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Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Countdown to PacMosley; Manny Pacquiao vs Shane Mosley, The Battle for Supremac

With the Manny Pacquiao vs. Shane Mosley fight less than a week away, it's safe to say that this could be one of the best fights of the year.

Manny Pacquiao defends his WBO Welterweight title against "Sugar" Shane Mosley Saturday, May 7th at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada.

While many see Manny Pacquiao as the heavy favorite in this fight (and rightly so), don’t count out “Sugar” Shane Mosley.

Mosley has nothing to lose at 39-years old—he's just trying to shock the world with what could be one of the most devastating upsets in boxing history.

Pacquiao is considered the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world, but this fight could be a trap. His life's been a roller coaster ride—taking Mosley lightly would be a bad mistake.

May 7 isn't just about Pacquiao vs. Mosley! Wilfredo Vazquez Jr. (20-0-1, 17 KOs) vs. Jorge Arce (56-6-2, 43 KOs) should be an exciting title fight, plus the return of Kelly Pavlik (36-2, 32 KOs) & some strong fighters with just one loss among them in Alfonso Lopez (21-0, 16 KOs), Mike Alvarado (29-0, 21 KOs) & Ray Narh (25-1, 21 KOs)! Should be a great night of boxing.


EL Boxing Empress
See you at the Fights and Thank You for your time.EL Boxing Empress Online @ Twitter http://www.twitter.com/Keishamorrisey ©®™ 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 All photos other than specified by "EL Boxing Empress" Keisha Morrisey- Empire Morrisey Photo-Studios, KCKMT for Bloodline Boxing Communications Entertainment and Starlite Boxing's Sweetscience Magnews-Online Publication all rights reserved

Monday, April 25, 2011

Peter ‘Kid Chocolate’ Quillin used ‘Torture’ machine to prepare for Apr. 29 title fight against Jesse Brinkley


Prior to leaving for his Big Bear training camp in final preparation for his April 29th showdown against Jesse Brinkley, undefeated prospect Peter “Kid Chocolate” Quillin used a Vortex machine at his strength-and-conditioning coach Brad Bose’s Anatomy gym in Santa Monica in order to increase his arm strength and power punching.

The 27-year-old Quillin (23-0, 17 KOs), born in Chicago and raised in Grand Rapids (MI), moved a year ago from Brooklyn to LA, where he hooked-up with Roach and started training at his famed Wild Card Gym, in addition to signing an exclusive promotional contract with Golden Boy Promotions.

“Kid Chocolate” headlines an April 29 show against former world title challenger Brinkley (35-6, 22 KOs) in Reno, Nevada, airing on Telefutura in a 10-round bout for the vacant USBO super middleweight title.

The Vortex, according to Bose (www.bosemangement.com), is an intimidating machine to look at, about 6-feet wide and 4 to 5 feet deep. Bose trains a lot of celebrities at his gym, some on The Vortex, including Robert Downing, Jr. for the movie, Ironman, as well as many mixed-martial-arts fighters. Boxers from the Wild Card like Quillin have started taking advantages of this functional training machine.

“The Vortex is unique in that it helps train athletes in more of a sports specific way,” Bose explained. “A lot of training in boxing is kind of old fashioned. The machine can be weighed down with 30 pounds for boxers who throw 1600 to 1800 punches within a five to 12 minute span. It increases their punching strength and speed, as well as get them ready for the later rounds, when a boxer’s arms are fatigued and they can barely hold them up.

“’Kid’ worked on it for six weeks before going to train in high altitude, where this training will also help his body recover faster. I saw quite a difference in him from the first day when he started with 15 pounds on his arms. After six weeks he made it up to 45 pounds for each arm, throwing 200 punches without a rest. A fighter may average 600 punches thrown in a fight. Training on this machine they have 45 pounds for each arm, throwing 200 punches in two minutes, for 20 minutes without resting. Throwing punches in the ring is no big deal because their arms won’t get tired.”

“The Vortex is like a torture machine,” Quillin remarked. “Brad had me throwing 1200 punches with 30-pound weights. I noticed a big difference. I really feel stronger. I’m up at Big Bear now to get used to the altitude for the fight in Reno. Freddie’s my trainer but he’s with Manny (Pacquaio), so I’m working with his assistant, Eric Brown. I work a lot with him and Freddie still oversees everything.”

Brinkley, who is coming off a ninth-round knockout last October in an IBF super middleweight title fight against champion Lucian Bute, will be fighting Quillin at home in Reno. The 34-year-old Brinkley is, perhaps, best known as a participant in the The Contender, Season One reality television show. His most notable victories have been against Otis Griffin, Curtis Stevens, and Joey Gilbert.

“This is the biggest fight of my life,” the personable Quillin remarked. “Brinkley’s coming off his world title fight against Bute and I wanted to find-out how I’d do against Jesse Brinkley. He’s strong, tough and always comes to fight. I want to campaign as a middleweight but walk around between fights weighing like a super middleweight. I took this fight because I couldn’t say no to my first title fight.

“I’m as sharp as a razor. He’s going to have to watch-out for me punching from every angle. I can hurt him with punches to the head or body. Once he punches, I’ll counter-punch. Boxing is a lot like poker, spades or dominos – it can fall either way. I’ll be trying to knockout Jesse Brinkley, but anything can happen, so I’m training to just win and prove that I belong at the elite level.”

For more information about Peter “Kid Chocolate” Quillin go online to www.TheKidChocolate.com or follow him on Twitter @/Kid Chocolate.

EL Boxing Empress

See you at the Fights and Thank You for your time.EL Boxing Empress Online @ Twitter http://www.twitter.com/Keishamorrisey ©®™ 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 All photos other than specified by "EL Boxing Empress" Keisha Morrisey- Empire Morrisey Photo-Studios, KCKMT for Bloodline Boxing Communications Entertainment and Starlite Boxing's Sweetscience Magnews-Online Publication all rights reserved

Sunday, April 24, 2011

BERNARD MILLER; MY GRANDPA





Read more about the prizefighter-pugilist and professional trainer at;
http://www.myspace.com/bernardberniemiller

EL Boxing Empress
See you at the Fights and Thank You for your time.EL Boxing Empress Online @ Twitter http://www.twitter.com/Keishamorrisey ©®™ 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 All photos other than specified by "EL Boxing Empress" Keisha Morrisey- Empire Morrisey Photo-Studios, KCKMT for Bloodline Boxing Communications Entertainment and Starlite Boxing's Sweetscience Magnews-Online Publication all rights reserved

Friday, April 22, 2011

The Super Six Semifinals Continue! Carl Froch vs. Glen Johnson on June 4 from Atlantic City on SHOWTIME‏

THE SEMIFINALS CONTINUE! WBC CHAMPION CARL FROCH DEFENDS AGAINST FORMER WORLD TITLIST GLEN JOHNSON LIVE on SHOWTIME® Saturday, June 4, at 9 p.m.

An opportunity to compete for the inaugural Super Six World Boxing Classic Cup will be on the line when Carl “The Cobra” Froch (27-1, 20 KOs) defends his World Boxing Council (WBC) super middleweight title against former world champion Glen “The Road Warrior” Johnson (51-14-2, 35 KOs) of Miami, Fla., in the last Semifinal of the Super Six World Boxing Classic on Saturday, June 4, live on SHOWTIME® (9 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast) from Adrian Philipps Ballroom of Atlantic City’s Boardwalk Hall.

The Froch-Johnson winner will advance to the Final against the victor of the May 14 Semifinal between World Boxing Association (WBA) champion Andre Ward (23-0, 13 KOs) of Oakland, Calif., and former world champion Arthur Abraham (32-2, 26 KOs), of Berlin, Germany, by way of Armenia. Ward-Abraham will be shown live on SHOWTIME (10 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast) from The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif.

Froch and Johnson are seeded Nos. 2 and 3, respectively, entering the Super Six Semifinals. Ward is seeded No. 1, Abraham No. 4.

In his last start on Nov. 27, 2010, the 33-year-old Froch, of Nottingham, England, manufactured perhaps a career-best performance, recapturing the then-vacant WBC 168-pound crown with a one-sided 12-round decision over Abraham in the final Group Stage 3 bout from Helsinki, Finland. There were no knockdowns but Froch dominated en route to tallying up the lopsided scores of 120-108 twice and 119-109.

Froch is 2-1 in the Super Six. In addition to dismantling Abraham, he won a split decision over Andre Dirrell in Group Stage 1 and lost a tight decision – along with the WBC title – to Mikkel Kessler in back-and-forth Fight of the Year candidate in Group Stage 2.

The Jamaican-born Johnson, a tournament replacement for the injured Mikkel Kessler, advanced with an eighth-round knockout over Allan Green in a Group Stage 3 fight on Nov. 6, 2010, in Las Vegas.
Johnson, 42, a former world light heavyweight champion who was making his first start at 168 pounds in 10 years, was ahead by three points on one of the scorecards and behind by one on the others when a left hook to the body followed by an overhand right to the side of head finished Green at 0:36 in the eighth.

Following Group Stage 3, Froch called Johnson an “old wise fox” and said he expected nothing less than a strong performance from a “great” fighter like Johnson.

"Glen Johnson is a blue-collar fighter who always gives his best and is a gentleman outside of the ring,” said Froch. “He commands respect and I give him respect.”

And the respect is mutual. Johnson offered, “The guy is a two-time champion. You do it once then you can say maybe it’s a little luck but to do it twice you know he deserved it. I have tremendous respect for Carl Froch.”

But the kind words will cease when the bell rings for what should be a fiercely contested 12-round affair. Johnson said of Froch, “I know he has a few weaknesses and I have every intention of exploiting those. I really feel like I’m the favorite right now. I just have to take it one fight at a time.”

Froch added, "I don't just plan on beating him, but I plan on halting him in style. Our styles gel very well for a competitive battle for as long as it lasts and I'm looking forward to it. I have a date in the final of the Super Six and I won't be overlooking Johnson in any shape or form – which will spell bad news for Glen.

"It will be another win for the Cobra, maybe by stoppage as I plan on making another big statement for the SHOWTIME fans."

