Friday, May 4, 2012

Mayweather's $32 million guarantee surpasses Tyson's $30 million

WBC welterweight titleholder Floyd Mayweather Jr. will earn what is believed to be an all-time boxing record for a guaranteed purse of $32 million, four times more than the $8 million guarantee for his opponent, WBC junior middleweight beltholder Miguel Cotto, according to Keith Kizer, executive director of the Nevada State Athletic Commission.

The amount of Mayweather's purse surpasses the previous mark of $30 million earned by Mike Tyson for his second loss to Evander Holyfield in June of 1997, according to Kizer.

Of course, Tyson's 30 million in 1997 dollars would be equal to well over $40 million in 2012, but the amount is staggering by any measure.

"This is the largest guarantee ever in Nevada. Ever," said Leonard Ellerbe, CEO of Mayweather Promotions. "And where are the big fights held? In Nevada."

There is no telling what Mayweather will reap after all of the HBO pay-per-view numbers are totaled.

"That's to be determined," said Ellerbe.

Mayweather (42-0, 26 knockouts) will pursue his eighth belt in five weight classes against Cotto (37-2, 30 KOs), whom he will meet in Saturday night's HBO Pay Per View-televised clash from the MGM Grand.

On the Mayweather-Cotto undercard, ex-titleholder Shane Mosley (46-7-1, 39 KOs) will challenge WBC junior middleweight titleholder Saul Alvarez (39-0-1, 29 KOs).

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“Ring Kings: Mayweather vs. Cotto” mega-fight

Last Quarterfinal Tomorrow On The Ultimate Fighter Live On FX

THE ULTIMATE FIGHTER^® LIVE ON FX

WRAPS UP FIRST ROUND WITH “BECOME THAT HERO”

TEAM CRUZ’S MIKE RIO vs. TEAM FABER’S ANDY OGLE

Friday, May 4, LIVE on FX at 10 p.m. ET/PT

The Ultimate Fighter^® Live on FX wraps up the preliminary round of competition Friday, May 4, live on FX at 10 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast) when Team Cruz’s Mike Rio (8-1), of Miami, Fla., takes on Team Faber’s Andy Ogle (8-1), of Tynemouth, England, for the last spot in the quarterfinals.

Team Faber’s Chris Saunders scored an upset victory over Team Cruz’s Sam Sicilia as a massive underdog last week. Now, Faber’s squad holds a 4-3 lead over his bitter rival with just one fight to go until the quarterfinals.

Rio and Ogle are looking to advance and move one step closer to a six-figure UFC contract alongside previous winners James Vick, Justin Lawrence, Al Iaquinta, Michael Chiesa, Joe Proctor, Vinc Pichel and Saunders.

Below is a description of the upcoming “BECOME THAT HERO” episode:

“Both teams head to a desert shooting range for an explosive Coaches Challenge. Andy Ogle takes on Mike Rio in the last preliminary fight, then Dana announces the first two quarterfinal matchups.”

The 13-week season will culminate with a championship fight and three-hour finale on June 1 at the Pearl Palms Concert Theater in Las Vegas. The coaches will then meet on July 7 at UFC 148, when Cruz defends his title against Faber in the rubber match of their epic rivalry.

Below are select quotes from Rio and Ogle.

MIKE RIO:

It's the final preliminary fight this Friday. Team Cruz is down 4-3. Is there any added pressure to even the series? Or is it just another fight?

“There's always pressure in a situation like this but the wonderful thing about our sport is that we don't have to worry about the teams. You just focus on yourself and the better you do, the team just ends up benefitting from it. So as long as I just focus on what I have to do and not worry about the team or what's best for the team, everyone will benefit. That takes a lot of the pressure off when you focus on what you're supposed to focus on and not the outside distractions.”

What is your mood going into the fight and what do you have to do to win?

“I'm always relaxed. I'm one of those guys that never gets over-anxious, nervous or gets butterflies. I've been in competition a long time. I'm very relaxed until the time of the fight and then I get very energetic and very aggressive.

“What I need to do to win the fight? I need to push the pace. Ogle is by no means an easy fight. He's not just going to lay down for me. I just have to make sure I stay focused and take the fight to him and do what I need to do to win. I'm not going to focus on what he's going to do to me, just what I'm going to do to him.”

How difficult is it to sit and watch during the weeks you weren't fighting? Is it a relief to actually be fighting?

