Boxing FanHouse

David Haye Wants to Be Heavyweight Champ: In Boxing and in UFC

Michael David Smith — Wed, 14 May 2008 19:29:00 EST

Filed under: Boxing, Fighting, MMA, MMA/Boxing

The British boxer David Haye is the undisputed cruiserweight champion of the world, but people just don't pay any attention to cruiserweights. So Haye is giving up his cruiserweight title and will fight at heavyweight, where he thinks he can unify the belts, even though he'll be fighting guys significantly bigger than him.

But Haye's ambitions don't end with being heavyweight champion of the world in boxing. Haye says he also wants to try his hand at mixed martial arts. From The Sun:

"It's just another challenge. I like to set myself goals and tasks and fighting for the UFC heavyweight championship would be a real big thing for me.
"I'd do whatever was required to get that win.

"I'm a fighter, through and through - any kind of competition.

"I'd be a big underdog and I'd actually like that. I like people writing me off."

The fact that Haye knows he'd be the underdog is a good sign -- a sign that he realizes how difficult it would be to make the transition from boxing to MMA. If he's serious about it, I think Haye does have the kind of body type, punching power and athleticism to take up the sport even at the late age of 30 or so (he's now 27) and succeed.

But would he want to? Right now he'd be taking a pay cut if he signed on with UFC, but maybe in a few years that wouldn't be the case.

David Haye Wants to Be Heavyweight Champ: In Boxing and in UFC originally appeared on Boxing FanHouse on Wed, 14 May 2008 19:29:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Sean Sherk, B.J. Penn Pass Tests, but 'There's More Drug Usage in MMA Than Boxing'

Michael David Smith — Thu, 01 May 2008 12:47:00 EST

Filed under: Boxing, Fighting, PEDs, MMA, MMA/Boxing

David A Avila of MSNBC has a report on drug testing in mixed martial arts that provides some good news and some bad for the sport.

First, the good: The two headliners for the main event in the upcoming UFC 84 show, Sean Sherk and B.J. Penn, were both administered unannounced drug tests last month, and both passed. Sherk was suspended and stripped of his lightweight title after he tested positive for steroids last year, and it would have been a huge black eye for UFC if he had failed another drug test.

But here's the bad news: California State Athletic Commission executive officer Armando Garcia says the drug problems in mixed martial arts are real, and more significant than in boxing:

"We have 120 shows in boxing and 60 in MMA and the numbers coming out are super high," said Garcia. "It's a no-brainer. There's more drug usage in MMA than boxing."

As MMA gets more mainstream, drug use within the sport will get more scrutiny. The sport needs to be prepared for that scrutiny.

Sean Sherk, B.J. Penn Pass Tests, but 'There's More Drug Usage in MMA Than Boxing' originally appeared on Boxing FanHouse on Thu, 01 May 2008 12:47:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Everyone Knows Boxing Pays More Than UFC -- Or Does It?

Michael David Smith — Thu, 01 May 2008 10:48:00 EST

Filed under: Boxing, Fighting, MMA, MMA/Boxing

When heavyweight champion Randy Couture left UFC, he did it because he said his pay wasn't commensurate with his contributions to UFC. And since then, he has frequently talked to the media about the way UFC pays far less than boxing.

But Kevin Iole has a great piece at MMA Junkie that delves into the actual pay earned by boxers and UFC fighters. And the bottom line is that when you consider that UFC awards bonuses and allows fighters to sell ad space on their trunks, the pay is actually better than most people realize.

When Frank Mir beat Brock Lesnar, for instance, his base pay was only $40,000. But he got a win bonus of $40,000, a submission of the night bonus of $60,000 and $85,000 from the companies whose logos appeared on his shorts. All in all, $225,000 for that fight was an impressive haul, and more than any other promoter would have paid him to fight Lesnar.