Both fighters hold the tournament in high regard and covet the value of emerging victorious. Froch opined, “I could win this tournament and retire – that’s what it means. I can win this and say, ‘You know what? I’ve done it. I don’t need to fight anymore.’ I wouldn’t do that – I’ve got a couple of years left in me and there’s some big fights out there for me – but that’s how big this tournament is.”

Johnson recalled, “I know when this [tournament] was first put together I remember thinking to myself, ‘Man, I wish I was a super middleweight.’ But I’m in right now and I’m here to win the entire tournament. I believe I’m in it for a reason and that’s to win it.”

“Glen Johnson and Carl Froch are two of the most fan friendly fighters in boxing, said promoter Lou DiBella. “Both are proven winners who have earned fans the ole fashioned way, by entertaining fans fight after fight. Glen is known as ‘The Road Warrior’ because he isn’t afraid to go to someone else’s turf for a big fight, and Carl’s biggest wins have come outside the UK. Everyone knows that both men will leave it all in the ring in Atlantic City for the right to advance to the Super Six final.”

The event is promoted by DiBella Entertainment, Warriors Boxing and Carl Froch.


EL Boxing Empress

See you at the Fights and Thank You for your time.EL Boxing Empress Online @ Twitter http://www.twitter.com/Keishamorrisey ©®™ 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 All photos other than specified by "EL Boxing Empress" Keisha Morrisey- Empire Morrisey Photo-Studios, KCKMT for Bloodline Boxing Communications Entertainment and Starlite Boxing's Sweetscience Magnews-Online Publication all rights reserved

STRIKEFORCE® ANNOUNCES HARD-HITTING CARD IN DALLAS ON JUNE 18

GRAND PRIX HEAVYWEIGHT TOURNAMENT QUARTERFINALS:

ALISTAIR OVEREEM vs. FABRICIO WERDUM BRETT ROGERS vs. JOSH BARNETT
OTHER HEAVYWEIGHT ATTRACTIONS: DANIEL CORMIER vs. SHANE DEL ROSARIO
VALENTIJN OVEREEM vs. CHAD GRIGGS PLUS, THE RETURN OF SUPERSTAR GINA GARANO

STRIKEFORCE: OVEREEM vs. WERDUM
SATURDAY, JUNE 18 AMERICAN AIRLINES CENTER – DALLAS, TEXAS
Live on SHOWTIME® at 10 p.m. ET/PT (Delayed on West Coast)
TICKETS ON SALE – Friday, April 15 at 10 a.m. CT

Four of the sport’s most talented heavyweights are set to collide when STRIKEFORCE® heads to American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas on Saturday, June 18 for the quarterfinals of its Grand Prix Heavyweight Tournament. STRIKEFORCE®: OVEREEM vs. WERDUM will air LIVE on SHOWTIME® at 10 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast).

STRIKEFORCE heavyweight champion Alistair “The Demolition Man” Overeem (34-11, 1 NC) squares off against Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt Fabricio Werdum (14-4-1) in the highly-anticipated main event, while former UFC heavyweight champion Josh Barnett (29-5) will battle heavy-handed knockout artist Brett “The Grim” Rogers (11-2).

Two additional, non-tournament heavyweight clashes are also scheduled for the card, as former U.S. Olympic wrestler Daniel Cormier (7-0) will face fellow undefeated budding star Shane Del Rosario (11-0) and Valentijn Overeem (29-25), the elder brother of Alistair, will take on streaking Chad Griggs (10-1).

Plus, women’s mixed martial arts superstar Gina Carano (7-1) returns to action with her sights set on taking the STRIKEFORCE championship.

“We are really excited to head to Dallas with two outstanding quarterfinal heavyweight Grand Prix fights,” Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker said. “With Overeem vs. Werdum, Rogers vs. Barnett, as well as the return of Gina Carano, STRIKEFORCE is bringing one of its best cards ever to American Airlines Center.”

Tickets for STRIKEFORCE®: OVEREEM vs. WERDUM are priced at $350, $225, $125, $75, $50 and $30, not including applicable service charges, and go on sale Friday, April 15 at 10 a.m. CT. Tickets can be purchased at the American Airlines Center Box Office, all Ticketmaster Outlets, by calling 800-745-3000, or by visiting Ticketmaster.com.

UFC® Fight Club™ members will have the opportunity to purchase tickets to this event on Wednesday, April 13 at 10 a.m. CT via the website www.ufcfightclub.com. A special Internet ticket pre-sale will be available to newsletter subscribers on Thursday, April 14, starting at 10 a.m. CT. To access this presale, users must register for the UFC newsletter through UFC.com .

The main event between 30-year-old Alistair Overeem (fighting out of Amsterdam, The Netherlands) and the 33-year-old Fabricio Werdum (fighting out of Porto Alegre, Brazil) pits the two superstars against one another nearly five years after Werdum submitted Overeem on a PRIDE® Fighting Championship card at Osaka Dome in Osaka, Japan on May 5, 2006.

Since their initial encounter, the 6-foot-5, 260 pound Overeem has become the first fighter in history to simultaneously hold both a major mixed martial arts (STRIKEFORCE) title and a K-1 Heavyweight Grand Prix championship. Meanwhile, Werdum has wreaked havoc on the heavyweight division, including his submission over Fedor “The Last Emperor” Emelianenko in June, which was considered 2010 Upset of the Year.

Josh Barnett (fighting out of Seattle, Wash.) is a former UFC heavyweight champion who owns victories over the likes of Randy Couture, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Pedro Rizzo and Gilbert Yvel. The 33-year-old heads to Dallas with hopes of derailing his opponent and advancing in the Grand Prix. To do so, he must defeat the heavy-handed Brett Rogers (fighting out of St. Paul, Minn). The 6-foot-5 powerhouse reeled off 10 straight wins to start his professional career and holds knockout victories over the likes of former UFC champion Andrei Arlovski and PRIDE vet James Thompson.

A former Division I All-American at Oklahoma State University Daniel Cormier (fighting out of San Jose, Calif.) is unbeaten in seven fights. Training alongside the likes of UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez and welterweight stars Jon Fitch and Josh Koscheck, Cormier’s blend of wrestling and power could pose problems for his opponent in Texas. With an unblemished record in 11 professional bouts, Shane Del Rosario (fighting out of Irvine, Calif.) remains unfazed by the hype surrounding his opponent. Coming off an impressive submission win over Lavar Johnson in February, the 27-year-old Del Rosario has finished every fight and expects nothing less when he meets Cormier on June 18.

A seasoned veteran riding a three-fight winning streak, Valentijn Overeem (fighting out of Amsterdam, The Netherlands) believes a win on June 18 could propel him into contention in the STRIKEFORCE heavyweight division. Thus, expect fireworks when he meets free-swinging Chad Griggs (fighting out of Tucson, Ariz.), who has won five straight, including a stoppage of Bobby Lashley.

This loaded event also marks the return of former STRIKEFORCE title contender Gina Carano (fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev.), who will take on an opponent to be announced in the weeks to come. The fierce striker, who turns 29 this Saturday, will train for this fight under the tutelage of renowned coach Greg Jackson, who has trained elite athletes such as UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones and UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre. A rising star in the acting world, Carano is eager to get back to her first love and impress in her first bout since Aug. 2009.

EL Boxing Empress
See you at the Fights and Thank You for your time.EL Boxing Empress Online @ Twitter http://www.twitter.com/Keishamorrisey ©®™ 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 All photos other than specified by "EL Boxing Empress" Keisha Morrisey- Empire Morrisey Photo-Studios, KCKMT for Bloodline Boxing Communications Entertainment and Starlite Boxing's Sweetscience Magnews-Online Publication all rights reserved

Thursday, February 17, 2011

“Relentless” Pride of PR, MIGUEL COTTO defending his WBA super welterweight title against 2-division world champion RICARDO “El Matador” MAYORGA

“Relentless” features the Pride of Puerto Rico, MIGUEL COTTO defending his World Boxing Association (WBA) super welterweight title against two-division world champion RICARDO “El Matador” MAYORGA, on Saturday, March 12, at MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nev. Cotto vs. Mayorga will be produced and distributed LIVE on SHOWTIME PPV®, beginning at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.


MIGUEL COTTO: “Welcome to the first press conference where Ricardo Mayorga talks. I am a professional fighter and I know what my job is. My job is to fight in the ring and make good fights because nobody wins a fight with their mouth.


“Yesterday I was with him and he was playful and serene but today I guess he gets excited with all the lights and cameras on. When we get to the fight there will be lots of cameras on there also, but you will have to fight to back up your words.

“I didn't interrupt you so don't interrupt me – the door is over there if you want to leave. With those little pants I beat Shane Mosley. Do you remember him? Shane Mosley?

RICARDO MAYORGA:
“I made a promise to Don that I will never fail him. Don is the best promoter in the world and Bob is a close second. I will prove to everyone on March 12 that I am the man and you are the woman.

“That belt you are holding, polish it up for me because I will be taking it on March 12. I will make a promise here today that I will knock him out in four rounds.

“I have been watching all of your fights for the past two months, you are punch drunk – you can't take a punch anymore and I will retire him. You and your trainer will fail.

“Like Margarito after the Pacquiao fight, you will be thinking about retiring when I am done with you. I will make you think twice about getting in the ring again. Don't let your mom or your family suffer anymore by watching you get in the ring. I will knock him out and prove to the people in Nicaragua and here that I am better than you in that ring.

“This is the first time I will fight someone that is as small as a kid. I think my pants are taller than you.

“Christy, it is an honor to be fighting on the same card as you the way you have always stood up for women's rights. I don't even have tapes of all of my fights but I have all of yours.

“Buy the pay-per-view so you can watch the retirement party for Miguel. Your hands are like a woman's. Look at my hands – they are man's hands. You came to Nicaragua and talked smack and told everyone I was a nobody. On March 12, all the Puerto Ricans are going to be wearing black for your wake. You will pay for what you said.

