recent swine influenza viruses isolated from humans are resistant to amantadine and rimantadine. At this time, CDC recommends the use of oseltamivir or zanamivir for the treatment and/or prevention of infection with swine influenza viruses.

What other examples of swine flu outbreaks are there?

Probably the most well known is an outbreak of swine flu among soldiers in Fort Dix, New Jersey in 1976. The virus caused disease with x-ray evidence of pneumonia in at least 4 soldiers and 1 death; all of these patients had previously been healthy. The virus was transmitted to close contacts in a basic training environment, with limited transmission outside the basic training group. The virus is thought to have circulated for a month and disappeared. The source of the virus, the exact time of its introduction into Fort Dix, and factors limiting its spread and duration are unknown. The Fort Dix outbreak may have been caused by introduction of an animal virus into a stressed human population in close contact in crowded facilities during the winter. The swine influenza A virus collected from a Fort Dix soldier was named A/New Jersey/76 (Hsw1N1).

Is the H1N1 swine flu virus the same as human H1N1 viruses?

No. The H1N1 swine flu viruses are antigenically very different from human H1N1 viruses and, therefore, vaccines for human seasonal flu would not provide protection from H1N1 swine flu viruses. Swine Flu in Pigs

How does swine flu spread among pigs?Â

Swine flu viruses are thought to be spread mostly through close contact among pigs and possibly from contaminated objects moving between infected and uninfected pigs. Herds with continuous swine flu infections and herds that are vaccinated against swine flu may have sporadic disease, or may show only mild or no symptoms of infection.

What are signs of swine flu in pigs?Â

Signs of swine flu in pigs can include sudden onset of fever, depression, coughing (barking), discharge from the nose or eyes, sneezing, breathing difficulties, eye redness or inflammation, and going off feed.

How common is swine flu among pigs?Â

H1N1 and H3N2 swine flu viruses are endemic among pig populations in the United States and something that the industry deals with routinely. Outbreaks among pigs normally occur in colder weather months (late fall and winter) and sometimes with the introduction of new pigs into susceptible herds. Studies have shown that the swine flu H1N1 is common throughout pig populations worldwide, with 25 percent of animals showing antibody evidence of infection. In the U.S. studies have shown that 30 percent of the pig population has antibody evidence of having had H1N1 infection. More specifically, 51 percent of pigs in the north-central U.S. have been shown to have antibody evidence of infection with swine H1N1. Human infections with swine flu H1N1 viruses are rare. There is currently no way to differentiate antibody produced in response to flu vaccination in pigs from antibody made in response to pig infections with swine H1N1 influenza.

While H1N1 swine viruses have been known to circulate among pig populations since at least 1930, H3N2 influenza viruses did not begin circulating among US pigs until 1998. The H3N2 viruses initially were introduced into the pig population from humans. The current swine flu H3N2 viruses are closely related to human H3N2 viruses.

Is there a vaccine for swine flu?

Vaccines are available to be given to pigs to prevent swine influenza. There is no vaccine to protect humans from swine flu. The seasonal influenza vaccine will likely help provide partial protection against swine H3N2, but not swine H1N1 viruses.

Mayweather, Sr. Reveals Hatton's Strategy

It's only their second fight together, but Floyd Mayweather, Sr. and Ricky Hatton believe they have formulated a plan of attack that will see them unseat Manny Pacquiao from his pound-for-pound throne on Saturday night at the MGM Grand.

Speaking from Las Vegas on Tuesday afternoon, Mayweather, Sr. said there are a few key areas that he and Ricky will be focusing their energy on.

It seems as though the self proclaimed “world's greatest trainer” is at peace now that all of the preparation is over with and the battle is only a few days away.

“We feel as though we know exactly what Pacquiao is going to do on Saturday night,” said a calm Mayweather. “We feel as though Ricky is stronger than Manny and we feel there are some things that Ricky will be able to do that will surprise everyone.”

Mayweather said he has spent many hours watching fight footage of Pacquiao in the past several weeks and that he has seen flaws that Hatton should be able to capitalize on.

“We are going to be smart about the fight,” Mayweather said. “Yeah, we're going to be aggressive, but here's the thing...we're going to be smart and aggressive. I've seen Manny get knocked out by body-shots, twice, so we plan on attacking the body – definitely. We want to attack the body and get Manny to bring his hands down, that's part of the plan.”

Mayweather said two flaws in particular stand out with Pacquiao. First is the fact that Pacquiao has a tendency to walk backwards in a straight line and put his back on the ropes. Secondly, Mayweather says that Pacquiao also raises his gloves up very high to protect his chin and when he does that it leaves him vulnerable to body-shots.

