MMA DOUBLE KNOCKOUT VIDEO
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RICKY HATTON-JUAN LAZCANO CONFERENCE CALL TRANSCRIPT
Posted on | May 19, 2008 | No Comments
Moderator: David Itskowitch
May 15, 2008
11:00 am PT/2:00 pm ET
David Itskowitch: Thank you very much. Thank you everybody for joining us today. We’re here to discuss the Ricky Hatton vs. Juan Lazcano fight which will be on May 24 from Manchester and will be televised here in the United States live on VERSUS at 3:30 pm Eastern and 12:30 pm Pacific Time.
We’ve got Ricky on the call, we will have Juan Lazcano on the call, Richard Schaefer and Marc Fein and I’d like to turn the call over now to Richard Schaefer, Chief Executive Officer of Golden Boy Promotions.
Richard Schaefer: Thank you, David. Welcome everybody to an exciting week next week from Manchester, England. It’s going to be a tremendous showdown between the most exciting fighter in the sport, Ricky Hatton who we all know is always fighting his very best and he will do so again May 24. He will only do so but he needs to do so because Juan Lazcano, the fearless warrior here from the United States has made a name and reputation to always come to fight. It’s going to be an exciting battle. I saw Juan Lazcano a few weeks ago down in Houston where he is training with trainer Ronnie Shields. He is in an unbelievable shape and he really is coming to win.
So it’s going to be an amazing night of boxing, 55,000 people, Manchester City Soccer stadium. Tickets, Ricky really wants to see tickets to be available to his fight fans. This is a big thank you from Ricky to all the fight fans in the UK with ticket prices starting at 35 pounds. This fight is really a historic event.
Talking about an historic event, it is as well the first time that Golden Boy Promotions and VERSUS are working together here in the United States and we hope that it will be the first of many events we will do together. VERSUS over the last few years has really established itself as well as a network for fight fans, for boxing, for sports fans, and we hope that we will be able to bring many more exciting fights of this magnitude to VERSUS.
As David mentioned, the fight will be shown live here at 3:30 pm Eastern Time, 12:30 Pacific and it is a pleasure for me now to introduce to you the Executive Vice President of Programming And Production And Business Operations, Marc Fein from VERSUS.
Marc Fein: I think it’s been everything I was going to say and I know you guys all want to speak more to Ricky than myself so I’ll be brief. But as Richard said, we’re really excited to be partnering with Golden Boy on this event. Obviously, Ricky Hatton being one of the, biggest most recognizable names in the sport of boxing for us to start a partnership with Golden Boy at this level is very exciting to watch and really will help continue to build our boxing franchise which as Richard mentioned is still its infancy at only two years old but we think we’ve established ourselves in the sport pretty good and boxing really does fit the VERSUS brand more so than a lot of, you know, other sports when you dig down deep because it’s real, it’s raw, it’s hard hitting and had such a passion on fan basis as we can see with 55,000 people coming out to see, you know, Ricky in England. So I’m really excited about it. Nick Charles and (Wally Matthews) are great expert commentators will be calling the fight and the fight will also be available in High Def on the VERSUS HD network as well so we’re excited about that.
And overall, again, just really excited to have this fight May 24 at 3:30 pm Eastern Time live and Ricky I’m happy to have you on the network.
Richard Schaefer: This fight is promoted by Frank Maloney in association with Punch Promotions as well as Golden Boy. I really want to congratulate Ricky and his staff, Ray as well for establishing Punch Promotions. It is basically a pattern which they’re following similar like what we have done here with Golden Boy in the United States to empower fighters in the UK and it is really the first big event they are doing in the UK so congratulations to the Hattons for taking a step to become a promoter in boxing as well.
Having said that, it’s really is a pleasure for me to introduce this man, it’s an honor for me, he is the current IBO and Ring Magazine World Junior Welterweight Title, both of these belts will be on the line. He is known as the Hitman, he is fierce, he is really one of the most exciting fighters, period, and he is coming off, a tremendous in Las Vegas last year against Floyd Mayweather. He really has gained exposure in fans here with the gutsy performance against Floyd and he really is a fan favorite from everywhere around the world. The fans are following him and are behind him more than ever and that of course it’s Ricky “The Hitman” Hatton.
Ricky Hatton: Thank you, Richard. It’s great to be back in action. For me, let’s just say everybody knows – obviously, it’s not my last fight and the first defeat of my career and the knockout defeat so it’s very, very important that I bounce back strong. It’s an absolute dream come true being a big Manchester City football fan to get my dream to fight at the home ground of my halos really in many ways.
So, you know, to amaze me as the – for fan base and the support but I tend to get, I mean, 35,000 Brits went over to Las Vegas to watch my fight against Floyd and that has doubled any number, doubled any number of fans that have previously gone over to support a British fight which I think some of the great British fights or battle over the years but to hold that battle so to speak is fantastic and again it turned out for the fight was Juan Lazcano 55,000 against 45,000 fans. Tickets were sold in four hours and to say, it’s incredible. I did lose against Floyd Mayweather but that was fine, the best pound for pound fight of the year and that was to move my weight division. I have been a junior welt so I attempt to fight versus the age of 70 and I think previously when I moved up so Welterweight against Collazo, we went to win the world title. So it was a struggle for me to go the case with Floyd and I think it just emphasized, you know, that I am a Junior Welterweight and that’s the title that’s for me.
My own defeat for the Welterweight Title but the fight that I didn’t lose to is the best fighter, the best 140-pound fight in the world and that’s what goes on the line well, the universally recognized Number 1 spot and a very worthy opponent Juan Lazcano. He’s one of the Top 10 now I have to say for many years, Juan has been in the Top 10 rank as the world champion. He left two defeats and have been the both the world champion for Castillo when Castillo was the Number 1 lightweight in the world and now.
