Categories
Boxing

Floyd Mayweather is favored in big showdown. Oh, and he’s got a fight coming up too.


There are several sports related people participating in this season’s Dancing with the Stars, which kicks off on Monday, but only one of them has a 38-0 record against some of the toughest men on the planet: Mr. Floyd Mayweather. While boxing fans know all about the size and strength of Mayweather’s mouth, on Monday he gave his newly acquired ABC fan base a glimpse of how he rolls when he delivered a soft verbal right cross to WBC welterweight title contender Ricky Hatton.

The local boxer has talked some trash, reportedly labeling his opponent “Vicky Fatten.”

Mayweather said in a news conference Monday at Los Angeles: “Ricky Hatton’s cool for what he does, but fighting Floyd Mayweather is a totally different level. I’m at the pinnacle of my career — this is the creme-de-la-creme.”

Hatton countered by making fun of Mayweather: “He’s currently doing the show ‘Dancing with the Stars’ and that’s how he’s boxing. Floyd always backs up. That’s the woman part.

Not bad guys, but we’re going to have to ask you to step up your game before you December 8th showdown. Calling each other little girls just ain’t gonna cut it. In fact, until you guys get a little more creative, we’re going to be focusing our attention on the big show and try to make some sweet jack with “Mr. Las Vegas” at 8-to-1. Seriously, the odds are out.

ODDS TO WIN DANCING WITH THE STARS
According to sportsbook.com

Melanie Brown 4-1
Floyd Mayweather 5-1
Sabrina Bryan 11-2
Josie Maran 6-1
Cameron Mathison 7-1
Helio Castroneves 15-2
Jennie Garth 8-1
Wayne Newton 8-1
Albert Reed 10-1
Jane Seymour 12-1
Marie Osmond 12-1
Mark Cuban 15-1

Geez, we never would have guessed that Cubes would be the biggest underdog.

Links:

[Freep.com]: Mocked by opponent for being `a woman,’ boxer Floyd Mayweather a favorite to win `Dancing with the Stars’

Categories
Boxing

Hey, Iceman; we’ve got the perfect rebound opponent for you!

UFC vs. boxing, boxing vs. UFC; can’t we all just get along. Oh, we already know the answer to that one, we’re in America so nobody gets along but does it really have to all go down like this. In an attempt to put an end to the debate of MMA vs. boxing, Tommy “H.I.V.” Morrison says that he is going prove that the sweet science of boxing is far superior to the MMA tactics of fighters in UFC, PRIDE, K-1, etc. The fight is going down on Saturday night at an Arizona casino and Morrison’s opponent will be 325-pound John Stover. And according to Tommy, he doesn’t stand a chance.

I’m just going to walk out and hit him on the chin,” Morrison said at a news conference Thursday night. “I’m concerned about killing someone. I’m not kidding.”

“We’re trained to hit a moving target. These guys run in with their chin hanging out.

Looks like somebody watched the Chuck Liddell/Quinton Jackson fight. But Morrison’s mouth didn’t quit there. When asked about wearing four-ounce gloves he took another “I’m gonna kill you” shot.

I’m a little nervous about that _ not for myself but for the other guy,” Morrison said. “To me, it just seems like someone signing up for assassination class. He must be out of his mind.

What the hell is wrong with this guy? That’s a whole lotta talk for a guy who got his ass beat down the last time he was involved in an all-out brawl.

We’re know absolutely nothing about this Stover guy but we’re still gonna bet that Morrison’s fate is somewhat reminiscent of Johnnie Morton.

Links:

[KVOA.com]: Tommy Morrison prepares for MMA debut

Categories
Boxing

Foreman claims someone spiked his water before "Rumble in the Jungle"


Well, George Foreman has a new book out, so that can only mean one thing…outrageous, untimely accusations in hopes of whipping up a media buzz that will push his memoir up the bestseller charts. So what is the controversy Foreman speaks of in his book “God in My Corner,” you ask? No, it’s not that the idea for the Foreman Grill wasn’t his. And shame on you for even thinking such a thing. Actually, Foreman is claiming that he was drugged before his “Rumble in the Jungle” with Muhammad Ali.

Yes, that’s right; almost 33 years after the fact, Foreman is attempting to regain some respect after Ali worked him over for eight rounds before knocking Foreman out in the eighth. But according to Foreman, his trainer gave him some nasty tasting water that he believes was spiked.

I almost spit it out … [I told my trainer] ‘Man, I know this water has medicine in it,'” Foreman wrote. “I climbed into the ring with that medicinal taste still lingering in my mouth.”

