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....
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....
