EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — For years, Nate Diaz has been in the shadow of his older brother, controversial UFC welterweight contender Nick. But after Nate’s impressive showing Saturday in a nationally televised bout at the Izod Center, that may no longer be the case. The younger Diaz put on a superlative performance in defeating one of the UFC’s top lightweights, Jim Miller, in front of Miller’s hometown fans. Diaz won via submission (guillotine choke) at 4:09 of the second round.
“I went out there and trained hard for this, and the fight was even harder than I thought,” said Diaz (16-7). “He was a tough dude but things went good.” Diaz won a tight, fast-paced first round. Then he really opened up in the second round. The Stockton, Calif., native repeatedly dropped his arms and taunted Miller, causing Miller to charge at Diaz and miss with wild strikes. Diaz responded with crisp offense, mixing his punches, elbows and knees, as he slowly softened up Miller for the finish. READ MORE…
Victorious Floyd Mayweather
Saturday, May 5, 2012
Las Vegas, NV- Floyd Mayweather, (151 lbs), Las Vegas, NV UD 12 Miguel Cotto, (154), Caguas, Puerto Rico. (WBA 154 lb title) Mayweather (43-0, 26 KOs) in his toughest test to date does what he has always done, win and win in impressive manner. A relentless Cotto (37-3, 30 KOs) just couldn’t connect cleanly with a defensive wizard like Mayweather. Cards were 117-111 twice and 118-110.
ALVAREZ BEATS MOSLEY INTO DEMENTIA?
Saul Alvarez, (154), Jalisco, Mexico UD 12 Shane Mosley, (154), Pomona, CA. (WBC 154 lb title) Alvarez (40-0-1, 29 KOs) cut over his left eye early by an accidental Mosley (46-8-1, 39 KOs) head butt, bled throughout the fight. The crimson didn’t detour the Mexican hero on Cinco De Mayo as battered the veteran Mosley as if he were a human punching bag. Nazim Richardson, Shane’s respected trainer, should have stopped the fight after round ten. READ MORE…
Dave "The Genius" Meltzer
San Francisco, CA- When it comes to writers, ther has never been a scribe that I’ve enjoyed and learned more from than Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter and WrestlingObserver.com The man is a virtual encyclopedia on every form of MMA, every fight, every fighter, I’m telling you nobody knows more than Dave when it comes to the new era of combat sports. That being said, Meltzer was the sole guest on the “Ring Talk MMA Hour” and he rocked! To LISTEN NOW READ MORE…
Lenny Williams
San Francisco, CA- While I touched on some serious subjects, such as the passing of Andy Ganigan, whom Ring Magazine credited as one of the “100 Hardest Punchers In Boxing History,” I also talked about the politics of boxing, where the sport is now, where it’s been and where it is going. Platinum recording artist Lenny Williams (and his dog) appeared on the “Ring Talk Boxing Hour” as we discuused Floyd Mayweather in detail. To LISTEN NOW READ MORE…
UFC Czar Dana White
San Francisco, CA- If you’re of my mindset, I’m watching the Ultimate Fighting Championships (UFC) on FOX TV at 5 PM PT before tuning into the Floyd Mayweather-Miguel Cotto card circa 8 PM PT. Reason being, the fights on FOX are free and feature fighters starving for stardom and adulation. The undercard of Mayweather-Cotto features unbeaten Saul Alvarez feasting on Shane Mosley as if Mosley were something off the $1.00 menu at McDonalds.
UFC MAIN EVENT “THRILLER IN THE MAKING”
When you match world-class fighters against one another, it usually provides fireworks. While that can be the exception to the rule in boxing, in the UFC it is the rule! In the FOX TV main event Nate Diaz (15-7) meets Jim Miller (15-1) in a battle of starved fighters. What I mean by “starved” is this FOX TV main event pits two fighters who will hold nothing back as this may be their last shot to gravitate to millions of fans and gain recognition. Because if UFC President Dana White has one mantra, it is if you suck on TV, especially in the main event, don’t expect another shot. Thus, you now realize the pressure on Diaz and Miller.
NICK DIAZ’S BROTHER LOOKS TO MAKE MARK READ MORE…
Betting Favorite Floyd Mayweather
Hard Rock Casino, Las Vegas, NV- (FOX Espanol/Esportes) Daniel Ponce De Leon (42-4, 35KOs) vs. Eduardo Lazcano (24-2, 12 KOs) Odds/Predictions: De Leon 3-1. Looks like mismatch or “work” fight for De Leon. Would put down $900 to win $1,200 on favorite.
Ishe Smith (22-5,10 KOs) vs. Ayi Bruce (21-6 13 KOs) Odds/Predictions: Ishe 2-1. Ishe has never overly impressed. Expect him to prevail, but I’m not betting this one.
Palais des Sport Marcel Cerdan, Paris, France- Hassan N’Jikam (26-0, 17 KOs) vs. Max Bursak (24-0-1, 10 KOs) Odds/Predictions: Hassam 8-5. Hard to handicap match, thus I pass.
