KIMBO SLICE; "KIMB0-TANK" HEADLINE STELLAR ELITEXC FIGHT CARD

Fort Lauderdale, Florida- In what will be a thrilling and entertaining heavyweight fight for as long as it lasts, the incredibly popular Pride of Perrine, Fla., Kimbo Slice (1-0), will face hard-hitting Mixed Martial Arts icon, David “Tank’’ Abbott (9-13), of Huntington Beach, Calif., in a must-see showdown this Saturday, Feb. 16, at the BankUnited Center at the University of Miami. SHOWTIME will televise five fights including the long-awaited, eagerly anticipated Kimbo-Tank confrontation live at 10 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast), while six non-televised undercard matches will be streamed live on the leading MMA internet site, ProElite.com

In addition to Kimbo-Tank, the SHOWTIME telecast will include: Antonio “Big Foot” Silva (9-1), a highly touted Brazilian who lives in Coconut Creek, Fla., and is considered one of the world’s top heavyweights, versus former champion Ricco Rodriguez (27-7), of Staten Island, N.Y., England's James “The Colossus” Thompson (16-7) battles unbeaten Brett Rogers (7-0) of St. Paul, Minn., in a heavyweight match, Australian Kyle “The Ozzie” Noke (14-3-1), the bodyguard of the late Steve “Crocodile Hunter’’ Irwin, meets Scott “Hands Of Steel’’ Smith (14-4), of Sacramento, Calif., in a terrific scrap at 185 pounds; and Edson “Little Tiger” Berto (14-4-1), of Tampa, Fla., faces Yves Edwards (32-13-1) of Conroe, Tex., in a fight at 160 pounds.

KIMBO “The only thing I want to do is win, but the main thing is I want to break something along the way – a chin or jaw, rib, arm, some skin, anything.

Photos: Esther Lin/For ProElite, Inc.



“If this turns out to be just a fist-fight, then I am looking forward to it. If it goes on the ground, then I will be definitely looking forward to it.

“I feel great. I haven’t weighed myself in a couple of days but I think I am around 235. I feel calm. I won’t get truly excited until before the fight.

“My beard is not a fashion; it is all about me and what I am. I haven’t trimmed or cut it in six years.

“I feel I have come a long way in a short time in my Street to Elite transition. There is a big difference in just fighting some dude and what goes on in Mixed Martial Arts.



“Like the last time, I look forward to showing more of my overall skills, but we’ll just have to see what happens.

“For sure, though, someone is going down and maybe getting knocked out, and that someone is not going to be me.’’

A non-televised undercard, which will be streamed live at ProElite.com, will include: Rafael Feijao (4-1), of Brazil, vs. John Doyle (6-2), of Allentown, Pa., at 205 pounds; Mike Bernhard (3-0), of Miami, vs. Lorenzo Borgameo (2-0), of Miami, at 170; Eric Bradley (2-1), of Las Vegas, Nev., vs. Mikey Gomez (6-3), of Orlando, Fla., at 170; Mario Rinaldi (6-2), of Miami, vs. Dave Herman (9-0) of Indiana at 265; Jon Kirk (10-2), of Houston, vs. Yosmany Cabezas (4-0), of Tampa, Fla., at 185 pounds, and, in a bout just added, Moyses Gabin (1-0), of Miami, vs. Jirka Hlavaty (1-1), of Miami, at 265 pounds.

In addition to the fights being streamed live, fans can watch pre- and post-fight interviews on ProElite.com. The 11 contests are scheduled for three, 5-minute rounds. Note: Fighter pages for televised and non-televised bouts are below.

Tickets Remain For Mega-Event This Saturday, Feb. 16, The First Of 11 Terrific MMA Matches start at 7:30. Doors open at 7 p.m. Tickets for a spectacular 11-bout event, presented by Los Angeles-based ProElite, Inc.’s EliteXC, start at $35 and are available at all Ticketmaster locations, online at http://www.ticketmaster.com/ and at the BankUnited Box Office at the University of Miami.

Kimbo (http://kimboslice.proelite.com/), Tank (http://tankabbott.proelite.com/),


Silva (http://antoniosilva.proelite.com/), Rodriguez (http://riccorodriguez.proelite.com/), Thompson (http://jamesthompson.proelite.com/), Rogers (http://brettrogers.proelite.com/), Noke (http://kylenoke.proelite.com/), Smith (http://scottsmith.proelite.com/), Berto (http://edsonberto.proelite.com/), Edwards (http://yvesedwards.proelite.com/).

Fighter pages (non-televised bouts): Gabin (http://moysesgabin.proelite.com/), Hlavaty (http://jirkahlavaty.proelite.com/), Borgameo (http://lorenzoborgame.proelite.com/), Bernhard (http://mikebernhard.proelite.com/), Bradley (http://ericbradley.proelite.com/), Gomez (http://mikeygomez.proelite.com/), Rinaldi (http://mariorinaldi.proelite.com/), Herman (http://daveherman.proelite.com/), Kirk (http://jonkirk.proelite.com/), Cabezas (http://yosmanycabezas.proelite.com/), Feijao (http://rafaelfeijao.proelite.com/), Doyle (http://johndoyle.proelite.com/).

Free Film Festival: From Black Liberation to HipHop (2/16)

*From Black Liberation to Hip-Hop: * A Film Festival Celebrating the Past, Moving Forward to the Future You are invited to a free film festival that explores the culture and politics of the Black Liberation Movement and the Hip-Hop Generation. View films and participate in unique inter-generational discussion with panelists from both the Civil Rights and Hip-Hop Generations.

See the long anticipated movie on George Jackson: Black August. Also, View & Discuss Screenings of: Letter to the President, HipHop: Beyond Beats & Rhymes, The Spook Who Sat By the Door, Eyes of the Rainbowand many more. When: Saturday, Feburary 16th - Noon to 10pm Where: COLUMBIA SCHOOL OF THE ARTS, 511 DODGE HALL, BET 116TH & B'WAY Directions: Take the 1/9 train to 116th StreetVoicemail & Text: 347.262-6385 & 917.224.3493 eMail: nyhiphop3000@yahoo.com Sponsored by FOCUS-Filmmakers of Color United in Spirit-Columbia University, School ofthe Arts, The Safiya Bukhari- Albert Nuh Washington Foundation & The National Hip-Hop Political Convention (NY)

<http://www.columbia.edu/> For More Info: http://www.safiyanuhfoundation.org/ or http://www.myspace.com/safiyanuh http://www.nhhpc.org/ or http://www.myspace.com/hiphopconvention_nyloc

Schedule noon- Hip Hop Colony (rt 93 min) 2:00 - Eyes of the Rainbow ( 47 min) 4:00- Letter to the President [90 mins] 6:00- The Spook Who Sat By the Door( 90 min) RECEPTION 7:30-Black August (100 min) Some Film Descriptions:

*FEATURE FILMS (Partial Listing)

* * * *The Spook Who Sat By The Door Sam Greenlee <http://movies.nytimes.com/person/183651/Sam-Greenlee>'s cultfavorite novel of political unrest was brought to the screen in this drama,which also earned a small but loyal following. A congressman hoping to attract African-American voters during an election year decides to make political hay by pointing out that the Central Intelligence Agency has no black agents. Bowing to subsequent public pressure, the CIA admits a numberof black applicants to their training program, but they purposefully make the process difficult and unpleasant enough to win now out nearly all the African-American students. Dan Freeman (Lawrence Cook), a strong,intelligent but soft-spoken man, some how makes it through the gauntlet to become the black CIA agent; however, rather than being given important field assignments, Freeman is put in charge of the agency's copying machines andgives tours of their facilities to give the offices a progressive front for visitors. After a few years, Freeman leaves the agency to move back to his hometown of Chicago and do work with the community...at least that's what he tells his superiors. In fact, Freeman has used his time at the CIA collecting information on how to launch a political revolution, and not long after he arrives in the Windy City, he begins recruiting an army of leftist radicals and black nationalists fed up with the system. With their help,Freeman launches the first stage of an armed revolt with the stated goal of bringing the white-dominated power structure to its knees.

