Klitschko-Haye heats up!

By Alexey Potapov

WBO/IBF/IBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko and former WBC/WBA/WBO cruiserweight champion David Haye continued their bitter feud at a press conference in London. As he did last week in Germany, Haye wore a T-shirt with an image where he holds the severed heads of both Klitschko Brothers. “He sucks, he’s crap. I don’t like his style. I don’t like what he represents,” Haye said. Haye’s continued insults have angered the normally reserved Wladimir to such an extent that he lashed out at his challenger, calling his actions shameful and unsportsmanlike, and promising to punish Haye in the ring before he knocks him out on June 20th in Gelsenkirchen, Germany. “He needs to be taught how to behave,” stated Wlad. “He’s a loser and I want to shut his mouth!”

Wladimir Klitschko: When he tried to get this fight, the picture with my decapitated body was certainly below the belt but I swallowed it. But now he has the fight and I can’t understand why he continues these tricks. What example does it give children? This is shameful behaviour and I can’t understand it.

I chose David Haye not David Haye chose me. I have had three title defenses and I took this boy. Right now I see David Haye with a cut head of my brother (on a T-shirt). So I am asking what is going to be next? Are you going to cut my dad’s head or my mother’s head? Other family members? Maybe you will attack my religion, my race? This is over the edge. This is not about sport.

You listen to what I say, this guy is going to be punished. I will transform this person into a pizza face for 12 rounds, and in the 12th round I am going to knock him out. He will pay for it with pain in the ring, and after the fight at the press conference I’ll remind him of his words, and he will take back all the words and will apologize. I’m not going to use my energy on trash talk, it’s embarrassing. It casts a shadow on the sport.

David Haye: “I’ve received the reaction I wanted from him…All the shouting and screaming is necessary because people have to hear about the fight. I don’t care about good taste and I know some people may hate me. I’ll do what I have to do, including these silly little stunts. As long as people remember me as the best fighter in the world with bad taste I don’t care. In twenty years nobody will remember my T-shirt, everyone will remember that day when I knocked out Wladimir Klitschko.

“He doesn’t go in the ring to fight. He doesn’t give value for money. He’s embarrassing, everything he does in the ring is embarrassing. I want him to fight like a man, not run like a bitch. Stand and fight me Vladimir Bitchko! I’m going to smash his head in and he will be bleeding on the floor.

“He’s a big dude, has a decent jab and has a lot of physical tools but I will turn them against him. His jab, jab, grab tactics that he has been doing throughout his career, it’s not impressive, it won’t work against me. I will make him fight and he is a fighter who doesn’t like to fight.

“It’s going to be a changing of the guard on June 20…I’m faster and hungrier than any of the bums he has fought before. It will be a rude awakening for him. He will have to do the fight of his life or he’ll be leaving the ring on a stretcher.”

The press tour wraps up in New York City on Thursday.

Vic Darchinyan lashes out!

Unified world super flyweight champion Vic “Raging Bull’’ Darchinyan, who will attempt to become a world champion in a third weight class when he challenges IBF bantamweight champion Joseph “King Kong” Agbeko on Saturday, July 11, live on SHOWTIME (9 p.m. ET/PT), has replied to comments by Nonito Donaire and his promoter Bob Arum. “I will fight Nonito Donaire, anywhere and anytime, just make sure to bring a belt and don’t be afraid,” said Darchinyan. “Bob Arum likes to talk up his fighters, just to build them up. He was talking about me not being able to attract fans, more people came to watch me and Christian Mijares in the pouring rain than all his boys in the same division on the same night in Vegas.”

He continued, “I think the flies that Bob Arum’s talking about are buzzing around the dribble coming out of his and Donaire’s mouth. Bob Arum should be worrying about his fighters not putting plaster in their wraps, not talking about me after I bashed his golden boy Arce, he needs to find another money maker so he is pushing Donaire. Arce and Montiel would bash Donaire, they are both Bob Arum’s fighters but he keeps talking about me? Why? Because I give the fans what they want and he knows that’s what brings the money in.

“I have been around too long not to know when someone is trying to raise the value of their fighter. I have won six world titles and I am the only undisputed world champion. I don’t handpick my opponents, I will fight anyone, anytime, anywhere.

“If it wasn’t for the one loss I have had, I wouldn’t be where I am now. Thank you Nonito. I beat myself and I have learned, Let’s see how the “Filipino Fraud” goes against me in a rematch. If he can win a title at super flyweight or bantamweight, he can come and take my belts. I just hope his corner doesn’t stop the fight before he is knocked out cold.

“Bob Arum needs to remember one thing, I promised him, I will punish, destroy and knock out all his fighters last time against Arce, bring them on one by one, even bring two at a time, I’m here waiting. Stop singing it and start bringing it Mr. Arum, money talks and bullshit walks”.

Pacman-Hitman sold out!

After capturing the world’s attention, “The Battle of East and West”, the mega-fight between Manny “Pac Man” Pacquiao and Ricky “The Hitman” Hatton on May 2nd at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, has officially sold out. For those not as fortunate as the thousands of fans who will be in the arena that night, there is still a chance to experience the action in Las Vegas as closed circuit tickets are still available at Mandalay Bay, Mirage, TI, Monte Carlo, Circus Circus, Luxor and New York-New York. “Given that the live gate for this event is sold out, coupled with the sellout of tonight’s San Francisco Giants baseball game where Manny is the guest of honor, indicates to me that ‘The Battle of East and West’ is on track to break all existing pay-per-view records,” said Bob Arum, Chairman of Top Rank. Tickets for the closed circuit telecast are priced at $50, not including handling fees. All seats are general admission and are now on sale at each individual property’s box office outlets or by phone with a major credit card at (866) 799-7711. Ticket sales are limited to eight (8) per person

Pacquiao on the mound!