Couture is a smart guy, and if he thinks he can make more money outside UFC than he can in it, he's probably right. But Couture is one of very, very few MMA fighters who can make more outside UFC -- and he wouldn't have gotten to that position without the promotion he got in UFC.

Everyone Knows Boxing Pays More Than UFC -- Or Does It? originally appeared on Boxing FanHouse on Thu, 01 May 2008 10:48:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Randy Couture: All UFC Fighters Combined Make Less Than Floyd Mayweather

Michael David Smith — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 12:59:00 EST

Filed under: Boxing, Fighting, MMA, MMA/Boxing

Former UFC heavyweight champ Randy Couture was a guest on the Opie and Anthony Show with, of all people, Pat Cooper, and he discussed payment for mixed martial arts fighters (Warning, foul language):

(Via MMA Mania) When asked if the money is getting better, Couture said, "I think that's one of the things that needs to change in our sport."

Couture then added that every single UFC fighter combined makes less money for all of the organization's pay-per-view shows than Floyd Mayweather makes for one boxing match. (Mayweather is the second-highest-paid boxer in the world; Oscar De La Hoya is first.)

Couture said he has "no beef" with UFC President Dana White, but he just wants to get paid a fair market value for his work and that won't happen while he's under contract to UFC. I think Couture is basically right that the fighters in UFC aren't paid enough, but I also worry that fighters leaving UFC for greener pastures would be good for their short-term financial gain but bad for the long-term health of the sport.

One other interesting note from the interview: When Cooper asked Couture whether his opponents are ever afraid, Couture said, "Some guys are, you can see that."

Randy Couture: All UFC Fighters Combined Make Less Than Floyd Mayweather originally appeared on Boxing FanHouse on Tue, 29 Apr 2008 12:59:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Roy Jones Says Dana White Called Off Boxing Match With Anderson Silva

Michael David Smith — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 11:23:00 EST

Filed under: Boxing, Fighting, MMA, MMA/Boxing

This whole idea of Roy Jones taking on UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva in a boxing match never made a whole lot of sense, and now it appears to be officially off.

According to Jones, UFC President Dana White has prohibited Silva (who has an exclusive contract with UFC) from partaking in the event because he's worried it would look bad for the UFC if Jones easily out-boxed Silva. Tim Smith of the New York Daily News reports:

"I don't see how it could discredit the UFC," Jones said. "The guy has boxed before and he's a tall, slick, left handed fighter. That gives everybody problems. It would be a good fight. As fighters we're supposed to be trying to do things that amaze people and make history. This could have been something that people really wanted to see.

"I just think it's wrong not to allow him (Silva) to get the opportunity to live out his fantasy to be in the ring with one of his heroes. That's the kind of thing that boxing promoters usually do."

I don't think it would discredit the UFC for Silva to lose to Jones, either, but I also don't think it would make sense for White to allow his organization's greatest fighter to take time out of mixed martial arts to give boxing a try. There are times when White is overly restrictive in his contracts with his fighters, but this is not one of those times.

Roy Jones Says Dana White Called Off Boxing Match With Anderson Silva originally appeared on Boxing FanHouse on Tue, 08 Apr 2008 11:23:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Will Roy Jones Box Anderson Silva? Promoter Says 'Roy Likes the Idea and Is Up for It'

Michael David Smith — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 19:04:00 EST

Filed under: Boxing, Fighting, MMA, MMA/Boxing

UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva is on the record as saying that he would like to box Roy Jones.

But would Jones, the 39-year-old who was once the best boxer in the world, be interested in such a fight? According to Mike Chiapetta of NBC Sports, Jones is very interested -- and he and his promoters are in preliminary talks to make it happen.

Alan Hopper, director of public relations for Don King Productions confirmed that talks are ongoing, and characterized them as "preliminary."
"Roy likes the idea and is up for it," Hopper said. "It's being discussed. Roy will only agree if the match takes place under the rules of boxing, and UFC would have to clear Silva's participation."