EL Boxing Empress
See you at the Fights and Thank You for your time.EL Boxing Empress Online @ Twitter http://www.twitter.com/Keishamorrisey ©®™ 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 All photos other than specified by "EL Boxing Empress" Keisha Morrisey- Empire Morrisey Photo-Studios, KCKMT for Bloodline Boxing Communications Entertainment and Starlite Boxing's Sweetscience Magnews-Online Publication all rights reserved

Monday, January 24, 2011

WBC super lightweight champion Devon Alexander vs WBO junior welterweight champion Timothy Bradley

WBC super lightweight champion Devon Alexander (21-0, 13 KOs), of St. Louis, and WBO junior welterweight champion Timothy Bradley (26-0, 11 KOs), of Palm Springs, collide in “The Super Fight,” This Saturday! January 29, at the Silverdome in Pontiac, Mich. Their world title unification will be televised live on HBO World Championship Boxing, beginning at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT.
Mike Brudenell, Detroit Free Press: "Super Fight Pits Two Undefeated Boxers at the Silverdome"
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110123/SPORTS18/101230520/1356/SPORTS/Silverdome-Super-Fight-packs-quite-a-punch&template=fullarticle

Tom Timmermann, St. Louis Post-Dispatch: "The Man Behind the Champs"
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/other/article_fe5b7b1e-e819-55cf-8db4-27d08fbcbef4.html

Tom Gerbasi, BoxingScene.com: "Kevin Cunningham and the Boy Who Lived"
http://www.boxingscene.com/kevin-cunningham-boy-who-lived--35015

Mike Brudenell, Detroit Free Press: "Sunday Q&A with Boxing Promoter Don King"
http://www.freep.com/article/20110123/SPORTS18/101230532/1356/SPORTS/Sunday-Q+A-with-boxing-promoter-Don-King

Lem Satterfield, AOL Fan House: "Devon Alexander: Tim Bradley is a Road Block to 'Mega' Stardom"
http://boxing.fanhouse.com/2011/01/23/devon-alexander-tim-bradley-is-a-road-block-to-mega-stardom/

Dan Rafael, ESPN.com: "Alexander, Bradley Wind Down Training"
http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/boxing/columns/story?columnist=rafael_dan&id=6044263

Lem Satterfield, AOL Fan House: "King Eyes Pacquiao, Mayweather if Alexander Beats Bradley"
http://boxing.fanhouse.com/2011/01/22/king-to-pursue-pacquiao-mayweather-if-alexander-beats-bradley/

Bob Velin, USA Today: "Promoters for Alexander-Bradley: Why Not Detroit?"
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/boxing/2011-01-19-box-detroit-silverdome_N.htm

Lem Satterfield, AOL Fan House: "Tim Bradley, WBC Bury Hatchet Before Devon Alexander Fight"
http://boxing.fanhouse.com/2011/01/22/tim-bradley-wbc-bury-hatchet-before-devon-alexander-fight/

Rick Reeno, BoxingScene.com: "Bradley-Alexander: WBC Title at Stake for Both Sides"
http://www.boxingscene.com/bradley-alexander-wbc-title-stake-both-sides--35052

Michael Rosenthal, The Ring: "Bradley-Alexander: It's the Fight, Not the Site, Stupid"
http://www.ringtv.com/blog/2697/bradleyalexander_its_the_fight_not_the_site_stupid/

Mike Brudenell, Detroit Free Press: "Kronk Boxer Vernon Paris Battles -- In and Out of the Ring"
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110120/SPORTS18/101200521/Kronk-boxer-Vernon-Paris-battles----in-and-out-of-ring&template=fullarticle

Mike Brudenell, Detroit Free Press: "Super Fight Gets Famed Referee Frank Garza"
http://www.freep.com/article/20110123/SPORTS18/101230613/1066/SPORTS18/Super-Fight-gets-famed-referee-Frank-Garza

Mike Brudenell, Detroit Free Press: "Split Decision in 1986 Turned Ugly at Silverdome"
http://www.freep.com/article/20110123/SPORTS18/101230534/1066/SPORTS18/Split-decision-in-1986-turned-ugly-at-Silverdome

Mike Brudenell, Detroit Free Press: "Big Boxing Nights in Detroit Becoming Rare"
http://www.freep.com/article/20110116/SPORTS18/101160592/Big-boxing-nights-in-Detroit-becoming-rare

EL Boxing Empress
See you at the Fights and Thank You for your time.
EL Boxing Empress Online @ Twitter http://www.twitter.com/Keishadivineel ©®™ 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 All photos other than specified by "EL Boxing Empress" Keisha Morrisey- Empire Morrisey Photo-Studios, KCKMT for Bloodline Boxing Communications Entertainment and Starlite Boxing's Sweetscience Magnews-Online Publication all rights reserved

'THE SUPER FIGHT' - TRAINING CAMP NOTES

'THE SUPER FIGHT' - TRAINING CAMP NOTES
Devon Alexander ‘The Great’ & TIMOTHY BRADLEY Training Camp Notes

“We are in the heart of our training camp. I’m here in Las Vegas sleeping in Mike Tyson’s old bed in Don King’s house at night, pounding the pavement for six miles every morning and in the gym every afternoon for training and sparring.


“You can’t beat a fight town like Vegas to find good sparring partners. It is critical for my preparation. I have guys here who are not just giving me good rounds, they are giving me good looks—the kind of looks I expect to see from Tim Bradley come Jan. 29 at the Silverdome.

“A daunting challenge is when we drive up to Mt. Charleston three times a week to run on the mountain road I call The Monster. It’s one thing to run it in the summer. It’s quite another to face it in the dead of winter.

“I had a TV crew from HBO up there with me on The Monster last week, and we got snowed off the mountain! We are up so high I’m jogging by people who are skiing at the Mt. Charleston Ski Resort. Heck, it snowed two inches in Vegas the other day! So much for fun in the sun….

“My trainer, Kevin Cunningham, has been with me since I was 7. I wouldn’t be where I am today without him. He is an excellent trainer. His goal is to make sure I peak on the night of the fight. We are moving towards that goal every day. I feel like that is exactly where we will be come fight night.

“I can tell you one thing for sure: Timmy Bradley is going to have to deal with what I am preparing for. This isn’t a hobby for me, it’s my job. Bradley is not going to come to Detroit at the end of this month and take what I have worked my whole life to gain.

“He will have to deal with what I am going to bring. I know he’s trying to boast himself up, trying to convince himself of all the things he’s going to do. Well, I remember something Felix Trinidad said when Fernando Vargas was doing a lot of bragging before they fought. He said there is an old Puerto Rican saying that goes like this: ‘It is one thing to call out the devil, and it is quite another to see him coming.’ You’ll see what happens to Timmy Bradley when he sees me coming.”

Timothy ‘Desert Storm’ Bradley Training Camp Notes

“I am still here training at the Boys and Girls club in Indio, California. This is where I have always trained for my fights and what works for me.

“I am ahead of schedule so the following week I will be closing my training camp with my fitness coach and will continue to work in the gym on the game plan.

“My training regimen is more so new school and I have incorporated strength training as of August.

“We are getting closer to the 29th and as that is soon approaching there is more intensity in all that I do and I also start tapering off my workouts.

“At this point in my training camp I feel like every day has a moment like in the Rocky films. When I am sparring or when I’m running and just feel like I have pushed myself to the limit and can’t go any more I start to talk to myself and become the one that tells me to push it.

“I hear a voice within me that tells me to keep going… keep on it, keep pushing. Yeah, I want this for me but also I want this for everyone… my family, the kids I coach and to those whose lives I’ve touched in any way in my work with the community.

“I always have a motto that I follow and take to heart and that is that at the end of that night (fight night) my family will be the one that eats. I know that every man is hungry out there and that is why I need to be the one starving.

“I feel that my motto will not only help me keep mental focused and determined but it also keeps me grounded. I train hard every day because I want to be remembered as one of the best fighters years from now I know this is not an easy thing to accomplish but with God's help I know that I will one day accomplish my goal. Turning in now. Lights out.”

WBC super lightweight champion Alexander (21-0, 13 KOs), of St. Louis, and WBO junior welterweight champion Bradley (26-0, 11 KOs), of Palm Springs, collide in “The Super Fight,” Saturday, January 29, at the Silverdome in Pontiac, Mich. Their world title unification will be televised live on HBO World Championship Boxing, beginning at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT.

Remaining tickets, priced from $25-$400, can be purchased at the Silverdome box office, by calling (248) 338-2500 or online at www.silverdometickets.com. Alexander vs. Bradley is promoted by Gary Shaw Productions, Don King Productions, and Thompson Boxing Promotions.

HBO videos on Alexander and Bradley:

HBO Boxing: Ring Life - Devon Alexander

Ring Life takes an intimate look inside the life of Devon Alexander. Alexander vs. Bradley happens Sat., Jan. 29th at 10pm ET/7pm PT on HBO
http://www.youtube.com/hbosports#p/u/1/CCL0CWerL0Q

HBO Boxing: Ring Life - Timothy Bradley
What inspires Timothy Bradley in and out of the ring? Alexander vs. Bradley happens Sat., Jan. 29th at 10pm ET/7pm PT on HBO
http://www.youtube.com/hbosports#p/u/0/YC55PfMm5Es

HBO Boxing: Alexander vs. Bradley Look Ahead
HBO Boxing commentators Jim Lampley, Larry Merchant and Roy Jones preview the upcoming World Championship Boxing telecast. Devon Alexander vs. Timothy Bradley happens Sat., Jan. 29 at 10:00pm ET/7:00pm PT on HBO
http://www.hbo.com/#/boxing/fights/2011/01-29-devon-alexander-vs-timothy-bradley/video/look-ahead.html/

HBO Boxing: Alexander and Bradley Greatest Hits

Take a look at the best moments in the young careers of Devon Alexander and Timothy Bradley. Alexander vs. Bradley happens Sat., Jan. 29th at 10pm ET/7pm PT on HBO

http://www.youtube.com/hbosports#p/a/u/2/C6eXvVN9iOA

HBO “Buzz” piece from the initial New York City press conference

Go with The Buzz as it announces the January 29 fight between Devon Alexander and Timothy Bradley. Alexander vs. Bradley happens Sat., Jan. 29th at 10pm ET/7pm PT on HBO
http://www.youtube.com/hbosports#p/search/0/z-cPnHyM66g


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Devon Alexander ‘The Great’ Dedicates His Performance Against Timothy ‘Desert Storm’ Bradley on Jan. 29 In Memory of Don Kings Wife Mrs Henrietta King

Devon Alexander(R) ‘The Great’ Dedicates His Performance Against Timothy ‘Desert Storm’ Bradley on Jan. 29 In Memory of Don King’s Wife, Mrs. Henrietta King.

