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Boxing Insider Notebook: Pacquiao, Hopkins, Kovalev, Broner, Frampton, and more

Posted on 09/04/2014


By: William Holmes

The following is the Boxing Insider notebook for the week of August 26th to September 2nd, covering the comings and goings in the sport of boxing that you might have missed.

Manny Pacquiao Throws Out First Pitch at Dodgers Game

Manny Pacquiao took the mound at Dodger Stadium on Labor Day and threw out the ceremonial first pitch before the Dodgers vs. Nationals game.

Pacquiao was in Los Angeles as part of a 27,273 mile international media tour announcing his world championship fight against New York’s undefeated WBO Junior Welterweight Champion Chris Algieri.

Their bout will take place on Saturday, November 22nd at the Venetian Macao’s Cotai Arena. Their media tour began on August 25th and includes stops at Shaghai, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and New York.

Hopkins vs. Kovalev Press Conference Quotes

Bernard Hopkins and Sergey Kovalev are scheduled to meet on November 8th at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City live on HBO World Championship Boxing. They recently held a press conference to announce the fight and below are some notable quotes.
BERNARD HOPKINS, WBA & IBF Light Heavyweight World Champion
 
“When fighters want to fight, this is what happens. When we really want to do it and our promoters do as well, we get it done.
 
“I take everything I do extremely seriously. But people ask me, how can I continue to do this? I have no plan or timetable when I put my mind to something.
 
“I want the best. Hagler fought the best. Ray Leonard fought the best. The Alis of the world, they fought the best. I’m from the era where I fought the best and that’s important to me. I receive undisputed status in 2001 and that was special.
 
“I bloomed late. I didn’t bloom by the timing of the experts. I want to make it as difficult as possible for you to come up with a headline for me. I don’t want to be on the pound-for-pound list because that would make me human.
 
“What I’m doing now is making a new legacy and a new list and a new way to judge. ‘Where do we put this man? We can’t put him in the top 10. He’s doing things no one has done!’
 
“Enjoy this while you can and come see it. Don’t worry about when or how I’m going to leave or break down. You guys are all humans, I understand you, but you don’t understand me.
 
“The last time I heard, he [Kovalev] can box. He’s shown that he can box…People are traumatized by the punch and the knockout.
 
“I’ve been in the game for almost three decades. I look for more of what a guy brings to a gunfight other than bullets…The sweet science is not based on only one thing you can do particularly well.
 
“If he comes in the game thinking a punch is all he’ll need, he might be right, so you should watch.
 
“I’m walking a tightrope hundreds of feet in the air. He crushes people. Only three or four people survive his hammer.
 
“There’s no pressure on me but one thing that is on Bernard Hopkins – that no other fighter really has to do deal with because they’ve never been in my situation is – how I continue to keep making history
 
“Anybody at the right time and the right place can get knocked out. It is his job to do what others try to do. It is my job to do what I’ve been doing.
 
“Come November 8 on HBO you get to watch artwork. You’re watching Miles Davis and Louis Armstrong with gloves on.
 
“It’s such a testimony to see a 50-year-old man – less than 100 days from now – go 30 plus minutes with a young strong Russian puncher and not get a scratch on him.
 
“I understand humans have a timeline of when they are supposed to go. Age 35 and you’re done – I don’t care what sport you’re in. It’s a fact. I don’t know what type of evidence I need to show I’m an alien other than what is there.”
 
SERGEY KOVALEV, WBO Light Heavyweight World Champion
 
“It is not easy to overlook Hopkins. I think when he’s 60 years old he’ll be in the same condition. He’s an alien, but I have to send him to the moon and maybe from there he’ll go by himself to Mars. 
 
“I want to say that one day in Big Bear when I trained, I met Oscar De La Hoya and asked him to sign me and he turned me down, but now here we are on different sides.
 
“I am not a talker, I am a fighter and I am sure Bernard will promote the fight for both of us.
 
“I don’t really understand what Bernard is saying. It doesn’t matter what he says. Even if I understood, I wouldn’t care. I don’t worry about him. I’ll go into the ring and do my job.
 
“Bernard talks and fights. I just fight.
 
“I can’t say what the fight will be like. This is boxing and anything can happen. 
 
“It is my secret what I will do on fight night. I will give it my all and come out with the win.”
 
Boxing Author Christian Vick to be Featured in Celebrity Crimes Files Episode

Christian “CJ” Vick, biographer of former heavyweight champion Riddick Bowe, will be featured in TVONES Celebrity Crime files episode “Contenders to Pretenders: Heavyweight champions behind bars.” Ice-T is the narrator of the show for this season and the show delves into the scandals, misdeeds and mysterious deaths of prominent politicians, athletes, entertainers, executives and civil rights activists.