That last part is the reason I don't believe this is going to happen. Why would UFC President Dana White, who has Silva under contract, agree to let him engage in a boxing match in which he would be heavily favored to lose? Silva is one of the best things going in mixed martial arts, and from UFC's perspective, he should stick with mixed martial arts.

Will Roy Jones Box Anderson Silva? Promoter Says 'Roy Likes the Idea and Is Up for It' originally appeared on Boxing FanHouse on Mon, 24 Mar 2008 19:04:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

UFC Champion Anderson Silva Will Be a Huge Underdog if He Boxes Roy Jones

Michael David Smith — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 15:47:00 EST

Filed under: Boxing, Fighting, MMA, MMA/Boxing

I don't think UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva is actually going to give up mixed martial arts so he can enter the boxing ring with Roy Jones Jr., as he says he wants to do.

But if Jones and Silva do step into the ring without kicks, knees, chokes or arm bars allowed, suffice to say that Jones will be a very heavy favorite.

The betting site Bodog has posted these odds for a potential Jones-Silva boxing match:

Roy Jones Jr. -2800
Anderson Silva +1400

In other words, if you think Jones is going to win, you'd have to wager $2,800 just to win $100. If you bet on Silva to win and you get it right, you can win $1,400 just by betting $100. For the wager to count, the fight would have to take place in 2008 under boxing rules.

I don't think Silva's contract with UFC would allow him to box Jones, and even if the contract did allow it I don't think it would make any sense for Silva to box Jones, but if he's actually serious about this, maybe he'll bet a little money on himself and make it a profitable endeavor. Or maybe he'll get crushed.

UFC Champion Anderson Silva Will Be a Huge Underdog if He Boxes Roy Jones originally appeared on Boxing FanHouse on Thu, 13 Mar 2008 15:47:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Anderson Silva Wants to Box Roy Jones?

Michael David Smith — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 16:59:00 EST

Filed under: Boxing, Fighting, MMA, MMA/Boxing

The first couple of times I heard that UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva wants to box Roy Jones Jr., I just thought the whole thing was silly. But a lot of fight fans are talking about it, so I guess it's worth addressing.

For those who haven't heard, the manager for Silva, the most dominant fighter in UFC, told MMA Weekly, "Anderson really would love to fight Roy Jones, Jr. in a boxing match. It's not just talk, we really would like to put that fight together."

But what I can't figure out is why. Silva would almost certainly lose to Jones, but on the off chance that he won, everyone would just say it's because the 32-year-old Silva is in his prime and the 39-year-old Jones is past his. What does Silva have to gain from such a fight?

I can sort of see why a boxer might want to try mixed martial arts: Although he'd have to learn a lot of new skills to successfully fight in MMA, a boxer could at least use all of the skills he has honed in boxing and try to take mostly a stand-up fighting approach to MMA.

But going in the other direction, from mixed martial arts to boxing, makes no sense. Silva has spent years working on Muay Thai-style kicks and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu grappling. Why would he now want to try a sport in which those skills aren't used?

The whole thing makes no sense, and I don't think it will happen. But it has had a lot of fans talking in the last couple of days, and that answers the question of why Silva would want to do it: Enough fans are curious about it that it would make him more money than any UFC fight will.

Anderson Silva Wants to Box Roy Jones? originally appeared on Boxing FanHouse on Wed, 12 Mar 2008 16:59:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Kimbo Slice Would Like to Fight Mike Tyson

Michael David Smith — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 07:06:00 EST

Filed under: Boxing, Fighting, The Word, MMA

Kimbo Slice, the Internet phenomenon who went from backyard brawler whose fights were on YouTube to mixed martial artist whose fights are on Showtime and pay-per-view, appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live, and an interesting name came up as a potential future opponent:

When Kimmel asked, "Is Mike Tyson someone you would like to fight?" Slice said, "Yeah."

