Sunday News and Notes

by Brickhaus on May 31, 2009 12:04 PM EDT in News Comment 9 comments

What you can't see here is that there are two even shorter George Foremans on the right, making 5 bars. George III, who's turning pro next week, is on the left.

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On the untelevised Berto-Urango undercard, Yusef Mack knocked out former title challenger DeAndrey Abron in the 4th round, while heavyweight prospects Tor Hamer and Wilmer Vasquez both won their fights, Hamer by knockout and Vasquez by split decision. Vasquez was an Olympian with Venezuela, and falls into that general category of raw Venezuelan sluggers, only a lot bigger than most of them. He reminds me a bit of Michael Grant, though hopefully his chin is better than Grant's. He hasn't gotten much publicity, but if he keeps winning, he'll make a name for himself eventually.
According to Dan Rafael, Shane Mosley wants Manny Pacquiao. Seriously, who doesn't? Anyway, Mosley says he'd be willing to boil down to a catchweight below 147 for the matchup.
Yuriorkis Gamboa is about to sign a co-promotional contract with Top Rank. In addition, it looks like his proposed fight with Celestino Caballero won't happen - the money just isn't there.
Mike Alvarado has pulled out of his fight with Paulie Malignaggi. Juan Diaz has been mentioned as a possible opponent, though I'll believe that one when I see it.
Mexican prospect Abner Mares has signed with Israel Vasquez's manager, Frankie Espinoza. Proving that every action has an equal and opposite reaction, Nacho Beristain promptly dumped Mares as one of his trainees. Espinoza is a MUCH better businessman than Beristain, but Mares will need to find another good trainer now.
Steve Cunningham will face Wayne Braithwaite in an eliminator on the untelevised undercard of Darchinyan-Agbeko. How is is that this man never manages to get on TV? Also, Cunningham has left Jeff Mayweather in favor of training with Nazeem Richardson. Not a bad move up there. Not on the undercard - Witter-Alexander.
George Foreman III will be making his professional debut next week. Didn't know that the original George Foreman was a junior? He wasn't - George Foreman II is big George's eldest son, and George III is one of his younger sons. There are a few other Georges as well. I still don't know how his wife differentiates all of them. He's another late entrant to the ring generally, so we'll see if he can develop into anything, but he has his father's physical stature. "Monk" is already 26, and had no amateur career.

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Wilmer Vasquez didn’t win his fight by KO — he scored a majority decision over a 14-26-2 fighter.

by schraubd on May 31, 2009 12:22 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Thanks

Fixed. I remember not being overly impressed with him the one time I saw him on US TV, but his camp expects him to be a contender someday.

Vogt early, Vogt often.

by Brickhaus on May 31, 2009 1:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Majority decision, not split decision.

And agreed on Vasquez — I saw him once too and was supremely unimpressed.

by schraubd on May 31, 2009 2:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Does this mean Caballero will stay at 122? I know the Bernard Dunne camp were talking about a Cab fight in Dublin.

" Man is not made for defeat. A man can be destroyed but not defeated "
- Hemingway

by Hellsing on May 31, 2009 1:01 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I would have loved to see the Caballero/Gamboa fight…

"Boxing is dirty," said Casamayor. " The day I’m not ready to be a dirty fighter is the day I don’t fight anymore because it will mean that I have no heart for it anymore."

by Zocalo on May 31, 2009 7:25 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Caballero-Dunne is probably a better fight anyway, if that happens instead

Since Dunne is Caballero’s mandatory, and all.

I’d like to see Gamboa take another step up, one way or the other. I don’t think Rojas was inappropriate (but I also probably rate Rojas higher than most), but it’s time for him to start facing the elite from 122 to 130.

Vogt early, Vogt often.

by Brickhaus on May 31, 2009 7:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Nacho has lost a step or 10

He tried to claim that he was coaching JMM to victory over Pac while JMM was just doing what he does best… Then he went to DLH saying he knew the key to beating Pac and promptly got Oscar beaten into retirement. Go to Freddie Roach. Roach’s best asset is that he doesn’t have a style he wants his fighters to fight. He tailors his gameplan to fit his fighters best attributes. Fight to your strengths not your opponents weakness.

Gimme 1 round!

by ItBurnzWhenIP on May 31, 2009 9:39 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

other than Marquez-Vasquez I, have any of nacho’s major fighters won a major fight? every time i see him in the corner i can pretty much assume they’re gonna lose

The Dude Abides

by battle axe of doom on Jun 1, 2009 2:00 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs