LAGUNA NIGUEL, Calif. -- A mixed martial arts fighter and his wife were found shot to death in a Laguna Niguel condominium in what authorities said was an apparent murder-suicide.
The bodies of Justin Levens and his 25-year-old wife, Sarah McLean-Levens, were found Wednesday afternoon, Orange County sheriff's officials said.
Sheriff's spokesman Jim Amormino said the bodies were discovered by Sarah McLean-Levens' mother, who went to the condo after not hearing from her daughter for several days.
According to the Los Angeles Times, autopsies -- as well as ballistics and residue testing -- were being conducted Thurday morning. Police did not find a suicide note, but did find a gun; the bodies had been in the house for several days prior to discovery, the Times reported.
"Nothing has been ruled out," Amormino said, according to the Times.
Mixed martial arts fighter, wife found dead....
Mixed martial arts fighter, wife found dead
De La Hoya is Golden Boy no more
BY TIM SMITH
LAS VEGAS - Oscar De La Hoya picked on the wrong little man when he chose Manny Pacquiao, a lightweight champion, as his opponent to make a return to the welterweight division after a seven-year absence.
Pacquiao (48-3-2, 36 KOs) administered the worst beating that the Golden Boy has ever suffered in his 16-year career. De La Hoya's corner asked referee Tony Weeks to stop the fight after the eighth round, giving Pacquiao an eighth-round TKO victory before a packed house at the MGM Grand Saturday night.
"Manny Pacquiao is a great fighter and he put on a great fight. He was the better man tonight," De La Hoya said. "I just couldn't figure out his style. I'm not shocked because at this stage when you face someone like Pacquiao, it's going to be a hard fight.
"My style is to go forward and boxing on my toes. He was waiting for me. My body seemed not to be able to respond. I didn't have the strength to stop him when he was coming forward."
De La Hoya is Golden Boy no more....
Sports Friday: Mussina Retires, Steelers Roll
After 18 major-league seasons, Mike Mussina announced his retirement Thursday. A 270-game winner with the Yankees and Orioles, the 40-year old right hander ranks 32nd on baseball's career win list.
Lesnar wrestles UFC title from Couture
By Jim Hoban
Youth - and size - won out over experience in a ring called the Octagon.
Brock Lesnar, a 31-year-old former NCAA wrestling champ, pummeled Randy Couture, 45, to the mat at 3:07 of the second round to win Ultimate Fighting's ultimate championship, the heavyweight title, last night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
Aside from the disparity in size - Lesnar is a hulk at 6 feet 3 inches, 275 pounds compared with Couture, 6-1 and a lean 220 - Couture hadn't fought in 15 months, disdaining contract squabbles as he awaited the big fight he craved.
And big is what he got.
Lesnar, who lost the 1999 NCAA wrestling title to the Patriots' Stephen Neal, then won the title the next season, had the upper hand throughout the fight. He landed a standing elbow that stunned Couture to open Round 2 and had the defending champion backpedaling.
Lesnar landed a right hand to Couture's temple, then engulfed him with hammer punches with Couture (16-9) on the mat. The referee had to step in and stop the fight.
Lesnar wrestles UFC title from Couture....
Roy Jones, Jr. on CenterStage
The legendary boxer plays Hit and Run with Michael Kay.
Calzaghe Dominates Jones in Unanimous Decision
Joe Calzaghe overcame a first-round knockdown to beat Roy Jones Jr. in a unanimous decision Saturday night. The Welshman said this would be his final bout.
Calzaghe ready for showdown with Jones
By DAVE SKRETTA
NEW YORK (AP) — Roy Jones Jr. claims he's been seeing Joe Calzaghe punching in his sleep.
It wouldn't surprise anybody, either. The undefeated champion from Wales is known for his tremendous work rate, often throwing more than 100 blows in a round. He's always moving forward, always pressuring his opponent.
It's the reason Calzaghe is a fan favorite. And the reason he's one of the best pound for pound fighters in the world.
"He started punching yesterday," Jones joked earlier this week. "I've been ducking and dodging in my sleep. I know he's punching already. I ain't tripping about that, because that's what he does. But we'll have to see Saturday night what we're going to do about that."
Their light heavyweight fight at Madison Square Garden may be coming 10 years too late, but the 36-year-old Calzaghe — one of the longest-reigning champions in boxing history — and the 39-year-old Jones, himself an eight-time world champion, both insist their skills haven't dulled.
Calzaghe ready for showdown with Jones....
Reports: EliteXC tells employees, fighters it's out of business
ESPN.com news services
The parent company of the EliteXC mixed martial arts circuit is closing its doors for good, according to multiple reports.
Sherdog.com reported that according to T.J. Thompson, an executive at ProElite Inc., he was informed that the company would close for good this week and would file for bankruptcy protection. And Sports Illustrated, on its Web site, reported that ProElite told its employees and fighters on Monday that it was shutting down, effective immediately, according to multiple sources.
Sherdog also reported that according to numerous sources, an EliteXC card scheduled for Nov. 8 in Reno, Nev., has been canceled. According to the report, Joey Villasenor, who was scheduled to fight Robbie Lawler for the circuit's middleweight title on the card, was informed Monday it had been scrubbed.
ProElite did not return calls seeking comment, according to the reports.
Reports: EliteXC tells employees, fighters it's out of business....
Hopkins dominates Pavlik in middleweight bout
By TOM CANAVAN
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) — Bernard Hopkins gave Kelly Pavlik a boxing lesson and a first loss that he will never forget.
The 43-year-old Hopkins used lightning quick combinations and a cagey, near-perfect defense to embarrass and confuse Pavlik in a 12-round non-title bout Saturday night at Boardwalk Hall.
Hopkins, who dominated the middleweight class for a decade, made the 26-year-old Pavlik — the WBC and WBO middleweight champion — look slow and powerless in fighting at 170 pounds, 10 pounds over his weight class.
"I think this was my best performance, better than (Antonio) Tarver, better than (Felix) Trinidad, better than Oscar (De La Hoya), better than my 21 defenses," Hopkins said. "I am extremely happy."
Hopkins received winning scores of 119-106 from judge Alan Rubenstein, 117-109 from Barbara Perez and 118-108 from Steve Weisfeld.
Hopkins dominates Pavlik in middleweight bout....
Questions persist about Kimbo Slice-Seth Petruzelli fight
By Lance Pugmire, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
The mixed martial arts world is abuzz by post-fight comments made by Seth Petruzelli, the little-known, last-minute replacement on CBS' national broadcast of Elite XC fights Saturday who needed only 14 seconds to knock out popular heavyweight Kimbo Slice.
On Monday, while speaking to a Florida radio station about his stunning victory over Elite XC's biggest star, Petruzelli said he was approached by promoters before the bout and encouraged to fight Slice standing up, rather than wrestling him to the mat. That would have played to the strength of Slice, a former street fighter famous for his fights shown on YouTube.
Questions persist about Kimbo Slice-Seth Petruzelli fight....
Petruzelli cuts through Slice in less than a round
By Franklin McNeil
SUNRISE, Fla. -- For the first time in his professional mixed martial arts career, heavyweight Kimbo Slice tasted defeat. The loss, however, did not come against the man he was originally scheduled to face.
Ken Shamrock was unable to fight due to a cut over his left eye sustained during a workout earlier in the day. When Shamrock was deemed unfit to fight, Seth Petruzelli stepped in to replace him.
The decision turned out to be the right one for Petruzelli, who needed just 14 seconds to put a blemish on Slice's record. Petruzelli was scheduled to fight light heavyweight Aaron Rosa, but quickly accepted the shot at Slice.
Petruzelli cuts through Slice in less than a round....
Shamrock won't fight against Kimbo
by John Pollock, The Fight Network
Ken Shamrock will not be fighting on Saturday after being scheduled to face off against Kevin "Kimbo Slice" Ferguson in the Heavyweight main event in Sunrise, Fla.
Instead, Ferguson will fight Seth Petruzelli.
Shamrock won't fight against Kimbo....