“What I've noticed is that Manny can't fight when he goes backwards, he has to be coming forward,” Mayweather said. “But he does go to the ropes a lot, straight back to the ropes and he doesn't move around enough, it's always straight back to the ropes.”


Mayweather is a hands-on trainer and he has spent months with Hatton while working on the finer points of the game.

Floyd's plan involves having Hatton work behind a left jab in an effort to get Manny's back against the ropes or in a corner. “He can run, but he can't hide,” said Mayweather in using an old Joe Louis phrase. “We'll get him against the ropes, go to the body, get him to drop his hands and then we'll come back upstairs.”

Mayweather claims he has seen progress in the time he has spent with Hatton and that a large part of their focus has been on trying to use the left jab more often and that it will likely play a key role in the fight.

“That punch is one of the main things that I've been working on with him,” said Mayweather. “But the bottom line is that whether he uses the jab or not, we're going to win this fight. Ricky will put the pressure on him. He's too strong and Ricky has gotten better – smarter – in the time I've had with him. I'm feelin' real good about where we're at and you know, what more can I say?”


April 2009

Carl Froch Rescues Title from the Jaws of Defeat!

MASHANTUCKET - In an amazing display of guts and perseverance, WBC Super middleweight titlist Carl "The Cobra" Froch (24-0, 19 knockouts) snatched his title from the jaws of certain defeat with 14 seconds remaining in the 12th and final round to stop Jermain Taylor in what very well may go down as the comeback of the year - within a fight - and the knockout of the year.

Down 106-102 on points on two of the official scorecards (he was inexplicably ahead 106-102 on the third card) Froch needed the knockout to retain his title. Lucky for him, he was finally able to put together a powerful combination of punches to drop Taylor in the final round.

With the amazing stoppage in the waning seconds of the fight, Froch earned the victory and retained his title for the first time.

It was similar to Jake LaMotta versus Laurent Dauthuille which took place on Sept. 13, 1950. In that fight, hopelessly trailing on the scorecards, LaMotta, known as "The Raging Bull" charged back in the final seconds to keep his middleweight championship in storied fashion.

With 13 seconds left in the 15th and final round, LaMotta retained his title belt at the Olympia Stadium in Detroit, Michigan. It was the type of ending that went down in the boxing history books.

Froch did the same last night - with 14 seconds to spare.

The 3,726 fans in attendance at the MGM Grand at Foxwoods were left in shock and awe at the amazing result. Taylor's fans were standing with their mouths open at the stunning reversal of fortune. Froch's fans, many who came all the way from England, were overcome with emotion and their minds could barely process what they had just seen.

Quite simply, it was one of the most astonishing turnarounds in boxing history.


Taylor and Froch engaged in a pitched battle that produced an ending that was as sudden as it was shocking.

From the first bell, Froch was unable to deal with Taylor's faster hands and better overall boxing skills. Everything was working for Taylor early on in this fight and he was consistently able to nail the Englishman with right hands over his habitually low left. In short, Taylor, the former undisputed middleweight champion (28-2-1, 17 knockouts) punished Froch and made it a very frustrating evening for the man from Nottingham, England.

After winning the first two frames, the third round saw Taylor connect with a thudding right hand that stopped Froch in his tracks and sent him crashing to the canvas for the first time in his boxing career – amateur or professional. Froch gathered himself and calmly rose at referee Michael Ortega's count of eight.

Say this though: Carl Froch has an amazing chin, and for the next nine rounds he was able to absorb everything Jermain Taylor threw – and it was substantial. The only thing that kept Froch in the fight tonight was his uncanny ability to take a solid shot to the chin. Taylor put it all together for most of the fight as he was impressive, especially with his left jab. The native of Little Rock, Arkansas was able to work everything off the punch – right hands, left hooks and a few uppercuts sprinkled in for good measure. After nine rounds, Froch had won only the 9th stanza on my card.

It appeared as though Taylor may have hurt his right hand somewhere around the seventh as he stopped throwing the punch with frequency. It allowed Froch some degree of success and got him back into the fight – but barely. Froch won 10th and 11th rounds on my card as well as it seemed Taylor may have been resting a bit.


Taylor got off to a strong start. In the 3rd round he decked Froch for a count of eight.

The 11th was a great round as both men unloaded their heavy artillery and each landed bomb after bomb. Both fighters appeared hurt on separate occasions and it set up a final round that very well may go down in the history books.

