CBZ News Archives: March 2006
WBC Lightweight Title Match Between Laila Ali & O'Neil Cancelled!
Story & photo courtesy of http://www.wbcboxing.com
Laila Ali and her father, Muhammad Ali
WBC Light Weight Championship Fight between Laila Ali and Gwendolyn O'Neil has been canceled or postponed. Both women, who had been training very hard for this fight, expressed great disappointment at the news.The WBC is unhappy at this turn of events. Everyone was excited at the prospect of seeing Laila and Gwendolyn get an opportunity to demonstrate their skills on a world stage.
Seon Bristol, Gwendolyn O'Neil's manager, had arranged to fly in many important people from Guyana to cheer on their hometown Champion.
There is no word on what the next step is in terms of Laila’s defense of the WBC title; however, the WBC is confident that Laila Ali will defend her World Title at the earliest opportunity. The WBC will work with this promoter, or any others, and the fighters to see that a WBC Championship match occurs in a timely manner.
Posted by juan @ 11:22 AM EST [Link]
Venezuelan Valero taken to round two for first time in 19 fights
By Joe KoizumiHard-hitting Venezuelan kayo artist Edwin Valero, 132, scored a technical knockout over Mexican Genaro Trasancos (21-8-1, 12 KOs), 130.75, to raise his unblemished mark to 19-0, 19 kayos. The fight was stopped at 1:48 of the second session on Saturday night in Kobe, Japan.
Valero's streak of first round knockouts thus ended at eighteen, but it was a good experience for him to fight the second session. Valero, 24, furiously swarmed over the taller Mexican and had him staggering time and again, but Trasancos withstood his desperate assault in the opening canto. The second saw Valero accelerate his attack and hurt him so effectively that the Mexican knelt down after absorbing much punishment. The ref Takeo Harada declared a halt then, but the groggy Trasancos protested against a stoppage. Valero displayed his power punching and entertained the audience that expected the Venezuelan puncher's quick demolition victory.
Posted by mike@cyberboxingzone.com">mike@cyberboxingzone.com">delisa @ 08:08 PM EST [Link]
Tarver-Hopkins / Media Tour New York, Philadelphia, Tampa, Los Angeles
NEW YORK, March 16- Antonio Tarver & Bernard Hopkins will kick off a 4 city media tour beginining Tuesday, March 21 in New York & Philadelphia with stops in Tampa (Wednesday, March 22) and Los Angeles (Thursday, March 23). Tarver vs. Hopkins, "Fight To The Finish", which is presented by Joe DeGuardia's Star Boxing and Golden Boy Promotions will be televised live on HBO Pay-Per-View beginning at 9pm (ET) / 6pm (PT). The terms have been agreed to, the contracts are signed; now all that's left is for boxing superstars Antonio Tarver and Bernard Hopkins to lace up the gloves and settle their score inside the ring. Will Hopkins end his career with a legendary finish, or will Tarver finish a legend? Boxing fans will find out on Saturday, June 10th at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey.Posted by jdvena@cyberbozingzone.com">jdvena@cyberbozingzone.com">jdvena @ 11:01 AM EST [Link]
Calzaghe Starts Countdown To End Lacy's Reign
Today in Manchester, England WBO Super Middleweight Champion Joe Calzaghe began the symbolic countdown that will culminate in the downfall of IBF Champion Jeff Lacy. The Welshman confidently predicted that the American's brief title reign, lengthened by the consumption of such recycled Calzaghe victims such as Omar Sheika and Robin Reid, will come to an end shortly after 2AM early Sunday morning at the cavernous M.E.N Arena. As the focal point of promoters Sports Networks' talent packed evening, the occasion will mark the first time that Lacy will enter the ring facing a true champion. Team Calzaghe trusts that the understandable concerns of Lacy fans will be allayed by the scheduled delivery of a large floral arrangement to Lacy's private post-fight suite at Manchester General Hospital. Tickets to Judgement Day can be purchased at www.joecalzaghe.com and those unable to attend in person can watch the broadcast of Calzaghe's triumphant unification on ITV in the UK starting at 11:10PM GMT while those in the US can tune into Showtime's transmission commencing at 9PM ET/PT.Posted by jdvena@cyberbozingzone.com">jdvena@cyberbozingzone.com">jdvena @ 08:39 PM EST [Link]