“That was a double-edged sword. First off, I'm sitting there watching and waiting, seeing all my teammates fight, watching everybody fight. I came here to fight, and was just sitting on the sidelines every week, waiting, waiting, waiting. On the positive side of this though, I literally just got a month and a half training camp with the champ, Dominick Cruz, and the champ's personal coaching squad. I've gotten in the best shape of my life for my first preliminary fight. “

Is there anything that's happened in the first seven weeks that's surprised you?

“Every fight has been a war. I've been really impressed by the level of talent in our season. We're a great group of 16 guys and we deserve to be here. Everyone is serious as hell and there's really no one who is here just to be a TV star.”

ANDY OGLE:

It's the final preliminary fight this Friday. Team Faber is up 4-3. Is there any added pressure to keep the series lead? Or is it just another fight?

“It's not a fight for the Team, it's a fight for myself. Because at the end of the day, I'm the one who's trying to get that glass plate. I'm the one that is trying to get that W. It's all about me thinking about myself. At the end of the day, two guys are going to go in there and the cage door is going to close and for 10, possibly 15, minutes I've got to kick somebody's ass to secure myself into the next round.”

What is your mood going into the fight and what do you have to do to win?

“I feel confident. I feel strong. I feel as if I've trained a long time for this fight and I've developed as a fighter as well as a person and become a hell of a lot more patient. In this fight, I'm going to have to be very patient and defend his takedowns a lot. I feel as if I can kill his spirit by doing so and lighting him up with my shoots and hitting him a lot in the face. Basically, just not making him want to come in and attempt a takedown.”

How difficult is it to sit and watch during the weeks you weren't fighting? Is it a relief to actually be fighting?

“Since I've been in the house, I've had to think about everything in two ways. It was killing me not fighting for the first seven fights. But at the same time, I'm getting more time to develop as a fighter, which means [Rio]'s going to get the best version of me because I'm last. I've now built up a relationship with the coaching staff and a great relationship with my team and gotten a whole lot stronger.”

Is there anything that's happened in the first eight weeks that's surprised you?

“I did not expect to get ill! I very rarely get ill. I'm the 'one more round' guy. I'm always happy to keep pushing. If I'm done training but someone wants to go another round, I'll jump up, I'll do that round. When my lungs were closing up and I felt as if I couldn't breathe, I didn't feel like the 'one more round' guy. But when I went to the doctor and they did an X-ray, the doctor said, ‘Wow, you've got a large heart’ and I said tell me something I don't know. That's something that Rio, or any opponent, won't ever have larger than me. It's impossible, I want it too much.”

Floyd Mayweather says his mind will make the difference when he faces Miguel Cotto

The Floyd Mayweather Jr. Foundation & Sugar Shane Mosley's Diamond's Love Foundation Team Up For "Spring Of Style" Event On May 3rd‏

The Floyd Mayweather Jr. Foundation (TFMJF) and Sugar Shane Mosley'sDiamond's Love Foundation are proud to present "Spring of Style," a unique fundraising event in conjunction with the "Ring Kings: Mayweather vs. Cotto" mega-fight. "Spring of Style" will take place on Thursday, May 3 at 7:00 p.m. PT at the Talent Pool at MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nev., just two days before the biggest fight of 2012. The benefit will support the charitable work of both Mayweather and Mosley and the two future Hall of Famers' respective organizations and a local Las Vegas based charity. "I am committed to giving back to the community and this fundraiser will assist my foundation's continued efforts to do so," said Mayweather. "Shane and I are both fighting for our careers in the ring, but we are blessed to be in a position to help those less fortunate and support causes outside the ring too. I know the entire boxing world will be in town for my fight and I expect a great turnout for the event."

Mayweather founded the TFMJF in 2007 and has ensured that the organization is dedicated to empowering and promoting the social development and advancement of struggling adults and adolescents. TFMJF's focuses on community health and wellness, economic growth and development and youth education.

Founded by the Mosley Family in 2010, Diamond's Love Foundation was formed to honor Diamond J. Johnson, Mosley's nephew. The organization is focused on implementing a child car seat safety program, establishing programs that assist single fathers raising their children, hold youth summer boxing camps nationwide and establish centers for at risk children.

"I am thrilled to be a part of this fight and have the opportunity to work with Floyd outside of the ring to support our charities," said Mosley. "We both feel strongly about helping at-risk youth so the two of us coming together to better the community is a great opportunity."

"Everyone who is in town for the weekend can buy a ticket to attend the event," said Mayweather. "Working together works and through the support of each and every one of us, something really positive can happen."