Saturday, May 5, 2012
MGM Grand Casino, Las Vegas, NV- (HBO PPV) Floyd Mayweather Jr. (42-0, 26 KOs) vs. Miguel Cotto (37-2, 30 KOs) (WBA 154 lb. title) Odds/Predictions: READ MORE…
Bob "Admitted Felon" Arum
San Francisco, CA- For those of you that want me to stand ringside with a “pom-pom” cheering on the sport of boxing, for the people that criticize me when they know nothing about “the business” of boxing, this story is not for you. That being said, when the great Jacob Finklestein, my mentor who was enshrined into the International Boxing Hall of Fame for his writing boxing for 40+ years, said that boxing would be dead circa 2016, the man who wrote under the name Jack Fiske because of anti-Semitic feelings in the 1940s after he graduated from the University of Alabama, Jack had no idea that the 800 lb. gorilla in the room would be the Ultimate Fighting Championships (UFC) and MMA.
FOR THOSE YOU THAT DOUBT FISKE’S WORDS, LOOK AT THE NUMBERS
The great matchmaker Johnny Bos, who will never make the Hall of Fame, regardless of his 30+ years of matchmaking and devotion to the sport, Bos recently reported that in 1986 there were over 5,000 boxing shows in the United States. Last year, there were less than 500! So while most of the so-called boxing media goes around blowing promoter Bob Arum, an admitted Felon, and I couldn’t write that if it wasn’t true, or I’d have Arum’s legal team, which I’ve already beaten in court, they would have me shut down and paying for everything including Massa’ Bob’s pedicures.
AS FOR TODAY’S BOXING PRESS CORPS! READ MORE…
Andy Ganigan
San Francisco, CA- Having already drank my ZMA 5, a Victor Conte SNAC.com product that I take to insure a good nights sleep, I got an email that while it wasn’t unexpected, it still packed a punch, a “Hawaiian Punch.” The sad news was that the hardest hitting Filipino fighter I had ever seen in my life, Andy Ganigan had died at the age of 59. His death comes almost two years after being attacked and beaten severely by some 21-year old nearly 300 lb. punk Matthew Kupa. The beating essentially turned the Filipino-American into a vegetable. Kupa reportedly received 1 & 1/2 years in jail for what is alleged to be an unprovoked attack.
ANDY HIT PAYDIRT ONCE…ALMOST TWICE IN SUCCESSION!
It was the last week of October 1981 and Pat O’Grady, the sleazy father-manager of Sean O’Grady, had a fight on network TV, I’m thinking it was CBS. The opponent was supposed to be 1976 Olympic champ and team MVP Howard Davis Jr. With the fight signed some six to eight weeks prior, Sean worked exclusively with orthodox (right handed) fighters who could glide around the ring with ease like Davis.
HALLOWEEN FIGHT A NIGHTMARE FOR O’GRADY CLAN! READ MORE…
Manny Pacquiao-Tim Bradley
San Francisco, CA- Forbes Magazine released it’s yearly awards this week and ranked Manny Pacquiao as one of “America’s Most Influential Athletes.” Pacquiao, a native of the Philippines was the only boxer on the list dominated by NFL stars, especially quarterbacks.
BILLIONAIRE CONGRESSMAN IN HOMELAND
According to the periodical “Philippine News,” Manny Pacquiao is the richest person in that country’s Congress. What surprised me was that trainer Freddie Roach was alluding to Pacquiao being broke a few months back. But according to this weekly periodical, Pacquiao is considered a “billionaire” in the Philippines. When you convert his net worth to American dollars it is around $25,000,000.
FINISHING UP CAMP IN HIGH ALTITUDE READ MORE…
Three Crowns For Wilfredo Benitez
San Francisco, CA- Recently, I’ve been hit via email and in blogs with criticism as to why I didn’t turn professional after what some might call a stellar amateur career. While fortunate enough to snag four Golden Glove titles, as well as three other tournaments, I could see my skills eroding before my very own eyes. No longer were the people throwing punches at me missing by a comfortable margin of inches, the shots were starting to connect and the ones I avoided were no longer measured by inches, it was more like millimeters. So when I was approached by two investors circa 1984 and asked to turn professional, I respectfully declined.
FIGHT EASIER GUYS IN PROS THAN IN TOURNAMENTS
The location was the now burned down “Original Joes” restaurant in the unit block of Taylor St. in San Francisco, just a few blocks away from where the original and oldest boxing gym in the United States was still standing, Herman-Newman’s Gym, owned by Billy Newman and run by a character named Don Stewart. The gym was home to a lot of us, even when we didn’t have fights on tap or were not training, guys would swing by the gym just to see what was going on. At this luncheon, the two men, now deceased I believe, laid out a plan and a contract. The deal would have given me $25,000 a year for two years and I’d get to keep 65% of any purse money I might earn. They had already put on paper six guys (stiffs) they wanted me to fight in that first year of the deal.
