Monthly Archives: September 2013

It’s understandable that Bernard Hopkins won’t pick a winner for Mayweather-Alvarez

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Ageless light heavyweight champion Bernard Hopkins is in a tough spot. He fights for Golden Boy Promotions, so he might feel almost obligated to pick stablemate Saul “Canelo” Alvarez to beat Floyd Mayweather Jr. in their junior middleweight title fight Saturday at MGM Grand in Las Vegas (on Showtime pay–per-view).

Then again, he might want to pick Mayweather because he is favored and most think he’ll win. Well, Hopkins took the easy way out, and that’s understandable.

“This fight is 50-50,” Hopkins said. “It can go either way. Floyd has speed and wisdom. ‘Canelo’ is strong and big. This is a massive fight and the outcome will impact both of their careers in a major way.”

Hopkins, 48, will defend his title against Karo Murat on Oct. 26 at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City (on Showtime).

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Former heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis picking Mayweather over Alvarez

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Not all, but most fighters and reporters are picking Floyd Mayweather Jr. to defeat Saul “Canelo” Alvarez in their junior middleweight title fight Saturday at MGM Grand in Las Vegas (on Showtime pay-per-view).

Count former heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis among them.

“Mayweather will win because of his speed and experience,” Lewis said. “He’s been at this level before, so that will also be an advantage. He’s the best until proven otherwise. ‘Canelo’ is talented, young, strong and dangerous. Makes it all the more exciting.”

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Mayweather, Alvarez make weight before a crowd of 12,200 at MGM Grand

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There were plenty of people in the boxing industry who wondered if Saul “Canelo” Alvarez of Mexico would be able to make the 152-pound catch-weight for his junior middleweight title fight Saturday at MGM Grand in Las Vegas (on Showtime pay-per-view).

No problem. Alvarez on Friday weighed in at exactly 152 pounds before an almost unbelievable crowd of 12,200. That is not a misprint. Over 12,000 for a weigh-in. That should tell everybody just how big this fight has become.

The 152 pounds is two under the junior middleweight limit.

It was not going to be an issue for Mayweather. Although he has fought at junior middleweight twice before,  he is more of a welterweight. He weighed 150 1/2 pounds Friday.

Afterward, Alvarez said he had already weighed in before the weigh-in, so he was not concerned..

“I was calm as of yesterday because I knew I was going to make the weight,” he said.

Alvarez was asked about the enormous crowd, most of which was cheering for him.

“I’m happy with all the support from my fans, and tomorrow I’m going to reward them with a victory,” he said.

All that was through a translator. Before exiting the interview, in English he said, “I was born ready.”

Mayweather received some applause and lots of jeers. But just like Alvarez, his mid-section was ripped.

“I got the best trainer in the world in my corner,” he said of his father, Floyd Mayweather Sr. “(I’m) 44-0. Saturday, 45-0.”

Mayweather, 36, is 44-0 with 26 knockouts. Alvarez, 23, is 42-0-1 with 30 knockouts.

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Mike Tyson gives his thoughts on Floyd Mayweather Jr.-Saul Alvarez fight

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Former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson this week weighed in on Saturday’s junior middleweight title fight between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Saul “Canelo” Alvarez at MGM Grand in Las Vegas (on Showtime pay-per-view).

Not surprisingly, he’s picking Mayweather.

“I’ve only seen ‘Canelo’ fight twice – against (Josesito) Lopez and (Austin) Trout,” Tyson said. “Trout gave him some trouble and he isn’t as experienced and as technically skilled as Floyd is. Floyd stays in tip-top shape and is a very relaxed fighter. He is at his peak. It’s going to be hard for anybody to beat Floyd now unless he doesn’t train.

“Floyd has transcended the game so much that the best fighters out there now try to emulate his style. Floyd wins by a decision.”

Mayweather is 44-0 with 26 knockouts. Alvarez is 42-0-1 with 30 knockouts.