DATE: MAY 3rd, 2012

TIME: 7:00pm – 11:00pm

PLACE: MGM GRAND HOTEL & CASINO

TALENT POOL

DETAILS: This is an upscale event with music by DJ Clue & DJ Niena Drake, entertainment,

fashion preview, food, drinks, raffles and lots of mixing & mingling.

This is an upscale event so please dress accordingly.

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS

Thursday, May 3, 2012

"RING KINGS: MAYWEATHER VS. COTTO" TELEVISED PAY-PER-VIEW CARD SET JESSIE VARGAS VS. ALFONSO GOMEZ & DEANDRE LATIMORE VS. CARLOS QUINTANA F

"RING KINGS: MAYWEATHER VS. COTTO" TELEVISED PAY-PER-VIEW CARD SET

JESSIE VARGAS VS. ALFONSO GOMEZ AND

DEANDRE LATIMORE VS. CARLOS QUINTANA

TO BE FEATURED ON MAY 5 MEGA-EVENT

The "Ring Kings: Mayweather vs. Cotto" pay-per-view card is set and some of the toughest competitors in boxing today will be featured when undefeated rising star Jessie Vargas faces-off against perennial contender Alfonso Gomez and, in the opening pay-per-view bout, exciting 154 lb. contender DeAndre "The Bull" Latimore takes on former World Champion Carlos "El Indio" Quintana. The two 10-round bouts will take place prior to the WBA Super Welterweight Championship between Floyd Mayweather and Miguel Cotto and the Canelo Alvarez vs. Sugar Shane Mosley WBC Super Welterweight title bout Saturday, May 5 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. The event will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View® beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT.

Twenty-two-year-old Las Vegas resident Jessie Vargas (18-0, 9 KO's) is one of boxing's fastest rising stars with notable wins over Arturo Morua, Walter Estrada and former World Champion Vivian Harris. Last September on the Mayweather vs. Ortiz card, Vargas proved that he is one of boxing's top contenders with an exciting 10-round decision victory over fellow contender Josesito Lopez. Eager to keep his momentum going, Vargas scored a near-shutout win over Lanardo Tyner in February and is now hoping to add Alfonso Gomez to his collection of high-profile wins.

As a member of the cast in the hit boxing reality series "The Contender," Alfonso Gomez (23-5-2, 12 KO's) became the fighter to beat as he defeated the show's top contenders, as well as other top-tier opponents such as Ben Tackie, Jesus Soto Karass and World Champions Arturo Gatti and Jose Luis Castillo. A two-time world title challenger who faced Miguel Cotto in 2008 and Canelo Alvarez in 2011, the 31-year-old from Guadalajara begins another quest for the title on May 5.

Twenty-six-year-old St. Louis-native DeAndre Latimore (23-3, 17 KO's) now resides in Las Vegas and the change of scenery has done wonders for the aptly nicknamed "Bull." As a former super welterweight title challenger who lost a highly controversial split decision to Cory Spinks in 2009, Latimore is looking to regain momentum and battle his way back into title contention. With three consecutive wins, including a memorable 10-round victory over Milton Nunez in February, he is closing in on another shot at 154-pound gold.

Moca, Puerto Rico's Carlos Quintana (28-3, 22 KO's) is a southpaw like the St. Louis native Latimore; however, "El Indio" is more matador than bull, with his excellent boxing skills, which led him to a world welterweight title win in 2008 over a then-unbeaten Paul Williams. With wins over top contenders including Joel Julio, Francisco Campos and Nurhan Suleymanoglu, the 35-year-old Quintana has won three of his last four bouts, most recently stopping Yoryi Estrella in nine rounds in February of 2011.

Latimore vs. Quintana is presented in association with DiBella Entertainment.

"Ring Kings: Mayweather vs. Cotto," a 12-round fight for Cotto's WBA Super Welterweight World Championship is promoted by Mayweather Promotions, Golden Boy Promotions and Miguel Cotto Promotions. Also featured will be Canelo Alvarez vs. Sugar Shane Mosley, a 12-round fight for Canelo's WBC Super Welterweight World Championship which is presented in association with Canelo Promotions and Sugar Shane Mosley Promotions. The mega event is sponsored by Corona, Hatfields & McCoys on HISTORY™, DeWalt Tools, AT&T, O'Reilly Auto Parts and Puebla-Cinco De Mayo and will take place Saturday, May 5 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas and will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View® beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT.