So it’s very, very important when you’ve got 55,000 fans sitting up to support you the right opponent comes in and Lazcano is my kind of fighter. He is a good all around he can do pretty job than in the boxing ring but like Ricky Hatton really, really would like to give a backward step, and I say last fight when people 55,000 people wanting to come in watching boxing and they certainly got the right man in the ring for that.
So it should be a fantastic occasion, a fantastic atmosphere, I mean 55,000 fans, I’m going to make a hell of a rocket for 55,000 Ricky Hatton fans to say it will be a rocket will be an understatement and yeah, it’s my home career fight and it’s one – one of my way saying thank you to all the fans who come in over and support in my fight against Floyd Mayweather and these are the fans that have been over my last four fights I have been in the United States and not everybody in England can afford to go to the United States every time. So my way of saying thank you for all the years of support in many ways that you’ve given me and, you know, we’re going on about the number of people that have come in and, you know, an atmosphere will be, what an occasion will be.
It will only be a sensational night if Ricky Hatton gets the right result and the right performance and my training camp have gone absolutely second to none sparring partners who come in that’s been exceptional and my have got one more group and workout to my own may really have been we do the last week. We wind down our training, but to me, always the hardest training session of the training camp so I want some get that out the way. Let me just conserve energy and just count in the hours down there. I’m very excited fantastic to be involved with Frank Maloney has done a great job of putting the show together my same of Punch Promotions and also the fantastic such a continue relationship with Richard Schaefer, Oscar De La Hoya, and the Golden Boy team.
This is the move I want to make and well, in the coming but more for the future, you know, when I’m going down the road of being a promoter and it’s great of the association with Golden Boy because I think they’ve asked promotions, they have showed me and my team the professional way which in this case should be one and that’s the way that they’ve addressed over in the United States and I would like to back on board on the relationship in which would have we’ve been and I’m proud to have the association with Golden Boy and Rocky Marciano up become a great fighter because of the way they bounce back from defeat, I don’t think they would be on the all time great fighters.
So that’s the decision Ricky Hatton finds himself in. He is training very hard and if anyone knew I’ll have a trained but no, I’m not taking Juan Lazcano lightly, that’s all.
And Juan Lazcano is my type of fighter and we’re going to fight one hell of a battle and in true, Ricky Hatton’s style, nobody will be falling asleep as to the usual.
So this fight I was looking forward to it. Thank you very much.
QUESTIONS:
Dan Rafael:
ESPN Ricky, I was reading some things in the British press that you have been a little ill to the weather in the last couple of days with the chest cold or something like that — can you speak about your physical condition right now?
Ricky Hatton: Yeah. It wasn’t in the last couple of days. In fact, it’s a couple of weeks ago, probably about a week and a half to two weeks ago. I’ve got a little bit of a chest infection not – I was very chesty, coughing a lot and that so – I actually had a couple of days as far as my training goes. But I think it’s difficult and the media and made it look a lot worst and bigger than it I actually was really. I think there’s nothing really to worry about just like with any illness or any injury or any, you just got to work around the problem at the time. It was a few weeks ago and…
Dan Rafael: But you’re okay now, is that right?
Ricky Hatton: Yes, fine, in really good form. I much rather get these illnesses, four weeks to go rather than, rather than four days before the fight.
But no, in absolutely fantastic shape. I mean, these things happen really when you do a 12-week training camp. Every time you worry that you get a sniffle or an injury or something like that. No, I’m absolutely jumping out my skin and looking forward to it.
Dan Rafael: Let me ask you about following the Floyd Mayweather fight. How have you been mentally in terms of getting over that defeat and of course the way that the defeat happened being knocked out? How long did it take you to sort of come to the realization of what happened and, how are you now in the event of going to this fight?
Ricky Hatton: I’m very, very strong mentally. I mean, I’m not saying the back side of thing but sometimes when you do, soak to the defeat, that’s exactly what it tends to do, and it just gives you a little bit more, in your training and your preparation and now you go about things, because obviously, you’re once – that was back and you sealed. Once you don’t beat him, when you feel like, again, you go back a little bit more something superior really and sometimes fight is no, it can’t get be and get knocked out and then never the same again and I think that is what is in my preparation. I mean, there’s been no difference on any every training camp really. I feel I’m showing improvement, working on good things in the gym, I’m very, very positive, and, obviously, how you feel in the gym, this is how you feel in the night. I’m very strong willed and strong minded if every penny that I have in the bank and the fact that made on being a great performance and it won’t make it any difference, then I will do that in my all.
Dan Rafael: I appreciate it. Let me ask one question to Marc Fein. Are you still there, Marc?
Marc Fein: I am.
Dan Rafael: Marc, you’re doing this fight with Golden Boy, you’ve had the exclusive agreement over the last I guess two years or so with Top Rank. Can you explain where that is and are you opening the door to other promoters or you’re going to now do something exclusive with Golden Boy or is this just the one-off situation. In other words, it looks like you sort of assess where the boxing programming is on VERSUS for the coming, you know, say the next tell for long year or so.
Marc Fein: Sure. As mentioned, , we love boxing and more towards the last two years to help build it utilizing, you know, the Top Rank fight. As we are now two years into it, we’re just basically stepping back and talking to, you know, everyone including Top Rank and some other people to kind of really figure out the future. And when this fight is brought to us by Golden Boy, it’s two different opportunity obviously to pass up to be able to have Ricky and the network and we’ll, see how it does. I’m sure it will draw up some nice ratings and if it does, internally, we’ll take a look at things into the future. But right now, we don’t have any firm plans on continuing, deals or opening it up to others. We’re just kind of taking one step at a time. But when you think of Ricky and the network, you can’t pass that up. We will be in boxing.
Dan Rafael: Okay. But when is your deal with Top Rank expire?