* * *Black August The George Jackson story has now been developed into a movie entitled Black August. It depicts the last 14 months of George Jackson's existence under the subjective and objective conditions of captivity. Sentenced to one year-to-life at age 18, for a $70 gas station robbery in 1960, George Jackson would spend the next 11 years in California's industrial prison complex, 7 years of which were in solitary confinement. The movie encompasses the Soledad Brothers case in which George Jackson, Fleeta Drumgo, and John Clucheette are accused of murdering a Soledad prison guard,in retaliation for the killing of three Black inmates involved in a fight with White inmates on an exercise yard in Soledad State Prison, Soledad, California. The movie also reflects on the general prison movement in the late 1960s and early 1970s, and the role the Black Panther Party would play in organizing both the outside communities in America as well as their influence on prisoners across the country. George Jackson would be moved and inspired as a result of the Panther Party activities. As a prison organizer, George was recruited by Black Panther Party founder Huey P. Newton to head the Peoples Army, a euphemism which would become synonymous with the name Black Guerrilla Family. With the history of slavery and repression in this country as a backdrop, every whip lash, every lynching, every humiliation finds its ultimate reaction in the events chronicled in the movie Black August.

*Hip-Hop Colony Kenyan Hip-Hop was initially regarded as a passing fad. Hip-Hop was eagerly dismissed by the media outlets and the general public during it's shallow inception in the early ninety's. Hip-Hop today has firmly gained its roots in Kenya, while fusing its traditional music and drawing major influence from America. This fusion has led to a new entity-the birth of Genge Music. Filming the documentary in Kenya, producer/Director Michael Wanguhu, enjoyed collaborative efforts from top-notch Kenyan producers, and reigning Hip-Hop acts past and present, seeking to expose a culture they have whole-heartedly embraced and it is also punctuated by footage of engaging live concert events.

*HIP HOP COLONY *richly ties key elements of Hip-Hop, flexibility and talent which continue to increase its dominance around the World one colony at a time.

*HIP-HOP: Beyond Beats and Rhymes*, a riveting documentary that tackle sissues of masculinity, sexism, violence and homophobia in today's hip-hop culture. Sparking dialogue on hip-hop and its declarations on gender, HIP-HOP: Beyond Beats and Rhymes provides thoughtful insight from intelligent, divergent voices including rap artists, industry executives, rap fans and social critics from inside and outside the hip-hop generation. The film includes interviews with famous rappers such as Mos Def, Fat Joe, Chuck D and Jadakiss and hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons; along with commentary from Michael Eric Dyson, Beverly Guy-Sheftall, Kevin Powell and Sarah Jones and interviews with young women at Spelman College, a historically black school and one of the nation's leading liberal arts institutions. The film also explores such pressing issues as women and violence in rap music, representations of man hood in hip-hop culture, whattoday's rap lyrics reveal to their listeners and homoeroticism in hip-hop. A "loving critique" from a self-proclaimed "hip-hop head," HIP-HOP: Beyond Beats and Rhymes discloses the complex intersection of culture, commerce and gender through on-the-street interviews with aspiring rappers and fans at hip-hop events throughout the country.

* * *Letter To The President: Hip-Hop and Politics* The Streets Get Political While the glamorous 1980's continued for much of America, rappers made it a point to tell the world there was another sectionof the country that wasn't invited to the party. As the urban landscapebecame the point of no return - Hip Hop emerged as a voice for thepeople.... This film takes an unprecedented look at a variety of issuesdirectly affecting the urban community - including the 'crack' conspiracy, censorship, racial profiling, police brutality, poverty, prison for profit,and the NYPD Hip Hop Task Force. If you think politics had nothing to do with Hip Hop, think again! "Letter to the President" explores this rebel music with a cause.... --

Orlando GreenNational Hip Hop Political Convention

Tank Abbott‏

Photos: TOM CASINO/EliteXC


Tank Abbott works out at the Paradise Gym in Coral Gables, Fla., Wednesday night as he winds down preparation for his gigantic, long-awaited, must-see fight against Kimbo Slice Saturday at the BankUnited Center at the University of Miami.

Tickets for a spectacular 11-bout event, presented by Los Angeles-based ProElite, Inc.’s EliteXC, start at $35 and are available at all Ticketmaster locations, online at http://www.ticketmaster.com/ and at the BankUnited Box Office at the University of Miami. Doors open at 7 p.m. ET; the first fight is 7:30.

SHOWTIME will televise five fights including the eagerly anticipated Kimbo-Tank confrontation live at 10 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast), while six non-televised undercard matches will be streamed live on the leading MMA internet site, ProElite.com

TSS Prediction Potpourri; By Robert Mladinich

TSS Prediction Potpourri
By Robert Mladinich

Does the champion come in with more confidence and the knowledge that he stopped his foe once and can do it again? Or is JT going to come back with fire and fury and finish what he started in the second round of the first fight?

Although there is no title up for grabs in the Saturday rematch between Kelly “The Ghost” Pavlik and Jermain “Bad Intentions” Taylor, there is still a lot on the line for both fighters. The last time they met, in Atlantic City on September 29, Pavlik survived a brutal second round knockdown to come back and stop the favored Taylor in the seventh round. In doing so, he won the undisputed middleweight championship. Should Pavlik, 32-0 (29 KOs), Youngstown, Ohio, beat Taylor, 27-1-1 (17 KOs), Little Rock, Arkansas, in the rematch, he will be on the cusp of superstardom. Pavlik is currently a 2-1 favorite to beat Taylor for the second time. Pavlik has already garnered, among other things, a feature story in Sports Illustrated. For that magazine to dedicate so much space to a fighter means the fighter has arrived.


Although the last bout was fought at 160 pounds, this non-title affair will be contested at 166 pounds. Who or how that will benefit either fighter is the subject of much conjecture. One thing that nearly everyone agrees on is that there will once again be a knockout. Here is an objective sampling of what 21 boxing insiders had to say about this eagerly anticipated matchup, which will be held at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas and televised on HBO Pay-Per-View:

Tim Smith, New York Daily News: “What Pavlik does, he does very well. He throws a good one-two punch, but Taylor is the better all-around fighter. He can do a lot more things than Pavlik. The only reason Taylor didn’t stop Pavlik the last time was because he was out of shape. The shock of losing should force him to get into good shape this time, and he should stop Pavlik around the fourth round.” Taylor by stoppage.

David Diaz, WBC lightweight champion: “I think Kelly has Jermain’s number। He (Pavlik) got a little careless in the first fight। He tried to show he could take a punch and got caught। He won’t make a mistake like that again। Unless Jermain comes with a completely different style, which I don’t think he can do, Kelly should stop him between the eighth and tenth rounds.” Pavlik by stoppage.






Nick Charles, ShoBox: The New Generation commentator: “If Jermain can get past nine rounds, he should win a decision. But that is a big if. Jermain has already out-boxed a great boxer in Bernard Hopkins. On paper out-boxing Kelly should be easier, but styles make fights and Kelly has so much power and confidence. I’m going to go out on a limb and go with an upset.” Taylor by decision.

Steve Farhood: ShoBox: The New Generation commentator: “Given what happened in the first fight, it is very difficult to pick Taylor in the rematch। I expect it to be another great action fight with the likely outcome being Pavlik by TKO in the middle rounds.” Pavlik by stoppage.


Bernard Fernandez, Philadelphia Daily News: “History tells me that when an undefeated fighter loses his first bout the way that Taylor did, the best course of action is to take a tune-up or two before engaging in a rematch. There also seems to be a lot of turmoil in Taylor’s camp, which makes me think he might not be ready for the rematch just yet. I’m picking Pavlik to win by 10th round TKO.” Pavlik by stoppage.


Willie Savannah, manager/trainer of lightweight champion Juan Diaz: “I keep changing my mind on who will win or how they will win. Pavlik won the first one, but you can’t forget that Jermain almost won the first one. I don’t know who the weight increase will favor, if it favors anyone at all. In a fight where everything points to a knockout, I’m going to pick Jermain to win a decision.” Taylor by decision.

Gerry Cooney, former heavyweight title challenger: “The second fight should be a way better fight than the first one, and the first one was a great one. Pavlik banged Taylor up pretty good, and when you win a title you usually improve by about 10 to 15percent. Pavlik will probably out-slug Taylor again and stop him in seven or eight rounds.” Pavlik by stoppage.