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Ana Julaton: Back in the ring on May 4, fighting Yolanda Segura!‏

Ana "The Hurricane" Julaton is proving herself to be just such a champion by stepping into the ring on May 4th, her first step towards winning another championship belt after her devastating loss in March.

Ana Julatan's (10-3-1, 1-KO) first comeback bout will be this coming Friday, May 4th in Kanasin, Yucatan, Mexico where she will fight a ten-rounder against the up-and-coming Mexican fighter, Yolanda "La Negra" Segura(8-3, 7-KOs).

The fight is being promoted by Orion Sports Management in partnership with Yucatan Boxing. It will also be broadcast to millions of Julaton's fight fans in the Philippines on theGMA network.

Having lost her WBO Female Super Bantamweight Title to Yesica Patricia Marcos on March 16th, Julaton has been quoted as saying, “That was not me in the ring last time out ... That environment worked against me in more ways than one and to top it off, I fought my opponent's fight. We all learn as we go and that will not happen again. I plan to fight to my strengths. This is all about winning. I owe my Filipino fans around the World that Title back and that is my mission."

Julaton's drive and determination have led her to a vigorous training schedule and a return to the fundamentals that have made her a great fighter. She is also jumping back into the ring a mere six weeks after her loss. That says a lot about her character and to my mind, we can all expect great things from her as she fights her way towards another shot at a title.

The following is the full fight of Ana Julaton's battle against Yesica Patricia Marcos. It'll be interesting to see how Julaton changes her game plan in her fight against Segura this Friday.

Quillin: No Respect for Winky on June 2nd‏

VIDEO: Showtime Interview With Kid Chocolate & Winky Wright

Steve Farhood interviews Kid Chocolate & Winky Wright during the Abner Mares VS. Eric Morel Showtime Live Broadcast

Mathis vs. Holm II Confirmed For WBF World Title

It’s now confirmed that a rematch between perhaps the two best
pound-for-pound female boxers in the world, and definitely the two best welterweights, Anne Sophie Mathis (26-1, 22 KOs) of France and American Holly Holm (30-2-3, 9 KOs), will take place on June 15 in Albuquerque, New Mexico for Mathis’ World Boxing Federation World Welterweight title.

This serves as clear indication that the WBF is already the top
sanctioning body for female boxing, and WBF president Howard Goldberg, who will be acting as supervisor for the bout, is delighted about the progress his organization has made in short time: “We have many of the absolute
best female boxers as our world champions, and it is only fitting that the
rematch between these two amazing fighters is for the WBF title. I think
it’s outstanding that the WBF is already at the very top when it comes to
women’s boxing, but I am not surprised that promoters and boxers are
realizing that our title is the title to pursue”.

Mathis and Holm had a grueling encounter last December with Mathis winning
by seventh round knockout. As their original fight, the rematch,
appropriately billed as “The Reckoning”, will take place at Route 66
Casino Hotel, and will be promoted by Fresquez Productions. It will be

Mathis’ third defense of the WBF World title she won in June of last year.

BERNARD HOPKINS & SETH MITCHELL LOOK TO THE FUTURE AFTER SATURDAY NIGHT BOUTS IN ATLANTIC CITY‏

Though they left Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City Saturday night with different results, both future Hall of Famer Bernard Hopkins and heavyweight contender Seth Mitchell made statements that their careers are going strong and continuing after delivering compelling performances to a packed house in New Jersey and to homes across the country on HBO World Championship Boxing®.

In the main event, "The Executioner" may have come up on the short end of a 12-round majority decision to Chad Dawson, but without question, Hopkins' performance in the closely-contested bout showed that even at 47, there is plenty of fight left in the fighting pride of Philadelphia.

Dawson praised Hopkins at the post-fight press conference for his skill and guile in the ring and exclaimed, "He can still beat anyone else in our division."

While the longtime middleweight king made history for becoming the oldest man to ever a win a major boxing title when he defeated Jean Pascal in 2011, now Hopkins has his sights on besting his own record by winning yet another title later in 2012.

"I fought hard Saturday night and feel the fight was closer than two of the scores reflected," said Hopkins. "Regardless of the result, I will continue my career and challenge any champion in my division. I might be older, but I don't feel a decline in my skills or abilities in the ring. I love to fight and am still competing at a level where boxing cannot deny me the opportunity to succeed."

Kicking off the HBO World Championship Boxing telecast in style was unbeaten Seth "Mayhem" Mitchell, who may have singlehandedly renewed boxing fans' faith in the heavyweight division with his thrilling third round technical knockout win over of Chazz Witherspoon.

