Mayweather vs. Mosley restores faith in the game…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
And that’s why we fight fans are a sick, sick bunch. We were all frustrated when the mega-bout between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao did not come off.
Some vowed they would never watch the sport again. It’s knee-jerk reaction that you knew wouldn’t last.
The horrible tragedy in Haiti took Andre Berto out of his Jan. 30 bout with Shane Mosley. But what it did was open up the prospects of a Mosley vs. Mayweather bout.
It’s no longer a prospect as the bout has been agreed to for May 1. And just like that, they pull ya back in.
So in an odd (and frustrating) way, we’ve reached a four-man tournament with Pacquiao vs. Joshua Clottey on March 13 and Mosley and Mayweather on May 1.
Logic would dictate the winners of the two bouts would meet in November (a prime boxing month over the years), but logic never quite works out that way in boxing.
For now, let me just say I’m happy at least one super bout is going to take place this year. Mosley and Mayweather have been in boxing’s limelight since 1998.
My first Mosley bout was his stoppage of Golden Johnson in a lightweight title defense in Jan. ‘99. For Mayweather, it was his two-round destruction of Angel Manfredy in Dec. ‘98.
Since then, it seems like the two have been on a collision course but were never going to collide.
Mayweather haters are still barking, saying Floyd is taking on an old Shane that hasn’t fought in 16 months. Outside of a Pacquiao fight, THIS is the fight the public wanted to see Mayweather in.
From a promotional note, this is perfect timing, too. Mayweather has been in the news since November, and now you have a three-month ‘tour’ to sell this thing.
The fight will be on HBO PPV, and there will be a month-long 24/7 series with it.
We may have taken a long road to get there, but boxing in 2010 just got a whole lot brighter with this announcement.
Collected Wisdom: James ‘Buster’ Douglas…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
Had a chance for a nice, long interview with former world heavyweight champion and fellow Ohioan, James ‘Buster’ Douglas.
While boxing still remains a big part in his life, it’s clear that the most excitement he gets from life now is from his three sons.
***
James “Buster” Douglas and the sport of boxing were forever changed nearly 20 years ago. One magical performance made Douglas, a 42-to-1 underdog, into an overnight sensation when he knocked out the previously undefeated Mike Tyson in the 10th round in Tokyo, Japan, to become the world heavyweight champion. Douglas retired in 1999 with a 38-6-1 record with 25 knockouts. Douglas was the special guest at the Oklahoma City Charity Fight Night last Thursday at the Coca-Cola Bricktown Events Center.
Growing up my favorite childhood experiences had to do with sports. I would play all kinds of sports, and I knew that’s what I wanted to do. I remember winning the championship in grade school basketball. That was a great feeling.
Basketball was my first passion. I knew I was going to grow up and become the next sensation in the sport. I got a scholarship to Coffeyville Community College in Kansas and played for a couple of years.
In my junior year, I got back into boxing. I was ready to lace them up and see what I could do.
Those first years are the hardest because you’re trying to prove yourself. You’re 1-0 and 2-0, and you want to be 10-0 already. You want the double digits because that’s when people start actually looking at you. You want to be the co-feature or main event, but you need the experience first.
I first felt like I had made it in my first championship bout (a 10th-round KO loss to Tony Tucker in 1987). I remember what it was like to ride in first class in an airplane. You have all that room and those cushy seats — it was something I knew I could get used to. It inspired me to work even harder after that fight.
The Tyson fight is anything but a blur to me. I just remember wanting to do it for my mom so much (she died 23 days before the fight). As the fight was going, I was saying ‘wow’ to myself because I knew how well I was doing. He knocked me down, but I knew I was going to get up. I wasn’t going to be denied.
That uppercut (that led to the Tyson KO) was the punch of my life. It was just so beautiful and so amazing. That moment can never be taken away from me.
My life was crazy after that fight. I remember trying to go back to hotel rooms through the kitchen because there were so many people who wanted to talk to me or get my autograph. It was nonstop. It was like trying to make sure the President was safe or something like that. Flying on private planes was great. There were a lot of good things and bad things about becoming famous overnight.
Going into a diabetic coma was what saved my life and was what gave me my second chance at life. I said thank you and knew it was time to be a better father and a better man.
I have some things in development. I have about four acres near where I live that we’re trying to turn into condominiums and retail space. And I like to do things for charity just like this. I try to keep busy.