Iran Barkley, former multi-division champion: “If Taylor does what he’s supposed to do and takes care of business, he should knock Pavlik out and get his title back. He had Pavlik almost out last time, but he was not prepared mentally or physically to finish him off. The loss should bring Taylor back to earth. He knows he has to win this one, so he will do what it takes to make that happen and probably stop Pavlik in the later rounds.” Taylor by stoppage.

Sean Sullivan, editor of Boxing Digest magazine: “It’s a close fight to call, but given all of the factors I am leaning toward Pavlik by stoppage in the middle rounds. He seems to have everything in his favor. He took Taylor’s best punch and came back to win the first fight. Plus, I think the extra weight will help him more than it will help Taylor. Pavlik has shown no fear of any of his opponents, and he won’t be afraid of Taylor.” Pavlik by stoppage.

John Scully, trainer and former light heavyweight title challenger: “Taylor proved that he could hurt Pavlik in the first fight, but he didn’t prove that he could finish him. Pavlik proved that he could knock Taylor out, which is much more important than just hurting an opponent. Pavlik isn’t the type of guy to rest on his laurels and slack off. I think he’ll come back even stronger and more determined and score a late round knockout.” Pavlik by stoppage.

Bruce Silverglade, owner of Gleason’s Gym in Brooklyn, New York: “Taylor should be a lot hungrier than he was in the first fight, so he will come back and stop Pavlik by the seventh round. With better mental and physical conditioning, Taylor will bring more to this fight than Pavlik.” Taylor by stoppage.

David Selwyn: manager of female boxers Eileen Olszewski, Ronica Jeffrey and Cristy Nickle: “This fight will go longer than the first one, but Pavlik will stop him again. He will be even more confident and strong with the extra weight because he won’t have to dry out. I hear that he is already on or near weight, which is a very good sign of his conditioning and confidence. Pavlik has nothing to lose and everything to gain in this fight, while everything is on the line for Taylor.” Pavlik by stoppage.

James Moore, unbeaten Irish junior middleweight who is headlining the “Gaelic Storm” show at Madison Square Garden on March 15: “I think Taylor just might pull it off this time around. I don’t think he was in the best of condition last time, and I believe the extra six pounds will help him more than it will help Pavlik. It will be a good, tough fight, but I believe Taylor will probably stop Pavlik.” Taylor by stoppage.

Oisin Fagan: lightweight contender who is fighting on the Gaelic Storm show: “Taylor did very well against Pavlik when he was busy, but he couldn’t close the show. Pavlik is much too strong and much too confident for Taylor, especially after stopping him the first time. Pavlik will catch him with another right hand, and it will be lights out all over again within five rounds.” Pavlik by stoppage.

Mike O’Sullivan: co-owner of Celtic Gloves Promotions, which is promoting the Gaelic Storm show: “I don’t want to take anything away from what The Ghost (Pavlik) accomplished back in September, but Bad Intentions (Taylor) will redeem himself this time, with or without a belt on the line.” Taylor by stoppage.

David Wolf, former manager of world champions Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini, Donny Lalonde and Lonnie Bradley: “I have seen a marked decrease in Taylor since he let (original pro trainer) Pat Burns go. I think he actually regressed under Emanuel Steward, who is a terrific trainer but just didn’t have any chemistry with Taylor. Ozell Nelson (Taylor’s amateur trainer) has no real professional pedigree, so I think it was a mistake to go back with him. Taylor will do well early, but I expect Pavlik to come from behind and stop him around the eighth round.” Pavlik by stoppage.

Mike Silver, noted boxing historian: “Everyone is asking why Taylor took this fight so soon after being knocked out in devastating fashion. I think it is more unwise for Pavlik to take an immediate rematch. Going into the first fight, Taylor was considered the favorite and almost beat him. Taylor was totally surprised by Pavlik’s ability to take his best punch. Pavlik cannot change his style, while Taylor, who is a much better all-around fighter, can change his. While I never discount a puncher like Pavlik, I pick Taylor to stop him by the middle rounds.” Taylor by stoppage.

Eddie Mustafa Muhammad, former light heavyweight champion: “These guys fighting at the higher weight will bring out the best in both of them because they won’t have to starve themselves. This will be a similar fight to the first one, but overall a much better fight. The only who really wants it the most will win, probably by stoppage. That said, I can’t pick a winner. It’s too close to call.” No pick.

Hector Roca, trainer of, among others, Maureen Shea, “The Real Million Dollar Baby”: “Styles make fights and Taylor will go back to his old style and train with his old people. Against Pavlik the first time, he tried to change too much (under new trainer Emanuel Steward) and it failed. He will go back to doing what he does best, and score a knockout within five rounds.” Taylor by stoppage.

Teddy B. Blackburn, photographer: “Pride is more important to J.T. than any amount of money or belts. Pride will enable him to score a knockout in the eighth round.” Taylor by stoppage.


Bob Mladinich, TSS writer: As sky-high as Pavlik’s confidence must be, it seems to me that Taylor can be a lot better this time out. This fight should be a slugfest that could go either way for as long as it lasts, but I have a feeling that Taylor will prevail by scoring a mid-round stoppage. Taylor by stoppage.


Totals:21

Pavlik: 9
Taylor: 11
No pick: 1
Pavlik by stoppage: 9
Taylor by stoppage: 9
Pavlik by decision: 0
Taylor by decision: 2


Contact Robert Mladinich @ TheSweetScience.com

From WBC President Jose Sulaiman:WORLD BOXING COUNCIL NEWS

WORLD BOXING COUNCIL NEWS

Mexico City- “I would like to respond to erroneous interpretations and accusations in certain news reports that we at the WBC and boxing commissioners in Mexico ignored a request, reportedly sent by the Association of Boxing Commissions in the United States to the boxing commission in Leon, Guanajuato, to not allow Tommy Morrison to fight on the February 9 event presented by Top Rank, Zanfer, and a local promoter.



“Nobody in Leon received any correspondence from the ABC. Neither had the ABC contacted the mayoral office of the city or the WBC in regards to such a request. The WBC would have forwarded the request ourselves, out of courtesy, if the ABC had contacted us.

“Morrison went through the same thorough medical examinations as all the other boxers, but nobody, in the commission or out of it, had any idea of any boxing suspension.

“Except for the California state commission, the ABC and state commissions in the US never contact Mexican commissions or Mexico ’s National Boxing Federation, and very rarely contact the WBC, regarding boxers’ suspensions.

“Countless boxers from Mexico have gone and still keep going to fight in the United States while they have been medically suspended in Mexico – having been recently knocked out or with other impediments - but none of the suspension notifications sent by Mexican commissions to US commissions have ever been respected, while many Mexican boxers have been hurt and others suffered irreversible damage, and even death.

“This is the reason that the WBC has been wanting to meet with the ABC, so that the US boxing commissions, together with the Mexican commissions, could find mutual agreements for the safety and welfare of boxers and boxing. Mexican state commissions are integrated into the National Boxing Federation, which is the one that could work with ABC, but it seems that ABC only wants to deal with individual state boxing commissions and not the NBF, which will serve no purpose.

“The incident involving Tommy Morrison shows the importance of the meeting between the ABC and the Mexican commissions. A meeting has been agreed to, but not yet scheduled. We hope that it will be scheduled soon. If the ABC is not interested in making agreements with the Mexican commissions, we would like to meet with state commissions in the US individually to address these problems.”

FONFARA VS. RINCON FEATURED IN CHICAGO ON FEBRUARY 15TH‏

Junior middleweights Andrzej Fonfara and Francisco Rincon will battle in a special feature attraction bout on February 15th at CELEBRATION, a terrific evening of world class professional boxing at Cicero Stadium, presented by Dominic Pesoli’s 8 Count Productions and Bob Arum’s Top Rank Incorporated.

CELEBRATION marks the 10th anniversary of Chicago’s 8 Count Productions, HOME OF THE BEST IN CHICAGO BOXING.

Tickets for CELEBRATION are available in advance by calling the 8 Count Productions offices at 312-226-5800. Cicero Stadium is located at 1909 S. Laramie, just minutes from the Eisenhower and Stevenson Expressways. Doors for this event will open at 5:30pm with the first bell at 6:30pm.

A native of Warsaw, Poland, now living in Chicago, Fonfara, 8-1 (3KO’s) has built a huge following in Chicago since making his pro debut in June of 2006. The 20 year old former amateur standout is coming off a crowd pleasing first round knockout of Dave Saunders on November 16, 2007 at Cicero Stadium.