INSURANCE POLICY WAS A REAL “EYE OPENER” READ MORE…
VIDEO COURTESY OF ESPN: IN STUDIO ANALYSIS FROM STEPHEN A. SMITH AND SKIP BAYLESS, IN REGARDS TO RECENT STATEMENTS FROM MAYWEATHER IN REGARDS TO A POTENTIAL FIGHT WITH THE FILIPINO SUPERSTAR.
READ MORE…
Mayweather-Cotto
San Francisco, CA- The “Fight of 2012” is a throwback of sorts as it pits two great fighters with contrasting styles against one another for the World 154 lb. championship. Yeah, the man with the seemingly growing head, Saul Alvarez may hold the WBC title, and unheralded but outstanding Austin Trout holds the WBA trinket, in my mind. although Alvarez and Trout may progress to the status of greatness, they’re not there yet. Miguel Cotto is a wonderful person, great husband, has a beautiful wife and family. He was always the heir apparent to Tito Trinidad until his ex-promoter Top Rank sacrificed him to Antonio “Loaded Gloves” Margarito and then made him cut off an arm to face Manny “Suspected of PEDs” Pacquiao. Years ago, Top Rank was protecting Cotto, then an undefeated jr. welterweight who was able to overcome the adversity of being hurt and dropped to come back and win. The knock on Cotto, was that his feet were too slow, something he realizes and is working to improve on for this Saturday’s showdown with boxing’s best boxer Floyd Mayweather.
HOW DOES ONE IMPROVE “FOOT SPEED?”
Having trained fighters who walked around the ring like they were wearing lead boots, I could never find a way to significantly improve this shortcoming. Cotto has labored greatly over the last two months to improve his “side to side” movement and the overall speed of his footwork. But can it be done? Can you teach a slow old dog new tricks, or compel him to fight in a manner he has never excelled at before? The Cotto camp says yes, while common sense says no.
THE HEART & DESIRE OF MIGUEL COTTO! READ MORE…
MAYWEATHER-COTTO, GUILLERMO RIGONDEAUX & THE KNOCOUT PICTURES
San Francisco, CA- In a mini-photo album of brutal knockouts, take a look and you’ll be left shaking your head! We also have a feature story on WBA champ Guillermo Rigondeaux and how his being avoided like a disease! Lastly, there is a story on Saturday’s “Super Fight” between Floyd Mayweather and Miguel Cotto. That and the latest “Ring Talk Boxing & MMA” radio shows at RingTalk.com
"Ring Kings"
“SUPER FIGHT” BOXING FINALLY RETURNS!
New York, NY- Millions around the world will be in anticipation of an intriguing battle when WBA super middleweight (154) champion Miguel “Junito” Cotto (37-2-2, 30 KOs) engages top ranked “pound for pound” elite pugilist Floyd “Money” Mayweather (42-0, 26 KOs) in a proposed 12 round showdown at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, NV, Saturday at 9 PM ET, on HBO PPV.
BAPTISM UNDER FIRE
After Miguel was violently stopped at the (suspect) hands of Antonio Margarito (L TKO 11), unlike most young fighters who administered a terrible beating at the highest level of the sport, a galvanized Cotto rebounded with two impressively fought wins. Just 16 months removed from the Margarito affair, in effort to reclaim the number one “pound for pound” status he was close to capturing before his setback, Cotto agreed to fight one of the sport’s best combatants: Manny Pacquiao. In a commendable effort against Pacquiao, Miguel competitively stood “toe to toe” with the Filipino superstar for as long as he could. Due to the relentless assault reigned upon him, mixed in with the “catch weight” he agreed READ MORE…
Pacquiao-Freddie Roach-Rigondeaux
Los Angeles, CA- Being that I am black of Caribbean heritage (Both of my parents were born in Jamaica) I am enthralled with Cuban fighters. I tend to side with the little guy, the underdog and not the establishment. Obviously boxing is a business and promoters must protect their investments, but what irks me is the blatant ducking or lack of even recognizing the Cuban amateur standout and current WBA super bantamweight (122 lb) champion Guillermo Rigondeaux (9-0, 7 KOs) as a legitimate opponent to any of the perceived top fighters in the division.
NOBODY WILL EVEN MENTION HIS NAME?
When asked about potential future opponents none of the top fighters in the division ever mention his name. In the Cuban’s last bout he destroyed unbeaten Al Haymon protégé and champion at the time Rico Ramos (20-1, 11KOs) inside of six rounds.
BEST BODYPUNCHER TODAY IN BOXING!
One of the most vicious body punchers in the sport, he is ranked number #4 at super bantamweight by the BoxRec.com computer. However all of the top earners at or near the weight, Nonito Donaire (28-1, 18 KOs), Abner Mares (24-0-1, 13 KOs), Jorge Arce (60-6-2, 46 KOs), and others are avoiding him like the plague.
HANDICAPPERS & WISE GUYS KNOW THE REASON! READ MORE…