Showing off a warrior's heart and huge chin in the first round when he survived Witherspoon's initial attack despite being momentarily dazed, the 29-year old Mitchell kept his composure and rallied in the second round with a punishing body attack. That tactic eventually opened Witherspoon up for a massive left hook to the jaw in the third round that sent him to the canvas. Mitchell then finished the job with a series of powerful shots that forced referee Randy Neumann to stop the bout at the 2:31 mark, giving Mitchell the official title of NABO heavyweight champion and the unofficial crown of America's next great heavyweight. Expect the soft-spoken but heavy-handed Mitchell to wear both titles proudly on his quest to win the heavyweight world championship.

"Every experience I have in the ring allows me to improve my learning curve in the sport as I continue to climb the heavyweight division," said Mitchell. "I know I have the heart, which the fans saw Saturday night. I am very proud of my victory over Chazz and look forward to my next challenge. There is only one dream for me and that is to be the bona fide heavyweight champion of the world."

Saturday, April 28, 2012

"Hopkins vs. Dawson: Once And For All," live on HBO World Championship Boxing® beginning at 10:15 p.m. ET/PT.

"Hopkins vs. Dawson: Once And For All," a 12-round bout for Hopkins' WBC and Ring Magazine light heavyweight world championships, is presented by Golden Boy Promotions and Gary Shaw Productions and sponsored by Corona, AT&T and Caesars Atlantic City. Also featured will be a 12-round heavyweight battle between Seth "Mayhem" Mitchell and "The Gentleman" Chazz Witherspoon for the vacant NABO heavyweight title. The doubleheader will take place at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey and will be televised live on HBO World Championship Boxing® beginning at 10:15 p.m. ET/PT.

Bernard Hopkins & Chad Dawson's promoter Gary Shaw go at it at the Rematch Presser

Bernard Hopkins and Chad Dawson's promoter Gary Shaw exchange words at the Hopkins vs. Dawson Rematch press conference. The fight takes place Saturday, April 28th, 2012 at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, NJ. It will be broadcast live on HBO World Championship Boxing.

Bernard Hopkins accuses promoter Gary Shaw of lobbying the NJ Boxing Commission

Light Heavyweight Champion Bernard Hopkins accuses Chad Dawson's promoter Gary Shaw of lobbying the NJ Boxing Commission. The Rematch fight between Hopkins vs. Dawson will take place Saturday, April 28th, 2011 at Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, NJ. It will be broadcast live on HBO World Championship Boxing.

Chad Dawson & Bernard Hopkins Rematch Point of View

Former champion Chad Dawson and Light Heavyweight Champion Bernard Hopkins express their point of view on how the rematch fight will go. The fight takes place Saturday, April 28th, 2012 at Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, NJ. It will broadcast live on HBO World Championship Boxing.

FOX SPORTS MEDIA GROUP ENTERS BOXING RING WITH GOLDEN BOY PROMOTIONS‏

FOX Sports Media Group (FSMG), the umbrella entity representing News Corporation's wide array of multi-platform U.S.-based sports assets,announced today that it has reached a multi-year, multi-media agreement with Golden Boy Promotions to provide live boxing content in the United States and internationally. Golden Boy Promotions, owned by renowned former Ten-Time World Champion Oscar de la Hoya, is the first Hispanic-owned boxing promotional company in America doing business domestically and internationally.

Domestically, Golden Boy fights will be carried on FOX Deportes, the leader in U.S. Latino sports media, on FOX Sports regional networks, the nation's leading provider of local sports and FUEL TV, FSMG's dynamic sports network for males and television's fastest-growing cable network. One originally produced boxing event per month from the United States airs live on FOX Deportes, FUEL TV and FOX Sports regional networks. Additionally, live boxing events from cities throughout Mexico will be carried on FOX Deportes. The first U.S. event is scheduled for Friday, May 4 (11:00 PM ET/8:00 PM PT), live from The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas and features an all-Mexican battle between former World Champion Daniel Ponce De Leon of Cuauhtemoc and Juarez's Eduardo "El Chucky" Lazcano in a 12-round main event for the vacant WBC USNBC Super Featherweight title and, in the co-feature, perennial contender and Las Vegas favorite Ishe "Sugar Shay" Smith facing Derrick Ennis in a 10-round junior middleweight bout.

During the first year of the partnership, FOX Deportes is scheduled to air a total of 44 live events originating in both the United States and Mexico; for every year thereafter, the network airs 36 live events. In addition, FSMG networks gain access to classic fights from the Golden Boy fight library which features fights of past and current world champions such as Oscar de la Hoya, Bernard Hopkins, Erik Morales and Marco Antonio Barrera.