With four straight wins in 2007, Fonfara is looking to start 2008 in similar fashion and continue his rise amongst the hottest young prospects in boxing.

Rincon, born in Coahuila, Mexico, currently residing in Dallas, Texas

has fought three times in Chicago including wins over tough veterans Gilbert Venegas and Fabian Luque. He also holds a decision win over rising Bronx, New York, prospect Frankie Figueroa.

In his most recent bout in Chicago, the 24 year old Rincon and Chicago fan favorite Luciano Perez thrilled the packed house at the Aragon Ballroom on August 25, 2006 with a memorable “blood and guts” battle that left both warriors widely respected in the Chicago boxing community in their off-TV war.

Said Pesoli about the Fonfara/Rincon bout, ‘This is a real solid test for Fonfara, he gets better each time out. However, Rincon is a true Mexican warrior who will battle every second of every round. Our fans are in for a terrific fight as both guys have much to gain with a victory.”

The full fight card for CELEBRATION is;

Mike Alvarado vs. Jesus Rodriguez, ten rounds, junior welterweights

Alejandro Perez vs. Jorge Cardenas, eight rounds, super bantamweights

Francisco Rodriguez vs. Andre Wilson, eight rounds, bantamweights

Andrzej Fonfara vs. Francisco Rincon, six rounds, junior middleweights

Freddie Cuevas vs. Victor Villareal, six rounds, middleweights

Ivan Popoca vs. Guadalupe Diaz, four rounds, junior welterweights

The open to the public weigh-in will be held at 7pm on Thursday, February 14th at Club Aquarius, 2459 N. Pulaski on the Northwest side of Chicago.

Along with Chicago’s 8 Count Productions and Bob Arum’s Top Rank Incorporated, CELEBRATION is presented by TCF Bank, Tecate Beer and AeroMexico, Mexico’s premier airline travel headquarters. The SOLO BOXEO TECATE broadcast will be viewed in 42 US markets and 70 foreign countries.

The Master of Ceremonies for CELEBRATION will be Lupe Contreras, the internationally recognized voice of Latino boxing.

8 Count Productions was started by Dominic Pesoli in 1998 and has consistently presented the highest quality professional boxing events in Chicagoland. In 2003, Pesoli along with former featherweight contender Mike Garcia opened JABB Boxing Gym, a 6,000 square foot venue dedicated to the finest Chicagoland boxers of all talent levels.

To view the seating chart and poster for this event or for more information on 8 Count Productions and JABB Boxing Gym, please visit www.8countproductions.com and www.jabbboxinggym.com

For more information on Bob Arum’s Top Rank Incorporated, please visit.

www.toprank.com

CREATING CONTENDERS SINCE 1998

Bernie Bahrmasel

Publicist/8 Count Productions

www.8countproductions.com

Iran “The Blade” Barkley Uncensored Interview --Part 1 By David Selwyn

Iran “The Blade “ Barkley; Uncensored Interview Part 1
By David Selwyn



Iran “The Blade” Barkley is a five-time world champion who made his name with a third round knockout win over Thomas Hearns in Las Vegas in 1988. Before he fought Hearns, the champion’s trainer Emanuel Steward knew Barkley had the attitude to be dangerous. “He’s not that skillful, but he just don’t give a damn”. Sure enough, battered and on the brink of defeat, Barkley found the right hand to drop Hearns on his back.



Seconds after regaining his feet, Hearns was rescued by the referee. Four years later, Barkley became the only man to defeat Hearns twice, when he out pointed him over 12 rounds to win the WBA Light heavyweight title. This victory also made Barkley a member of an elite group of fighters who have won world titles in three separate weights.

D.S.: How did you get involved with the sport of boxing?
I.B.: I first got involved with my sister. In the Bronx at St. Marys Gym. She was a street fighter. The whole family knew how to fight.

D.S.: I know the South Bronx produced some pro boxers. Who was around with you back in the days?
I.B.: Well you know we had a lot of guys. Gods bless the dead, Davey Moore. This other Spanish fighter I forgot his name. He died in the ring. Alex Ramos was here.

D.S.: What about Mitch “Blood” Green? I heard that you hung around with him. Tell me about what you guys did back in your youth.
I.B.: Back in the days we hung back in the days. We were in Gangs together. The gang stuff lead us into boxing.

D.S.: What was the toughest thing about boxing? Was it the training, the actual fighting or the business? What did you dislike the most?
I.B.: I disliked the business of boxing. Business was like you do what you had to do. You train hard and do what you got to do and everybody is lying and cheating and telling you YO there is not enough money for this there is not any money for that. So you know you learn as you go on.



D.S.: Your promoter for most of your career was Bob Arum of Top Rank Boxing. What could you tell me about him?
I.B.: While in my dealings with him, certain things he did and certain things he didn’t do. I don’t want to make this a racial thing, but I think he is a racist.

D.S.: So you think he is a racist?
I.B.: Yeah I think he is a racist, I mean 10 years ago he had black and white fighters and Hispanic fighters. Now he claims he just cornered the Hispanic market. You know what I’m saying. How can you say you cornered the Hispanic market when you made all your money off black fighters? The only black fighter he had lately was Floyd Mayweather and he don’t even have him now

D.S.: So you think he does not like black people and purposely does not promote black fighters.
I.B.: Yeah he don’t like black fighters you know all the chances he had to help me, I was one of his prime fighters. You know he brought George Foreman back after 15 years. Why couldn’t he bring me back after 15 years? He needed me when I had to do what I had to do when he didn’t think it was sensible to have me. It didn’t want me no more.

D.S.: Don’t you think it was a matter of money? When you were in you prime he felt he could make money with you and when you were not in your prime he felt you could not make money. I think it’s a money issue.
I.B.: That’s bullshit. You know what I’m saying, at the time the only one who was getting payed was Ray Leonard, Tommy Hearns, Roberto Duran and Marvin Hagler and Hagler did not get payed until he fought Leonard. So me and Hagler were the only ones being abused. We were the two hard fighters in his stable. If Hagler did not fight John “The Beast” Mugabi I would have been the one to fight Mugabi, but Hagler took care of Mugabi and I took care of Tommy Hearns.



D.S.: Would you have liked to fight Marvin Hagler?
I.B.: If I had to fight Hagler I would have fought him. At that time Hagler was a little bit ahead of me.

D.S.: What do you think about the state of boxing today?
I.B.: The state of boxing today is that I’m the reason why these guys are getting payed today. Me and Hagler opened the doors for these guys getting payed the way they are getting payed. These ain’t no fights today. Everybodys just getting payed. The fans are not getting what they want to see. These guys are not fighting. They are just getting payed and pampered. They want a lot of money and get a lot of money. There is only a handful that are earning their money but the rest of these guys are just getting payed.

D.S.: Whom would you pay to see, who would you buy a ticket to see?
I.B.: I would pay to see Bernard Hopkins. I would buy a ticket to see Floyd Mayweather and also to see Roy Jones Jr. Those are the guys I would pay to see.
Writers Note: Part II with my conversation with Iran will follow. Iran will talk about the myth of Sex and Boxing

The ROOTS: Live at the Apollo February 22

Senator Serrano To Honor Iran Barkley on 2/18; Celebrating Black History Month and Congressman José E. Serrano, will honor the Bronx boxing legend

New York, NY- State Senator José M. Serrano, as part of an annual event celebrating Black History Month with his father, Congressman José E. Serrano, will honor Bronx boxing legend Iran "The Blade" Barkley on Monday, February 18th.



Mr. Barkley was born, raised and continues to live in the South Bronx community. In 1988, against strong odds, he defeated Thomas Hearns by TKO to become the Middleweight Champion of the World.



The day's other honorees include: Dean Meminger, Bronx Reporter for NY1 News; and Dr. Samuel J. Daniel, President and CEO of North General Hospital.

Jermain Taylor

LAS VEGAS, NEV.– Boxing’s two best middleweights -- undefeated world champion KELLY “The Ghost” PAVLIK (32-0, 29 KOs), from Youngstown, Ohio, and former undisputed world champion JERMAIN “Bad Intentions” TAYLOR (27-1-1, 17 KOs), from Little Rock, Arkansas -- hosted separate media conference calls this week.