A Froch right hand in the 12th did the damage, and Taylor went down hard in a neutral corner. It appeared as though he wasn't going to beat the count as he laid splayed out on the floor. But Taylor did manage to wearily climb to his feet and referee Michael Ortega let the fight continue.

However, the damage had been done, and a spent Taylor was defenseless as he reeled around the ring while Froch landed bomb after bomb looking to finish him. The referee stayed close and he gave the wounded Taylor every chance to continue.

But with less than 30 seconds left in the fight, Froch pinned Taylor against the ropes and unloaded his arsenal, snapping Taylor's head back in sickening fashion which ultimately forced the referee to step in and save him from further abuse.

And with that, in a fight that appeared all but lost entering the final round, Carl Froch kept his undefeated record intact and he now moves on to bigger and better things.

“This was my first defense in America – and my first of big fights in America," Froch said afterwards. "Robert McCracken [Froch's trainer] told me I needed to have a big round. You saw it – everybody saw it.”

Indeed we did.


Taylor arose from this knockdown, but the end was near and he was rescued by the referee only moments later.


Other results:

In the co-main event, “Sweetness” Allan Green, 168, Tulsa, Oklahoma, 27-1, 19 KO's went head-to-head with Carlos “Baby Sugar” DeLeon, Jr., Trujillo Alto, Puerto Rico, 21-2-2, 14 KO's in a scheduled ten-rounder. It was an evenly matched fight on paper with two solid pros looking to move up in the rankings.

After a relatively uneventful first, the second round saw Green explode with a spectacular right hand, left hook combination that dropped De Leon like a sack of potatoes. De Leon never saw the left that dropped him.

Green would go on to unleash a vicious assault that would see a teetering De Leon go down three more times. On the third knockdown the doctor was up on the apron but he and the referee allowed De Leon to take more punishment and the fourth time he was driven to the floor the referee waived it off. Green looked very impressive with the win and he is a true player at 168 pounds. Time was 1:54 of round two.


Allan Green made a definitive statement by dropping Carlos De Leon, Jr. four times in the second round.

Former IBF Jr. welterweight titlist Paulie “The Magic Man” Malignaggi, 141, Brooklyn, New York, 25-2, 5 KO's returned from his defeat at the hands of Ricky Hatton against Chris “Kid Kayo” Fernandez, 142, Salt Lake City, Utah, 16-6-1, 9 KO's. Malignaggi was his usual self, used his legs and relied on a heavy stream of quick left jabs to soften-up the limited Fernandez who walked forward in an attempt to land something, anything on the elusive former belt-holder.

Malignaggi, with Fernandez' help, managed to lull the crowd to sleep and by the fourth-round boos were heard. At the end of the sixth, the Malignaggi ship was very nearly swamped as he was nailed clean with a right-left combination that had him holding on for dear life. After the full eight, the judges had it unanimous for Paulie with three identical scores of 79-73. However, Malignaggi's overall performance was disappointing and in the crowded and talented 140-pound division it will be extremely challenging for him to regain a belt.

In an all New York state four-rounder, slick Sadam Ali, 142, Brooklyn, 2-0, 2 KO's went in with Bryan Abraham, 140, Schenectady, 1-0-1, 1 KO. Abraham is a switch-hitter who came out orthodox but routinely switched to southpaw. Ali, who many know as the eight-year old kid from Gleason's is now all grown up and showed poise and composure as well as pin-point accuracy with his right hand. Ali had too much firepower for Abraham, who became gun-shy and began to clown in the third before being decked with a big right hand. Abraham arose quickly and offered nothing in return. Ali was having fun in there and was simply too quick and too fast. Ali nailed him with a sweeping left hook in the last 30 seconds of the fourth and somehow, some way, Abraham managed to survive to hear the final bell. Scorecards were a formality at 40-35, all for “The World Kid” Ali, who is likely going to be one of the next big things.


Former IBF 140-pound title holder Paulie Malignaggi (left) kept busy with a lackluster decision win over Chris Fernandez.

In a heavyweight affair scheduled for ten, a resurgent and all-business Dominic Guinn, 229, Hot Springs, Arkansas, 30-6, 20 KO's blasted out an over matched Johnnie White, 227, St. Martinsville, Louisiana, 21-0, 18 KO's. White, who goes by the nickname “Lethal” was put down twice within the first minute of the first round and he was eventually saved by referee Eddie Claudio after absorbing a wave of shots along the ropes. White was staggering on unsteady legs and tried to plead his case and even though Claudio gave him a couple of very long counts it wasn't going to matter. White had a nice looking record on paper, but that is now gone. The time was 2:01 of the first and as White was led from the ring he could be seen muttering that he should have been allowed to continue. “The Southern Disaster” seems to be back, at least for one night.

