Marquez wins via KO!

Lightweight Juan Manuel Marquez (50-4-1, 37 KOs) scored a spectacular ninth round KO over Juan Diaz (34-2, 17 KOs) to claim the vacant WBA super and WBO lightweight titles, as well as Diaz’ IBO belt on Saturday night at the Toyota Center in Houston. It was a fierce all out war in which Marquez absorbed Diaz’ heavy pressure early, then broke down the “Baby Bull,” dropping him twice in the ninth. Time was 2:40. A definite fight of the year candidate.

Ricky Hatton – Manny Pacquiao Presser

IBO and Ring Magazine Junior Welterweight World Champion Ricky Hatton (Left) and Five Division World Champion and Ring Magazine Number One Ranked Pound For Pound Fighter Manny Pacquiao (Right) pose in Manchester, England on February 28, 2009 at the press conference to announce their May 2, 2009 bout at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada which will be televised live on HBO Pay-Per-View in the United States and Sky Box Office in the United Kingdom.

All Photos by Tom Hogan /GBP

Chavez Sr. talks smack on Beltran

According to a recent post by pasiondeportiva.info, the legendary Julio Cesar Chaves Sr. stated that his sons Omar and Julio Cesar Jr. will not continune their careers with Tijuana promoter Fernando Beltran of Zanfer Promotions. Chavez Sr. went as far as to cancel the March 28th fight of Chavez Jr. in Tijuana, MX.

“Beltran is a fraud and my sons will no longer fight in his fight cards,” JC commented as he took part of the weekly meeting between the media and the WBC orchastrated by Mr. Jose Sulaiman.

Zanfer promotions, thru their Director of Public Relations Guillermo Brito declared that the March 28th fight card continues as programmed and that JC Chavez Sr.’s comments will not alter the plans.

“The fight is going to happen, in fact Julio Jr. has intensified his training for the mega fight that we are staging in Tijuana,” Brito declared. “We are ready for the fight card on March 28th, as far as for Chavez Sr., we hope that his comments are spur of the moment and I hope that in the coming days the relantionship is back to normal.”

ADAMEK SCORES THRILLING KNOCKOUT

It was all right hands on Friday’s ShoBox: The New Generation. International Boxing Federation (IBF) cruiserweight champion Tomasz Adamek (37-1, 25 KOs) successfully defended his title against Johnathon Banks (20-1, 14 KOs) with a win by technical knockout at 1:30 of the eighth round.

In the evening’s co-feature, Giovanni Lorenzo (27-1, 19 KOs) impressed the crowd with a second-round knockout over Dionisio Miranda (19-3-2, 17 KOs).

The event, promoted by Main Events and Ziggy Promotions, in association with K2 Promotions took place from The Prudential Center in Newark, N.J.

The 26-year old Banks, fighting out of Emanuel Steward’s Kronk Gym in Detroit, Mich., was seeking the world renowned gym’s first world title in 25 years.

Banks opened with four solid rounds behind an impressive jab and a powerful right hand.  Showing his class and ability in his first world title fight, Banks had his eye on the prize.

Juan Marquez 134.25 vs. Juan Diaz 134.5

From the Toyota Center, downtown Houston for tomorrow night’s “Supremacy” card televised on HBO and promoted by Golden Boy Promotions.

For the WBA, WBO, IBO and Ring Magazine lightweight titles:
Juan Manuel Marquez 134.25 vs. Juan Diaz 134.5

Diaz, proud of his hometown and without a doubt faces the hardest challenge of his career stated: “This is the kind of fight that motivates me to give everything.  That is why I trained so hard, that is why I sacrificed a lot.  To face a fighter like Juan Manuel Marquez, that doesn’t happen every day,” Diaz stated.  “That is why on Saturday I will not be ‘Torito’ but ‘Toro’ since I don’t have any doubt that I will defeat a great like Marquez,” he predicted.

“I don’t like to talk much outside the ring.  Everything I like to say, I will say it inside the ring with my fists and I am confident that I will be victorious this Saturday,” Juan Manuel Marquez said.

Floyd Mayweather vs. Shane Mosley ?