Promoted by Top Rank and DiBella Entertainment, the 12-round Pavlik-Taylor II battle will take place Saturday, February 16, at MGM Grand, and will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View, beginning at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT.



This is Norman Horton. On behalf of Team Taylor and DiBella Entertainment, we would like to welcome and thank you for your participation today.

On the line we have Jermain Taylor, his trainer Ozell Nelson, and his promoter, Lou DiBella. We will have an opening statement from Lou DiBella, and then we will open up for questions. I present, Lou DiBella.



Lou DiBella: Thank you everybody for joining us. On Saturday night the 16th, I think we have a historic night of boxing, and really one of the most justified and competitive and exciting main events that I can remember.

I was thrilled to be involved in the first fight. While the outcome wasn’t what we wanted, it was a great night for boxing, and a terrific, explosive seven rounds of boxing.



On the 16th there’s a terrific undercard it features Ronald Hearns and his toughest fight to date. It features two great title fights at 115 pounds, Fernando Monteil against Martin Costillo, and Cristian Mijares, who might be the best young 15 pounder in the world, against Jose Navarro. Those are two terrific appetizers to what’s going to be a great main course.

I listened in a little bit yesterday to the phone call that Jack Loew, and Arum and Kelly Pavlik had. They’re very confident -- I understand their confidence, but it seemed a little bit to me like they bordered on cockiness and maybe a little bit of insulting, sort of undertone. They’re entitled to do that, but I think maybe if they look back on that last fight, they’ll remember a second round where the fight could easily have ended, and we’d be talking very differently on this phone call.


Kelly deserves all the credit in the world for ending that fight in the seventh round, but that fight could have easily ended in the second. I believe then that I promoted the better fighter in the contest. I believe now that I promote the better fighter in the rematch. And it’s my firm belief that on February 16, that last fight’s going to be erased and the result is going to be different. I also think - I anticipate that there’s going to be some questions, which I’d like to nip in the bud right here, about the election of the rematch immediately. But I think that that is one of the reasons why I am so proud to have promoted Jermain Taylor from his first fight through his career.



He has never run away from a challenge; he has never lost confidence in himself. He has never been anything but a great champion and a great competitor, and I fully expected him to elect that rematch -- it didn’t surprise me in the least. I know why he elected it -- because he knows he can win. And on February 16, he will win.

Ozell - and Ozell’s back in the corner in the lead trainer. That’s a place he’s used to being; that a place he was throughout Jermain’s amateur career, and he has never been out of Jermain’s corner -- not as an amateur; not as a professional.

I had the chance to go camp and watch these guys work, see how hard they’re working, see how well they’re working, and I’m thrilled to be involved in this event. I’m thrilled that I’m going to be there on February 16, when Jermain Taylor, once again, establishes his supremacy in the middleweight classes. And, you know, Ozell and Jermain -- there’s no need for little speeches -- they’re going to do most of their talking on the night of February 16. But we’ll open it up right now for questions and get right to the meat of things and what you guys want to hear.

So, we’ll open it up for questions. Go ahead Norm.

Norm Horton: Thank you Lou. We’ll take the first question now.

Chris Givens: Hey Jermain, Lou, Norm, everybody.

Lou DiBella: Hello Chris.

Chris Givens: Jermain, I know that you always have a lot of anticipation before you fight as it gets close -- we’re only ten days away now. I’m wondering if this time it’s a little bit of a different sense of anticipation based on the circumstances of this fight. Is it different now than it is normally about ten days before a fight for you?

Jermain Taylor: Yes, it’s very different, it’s all about revenge now. I’m just going in there getting back everything this man took from me.

Chris Givens: What is training like right now as we’re getting this close to it? I mean, you’re not having to leave Vegas this time, but what - where are you right now?

Jermain Taylor: Just the other day I did about 18 rounds in the gym. I’m in great shape and it’s been a great training camp here in Las Vegas. I’ve got to give it to Ozell my trainer, he stepped up, and everything’s going perfect.

Chris Givens: This time a lot of the early betting lines are out, and I think this time you’re going to be a rather heavy underdog, a position that you’re not used to. Does that change your approach to anything, knowing that you’re not going to be the favorite fighter in this one?

Jermain Taylor: Oh no, it doesn’t make a difference at all. I’m going in there and take care of business. Fights that have me as the underdog are the fights when I look my best.



Chris Givens: Ozell? Are you on the line Ozell?

Ozell Nelson: Yeah, I’m here Chris.

Chris Givens: I want to ask you a question. Jack Loew, he’s made this comment to the media several times recently, and he mentioned it again yesterday on the phone. When the question was asked about his thoughts of you being in the corner that his standard response has been that, “Jermain makes a lot of amateur mistakes. He’s brought a lot of mistakes with him.” You’re the one who taught him those mistakes so he’s happy that you’re back in the corner because you taught him those mistakes.

Wondered if you had a response for that and what your feeling on that comment is?

Ozell Nelson: Well, I would say they are the same bad habits that kept Kelly from making the Olympic team so Jack can say what he wants to say. I’m not going to get into a tick for tack with Jack. Years ago there was a hit movie “Ghost Busters” on February 16th we will be looking to bust the Ghost.

Chris Givens: Okay, and are you pleased at this point, with where Jermain is in training?

Ozell Nelson: I’m very pleased with Jermain. Jermain been working hard, he’s been doing everything that I asked him, and we are just ready for this fight.

Chris Givens: All right, thanks guys. I’ll let somebody else get in now. Thank you.

Dan Rafael: Thanks. Hi Norm, Ozell, Lou, Jermain. How are you guys today?

Jermain Taylor: Hello Dan.

Dan Rafael: Quick question Jermain. You mentioned in some of your opening remarks about, you know, now it’s about revenge, getting everything back that the man took from you. One of those things that you can’t get back -- win or lose -- is the middleweight championship.

Did you give any thought to taking the fight at middleweight, even though I know your contract said you had the option to do it at 160? There’s been a lot of debate about - or rather the contract said you could do it at 166. Did you think about maybe (unintelligible) and trying to do it at 160, and making it for the championship?
Dan Rafael: And how important, and what - and how important is that to you?

Jermain Taylor: It’s not important to me at all, but, I just want the fight to begin. I don’t care what weight or whether it’s for the belt or not. I just want to get in there and get back what I lost with Kelly, because I know I can beat the guy.

Dan Rafael: Do you think it detracts at all from the match? I mean it’s a great fight -- we all know that -- but does it detract in any way, shape or form, maybe from the public interest that it’s not a championship fight?

Jermain Taylor: I don’t think so. I think that here’s a guy who beat me. He beat me for the championship, but you know, can he do it again, or was it just - or did he just get lucky? People want to see good fights and that’s what me and Kelly are going to give them.

Lou DiBella: I want to pop in here for a second.

Dan Rafael: Sure Lou.

Lou DiBella: If Jermain wasn’t such a great champion, the first fight probably wouldn’t have happened because guys like myself and Al Haymen were saying, “JT, the weight’s been a problem for you. You don’t need this now. Go up at 68, there’s plenty of guys in the higher weight classes. Take your first fight at 68 here.” And what JT felt strongly about was, you know, Pavlik was there, people were saying they wanted to see the fight, and he was going to suck it up and make the weight in that first fight, no matter what to make that fight happen. And that’s because he’s a great champion. He probably shouldn’t have fought that fight at 60, and there was no way this one was going to be at 60.



So I mean, I think people got a sensational night of boxing the first time, one of the best middleweight fights I’ve seen since Hagler/Hearns. Arum and I have talked many times about that and he’s seen them all, and we agree on that one. And you’re going to see, you know, more of the same. This fight continues now -- this epic continues into the eighth round, I think that’s what the public cares about. You know, there was no way in the world this rematch could have been at 60.

Dan Rafael: Okay. Jermain let me follow-up with what Lou was saying there. How many times have you gone over that second round in your mind, and how many times have you kicked yourself, or you know, punished yourself emotionally, mentally, for now being able to finish it when he was so clearly in trouble?

Jermain Taylor: Well, I think about it all the time. What comes into my head is how I could have trained harder or finish him off in the second round.. And all the should haves, could haves in the world is not going to change anything.

Dan Rafael: Do you watch it at all or do you just don’t even bother looking at it?

Jermain Taylor: I have watched it a couple of times, but not a lot. It’s not something I like looking at.