I think Tyson really is retired -- not just "retired" like so many fighters who aren't really finished -- but I must say, if he ever wanted to fight Slice, it would be one of the all-time greatest freak shows in the history of sport. And that means it would make everyone a lot of money.

As for the guy he's fighting next weekend, former UFC star Tank Abbott, Slice said, "I don't think nothing about Tank."

The conversation also got a little personal. Kimmel asked Slice if he conditions his beard, and Slice said, "I take care of it because it takes care of me." Kimmel told Slice, "It really is one of the shiniest, cleanest-looking beards I've ever seen."

And then it got really personal. Kimmel said to Slice, "Have you ever had a romantic relationship with a man? Be honest."

Slice replied, "No, man."

Kimbo Slice Would Like to Fight Mike Tyson originally appeared on Boxing FanHouse on Fri, 08 Feb 2008 07:06:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

With Undercards, UFC Beats Boxing

Michael David Smith — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 21:09:00 EST

Filed under: Boxing, Fighting, MMA

As a fan of both sports, I don't have much interest in engaging in the boxing vs. mixed martial arts debate. But I will say this: One of the reasons UFC is catching up to boxing in popularity is that the undercards in UFC are more exciting than the undercards in boxing.

I'm currently watching the undercard to tonight's Roy Jones-Felix Trinidad fight (which I'll be live blogging), and the first fight is an intriguing one, between old pro DeMarcus "Chop Chop" Corley and promising 20-year-old prospect Devon Alexander. But there are hundreds if not thousands of empty seats, and the fans who are in the stands are talking on the phone, talking to each other or talking to themselves, not watching the fight.

Another fight on tonight's undercard features a fighter just about everyone knows, Andrew Golota (pictured). But have you heard anyone talk about tonight's Golota fight? I haven't.

Contrast that with the undercard for today's UFC 80 (which I live blogged). Every seat was full from the very beginning, and I heard from a lot of fans who were interested in the UFC 80 undercard fights, including Marcus Davis vs. Jess Liaudin and the return of Gabriel Gonzaga.

The bottom line is that with boxing, you feel like you're shelling out your pay-per-view bucks solely for the main event. With UFC, you feel like you're getting a three-hour show. And that's one of the reasons UFC is surging.

With Undercards, UFC Beats Boxing originally appeared on Boxing FanHouse on Sat, 19 Jan 2008 21:09:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Wladimir Klitschko on Floyd Mayweather Leaving Boxing for MMA: 'He'd Get Hurt'

Michael David Smith — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 16:43:00 EST

Filed under: Boxing, Fighting, MMA

Floyd Mayweather has so thoroughly dominated boxing that he has indicated he's considering giving the sport up and trying a new challenge: mixed martial arts. I think Mayweather could be great at MMA, but most people disagree with me. And one such person is heavyweight boxing champ Wladimir Klitschko, who said in an interview on ESPN today that he sincerely hopes Mayweather stays out of MMA.

"Please, Floyd, don't do it," Klitschko said. "I think he'd get hurt."

"There are so many difficulties from changing one sport you've been doing for a long time and swithcing to something else. ... I wish he'd stick with boxing."

I think Klitschko and others who don't think Mayweather could succeed in MMA are right that MMA is an incredibly difficult sport to take up, but wrong in underestimating how phenomenal an athlete Mayweather is. If you told me Klitschko were taking up MMA, I'd tell you Klitschko was about to get the severest beating of his life. But Klitschko is nowhere near the athlete Mayweather is, and I firmly believe that if Mayweather wants it badly enough that he trains for it with all his energy, Mayweather could make the transition.

Wladimir Klitschko on Floyd Mayweather Leaving Boxing for MMA: 'He'd Get Hurt' originally appeared on Boxing FanHouse on Wed, 02 Jan 2008 16:43:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Floyd Mayweather Could Be an MMA Champ

Michael David Smith — Sat, 22 Dec 2007 09:56:00 EST

Filed under: Boxing, Fighting, MMA

The news that Mark Cuban is in talks with Floyd Mayweather about joining up with Cuban's mixed martial arts organization isn't particularly surprising: Cuban seems serious about making a splash in MMA, he and Mayweather are friends, and Mayweather has made noises before about wanting to give the sport a try.