Marc Fein: Soon.
Dan Rafael: Okay. Fair enough.
Marc Fein: Obviously, we don’t discuss the deal-specifics but it is soon expiring and again, we have a great relationship with them and they’ve done a good job with us and, I’m sure whatever we do in the future will continue to have discussions with them.
Dan Rafael: Okay, Marc. Thank you, Ricky. Good luck in the fight. I appreciate it.
Ricky Hatton: Yes, thank you.
Franklin McNeil
Newark Star Ledger: Ricky, I have two questions for you. First, was there anything you learned from your fight at 147 particularly against Floyd Mayweather or maybe helpful to get Juan Lazcano?
Ricky Hatton: Yeah. My tactics against Floyd Mayweather. I mean, in all honesty, I think, a lot of people said about we don’t severely outclassed by Floyd Mayweather, well, everyone who fights Floyd Mayweather have got really outclassed but I felt that the guy was somebody who tried to outbox him or out-speed him or anything like that. I think it’s the guy who have tactics like me but I think at times, I went a little bit old and weaker, I mean a lot of that was frustration puts in, but no, I thought really the case of I have to go back to basics but there’s one thing I’ve always been very, very good, over the years is setting my opponent officer in sharp so moving him into positions more. Those are the things that were going to outbox Mayweather but maybe it could have been a little bit more soaked in the approach. In the first couple of rounds, I was moving my head and jabbing as it was going in and that probably was working the street but some fans of Ricky Hatton sometimes, my best intention can’t go out the window and that’s what hurt me really. I mean, just to be a little bit more patient and just realize what possibility has got, not just the crash band wall approach so to speak. And that was the one I want to use against Lazcano really, I’ve got this boxing ability than Juan Lazcano and I think this fight I could make it as I wanted depending on what attitude Ricky Hatton shows up with on the night if get and made it.
Franklin McNeil: My last question for you is would you consider returning to the United States against say Paul Malignaggi if each of you guys win next week?
Ricky Hatton: Absolutely. Yeah. That is the idea of having Paul in the under card. It’s important that we concentrate on our fight, it’s mine against something Juan Lazcano and mine against Lovemore N’dou for obviously the key is for me to win my fight, Paul to win his fight. Paul impressed like it is early in last time he looked very impressive against Lovemore N’dou but the last time against Herman Ngoudjo you maybe not seem so much.
So this is the fight where with outstanding performance is. We both reestablished ourselves and then I think that that will be the fans that come to the United States and fight Paul.
Franklin McNeil: Preferably on the East Coast of the United States this time?
Ricky Hatton: Yeah I mean, whenever, that something that will have to be discussed with the teams and obviously Golden Boy, but Madison Square Garden would be a dream come true all that will in turn a trip to Vegas because me and my fans we all have a good fan there.
Richard Schaefer: You know, (Franklin), if everything goes well next week and then the idea would be to have Ricky back in the United States sometime in October, early November and there are conversations going on with the Madison Square Garden as one more possibility and Las Vegas as another one.
But we really don’t want to change it. We don’t want to really talk about it or we haven’t really done anything because I know and I Ricky knows that he is going to have his hands full with Juan Lazcano and so of Malignaggi with N’dou.
Jerry Glicks
SecondsOut.com: Ricky, with all these – all the opponents such as Malignaggi as was just mentioned and there was some talk about Mayweather again and you have your first defeat a little bit on your mind you mentioned, are you having any problems focusing?
Ricky Hatton: No, not at all. I think with that defeat from Mayweather, I think it makes it easier to focus. I have to say in this fight is what they are thinking about, I think. So no, it made easier to and maybe always, when you have your first defeat and a knockout defeat in the manner in which it was, obviously the critics in the table say, Ricky it might not never be the same again. So that – I think that is the inspiration in itself and I think if you could see me in my training camp, I was prepared, I’m always prepared. It’s getting important and now I’m prepared and a little bit more keen because obviously, we’re bouncing back from defeat but, no show in the Mayweather case.
Jerry Glicks: Talking about your training camp a little bit, you mentioned how training was going and what do you, maintain against Lazcano that you’re looking at?
Ricky Hatton: Well, I think in many, many fights, that I’ve had, like fighting which I’ve got and I outboxed him and took him apart from the outside before I moved in close and, against Ben Tackie where I was able to outbox Ben Tackie to 12 rounds and show my boxing ability and my footwork against fighter like Juan Urango.
I think that is the type of tactic I want to use for this fight. I think it’s a fight I can make and it’s always easier really. I think Lazcano is a very, very capable fighter, very good to fight but I don’t think he can beat me. I think I had him in most departments and I think if I want to make in head on I could beat him but it could be a difficult night. Maybe I won’t shine as much I should be. So I think I should use that boxing ability, that footwork and go through him – I’d like to go through a repertoire before being a little bit less intense on doing damage I think. One thing that I cannot is with the attitude is why 55,000 fans do come and watch me.
I think keep it straight ahead a sensible Hatton because the May fight, you know, a little bit easier, I mean, sometimes it do – it’s not what I intend to do that was back and show fans somewhat a little bit difference in this fight.
Jerry Glicks: Thank you.
Operator: Once again, if you’d like to post a question, please press star-1. Our next question is coming from (Manny Mayoney) of (Invideo Network Cable).
Manny Mayoney
Invideo Network Cable: First, congratulations to Golden Boy Promotions and VERSUS for joining forces.
Now, I have a question, for Ricky. Ricky, where do you see yourself if winning against Juan and would you have a rematch with Floyd Mayweather Jr.?