Undefeated World Boxing Council super lightweight champion Devon Alexander ‘The Great’ will dedicate his performance on Jan. 29 to his promoter’s wife of 50 years, Mrs. Henrietta King, who died earlier this month after a lengthy illness at age 87.

Alexander (21-0, 13 KOs), from St. Louis, will face undefeated World Boxing Organization junior welterweight champion Timothy “Desert Storm” Bradley (26-0, 11 KOs), from North Palm Springs, Calif., at the Silverdome in Pontiac, Mich., on Jan. 29 in a long-awaited world championship unification match at the 140-pound weight limit.

“Don King has promoted me since the beginning of my professional career in 2004,” Alexander said from his Las Vegas training camp. “Mrs. King was with Don for over 50 years. Don has always been there for me, and I want to dedicate my performance on Jan. 29 to Mrs. King for always being there for Don.”

Alexander added, “Mrs. King was a great lady and I was honored to have met her. I will honor her with the best performance of my life at the Silverdome in Pontiac."

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Saturday, January 22, 2011

Holyfield-Williams

Evander Holyfield(43-10-2, 21 KOs) will defend his World Boxing Federation heavyweight title against battled-tested veteran Sherman ”The Tank” Williams (34-11-2, 19 KOs) in a 12-round championship fight as Holyfield continues his journey to become the first heavyweight champion to regain the coveted world title four different times. “Redemption” will also be streamed live on www.NESportsTV.com outside of the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Argentina and Brazil for $9.99 USD (International conversion rates apply) Saturday, January 22, 2011 – 9 PM/ET 6 PM/PT

Former world heavyweight title challenger Kevin “Kingpin” Johnson has replaced an ill Travis Kauffman against dangerous Julius “Towering Inferno” Long (15-14, 13 KOs) in an 8-round bout on Saturday night’s “Redemption In America: The Journey Begins Now” Pay-Per-View event, headlined by living legend, Evander “The Real Deal” Holyfield (43-10-2, 28 KOs) defending his World Boxing Federation heavyweight title against challenger Sherman “Tank” Williams (34-11-2, 19 KOs), live from America’s resort -- The Greenbrier’s Colonial Hall -- in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia.

“Redemption,” presented by ARK Promotions in association with The Greenbrier, is being distributed in North American by Integrated Sports Media for live viewing at 9 PM/ET 6 PM/PT on both cable and satellite pay per view via iN Demand, DIRECTV, Avail-TVN and DISH Network in the United States, as well as Viewer’s Choice and Shaw PPV in Canada, for a suggested retail price of only $29.95.

Johnson (23-1-1, 10 KOs), fighting out of Atlanta, has only suffered one career loss, by a 12-round decision 13 months ago to WBC Heavyweight Champion Vitali Kilitschko in Switzerland. A tough competitor who has never been stopped, Johnson’s most notable victories have been against previously undefeated (17-0) Devin Vargas (WTKO6), former world champion Bruce Seldon (TKO5) and Brazilian Olympian Daniel Bispo (WDEC10).

“Redemption” will fuse world class boxing and entertainment; showcasing a production that includes high-energy music presented by Broadway performers, along with dancers and aerial artists. World-renowned saxophone player Clarence Clemons will also headline a live band between rounds and throughout the night.

Joining the Holyfield-Williams main event and Johnson-Long on PPV is former world heavyweight title challenger Monte “Two Gunz” Barrett (34-9, 20 KOs) versus Charles Davis (19-21-2, 4 KOs) in a 10-rounder, while Lithuania-native Donatas Boundoravas (10-1-1, 3 KOs) and undefeated Detroit middleweight Willie Fortune (9-0, 5 KOs) open the PPV show with a scheduled 6-round match.

Fighting on the non-PPV segment of “Redemption” is NABA Heavyweight Champion Cedric “The Bos” Boswell (32-1, 25 KOs), rated No. 19 by the WBC, defending his title against Dominique “Diamond” Alexander (19-9, 9 KOs) a 10-rounder. Also on the undercard are a pair of 8-round bouts featuring unbeaten Detroit middleweight Domonique Dolton (9-0, 7 KOs) against Venezuelan veteran Marcos “The Terminator” Primera (20-22-2, 13 KOs), and 2008 US National AAU lightweight champion, Cleveland junior welterweight Miguel “Silky Smooth” Gonzalez (12-2, 11 KOs), meets 31-fight veteran Ramon “Che” Guevara.

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Saturday, December 18, 2010

Jean Pascal & Bernard Hopkins Final Weigh In Video, World Title Bout Tonight On SHOWTIME DECEMBER 18th at 10PM‏

Jean Pascal & Bernard Hopkins Final Weigh In Video, World Title Bout Tonight On SHOWTIME DECEMBER 18th‏ http://youtu.be/jzWOYzPcR80

"Dynasty: Pascal vs. Hopkins" is promoted by Group Yvon Michel Inc. and Golden Boy Promotions and presented by the Casino de Montreal and The City of Québec Tourism, Coors Light and Videotron. The 12-round world championship fight will take place December 18 at the Pepsi Coliseum in Québec City, Canada and will be televised live on SHOWTIME® in the United States and distributed on pay-per-view in Canada on Canal Indigo, Bell TV, Shaw TV and Viewer's Choice in French and English.

For information on "Dynasty: Pascal vs. Hopkins" go to www.groupeyvonmichel.ca, www.goldenboypromotions.com, http://Sports.Sho.com, www.jeanpascalboxing.com, or follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/goldenboyboxing, www.twitter.com/jeanpascalchamp, www.twitter.com/THEREALBHOP, www.twitter.com/SHOSports or visit us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/goldenboyboxing or www.facebook.com/pages/Showtime-Boxing.


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©®™ 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 All photos other than specified by "EL Boxing Empress" Keisha Morrisey- Empire Morrisey Photo-Studios, KCKMT for Bloodline Boxing Communications Entertainment and Starlite Boxing's Sweetscience Magnews-Online Publication all rights reserved

BERNARD HOPKINS READY TO MAKE HISTORY IN FIGHT AGAINST WBC, RING MAGAZINE AND IBO LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPION JEAN PASCAL ON DECEMBER 18

When Bernard "The Executioner" Hopkins faces WBC, Ring Magazine and IBO Light Heavyweight Champion Jean Pascal on December 18 at the Pepsi Coliseum in Quebec City, Canada live on SHOWTIME® in the U.S. and on pay-per-view in Canada, he will be 28 days shy of his forty-sixth birthday. If Hopkins defeats Pascal, he will become the oldest fighter in the history of the sport to win a significant world title, 38 days older than "Big" George Foreman was when he defeated Michael Moorer for the Heavyweight World title on November 5, 1994.

"The difference between me and Foreman is that most people didn't think Foreman could do it. He was the underdog of all underdogs when he faced Moorer," Hopkins said. "Not only do people think I can win, they think I can win big, and I plan on proving them right."

Despite his age, Hopkins has shown no signs of slowing down. He has won five of his last six fights and is no stranger to facing younger opponents with five of his in-ring rivals having been over a decade younger than him during his 22-year career. The most notable of these was Kelly Pavlik, whom Hopkins defeated on October 18, 2008. At the time of the Pavlik vs. Hopkins fight, the 17-year age gap between the two foes was the largest of Hopkins' career, until now.

Because Pascal is six months younger than Pavlik, there is a nearly 18 year age disparity between Hopkins and the Light Heavyweight World Champion Pascal, which is serving as a motivating factor in this fight for "The Executioner."

"Youth doesn't bother me," said Hopkins. "I have faced youth. Pascal hasn't faced someone like me. He hasn't faced a legend. He is hosting me in his country, on his turf, defending his title. He has a lot to be nervous about on top of the fact that when he looks in the opposite corner on fight night, he is going to see greatness. I can only add to my legacy. I can only continue to make history and back-up what I have already accomplished."
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Thursday, December 16, 2010

PASCAL VS. HOPKINS FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES; SCUFFLE AT QUEBEC CITY HALL

Pascal-Hopkins press conference from Quebec City Hall included some surprises. Aside from Santa showing up, the usually verbose Bernard Hopkins limited his press conference statements to three words, Jean Pascal refused to translate his remarks into English because “in this town, we speak French,” and an intense scuffle broke out when Hopkins refused to hand over Pascal’s WBC Light Heavyweight belt to the champ.

Quotes:

JEAN PASCAL, WBC, Ring Magazine and IBO Light Heavyweight World Champion

“Bernard Hopkins says that the smartest guy will win. He says he is the intelligent man and I am the idiot. After the fight, everyone will know who the dummy really is.

“This is going to be an early Christmas present for all of Canada, but you are just going to have to pay for the present on pay-per-view.

“When I go to the states, you guys speak in English. There is no translation. Now you are in my country, you are not home. This is my territory, so in this town, we speak French.”

BERNARD HOPKINS, Former Two-Division World Champion

“Enjoy the fight.”

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PASCAL VS. HOPKINS UNDERCARD TO HEAT UP QUEBEC CITY THIS SATURDAY NIGHT‏

QUEBEC CITY EXPECTED TO HEAT UP WITH EXCITING NIGHT OF FIGHTS FEATURING MALIGNAGGI VS.LOZADO, BIZIER VS. WARRIOR, COTE VS. SORIANO, MARTEL-BAHOELI VS. RIVERA, JACOBS VS. ORTA AND FURY VS. BROWN ON DECEMBER 18

Zewski, Quillin, Desjardins and Alicea Round Out Night of Boxing In Front of Sold Out Crowd at the Pepsi Coliesum

Quebec City, Canada- Before future Hall of Famer Bernard Hopkins he faces WBC, Ring Magazine and IBO Light Heavyweight World Champion Jean Pascal on December 18 live on SHOWTIME® in the U.S. and pay-per-view in Canada, a squad of undefeated locals featuring Kevin Bizier, Michael Zewski, Pier-Olivier Cote and Eric Martel-Bahoeli, will join standout fighters including former Junior Welterweight World Champion Paulie "The Magic Man" Malignaggi, highly-regarded contender Daniel "The Golden Child" Jacobs and unbeaten New Yorker Peter "Kid Chocolate" Quillin as they face off in respective bouts in front of an expected sold out arena of more than 16,000 fans at the Pepsi Coliseum in Quebec City, bringing some heat to the Great White North. If that wasn't enough, there's more with British heavyweight sensation Tyson Fury also appearing.