“After the third round, I was as tired as if I had fought 15 rounds. What’s going on here? Did someone slip a drug in my water?

You know, George, this information would have been a lot more useful, say, back in 1974! C’mon, don’t try to blame losing your world heavyweight championship on getting drugged. And we seriously doubt that Zaire was the first time you had been under the influence of an illegal, mind altering substance. After all, you do have seven kids named George! And two of them are girls!

Just shut up and get ready for your upcoming moment in the spotlight as you pretend to be Paula Abdul on American Inventor. And if you don’t want to shell out the money for Foreman’s book then you can skip the trip to Barnes & Nobel and just read this interesting interview with Foreman at EastSideBoxing.com.

Links:

[MSNBC]: Foreman says he was drugged before Ali KO

Categories
Boxing

Today in fake boxing steroids news


Rocky Balboa has pleaded guilty in Australia to one count of importing a banned substance (HGH) without a prescription and one count of posession of testosterone, a banned substance in Australia. Stallone was busted in February for trying to sneak the PEDs in his luggage and also trying to get rid of more evidence before a customs search by throwing vials out of his hotel room balcony. Unfortunately, the vials just landed in a garden box and were easily recovered.

Even though he did not appear in court via satellite link, Stallone apologized for the incident and his lawyers claim that he was taking both substances for a “medical condition.” Yeah, the medical condition being that he needed to be ripped for the final (please?) Rocky movie. We must accept that he has a serious medical condition that requires these drugs because his lawyer tells us so:


This is not some back-alley body builder dealing covertly with some banned substance in some sort of secret way. This was a legitimate medical condition being treated by doctors of the top ranking order in the west coast of the United States.

We didn’t realize Dr. Nick had moved to the west coast.

Links:
[Steroid Nation]: Sly Stallone sorry for his new black eye

Categories
All Other Sports

Can the UFC finally KO boxing for good?


ESPN rode the Oscar De la Hoya/Floyd Mayweather fight for as long as they could and now that the “fight of the century” has turned out to be the biggest waste of $55 since the last “fight of the century” it looks like the mother ship is ready to give the UFC some love. You know, the same Ultimate Fighting Championship that has been criticized by the world of “legitimate” sports news for years now. Well, ESPN doesn’t care about having a consistent approach to their professional beliefs; no, they are concerned with getting ratings and selling magazines. And that’s why the Iceman Chuck Liddell will be on the cover of the May 21st issue of ESPN The Magazine.

Could this be the push that the UFC needs to become a regular fixture on Sports Center? Will we soon be hearing Stuart Scott and Scott Van Pelt trying in vain to be funny as clips of Tito Ortiz and Matt Hughes performing some ground and pound techniques roll during the voice over? Only time will tell, but one thing we do know is that professional boxing is losing steam with every 12 round, snooze fest, split decision that comes down the road. So, it’s no coincidence that ESPN has jumped onto the UFC bandwagon just as one of the most anticipated fights in recent history comes rolling around.

UFC went out of their way to lure one of Pride’s best fighters over to the U.S. and on May 26 at UFC 71, Quinton “Rampage” Jackson will take on the light heavyweight champion, and current ESPN cover boy, Liddell.

We happen to be huge fans of the whole mixed martial arts scene here at Sportscolumn and, frankly, we don’t understand why it hasn’t moved past being considered a fringe sport long ago. So it’s no surprise to us that the UFC is on the verge of blowing up to mainstream proportions, and UFC President Dana White knows that his company can provide something that no boxing promotion has been able to do for quite some time, and that is have a fight that lives up to the hype.

Saturday night is what pisses everyone off,” said White. “It’s crazy. It just drives people further from boxing. You get one fight for 55 bucks. One fight for a $2,500 ticket. You get people all excited for the buildup and then the fight ends up sucking. Both guys try to outpoint the other and win a decision.”

“In the UFC, we give you eight or nine fights, they’re all good, and the guys are fighting their asses off trying to finish it. There’s tons of energy.

Links:

[BostonHerald.com]: Liddell, White have it covered

Categories
Boxing

Top 10 Most Gruesome sports injuries: #4 Evander Holyfield

[Sportscolumn is running down the ten most gruesome sports injuries. Here’s #4]

Mike Tyson made was known for his brutal style and vicious power that made first round knockouts commonplace at one of his bouts. Iron Mike could handle his business with anyone who wanted to step inside the ropes with him, which is what made the infamous ear chomp of Evander Holyfield so bizarre. But hey, that’s what made Mike, Mike. He might knock your lights out or he might bite your ear off, nobody knew what to expect.