Seminole Warriors' southpaw protege Danny O'Connor, 140, Framingham, Mass., 5-0, 2 KO's met up in a four-rounder with Travis Hartman, 140, Osborne, Missouri, 9-11-1, 7 KO's. O'Connor, attired in the colors of Ireland is a hard charging prospect who likes to throw big shots. Hartman was game, but his face was reddened immediately by O'Connor's peppering shots and he was simply in way over his head from the get-go. O'Connor decked Hartman and bloodied his nose with a left hand that came all the way from Massachusetts at the end of the second round but the game Hartman survived the third as well as a very spirited fourth in which he went down from a long left hand. O'Connor was impressive and the scores reflected just that with all three judges seeing it 40-34.

In the six-round opener, Jonathan Nelson, 163, Little Rock, Arkansas, 8-0, 4 KO's squared off against Eddie Caminero, 162, Lawrence, Mass., 5-0, 5 KO's. Caminero, from up the road here in New England, gave as good as he got but was outclassed by the fresher Nelson who was able to hold him off with his left jab. After the full route of a fight that had decent action, Nelson came away with the unanimous decision by scores of 59-55 and two scores of 58-56.


April 2009

Carl Froch Wants You to Know His Name

Carl Froch has looked at himself in the mirror on the wall and he believes he's the fairest of them all.

MASHANTUCKET, Conn. - Up until a few months ago, Jermain Taylor, the former middleweight champion of the world, said he had no idea who Carl Froch even was.

“I tell people all the time here, in the United States, that I'm fighting a guy named Carl Froch and everybody say, 'Who?' You know, it's kind of embarrassing 'cause you know, who is he? Who has he beat? asks a perplexed Taylor.

For the uninitiated, Froch (pronounced like Scotch) is the undefeated WBC Super middleweight titlist and on Saturday night in the wilds of the Connecticut wilderness at the MGM Grand at Foxwoods he and Taylor will clash in one of this year's most anticipated bouts.

“He knows who I am, he's just trying to be a little bit cheap,” responds Froch, an articulate and thoughtful fighter if there ever was one. “I don't mind, because that's one of the reasons why I wanted to come over to America, for the people to get a look at this white kid from Nottingham, England. People think I'm a bit skinny and a bit weak, a bit slow and whatever else they've been saying about me.”

The tall, angular Froch claims he doesn't worry much about what Jermain Taylor has to say about him. The fight, which the promoters have dubbed “Continents Collide” pits a fighter on the way up in Froch, versus a fighter trying to make his way back up, in Taylor.


Froch is hoping that his gamble pays off and that he wins the biggest fight of his life.

Whatever the case, Froch, who speaks quickly and sharply with a heavy British accent, seems to have a great degree of insight into who he thinks Jermain Taylor is. In talking to him it's obvious that he has spent a great deal of time analyzing Taylor from both a physical and psychological standpoint. Froch also seems to have spent some time looking inward as much as any fighter you will ever encounter. He is intense, self-assured, confident and his voice never wavers when he talks about Taylor and what he sees happening on Saturday night.

“Coming off his losses to Kelly Pavlik, I think he's got some mental issues, that mental scar, that chink in his armor,” explains Froch who just wrapped up the last few weeks of his training in Niagara Falls, Ontario. “When I start landing my big right hand over the top, my big uppercut and start pushing him back and looking him in the eye and telling him to come to war for twelve rounds I can see me getting him out of there, I really can. I don't think this fight's gonna' go the distance.”

It will be a tall order for Froch to fill considering that Taylor (28-2-1, 17 knockouts) has faced a virtual “Who's Who?” of the middleweight division and has only been stopped once. But Froch perceives Taylor to be somewhat damaged goods and makes several perfectly valid and logical assertions as to why he has a great chance at victory.

“I’m the bigger, stronger man,” says the nonchalant Froch.

“Jermain Taylor has not stopped anybody for four years. But don’t get me wrong, he’s a good fighter. He thinks he’s fast, but I don’t know what he thinks his speed is going to do to me. I’ve fought fast fighters. I’m not giving him any disrespect or trying to be cheeky. I’m in no way cocky. I’m quite a very level headed man. I’m just very confident and believe in myself. Fact of the matter is, he’s fought most of his career at middleweight and I’m a big, strong super middleweight. And that can very well be the deciding factor. When I start connecting with the right hand on the jaw section there will probably be some damage done.”