Shane Mosley's hook is a sinker as he knocks out Ricardo Mayorga
By Lance Pugmire
"Sugar" Shane Mosley says he's saved the best for the last years of his career, and he applied the same formula on Ricardo Mayorga Saturday night.
Mosley knocked out Mayorga with one second remaining in their 12-round non-title super-welterweight fight at Home Depot Center in Carson, landing a devastating left hook on Mayorga's jaw that came only seconds after he had sent Mayorga to the canvas with a three-punch combination highlighted by a stiff left hook.
"I wanted a knockout," Pomona's Mosley said. "I wanted to give the fans what they deserve."
The crowd-roaring ending punctuated a lethargic second half that allowed Mayorga to enter the 12th round leading Mosley by one point on judge Pat Russell's scorecard and trailing Mosley by one on judge Nelson Vasquez's. Judge Tony Crebs had Mosley leading Mayorga, 107-102.
"I will tell you one thing," Mayorga said after spending several seconds flat-backed on the canvas after the knockout punch, "he hit harder than I thought he would."
Shane Mosley's hook is a sinker as he knocks out....
Marquez floors Casamayor in big lightweight debut
By GREG BEACHAM
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Juan Manuel Marquez needed about three rounds to get used to his new weight class. After that, he was nothing but bad news for Joel Casamayor.
Marquez won his lightweight debut Saturday night, stopping linear champion Casamayor for the first time in the Cuban's career with a dynamic flurry late in the 11th round.
Marquez (49-4-1, 36 KOs) moved up to lightweight in hopes of landing a third bout with Manny Pacquiao after going 0-1-1 against the Filipino pound-for-pound king. Marquez proved the extra five pounds didn't bother him in a comprehensive win over Casamayor (36-4-1), the 37-year-old Cuban champion who has unofficially ruled the division since beating Diego Corrales two years ago.
Marquez floors Casamayor in big lightweight debut....
Wrestling champion Evan Tanner dies
By Tony Perry
SAN DIEGO--Champion wrestler Evan Tanner has been found dead in a remote desert area of Imperial County, the county's coroner said today.
A body was found Monday night and identified this morning as the 37-year-old wrestler who often went on camping trips to the desert seeking solitude and spiritual energy.
Authorities began looking for Tanner on Friday after receiving a call from his friends that he was no longer text-messaging them, said Imperial County Sheriff's Lt. George Moreno. A Marine Corps helicopter from the base at Yuma aided in the search.
Tanner's camp and motorcycle were found in an area near the Palo Verde mountains, and his body was found several miles away. Authorities speculate that Tanner's motorcycle may have broken down and he was attempting to walk to safety.
There was no sign of foul play, Moreno said.
"It looks like he succumbed to the elements," he said.
Wrestling champion Evan Tanner dies....
Rashad Evans knocks out Chuck Liddell
ATLANTA (AP) — Chuck Liddell was the face of the Ulimate Fighting Championship. Rashad Evans is part of the changing of the guard in mixed martial arts.
Evans knocked out Liddell with a thunderous overhand right to the jaw 1:51 into the second round Saturday night at UFC 88, setting up a likely championship bout with light heavyweight title-holder Forrest Griffin late this fall.
"Hopefully it puts me right up there," Evans said. "I'm a patient man."
Liddell, the former champ and a key figure in the rise of the sport, has lost three of his last four fights, two of them by knockouts.
"I'm fine. A guy caught me," Liddell said after the loss. "What you want me to say?"
Rashad Evans knocks out Chuck Liddell....
Mayweather Sr. to prep Hatton for Malignaggi bout
Associated Press
LONDON -- Ricky Hatton has hired Floyd Mayweather Sr., the father of a man he once fought, as his trainer.
Mayweather will prepare Hatton for his fight against IBF junior welterweight champion Paulie Malignaggi in Las Vegas on Nov. 22.
"At this stage of my career I am not going to change my style too much, but you are never too old to learn," Hatton said Wednesday. "I have spoken with my team and we are all sure that I'll benefit from Floyd's incredible knowledge.