"Led by the incomparable Oscar de la Hoya, Golden Boy Promotions has developed a great reputation over the last few years for putting together very exciting cards," said Bill Wanger, Executive Vice president, Programming & Research, FOX Sports Media Group. "It's great that we've been able to establish what we hope will be a fruitful relationship that benefits multiple networks within the FOX Sports Media Group for years to come."

"We are excited about our new partnership with FOX Sports Media Group," said Oscar de la Hoya, President of Golden Boy Promotions. "This is another step in ensuring that fight fans around the world don't miss out on any of the great boxing action we present, both in the United States and Mexico. It's a very important move towards increasing viewership and knowledge of our great sport. We are thrilled about this new partnership."

Internationally, FOX's networks have exclusive rights to FOX's U.S.-produced fights throughout Latin America, the Caribbean, sub-Saharan Africa and Europe and to fight cards originating in Mexico throughout most of South America, the Caribbean and Europe.

Additionally, FOX's networks have exclusive rights to Golden Boy's Solo Boxeo series in Mexico and Central America, while FOX Sports Brazil has rights to select Golden Boy Promotions premier events.

Cujo VS Kelly Pavlik on ESPN2; "A slice of life documentary on Cujo will be coming soon!

Wladimir Klitschko vs. Tony Thompson July 7th in Switzerland

40-year-old Tony Thompson (36-2, 24 KO’s) thinks he’s got the skills to beat IBF/WBA/WBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko (57-3, 50 KO’s) in their rematch on July 7th in Switzerland. Thomson failed miserably last time he fought Wladimir four years ago in an 11th round TKO in Hamburg, Germany in 2008. Now four years older, and even slower than he was then, Thompson thinks he can get a knockout this time.

Thompson said to fightnews.com “Last time I had an injury…I will complete what I missed four years ago. I will knock Klitschko out and take all his belts to the U.S.”

It sounds like a hopeless pipe dream on Thompson’s part. He did have a knee injury for that fight, but he was going to lose anyway because his shots lacked power and speed and he was eating solid right hands from Wladimir round one. By the 11th, Thompson looked groggy from all the right hands he’d eaten. In the rematch, I see it much the same way but with a lot more clinching and leaning by Wladimir. I hope Thompson’s previously injured knee is in good shape because he’s going to have Wladimir leaning all his weight on him for at least 10 clinches per round. Thompson will wear down quickly with Wladimir leaning on him, and we should see a KO by the 4th or 5th round.

This mismatch is pretty much identical to Wladimir’s recent fight against another 40-year-old Jean Marc Mormeck, who Wladimir stopped in the 4th last month. Wladimir is facing a lot older fighters now and they talk a good fight, but they lack the physical skills, talent and youth to beat him. If Thompson couldn’t hang with Wladimir four years ago when Thompson was 36, he certainly won’t be able to now that he’s 40.

Granted, Thompson has won his last five fights since then but they’ve all been against 2nd tier opposition. There have been no risky fights for Thompson, and it’s quite sad that he’s being as Wladimir’s IBF mandatory off of a win over journeyman Maurice Harris and four other 2nd tier fighters. Thompson at least should have to beat someone like Denis Boytsov to get another title shot rather than getting a another crack after five easy fights

"Ring Kings: Mayweather vs. Cotto"

"Ring Kings: Mayweather vs. Cotto," a 12-round fight for Cotto's WBA Super Welterweight World Championship and the vacant WBC Super Welterweight Diamond Belt, is promoted by Mayweather Promotions, Golden Boy Promotions and Miguel Cotto Promotions. Also featured will be Canelo Alvarez vs. Sugar Shane Mosley, a 12-round fight for Canelo's WBC Super Welterweight World Championship which is presented in association with Canelo Promotions and Sugar Shane Mosley Promotions and a 10-round welterweight fight between undefeated rising star Jessie Vargas and perennial contender Alfonso Gomez. Opening the pay-per-view broadcast will be a 10-round bout between super welterweight contenderDeAndre Latimore and former World Champion Carlos Quintana which is presented in association with DiBella Entertainment. The mega event is sponsored by Corona, Hatfields & McCoys on HISTORY™, DeWalt Tools, AT&T, O'Reilly Auto Parts and Puebla - Cinco De Mayo and will take place Saturday, May 5 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas and will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View® beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT.

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