TYSON SETS DATE
The suits at SHOWTIME are neither confirming or denying that they have told Cable and
Satellite Dish Companies that former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson will lace 'em up on
January 16, at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
FOE IS A FAT EUROPEAN
Brian Nielsen couldn't lick a stamp if you wet his tongue for him. But the Dane has
amassed 44 wins without a loss against "handpicked" opponents. A fair
description of Nielsen would be that he is a White version of Buster Mathis Sr.
WHAT HAPPENS TO GEORGE-LARRY?
One week later, also on Pay Per View it's suppose to be the fight between old timers
George Foreman and Larry Holmes. If you are going to do something on PPV, its a good bet
to either have the month to yourself, or have your event air prior to that of the
opposition.
FOREMAN HAD TO HAVE EVERYTHING HIS WAY
This fight should of happened a long time ago. The only reason it didn't, was that Foreman
feared the one time piston like jab of Larry Holmes. Now that Holmes is fatter and slower,
and that no one else will pay Foreman to fight anybody else, we have the "Geriatric
Heavyweight Championship of The World."
JANUARY 23, IN HOUSTON?
Probably not. I was told that promoter Roger Levitt has to come up with some additional
coinage to satisfy both Foreman and Holmes. This is due today. If he doesn't, all the
monies given the two up front is their's to keep.
SMITH ON TRACK A WEEK AGO
Levitt's advisor Harold Smith told me last Friday that everything was "a go" as
planned for January 23. On Thursday, both Levitt and Smith were unavailable for comment.
JORRIN-LARIOS MOVES TO DEC 18, ON "THE DEUCE" ESPN 2
ESPN 2 has decided to have their November 21, show in Las Vegas and not Sacramento, CA in
order to pump up the De la Hoya-Quartey battle the following night. But promoter Don
Chargin, who has a license to promote in Nevada, opted not to bring the card to Sin City
and will instead do Jorrin-Larios in Sacramento as planned on Friday December 18.
TWO GUYS WITH A LOT ON THE LINE
Jorrin, an unbeaten (22-0) super bantam who bested Wayne McCullough as an amateur in
Ireland, is a streaking fighter. It will be interesting to see if Larios, 28-1, can deal
with Jorrin's hand speed.
MAGIC, FINKEL, FERNANDEZ TOO?
Who is running the Mike Tyson ship? Is it Shelley Finkel, or Magic Johnson? I'm told all
that posturing Magic Johnson did Monday at the NSAC meeting where Nevada ruled to give
Tyson back his boxing license, was just that.
Posturing!
For now, Finkel remains the man.
MAGIC WARREN'S MAN?
That's what I keep hearing. That Magic has agreed to promote fights in association with
British promoter Frank Warren whose big star is Naseem Hamed. But Warren has fallen on
hard times of late as Don King has been putting the Legal screws to Warren for bolting to
HBO with Hamed last year.
CHECKS BOUNCING?
I was just told that the pay checks for certain Warren employees, including his Rugby
team, were not being given the workers/players. What King did was in effect
"freeze" Warren's assets.
COURT BATTLE IN UK
I asked King last week about Warren. "I'm kicking his ass in his own court. He should
of never done me that way, all of what I did for him. He's got to pay."
HAMHEAD ARRIVES FRIDAY IN A.C.
Naseem Hamed will arrive in Atlantic City tomorrow to finish up his training for Wayne
McCullough, who he will fight October 31, at Bally's Park Place Casino. HBO will televise
Hamed's second fight on US soil, with the starting time being at 11 PM ET on Halloween.
REID PREDICTION CUT BY TWO ROUNDS
I predicted in my Mid Week Crisis column that "Golden Man" David Reid would not
allow unbeaten James Coker to hear the bell ending the sixth round. Well, I just cut that
prediction from six rounds to four.
Reid, 10-0, (7 KO's), will run through Coker, (20 -0, 14 KO's) with ease for win #11.
HOLYFIELD-LEWIS IN SOUTH AFRICA? NO WAY!
