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....
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....