Dan Rafael: Okay. What would you do differently if you have him in trouble in the rematch? You know, you get him hurt or you have him knocked down -- how would your approach change? You know, I can appreciate the fact you were trying to finish him off, but you know, a combination of you being unable to certainly, Kelly, his heart and his will, had something to do with that. But if it happens again, and you’re in a similar situation with the way you punch, certainly a possibility, what will you do differently if you have him in that kind of condition again?

Jermain Taylor: If I get him in that position again, I’m going to finish him. That’s what I’m training for. I just felt like I wasted a lot of energy. I threw a lot of stupid punches and I should have put them together, gone to the body, uppercuts, I could have done a lot of things I didn’t do.

Dan Rafael: You know Jermain, a lot of people would look at it say it’s the second round of a fight, you’re a well conditioned professional athlete; you are a reigning world champion. How is it conceivable that somebody of your youth and experience wouldn’t have energy in the second round of a fight?

Jermain Taylor: I underestimated him just a little bit and paid the price for underestimating him. Kelly was in great shape for the fight and I should have been in better conditioned for the fight, my mindset wasn’t right.

With this training camp, it’s all work. I’m talking about every day; I’m talking about getting up doing what I’m supposed to do every day. And it wasn’t like that last camp, I’ll be honest with you.

Dan Rafael: Ozell, could you address that for a minute about, you know, what you guys have talked about or gone over in your training camp? That if Jermain does put him in a position where he’s got him in trouble the way he did in the first fight, how to approach going after him to finish him off, and to still have energy, whether it’s the first round of the fight, second round, or the tenth round?

Ozell Nelson: Well, in this training camp right here, we’ve been doing a lot of hard digging work, lot of bag work, lot of gut-checking work. I mean like we do 12 rounds - all right were not done in 12 rounds, we going two more.

And so, I want to make sure this time around if Jermain gets him hurt in the seventh, eighth, ninth, he’s out of there. Jermain is going to have the stamina, the wind, and he’s got the experience to get him out of there. And he will get him up out of there this time.

Dan Rafael: One more thing for you Ozell. When you went through the first training camp with Emanuel, and you were watching the way things were going, did you have a notion that maybe Jermain was taking him a little bit lightly, or he wasn’t in the great shape? Because, you know, again, you know, it seems sort of surprising that he would run out of gas in the second round.

Ozell Nelson: Well, I wanted to add a little bit more core work to it, but you know, as Emanuel Stewart being a Hall of Famer, great trainer, we both looked at Jermain in training and thought he was looking great. And so, as I guess, as we all kind of took Kelly a little lightly. We thought that Jermain was going get him out of there, but he didn’t. So now, we know that Kelly comes to fight; he knows that he’s in great shape, and this time that we are turning over all stones -- we are not leaving no stones unturned. Jermain will be prepared for grudge fight, toe-to-toe, we will be able to do that.

Dan Rafael: Okay. Ozell, thank you. Jermain thank you. Good luck to you guys next week.

Jermain Taylor: Thank you.

Franklin McNeil: Hi guys, how you doing?

Jermain Taylor: All right.

Franklin McNeil: My first question is for you Jermain. It has to do with, you know, a lot is being talked about - a lot is being said about knock downs and knock outs, but when I look back at this fight, you were leading on all three judge’s score cards by a relatively large margin. And you were doing that using your speed and elusiveness, for the most part. Is that something that you’ve looked back - when you look back at that fight and say, “I was beating this guy.” Do you take anything from that?

Jermain Taylor: I do. I mean I was beating this guy half-ass. I wasn’t even all the way there. I mean, to be honest with you, in those later rounds, I went into a survival mode.

I was tired, and I just felt like I didn’t do what I was supposed to do in training camp. And this time I’m doing exactly what I’m suppose to do… I feel like I lost what it took to become world champion and that’s why I’m not world champion anymore.

Franklin McNeil: And leading in to that fight, Manny for the most part, was talking about you having to look spectacular, knock-outs, things of that nature. Is it more important, at this point, to look spectacular or to do what Jermain does best, and just win this fight using all your tools? What’s more important now?

Jermain Taylor: Just go in there and win this fight. I should have been more relax in this fight. I wasn’t even trying to feel him out. I caught him with something that I didn’t even know hurt him. Preparation is important and I will be well prepared for this fight and come away with a victory

Franklin McNeil: And also in the previous fight, a lot was made of people’s perception of you, that you had to look good again. Is that something you’ve put behind you? Is this about, just Jermain Taylor or this again, trying to prove something to fans and people even in your hometown?

Jermain Taylor: I’m not trying to prove nothing to nobody. I’m not trying to prove nothing. It’s all about me this time. It’s all about going in there and just making Kelly look like nothing. I was beating him on just half-ass stuff, so imagine what’s going to happen this fight.

Franklin McNeil: And one more question. You have to go to the catch weight. Kelly Pavlik’s perspective is that he’s big or he’s stronger -- that the catch weight of 166 is going to be advantageous to him. Why is it advantageous to you? Why is coming in heavier going to be advantageous to you in this fight?

Jermain Taylor: It’s just easy. I mean, it’s easy I’m making the weight, and I was moving up one way or another. I have been fighting at 160 since I turned pro and it was time.

Franklin McNeil: Okay, thanks guys. Thanks a lot.

Tom Pedulla: Yeah, hey Jermain. I wanted to ask you about the decision to make Ozell the lead trainer. Can you just talk about what went in to that and what was, I guess, the dissatisfaction with Manny Stewart?

Jermain Taylor: I can’t speak nothing bad about Manny Stewart. He’s a Hall of Fame trainer and a friend of mine. The chemistry just did not flow over from training camp when it came fight time. He taught me a lot and I learned a lot from him. I still use some of the things he taught me in the gym, right now.

And, as far as me and Ozell, he’s been with me from the start. He built the engine. Ozell is much, much more than a trainer to me in the ring and out. He knows me and knows what buttons to push to get the best out of me.

When I started boxing it was all about hard work -- all about hard work and dedication. And if you put 100% in, you get 100% out. I just feel like these last few fights I haven’t been doing that. I haven’t been going 12 rounds in the gym like I used to go. I haven’t been getting up every morning and doing my five miles of road work. I haven’t been doing it.

In this training camp, that’s exactly what it’s back to. It’s back to Ozell, its back to hard work; it’s back to getting up every morning and doing what I was supposed to do. In which I know what I’m supposed to do, I just wasn’t doing it.

Tom Pedulla: So in other words, he just has the ability to get that out of you?

Jermain Taylor: He does and I know everything will turn out just fine. I want to please him and I know he wants me to look good. I want to go in there and do exactly what I’m suppose to do.



Tom Pedulla: Ozell, could you maybe address why you feel you’ve been able to get to Jermain in that way, and bring out the best in him?

Ozell Nelson: Just like Jermain was saying we’ve been together forever. I know him and he know me, and he know that when I took him on a brick job, I let him look at me -- watch me work -- everything. I worked hard all day, and he saw the effort that was put in. I was teaching him hard work and dedication and I let him know I was expecting the same thing out of him. Hard work and dedication -- do what you suppose to do.

So, on that note, we work real good together, and he knows that it’s back to hard work and dedication, and that’s what it takes.

Tom Pedulla: Thank you.

Tim Smith: Good afternoon guys. Jermain, just sort of listening to what you were saying and the questions about the training in the previous fights and in particular, this previous fight with Pavlik. It sounds like maybe you knew the things that you should have been doing, but you were not doing them. And you didn’t feel like maybe you were getting - you were being motivated to maybe get out of bed and run at, you know, 5 o’clock in the morning and do the five miles?

I’m wondering if you - if maybe you began to just sort of, you know, take things for granted that you were still the champion. That, you know, even though you had a couple of lackluster fights, that maybe you didn’t feel like you needed to push yourself as hard? I mean, can you sort of speak to that a little bit? I mean, I don’t know whether that was the case or not, but I’m asking you.

Tim Smith: Did you just sort of take things for granted a little bit maybe?

Jermain Taylor: Yes, that’s exactly what happened. I took it for granted. In the sport of boxing, you can’t take things for granted. Because in boxing, anything could happen in the ring. And it’s all about being in shape. A person can win a fight just by being in shape, and Kelly proved that. I know what it took to get there, and I wasn’t doing it. So yes, I took it for granted.