In his first fight at 168 pounds, Jermain Taylor (right) won a unanimous decision over Jeff Lacy in Nov. 2008.

Froch will bring an undefeated record of 24-0, with 19 knockouts into the ring with him. He is a rangy, somewhat unorthodox fighter with good speed, quick reflexes and a chin that has held him up and kept him off the canvas for his entire amateur and professional career. His nickname is “The Cobra” and he has a tendency to lash out with left hooks and overhand rights from all directions. He keeps his hands low, particularly his left, and some think if Taylor is to win he will have to come over the top of that low left hand with his own right.

But Froch is currently riding a wave of confidence after having won the vacant WBC title against Canada's Jean Pascal back in December. And in a strange twist, Froch and his team have recruited Pascal as a sparring partner in preparation for this fight. It's a somewhat bold move, but Froch is a bold fighter with bold ideas and he perceives Pascal as the perfect muse to get him ready for Taylor.

“This has been a great experience for me,” admits Froch of Pascal's role. “He's got a quick jab, he's a busy puncher with speed and the sparring has been very good.”

Froch claims that he and Pascal share no ill feelings toward one another and have let bygones be bygones. He also noted that their gym work had been productive and entertaining and it's all simply a lead up to what will, after all is said and done, simply be a fight between two men.


The Cobra is ready for the boxing spotlight here in the United States.

“On the night, there's a boxing ring, two fighters and a referee and that is it,” says Froch in a voice barely above a whisper. “We've got lights and cameras but no one's in the ring with us. It's a very, very lonely place the boxing ring. And he knows on the 25th of April it will be me versus him, 'Mano-a-mano' just like a good, old-fashioned scrap on the cobbles between two men, two warriors.”

While both Froch and Taylor have done a lot of talking over the past several weeks, much has also been made of the fact that Froch is the slight betting underdog, the fight is not being televised live in Great Britain and that he has had to come to the United States to make the first defense of his belt. But Froch takes it all in stride.

“Look, I'm traveling over to Jermain Taylor's backyard to fight him and that's how serious I am about the sport and that's how serious I am about becoming a big name and a world-class superstar,” says Froch who definitely possesses an “Eye of the Tiger” mindset. “And that's what this fight can do for me. They'll find out who Carl Froch is on the 25th of April and from then on I'm going to be a massive superstar. I'm looking forward to it, to establishing myself on American soil and I can't wait to shut a few mouths up.”

And if Carl Froch has his way, after Saturday night, you'll know his name.


April 2009

Carl Froch Admits to Training Injuries

Carl Froch has punished his body ahead of this weekend's title clash against Jermain Taylor at Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Connecticut.

Undefeated WBC Super middleweight titlist Carl “The Cobra” Froch has admitted exclusively to this writer that he is entering the ring this weekend against Jermain “Bad Intentions” Taylor with minor injuries.

Froch has endured an arduous training camp in his preparations for Saturday night's showdown against former Middleweight champion Taylor. While not specific in regards to the nature of his injuries, Froch claims he pulled out all the stops to be the best he can be, but he mentions that it came at a physical price.

“For sure, I've picked up a few injuries, what I call niggles, knocks and bangs,” he said on Wednesday. “It's all part of the heavy training that I've put myself through. I've put myself through heavy sparring. I'm not going tell you all the complaints I've got...I'll get through it.”

Froch, from Nottingham, England, trained for the past three weeks in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada and his primary sparring partner was the man he fought in his last fight – Jean Pascal. Several reports (and even Froch himself) mentioned that the sparring with Pascal was heated and entertaining.

“I'm not too concerned about the injuries,” continued Froch. “I always go into the ring with a few little niggles, some cracks and some pains. This is a very, very difficult, tiring and painful business to be in. But it's what I do and it's what I like to do. ”

Most on-line sportsbooks have Froch as a slight 2-1 betting underdog to lose to his WBC title belt to Taylor, most likely by decision. Barring a weigh-in problem or other revelation in the next couple of days those odds are likely to tighten as the fight draws near.

But despite the odds against him, Froch is confident about his own chances and is eager, after all of the training, to finally get in the ring and get it over with.

“I'm looking forward to doing the business and putting my skills together,” Froch said. “Despite the niggles, I had a great training camp. I feel fit, I feel strong and I feel like I'm firing on all cylinders. I'm ready to do the business with Taylor.”


April 2009

It's Germany versus Japan for a 160-pound Belt

WBA belt-holder Felix Sturm (left) and Japanese challenger Koji Sato will duel on Saturday night in Krefeld, Germany.