Ricky Hatton: I would like to have a rematch with Floyd but, it’s very easy to say that but I think that the case for me is to reestablish myself in the sense, get back to winning ways, obviously or on a fantastic performance against Juan Lazcano and just to show it’s not the fight and to show everyone that wow, Ricky Hatton got a lot, lot more to us. And obviously, then a fight with Malignaggi unification match would be, a dream coming to the United States and if I can get that fight or win that fight as well, then I would like to think I will put myself firmly back a rematch with Floyd.
And looking back to the Floyd Mayweather fight, there’s lots of things, I regret. There’s lots of things that went beyond my control but I think there’s lots of things to improve on really by the halfway stage, I think it was up for grabs but then, for some reason, some my fault, some not my fault. The last couple of rounds before the knockout it slips away a little bit but there’s no reason to think I can’t go on battle really. It’s one thing that a defeat does for you and a knockout defeat but that it give you the kick of the backside I think but opens your eyes and it makes you, look up things closer, work a little bit harder and I don’t know. Sometimes, you know, a defeat can be the best thing or you and I think there is no reason I can’t be better in the future.
Manny Mayoney: And Ricky, how do you feel, I mean, such a crowd 55,000, you know, people?
Ricky Hatton: Fifty thousand, yeah and my fans are noisier. They noise a lot, I mean, 55,000 of anyone’s fan, so I would thought Ricky Hatton’s fans.
This got an occasion, on fight. There’s the fan that we don’t an all action fight, given this all, the occasion, the manner or the performance, the atmosphere. I think you’ve got the whole package with Ricky Hatton, if you’re a boxing fan of mine. I don’t think there’s more than that comes to the table but one thing is vastly important is that the performance matters in a fight that in the occasion with the shared performance if you like. It’s all about obviously the host of the shows, direct boost for the fans, a fantastic atmosphere but, the most important thing is that Ricky Hatton bounces back and says look, I’m back and I’m back better than ever.
Manny Mayoney: That’s the great. That’s great. Now, one question. I want to ask Marc Fein.
Marc Fein: Yes.
Manny Mayoney: You know, we all know how important, how important the Hispanic market is here in the United States, especially I’d like to find out if it’s going to be broadcasted in Spanish.
Marc Fein: For this particular fight, I do not believe. We will have staff available but it is something that we are, looking into for the future for a lot of our products into the – such an important audience. But for this fight coming up on May 24, unfortunately, as of now, it will not be available.
Operator: Thank you. Our next question is coming from Tim Hobbs of Sky Sports.
Tim Hobbs
Sky Sports: I see the gym has been shocked the gym probably which, does that tell us more about the intent or more about your popularity?
Ricky Hatton: Oh, it’s not really more about my intent, although always been strong but even more so stronger with – again, not the last time out. Well, it’s more of the popularity. I think it shows in the way the tickets have gone to this fight. Forty five thousand tickets went in about four hours. So, it’s not the biggest of gym, it’s a very close knit gym But I’m not exaggerating. When you get in 50, 60, 70 people you don’t fight inside the gym. You could have four people watch in the gym in which it makes me feel very proud. We have to draw – we have to start drawing the line really. You don’t know, anybody could be putting the gym and supposedly, it’s not fair. It’s just not fair for me to fight in the gym there, it’s like, they’re all showing it for their own individual fight. I mean, it’s just the best thing to do and it’s not the case of getting as paranoid about people might think. Oh, look he got too big fan, now, he is closing the doors. It’s not that. It’s just – it was getting too invariable to where it may. It’s just there are people coming from all over the country, from London, from New Castle, from Scotland and, I’ve always been very, very proud to do it. It was just getting to work.
Tim Hobbs: Well, the Spanish, it’s been free if you’ve done it in Manchester. How much easier and how much noisier that to you and how much more of that might you feel or other the 55,000 there as your come back fight the world is watching. Is that going to be your fight you thought about boxing. You sound a lot more over that if I can say that.
Ricky Hatton: Well, I’m always, that type of guy. But, I mean, it certainly makes it easier than flying halfway across the world with an eight-hour time difference and, that is the difficult side about fighting in America but for the British fight, there across the world and, the time difference and sometimes changing climate does make it harder. But that was sort shining at the middle. It’s nice to be back really. It’s always been a dream of mine to fight in America and ( and Las Vegas and I fully enjoyed it and I’m going to go back there absolute certainty. But it is nice, to have the home support again. I don’t think there’s been a fighter, they look at me as hero and all of that. I don’t think there’s been a fight that was in the history at a fan base like I would really and it’s just – it takes my breath away really overwhelms me, the support. I don’t think that you call me fans anymore, you should calling me mate.
Tim Hobbs: When you sat down and hash this out with Manchester Stadium, did you expect it to sell out in four days?
Ricky Hatton: Well, the support I got in Las Vegas for the Floyd Mayweather fight was absolutely incredible. So when I announced the fight, I felt, it was a good chance to do in that. I mean, the last fight in Manchester three years ago, there were 22,000 and that was sold out in six hours.
So I had a feeling three years almost the same as sold in the last three years, we had a good chance to sell it out in the space and in the timing which we have sold it out. I mean, no, I did not expect that. 45,000 were sold in about four hours. Every time someone takes the photo it must be an hour to six hours and that is like mind boggling and I want to pay for the fantastic support by turning around and saying look Ricky is back. He is back stronger than ever. I mean, no one comes closer to support I have.
Tim Hobbs: Richard, I just want to ask you from a British perspective, what 35,000 people in Vegas did and Ricky what did for Hispanic and America did you expect that Ricky Hatton phenomenon the way it happened or did you take America by storms and Golden Boy indeed?
Richard Schaefer: Well, I really believe that, when it comes to fight, it’s really isn’t so much about who wins or who loses. It’s the kind of performance you put up in the ring and the kind of performance Ricky put up in the ring against Floyd Mayweather where he really went toe to toe and he was fair and he really gave at his very best, this is what fight fans, not just in the United States but around the world really appreciate and like about Ricky. They know that when Ricky Hatton is going to enter the ring, they’re going to be entertained and they’re going to get their money’s worth and they are going to have one heck of an exciting fight.