Tim Smith: At what point in the fight with Pavlik did you say, “Oh boy, I’m in trouble here?” in terms of just your physical conditioning?

Jermain Taylor: I would say somewhere around the sixth, seventh round where I started getting real tired. And then I started going into a survival mode, backing up to the rope, I just wasn’t doing what I was supposed to do. But I knew that I was still in the fight and one punch can change anything and I knew I had enough of a punch to take him out.

Tim Smith: Looking back at that fight, you said you’ve only watched it a couple of times, but I’m sure you picked up on some of your mistakes. Other than just the physical conditioning, what do you think, strategy wise, was perhaps one of your biggest flaws in that particular fight?

Jermain Taylor: Strategy wise, I couldn’t tell you. With Kelly you know how he’s going to fight, he comes right at you, he got a good punch and he comes to fight.

Tim Smith: Okay. Would you be satisfied winning a decision in this fight? Will that satisfy you?

Jermain Taylor: Well, first I want to win the fight, if it’s a knockout, decision, TKO, I will take it, but I would like to put something on him sending a big statement.

Tim Smith: Mmm-hmm. Okay. All right so; we’ll see you next week, and success to you. Thanks a lot.

Eddie Goldman: Thank you. Hi Jermain, hi Lou, hi everybody. How’s everybody doing today?

Jermain Taylor: How you doing?

Eddie Goldman: Good, thank you. Jermain, at the pre-fight press conference for the first fight, you may remember Emanuel Stewart got up and gave a very impassioned speech, saying that you were still a better athlete than Kelly Pavlik. You had better amateur credentials, better pro credentials, had fought much better fighters than he had. Do you think any of that contributed to you in under-estimating him before that fight?

Jermain Taylor: I don’t know. A lot of things could havecontributed to that.. Just by me being world champion, beating the guys that I wasn’t supposed to beat. Going to the Olympics, a lot of things. I got too comfortable. I could sit here and make excuses all day, but it really dosen’t make a difference. I didn’t do what I was supposed to do and he capitalized on it.

Eddie Goldman: What’s going to be going through your mind differently this time, as you approach the fight? And what was going through your mind as you got in to that fight?

In other words, how mentally, you’re going to be looking at him -- also, since you fought each other, you each traded punches, and you know his power and his strengths.

Jermain Taylor: I know that I’m in tip-top shape now. I know that I can go 12 rounds easy. I thought in that last training camp, I didn’t know that I could go 12 rounds, and I’ll be honest with you, because I didn’t go 12 rounds in the gym it show in the last fight. I’m much better prepared for this fight physically and mentally.

Eddie Goldman: So that’s what your training is focused on now?

Jermain Taylor: Going into this fight, I know that I’m in tip-top shape. Knowing you are in shape mentally and physically is a good feeling to have going into this fight. I have something to prove to a lot of people.

Eddie Goldman: Do you want to make a prediction for this fight or just see what happens?

Jermain Taylor: I’m not going to make any prediction about this fight, it all business and I have to take care of my business and that’s victory

Eddie Goldman: We’ll do that. Okay, good luck on the fight.

Jermain Taylor: Thanks.

Michael Woods: How you doing? Thanks for taking the time. First question is for Lou, and then I’d like, after Lou speaks, to get Ozell, and then Jermain to weigh in on it.

Lou, I’m wondering what were some of the things that you heard in the conference call that led you to label Loew and Pavlik bordering on cocky, and you referred to the insulting undertones. What did you hear?

Lou DiBella: I think I heard the same things all of you did, and a couple of guys made reference to it. There were pot shots taken at, you know, Jermain’s quote-unquote, amateur style, you know, Ozell teaching him his mistakes. Well, if Ozell taught him his mistakes, he also taught him enough to beat Bernard Hopkins twice to become the undisputed middleweight champion of the world, and to have been in a position where he was seconds away, and one punch away from having Kelly flat on his back.

So I found that a little bit insulting, and frankly I’ve always respected Jack Loew and I thought he’s been a class act. I felt that there were a lot of comments on that call that were, you know, derogatory. But you know the truth, I liked it. I liked it because if they’re that cocky, they’re making a big frigging mistake. And I hope they are that cocky.

Michael Woods: Mmm-hmm.

Lou DiBella: If they’re that cocky, I’m confident that the next time he’s doing the chicken dance, he’s not going to finish the round.



Michael Woods: Mmm-hmm. Ozell, what about what Lou just said? Are you seeing them as being over confident?

Ozell Nelson: Well, I don’t really know Jack that well, but, people say a lot of things and they won the fight and if he wants to talk the talk…..so be it. I’m not concerned about anything that Jack is saying.

Michael Woods: Mmm-hmm.

Ozell Nelson: They call Kelly Pavlik the ghost, well Jermain’s gone be the ghost buster come February, just like the hit movie “Ghost Busters”..

Michael Woods: Mmm-hmm.

Lou DiBella: So you’re going to be calling us the ghost busters after the 16th.

Michael Woods: All right. I’ll be calling you the ghost busters after the fight. JT, what about it man? Are those guys being insulting and derogatory? Is this getting you pissed off?

Jermain Taylor: Have you notice the only person really talking is Kelly’s trainer, not Kelly. Jack’s not in the ring, Kelly knows what happen in the second round and that fight should have been over. His ass was beaten and he knows it, but I give him credit, he got up and did what he had to do to win the fight.

Lou DiBella: I mean one thing to be clear about…

Michael Woods: Yeah.

Lou DiBella: We’re not losing sleep over it. No one’s upset here.

Lou DiBella: If that’s how they’re walking into this fight, then they may have a much longer night than they’re anticipating -- or maybe a much shorter one.

Michael Woods: Mmm-hmm. And last thing JT; is there a possibility that this loss was maybe the best thing that happened to you because it worked you up out of a malaise?

Jermain Taylor: I know what it took to get here, and I know what took in my life. It was a wake-up call for me and sometimes we that in life. Yes, it made turn out to be the best thing that happen to me.

Jermain Taylor: Because right now, I feel like I’m at the top of my game. I feel like I’m in shape, I’m going 12 rounds with no problem. I’m doing all kind of hard work; I’m doing whatever I want to do in the ring. I feel very good mentally and physically.

Michael Woods: Yeah. It’s funny, after the call yesterday I thought those guys were doing a really good job, like psychological preparation, everything. Kelly sounded great, and I’m like, damn, I’m leaning towards them. And then I’m hearing you guys today, and I’m leaning towards you, and so I’m feeling like it’s a 50/50. Good luck. Thanks everyone, I appreciate it.

Jermain Taylor: All right, appreciate it.

William Trillo: Thanks for taking my call Jermain. Jermain, you just said a few minutes ago that you had lost something over your last three fights. And there’s no denying, even your own trainer there, you know. We’re all going to agree than Emanuel Stewart is a world-class trainer, and there’s no denying that you’re a world-class, top of the rung, fighter.

How is it that that combination didn’t work, and how -- bottom line -- how did you lose the fire in those three fights?




Jermain Taylor: I don’t know about the combination of things that didn’t work. I mean, me and Manny are friends and I still talk to him today. You know, he’s a great guy, I love him to death. I think it was more me. It was more of my mindset than anything. I wasn’t doing what I was supposed to do. I wasn’t thinking the way, how I used to think. I get up in the morning and run. You know, just because this is what I do, I’m a boxer, this is what I do. Like I said before, it was a wake-up call for me.

William Trillo: Did you know back then that you were cutting corners, or did it take that loss for you to finally realize that the corners were being cut?

Jermain Taylor: It took that long. It took me getting my butt kicked -- and just like I said on the call, it was just a shame to say that, but that’s the truth. And you know, if you know anything about me man, I’m going to keep it real with you whether it hurt me or help me, whatever. I’m going to keep it real with you. You know, it’s a shame to say that, but that’s what it took. It took a butt kicking to get me back on track and now I feel like I’m back on track and can’t nobody beat me when I’m at the top of my game.

William Trillo: Lou, back during those fights where Jermain was winning, but was winning with criticism -- I’m sure you won’t deny that -- did you see the fire was lost? Was there a concern in you? And going into the first Pavlik fight, did you feel that the fire that Jermain possessed when he beat Bernard was no longer there?