"The fight against Malignaggi is make or break and I'm convinced this will be the best training camp I have ever had."
Mayweather Sr., 55, is the estranged father of Floyd Mayweather Jr., who defeated Hatton in December 2007.
The elder Mayweather will fly to England later this month to oversee training at Hatton's gym in Ashton-under-Lyne. He will be assisted by Lee Beard.
Mayweather Sr. to prep Hatton for Malignaggi bout....
Pacquiao no small challenge for De La Hoya
By J. Michael Falgoust, USA TODAY
Oscar De La Hoya will try his hand again at fighting another fast, naturally smaller opponent regarded as the sport's best boxer pound-for-pound who is moving up to welterweight.
Shane Mosley, a former lightweight champion, moved up to beat the Golden Boy in 2000 via split decision. Last year, Floyd Mayweather, also a former lightweight champion, eked a split decision, too.
Now lightweight champion Manny Pacquiao (47-3-2, 35 KOs) — who began his career in 1995 at 106 pounds — will get his shot in a Dec. 6 welterweight bout at MGM Grand in Las Vegas (HBO Pay-Per-View).
It's supposed to be De La Hoya's final bout in a pro career that commenced after he won the United States' only boxing gold medal at the 1992 Olympics. However, he wouldn't concede that this would be his last hurrah in a conference call Thursday.
Pacquiao no small challenge for De La Hoya....
Oscar De La Hoya, Manny Pacquiao camps discuss December 6 bout
By Dan Arritt, Los Angeles Times
Representatives for Oscar De La Hoya and Manny Pacquiao met Wednesday afternoon in Los Angeles to begin hammering out a deal for a Dec. 6 non-title welterweight bout at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, according to Bruce Binkow, an agent for Golden Boy Promotions.
Richard Schaefer, chief executive for Golden Boy, which represents De La Hoya, and Bob Arum, president of Top Rank, which represents Pacquiao, met for two hours but are still days away from making a deal, Binkow said.
Oscar De La Hoya, Manny Pacquiao camps discuss December 6 bout....
Judah loses to Clottey but might win Margarito sweepstakes
By Tim Smith
LAS VEGAS -- Joshua Clottey promised that he would beat Zab Judah, and in doing so, would punish Judah to the point that he'd cry.
Two out of three ain't bad.
Clottey battered Judah, busted his nose and sliced open his eye, and won a ninth-round technical decision to take home the vacant IBF welterweight crown at the Palms casino on Saturday.
Clottey did not make Judah cry, though. As a matter of fact, if there was any sorrow after the fight it was on the part of Clottey, who could not cleanly put away Judah, a two-time world champion from Brooklyn, N.Y.
With his gutsy performance against Clottey, Judah (36-6, 25 KOs) remains a credible threat in the welterweight division. And because Clottey sustained a torn bicep in the fifth round of the fight, he might get leap-frogged by Judah in a possible match against Antonio Margarito on Nov. 1 if Clottey isn't healed well enough to take the date.
Judah loses to Clottey but might win Margarito sweepstakes....
Prinze Jr. Joins WWE Creative Team
Actor and former teen heartthrob Freddie Prinze Jr. joined the creative team of World Wrestling Entertainment.
In his new role, Prinze will be behind the scenes contributing to WWE’s weekly television and pay-per view programs. WWE did not elaborate on what the actor would be doing for the company.
“Bringing on board an experienced Hollywood writer, actor and producer like Freddie Prinze Jr. will only increase the level of entertainment to millions of viewers and passionate WWE fans every Monday on USA,” said Chris McCumber, executive vice president of marketing, digital and brand strategy for USA Network, in a statement.
Prinze Jr. Joins WWE Creative Team....
Athletic Commission changes Toney win over Rahman to no decision
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The California State Athletic Commission changed its original decision on the James Toney-Hasim Rahman fight from a technical knockout to a no decision.
Toney stopped Rahman in the third round of their July 16 rematch of former heavyweight champions in Temecula, Calif., after Rahman told the ringside doctor that he couldn't continue because of a cut over his left eye.