And the fact is, fight fans might have heard about Ricky but the 24/7 show and then his performance against Floyd really – he has really captured the heart of American fight fans and sport fans, period, and I have no doubt that Ricky Hatton today is bigger than he was before and more appreciated and more loved here in the United States and around the world. So I know that the American fight fans can’t wait to see him life on VERSUS and then hopefully in the fall back here in the United States. So it really is testament to Ricky and Ricky is right, there is no other fighter, period, who comes even close on being able to sell 55,000 tickets…
Eddie Goldman
Secondsout Radio: Ricky, I want to ask you about the selection of this fight of Juan Lazcano as an opponent. He has been a tough fighter but he hasn’t fought in 15 months and the last fight was the lost to Harris and Harris we know lost to Witter and then Witter just lost to Bradley. This kind of perception, this is sort of a – just a build up for the fight and the floor with Malignaggi, can you comment on that?
Ricky Hatton: Well, I certainly don’t – I certainly don’t see as that way. I mean, it’s my come back fight in the sense that, I lost my ambition, I’ve got a loss by a knockout and I think I also, there’s a lot of easier ways to be back into action I think going ahead, you know, coming out from a knockout defeat fighting in front of 55,000 I think is a testament – is Hatton working off as it is with that as the opponent. And – but I think, very good super opponent. I think if you look at my last six opponents, from Kostya Tszyu, Carlos Maussa, at the welterweight Luis Collazo, back down Juan Urango which is that another good win, Juan Urango, then knocking out Castillo, then Floyd Mayweather again, I mean, they want me to fight Klitschko, I think…it’s all about we build and then reestablishing yourself a little bit but I think the fact that Malignaggi is on the under card should’ve beat less guy, you know, I’m going to beat Malignaggi that I want to go in there and face the man that knocks me out and shows my intentions to come back strong. Let me come back, he is right down a bit at so I think he is an additional opponent. I really do. He comes to fight and well, I think the fact that I think he shows what my intentions are on the under card and then obviously that will I’m going to say negotiation is probably a little bit far fetched but we have, consider the Mayweather.
Eddie Goldman: I think the way Klitschko fought his last fight you’d be an eight-to-five favorite against him.
Ricky Hatton: We’ll have to say whether he gives the weight away.
Eddie Goldman: Thank you. But seriously, there also been reports that this might be your last fight in the UK, is there any truth to that? Obviously, going to get a huge crowd on May 24.
Ricky Hatton: Yeah, that remains to be seen and obviously I’ve signed the deal with HBO and Golden Boy this is going to be place, we’ve got the association Golden Boy for this fight. I think the concept was signed fixed place in the next fight so the intention I think is to go back to America and the intention obviously the reason by having Malignaggi on the under card is to show that is what better one to do, you can never say never. There is a good chance – this could be my last fight in England. But I mean, so thatmaybe Floyd would like to come over should I get passed Lazcano and Malignaggi to come to England. He has done so much in his career so far, there’s not much more he can do and, he has got his fight coming up with Oscar. If he is to beat Oscar again, there isn’t much more than Floyd can do maybe something that would beat come and fight out the United States for the first time and of course, I would come across to England and fight me. I have no doubt for the Floyd Mayweather fight in England. We could get 100,000 people probably on the stadium and obviously, Floyd is wanting to build his fan-based, , his popularity and appeals to the people and I think he would go down, go high, so high in people’s estimation if you wish to, go ahead and fight me in my backyard like I fight him,, in his backyard. I think he would – I mean, as if his profile and this could have gone any higher. I think a funky really go for the estimation of fight fan if he come and do that and so it’s a possibility.
So as far as fighting in England, again, it could be my last fight. But I mean, that’s possibly not wanted to see what the future holds.
Richard Schaefer: Okay. All right. Great. Thank you very much, Ricky. I appreciate your time
-END OF HATTON QUESTIONS-
Jerry Glicks
SecondsOut.com: Question for Richard Schaefer. What is the future for Golden Boy? What are you guys doing about the future by picking up known fighters? I know you have but maybe you want to talk a little bit about that.
Richard Schaefer: Well, we have signed, one of the best young fighters today with Joan Diaz from Houston and so we have great hopes for him that he will become the undisputed lightweight champion again. Then we have signed some of the young kids like Danny Garcia, Danny Jacobs, a lot of young emerging kids which really have the opportunity to become the face of boxing in the future and we have really put forward a very concentrated effort in recruiting young fighters and…
Jerry Glicks: What are you doing to recruit them?
Richard Schaefer: Well, we are working with some of the managers. We’re working with, so we’re working with managers from all over the world in Mexico and United States, in Asia, we are, matchmakers proactively involved recruiting in local boxing chains and so on so that’s what we do.
Malaya Isabella
InsideFighting.com: Mr. Schaefer, can you comment on the status of signing a rematch with Floyd Mayweather Jr. and assuming there’s nothing to report, I’m wondering if you can kind of, give some type of insight as to what that a timeline do you guys have at least for getting started with those types of inquiries?
Richard Schaefer: Well, we are working on getting everything finalized. We’re almost there. There will be most likely we will have some news to recap the next. We are working on putting together final touches to really make this fight and we are working on putting together a spectacular never seen promotion which will really capture the interest and the imagination of the boxing, sports fans, and the general public from around the world.
Malaya Isabella: And so is it fair to say that there haven’t been any real glitches? I know in the past and even before you all were Oscar sometimes has issues that few people have agreed on putting together rematches a lot of times, is it fair to say you guys have not run into any major obstacles then with Mayweather Jr.?