WBA Middleweight titlist Felix Sturm and Japan's Koji Sato will meet each other on Saturday night in what will be the busiest weekend of 2009 for world title fights.

Sturm, a 3-time 160-pound titlist (31-2-1, 13 knockouts) takes on Sato (14-0, 13 knockouts) on Sturm's home turf in Krefeld, Germany. Sturm is a previous WBO Middleweight belt-holder best known for being on the wrong end of a very bad decision against Oscar de la Hoya in 2004.

Sturm is hoping to make the sixth successful defense in his second reign as the WBA titlist. Sato, 28, is an unknown commodity, even to the closest followers of the sport. He made his pro debut in Las Vegas four years ago and has since fought all of his subsequent bouts in his home country of Japan.

The fight is receiving no media attention in the United States, but in boxing-crazed Germany the fight card has already sold over 8,000 advance tickets.

The Sturm-Sato fight is the headliner of Universum's “Champions Night” which will also see reigning WBO Super middleweight titlist Karoly Balzay tackle former WBA Middleweight belt-holder Maselino Masoe who is now 42 years-old.

Sato made big news last weekend when he appeared on German television and proclaimed that he was planning on knocking Sturm out in the first round. However, when the two appeared together at a press conference on Monday, Sato backed down from his prior comment.


Sturm is a popular and active fighter - but he has avoided big-name opposition in favor of fighting second and third tier opposition while rarely straying from home.

“I did say that I was going to knock him out in the first round, but I do have respect for the champion,” said Sato who now appears very thin compared to what he looked like when the bout was first announced.

“I realize that I'm the outsider in this country and I'd like to say 'I'm sorry' and that I meant no disrespect. It's a very great honor for me to be fighting here in Germany. I want to put on a good show for the German fans and Sturm is a great ambassador for your country.”

At 5'11” in height, Sato is an aggressive, busy, straight-up boxer with little speed and he is very basic in his mechanics. However, he does have some pop in his wide punches and he likes to dig to the body with a left hook that is actually a fairly decent punch for him. He also has a functional left jab, but he only throws the punch one at a time.

The vastly more experienced Sturm, 30, is a massive betting favorite to retain his title, most likely by decision over Sato who has boxed less than 40 complete rounds as a professional.

For those that would like to see more of Sato, you can check him out on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Sb_5b-lie4


April 2009

Yuriorkis Gamboa is on the Fast Track

Cuban Yuriorkis Gamboa won a gold medal at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece, which he calls, "My biggest feat in boxing so far."

Tonight at Buffalo Bill’s Star Arena in Primm, Nevada he’ll try to make good on another feat and win a world boxing title.

For Gamboa, his has been a professional boxing career that so far has sped by at warp speed. His first title shot will come against Venezuelan veteran Jose Rojas for the vacant interim WBA featherweight belt.

It will be Gamboa’s 15th fight after only two years as a pro. To date he has only fought 46 rounds in the paid ranks and already he has been officially down on the deck four times, only to storm back every time to secure the victory.

For those old enough to remember, Gamboa is downright Holyfield-esque in his march to a title shot.

Remember it was the "Real Deal" fresh off a bronze medal win at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics who faced Dwight Muhammad Qawi for the WBA cruiserweight title in July 1986 after only 20 months, 11 fights and 44 rounds on his pro ledger. Holyfield’s braintrust put him on a fast track to the top because they had confidence in their young charge and now 23 years later, Gamboa’s backers feel much the same about their man’s abilities.

Gamboa is the overwhelming favorite to dispatch the WBA’s favorite Venezuelan son in Rojas (25-6-1, 17 knockouts) who is, incredibly, receiving his fifth shot at that organization’s 126-pound title belt.

While there are many in the industry that are criticizing and questioning the 37 year-old, veteran Rojas’ credentials for his high ranking and title opportunities, there are also quite a few that are raising the same questions and criticisms about Gamboa, who is currently the #1 contender according to the Venezuelan based sanctioning body.


In his most recent fight, Gamboa dispatched Roger Gonzalez, aka "Speedy" via 10th round stoppage.

However, Gamboa, 27, is one of the most confident and young fighters you will meet and like countryman Joel Casamayor, he is a man of few words who is blunt and to the point when he is asked what he thinks of those that question his readiness for a title opportunity.