One of boxing's most charismatic figures, Paulie Malignaggi (27-4, 5 KO's) has thrilled fight fans with his fast hands and brash antics for nearly a decade. Now making his ring debut as a Golden Boy Promotions fighter, he's looking for another world championship belt. A former Junior Welterweight World Champion, Malignaggi has gone toe-to-toe with the likes of Juan "Baby Bull" Diaz (twice), Ricky "The Hitman" Hatton, Amir "King" Khan, Lovemore "Black Panther" N'dou and Miguel Cotto, but the 30-year-old from Brooklyn believes the best is yet to come.

In the opposite corner from Malignaggi will be 27-year-old Michael Lozada (36-6-1, 29 KO's), a power- punching resident of Mexico City who has won seven of his last eight bouts, with each win coming by way of knockout and his lone loss coming at the hands of rising star Saul "Canelo" Alvarez. Malignaggi and Lozada will battle in a ten-round welterweight fight which will be featured on the Canadian pay-per-view broadcast.

26-year-old Saint-Emile native Kevin Bizier (12-0, 8 KO's) has been moving full steam ahead since turning professional in 2008, and after back-to-back knockouts of Johnny Navarrete and Leonardo Rojas he's ready to showcase his talents to fans both at the Pepsi Coliseum and across Canada on the pay-per-view broadcast this Saturday night. Bizier will go for his third KO in a row when he steps into the ring to face Oklahoma City's Ronnie Warrior (13-3-1, 4 KO's) in an eight round welterweight contest.

Top middleweight contender Daniel Jacobs (20-1, 17 KO's) showed a warrior's heart when he faced Dmitry Pirog in a WBO World Title bout in July shortly after the passing of his beloved grandmother. Although he suffered his first professional defeat that night, the gifted Brooklynite has picked himself up, dusted himself off and looks to close out 2010 in style when he takes on Dallas' Jesse Orta (7-13-2, 4 KO's) in an eight-round super middleweight bout.

One of Canada's top heavyweight prospects, Eric Martel-Bahoeli (5-0, 3 KO's) is looking toward a big 2011, but first, he must close out his 2010 campaign with a four round clash against Bayamon, Puerto Rico's Ruben Rivera (3-4, 1 KO's).

Manchester, England's Tyson Fury (12-0, 9 KO's) is a certified star in his home country, and in only his second fight off of British shores, he's looking to make an impression when he squares off against Galen Brown (33-15, 20 KO's) of St. Josephs, Missouri in the evening's opening pay-per-view fight. An exciting two-fisted banger, Fury won the BBBofC English heavyweight title in 2010 with a ninth round stoppage of John McDermott and he'll be looking for his fourth win of the year this weekend.

No stranger to fighting on big undercards, Quebec City's Pier-Olivier Cote (13-0, 8 KO's) will return to the Pepsi Coliseum for the third time as a professional to face Mexico City's Cesar Soriano (21-25, 13 KO's) in a six-round lightweight contest. One of Canada's top prospects, the 26-year-old is coming off a sixth round knockout of Walter Sergio Gomez in October, his fourth victory of 2010.

A proud native of Trois-Rivieres, Quebec, 21-year-old Mikael Zewski first came to the attention of the boxing world during a stellar amateur career that saw him compile a 138-29 record that included four Canadian National Championships. Now 5-0 as a professional with three knockouts and a recent decision win over Ardrick Butler in November, Zewski is ready for his four-round junior middleweight bout against a yet-to-be-named opponent in front of his fans in Quebec.

Unbeaten in 21 professional fights, Brooklyn's Peter "Kid Chocolate" Quillin (21-0, 15 KO's) pays tribute to his Cuban heritage and legendary namesake each time he steps into the ring by delivering an all out effort in search of victory. A versatile pugilist, Quillin returned from a nearly two year layoff due to injury with a near shutout decision win over Fernando Zuniga in February. He will take on Quebec's Martin Desjardins (7-18-4, 3 KO's) in a ten round super middleweight fight.

Owner of multiple National Championships during a stellar 143-16 amateur career that also saw him ranked number one in the United States as a Junior Olympian in 2007, Cleveland's junior middleweight Eduardo Alicea will travel to Canada to make his long-awaited professional debut on December 18 in a four round contest against an opponent to be determined.

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EL Boxing Empress Online @ Twitter http://www.twitter.com/Keishamorrisey ©®™ 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 All photos other than specified by "EL Boxing Empress" Keisha Morrisey- Empire Morrisey Photo-Studios, KCKMT for Bloodline Boxing Communications Entertainment and Starlite Boxing's Sweetscience Magnews-Online Publication all rights reserved

BERNARD HOPKINS MEDIA DAY QUOTES;BERNARD HOPKINS, Former Two-Division World Champion and Future Hall of Famer .On his fight against Jean Pascal:

"I am doing something out of character. I am fighting in Canada. The stakes are raised more than normal when you walk into another guy's territory.

"I have no problem fighting in Canada. I am at my best when I walk into another guy's home. If he is good, I have to be super good.

"There is no magic trick to this. December 18 you are going to see me win this fight. Not just go the distance, but win by TKO or stoppage.

"I get a chance to be the oldest fighter in history to win a title. I get to continue to make history. How many times can an athlete do that?

"Winning is the most important thing. This is the playoffs. There is no tomorrow. No excuse. I am not going to embarrass myself.

"A lot of people believe that I can and will win this fight."

On Jean Pascal:

"There is added pressure for him when you fight in your home. You get nervous because you don't want to disappoint.

"A young guy like Pascal brings confidence to the table. He is confident. He is the champion.

"Pascal challenged me. Pascal called me out. He is risking his belt, and I am going to make him wish he hadn't.

"Being young is a blessing. Having a young mind, young body, but you don't look at things the way an accomplished person does.

"Either I am in trouble or he [Pascal] is in trouble. If they have told him the truth about me and my abilities, he is in trouble.

"Pascal called my name. The pressure is more on him than on me.

"I am going to disect this guy. I am going to take him apart. Take him out of his comfort zone.

"I have to show that this guy is talented, but show a different level of education on my part. I am going to do the opposite of everything he does."



On training:

"Training when you are older, you do get aches and pains that you didn't experience. You get up at 6am when you don't have to. That is the trickery of fighting at this age. It is a psychological thing. A mental thing that comes with experience.

"I love training in my hometown. People love you, protect you and respect you. People see me and I don't have to have body guards. I am the most approachable athlete who has ever walked this land.

"Boxing is mental. The car doesn't run the engine, the engine runs the car. The wear and tear have not taken their toll on my intellect.

"Once you get old, your worst enemy is youth. Ask some housewives that. Ask some corporate guys that, but every once in a while you get something different...and that is me. I am the most health conscious, clean-living person on earth."

NAAZIM RICHARDSON, Hopkins' Trainer

"Bernard is a historian. I see additional motivation in him. He is very interested in increasing the quality of his legacy and that is what this fight will do.

"Jean Pascal has physical ability, but you can't measure a man's ambition just by watching his past fights.

"Froch was able to meet and exceed Pascal's level of ambition, and that is what Bernard can do as well."

Pascal vs. Hopkins is promoted by Groupe Yvon Michel Inc. and Golden Boy Promotions and presented by the Casino de Montreal, The City of Québec Tourism, Coors Light and Videotron. The 12-round world championship fight will take place December 18 at the Pepsi Coliseum in Québec City, Canada and will be televised live on SHOWTIME in the United States and distributed on pay-per-view in Canada onCanal Indigo, Bell TV, Shaw TV and Viewer's Choice in French and English. EL Boxing Empress

See you at the Fights and Thank You for your time.
EL Boxing Empress Online @ Twitter http://www.twitter.com/Keishamorrisey ©®™ 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 All photos other than specified by "EL Boxing Empress" Keisha Morrisey- Empire Morrisey Photo-Studios, KCKMT for Bloodline Boxing Communications Entertainment and Starlite Boxing's Sweetscience Magnews-Online Publication all rights reserved

"DYNASTY: PASCAL VS. HOPKINS" SET FOR DEC. 18 AT PEPSI COLISEUM IN QUEBEC CITY LIVE ON SHOWTIME IN THE U.S. AND PPV IN CANADA‏



Legendary former World Light Heavyweight and Middleweight Champion and future first-ballot Hall of Famer Bernard "The Executioner" Hopkins will fight for the World Boxing Council (WBC) and Ring Magazine 175-pound championship against current linear champion Jean Pascal as the main event of "Dynasty: Pascal vs. Hopkins" on Saturday, December 18 from the Pepsi Coliseum in Québec City, Canada. The event will air live in the United States on SHOWTIME® at 10 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast).

For Hopkins, (51-5-1, 32 KO's), the age-defying throwback pugilist from Philadelphia, Pa., a win over Pascal (26-1, 16 KOs), the 27-year-old upstart world champion from Montreal, Canada, means becoming the oldest fighter in the history of the sport to win a prominent world title and the continuation of his boxing dynasty.


"Everyone knows I don't like to travel outside the United States to fight, but here we have another fresh face, who happens to be the light heavyweight champion, calling my name," said Hopkins. "I just say 'here we go again.' I am going all the way to Québec City, Canada to once again show that young and tough doesn't always mean good and smart. Let's see if he can stop me from beating him up and taking the title home to the States. It is these types of fights that get me motivated to train hard and once again prove that no one should ever count me out."