Richard Schaefer: No obstacles. Both fighters want it. That’s the most important thing and so there’s absolutely no issue. It’s just the matter of getting everything on paper.
David Itskowitch: All right. I’m pleased to announce we’ve finally reached Juan Lazcano who I believe is on the line right now.
Richard Schaefer: Ladies and gentlemen, it’s a pleasure for me now to introduce to you the man who is going to go to England and he is going to go to win because he waited for this opportunity for a long time to really make his mark in the sport of boxing. He was always dreaming about fighting one of the true great of the sport and here it is, here is the opportunity. He has the record of 37 with four losses and one draw, 27 KOs. He have some great match ups throughout his career including four former world champions with Jose Luis Castillo, Stevie Johnston, John John Molina and Wilfredo Vasquez and he has earned that name Juan “The Hispanic Causing Panic.”
There is a reason why he has that name and his intentions are to cause some panic over in Manchester. He is not going to be distracted by those 55,000 fans thinking there’s only one Ricky Hatton because by the time he’s going to leave the ring, his intentions are that these 55,000 people are going to seeing there’s only one Juan Lazcano.
Having said that, it’s a pleasure for me now to introduce to you, Juan Lazcano.
Juan Lazcano: We’ve got a wonderful camp. I’ve been here in nine weeks now and it’s just been absolutely a great camp for me. I have a great personal training coach, you know, and he is a nutritionist. And then I have Ron Shields, putting everything together. Just man, what a wonderful team I have and we’re prepared and ready to go and that’s it that I had.
Richard Schaefer: Great. If you want to open it up for some questions for Juan.
QUESTIONS:
Tim Hobbs
Sky Sports: When did you arrive and how do you see yourself building up to the span of few days before huge night in Manchester?
Juan Lazcano: Yes, sir. We arrived Saturday. We’re just looking forward to a wonderful fight in Manchester.
Tim Hobbs: You’re obviously aware of the huge crowd. Have you ever boxed in some of the crowd of that size before?
Juan Lazcano: No. Never
Arkansas Wrestling Academy to Host OK St Head Coach John Smith Camp
Posted on | May 19, 2008 | No Comments
BREAKING NEWS!
The Arkansas Wrestling Academy is proud to be the host of the
2008 Olympic Hopeful Training Camp
6-Time World, 2-Time Olympic Champion
and arguably the greatest American wrestler ever…
Head Coach of Oklahoma State University
JOHN SMITH!
May 30-June 7th
www.arkansaswrestlingacademy.com
6900 Pinnacle Valley Rd.
Little Rock, AR 72223
Contacts: Pat Smith at 501-519-0850 or Greg Hatcher at 501-517-4734
SIGN THIS PETITION TO GET MMA APPROVED IN SOUTH CAROLINA
Posted on | May 19, 2008 | No Comments
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UFC 84 Preview & Picks
Posted on | May 19, 2008 | 1 Comment
By Matthew Brothers
“Sean Sherk, you’re dead!” This is the message that B.J. Penn delivered to the fans in England at UFC 80 after dismantling Joe Stevenson and winning the vacated UFC lightweight championship. That is the very title that the UFC stripped from Sherk just months earlier when Sherk tested positive for steroids after his successful title defense against Hermes Franca in July of ’07. Although the California State Athletic Commission suspended him for a year and then later reduced it to 6 months after an appeal by Sherk, he still maintains his innocence and will be looking for redemption on May 24 in Las Vegas when he battles Penn. The 11-fight card the UFC presents to us next Saturday offers some other great fights as well. We can look forward to the debut of some new UFC talent and witness history as Tito Ortiz fights in what will most likely be his last bout in the UFC.
The action begins with undefeated wrestler Shane Carwin (8-0) making his UFC debut against American Kickboxing Academy’s Christian Wellisch (8-3). Carwin comes into this fight as the next highly touted addition to the UFC’s sorely lacking heavyweight division. Carwin has finished all of his opponents in the first round, his longest fight being 2:11 and the total of his 8 bouts being 7:20. Simply put, it has taken him under a round and a half to defeat eight men. Wellisch will have some momentum as he is looking to add to his current win streak inside the octagon. Both men have shown KO power as well as the ability to submit their opponents. I predict Carwin’s ground’n’pound will be too much for Wellisch and I see him winning by T/KO in the 1st round.
Liverpool’s Jason Tan (5-2) makes his return to the UFC when he takes on Korea’s Dong Hyun Kim (9-1-1) in the 2nd fight of the night. Kim is a judo expert who actually majors in the art at Yong-In University at home in Korea. He is long, lean and tall for a welterweight. He possesses great punching skills and has won his last five fights via TKO. Tan will have the slight advantage of having already fought in the UFC once and will hopefully have shaken the octagon jitters that plagued him against Marcus Davis last June when he was knocked out in the 1st round. On top of his five-inch height advantage, Kim has experience on his side and I foresee him winning the fight in the 2nd round via T/KO.
John “War Machine” Koppenhaver (5-1) comes off an impressive come-from-behind victory over fellow “TUF 6” cast member Jared Rollins to take on Japan’s Yoshiyuki Yoshida (9-2). Both men are at their best when they’re on their feet so expect a stand-up war. Koppenhaver displayed a ton of heart and an iron chin in his win against Rollins, and he’s proven that he’s not easy to finish. Yoshida is on an eight-fight winning streak, finishing six of those opponents by TKO, and he typically doesn’t let the fight go to a 2nd round. I admire Koppenhaver for his heart, but I think Yoshida will get the better of him via unanimous decision.