Four-time world champion pound-for-pound king Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao throws out the first pitch for the San Francisco Giants-San Diego Padres major league baseball game Tuesday during “Filipino Heritage Night” at AT&T Park in San Francisco. Manny ‘Bobbleheads’ were given away as gifts to the sold out crowd. Pacquiao is preparing for his upcoming “The Battle of East and West” IBO Jr. Welterweight championship PPV fight against Ricky “The Hitman” Hatton on May 2 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Inside the Pacquiao Camp!

Four-time world champion pound-for-pound king Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao trains before a packed media turnout at the Wildcard Boxing Club Wednesday for his upcoming “The Battle of East and West” world jr. welterweight championship fight against Ricky “The Hitman” Hatton on May 2 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. Pacquiao vs Hatton is presented by Top Rank and Golden Boy and will be available on Pay Per View.

Punisher targets Executioner! Williams welcomes Hopkins fight

Moments ago, Fightnews spoke with George Petersen, who trains two-divison world champion Paul ‘The Punisher’ Williams (37-1, 27 KOs), regarding what possible fight would interest him next for Williams. One name that really excited him was two-division world champion Bernard ‘The Executioner’ Hopkins (49-5-1, 32 KOs). “We will take that fight all day long at a catchweight. One of Hopkins’ main strengths is that he intimidates people. Paul would not be intimidated. First thing we would attack would be his head. Calzaghe really put it on Hopkins down the stretch in their fight. Those volumes of punches are nothing compared to what Paul would throw. If our people who make the final decisions on these matters approached me with this offer, the answer is ‘yes’ all day long.” said Peterson.

More on de la Hoya retirement!

The day finally came. A day that Oscar De La Hoya was smart enough to realize and most athletes don’t. Athletes try to avoid this day. However, it’s inevitable that sooner or later be will be a day when they realize they can not live up to the potential from previous years. April 14th in the boxing world will no longer be known as the day before taxes are due. Instead, it will be known as the day one of the most popular boxers decided to hang up his gloves for good. On Tuesday, April 14th, the six time world champion announced his retirement from the sport. The announcement took place at the L.A. LIVE plaza, right across the street from STAPLES Center, where De La Hoya fought one of his best fights, losing a close decision to Shane Mosley. De La Hoya made his announcement before thousands of fans who were in attendance. From construction workers to business people during their lunch break, De La Hoya spoke somberly, but diplomatically, a trait that has made him beloved by boxing fans and the media alike.

The last time people will remember De La Hoya in a boxing ring was in December when he squared off against pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao. Looking like a fighter with little energy, De La Hoya could not withstand Pacquiao’s pressure and punches, thus ultimately being stopped in the eighth round.

Rather than make a quick decision, De La Hoya wisely took his time and came to the conclusion four months later. But, it was within a week that he was 100% sure of the decision.

“I came to the decision six days ago (from Tuesday),” said De La Hoya, as he was speaking to a group of print writers after his announcement. “It’s a bittersweet moment for me. What athlete wants to retire? I went back and forth about 20 times. I thought through all of the possibilities and I made this decision on my own.”

De La Hoya transcended this sport to new heights with his popularity. With his boxing skills, good looks, and charisma, De La Hoya made average sports fans into casual boxing fans.

Now there will be a void at the top as to who will assume the “responsibility” of taking over of promoting the sport as did De La Hoya over the last 15 years.

A few select fighters such as Manny Pacquiao, Ricky Hatton, and even Floyd Mayweather, assuming he returns from his retirement, are possibilities. Nonetheless, they will have big shoes to fill.

“Someone always comes along,” said HBO Boxing analyst Larry Merchant, who was in attendance for De La Hoya’s announcement. “I don’t know who or when that vacancy will be filled by, but someone will come along. It will be hard to replace someone like Oscar, especially in how he represented the Latino, particularly the Mexican-American population.”

Although De La Hoya would have wanted to go out as a winner in his last fight as a professional, he feels at peace with his decision. He said he is 100% positive that he will stay retired.

Instead of dwelling on the defeat, De La Hoya feels that his loss to Pacquiao is a blessing and it was meant for something.

“I’m a firm believer in turning a negative into a positive,” said De La Hoya, who says he looks forward to spending more time with his wife, Millie, and his children. “In this sport, I learned to grow up as a fighter and as a person. I learned a lot in my victories and in my defeats. You find out who you really are.”

Asked of his boxing pinnacle, it would be him winning the gold medal at the Olympics in Barcelona in 1992.

In the end, De La Hoya has done more than enough to promote the sport he loved so much. Now De La Hoya will continue being an ambassador of the sport outside of the ring. He will have his priorities in promoting some of the best fighters in the world in his stable of fighters.

“Golden Boy Promotions will be my number one priority.”

However, he will no doubt speak on behalf of fighters and of boxing whenever the sport needs a shot in the arm.

Not to mention De La Hoya will continue to make a difference in the live of millions of people, especially in his hometown of East Los Angeles. From his Oscar De La Hoya Foundation to the Oscar De La Hoya Animo High School, De La Hoya will continue to be an ambassador to worthy causes.

De La Hoya will continue to influence and be an example to strive for success. He did to this reporter, the son of a farm worker and house cleaner who is now a high school teacher and feature boxing writer.

April 14th should not be a depressing day because of De La Hoya’s, but in reality a day of celebration.

Thanks again, Oscar!