Oscar De La Hoya throws his hat into Clippers’ ring

Lots of potential buyers of the Clippers have come out of the woodwork since NBA commissioner Adam Silver on Tuesday brought down the hammer on current owner Donald Sterling, who was caught on tape making several racist remarks about African-Americans. Not only is Sterling banned for life, Silver said he is confident he will get the 75-percent vote of the rest of the owners to force Sterling to sell the team.

Six-Division world boxing champion Oscar De La Hoya released a statement Tuesday evening saying he would love to buy a piece of the Clippers. Interestingly, another boxer – Floyd Mayweather Jr. – has said he would like to purchase the team.

“The league has made it known that it wants more minorities involved, and as a proud Mexican-American, I will bring a different perspective to the NBA in general, and the Clippers in particular,” De La Hoya said. “I was born and raised in Los Angeles, I know what it takes to run a successful sports entity and nothing would make me happier than to bring an NBA Championship home to Southern California sports fans.”

De La Hoya weighed in on Silver’s action on Sterling.

“I applaud NBA Commissioner Adam Silver for his quick and decisive action regarding in the Donald Sterling situation, and his forward thinking will push the league toward a positive future,” said De La Hoya, 41, who last fought in December 2008. “There is no room for racism and unfair treatment in any professional sport, or in life in general. I hope to be a part of positive change for the league.”

It’s doubtful De La Hoya and Mayweather would ever join forces to purchase the Clippers as they really don’t seem to like one another much.

 

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HBO’s Jim Lampley apologizes for confusing Norwalk’s Carlos Molina with Chicago’s

HBO’s Jim Lampley on Monday issued a formal apology for the mistake he made in this past Saturday’s version of “The Fight Game with Jim Lampley.”

Lampley was previewing the May 3 card in Las Vegas featuring Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Marcos Maidana in the main event (on Showtime pay-per-view), when he came with this: “On his undercard Amir Khan is facing Luis Collazo and Adrien Broner fights Carlos Molina.  Collazo is regarded as dangerous for Khan, but Molina has spent the bulk of the past few months in jail.”

Unfortunately, the Carlos Molina who has been in jail is a junior middleweight from Chicago. The Carlos Molina who is slated to fight Broner in the junior welterweight division is from Norwalk, and he has not been in jail.

“Saturday night on the latest edition of ‘The Fight Game’ on HBO, I made an embarrassing mistake,” Lampley said in a statement. “I confused light welterweight contender Carlos Molina of Norwalk, CA  with 154-pound fighter Carlos Molina of Chicago.  Los Angeles native Carlos Molina has an important fight on May 3 versus Adrien Broner in Las Vegas.  None of the legal issues confronting Carlos Molina of Chicago have anything to do with the younger Molina.  I apologize to Mr. Molina for confusing the matter as he prepares for his important prizefight next month.”

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Bernard Hopkins beats Beibut Shumenov to unify light heavyweight division

Bernard Hopkins on Saturday won a split-decision over Beibut Shumenov of Kazakhstan in a light heavyweight title-unification bout at DC Armory in Washington D.C.

Two judges – Dave Moretti and Jerry Roth – had Hopkins winning 116-111. The third judge – Gustavo Padilla – somehow gave it to Shumenov 114-113.

Hopkins, 49, is now 55-6-2 with 32 knockouts. Shumenov, 30, is 14-

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Boxing at the Barker on tap tonight with five fights at Santa Monica hangar

Five fights are on tap tonight at the Barker hangar in Santa Monica.

Charles Martin (15-0-1, 13 KOs) of St. Louis will go against Alex Flores (14-0, 12 KOs) of Rowland Heights in the heavyweight division, former interim middleweight champion Hassan N’Dam N’Jikam (29-1, 18 KOs) of Cameroon will take on Fulgencio Zuniga (26-8-1, 23 KOs) of Colombia in the middleweight division, Chris Van Heerden (20-1-1, 11 KOs) of South Africa will go against Ray Narh (26-4, 21 KOs)) of Ghana at welterweight, Yunier Dorticos (16-0, 16 KOs) of Cuba will square off with Oklahoma native Eric Fields (24-2, 16 KOs) at cruiserweight and Emanuel Ledezma (12-1-2, 2 KOs) of San Antonio will tangle with Louis Rose (9-1-1, 2 KOs) of Lynwood in the middleweight class.

