‘Teddy Dinner’ scores a KO!

Story by Socrates Bustamante
Photos by Marty Rosengarten/Ringside Photos.com

At the end of the holiday season and on the first day of the New Year, it’s nice to reflect on the good guys in sports who go out of their way to help those in need. One of them is boxing trainer and ESPN2 Friday Night Fights analyst Teddy Atlas.

Always fighting the good fight in his undying efforts to improve the quality of life for those in need, he remembers his Good Samaritan father, and each year he enlists the support of sports and entertainment celebrities to attend the annual Dr. Theodore A. Atlas Foundation Dinner (affectionately nicknamed the “Teddy Dinner” by boxing scribes) . . . click here for more

Jim Martin undergoes surgery

Mary Ann Owen

BoxingInLasVegas.com is reporting that Jim Martin – husband, trainer and manager of female boxing legend Christy Martin – underwent open heart surgery after being rushed earlier this week to the hospital due to chest pains. You can send your well-wishes to Jim and Christy at the Florida Hospital located at South 601 East Rollins Street in Orlando, FL 32803. FightNews extends our thoughts and prayers to Jim.

Ruhling passes at 89

Today Dutch promoter Henk Ruhling passes away at the age of 89. Henk has been very important for Dutch boxing both as a promoter and boxing manager. Boxers like Rudy Koopmans, Rudi Lubbers, Alex Blanchard and Nordin Ben Salah boxed big matches under the inspiring leadership of Ruhling. In the seventies he brought Rudi Lubbers into the ring against Muhammad Ali.

PR boxing stars at Meet & Greet

Featherweight Jose Miguel Cotto (31-1, 23 KOs), lightweight Juan Gonzalez (5-0, 5 KOs), lightweight Abner Cotto (6-0, 4 KOs) and featherweight Jayson Velez (11-0, 9 KOs) will be available to sign autographs and take photos with their fans this Saturday (January 2nd) at select Sears and Kmart locations across the island. Everlast and Promociones Miguel Cotto will host the “Meet & Greet” events from 1:00 to 3:00 pm at the following locations:

Juan Gonzalez will appear at Sears in Mayaguez, PR
Jose Miguel Cotto will appear at Sears in San Juan, PR
Abner Cotto will appear at Sears in Bayamon, PR
Jayson Velez will appear at Kmart in San Juan, PR

Holyfield-Botha Update

Very little has been heard about a proposed January 16 fight in Kampala, Uganda between WBF heavyweight beltholder Frans Botha and former world champion Evander Holyfield since the initial announcement of the fight on November 23. Numerous news sources are reporting today that the fight is on, although today’s published quotes are all old news from the original press release. The Kampala Daily Monitor does have some new information today, however. Promoter Eddie Bazira is quoted as saying that he was “positive that a big fight is in the offing,” while admitting that it’s not a done deal. “We have a big company coming on board and shall only start marketing the fight after the finalizing negotiations with them next Tuesday,” he said. According to Bazira, both Botha and Holyfield have signed contracts and can’t wait to come to Kampala.

Soto-Diaz in 2010?

By Gabriel F. Cordero

Word is that a possibility exists that WBC super featherweight champion Humberto Soto will fight former lightweight world champion David Díaz on the big March card headlined by Manny Pacquiao against TBA in Las Vegas. Soto would again be campaigning at lightweight after beating Jesus Chavez in his most recent fight, but he doesn’t plan to give up his WBC 130lb belt.

Universum comments on Tajbert

WBC interim super featherweight champion Vitali Tajbert has been charged with assault by Stuttgart police for allegedly punching a man after being provoked outside a Stuttgart disco on Sunday night. The victim was admitted to the hospital in critical condition with a cerebral hemorrhage but is now improving. Tajbert’s promoter Universum Box-Promotion has issued the following statement:

“Universum will not comment on the ongoing proceedings out of respect for the work of the investigating authorities. For those who have injured Vitali Tajbert, the presumption of innocence also applies. Universum has full confidence in the work of the investigators and hopes that any injuries, no matter who suffered it or what role the person played in the incident, will heal without consequences. For reasons stated above, it is asked to momentarily refrain from further inquiries.”

Culcay returns Jan 9

A big year for Universum’s hot jr middleweight prospect Jack Culcay is over. “There were three highlights”, he said. “I won the world [amateur] championship, then signed my professional contract with Universum and had my first professional fight in December…that was certainly the most exciting year of my life.” Culcay is the first German to win an amateur boxing championship in 14 years. Five or six fights are planned for 2010, with the first set to take place on January 9 in Magdeburg. Therefore, there will only be a small celebration with friends for New Year. In Hamburg, where he works with trainer Michael Timm, Culcay will take a brief break from sparring. “At the beginning of next week we’re ready to go to Magdeburg,” he added. In 2010 the media interest will remain high. The first TV dates are being planned.