The original decision was a technical knockout win for Toney. Rahman later appealled, and after a review, the commission said Monday it was changing the technical knockout to a no decision, according to Bill Douglas of the state athletic commission.
Athletic Commission changes Toney win over Rahman to no decision....
Margarito stops Cotto in 11th, takes crown
By GREG BEACHAM
LAS VEGAS (AP) — So that's why every welterweight in the world was so scared of Antonio Margarito.
Margarito stopped Miguel Cotto in the 11th round Saturday night, blemishing Cotto's unbeaten record and claiming the WBA 147-pound title with one last incredible barrage of punches.
Margarito (37-5, 27 KOs), the Mexican star so often ducked by the division's best fighters in recent years, dropped the Puerto Rican champion twice in the 11th after several rounds of relentless pressure in a fight that lived up to its lofty billing at the MGM Grand Garden.
Margarito stops Cotto in 11th, takes crown....
Antonio Margarito has at least a ghost of a chance
By Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
LAS VEGAS -- This week Antonio Margarito had a long talk with his brother, as he does before every big fight.
The two boxers chatted about everything and nothing, the way close brothers do when one's scared and the other's worried. And there'd be nothing unusual about any of this if not for the fact that Antonio Margarito's brother Manuel has been dead for eight years, shot in the back of the head in his Tijuana home.
"I'm always thinking of him," Margarito said. "One incredible thing about that is whenever a fight is near, I always dream of him. They're very realistic dreams. It's like he's right there with me."
He'll be with him again tonight when Margarito (36-5, 26 knockouts) climbs into the ring at the MGM Grand to face WBA welterweight champion Miguel Cotto (32-0, 26 KOs) in the biggest fight of his 15-year professional career.
Not only is Margarito guaranteed at least $1.6 million, by far the most he has ever earned, but a victory over the heavily favored Cotto could lead to even more lucrative fights against Oscar De La Hoya or Floyd Mayweather Jr., should he decide to come out of retirement.
Antonio Margarito has at least a ghost of a chance....
Boxer, 11 others charged in cocaine ring
NEW YORK: Junior welterweight contender Edgar "El Chamaco" Santana was among 12 people arrested Friday on charges of taking part in an international cocaine trafficking ring.
Prosecutors said Santana conspired with the other suspects to smuggle cocaine from Puerto Rico into New York. Narcotics detectives arrested the suspects early Friday. They seized several pounds of cocaine and $450,000 in cash as part of the investigation, dubbed "Operation Special Delivery."
The suspects are from Manhattan, Brooklyn, the Bronx, Yonkers and Puerto Rico. Prosecutors said all are charged with counts related to sale and possession of cocaine. Their arraignment, initially scheduled Friday, was postponed until Monday, and it was unclear whether they had attorneys.
Boxer, 11 others charged in cocaine ring....
Klitschko stops Thompson in 11th to defend crown
By ROY KAMMERER – 10 hours ago
BERLIN (AP) — Wladimir Klitschko was forced rediscover one of boxing's best weapons: his powerful right hand. With his jab ineffective, Klitschko knocked out former sparring partner Tony Thompson in the 11th round with a big right to successfully defend his heavyweight titles Saturday.
"My jab didn't work, I had to use the right — if Plan A doesn't work, try Plan B," Klitschko said after he retained his IBF, WBO and IBO heavyweight titles.
Klitschko stops Thompson in 11th to defend crown....
Griffin upsets Jackson in five-round unanimous decision
CBSSports.com wire reports
LAS VEGAS -- Forrest Griffin upset light heavyweight champion Quinton "Rampage" Jackson on Saturday night, winning a five-round unanimous decision at UFC 86.
Griffin (16-4) used his movement, reach and kicks to slow Jackson (28-7) and survived the champion's power shots in an action-packed mixed martial arts fight at Mandalay Bay Events Center.
The judges scored it 49-46, 48-46, 48-46 for Griffin.
Griffin upsets Jackson in five-round unanimous decision....