Having passed up the chance to spend eight days in South Africa for the WBC Convention
next week, I can tell you that this dribble about Holy and Lennox hooking it up in the
land of Mandela is just that.
17 HOURS FROM LONDON
That's how long to takes to get to South Africa from the UK. Add another 10 hours for
those of us who live in the sun (California) and you can see why there won't be too many
wise guys on line to get ringside seats for this one.
HOFFMAN TALKS DOWN NEED FOR CHRISTY
"Huffin" Stan Hoffman is the manager of female phenom Lucia Rijker. While
appearing on Ring Talk this past Sunday, the New York based manager tried the old reverse
psychology on Christy Martin and her handlers.
"We just don't feel we really need Christy. Our job is to keep fighting on TV, and if
Christy wants it, we will be ready. But we're not going to wait around for her, She could
of had $1 million dollars to fight Lucia. What does she make fighting bums for Don? Maybe
10% of that."
RIJKER RETURNS...
Either November 20, on ESPN 2, or it'll be an appearance on the Oscar De La Hoya-Ike
Quartey card that'll be on TV KO PPV November 21, from the Thomas and Mack Arena in Las
Vegas.
CHEAP SEATS GONE!
The $50 and $100 tickets were sold out as of Thursday morning. You can still get tickets
by calling Caesar's palace at 1-800-634-6001 and ask for the fight ticket office.
YOU COULD WIN...
Two tickets to the De La Hoya-Quartey fight and two nights at the Imperial Palace Hotel in
Las Vegas (November 20 & 21) just by listening to Ring Talk, this Saturday and Sunday
nights on the Talk America radio Network(s) with LIVE Internet audio for both shows at www.talkamerica.com
Saturday night from 11:06 PM ET, Ring Talk airs for two hours on the Talk America
"1" Radio Network.
Ring Talk Sunday is an hour long and is heard on the Talk Amewrica "2" Radio
Network aka "The Deuce."
BOTH the TALK "1" and TALK "2" Networks have separate LIVE Internet
audio available at www.talkamerica.com
ENTER BY PHONE OR E MAIL DURING SHOW
Either way, your name will be thrown into a hat and the winner will be notified on
November 4, with the official on air announcement coming during Ring Talk on November 7!
BIG GUNS COME OUT SATURDAY NIGHT
Shane Mosley, the world lightweight champion at 29-0, 27 KO's, will be taking your phone
calls on our toll free lines (US & Canada) and electronic mail.
ONCE BEATEN POCKET ROCKET "TOO"
Wayne McCullough will also appear seven days shy of his 12 round duet with Naseem Hamed on
HBO. A surprise guest who I cannot disclose at this time may also make a cameo.
FRIDAY NIGHT FIGHTS X 2
FOX SPORTS NET
Hector Camacho Jr. starts things off on FOX Sports Net from Atlantic City. The little
"Harlem Heckler" will face Fred Curiel in a 10 round jr. welterweight matchup.
HEAVYWEIGHT TO KEEP AN EYE ON!
In the main, unbeaten heavyweight Monte Barrett, 18-0, with 12 stops will engage former
WBA champ (for a minute) Greg Page in a 10 rounder. Barrett
wants to move through the division at a brisk pace and sees Page as nothing more than a
stepping stone.
I just saw Greg last month while doing my thing as part of the International TV crew in
Atlanta for Evander Holyfield and Vaughn Bean.
STUNNED, I DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS HIM!
The Louisville, KY native looked trim and spoke well during our brief chat. Page wants a
MONEY fight and thinks Barrett is too green right now. A win over the highly touted
Barrett puts Greg right back in the heavyweight mix.
First bout: 8 PM ET.
ESPN 2 AKA "THE DEUCE"
Hector Sr. headlines an ESPN 2 card from West Chester, VI that Mike Acri is promoting. The
"original" Harlem Heckler will face Ken Siguarani, who was once former WBA 135
lb. champ Ray Mancini's charge.
Pedro Fernandez
The writer has his own site at www.fighters.com and
can be reached at flash@inow.co