"I say let the critics think and say whatever they want," answers Gamboa (14-0 with 12 knockouts). "The critics aren’t the ones up in the ring with me. Let them watch me when I destroy my opponents. Watch my opponents when I catch them and knock them out. I'm ready for them and the question is are they ready for me? The critics can think whatever they want."

And so far at least, besides the flash knockdowns, Gamboa hasn’t left a lot for the critics to debate. He has a fan-friendly and television friendly style and as a result HBO, Showtime and ESPN2 has televised most of his fights.

The native of Guantanamo, Cuba is a 5’5" tall, compact, fireplug who storms ahead with a devil-may-care attitude that is hell-bent on scoring a knockout. As a result, he often times leaves himself open for what is coming back at him and so he has tasted the canvas four times in those 14 fights.

But what Gamboa lacks in the finer elements of the sweet science he makes up for with his explosive punching power. He makes no apologies for his eagerness and says only; "My style is my style."

After the Athens Olympics in 2004, Gamboa stayed in contact with Miami attorney Antonio Gonzalez, who is now his manager. In December 2006, Gamboa made his move when he was in Venezuela training with the Cuban boxing team. He would desert the training camp and walk away from the only life he had ever known and he defected.


From left, Yan Barthelemy, Odlanier Solis and Gamboa who together defected from Cuba in December 2006.

Along with two other Cuban boxing gold medalists (heavyweight Odlanier Solis and light flyweight Yan Barthelemy) Gamboa crossed the border into Colombia and a few months later he made his way to his new home base of Miami, Florida and later signed a contract with German boxing promoter Ahmet Oner.

Since then, Gamboa hasn’t looked back.

"There were a lot of reasons why I decided I wanted to get away from Cuba," explains Gamboa. "One of the most important reasons I decided to leave was because in Cuba, they didn't treat us like the Olympic champions that we were. They didn’t give us anything, really, or at least they didn't give us the things that I though we deserved. I had it with Cuba."

His story is much like that of countryman Joel Casamayor, also an Olympic gold medal winner who didn’t receive much respect. Upon Casamayor’s arrival home after the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, the Fidel Castro led Communist government presented Casamayor with a bicycle for his efforts. Casamayor sold the bicycle and bought a pig for his family to eat. Then he also defected for a better life as a professional fighter in the United States and would go on to win millions in purse money and two world boxing titles.

Although Gamboa identifies strongly with his home country of Cuba, he never had a doubt that he would one day escape the Communist grip of the island and make a life for himself as a professional fighter in the United States.

"My whole life I have been a boxer," he explains. "My father was a boxer and my father showed me all of the moves and the punches to throw when I was just a kid. It was a thing where my father and I formed closeness with one another. It helped our father-son relationship and I really enjoyed that. He showed me how to box. My childhood growing up in Cuba was not the same as the childhood that a kid here in the United States would have. I grew up very poor and my entire life was just boxing. My father instilled that boxing work ethic in me at an early age and it’s really the only thing I have ever done in my life. I had no other choices."

After training under the auspices of Osmiri Fernandez for his first 10 pro fights, Gamboa would be decked in the fourth round and stretched to the limit by Darling Jiminez. It was after this performance that his promoter, Ahmet Oner, would step in and replace Fernandez with Ismael Salas

"Osmiri Fernandez came to me after the Darling Jiminez fight and said, 'You see him, he did ten 10 rounds, he lasted the distance' said Oner. "But I felt that Osmiri didn't understand what I wanted from him and what I had in mind for Yuri. I felt we were going in the wrong direction and that we were not on the same page and I said to him, "It’s over."

Cuban Ismael Salas got the call and he now trains Gamboa. Coincidentally (or not) he’s the same man that trained Yuriorkis’ father in Guantanamo, Cuba many years ago, and he’s also a man with whom Gamboa has a special bond.

"It's good because we are close to one another and a lot of times we don't even have to speak when we are training together," says Gamboa of their relationship. "I can tell just by looking at him what he wants from me and what he wants me to do. You would think we have been working together for years, but that isn’t the case. It's just that he has known me since I was a kid and that is a big advantage for me. He was there since the very beginning from the first time I ever went into a gym to see my father. He was there the first day that I put on a pair of gloves and hit a heavy bag. He knows me very well so he knows my pedigree. I’m very happy to be working with him."


Ismael Salas (left) along with veteran cornerman Rafael Garcia and Gamboa after a recent victory.

Since teaming up with Salas in mid-2008, the pair have been on a potent four fight win streak that has seen Gamboa score four knockouts against fighters that had a collective record of 114 wins against only 13 losses.