For Pascal, the fight signifies a dream come true as he looks to get the win over the formidable Hopkins and to start a dynasty of his own.

"Two months ago I defeated a top-five pound-for-pound fighter viewed by many as the best light heavyweight in the world in dominant fashion," said Pascal, of his win over then-undefeated Chad Dawson in August. "Now it's time to take on the legendary future Hall of Famer Bernard Hopkins and finally send him into his well-deserved retirement. He's an old fox, but I'm the young wolf. He may be the master, but I am the commander. I know he may have more experience than any fighter out there, but on December 18, I will show the world once again exactly why I am top dog in my division."

"Dynasty: Pascal vs. Hopkins" is promoted by Group Yvon Michel Inc. and Golden Boy Promotions and presented by the Casino de Montreal and The City of Québec Tourism. The 12-round world championship fight will take place December 18 at the Pepsi Coliseum in Québec City, Canada and will be televised live on SHOWTIME® in the United States. Canadian broadcasts will begin at 7 p.m. ET on Canal Indigo, Bell TV, Shaw TV and Viewer's Choice on pay-per-view in French and English.

"Jean Pascal is a special young fighter in this day and age, a true throwback to the glory days of boxing" said Yvon Michel, president of Groupe Yvon Michel. "He believes that the best must fight the best, and he has shown it time and again, never turning down a true challenge. He shook the world with his win over Chad Dawson in August, and when he finishes 'The Executioner' on Dec. 18 in Québec City, he should be a lock for Fighter of the Year, an accolade given only once to a Canadian boxer in the history of our sport."

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EL Boxing Empress Online @ Twitter http://www.twitter.com/Keishamorrisey ©®™ 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 All photos other than specified by "EL Boxing Empress" Keisha Morrisey- Empire Morrisey Photo-Studios, KCKMT for Bloodline Boxing Communications Entertainment and Starlite Boxing's Sweetscience Magnews-Online Publication all rights reserved

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Pascal vs. Hopkins

WBC and Ring Magazine Light Heavyweight World Champion Jean Pascal (Left) and former Two-Division World Champion Bernard Hopkins (Right) face off on October 20, 2010 at a press conference in New York City to officially announce their December 18, 2010 world championship fight at the Pepsi Coliseum in Quebec City, Canada which will be televised live on SHOWTIME in the United States and on pay-per-view in Canada.

Q

Look, this is the third fight out of the United States in your lengthy career. You fought once in Paris. I wanted to ask you about how you expect this fight to be a little bit different from the horror story-I know you have a lot of horror tales about fighting ... Quito, Ecuador. Maybe you can recite some of those and how you expect this experience to be maybe a little bit different.

B. Hopkins

One is the distance, the travel distance from Philadelphia to Quito, Ecuador, South America. Also the circumstances around the time of year; it was at war, their country and Peru. I'm fighting an Ecuadorian at the same time. I was basically like the outside enemy coming to another man's town to win the championship. That was one of the biggest differences.

I look at Canada as being, of course, in another country because it's Canada, but I look at it as basically being part of New York somewhere, just Canada because it's an hour and a half flight on an airplane. I'm not going to have any jet lag compared to the four or five hours going to Quito, Ecuador.

It's out of the country, buy by the same token if I'm going to fight anywhere out of the country, I'd rather fight in Canada out of the country than fight in any other third world country or foreign country, if I had the choice. I would go anywhere to fight, obviously, but going to Canada to me is like going somewhere deep up in New York.

Q

I remember back before you fought Antonio Tarver and won the Light Heavyweight title for the first time that you talked about, going into the fight. That win or lose, this was going to be the last fight. You were doing it your way. You came in with the song and everything. You won the fight, announced your retirement; I know I attended your retirement party.

Then you got a little restless and you came back, not all that much far after the fight. I wonder if now- It's been a few years since that fight. Do you look at this now as maybe if you can beat a young guy like Pascal, take that title, do it in his home country, that now would be off a victory in this kind of fight, this would be now the real time to walk away at your age and, obviously, immense accomplishments?

B. Hopkins

Well, I think walking away because of my age would be a disservice to what I have to bring to boxing, especially after this sort of down time. Other than two big names in boxing and the future of boxing with a question mark on it as Pacquiao and Mayweather. They are the really big names that basically you are all writing about more than anything else because there's not a deep pool of big matches and big superstar names like the '80s and the '90s and early 2000.

I think that if a guy, myself, can do it on this level and do it no matter if I'm 50, I think there should be more commented by he can do it while he's 50 because, let's face it, there are a lot of people that never took a punch in their life. There's a lot of people that never five miles for the last 23 years and did things the right way and in worse shape than I could ever be if I stopped everything tomorrow.

So, when you look at a unique situation and you say to yourself, "I never took a punch, and never boxed and this guy is in shape than I ever would be and I don't do half of the work as stressful as he does." So, I think at the end of the day I think it's the individual who represents himself physically in his accomplishments and where he doesn't want to do it anymore. I don't think it's hard to fight, even though I mentioned it, was the perfect way to go out.

Q

Bernard, you talked about the whole promotion-

B. Hopkins

I did talk about it, but I've got a good one for you. I've got another one for you. I mentioned that for you to say, "Bernard, you did mention it." I did. I think I was saying it before you just said something. I think the most important thing is what happened after I said that I was going to retire after Tarver. You've seen Bernard Hopkins pick one of the most incredible, mind boggling, eating crow, right, well, a lot of you all when you've seen me systematically ruin a guy's career that was a young superstar coming up in boxing named Kelly Pavlik. I'm not even going to mention Jermain Taylor to you. You know about that story.

So think about it. If I would have stuck to my promise- I tell people be careful what you ask for a person to do even though he said he was going to do it. You would have never got to eat crow. You would have never got to write about the night of Atlantic City. You would have never got to see an old fighter by age that they say-not by himself as a physical human being, but as a number. You would have never got to witness that. You would have never got to witness the Joe Calzaghe fight or you can throw in the "Winky" Wright fight.

So I say to people without any defense I just try to put the facts. After the Tarver fight, I could have easily stepped aside. You're absolutely right. Everybody that's listening, you're all absolutely right, but look what you all would have been denied of. You all would have been denied, as Richard Schaefer said coming on to this interview, press conference, telephone interview, and you would have never got the chance to see the three or four fights that happened after the Tarver fight.

I agree that it is unique. It is something that people say, "When is he going to retire? When is he going to retire? When is he going to retire?" The ring retires fighters. You've heard that many times and that is true. The ring retires fighters, Dan [Rafael]-you've been writing a long time about boxing. A lot of people listening are probably going to talk about this before we get off the phone-the ring retires boxers. Boxers don't retire from the ring. Whether it's good or bad, the ring has to retire the fighter, from the boxing ring. If somebody literally kicked my ass in the ring to the point where I can look in the mirror and tell myself that I'm going to retire because I can't do it any more physically or I should do it because I'm 45-years-old.

I've got to be probably-without anybody on this phone ever taking a punch in their life-in better shape than 90% of the people on this phone. I don't know who's listening to this phone call, but if you're honest with yourself, take the person on the phone to the side and I've got 24 years of boxing and over 60 fights. No one on this phone ever had to write that I got my ass handed to me in any fight out of 60 fights. That's not bragging. That's the facts. That's because I'm protected by somebody bigger than anybody that writes for any big network or any newspaper. It's bigger than me. It's bigger than you all. That's why you see me make that stare.

That stare wasn't a stare of I did it. That wasn't a stare of saying I fooled you all. That wasn't a stare that night in Atlantic City a couple of years back. That was a stare to say, "What are you going to write now? What are you going to say now?" So I'm looking to do that again.

I think the focus should be it's not about my age to a point of negativity that he should leave. I think the point should be, "You know what, you all? Let's enjoy this thing while we can," because you know what? Who is going to be around in the near future this long and accomplish what this man has accomplished? Instead of us saying he's this, he's that by number, just by number anything else you all are entitled to; let's look at it and say, "You know what? I'm not even near 45 and Bernard is in better shape than me. I never put a glove on in my life. I just wrote about boxing."

That should be a wake-up call to anybody who is listening on this phone now; that it ain't nothing that I'm doing that's special; it's just I'm a different breed and I'm cut from a different cloth. Dan Rafael, you called me a throw back in the archives of writing 10 years ago. Well, at 45 you can say I'm living up to what you all called me 10 years ago. Let's not forget you all called me a throwback 10 or 15 years ago. "Bernard is a throwback Philadelphia fighter." How quickly we forget. How do we forget that I lived and stayed around so long to make this manifest to what it is today? I am that throwback that you wrote about, Dan. Look at your archives. Of course, you weren't writing for ESPN then. You were writing for USA Today.

I remember clearly, because I haven't taken any punches over the years to forget tomorrow. I remember tomorrow like I remember today. Come December 18th I'm going to have you eating crow again, but it's going to be a different type of crow. It isn't personal. This here fight it's going to be a different type of crow. This crow is going to have sauce on it. The other ones-

Dan Rafael

Just so you're aware, I was not suggesting that you should retire. I was merely asking if your mindset was-

B. Hopkins

Listen, listen, I know you weren't suggesting. I am clear. I'm very clear, but when I hear-

Dan Rafael

Before that fight with Tarver-

B. Hopkins

But when I hear, Dan, when I hear you mention Tarver, you mention retirement, you're 40-something-years-old that is the buildup and that is the testimony to lead to what? Fine. Everybody knows how old I am, but let's write about it when I make history come December 18th. Let's say that he's- You know what? On the back of my robe, it's going to be like a football jersey. It's going to have, "45-years-old," and, "Sexy," at the bottom. Yes. Trust me. You know what a jersey looks like. You like football.

It's going to be, "45," because I want everybody to understand that I'm 45. Then there's going to be them saying, "He's 45, but he's in great shape," so they want to give me my props when it's seasonable weather like, you know, like the seasonable spring and summer. It's going to be seasonable. "Yes, he's not the average 45." But boy, let me trip up the step. Let me somehow forget that the day is Saturday and I just say it's Sunday because I'm thinking about something else. All of the sudden I become old in seconds. So Dan, the rules are different for me and I love it.