I live for my sons. I have three of them. They’re my motivation, and I want to see them achieve all their goals. One is already a freshman in college, which is weird to think about. And another is already starting as a wide receiver and defensive back on the varsity football team as a sophomore. They play football, basketball, track, whatever. They don’t want to box, and that’s fine with me.
I lived in Florida for a short period of time after winning the title, but Ohio is my home. This is where I want to be. This is where my family is. Wherever they are, that’s where I want to be.
Herschel Walker does what he set out to do…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
All the fun and excitement of the local boxing scene almost made me forget about the Strikeforce card on Showtime on Saturday night.
Almost.
When I initially heard about former NFL star Herschel Walker wanting to perform in Strikeforce, I rolled my eyes. But after listening to him in countless number of interviews, you don’t really have a choice but to pull for the guy.
He’s so dang realistic and so likeable. Still, at 47, it was a pretty crazy thing to decide to start a new career in Mixed Martial Arts.
How did he do?
Eh, not bad. Walker won via third-round TKO against Greg Nagy. There were good moments and bad moments, but Walker looked at home.
He came out early with good jabs and leg kicks. He stopped a takedown attempt by Nagy and took it to the ground. There, he avoided a heel hook and easily won the first round.
In the second, thought he might have been able to finish the job, but Walker didn’t know how. He dominated on the ground and did hammer fists and easily won that round.
Finally, in the third, Walker avoided Nagy’s last attempt at turning things around and eventually tired him out more than anything.
Walker wasn’t too high on his performance and isn’t even sure if he’ll come back. He wanted to see if he could do it, he can. He is still built like a tank and still one of the most soft-spoken fellas out there.
Whatever he does, wish him well and will never doubt his determination and competitiveness.
In other bouts…
- Bobby Lashley made his Strikeforce debut a successful one, stopping Wes Sims in the first round. It looked like a weird stoppage, but it was a good one. Lashley needs to face a live body in his next fight.
- One frightening right hand gave Robbie Lawler a first-round KO of Melvin Manhoef. Best KO of the year so far. Manhoef had great combinations but got caught, and it was lights out (seriously).
- Then came the Walker bout. He was very honest about everything and said it was the toughest thing he’s ever done. He wanted to finish the job, just didn’t have the tools to do it. However, he has great natural instincts. Guess it’s kinda up to him if he wants to keep going.
- Cris Cyborg is still a beast. She took some good hits and kept coming and finally earned a stoppage in the third round. Cyborg is phenomenal.
- And in a thrilling slugfest, Nick Diaz stopped Marius Zaromskis late in the first round by KO. Diaz used his reach advantage like a true pro and kept Zaromskis on the end of his punches all night. Zaromskis caught Diaz midway through the round, but Diaz worked through it and walked him down before laying him out.
***
Lawton’s Grady Brewer was knocked out in the 10th round against Erislandy Lara on Friday night. It was supposed to be on Fox Sports, but the Thunder were on. I haven’t seen it yet. Sounds like Brewer gave a good accounting of himself, but Lara is the real deal. No doubt about it.
Carson Jones, George Tahdooahnippah score wins…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
Carson Jones’ last hurdle to a proposed showdown with Antonio Margarito is behind him as Jones scored a unanimous decision victory against Eloy Suarez on Thursday night at Oklahoma City Charity Fight Night at the Coca-Cola Bricktown Events Center.
Jones is slated to face Margarito on March 13 at Cowboys Stadium as long as Margarito gets his license back. Margarito was suspended for a year after having illegal hand wraps in a bout with Shane Mosley last January.
Lawton’s George “Comanche Boy” Tahdooahnippah was also victorious Thursday, earning a unanimous decision against Chris Overbey.
Former world heavyweight champion James “Buster” Douglas was the special guest host this year, with the proceeds going to the Oklahoma City Police Athletic League.
And with the bad weather, I’ll get to see Grady Brewer’s fight tonight on Fox Sports. Very interesting to see what he can do in a fight he’s supposed to lose.
Focus is the key for Carson Jones…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
Here is my piece on Carson Jones from Thursday’s paper:
All the talk last week from Oklahoma City junior middleweight boxer Carson Jones and his manager, Bobby Dobbs, was about a proposed bout with Antonio Margarito on March 13.
Margarito was suspended for a year after being caught with illegal hand wraps and still does not have his license back.
Both Dobbs and Jones are in favor of letting Margarito come back and fight, so Jones can get his shot at him.