Filipino boxing icon Pacquiao wins 4th world title
MANILA, June 29 (Xinhua) -- Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao won his fourth title by grasping World Boxing Council (WBC) lightweight championship over Mexican-American David Diaz Sunday in Las Vegas, the United States, according to local media reports.
Pacquiao knocked out Diaz in the ninth round before a jampacked crowd at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in the U.S. casino city.
Pacquiao also became the first Asian to win four titles in four different divisions.
"I'm very surprised. You know, Diaz, I think he's the toughest opponent that I've had...and I'm very surprised that he kept a lot of strong punches and power punches," Pacquiao said in an interview with local TV network ABS-CBN News.
Pacquiao had earlier won the WBC super featherweight and flyweight belts and the International Boxing Federation super bantamweight crown. He also held Ring Magazine's super featherweight title.
Filipino boxing icon Pacquiao wins 4th world title....
All eyes on Pacquiao as he sets to get fourth title
The whole country is expected to tune in on their TV and radio sets, flock to cinemas and public viewing centers as well as to their computers through the Internet to watch or listen to Manny Pacquiao slug it out with WBC lightweight king David Diaz Saturday (Sunday in Manila).
Pacquiao will try to win a fourth title -- a fifth if you'll count his "People's Champion" belt -- a feat no Asian has done before in different divisions.
For several hours on a usually laidback day, streets are expected to be deserted as local boxing fans temporarily set their Sunday chores aside to watch the fight. The crime rate is also expected to go down since even thieves and robbers take time off from their activities to see the bout.
All eyes on Pacquiao as he sets to get fourth title....
Vince McMahon, WWE
Tribune newspapers
Perhaps Vince McMahon should consider staying home the next time there is a draft on Raw. On last year's draft episode, McMahon's limo exploded into flames seconds after he got into it, kicking off the "Who Blew Up Vince McMahon" story line that was scrapped after a couple weeks in the wake of the Benoit tragedy.
Last night, the three-hour Raw draft special concluded with McMahon being taken out on a stretcher after part of the set collapsed on him. To show that it was "real," Triple H, John Cena and Edge all broke character and tried to come to McMahon's aid. When McMahon regained consciousness, he called out for "Paul," which is his son-in-law Triple H's real name.
Vince McMahon, WWE....
Heavyweight boxer Chris Arreola stays unbeaten
From Times Staff and Wire Reports
Chris Arreola of Riverside defeated Chazz Witherspoon in a battle of undefeated heavyweights when Witherspoon was disqualified at the end of the third round in Memphis, Tenn., on Saturday night.
Arreola (24-0, 21 knockouts) pounded Witherspoon late in the third round, knocking him down after three left hands to the head.
Witherspoon, of Paulsboro, N.J., stumbled to his feet as the bell rang, but a member of Witherspoon's corner entered the ring before the end of the mandatory eight-count, causing the disqualification.
Witherspoon (23-1) was in trouble anyway, but the decision by referee Randy Phillips ended the fight.
"They can't get up on the apron," Phillips said of the cornermen. "That ends the fight right there."
Heavyweight boxer Chris Arreola stays unbeaten....
Motor-mouthed Miranda still talking a big fight
By George Kimball
During his playing days, Ilie Nastase, the Romanian tennis star of the 1970s, owned a world-class mouth, and at one time held the ATP record for most fines incurred by one player.
"Ilie speaks seven languages," his wife once said. "Why does he always have to curse in English?"
Edison Miranda's interpreters could probably do him a big favor by deliberately mistranslating some of his more inflammatory remarks.
His own matchmaker, Jim Borzell, who's known the talented Colombian since his arrival in the United States three years ago, describes Pantera as "a true puzzle."
"He's the nicest guy in the world, but before a fight he can be a complete twit, the way he shoots off his mouth," said the veteran matchmaker.
You'd have thought Miranda might have learned his lesson 13 months ago in Memphis.