In their first fight together he would score a highlight reel, first round knockout over the unknown Al Seeger. Next up was the undefeated Marcus Ramirez and while he was on the mat in the first round against Ramirez, Gamboa would scream back and stop him in the second round. In his next fight he would stop the always-capable Roger "Speedy" Gonzalez in the 10th round of their fight. Gamboa calls that fight perhaps his best performance.

"Before that fight, Ismael and I talked about how tough an opponent he was going to be," said Gamboa. "We knew that it was a fight that could go the distance and that I would have to prove that if I had to turn up the pressure and turn up the heat that I could turn it on if I had to. You know, at that time, all of the people out there, the television people and so forth, they were all looking at me and they were all wondering if I was going to be able to do great, great things. They were all wondering how good I can be. They were all wondering if I could take it when the pressure gets turned up and in that fight I proved that I could."

Gamboa, who has been introduced to all the trappings here in America that come along with being a professional fighter, admits it hasn’t always been easy to remain focused on boxing. Since his arrival on the pro scene he has been tempted by the finest food, the shiniest jewelry, the quickest motorcycles and the fastest cars, but he says he plans on making his mark tonight by winning the featherweight belt. His eventual plan is to move up through the weight divisions, winning titles as he goes.


What's a young and undefeated boxer without fast cars, motorcycles, title belts and palm trees?

"It doesn't matter who is in the way, just bring it on," he says. "I’m ready to fight whoever will accept the challenge. Right now my focus is on boxing. I want to win the championship and please the fans, especially my Cuban fans. I enjoy being up there in the ring. I like the excitement of it all and I like to hear the fans cheering. The biggest thing for me is that I like to bring joy to the faces of the fans."

One thing is for sure thus far; Yuriorkis Gamboa is speeding toward the top - and that’s probably why they call it the fast track.


April 2009

Nonito Donaire Admits to Difficulty Making Weight

Nonito Donaire (left) and Raul Martinez met today in Manila, the Philippines. The pair will meet again this weekend for Donaire's IBF Flyweight title.

Nonito "The Flash" Donaire admitted that he has had "a problem" getting down to 112 pounds ahead of his IBF Flyweight bout against Raul Martinez that will take place this weekend in the Philippines.

Donaire, 26, is making the third defense of his title belt against the undefeated Martinez who hails from San Antonio, Texas. The fight will take place at the Araneta Coliseum in Manila, which is the same venue that hosted the legendary "Thrilla in Manila" between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier in 1975.

"Well, I think all fighters at one time or another go through the weight issues," said Donaire, who has now wrapped up his sparring and heavy training. "I feel good, but the last few days have been tough. There has been a little problem, though, yes."

In a very surprising move, Donaire recently fired his father as his trainer and hired former IBF Flyweight titlist Dodie Boy Penalosa. It was a shock move, considering that only a few months ago, Donaire told me, "I started with my Dad. He taught me everything I know. Everything that I've learned - who I am now as a fighter is because of the way he made me think inside that ring. He taught me how to be smart, how to be strong, how to be fast."

Donaire, however, says that training with Dodie Boy and the Penalosa brothers has been a blessing. He says that he has sparred over 120 rounds during the training camp for this fight whereas the most he had done for previous fights was around 40 rounds.


Donaire (left) had to lose 29 pounds in order to make weight against Luis Maldonado in a title bout that took place in Dec. 2007 at Foxwoods Resort and Casino.

"With Dodie Boy it has been special. In a way, it's like being with my father," explained Donaire. "He looks out for me and I fully trust him. I trust him with my life when I go into the ring. I know that he will take care of me no matter what the situation is. We've become close in the past few months and it's like being a family. I've learned a lot from him inside and outside the ring - how to be a good and smart fighter and a good person."

Weight problems for Donaire are not new. After his Dec. 2007 knockout victory over Luis Maldonado at Foxwoods Casino in Connecticut, Donaire told this scribe, "I had to come down from 140 pounds to make 111 for this fight. I didn't really have my legs at any time during the fight."

Donaire claims he "has been training for the past three months" and that at this point he does feel as though he is in the condition that he has "always wanted to be" even though it has been difficult to reach the 112-pound Flyweight limit. In the past two weeks he admits to losing almost 10 pounds.

Donaire signed a promotional agreement with Bob Arum this past June after an acrimonious split with former promoter Gary Shaw, who has since called Donaire "disloyal." Arum is billing this weekend's card "The Flash and the Furious" and it is available in the United States at a pay-per view asking price of $24.95. The card also features Brian Viloria in an IBF Light flyweight bout against Ulises Solis.


April 2009