Lou DiBella: You know, I - you know it’s easy to say that kind of thing with 20/20 hindsight, but whatever you say about Jermain and however he’s looked at in the ring when he’s had a bad night or - he’s a professional. He always conducts himself like a professional so, I never walked in thinking, “No he’s unprepared, no he doesn’t have the fire.”

And in fairness to him also, a couple of those fights that we made for him -- and I’m talking about the business people, and people around him -- because Jermain would fight anybody, were not the kind of fights you’re going to walk in and look great in. I mean, try looking great against Winky Wright or Cory Spinks.

William Trillo: Agreed.

Lou DiBella: So, you know, there was that aspect. In the Pavlik fight, I got a little worried when there were all the prognostications of, “we’re going to knock him out in two or three rounds”, etcetera. And you know, as Jermain said, Emanuel’s a great, great trainer, and there’s no pointing to where the problem lied, but there’s also no question that there was some issue with communication. There was some issue with that corner gelling during those fights.

And maybe also as Jermain, you know, like said, he keeps it real. You know, it’s an athlete himself -- he’s the guy that gets into the ring, you know. I don’t get into the ring and no matter how much, you know, Ozell Nelson or Manny Stewart had to do with helping him prepare, the guy that walks into that ring is Jermain Taylor.

So, you know, I’m confident now. I hear the hunger again, I hear the desire, and I hear the fire that, you know, it’s hard to hear when you’re already sitting at the top. When you get knocked down, and you got to be man enough to get up, that’s when you want to hear what you’re hearing right now, and I’m very confident right now, that this is the best of Jermain Taylor and that he’s going to walk into that right and take care of business, you know. I…

William Trillo: Well…

Lou DiBella: …think it’s human nature that when you’ve had fights after - you know, when you go back-to-back with Bernard Hopkins, and follow it up with Winky Wright, that at some point there’s going to be a letdown. It’s also human nature that when you work your whole life to get out of poverty, and all of a sudden you’re sitting on millions of dollars, there’s going to be a letdown. Sometimes you need to be kicked in the ass to get motivated again. So, you know, Jermain Taylor is always be - is always going to be, you know, has always been a professional. He’s always been a terrific athlete; now he’s a motivated, hungry athlete again, and I think you’re going to see something special on February 16.

William Trillo: Great answer Lou.

Jermain, you’ve always been stand up with us. Good luck next week, we look forward to the fight.

Jermain Taylor: Okay, thank you.

John Whisler: Hey Lou, how are you doing?

Lou DiBella: Good John.

John Whisler: Well, you touched on it kind of already, you know, with Manny. I think there was some sense that under him, that, you know, it wasn’t clicking with Jermain and Manny, it wasn’t working. And some had even said to me that almost looked like Jermain had regressed a little bit. You know, through his career, it may not have been fair, but even in winning, people would say, I think, kind of the consensus was, “he’s a great athlete, a good fighter, but he has just not put it all together yet.” Is that fair, and is that accurate at all?

Lou DiBella: Well, if you watch Hopkins 1 and 2, I don’t think it’s fair or accurate. I mean, I think, look at Bernard Hopkins’ career and look at those two fights. You know, I don’t care how close you thought the first one was, Jermain fought him second-to-second, round-for-round. You know, I thought we won the fight, but as even as you can be, and I didn’t think there was a question in the world that we won the second fight. So…

John Whisler: Mmm-hmm.

Lou DiBella: …this is a young man that walked in there and beat a guy that’s going to go in to the Hall of Fame on the first ballot, and beat him twice as a young fighter. No, I don’t think that there’s been a - that Jermain’s career’s been a disappointment by any means.

Do I think that you’ve seen the best of Jermain Taylor yet, no? But I’m going to emphasize “yet”, you know. I think that after those Hopkins wins, to put him in a situation that we put him in -- and I’ve, you know, I’ve been with Jermain since he turned pro so I take some of this responsibility. You know, to make a Winky Wright fight where it’s impossible to look good, to make a Cory Spinks fight when it’s impossible to look good. I mean, to some extent, we set him up for some of the criticism he had.

And with respect to the Kelly Pavlik fight, well you know, Jermain’s taken all the responsibility himself, and that’s because he’s a man, and a champion. When he gets in there and he beats the you-know-what out of this kid on February 16, I think that a lot of these questions will stop.

And I’ll also remind you he’s still - this is not a thirty-something year old athlete, this is still an athlete in his 20s, and I expect to see -- I think the best is yet to come.

Jerry Glick: Hello everybody, I hope I find everybody well.

Jerry Glick: Jermain, when you had him hurt in the first fight……I know you chased after him and you kind of ran out of gas, but what do you feel you did wrong technically, as a finisher? Could there have been anything else that you could have done at that moment? And did you do anything in training to rectify that?

Jermain Taylor: I could have did a lot of things different. You know, hit the body and make him bring his hands down, and then go back to the head. I could have done a lot of things different. And what I’m doing in the gym is I’m working the body, I’m throwing a lot of punches to the body and using my jab the way I’m suppose to.

Jerry Glick: Yesterday I had the pleasure of talking to Lou at the Broadway Boxing press conference, and he mentioned that you’re a 175 pound body, who was in a 160 pound division, and now 166. Can you comment on that, on your - on that you’re really more of a light heavyweight or are you not?




Jermain Taylor: I’ve heard that a lot and fighting at 160 for my entire career was hurting me. I glad to be fighting at this weight. I was moving up anyway.
Jerry Glick: All right, thank you very much and I wish you luck.

Jermain Taylor: Thank you.

Norman Horton: We’re going to take one more questions then we’re going to be closing this teleconference. Next question..

Norman Horton: Last question.

Rizwaan Zahid: Hey Jermain, how’s it going?

Jermain Taylor: Going good. How you doing?

Rizwaan Zahid: I’m all right man. Just a quick couple of questions. It’s like, I guess - I’m not sure if it’s been asked yet, but if you win this fight with Kelly, will there be a third fight?

Jermain Taylor: When I win this fight with Kelly, I don’t care. Like I told you man, like I told everybody, I don’t care. Whoever they put in front of me, that’s who I fight. If they bring them to me I will fight whoever; it doesn’t make a difference.

Rizwaan Zahid: Okay. And, just another one. Okay, well after Pavlik, let’s say you beat him, what - I mean with Calzaghe moving up, is there any other one, I mean anyone specifically at least, you want to try to hit in this middleweight division?

Lou DiBella: I’m going to have to jump in right here.

Rizwaan Zahid: What’s that?

Lou DiBella: We’re focused on February 16, and it’s my job to go to Jermain with the biggest opportunities and the biggest stuff that’s out there. I’m already starting to look in to it, but I’m not discussing with him or…

Rizwaan Zahid: Okay.

Lou DiBella: …or with anybody else, what follows Kelly Pavlik because we have business to take care of on February 16, and it’s serious business.

Rizwaan Zahid: Okay, fair enough.

Lou DiBella: When Jermain, when Jermain beats Kelly Pavlik, then frankly we’re going to have every opportunity in the world to fight whoever we want, from Joe Calzaghe to Roy Jones, to anybody else out there. The only thing I can tell you with certainty is we will never fight at 160 pounds again.

Rizwaan Zahid: Okay, fair enough. Just one more quick one if you don’t mind? What would you say, just to sum it up quickly, what you say was your weakest point in the first fight, and like, maybe not necessarily what you lack in skill or what you didn’t do. What would you plan to do in the second fight a little differently?

Jermain Taylor: Just train a lot harder. That’s all I can tell you man. Just train a lot harder than what I did in that first training camp. Just train, go in there with the mindset of knowing that you in the best shape of your life. And not just talking it, actually being in the best shape of your life.

Rizwaan Zahid: Okay. Okay, great man. Anyway, just good luck next week, and we’ll see the fight, and good luck.

Jermain Taylor: Thanks.

Norman Horton: I’d like to thank everyone. And in closing, Ozell, Jermain, or Lou, do you have any closing remarks?

Jermain Taylor: I don’t have any.

Lou DiBella: Just from my standpoint, be there on February 16, because you’re going to see history, you’re going to see one of the best pay-per-view fight cards in recent years, and you’re going to see a rematch that’s going to live up to all the hype. And you’re going to watch Jermain Taylor regain middleweight supremacy.

And thank you all for joining us and I look forward to seeing you on February 16.

Norman Horton: Thank you Lou, Jermain and Ozell. This will close our conference call.



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