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Showtime executive urges boxing fans to tune into football show for surprise

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Stephen Espinoza, executive vice president of Showtime Sports, on Wednesday urged boxing fans to tune into the top of the CBS college football broadcast Saturday at 12:30 p.m. (PT) for a surprise.

Showtime is televising Saturday’s Floyd Mayweather Jr.-Saul “Canelo” Alvarez junior middleweight title fight from MGM Grand in Las Vegas on its pay-per-view arm.

“Be sure not to be late,” Espinoza said at the final news conference for the fight.

Showtime is owned by CBS.

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Floyd Mayweather Jr. not shy at final news conference with Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez

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Floyd Mayweather Jr. had a cool quote Wednesday at the final news conference promoting his junior middleweight title fight against Saul “Canelo” Alvarez on Saturday at MGM Grand in Las Vegas (on Showtime pay-per-view).

Mayweather touched on Alvarez’s record, which is 42-0-1 with 30 knockouts.

“I’ve been here before, so I know what it takes,” Mayweather said. “He’s 42-0, but he hasn’t faced 42 Floyd Mayweathers because he’d be 0-42. I’m at the pinnacle. I’m the face of boxing and I’m dedicated to my craft.”

Mayweather, 36, is 44-0 with 26 knockouts. Alvarez, of Mexico, is 23.

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Catch today’s Floyd Mayweather Jr.-Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez news conference

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Today’s final news conference for Saturday’s junior middleweight title mega fight between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Saul “Canelo” Alvarez will be streamed live from MGM Grand in Las Vegas at 12:45 p.m.

The proceedings can be viewed via YouTube, UStream and www.sports.sho.com.

Saturday’s card will be available on Showtime pay-per-view.

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Golden Boy matchmaker Eric Gomez bummed about Oscar De La Hoya’s plight

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Eric Gomez, matchmaker for Golden Boy Promotions, is typically a happy-go-lucky guy. But he was bummed out Tuesday night hours after his childhood friend and boss – Golden Boy president Oscar De La Hoya – had for the second time checked himself into a rehabilitation clinic because of substance abuse.

De La Hoya will not be on hand Saturday when his fighter – Saul “Canelo” Alvarez – takes on Floyd Mayweather Jr. in a junior middleweight championship mega fight at MGM Grand in Las Vegas (on Showtime pay-per-view.)

“It’s a little hard, it’s a little tough,” Gomez said via telephone from Las Vegas. “It was something that was very important that, you know, there’s nobody that would want to be here more than him. And for him to do this, at this time, it was serious. And all we can do is support him and love him and give him all our support.”

De La Hoya previously checked himself into a rehabilitation clinic in 2011.

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Tune in to MGM Grand arrivals for Floyd Mayweather Jr., Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez

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Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Saul “Canelo” Alvarez will make their MGM Grand arrivals today ahead of their junior middleweight title fight there Saturday (on Showtime pay-per-view).

Alvarez is slated to arrive at 3 p.m. with Mayweather coming through at 3:30.

Other arrivals will include Lucas Matthysse at 2:30 and Danny Garcia at 2:45. They will tangle for Garcia’s super lightweight championship in the semi-main event.

The arrivals are open to the public. For those not there, they can be viewed live online at www.Sports.SHO.com/live, www.mayweatherpromotions.com and www. goldenboypromotions.com.

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Rico Ramos finds lightning with his left hook, knocks out Velasquez in 10th

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Rico Ramos of Pico Rivera appeared to be losing his fight with Carlos Ivan Velasquez when, in the 10th and final round of their featherweight bout Saturday at Fantasy Springs Casino in Indio, he knocked out Velasquez with a crushing left hook at 1:36.

Ramos, a former world champion, is now 22-3 with 12 knockouts. Velasquez, of Las Vegas via Puerto Rico, is 15-1. After Velasquez was knocked out, a man who looked like he could be his brother, jumped from his seat and climbed into the ring to help.

The man, who was totally distraught, was removed by security.

Velasquez was on the canvas for several minutes, but eventually made it to his feet.

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