No Choc for Mundine

Photo: Team Mundine

By Craig Watt

Former two time WBA super-middleweight and IBO middleweight champion Anthony “The Man” Mundine (37-3, 23 KOs) is having a sparse Xmas in Australia this year as he prepares to drop to Jr-middleweight and take on Rob Medley (27-2, 17 KOs) for the vacant IBO 154 pound title at the Sydney Entertainment Centre on January 11th. In boxing history it is well recognised that fighters tend to move up in weight as they get older, mainly as a consequence of a slowing metabolism but the 34 year old from Sydney is attempting to do the opposite by moving down in weight having won versions of the world title at 168, 160 and now 154 pounds. Very few fighters in history have achieved this feat and the fight with Medley is seen by many boxing experts in Australia as a potential hazard to open the year for the most controversial of Aussie boxers. Already a non-smoker and a non-drinker Mundine, known as “Choc” for his daily intake of chocolate bars has cut out his favourite vice for his final two weeks of training. He stated, “I had my last bar this morning before training but that has gone now. It’s now strictly water and food like lettuce and chicken.” (more…)

Boxing Buzz

Promoter Bob Arum is preparing to open negotiations for Manny Pacquiao to move up to 154 to face WBA super welterweight champion Yuri Foreman. Ex-IBF 140lb champ Paulie Malignaggi is also in the mix. Arum told the LA Times, “…I don’t see [Pacquiao-Mayweather] happening now. Positions are hardening. I talked to [Pacquiao's advisor], and Manny’s fit to be tied. He’s very angry.”
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Daniel M. Petrocelli, the lawyer representing Manny Pacquiao in his lawsuit against the Mayweathers and Golden Boy execs, is best known for representing Fred Goldman in the famous wrongful death civil suit against O.J. Simpson. The Goldman family won a judgment of $8.5 million dollars.
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Looks like negotiations between representatives of Bernard Hopkins and Danny Green have collapsed due to a disagreement over the purse split.

Pacquiao Files Defamation Lawsuit

On Wednesday Manny Pacquiao filed a lawsuit in Nevada federal court against Floyd Mayweather, Jr., Floyd Mayweather, Sr., Roger Mayweather, Mayweather Promotions, LLC, and Golden Boy Promotions executives Oscar de la Hoya, and Richard Schaefer for allegedly making false and defamatory statements accusing Pacquiao of taking performance-enhancing drugs. The lawsuit claims the Mayweathers, de la Hoya, and Schaefer knew that Pacquiao has never taken performance-enhancing drugs, knew their statements were false, but made them anyway out of “ill-will, spite, malice, revenge, and envy.” Pacquiao has retained Daniel Petrocelli of the Los Angeles-based law firm of O’Melveny & Myers LLP. About the filing of the complaint, Petrocelli stated: “Manny Pacquiao’s achievements come from God-given talent and an indefatigable work ethic — not steroids. He cannot and will not allow others to deliberately misrepresent his years of hard work and tarnish his reputation.” The lawsuit was filed in federal district court in Las Vegas, Nevada, and seeks compensatory and punitive damages for defendants’ wrongful conduct. Click here to see a PDF file of the actual complaint.

Photos: Dzinziruk in America

Photo: Team Dzinziruk

WBO light middleweight champion Sergiy Dzinziruk and former WBA bantamweight champion Wladimir Sidorenko recently visited Las Vegas. In addition to meeting Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum at Top Rank headquarters, the pair hooked up with former world champions Sam Peter and Fernando Vargas. Click here for more photos…

Sturm inks new deal

WBA middleweight world champion Felix Sturm has signed a ten fight deal with Ufa Sports according to BILD. The pact will cover ten fights over the next three to four years and be worth $20 million Euros. The first fight is scheduled for Spring 2010. Univerum Box-Promotion, however, maintains that it has options on Sturm until 2012 so a legal battle will likely occur before Sturm can return to the ring.

Meet & Greet in Puerto Rico

Jose Miguel Cotto

Everlast and Promociones Miguel Cotto will host four Meet & Greet events on Saturday, January 2nd featuring several of Puerto Rico’s best boxers at select Sears and Kmart locations across the island.  The boxers will include featherweight Jose Miguel Cotto (31-1, 23 KOs), lightweight Juan Gonzalez (5-0, 5 KOs), lightweight Abner Cotto (6-0, 4 KOs) and featherweight Jayson Velez (11-0, 9 KOs).  All of the fighters will be available to sign autographs and take pictures with their fans.  The Meet & Greet will also be a festivity for The Three Kings Day, a traditional holiday of gift-giving celebrated in Puerto Rico.  The Meet & Greet will take place from 1:00 to 3:00 pm at the following Sears and Kmart locations:

* Juan Gonzalez will appear at Sears in Mayaguez, PR
* Jose Miguel Cotto will appear at Sears in San Juan, PR
* Abner Cotto will appear at Sears in Bayamon, PR
* Jayson Velez will appear at Kmart in San Juan, PR

2009 Zanfer book

Jimenez Communications and Comunicaciones Soto have put on a year-end review book of Promociones Zanfer’s great year in boxing. Fernando Beltran, President of Promociones Zanfer commission the two editorial companies to put together a coffee table book to chronicle the great year his boxing company had in 2009. Partnered with Top Rank Inc., Zanfer was once again the premier boxing company in Mexico and the 180 page book illustrates their success. Click here.