Golden Boy Promotions recently offered the former five divisional champion and former pound for pound king Floyd “Pretty” Mayweather Jr. $8Million to face current WBA welterweight champion Shane Mosley.  The retired Mayweather made a counter offer of $20Million guaranteed for his comeback according to a report swirling thru the internet.

Bob Arum, CEO of Top Rank, stated to AOL Latino that the amount Mayweather Jr. is asking is crazy.

“Nobody and no fight against Mosley or Pacquiao or anybody else is worth a guaranteed $20Million,” the veteran promoter stated.

“Nobody is going to give him that amount to fight Pacquiao, Mosley or even Jesus Christ!,” Arum said incredously.

Never the less, Arum did hint that Mayweather Jr. might return to the ring in 2009.

Get Ready for “The Gold Rush”!

See champs of the future at upcoming boxing show

Now is your chance to see the prizefighters of tomorrow at the “2009 Gold Rush” Amateur Boxing Show! The action-packed evening will take place NEXT FRIDAY, March 6 at the El Monte Expo Center in El Monte, California.

You will see a “gold mine” of talented young fighters compete in this USA Boxing-sanctioned show hosted by Steve Harpst Bronzes, Jarhead Entertainment and Adolfo Perez Jr.
Future Golden Gloves Champs and Olympians will continue their quest for glory, and you get a golden opportunity to watch the shining, bright hopefuls of all ages square off in the ring and have their hands raised in victory.

The show features 12 bouts of action, special entertainment, surprise celebrity guests and fighters, a fundraising raffle and more, with onsite refreshments available. Some of the best amateur prospects will be goin’ for the gold–don’t miss out on seeing their dreams come true as you help support the local area boxing clubs in attendance.

Manny Pacquiao in London

Pilipino icon Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao is greeted by bellman at the Grosvenor House hotel as he arrives in downtown London for a mega UK media tour to announce his upcoming World Jr. Welterweight championship fight against Ricky “The Hitman” Hatton on May 2 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Pacquiao and Hatton will stop first in Manchester Saturday to hold a press rally at the Trafford Center-Great Hall along with a friendly darts competition later in the day. On Sunday,Pacquiao will tour London followed by a press conference Monday at the Imperial War Museum.

“I am looking forward to the promotional tour that will be held in London and Manchester this weekend as I have received tons of emails from English boxing fans, who are one of the most passionate in the world. Even if it’s going to be hostile territory for me-as Ricky Hatton comes from this boxing-crazy country-I know that I will enjoy every minute of my brief stay there as I have heard a lot of great things about England, its notable people, its amazing culture and its proud history, ” said Pacquiao. ” After my trip to England, I will proceed to Los Angeles so I could kick off my preparation for Ricky Hatton, who is one of the world’s most exciting fighters.”

Bernard Hopkins and Shane Mosley

WBA Welterweight World Champion Shane Mosley (Left) and Two-Division World Champion Bernard Hopkins (Right) pose on February 26, 2009 at Toyota Center in Houston, Texas while attending the Houston Rockets vs. Cleveland Cavaliers basketball game as they promote the February 28, 2009 world championship fight between Ring Magazine World Lightweight Champion Juan Manuel Marquez and Three-Time and Current IBO World Lightweight Champion Juan Diaz at Toyota Center which will be televised live on HBO’s World Championship Boxing.

All photos by Tom Hogan/GBP

Watch Juan Manuel Marquez vs Juan Diaz

By Ruben Anguiano, Marquez vs. Diaz. On Saturday night February 28th, hometown hero Juan “Baby Bull” Diaz (34-1, 17 KO’s) will face the Ring magazine lightweight champion Juan Manuel “Dinamita” Marquez (49-4-1, 36 KO’s) for the IBO, WBA, and WBO championship. Both coming from dominant victories in 2008, Juan Diaz punished Michael Katsidis in 12 rounds and Marquez giving Joel Casamayor his first knock out loss in 41 bouts.

With Manny Pacquiao moving up in weight, this fight will define if Diaz has what it takes to be the king in the lightweight division. Marquez will be the biggest opponent in Diaz’s young career. Diaz must prove to the world he has what it takes to beat down a legend and possibly make Marquez think about hanging his gloves once and for all.

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