Timothy Bradley retains title with a split-decision over Juan Manuel Marquez

Timothy Bradley vowed to box more against Juan Manuel Marquez than he did against Ruslan Provodnikov in March, when Bradley defeated Provodnikov via narrow decision but sustained a concussion and was decked in the process.

Bradley kept his word and it was likely the biggest reason why he defeated Marquez via split-decision Saturday before 13,111 at Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.

Judges Robert Hoyle and Patricia Morse Jarman had Bradley winning by respective scores of 115-113 and 116-112, while Glenn Feldman had Marquez winning 115-113.

Bradley (31-0) made the second successful defense of his title.

Marquez (55-7-1), of Mexico, bemoaned the decision in the post-fight news conference.

“We came prepared to give a good fight,” he said. “I think the people saw a good performance. But unfortunately, the judges did it again.”

Marquez said that is his mind, it was the sixth time he’s been robbed of a victory. Of his seven losses, five have come in Las Vegas.

“I am more scared of the judges than the opponents,” Marquez said.

Bradley, of Palm Springs, was booed several times by the pro-Marquez crowd for moving around a lot, using those boxing skills. He defended his strategy.

“I like to step in there and fight,” he said, “but I had to listen to my corner to get this win because Marquez is a big puncher.”

Twitter Facebook Pinterest Reddit Tumblr Email Snailmail

Check out the results for fights underneath Timothy Bradley-Juan Manuel Marquez

Several fights have already taken place Saturday night at Thomas & Mack Center, where Timothy Bradley will defend his welterweight title against Juan Manuel Marquez (on HBO pay-per-view).

Brad Solomon of Lafayette, La., is now 21-0 after winning an eight-round unanimous decision over Kenny Abril (14-7-1) of Rochester, N.Y., in the welterweight division.

Light heavyweight Trevor McCumby (13-0) of Chicago won a six-round unanimous decision over Eric Watkins (10-5-1) of Morgantown, West Virginia.

Also, Mikael Zewski (21-0, 16 KOs) of Canada stopped Albert Herrera (9-10-1) in the fifth round of their welterweight bout that was scheduled for eight rounds. The bout was halted at the request of Herrera’s corner.

Also, Jun Doliguez of the Philippines is now 17-0-1 with 13 knockouts after knocking out Geovanny Caro (23-14-4) of Mexico at 2:59 of the sixth round of their featherweight bout slated for six rounds.

Twitter Facebook Pinterest Reddit Tumblr Email Snailmail

Timothy Bradley, Juan Manuel Marquez make weight for Saturday’s title fight

Welterweight champion Timothy Bradley of Palm Springs and challenger Juan Manuel Marquez of Mexico on Friday both made weight for their title fight Saturday at Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas (on HBO pay-per-view).

Bradley came in at 146 pounds, one pound under the welterweight limit. Marquez tipped the scales at 144 1/2.

Bradley, 30, is 30-0 with 12 knockouts. Marquez, 40, is 55-6-1 with 40 knockouts.

Twitter Facebook Pinterest Reddit Tumblr Email Snailmail

Report: Former lightweight champion Juan Diaz signs deal with Top Rank Inc.

Former lightweight world champion Juan “Baby Bull” Diaz of Houston has signed an 18-month promotional deal with Top Rank Inc., ESPN.com reported Thursday.

Diaz, 30, held three of the four major belts until he lost a split-decision to Nate Campbell in March 2008; it was Diaz’s first loss.

Diaz went 2-3 over his next five fights – losing twice to Juan Manuel Marquez and once to Paulie Malignaggi – before announcing his retirement after the second loss to Marquez in July 2010.

Diaz (37-4, 19 KOs) has fought twice since returning to the ring in April of this year. He is scheduled to take on Juan Santiago (14-10-1, 8 KOs) of Denver on Oct. 19 on the undercard of the Mike Alvarado-Ruslan Provodnikov junior welterweight interim title fight at 1stBank Center in Broomfield, Colo. (on HBO).

