Bernard Hopkins vs. Roy Jones Jr. on April 17
By Dan Rafael from ESPN
Two months after the long-anticipated Roy Jones Jr.-Bernard Hopkins rematch was left for dead following Jones’ stunning first-round knockout loss in an interim bout, the fight was resurrected on Wednesday — an early birthday present for the aging stars.
Hopkins, who will be 45 on Friday and still ranks among the best fighters in the world pound-for-pound, and Jones, who turns 41 on Saturday, signed contracts to meet in a scheduled 12-round light heavyweight fight on pay-per-view, representatives for both fighters told ESPN.com on Wednesday night.
The fight likely will be April 17 at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer, Hopkins’ promoter, said.
“We worked very hard to keep this fight alive and we got it signed on Wednesday,” said John Wirt, the CEO of Square Ring, Jones’ promotional company. “We’re ecstatic that the fight was made and we’re looking forward to a great event. There’s been a long-standing rivalry between two of the preeminent boxers of our generation. This fight will establish once and for all who is the better fighter between Bernard Hopkins and Roy Jones Jr. This is the fight Roy always wanted.”
Read the full article here.
“Hitman” Hatton to Make Comeback!
Ricky “Hitman” Hatton will return to the ring after his devastating knock out defeat at the hands of Filipino sensation Manny Pacquaio last year. The former jr. welterweight champion stated that we will make a comeback this year but the Brit does not have a date or potential rival.
“It would have to be a champion or someone well known,” The 31-year-ol Hatton stated. Hatton (45-2, 32 KOS) stated that he has had a good rest after Pacquiao knocked him out in two rounds in May of last year.
The other only defeat was against Floyd Mayweather Jr. in December of 2007.
Jhonny Gonzalez:”Nothing is Set in Stone but I am Ready to Face ‘Lacandon’ Cruz!”
Jhonny Gonzalez (42-7, 36KO) of Mexico City stated he was ready to face the current IBF featherweight champion Cristobal “Lacandon” Cruz of Tijuana, MX, by way of Chiapas.
First, Gonzalez’s promoter Oswaldo Kuchle of Promociones del Pueblo must reach an agreement with the Cruz’s team so that the fight can be scheduled for February 27th in Tuxtla Gutierrez, Chiapas, hometown of the champion.
“At the moment nothing is set in stone. My handlers are negotiating, there has been talks and hopefully we can come to an agreement with the champion,” stated the former WBO bantamweight champion. ” I would love to face ‘Lancandon’ for the title he holds. I am very motivated, we finished off 2009 with two wins and I want to earn a second title in a second division. I am ready to face him next month.”
Gonzalez began to train with the legendary Nacho Beristain after suffering a devastating knockout loss to the current WBC super bantamweight champion Toshiaki Nishioka of Japan.
“We are working once again in the gym since last week. I feel great at this weight. I have fought twice and I feel very strong at 126lbs. Nacho has given me a lot of confidence, we have fixed some mistakes, i am in good shape and mentally I feel more than ready for a world title fight,” he concluded.
AL BERNSTEIN HOSTS CROWN BOXING SHOW
Hall of Fame boxing announcer Al Bernstein will again be on hand as host of the January 22nd Crown Boxing card at the Orleans Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.
Bernstein will be available to meet and greet fans, sign autographs, and also be ringside to call the action for the card’s broadcast. The main event features cruiserweights Erick Vega and Henry Namauu.
“The cruiserweight division is one of the deepest in boxing, and the Crown boxing shows feature a number of excellent fighters in this division,” Al said, “These two young men are great examples. They should combine to make a very exciting fight, which is the hallmark of Crown cards.”
Bernstein, who is celebrating his 30th year as a broadcaster in 2010, said the Crown Boxing series “contributes mightily to Las Vegas being the boxing capitol of the world.”
ANTONIO DEMARCO: “I DARE TO SAY MY SPARRING PARTNERS ARE BETTER THAN VALERO”
Any warrior will say that when he is preparing for a battle inside a ring, his sparring partners are a very important ingredient for his success and for the interim WBC lightweight champion Antonio DeMarco (23-1-1, 17KO), who is preparing for his title bout against the absolute champion Edwin Valero (26-0, 26KO), it isn’t any different.
“It is very important, the sparring partners help me with my work and they are willing to do anything. The partners I am using right now have the right style for Valero,” DeMarco of Los Mochis but living in Tijuana, MX, said. “They are pressuring me and they are making me work. I am working on my reflexes
and working me hard, at full capacity.”
At the same time, his sparring partners have measured DeMarco’s development as he prepares for February 6th in Monterrey, MX.
“I think he is doing great, he has very solid punch. I have a lot of confidence in his punch as well as his intelligence and his ability to box intelligently,” Marvin “Cachorro” Quintero (18-2, 14KO), who is also trained by Romulo Quirarte and his sons, stated. “I think he is doing good right now and we are about three weeks away from his fight and I think he is going to get even better. I don’t think Valero will be able to stop him.”
“I help him according to the instructions of Don Romulo. I try to follow them to a ‘t’. It doesn’t matter if he gets the best of me as long as it helps him and he wins his fight. We are gym partners and whatever I can do to help him, I will.”
As well as Quintero, welterweight southpaw Israel Ornelas (7-3-2, 4KO) has laced up the gloves to help DeMarco.
“I think DeMarco has a great chance against Valero. I have seen both fight and DeMarco has power and speed,” Ornelas stated. “Valero throws a lot of punches but with what I have seen with sparring with DeMarco, I think he has enough tools to be able to handle Valero.”
“He’s smooth. He uses his distance well since he is tall. I think once he gets a little bit more speed he is going to be even better,” the undefeated Mercito Gesta (16-0-1, 7KO), of Cebu City, PI, but living in San Diego, CA, said. “I think it is going to be a tough fight for both of them. I think there is going to be some knockdowns for both of them in that fight.”
For the 24-year-old DeMarco, his sparring partners are a big part of his preparation and he believes that if he could handle them, he will not have any problems with the Venezuelan champion.
“I do think that I have the correct sparring for this fight and I do dare to say that my partners are more technically sound that Valero. Valero has power but my sparring partners are more complete boxers.”
I agree, I also won’t pay, but I’ll go to a bar and have some beers over it.
I really hate to see Hatton fights again .He keeps on hugging his opponent .It’s boring and lackluster
I will not pay to see Hopkins vs. Jones,
Interesting to see what happens now, Hopkins wants to KO Jones I bet and say he was better all along, I think Jones was better then, he should have fought Holyfield after he had won the heavyweight title from Ruiz and retire afterward as one of the greatest fighters to ever live, instead that fight never happen thanks to Don King and he went back down on weight and we know how that one ended.
I still think this is an intriguing fight to say the least, this should have happen 5 years ago, but all well, better late than ever I guess.
On the other hand, can’t wait for DeMarco Vs. Valero, this will be a real test for both fighters, DeMarco is a brawler but he has shown he can box when he needs to and has done so in his last couple of fights, Valero is a knockout artist that needs to prove him self against good competition, very interesting and very entertaining, I really can’t wait!
To bad I wont be able to make the flight, but I’ll be watching on TV.
Vamos DeMarco!
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