If he gets his license back, Jones and Margarito will fight on the undercard of the Manny Pacquiao-Joshua Clottey event from Cowboys Stadium.
There is one roadblock for Jones: tonight’s fight with Eloy Suarez (11-7) at Oklahoma Charity Fight Night.
All Jones needs to do is take one look at the event’s special guest to learn the importance of being focused 100 percent.
James “Buster” Douglas was a 42-to-1 underdog heading into his bout with Mike Tyson 20 years ago (Feb. 11, 1990). There was already talk of a mega-bout between Tyson and Evander Holyfield later in the summer of 1990.
One magical performance put those talks on ice as Douglas shocked the world with his 10th-round knockout of Tyson.
Focus hasn’t been an issue lately for Jones (24-7). He had the best year of his career in 2009, ending it on a six-fight winning streak.
Jones picked it up in May by winning the WBC Continental Americas championship and concluded it with a surprising third-round knockout of previously unbeaten KO artist Tyrone Brunson in December on Showtime.
Jones is only 23 years old but is already in his sixth year as a professional. The early part of Jones’ career was marred with a lack of focus and be put in against competition he wasn’t ready for.
That’s not the case anymore.
“All I have to worry about is fighting now,” Jones said. “I have a good management team, and I know what I have to do. This is going to be my year.”
***
How many times have we seen it, though? All you need to do is win this fight to get to that big bout. Some that come to mind:
- George Foreman lost to Jimmy Young when a title bout was lined up for him.
- Zab Judah lost to Carlos Baldomir when a proposed bout with Floyd Mayweather was being talked about. Oddly enough, Mayweather would beat Judah later in the year anyway.
- You could say Felix Sturm defeated Oscar De La Hoya when the Golden Boy and Bernard Hopkins had already agreed to fight each other. The judges said Oscar, but not too many other people did.
- Just last month with Roy Jones Jr. With a proposed rematch with Bernard Hopkins looming, Danny Green KO’d RJJ in one round. Sadly, RJJ and Hopkins still plan to fight…and on PPV. Don’t get me started.
- The boxing world was giddy about a potential Shane Mosley-Felix Trinidad fight. Nobody told Winky Wright, who dismantled Trinidad and then got the best of Mosley twice.
There are almost too many to mention, and I know I’m forgetting some obvious ones, so I throw it out to you guys to refresh the memory.
***
And here is a piece by MaxBoxing on George ‘Comanche Boy’ Tahdooahnippah. Good piece that covers a lot of the same ground I’ve done on George in the last two years. Here ya go.
Allan Green getting his shot…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
The first part of this year is going to be huge for local boxing products Carson Jones and Allan Green.
Jones, from Oklahoma City, has a potential bout with Antonio Margarito looming March 13 on the undercard of Manny Pacquiao-Joshua Clottey.
Green, however, received a gift. He was originally supposed to face Sakio Bika in February as a de facto ‘play-in’ game into the Super Six.
There have been problems with Bika, so he’s out, and Green is in. Green, from Tulsa, is replacing Jermain Taylor, who announced last week he was taking an indefinite leave from the sport.
This is what Green has been pleading for. Now let’s see what he does with this chance. ‘Sweetness’ has been sweet at times, but he’s also been sour.
He’s looked great in one fight, and then doesn’t leave an impression at all in others. Green will face Andre Ward in April. Ward, of course, might be the hottest fighter in the sport right now after back-to-back wins against Edison Miranda and Mikkel Kessler.
Green is an enigma because you don’t know what you’re going to see from him from bout to bout. You know he’s never wanted an opportunity more, so here’s to hoping he makes it count.
Buster Douglas in OKC on Wednesday…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
Just like Sugar Ray Leonard last year, another big boxing presence is coming to Oklahoma City. Former world heavyweight champion James ‘Buster’ Douglas is in town for OKC Charity Fight Night.
Douglas, of course, made history with his 10th-round KO of previously undefeated (and indestructible) Mike Tyson back in Tokyo, Japan, in 1990.
Here’s the release:
JAMES “BUSTER” DOUGLAS VISITS PAL KIDS
Boxing Legend Inspires Young Hopefuls to Keep Fighting for Success
WHAT: Boxing great, Buster Douglas, a PAL kid himself, in Oklahoma City to host OKC Charity Fight Night, meets with aspiring young contenders to inspire and motivate their fight towards success.