Karmazin ready for Miranda

Former IBF junior middleweight champion Roman “Made in Hell” Karmazin (39-3-1, 25 KOs) found the perfect sparring partner for his January 8th IBF title eliminator against Columbian Dionicio “Mr. Knockout” Miranda (20-4-2, 18 KOs) by sparring with none other than former world title challenger Edison “Pantera” Miranda (33-4, 29 KOs). Karmazin and the ‘other’ Miranda went six hard rounds a few days before Christmas and had planned to continue sparring but Miranda called in sick for the next sparring session. Karmazin discovered Tuesday that (Edison) Miranda had withdrawn from his January 9th title shot against WBO super middleweight champion Robert Stieglitz due to illness. “It was great sparring with Edison,” commented Karmazin. “It is too bad he got sick but those couple of rounds will help me for my fight against the other Miranda.” (more…)

Manny Pacquiao testing update

By Nick Giongco

A urine sample of Manny Pacquiao is on its way to Manila, World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) accredited doctor Alex Pineda told Fightnews and Manila Bulletin on Wednesday afternoon. Pineda, who also works for the Philippine Olympic Committee, personally witnessed the initial phase of testing at Pacquiao’s residence in General Santos City. Pineda arrived in General Santos City at around lunchtime, headed to Pacquiao’s palatial home where he got the sample, then was driven back to the airport so he could catch the plane bound for Manila. (more…)

Q&A: Steven Luevano

Photo: Ricardo Conde

By Ricardo Conde

WBO featherweight champion Steven Luevano (37-1-1, 15 KOs) of La Puente, CA, trained by former junior lightweight champion Robert Garcia at the La Colonia Boxing Gym in Oxnard, CA, will be on taking on current WBO junior featherweight champion Juan Manuel “Juanma” Lopez (27-0, 24 KOs) of Puerto Rico on January 23rd at Madison Square Garden in New York, NY, which will be shown live on HBO and is being promoted by Top Rank, in association with Arena Boxing U.S. and PR Best Boxing. Luevano’s last title defense was against Bernabe Concepcion back in August in a bout which Luevano was dominating when Concepcion hit Luevano after the bell to end round 7 and resulted in a win by disqualification for Luevano. In the co-main event, unbeaten WBA featherweight champion Yuriorkis Gamboa (16-0, 14 KOs) defends his title against Rogers Mtagwa (26-13-2, 18 KOs). Tickets are on sale at www.ticketmaster.com, all Ticketmaster outlets, at the Madison Square Garden box office, at www.thegarden.com and are priced at $200, $100, $75 and $50 For more details and photos click here…

Pacquiao’s Nevada blood test

It has been erroneously reported that Manny Pacquiao had his blood test, required for a Nevada boxing license, taken two weeks before his fight against Ricky Hatton. The truth is “24/7 Pacquiao-Hatton” TAPED Manny’s blood test 24 days before the fight and aired it closer to the fight. To see a copy of Pacquiao’s blood test dated April 8 (the fight was May 2), click here…

Australian Contender Update

By Craig Watt

After ten weeks on the Fox 8 channel every Monday evening The Australian Contender series now enters the final stages of the tournament with the semi-final line up now complete for a double-header feature episode on the 4th January. In an interesting variation on the series here in Australia the winner of the tournament will face off with former two time WBA super-middleweight and former IBO middleweight champion Anthony “The Man” Mundine in 2010 for a guaranteed purse of $250,000. The final of the tournament will be held as the chief supporting bout at the Sydney Entertainment Centre on January 11th when Mundine challenges for the IBO junior-middleweight title against fellow Australian Rob Medley. It will be a PPV event on Main Events throughout Australia. (more…)

Green Sails for Charity

By Craig Watt

Whilst most boxers have been enjoying the Xmas festivities Australian IBO Cruiserweight Champion Danny Green has been raising money for charity by being involved in the prestigious Sydney-Hobart Yacht Race which set sail from Sydney on December 26^th and landed in Hobart, Sydney yesterday. The 36 year old Aussie was no spectator in the race being involved in all aspects of the experience and was nearly thrown overboard in the early stages of the 650 mile race. (more…)

Valero-DeMarco in Monterrey, MX

By Felipe Leon

A month after the proposed championship bout between WBC lightweight champion Edwin Valero (26-0, 26KO) and WBC interim lightweight champion Antonio DeMarco (23-1-1, 17KO) was first mentioned, it seems that a host city has been found although it has not been officially announced. “It is 95% a sure thing that the fight will take place in Monterrey, MX,” DeMarco of Tijuana by way of Los Mochis, revealed. “We have been training for the last two weeks.” An inside source at Zanfer Promotions, who more than likely will be the lead promoter in association with Top Rank and Gary Shaw Promotions, also confirmed that the proper permits were requested today in Monterrey. The twelve round main event bout will be for Valero’s full fledged lightweight title and is scheduled or February 6th. It is suspected that it would be broadcast by Showtime but no announcement has been made. Monterrey is the capital city of the northeastern Mexican state of Nuevo Leon. It is the third largest Mexican city behind Mexico City and Guadalajara. It is known as the “Sultan of the North.”