Motor-mouthed Miranda still talking a big fight
Pavlik stops Lockett on TKO in 3rd round
Canwest News Service; Sports Ticker
Gary Lockett was no match whatsoever for Kelly Pavlik. Making his first defence of his WBC and WBO middleweight titles last night, Pavlik scored a technical knockout of Lockett at 1:40 of the third round at Boardwalk Hall. Pavlik (34-0, 30 KOs) knocked down the Welshman twice in the second round before sending Lockett (30-2) to the canvas again in the third. Upon returning to his feet, Lockett watched as his corner threw in the towel, ending it before the challenger suffered any more serious damage.
© The Gazette (Montreal) 2008
Holmes moved to tears by induction in boxing hall
By WILLIAM KATES
CANASTOTA, N.Y. (AP) — With a precise, powerful left jab, Larry Holmes reigned as heavyweight champion for more than seven years, successfully defending his crown 20 times — the second longest title run in heavyweight history.
But on Sunday, the "Easton Assassin" needed a moment to compose himself before accepting his induction into the International Boxing Hall of Fame along with 11 other champions and ring personalities.
"I'm sorry. I'm choked up a little bit. Why not?" Holmes said, receiving a sustained ovation from the crowd of nearly 1,000.
"When you get to this point, when people come out to salute you like this ... it makes you want to cry. So if I cry, cry with me because I feel good," said Holmes.
STORY....
Mayweather Jr. retires, cancels rematch with De La Hoya
By Dan Rafael
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. -- Pound-for-pound king and welterweight world champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. announced his retirement from boxing Friday.
"It is with a heavy heart that I write you this message today," Mayweather, 31, said in a statement. "I have decided to permanently retire from boxing. This decision was not an easy one for me to make, as boxing is all I have done since I was a child. However, these past few years have been extremely difficult for me to find the desire and joy to continue in the sport."
The retirement means that Mayweather's scheduled Sept. 20 rematch with Oscar De La Hoya is off.
"I have been informed of Floyd's decision and I wish him good luck," Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer told ESPN.com. "I wish him good luck in his retirement. We will move on. Sometime next week I will announce a big fight for Oscar. There are different names out there and I will be working diligently to announce in the coming days Oscar's next fight."
MORE....
Big fight preview - Lockett can beat Pavlik
by Clayton Jones
In the build up to Gary Lockett's WBC/WBO world middleweight title clash against Kelly Pavlik this Saturday, it appears the Welshman has been firmly installed as the underdog. Some more blunt observers have gone further by questioning his right to share the ring with the fearsome punching American, adding that he stands absolutely no chance of victory.
Given Pavlik's recent run of form and the fact that the contest will take place on the champion's home turf in the Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, such comments are justified to a certain extent. That said, I see no reason to write off Lockett so prematurely. Sure, following an impressive back from the brink win over Edison Miranda (TKO7) and back to back victories over Jermain Taylor (TKO7 and W12), the Youngstown native is on a roll and must be considered the clear favourite.
However, due to his mechanical, come-forward style, he also showed in those fights that he was susceptible to being hit and badly hurt by other big punchers – and the challenger is certainly one of those. Admittedly, Pavlik (33-0 29 KOs), has displayed Felix Trinidad like recuperative powers in the past, but Lockett possesses the kind of firepower that enables him to seal an opponents fate with a single concussive blow. That alone, surely makes him a genuine threat.
STORY....
Kimbo Slice vs James Thompson
Kimbo Slice vs James Thompson Round 1
Kimbo Slice vs James Thompson Round 2
Kimbo Slice vs James Thompson Round 3
Ending in Main Event Raises Fans’ Suspicions
By JOSHUA ROBINSON
More than 8,000 fans headed to Prudential Center in Newark on Saturday to witness a milestone for mixed martial arts: a series of fights shown on live network television in prime time.
What they got was a controversial stoppage by the referee Dan Miragliotta in the main event, a decision that handed the wildly popular Kimbo Slice a victory in a fight he was losing.
Boos filled the arena. At the time, 38 seconds into the third of three scheduled rounds, two of the three judges’ scorecards had Slice down on points to James Thompson. The third judge split the first two rounds. Almost immediately, the sport’s fans made their opinions and suspicions heard on the Internet.
MORE....