However, it’s safe to say that nobody expected Tyson to pull out his best Hannibal impersonation on June 28, 1997 when he took on Holyfield in front of a sold out crowd at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. But once it happened, those who weren’t either totally shocked or disgusted, began to riot and the madness spilled out of the arena and into the Vegas streets. Holyfield wasn’t seriously injured but his ears will never look the same after losing a giant chunk of flesh to Tyson’s choppers.

Tyson was suspended from boxing for the biting incident, but that didn’t stop the Tyson roller coaster from operating. But narrowing down Tyson’s whacky behavior would require an entire Top 10 list of its very own.

Back to #5 | Forward to #3

Categories
Boxing

Thai woman wins WBC light-flyweight title fight in jail


Samson Sor Siriporn is in prison for selling methamphetamines but that didn’t stop her from becoming the WBC light-flyweight champion. Not only that, by winning the fight, the Thai corrections department will begin early parole procedures.


Fighting in a makeshift ring in the grounds of the infamous Klong Prem prison with the Thai crowd chanting “fight, fight,” Siriporn was on the attack from the start and repeatedly forced Miyano on to the ropes with a barrage of punches.

Siriporn’s sparring partners also watched the fight, while transvestites in high heels and skimpy outfits were allowed out of their cells to parade around the ring with placards at the beginning of each round.

This sounds like something straight out of a Jean Claude Van Damme movie. The only thing missing is some broken glass.

We wonder what would have become of Mike Tyson’s career if he’d been allowed to fight while in prison. Would he have made enough money not to be broke now, or would Don King have stolen those funds too?

Links:
[Reuters]: Thai prisoner wins women’s world title at Bangkok Hilton

Categories
Boxing

Top 10 Most Gruesome sports injuries: #10 Hasim Rahman

[Sportscolumn is running down the ten most gruesome sports injuries. Here’s #10.]


Back in 2003, Evander Holyfield beat on Hasim Rahman until this baseball sized knot developed over his left eye. Of course, in typical Holyfield fashion, the lump wasn’t brought about by a baragae of fists alone; no, Holyfield used a pair of head butts to help create the nasty bump. The fight would eventually be ended on the ring doctor’s recommendation at the 1:40 mark in the eighth round.

After the match, Rahman said that he should have expected the head butts from Holyfield and then he spit out one of the greatest quotes in sports history.

I have a cut in the middle of my forehead, and an extra head on my head.

Well, at least you walked out of the ring with your ears intact.

On to #9

Categories
Boxing

The Devil has an audience with the Pope


Perhaps this is the end of times — Don King will have an audience with the Pope on March 21. The meeting was set up by a boxer King promoted named Luca Messi. Messi has a boxer who is a priest, and apparently with enough pull to get him in front of the pope.

Remember, this is Don King, the guy who probably pushed Mike Tyson over the edge of insanity. The guy who killed two people (for real) when he was a bookmaker in Cleveland. The guy who takes juries on nice vacations when he’s on trial for something. The guy who shortchanges his own boxers and robs some others blind. The guy who Mike Tyson claims owes him $100M. (Well, we’ll throw that one out since Mike Tyson can’t even count to 100.) The guy who dangled Vanilla Ice off the balcony of a hotel.

In any case, Don King is a bad bad man and yet he gets an audience with the pope? Something doesn’t seem right here. Only two good things can come of this. The Pope sends Don King to hell…. or Don King starts breakdancing for the Pope.

Links:
[Page Six]: DON KING IN RING WITH POPE

Categories
Boxing

Life KO’s Tapia Again


Johnny Tapia has been through hell in his life. His five world championship titles might seem like a blessing, but they are outnumbered by the amount of times that he has been declared clinically dead (6). Now, Tapia faces death once again as he lies in an Albuquerque hospital bed in critical condition after apparently overdosing on cocaine. Just two weeks ago, Tapia won a majority decision in what many believed would be his last fight. But it was clear then that the fighter had not gotten over his past demons.


Every day, I’m doing good. But if I want to go drink right now, I can,” Tapia said. “Nobody tells me what I can do or what I want to do. I’m trying to do for my family and myself, but if I want to go party, I’ll party.’

You would think that Tapia would have been scared straight by this point, but if six brushes with death won’t do the trick then number seven will probably prove to be fruitless as well. Should Tapia pull through his life threatening ordeal, he will still have to face being charged with possession of a controlled substance. But getting processed on drug charges is as routine to him as getting his hands taped up. It’s just time consuming.

Links:

[ABQJournal.com]: 5-TIME WORLD CHAMPION JOHNNY TAPIA APPARENTLY OVERDOSES ON COCAINE