Twitter Facebook Pinterest Reddit Tumblr Email Snailmail

Timothy Bradley-Juan Manuel Marquez weigh-in to be shown live Friday on HBO

Friday’s weigh-in for the Timothy Bradley-Juan Manuel Marquez welterweight title fight Saturday at Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas will be televised live on HBO-East at 3 p.m. (6 p.m. delayed on regular HBO).

Bradley, 30, will be attempting to make the second successful defense of his belt. He is 30-0 with 12 knockouts. Marquez, 40, is 55-6-1 with 40 knockouts.

The fight will be televised by HBO pay-per-view.

Twitter Facebook Pinterest Reddit Tumblr Email Snailmail

Timothy Bradley, Juan Manuel Marquez arrivals in Las Vegas open to public

Welterweight champion Timothy Bradley of Palm Springs and Juan Manuel Marquez of Mexico will make their Las Vegas arrivals Tuesday at the south valet entrance of Wynn Las Vegas.

Bradley is scheduled to come through at 12:30 with Marquez arriving at 1. The event will be open to the public.

Bradley (30-0, 12 KOs) will defend his belt against Marquez (55-6-1, 40 KOs) on Saturday at Thomas & Mack Center (on HBO pay-per-view).

Twitter Facebook Pinterest Reddit Tumblr Email Snailmail

HBO’s ‘2 Days: Mikey Garcia’ to debut Oct. 19 after Alvarado-Provodnikov

HBO’s “2 Days: Mikey Garcia,” will premiere Oct. 19 following the interim junior welterweight title fight between Mike Alvarado and Ruslan Provodnikov.

The documentary will center on 48 hours in the life of Garcia (32-0, 27 KOs), the former featherweight champion from Oxnard who Nov. 9 will move up in weight and challenge Roman Martinez (27-1-2, 16 KOs) of Puerto Rico for his super featherweight belt from Corpus Christi, Texas (on HBO).

Twitter Facebook Pinterest Reddit Tumblr Email Snailmail

Miguel Cotto dispatches Delvin Rodriguez with third round TKO in Orlando

Former three-division world champion Miguel Cotto of Puerto Rico stopped Delvin Rodriguez in the third round of their junior middleweight main event Saturday at Amway Center in Orlando, Fla.

After hurting Rodriguez near the end of the second round, Cotto decked Rodriguez at the outset of the third, the fight ending only 18 seconds into the round.

Cotto, who was trained by Freddie Roach for the first time, is 38-4 with 31 knockouts. Rodriguez, of Danbury, Conn., via the Dominican Republic, is 28-7-3 with 16 knockouts.

Twitter Facebook Pinterest Reddit Tumblr Email Snailmail

Wladimir Klitschko defends heavyweight titles by dominating Alexander Povetkin

Wladimir Klitschko defended his three heavyweight championship belts Saturday with an ugly, yet one-sided victory over Alexander Povetkin of Russia in Moscow.

Klitschko decked Povetkin once in the second round and three times in the seventh, though one of those knockdowns appeared to be a push.

Klitschko won the 12-round bout by three scores of 119-104.

One of the worst parts of the fight was that Klitschko was allowed to get away with constantly initiating clinches and then pushing Povetkin’s head down. Klitschko was allowed to get away with that time after time, round after round.

Interestingly, referee Luis Pabon finally deducted a point from Klitschko in the 11th round for pushing Povetkin down.

Klitschko is 61-3. Povetkin is 26-1.

The fight was televised by HBO and will be replayed later Saturday as part of the Miguel Cotto-Delvin Rodriguez telecast from Orlando, Fla.

Twitter Facebook Pinterest Reddit Tumblr Email Snailmail

Ricardo Alvarez, brother of ‘Canelo’, to be featured Saturday on Fox Deportes

Ricardo “Dinamita” Alvarez of Mexico will square off with Humberto Martinez (27-7-1, 21 KOs) of Colombia in the super lightweight main event Saturday from Jalisco, Mexico (on Fox Deportes at 7 p.m. Pacific time).

Alvarez (21-2-3, 13 KOs) is the brother of former champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez. Another brother, Rigoberto, is a former interim champion.

Twitter Facebook Pinterest Reddit Tumblr Email Snailmail