On just 27 days of rest since he defeated Sam Stout, Rich Clementi (31-12-1) gets right back in the mix when he takes on submission specialist Terry Etim (10-1). Etim will most likely be looking to take the fight to the ground and work his submission game against the experienced Clementi. Not being a stranger to the ground game himself, Clementi will pose a serious challenge to the younger Etim. With both fighters being such dangerous grapplers, this will come down to who has the better stand-up and I would give that edge to Clementi. I think this is a great match-up and could see the fight going either way. I’ll officially predict Clementi via submission in the 3rd round.
The much-hyped Rameau Sokoudjou (4-2) makes his sophomore appearance in the octagon against fellow UFC sophomore and Ryoto Machida victim, Kazuhiro Nakamura (11-7). With the mass amount of UFC talent cuts lately, these men both need a win to secure a future with the organization. Sokoudjou impressed everyone with his fast and devastating victories over Antonio Rogerio Nogueira and Ricardo Arona in Pride, but was brought back to reality when he was submitted by Machida back in December. To Nakamura’s credit, he was at least able to take the fight to a decision when he faced Machida, although he lost unanimously. I haven’t given up on Sokoudjou yet and I see him winning this fight via T/KO in the 2nd round.
Ivan Salaverry (12-6) is making his return to MMA after a year on the sidelines to fight another fighter debuting at UFC 84, Brazilian Top Team’s Rousimar Palhares (7-1). Salaverry has gone 4-4 in his last 8 fights, which span all the way back to his September ’02 decision loss to Matt Lindland. On the other side of the coin, Palhares career started just barely over two years ago, and will have youth as well as momentum on his side. On the feet, I have to give the edge to Salaverry because he has a proven ability to use his knees as well as his punching power to finish fights. Although Salaverry has a well rounded game, he will be in Palhares’ world should this fight go to the ground. I’ve seen very little of Palhares, but what I have seen leads me to believe he will be the first man to make Salaverry tap. I’m calling Palhares by submission in the 2nd.
The televised portion of the card will begin with Antonio Mendes (14-2) facing trial by fire as he faces the very intense, very dangerous Thiago Silva (12-0). Matchmaker Joe Silva must really see something in Mendes to start him off with such a stiff test against the undefeated Silva. Both of these guys like to fight on their feet and have the majority of their wins by TKO. They’re both capable of submissions as well, so it’s going to be very interesting to see what game plans these guys come in with. I’m really excited about this fight and see a lot of potential for war. As for a pick on this fight, I have to go with instinct and say Silva by T/KO in the 1st round.
Tito Ortiz (15-5-1) is a former UFC champion, one of the pioneers of ground’n’pound, and an MMA legend. He is the leader of Team Punishment and has built an empire based on ability, charisma, intensity, and being arguably the most outrageous personality the sport has ever known. UFC 84 marks what will most likely be the end of an era, when Ortiz fights his last match in the UFC octagon. Dana White and Tito have never hidden their disdain for each other, and White tries to send Tito packing with a loss, as he pits him against undefeated Ryoto “The Dragon” Machida (12-0). Machida is said to be the future of the 205lb. division, and with wins over B.J. Penn, Rich Franklin, and most recently Sokoudjou, it’s hard to dispute that. Machida being a very calculating and cerebral fighter will be fighting his polar opposite in the raw and intense Ortiz. It’s no secret that Tito’s typical game plan is to use his wrestling skills to get the takedown, and once on top reign down elbows and punches to finish his opponent. Ryoto on the other hand, is much like Randy Couture in that he uses intelligence and strategy to dissect his opponent and exploit weaknesses. Machida has never fought a wrestler as good as Tito so I am excited to see what his game plan will be. I cannot honestly say which fighter has the advantage on the ground or on the feet. Both men have had their share of fights go to the score cards and I believe this fight will be no different. My heart and my brain are battling each other trying to pick a winner. Ultimately, my brain wins and Machida will be the victor of this fight by unanimous decision. The real question is, will the UFC brass give Tito a chance to say goodbye, or will they immediately cut to a UFC 85 promo? That Hughes-Alves fight looks great doesn’t it?
The final UFC debut of the night belongs to Croatian Goran Reljic (7-0) as he takes on fellow light heavyweight Wilson Gouviea (10-4) of American Top Team. We last saw Gouveia at UFC 80 as he weathered the storm that is Jason Lambert and when it seemed he was about to be finished, he dropped Lambert with a devastating left-hand that immediately ended the fight. Reljic enters the octagon as a jiu-jitsu expert with a penchant for taking his opponents arm home with him after the fight. I can only imagine that Reljic will look for the takedown and work his submission game. Gouveia has proven to be better-rounded and will not be easy to submit by any means, he is a fierce competitor and has oodles of heart and a chin that takes a licking and keeps on ticking. I’m picking Gouveia by T/KO in the 2nd round but I’m looking forward to seeing how Reljic can perform in the big show and I invite him to prove me wrong.
Ever hear of MMA math? A good example of it is if Keith Jardine (13-3-1) beat Chuck Liddell and Chuck Liddell beat Wanderlei Silva (31-8-1) so Jardine has to be able to beat Silva right? Wrong. I am a huge Keith Jardine fan which makes me a little biased, but I think that Wanderlei is a terrible style match-up for him and the proof will be in the pudding when Silva wins by T/KO in the 3rd. When Liddell was defeated by Jardine, it was because Chuck’s counter-punching style was muted by Jardine’s get in and get out strategy. It worked for Jardine in that fight and he has the check in his win column to prove it. Silva, however, is not a counter puncher. He is a dangerously crisp striker who can take a punch and keep moving forward. I know how intelligent Greg Jackson (Jardine’s trainer) is and how he likes to take a holistic and strategic approach to the fight game, so maybe Jardine will surprise us all and go for the takedown to avoid Silva’s hands? Who knows? The only sure thing about this fight is if Jardine wins, he has to be in line for a title shot at 205. Should Jardine and Machida both win, I’d love to see a fight between them to establish a #1 contender.