Don't you understand that the media, for good or bad-and everybody is not against me and I'm not saying everybody is for me, but you all, I have to think- Seriously, I'm not being sarcastic; I'm being honest. In my heart, I speak my mind. Whether you love me or not that's the way I am. Whether it hurts or it don't, you all have been a big part of my success. You've been a big part of my success.

My life has been about proving people wrong from the day out of the penitentiary when they said I'd be back in six months and it's been 24 years and I've only been back to visit and speak. I thank you all for giving me this push that I desperately needed and my historic career. I needed that. I thank everybody for giving me that motivation, because without you all it wouldn't be me. Seriously, whether they played a 5% role, whether they played a 15% role or a 10% role, whoever is listening to this, I will repeat it again close to the fight. I thank you all. I thank you all. I thank you all.

Q

Bernard, can I ask you one more question? Hopefully, you can provide-

B. Hopkins

No problem. I thank you again. Whatever question you're going to ask I thank you.

Q

They talked about at the beginning of this, if you win the fight you would become the oldest champion in the history of boxing. I just want to know what that means to you, especially a guy like yourself, who is somewhat of historian who the old timers, has followed them. What would that mean to you?

B. Hopkins

It means a lot to be able to still compete in a young man's sport; that a guy that's considered to the boxing world as a guy that should have been gone ten years ago because of his age, not because he got his ass kicked. So I feel that it's a great accomplishment to beat George Foreman's record nine days out; that I've been advised by-not advised, but I've been told by Eric Raskin, who writes for The Ring Magazine. I didn't know about the stats. I don't pay attention to that. I was known by one of my workers Malik said that he just got a call that I would be in the Guinness Book of World Records. I didn't know. I don't follow that stuff. I'm not saying that it's something that is not important, but once that is brought to me and I see it as value, do you understand? Knowing that I'm on a page of the Guinness World Record Book next to a seven-foot-tall lady I'm fine.

So all of this stuff is great. All of this is historic. It's something that's outside of what everybody else is doing in boxing, whether young, whether you're middle-aged or whether you're considered old. This is a time where I get to decide.

Guess what, Dan? I will be retired more than I'll box. Think about it. If I'm blessed to live another 20 or 30 years that when I'm done I'm done, there's no coming back when you're done. Think about it. I'm 46-years-old in less than a month and a half from now. When it gets close to the fight, January 15th is around the corner, so when I retire the most time a person retires; say you retire and two years go by; when two years go by, whether I get bored or not, I'm going on 47 or 48. So when I'm done I'm done. So I'm getting all I can while I can now, because once I'm done and a year goes by and two years come by I'm in my upper 40s. I'm way in my 40s then, pushing 50s, so at the end of the day, whether I'm a young 50, young 40, late 40s or whatever, I realize that I have the money in the bank to be able to withstand the investment that I've got in myself, like being in the bank, like investing it.

I invested this time in my body to be able to get these years out of me. You all wrote about it. It was well publicized the way I train, the way I eat, the way I live outside of boxing, how I keep my weight down. Remember; let's not forget what you all wrote. I haven't forgotten it and the old archives always remind us, in case we get absent minded and we forget. I don't forget. So I'm just getting what they call the rewards and the benefits of what I invested in, like a smart investment person. I 'm only getting back the interest of what I put in, as you wrote, "Five, ten, fifteen years ago," so that's why I'm here.

I'm not here, you all, because I can't get away and walk away. I'm here because my body still can do it. I'm here because I did the things that I was supposed to do early to be able to be here now. Making history, George Foreman, being the oldest champion, making, breaking and shattering records, to me, that's one of the reasons I'm in this game. Richard said it starting off; this is what I like doing. I like making history. I must say, the naysayers, I thank them, because they have been a big part of me proving that I can do it. Because sometimes when you did it all and you won all of the titles and you've been pound-for-pound and you push the envelope to the point where people are still scratching their head you do look around since you don't have nothing else to be motivated by. You're fighting for the wrong reasons and that's when you get caught. History is something that can't be made by any athlete at any time.

I've been blessed and spoiled at the same time to be able to be in a position to make history at this late stage of my career without making a mockery of wrestling on a mat in some kind of other sport, making a mockery off my legacy. This is a great thing. This is a blessing. So sit back and enjoy it, because when it's over with who else are you going to ask a question for two seconds and get a ten-minute answer?

Q

Were you surprised at all at Jean Pascal's victory over Chad Dawson? I mean did you expect Dawson to win that fight?

B. Hopkins

Yes, I picked Dawson to win the fight because I didn't know too much about Pascal. Naazim knew a lot about him and, of course, Naazim is my trainer and he knows a lot about the amateurs and the deep history of boxing. He remembered Pascal from previous amateur tournaments because Naazim pays attention a lot to the little details of early careers and at the time, he was into amateur boxing real deep. But no, I didn't think he was going to beat Chad Dawson.

Q

Did you see anything in that fight that you might be able to use? I know that you're a student of the game and that's why I'm asking.

B. Hopkins

I see that there's a style that Chad Dawson couldn't handle; not because he wasn't talented enough. Chad Dawson just didn't have the all-around skills to be able to switch gears and do something else when the first thing didn't work. It's called making adjustments. When you can make an adjustment, when you can make adjustments based on experience and based on being taught and last, but not least, being the athlete that's not stubborn enough to be able to make the adjustment without abandoning your whole approach of what you're sent out there to do as rule number one, plan number one.

Plan number one would be push to the limit, but if plan number one becomes plan number two, you don't panic, because plan number two is the key to beat this individual. He didn't have that and he didn't have that plan B. He didn't have that adjustment. He didn't have the versatility to be able to do it. It's a style thing. That fight was based on style.

Pascal was a different type of wild, but a guy that had energy, a guy that kept Chad Dawson dead headlights, looking, staring and waiting to execute. When you do things like that with a fighter like Pascal, you're always behind the eight-ball. That's where you lose a lot of rounds and you also go for one big shot and it never comes.

Q

At this stage of your career- I mean you continue to add signature wins, but I think it would be safe to say that the guys that have given you the toughest fights-at least as it pertains to the scorecard-have been guys that have been mobile, throwing a lot of punches, essentially forcing you to fight at a faster pace, something that we've seen Pascal do, especially in the fight with Dawson. How important would it be for you to actually slow down his mobility and kind of force him to fight in a slower, more tactical base?

B. Hopkins

Well, I think it's really important for me to have the style that I believe I have to counteract anything that Pascal does. I think that in the scheme of things I think it's going to basically come down to a smarter and to the best plan and the execution of that night. I think at the end of the day, it isn't going to be about actually whether he's young, whether he's old, whether he throws a lot more punches, or whether he tries to make me work. If he tries to make me work and he comes forward like he normally does that's been always my game, because one thing about being 45 is that I don't think that a young guy would look like a king of the hill if he's running from an old guy. Normally you don't run from an old guy. You normally want to push the old guy, because you want him to be able to exert all of his energy. Okay. That's an easy plan to figure out; how a person should fight a guy that's 20 years his senior.

So I'm aware of that, but I'm also aware if he starts running and I've got to chase and be the hunter I ain't got no problem doing that. I'm ready for anything and everything come December 18th because it's laying it all on the line. That's what I'm going to do and that's what I have to do. I've got a lot of motivation for this fight. I've got a lot of personal motivation for this fight and I've got a lot of historic motivation for this fight. So having all of these things is just- Right now, doing interviews and all of that, as much as I'm long winded and talking in conversation, to be honest with you, I'd rather right now be headed to the gym at 6:00. Train for three and a half hours, come back, eat a nice meal, take a walk and then get ready for the next day. But this is part of business.

I mean what can I tell you? I mean these 20-some years of boxing what am I going to tell you? I've seen every style. I've heard everything from a fighter that he possibly could say to me. I think Pascal has to worry about what I'm bringing to the table, which is a whole encyclopedia worth of stuff. I mean I'm ready. I'm ready for this fight and I know that he's coming to try to build his name further, like he should, off a living legend that is historic people call me. I'm going to live up to what I've earned and I'm going to take care of business December 18th.

I'm not looking for an easy fight. I'm looking for a fight that's going to test everything about Bernard Hopkins that night.

Q

You said earlier that you did not know much about Pascal at the time of his fight against Dawson. I'd like to know, at this point, where do you rank him between the opponents that you've faced in your career?

B. Hopkins

I can't really rank him low or high, because I haven't been in there with him physically. Have I watched him fight? Chad Dawson and maybe one or two other fights, yes, but I can tell you that I fool a lot of people and I fooled a lot of people that didn't become champions because of Bernard Hopkins. It is what it is. If he's one of the top, ten best guys I've fought? No. But like I said, when you look at that you can't go in there with a false type of blueprint and make that a thing where you don't expect his ability. Because at the end of the day I realize that when anybody gets in the ring with Bernard Hopkins they're going to be better than they were before because just to beat them in a physical, taxation on your body and your mind going in there with me, I've been known to ruin careers.

You wrote about it. People listening to this phone call wrote about it. They've seen the evidence that I've left behind in the past. They've seen it, so I expect any fighter, especially a young fighter; I expect any fighter to understand that they've got to at least be in shape when you fight Bernard Hopkins.

Second, you know all of the tricks in the world. Third, he's got one of the best chins in boxing. Just throw punches and try to win on that note. So we understand that. I say we; my trainers and my handlers and myself. I understand. I've been a victim twice of those types of fights, so I realize. Listen, the best teacher is the best evidence if you go through it, so I understand that, so I can't rate him 10. I can't rate him five. I can't rate him 30. But I can tell you, you can look at his resume and the people I've fought and you look at the people that he fought. You tell me who's a Harvard graduate.

Q

You just talked about how fighters aren't the same, some fighters aren't the same after you've fought them; you know, it brings to mind Trinidad, Kelly Pavlik and Tarver. But what occurs to me is that long before you get in the ring and trash them you kind of trash them mentally before the fight in all three of those cases. Do you see, way back when you were doing the executioners' dinner and the final meal and that kind of thing, any signs in Jean Pascal's behavior that you're getting in his head, either by the way he's responding to questions, anything like that?

