The following is the Boxing Insider notebook for the week of May 21st to May 28th, covering the comings and goings in the sport of boxing.
Karass and Benavidez Victorious in Arizona
On Saturday in Tuscon, Arizona Jesus Soto Karass (25-7-3) squeaked out a split decision victory again Said El Harrak (10-2-1) in the Welterweight division. Soto Karass was last seen getting stopped by Gabriel Rosado at the inaugural NBC Sports Boxing show, but pulled out a victory with scores of 97-93 and 96-94 for Soto Karas, and 97-93 for El Harrak. Junior Welterweight prospect Jose Benavidez Jr. (15-0) won a near six round sweep over Josh Sosa (10-3). Benavidez won with scores of 60-54, 60-54, and 59-55.
Cano and Thompson Stop their Opponents
In the junior welterweight division Pablo Cesar Cano (24-1-1) stopped Fidel Monterrosa (29-6) in the ninth round at 1:13 by a body shot. Sergio Thompson (23-2) was matched up with Juan Roman Solis (17-6) in the junior lightweight division. Thompson was able to TKO Solis in the fifth round after Solis? corner threw in the towel with 24 seconds left. Deontay Wilder (22-0) won by TKO over Jess Oltmans in the first round in 26 seconds.
Audley Harrison Wins Comeback Fight
Former Olympic Gold Medalist Audley Harrison (28-5) won by TKO in the fourth round over Ali Adams (13-4-1) in the heavyweight division. Harrison?s last fight was against David Haye in which he lost by KO in the third round.
Rosado Ready to Go For June 1st, Sellout Crowd Expected
The NBC Sports Network Fight Night series has been entertaining fans with the bouts they have put on so far. Their success has been noticed by the casual boxing fan, and a sellout crowd is expected for their next event on June 1st at the Sands Casino in Bethlehem. Rosado seems ready to go, and had this to say about facing the southpaw Sechew Powell,
?At first I wasn?t crazy about fighting a lefty, but the junior middleweight division is full of them so it all turned out for the better. I?m talking about Paul Williams, James Kirkland, Erislandy Lara. These are guys I need to get in there with so fighting Sechew Powell is another step down that road. I?m getting plenty of good work at the Wild Card and I feel good and I?m looking forward to proving myself again. I know a lot of people are skeptical, saying that the last guy I beat (Jesus Soto-Karass) was made to order for me. We?ll see if they right or wrong after June 1.?
Cruz vs. Brewer and Kovalev vs. Boone Set For Undercard
Welterweights Ronald Cruz (16-0) and Prenice Brewer (16-1) will be fighting on the NBC Card for the WBC Continental Americas title. Cruz is ranked no. 12 by the IBF, and was last seen on February 25th winning a 10-round decision over Allen Conyers in an extremely entertaining bout. Russian heavyweight Sergey Kovalev (17-0-1) will be facing Darnell Boone (19-18-3) in a rematch. The first bout was a close split decision victory for Kovalev.
Training Camp Quotes From Anotonio Tarver, Lateef Kayode, Winky Wright, and Quillin
Showtime boxing will be showing a solid card on Saturday from the Home Depot Center in Carson, California. Below are some quotes from the fighters before Saturday?s card.
Antonio Tarver
?I changed things up starting with my last fight against Danny Green. I ran when I needed to run and I got into condition. I didn?t overdo it and over-train like I normally had to do in order to make weight. I had to kill myself to get down in the past and we?re not doing that now. We?re taking our time, working in the gym and working on strength and conditioning and we?re being consistent.
Lateef Kayode
?If it goes the distance, they might try to rob me, so I am going to put Tarver to sleep before the 12th round. That way I am the judge and the jury.?
Winky Wright
?Camp is great. We?re ready to fight. I?m ready to kick some butt. ?
?It?s been great training in Tampa, while being home to see my kids. It motivates me even more to have my family around, but I?m glad I went away to Phoenix for a month to get my body used to the intense training again.?
Peter Quillin
?The day of the fight will mark the 32-year anniversary of my father leaving Cuba and coming to the United States. He arrived in the United States on June 2, 1980, so I have a stronger reason why this fight means so much to me. I?m living the true American Dream.?
Delvin Rodriguez Ready For Second Chance at Lifetime Goal
Delvin Rodriguez will be challenging WBA Junior Middleweight Champion Austin Trout on Saturday for Trout?s belt. Rodriguez fought for the world title in 2009 against Isaac Hlatshwayo for the IBF Welterweight title, but suffered a split decision loss. Rodriguez fought Pawel Wolak in twice in 2011, with the first being considered by many to be the fight of the year. Rodriguez fought Wolak to a draw the first time, but soundly defeated Wolak the second time around. The bouts with Wolak earned Rodriguez a title a shot, about which he stated, ??My life is my career, my goal has always been to win a world title and that?s my plan for June 2nd.?
Khan vs. Garcia Announced
Amir Khan was left scrambling for a new opponent when the Lamont Peterson bout was called off due to a positive steroid test. Danny Garcia has agreed to step in and face Khan on July 14th. Garcia is fresh off a victory over the legendary Eric Morales. The WBC Light Welterweight title will be on the line.
Updates on the Suspended Judges from Williams vs. Lara
The NY Post ran a story last week on the judges who were suspended by the New Jersey State Control Board for their scores on the Paul Williams Erislandy Lara fight from July 9, 2011. Al Bennett, Donald Givens, and Hilton Whitaker III all scored the fight for Paul Williams despite the clear evidence otherwise. None of the judges have worked a fight since that night.
Oliveira?s Trainer Steps Up the Trash Talk Against Freitas
On Saturday, June 2nd Michael Oliveira (17-0) faces off against Acelino ?Popo? Freitas (38-2) at the Conrad Punta Del Este and Resort Casino in Uruguay. Oliveira?s trainer, Orlando Cuellar has confidently predicted, ?Not only will Michael expose ?Popo? ? I know this is a bold statement ? but he will stop him,? a ?This is a great opportunity for Michael on a grand stage. ?Popo? won?t finish this fight on his feet.
World Series of Boxing Individual Championships Coming Soon
On June 9th at the ExCeL in London, England the Individual Championships for the World Series of Boxing will take place. The two best boxers in each of the five weight categories in the World Series of Boxing will be fighting. Gairberk Germakhanov will be facing Elias Emigdio in the bantamweight division, Adlan Abdurashidov will be fighting Juan Romero in the lightweight division, Sergiy Derevyanchenko will be facing off against Heybulla Mursalov in the middleweight division, Azamat Murtuzaliyev and Ramazan Magomedau will be fighting in the light heavyweight division, and heavyweights Filip Hrgovic and Ruslan Myrsatayev will be concluding the night. The event can be seen on the internet at worldseriesboxingtv.com
Former Boxer Now Newark Firefighter
Former professional boxer Bo James is now a firefighter and member of the national guard. James mentors up and coming fighters in Newark. NJ.com and the Star-Ledger wrote an excellent article on the positive impact Bo James has been having on the lives of the youth in New Jersey. Bo James was previously featured in an article by Scoop Malinowski about the time he fought Bernard Hopkins.
50 Cent and Floyd Mayweather Brawl in Las Vegas?
Mediatakeout.com is reporting that 50 Cent and Floyd Mayweather got into a ?brawl? in Las Vegas, after Mayweather allegedly told 50 that he wasn?t going to pay him on a gambling debt. Supposedly they made a friendly $10,000 wager on a boxing match, and 50 Cent won.