B.J. Penn (12-4-1) has been dubbed “The Prodigy” for a reason. He can strike with accuracy and speed, he can wrestle, and he has some crazy flexibility with submissions for days. Alternately, Sean “The Muscle Shark” Sherk (32-2-1) and his “caveman training” regimen, make him one of the most well conditioned athletes in the world, and he’s going to be relying on just that if he hopes to beat Penn on the 24th. It’s no secret that Penn’s weakness in the past has been his gas tank. He hit empty against Matt Hughes and Georges St. Pierre resulting in his defeat both times. I see Penn having every advantage in this fight short of the aforementioned stamina issues, and although he has great wrestling skills, Sherk is one of the game’s best in that department. Sherk will not want to stand with B.J. and he will most certainly be looking to take the top position and work his grinding ground game and punish Penn. That is much easier said than done however, and even if he should manage a takedown on Penn, keeping him down is another story. I definitely favor Penn to win this fight by submission, a feat never accomplished against Sherk, and I see it happening in the 3rd round. Sherk has been heavily criticized in the past for his lack of excitement and his “lay and pray” ground game. Say what you want about Sherk, he boasts an incredible record and his only losses come from Hughes and St. Pierre who are welterweight elites. This bout will be emotionally charged for both men as Sherk looks to prove he’s the real champ at 155, and the belt was his all along, whereas Penn will look to solidify his place in MMA history and take one step closer to becoming the best of all time, because “that’s not too much to ask is it?”
Tags: Antonio Mendes > Antonio Rogerio Nogueira > B.J. Penn > Brazilian Top Team > Christian Wellisch > Chuck Liddell > Croatian > Dong Hyun Kim > Goran Reljic > Hermes Franca > Ivan Salaverry > Japan > Jason Tan > jiu jitsu > Joe Silva > Joe Stevenson > John Koppenhaver > Kazuhiro Nakamura > Keith Jardine > kickboxing > Korea > Las Vegas > Liverpool > Matt Lindland > Matthew Brothers > Penn > Rameau Sokoudjou > Randy Couture > Ricardo Arona > Rich Clementi > Rich Franklin > Rollins > Rousimar Palhares > Ryoto Machida > Sam Stout > Sean Sherk > Shane Carwin > Sherk > Team Punishment > Terry Etim > Thiago Silva > Tito Ortiz > TUF 6 > UFC 80 > UFC 84 > Wanderlei Silva > Wilson Gouviea > Yoshiyuki Yoshida
UPCOMING EVENTS!! MCC AND AFL (Get your poster on our site for just $5)
Posted on | May 17, 2008 | No Comments
Tags: advertising > cheap advertising > event advertising > event posters > fight posters > mma events
BOSTON BOXING RESULTS: “Diamonds in the Rough”
Posted on | May 17, 2008 | No Comments
RESULTS FROM BOSTON
(Freeport Hall in Dorchester, MA)
May 17, 2008 – “Diamonds in the Rough”
(winners on top and in bold)
HEAVYWEIGHTS
Tyler Hinkey (3-0-1, 2 KOs), Reno, NV
WDEC4 (40-36, 39-37, 39-37)
Mike Miller (3-11-2, 3KOs), Akron, OH
SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHTS
Edwin Rodriquez (6-0, 5 KOs), Worcester, MA
WTKO4 (1:07)
Anthony Cannon (4-9, 1 KO), Atlanta, GA
MIDDLEWEIGHTS
Mark DeLuca (5-0, 3 KOs), Whitman, MA
WDEC6 (40-35, 40-35, 40-35)
Anthony Osbourne (7-27-1, 2 KOs)
JUNIOR WELTERWEIGHTS
Jesus Caro (1-0, 1KO), Providence, RI
WTKO1 (1:24)
Levaniel King (0-2), Reidsville, NC
FEATHERWEIGHTS
Robert DaLuz (11-11-2, 9 KOs), Jacksonville, FL
WDEC6 (59-55, 59-55, 56-58)
Castulo Gonzalez (9-6, 3 KOs), Lynn, MA
Jose Sanchez (3-0, 1 KO), Providence, RI
WDEC4 (40-36, 40-36, 39-37)
Harvey Phillips (0-5), Cleveland, OH
Promoter: Peter Manfredo, Sr.
-PM-
Tags: Boxing > Dorchester > fight results > Freeport Hall > Let's Get It On! > MA > Manfredo
EliteXC’s Robbie Lawler On “CBS 2 Sports Central” Sunday/Tomorrow Afternoon At 3
Posted on | May 17, 2008 | 1 Comment
Fans in the Southern California area can catch EliteXC middleweight champion “Ruthless” Robbie Lawler live on “CBS 2 Sports Central” with Jim Hill and Steve Hartman tomorrow/Sunday, May 18, at 3 p.m. PT.
Lawler, of St. Louis, will defend his EliteXC belt against Sacramento’s Scott “Hands of Steel” Smith in the co-featured fight on “CBS ELITEXC SATURDAY NIGHT FIGHTS” on the CBS Television Network on Saturday, May 31 (9 p.m.-11 p.m.) from the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J.
The Lawler-Smith slugfest will be one of five fights aired during the first-ever primetime mixed martial arts event on network television.
In other May 31 fights on CBS, Kimbo Slice, of Perrine, Fla., will face England’s James “Colossus’’ Thompson, Brett Rogers of Minneapolis takes on Jon Murphy of Philadelphia, Gina Carano of Las Vegas will meet Kaitlin Young of Circle Pines, Minn. and Phil “NYBA” Baroni of Long Island, N.Y., will collide with Joey Villase?or of Albuquerque, N.M..
The historic event is presented by Los Angeles-based ProElite, Inc.’s, live fight division, EliteXC.
Tags: CBS 2 > Robbie Lawler > Southern California > sports central
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