The card is being promoted by longtime television producer Michael King, who has become known in these parts as a boxing junkie.

Tickets can be charged via telephone by calling (800) 745-3000.

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HBO to show replay of Manny Pacquiao-Timothy Bradley welterweight title fight

HBO this Saturday will show a replay of the welterweight title fight this past Saturday between Manny Pacquiao and Timothy Bradley at MGM Grand in Las Vegas. It was televised on HBO’s pay-per-view arm.

Pacquiao took the title by winning a unanimous decision over Bradley to avenge the controversial split-decision loss he took at the hands of Bradley in June 2012. Pacquiao on Saturday won by scores of 116-112, 116-112 and 118-110.

HBO will also replay the fight twice on Sunday.

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Manny Pacquiao beats Timothy Bradley again, this time actually gets the decision

If you followed Twitter at all Saturday, you likely would have seen plenty of tweets saying Manny Pacquiao was rather well ahead in his rematch against welterweight champion Timothy Bradley at MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

They were correct as Pacquiao took the championship by scores of 116-112, 116-112 and 118-110. There was controversy in their first bout in June 2012 when Bradley was undeservedly judged the split-decision winner.

 

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Manny Pacquiao, Timothy Bradley weigh in for their rematch Saturday

Manny Pacquiao weighed 145 pounds and Timothy Bradley 145 1/2 at Friday’s weigh-in at MGM Grand in Las Vegas. The two will tangle for Bradley’s welterweight title Saturday (on HBO pay-per-view).

This is a rematch of their June 2012 fight that was won in controversial fashion by Bradley, who was judged the split-decision winner.

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HBO’s ‘Road to Marquez/Alvarado’ will debut on April 19

The 15-minute documentary entitled “Road to Marquez/Alvarado” will debut April 19 on HBO. It will preview the upcoming May 17 welterweight title-unification fight between Juan Manuel Marquez of Mexico and Mike Alvarado of Denver that will take place at the Fabulous Forum in Inglewood.

HBO will televised the Top Rank Inc. fight from the venue in which Marquez made his bones in the 1990s.

The winner of this fight is expected to get a shot at the winner of the April 12 welterweight title fight between champion Timothy Bradley and Manny Pacquiao at MGM Grand in Las Vegas (on HBO pay-per-view).

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Heavyweight prospect Dominic Breazeale of Alhambra ready for Nagy Aguilera

Heavyweight prospect Dominic “Trouble” Breazeale of Alhambra on Thursday night will go for his 10th consecutive victory without a loss since turning pro in November 2012, just months after he competed in the 2012 Olympic Games.

Breazeale, who has won all of his pro fights by knockout, figures to be in his toughest fight when he squares off with Nagy Aguilera (19-7, 13 KOs) of the Dominican Republic at Fantasy Springs Casino in Indio (on Fox Sports 1).

“This is a great opportunity for me and I’m truly excited to be in the ring with an experienced fighter,” said Breazeale, 28. “This fight is almost six months overdue and I’m ready to make the most of this opportunity.”

Breazeale, who is 6-foot-7 1/2, is trained by John Bray, who is equally stoked about Breazeale stepping up in competition.

“I believe Nagy Aguilera is going to put Dominic Breazeale in a position where he will have to showcase all of his skills and he is definitely prepared to do so,” Bray said.

 

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Tickets now on sale for Juan Manuel Marquez-Mike Alvarado at Fabulous Forum

Tickets for the May 17 welterweight title-elimination fight between Juan Manuel Marquez of Mexico and Mike Alvarado of Denver go on sale Tuesday (April 1) at noon.

They are priced at $35, $75, $150, $250 and $400 and can be purchased at the Forum box office, or through Ticketmaster by calling 800-745-3000 or online at www.ticketmaster.com or www.fabulousforum.com.

Anyone purchasing a ticket for $75 or $150 between Noon and 4 p.m. Tuesday (April 1) will receive a complimentary companion ticket with a limit of six purchased tickets per order.

Marquez-Alvarado will be televised by HBO.

Marquez (55-7-1, 40 KOs) made his bones at the Forum in the 1990s on his way to becoming one of Mexico’s legendary fighters. Alvarado is 34-2 with 23 knockouts.

The winner of this fight is expected to get a shot at the winner of the April 12 welterweight title fight between Timothy Bradley and Manny Pacquiao at MGM Grand in Las Vegas (on HBO pay-per-view).

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