Lawrence Givens, executive producer of the show, stated, “ Christian’s experience was invaluable to this project. Christian’s vast knowledge of boxing and its history is more than evident. His passion for the sport is unmistakable and contagious. He displayed a level of professionalism that is always appreciated when working on a projects like these.”

Christian Vick stated,” I could not be happier about my involvement in this project. My dream my whole life was to appear on screen, and eventually direct. Be it the small screen, or the silver screen. The fact that a self-published book has led me to this opportunity is gratifying beyond words. These 3 fighters, and their narratives, are gripping, and powerful, and as boxing fan, and historian, I am excited that the world will get the chance to learn about them.”

Curtis Stevens and Hassan N’Dam to Meet on ESPN 2

ESPN 2 will televise an IBF eliminator fight between middleweight contenders Hassan N’dam (30-1) of France and Brooklyn New York’s Curtis Stevens (27-3) as part of an ESPN Boxing Special on Wednesday, October 1st, at 9 p.m. ET.

The winner will earn the right to face Sam Soliman for his IBF Middleweight Title. This contest will be televised live from the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, California. This card is promoted by King Sports.

“Over the past several months, King Sports has proven itself a legitimate player in the boxing world, and we are thrilled to televise this fight,” said Brian Kweder, ESPN Sr. Director of programming and acquisitions. “We’re pleased to be park of Michael King’s first televised event, and without question we’re expecting an outstanding line-up of fights including Stevens vs. N’Dam.”

ADRIEN BRONER, Former Three-Division World Champion:

“It means a lot to fight back here in Cincy. There’s no time like SHOWTIME. It’s just fight time right now and we’re winding down. It’s going to be an epic night and we’re going to have fun.

“He’s going to come to fight. When people fight an Adrien Broner or a Floyd Mayweather they’re going to come to fight. I’m sure he trained to his best, he’s in tip-top shape and he’s ready to go. “I learned I need to stay in shape. Before the Maidana fight it felt like I was unstoppable, I could do anything. I could just go back in the ring and everything would be normal. But after the fight I realized I have to slow down. I can still be me and have fun, but I can’t be beating up my body. I have no more flaws. I put down everything. Now I just have fun, I stay in shape and I keep positive people around “I’m still AB, I’ll give him an ass beating for sure. I didn’t come to play any games. I’m here to kick his ass. I’m not playing around. If I feel like dancing, I’m going to dance. But I’m going to get the job done and it won’t be going to a decision. “I’m not just going to fake work out for three minutes and be finished. I invite everyone out here to my workout session at the rec center so everyone can watch me give a real workout. “You have guys that give you a weak workout sometimes for the fans. I want everyone to know that I will never give you a fake workout. If you want to see a real workout you can just come to the gym.”

Ricardo Mayorga and Samuel Peter to Return on September 27th

Oklahoma City will host the return of Ricardo Mayorga (29-8-1) and Samuel Peter (34-5) at the OKC Downtown Airpark on September 27th. Former IBF Light Middleweight Champion Yory Boy Campas (102-17-3) will appear in the chief supporting bout.

All three former champions will have their opponents announced shortly. Tickets can be purchased online at www.airparkticketes.com.

If Mayorga and Campas are able to get past their respective opponents, the two former champs have agreed to fight each other next.

Kiko Martinez to Defend IBF Jr. Featherweight Title Against Carl Frampton

On Saturday, September 6th Kiko Martinez will take on undefeated Carl Frampton for Martinez’s IBF Super Bantamweight Title. The bout will be broadcast in the United States in AWE- A Wealth of Entertainment beginning at 3:30 PM ET.

Their first fight took place on February 9th, 2013 in Belfast, Northern Ireland that saw Frampton score a 9th round stoppage.

Martinez won the belt with a 6th round stoppage over Jhonathan Romero on August 17th in Atlantic City and has made two defenses of his belt since then.

Yohan Banks to Take on Joey Dawejko on September 19th

On Friday, September 19th Heavyweight Joey Dawejko will take on Yohan Banks in a featured 8-round bout at Harrahs Philadelphia. Banks has a record of 7-8-3 but is currently riding a two fight knockout streak while Dawejko has arecord of 11-4-2 and is on three fight winning streak.

Dawejko is a former world junior amateur champion and had an amateur record of 56-12 and has been fighting professionally since 2009. 

Undefeated lightweight Anthony Burgin will be on the undercard.

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