B. Hopkins

No. This is a great question because you really, you might be surprised at this statement, but you really can't get in Pascal's head right now. You can't get in his head because he's young and you take the knowledge and the history of young people outside of boxing, just young in life. When you're young and you're successful, whether you got it because you earned it or you got it luckily or you got it because you got it, you're put in a situation where now you've got to stay there. That's where the time comes in and the experience comes in. That's when you mold it into what you're going to be.

Either you make it or you don't. Just because you've got your driver's license and you're young doesn't mean you're an experienced driver. Everybody should remember that. You passed the test. Now that you've become a champion, you're thrust in this position and now as you're thrust in this position it's just saying that you can't go back. Why? Because there's money to be made.

Second - The networks normally aren't going to allow it, because they play a big role in who fights who, whether you believe it or not. They're our promoters. They can't say it. So now, you're forced not to go back to getting the education because you just skipped ninth grade and went right to twelfth and now from twelfth you've got to go to college. When you're in college now you're in college and then you're talking to the professor and the professor is like, "How did this guy get passed all of the way up here?" That's where you fall off the thrown and you came and went so fast nobody even got a chance to document your legacy, because you never got a chance to make one.

Because Pascal is so young and so energetic and caught up in this thing called hype and world champion. It's a real intoxicating thing, man. I was fortunate to be an old-thinking person in a young body when I got my first test of it and then again, I wasn't that old. I won my title at 26-years-old when I won the IBF Championship. Ironically, it was on Showtime, my first championship fight. How surreal is that?

So Pascal, he can't even understand why his head can't be getting in it, because he's caught up into his own thing right now. That's what young people do. They're in total denial about any history about anything. They know about it. They might speak about it at press conferences. They might do it on the phone during a press conference. At the end of the day, they really don't know how serious it is until they look across the ring. Other than being in awe that I've got somebody in the ring that he looked up to and he admired, because I'm pretty sure if he looked up to Roy Jones and he loves Roy Jones and he wants his career, well, you couldn't miss mine.

When a basketball players gets on a court with Michael Jordan I don't care if he's a first-round draft pick; he's going to have wide eyes, shaky knees and optimistic about, "Wow, I'm here." The fight is over with by the time he gets this figured out. Yes. But even in that case there's a learning experience. Some bounce back from it. Some never recover from it. If you look at my history, you know the outcome.

Q

From what you know about Jean Pascal what is his best asset right now?

B. Hopkins

I got you. He's fighting in Canada.

Q

Basically, speaking of Canada, did you look into who are the judges obviously and the judge? Are you happy with the selection of the judges and the referee?

B. Hopkins

Listen, I didn't even look into that because Golden Boy Promotions is a promotion [company] that I respect and a promotion that's going to always look out for Bernard Hopkins' interest in doing what I do. So have I asked? No. Do I care? No reason to care, because at the end of the day I know my back is covered. I know my back has been covered.

B. Hopkins

Michael Griffin is the referee, so he's from Canada. I heard of him. There's also one judge from Canada. The rest, as Richard just said, is from the WBC. So at the end of the day, again, Bernard Hopkins is going to Canada to win and win big period. It doesn't matter whether the referee in there is from Zaire, Africa. At the end of the day people have eyes, people can see, but you can't wake a man up off the canvas and give him the fight at the same time.

I know what I've got to do. I know what I'm facing. There are a lot of things I won't even say on the phone right now that I'm bringing in the ring. I know what I'm facing. I know what's going down. I know how I've got to deliver it. This is where I'm at my best. Listen, this isn't talk. This is where I'm at my best. I know what I'm going at. I know what I'm doing. I know what I'm facing. If you don't do what you're supposed to do, fight a perfect fight and not be in a position for anybody, for anybody to even think about anything that shouldn't be done proper and that's where I'm at my best. Here I go again; I've got to reach down in that bag. I know it's there and I'm going to present it come December 18th.

I just want the respect from anybody that's listening on this phone or in the world, when they see it. I don't want to hear that the guy was young. He didn't look good when he fought Chad Dawson. Nobody knew the guy. I am his commercial to American boxing fans. I am his commercial. I am his ticket to the American boxing fan, but it isn't going to be the outcome that they expect. I will say to everybody that the only thing that I'm asking is that they see- Because my fans are the ones that keep me up. I don't really have too much faith in the writers writing about the truth, because I come from a different class and I know I represent a different type of era. My era has always been different, so I understand that. They can downplay it. They can say this guy wasn't as good as anybody thought he was from the door.

There's going to be all kinds of stuff, so I want to go on record and say it now, because I've done this in previous fights. I'm warning you. I'm telling you all and then eventually I'm going to do what I've got to do and I'm going to say it again, okay, because if I don't say it, it isn't going to be written, it isn't going to be said. It's going to go away quiet like there wasn't nothing done big. They're going to forget about the 45-year-old question that they were asking me prior to December 18th. All of the sudden that was forgotten. Let's wait until the next time and get him.

So I'm going on record right now. We're a week and a couple of days away and I'm letting them know right now so they won't think I'm playing Monday morning quarterback, you know, Sunday's the game in case nobody is naïve. Then you've got the Monday news. So I'm letting you know right now it's not a threat. It's just I want everybody to know this and then when I make it manifest this depression on me, when I make it manifest systematically, taking this guy apart, taking him to school and make him look to a point he's a boy in there with a man. That's what I'm going to show to you all.

They're going to downplay it. They're going to downplay it and I'll move on to the next thing. That's all.

Q

Bernard, based on your comment that you made, do you think more people are pulling for you or do you actually think more people are actually hoping that you would lose so you get finally out of boxing? Do you actually think more people are actually pulling for you to get this win?

B. Hopkins

Another great question. I think there are two sets here. I'm going to be brief, I promise you. I think there are two sets. I think anybody that's 40-years-old and up are rooting for me first. That was easy.

I think that a lot of people want me out of boxing that I can't say right now and wanted me out of boxing years ago. I know I'm a problem, but I'm a good problem for some people. I'm a cancer to some other people, because at the end of the day cancer is a bad name and a bad word. But some would say I'm that because you've got to understand there's not only the knowledge and the intellect and being able to have the credibility of what I've done all of these years behind me to back it up. Any young fighter would listen to my credibility. If I say that this is wrong, if I say that this is not what it seems to be, if I say that this is not what it should be and is not what it is that credibility is like E. F. Hutton; when he speaks everybody listens. Even the enemies listen, because they've got to know what you're thinking about.

So yes, for a lot of reasons I'll go on after this victory. This victory is a devastating blow to some people that want me out for whatever reason. I know why, but for whatever reason. But at the end of the day it's a breath of fresh air for those who say, "Fight. Stay in the race until you leave on your time, on your merit, on your weight, because nobody should be asked to leave a sport or a job if they're not mentally and physically ready to go." That is a personal decision. That is a professional decision. That is on the individual himself. I would never ask anybody, whether he's a janitor at a market, whether it is a cashier that's giving people extra money. They should re-evaluate their job, but at the end of the day that is a person's individual decision.

There's a lot of people that want me out of boxing for a lot of reasons. It's bigger than me and you. It's bigger than this. It's bigger than that. Yes, there's a conspiracy theory that they probably think I'm thinking, but trust me; they know that I am not a fool, but they also know that I know. But I've got great patience. I've got great patience because at the end of the day winning is everything. If you lose, they bury you. When you win-In my case, I mean when I beat Kelly Pavlik did you see me fight again? You remember the Kelly Pavlik fight, right?

Q

Everybody remembers all of your fights.

B. Hopkins

Do you know how long I sat on the sideline after that fight?

Q

A long, long time.

B. Hopkins

Okay. That wasn't an accident. That was, I quote, "By design." That's why I stared. Listen, I knew; I got a heads up before I even beat the guy. I got my politics and I got my ears and eyes in boxing too. That's why I stared.

Don't you understand why I looked at everybody in that emotional night when I looked and said nothing? I didn't jump on the rope. I didn't say, "I did it." I didn't say, "I'm the greatest." I didn't do any of that. I stared because I knew that this was it. I knew that the powers that be and the mafia of boxing-yes, I said the mafia of boxing-was going to shut me down and hopefully, I'd get discouraged. Hopefully, I'd do something reckless and stupid. Hopefully, I wouldn't have the patience and just go whatever, UFC, MMA. But at the end of the day I held back and I held firm.

I held firm, like Gandhi. Gandhi used to go to prison and fast. He didn't eat for 30 days sometimes. He didn't eat. He just went to prison; sat there; didn't eat. He went on a hunger strike. You remember Gandhi, right?

Q

I hope so.

B. Hopkins

Okay.

Q

Which one is more motivating to you; is it more motivating with your last comments on who's trying to get you out, your age, the history? Which one is it?

B. Hopkins

Listen, politics is kind of being nice. I'm going to use the word mafia from now on. The mafia of this sport, that's our organization, more than one people that wants to dictate like they're God when you should do what they want you to do. That's never been me. You've been writing about boxing now; I'm pretty sure you've been writing about me for half of my career if not all of it. Don't you understand that you can't approach me with that crap? You've got to look at my history.

All of the sudden people think I got soft because I became affiliated with Golden Boy, like all of the sudden I'm going to be controlled like a puppet. That's not Bernard Hopkins. Don't you understand I'm going to go down the way I started? That was fighting, when I had no big entity behind me, when it was just little old me with the biggest heart, bigger than New York City. That is my spirit. That is me. That's what I'm going to leave, as my tombstone, I hope, will say; a man hath walked this land. These and what I've accomplished and what I stood up for will be echoed through history, whether through my kids, whether through my family, whether through my fans, whether it's through some media; whether it's through some history books. Just like we read about the old that came before me, we will read about me hopefully when that time comes.

Thank you for your support. Thank you for listening. Watch December 18th. Watch the history and watch something that won't be done in a long, long time.

I'm on my way to the gym as soon as I get off. Good-bye. Thank you. Everybody, December 18th. Showtime. My resurrection back, over 20 years back, full circle, back on Showtime where I won my first championship title and profoundly so I'm winning another one. Thank you. God bless.

EL Boxing Empress
See you at the Fights and Thank You for your time.
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