WHO: James “Buster” Douglas is a former undisputed world heavyweight boxing champion, and former PAL member from Columbus, OH, who surprised the world in one of the most shocking upsets in sports history when he knocked out undefeated champion Mike Tyson on February 11, 1990. At the time, Tyson was considered to be the best boxer in the world and one of the most feared heavyweight champions in history due to his utter domination of the division. Vegas odds had Douglas as a 42-to-1 underdog.
WHEN: Wednesday, January 27th at 3:45 p.m.
WHERE: Azteca Gym located at 330 SW Hudson, 1 block south of 25th & SW Hudson. Enter through alley, above Capitol Hill Graphics. Look for the Police truck.
WHY: Combining his passion for the sport of boxing and his desire to help children, Buster Douglas meets with young Oklahoma City Police Athletic League (PAL) boxers offering inspiration, wisdom, encouragement and motivation.
HOW: Support this important local program by attending OKC Charity Fight Night on January 28th.
All proceeds benefit PAL. Contact (405) 706-7484 or Nicole@okcfightnight.com for ticket information.
MORE: Don’t Miss the Main Event! OKC Charity Fight Night benefiting the Oklahoma City Police Athletic League on Thursday, January 28th at the Coca Cola Bricktown Events Center. Join heavyweights of business and legends of boxing, James “Buster” Douglas and Sean O’Grady, for a black tie night of Dinner, Cocktails, Stogies, Fights, Auctions and Entertainment.
Carson Jones statement…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
A message from OKC junior middleweight boxer Carson Jones as he approaches a proposed bout with Antonio Margarito.
Carson Jones says “Let him Fight!”
Carson Jones is slated to face Antonio Margarito on March 13th, pending Texas approval of Margarito’s application for a boxing license. There has been a loud public outcry opposing Margarito’s reinstatement from concerned fans and boxing figures.
Carson Jones:
“If Margarito is not allowed to fight, that takes food off of my table and robs me of a chance to show the world that I am the real deal and hurts me far more than it does Antonio Margarito”
“I wish people would stop trying to prevent this fight from happening. This is a dream fight for me and something I have worked all my life for to have an opportunity to do. The public needs to let me handle the punishing of Antonio Margarito, because that is exactly what I will do if he is allowed to fight me on March 13th. I ask all the people who want this fight stopped, to just support me on March 13th when I pull off my second upset in a row”
“I think he has learned his lesson and I am not concerned at all about him trying to do any of the things that he has been accused of doing in the past. This is supposed to be his comeback fight, it will be his retirement fight also, trust me.”
Berto out of Mosley bout…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
I just saw the headline about Andre Berto pulling out of his Jan. 30 bout with Shane Mosley. I was already starting to be frustrated with the sport.
Until I saw the reason. Berto’s mind is with his family back in Haiti after last week’s devastating earthquake and said he is not physically and mentally ready for the biggest bout of his life.
Well, can’t fault him for that. Don’t know what he is going through right now and can’t imagine what it’s been like, but I hope everything turns out OK in the end.
What this does do, however, is open the door for Floyd Mayweather against Mosley anytime after March 13. I’d bank on May 1, if it does happen.
This is Money’s chance to shut people up who believe he isn’t looking to fight anybody except hand-picked guys who will make him look good.
You know Mosley will do it, still itchin’ for that big payday after the KO of Antonio Margarito. It will be very interesting to see if discussions for this bout start in the next couple of weeks.
I don’t want to see Mosley fighting anybody else and sure as heck don’t want to hear about Mayweather fighting anybody else.
The boxing world flubbed up big with Manny Pacquiao and Mayweather. This is a chance to do something right that nobody saw coming.
And then, once again, you have your four-man tournament with Pacquiao vs. Clottey and Mosley vs. Mayweather. If it makes too much sense, then it probably won’t happen.
Bad thing is we’ll have to wait a little bit longer for the first big fight of 2010. If it leads to Mayweather-Mosley, well, guess it was worth it despite the horrible circumstances.
Johny Hendricks returns at UFC 113…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
Heard the rumblings about it but wanted to wait until it’s official. Former Oklahoma State wrestling star and current undefeated UFC prospect Johny Hendricks will return to the Octagon at UFC 113 in Montreal.
Hendricks will take on T.J. Grant on May 1 in Montreal. Grant is from Nova Scotia, so you figure the crowd will be on his side in a big way.
Hendricks and Grant were both successful at UFC 107 in December in Memphis and this should be a real ‘fans’ fight as both are fun to watch.
