Mandatory Eight Count - Labor Day Edition

Rafa Wants Izzy | Boxingscene

The good news is that Rafael Marquez is still chasing down a fourth fight with Israel Vasquez.  The bad news is that it won't be until next year, if at all.  As much as I want to see both of them take a few less brutal fights to earn their paychecks, I'm not going to complain.  All three fights in their trilogy were fantastic fights, and two of them were my personal fights of the year.

Willie Chapman Soldiering On | Las Vegas Sun

The name Willie Chapman might ring a bell, as he's a 21-29-4 heavyweight journeyman who's fought quite a few guys as they were moving up the ranks.  This article is a great glimpse into the life of a journeyman.  Despite his record, and despite 11 losses in his last 15 fights, Chapman is still holding out for that elusive title shot,in part because he's usually fighting on extremely short notice to make money, and he believes that if he's given time to train, he can pull it off.  Both a sad story and a very illuminating one, and I'd highly recommend the read.

Should LeGarrette Blount Take Up Boxing? | LA Times

Blount, the Oregon running back, was suspended for a full season when he landed a punch right on the jaw that knocked out an opposing Boise State player cold.  While his college football career is on hold, evidently Bob Arum is interested.

Steve Bunce Going on the Road | Sports Journalists' Association

Steve Bunce was the boxing commentator for Setanta, before it went under, and even had a weekly boxing show there.  Now that he has no network, he's taking his show on the road, doing a 12-date live tour where he'll talk boxing with live audiences.

Amir Khan Likely to Face Salita | Daily Telegraph

There had been some rumors floating around that Amir Khan would make the first defense of his 140 pound title against commonwealth titlist John Murray.  Frank Warren poo-pooed that, and Khan instead is likely to take on his mandatory, Dmitry Salita, who as a light hitting fighter without any spectacular qualities, fits the profile of a Khan opponent perfectly.  The fight will probably be in London in December.  In the meantime, Khan will be sparring with Manny Pacquiao to prepare him for the Miguel Cotto fight.

Marvin Sonsona Punches Hard | Boxingscene

According to Carita Lopez, the knockdown punch from the 4th round of their fight actually hit him so hard that he felt the blow for the rest of the fight. Lopez wants a rematch, but if that can't work out, he'll try to get fights with Jorge Arce or Nonito Donaire.  Arce-Lopez could be epic if it happens.  In other Sonsona news, he'd be happy to try to unify against Nonito Donaire, even though he's trained by Donaire's father.  Also, the card at Casino Rama was so successful that he's already booked to make his first title defense there in November.  Finally, Vic Darchinyan is calling him out.  Because it went so well the last time he faced a Pinoy puncher.

Tyson Fury Pisses People Off | The Mirror

Next weekend, Tyson Fury fights John McDermott for the Englist heavyweight title, despite being only 7 fights into his young career.  Fury isn't targeting McDermott though with his trash talk.  Instead, he's been sparring with McDermott's promoter, Frank Maloney,   On Maloney promoting Lennox Lewis: "My pet dog could have done for Lewis what Maloney did, and he's blind with only one leg."  Fury failed to show up to the pre-fight presser, and Maloney has lodged a formal complaint.  Hopefully he doesn't say anything so dumb that it requires him to put his fist in his mouth. 

Ruslan Chagaev Changes Trainers | AFP

Granted, Chagaev appeared to have a horrible gameplan against Wladimir Klitschko (or more precisely, executed horribly), but I don't know how much taking a greener trainer will help Chagaev.  At least it's someone who speaks Russian this time.  His new trainer, Magomed Shaburov, also trains Denis Inkin.