But the question is this: Could Mayweather actually compete in MMA?

I think he could not just compete but thrive. As a fan of both sports, I have to say that I think Mayweather is a better all-around athlete -- in terms of his endurance, his agility, his quickness of hands and feet -- than anyone in mixed martial arts. Obviously, once an experienced fighter gets him on the ground he's in serious trouble, but getting a guy with Mayweather's athletic abilities on the ground is easier said than done.

Mayweather would probably take a year or more to train, and maybe fight a few stiffs, before he would step into the cage with a legitimate MMA fighter. But once he's done that training, I wouldn't bet against him.

Floyd Mayweather Could Be an MMA Champ originally appeared on Boxing FanHouse on Sat, 22 Dec 2007 09:56:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Larry Hazzard: I Was Fired for Opposing Unsafe Practices in Boxing, MMA

Michael David Smith — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 05:36:00 EST

Filed under: Boxing, Fighting, MMA

This week New Jersey Attorney General Anne Milgram fired the state's top official overseeing boxing and mixed martial arts, Larry Hazzard.

Now Hazzard says that he was fired because he wrote a letter to the governor expressing concerns about whether fighters in New Jersey were being imperiled. The Newark Star-Ledger reports that the letter documented Hazzard's belief that an employee of the State Athletic Control Board had sanctioned mixed martial arts mismatches, allowed a fighter to fight even though that fighter had not provided proof of a negative HIV test, and allowed promoters to shop around for doctors who would clear their fighters to fight.

For Milgram's part, her spokesman just said she fired Hazzard because, "It was time for a change." She's going to need to do better than that. Hazzard had been on the job for 22 years and was one of the most important figures behind the scenes of both boxing and mixed martial arts. Milgram needs to explain why it was time for a change, and whether she's bowing down to the state's powerful casino lobby, which wants fights to draw fans into casinos and doesn't always have time for little things like making sure the fighters aren't risking their lives in the ring.

See more at FightOpinion.com, USA Today, Press of Atlantic City, Philadelphia Daily News and the New York Post.

Larry Hazzard: I Was Fired for Opposing Unsafe Practices in Boxing, MMA originally appeared on Boxing FanHouse on Fri, 16 Nov 2007 05:36:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Report: New Jersey Removes Larry Hazzard as Top Boxing/MMA Official

Michael David Smith — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 06:19:00 EST

Filed under: Boxing, Fighting, MMA

The Home News Tribune is reporting that the attorney general of New Jersey has removed Larry Hazzard from the office of Commissioner of the State Athletic Control Board, a position that he has held for 22 years and that has made him one of the most powerful figures in boxing and, more recently, mixed martial arts.

Kim Ricketts, a senior administrator in the Division of Law and Public Safety, delivered the news to Hazzard on behalf of state Attorney General Anne Milgram around 4 p.m. in Trenton, two boxing sources said Wednesday night.

Deputy commissioner Sylvester Cuyler is the state's acting boxing commissioner, according to a source.

The sources requested anonymity because the news was not released to the public. Attempts to reach Hazzard, who was escorted out of the building upon receiving the news, were unsuccessful.

"This is a shock," one of the sources said.

New Jersey will host UFC 78 on Saturday night, the first time in two and a half years that UFC has had an event in New Jersey.

Hat tip: Fight Opinion.

Report: New Jersey Removes Larry Hazzard as Top Boxing/MMA Official originally appeared on Boxing FanHouse on Thu, 15 Nov 2007 06:19:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Sugar Ray Leonard Likes Rampage Jackson

Michael David Smith — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 13:54:00 EST

Filed under: Boxing, Fighting

Notes on an excursion to Bristol.

Many boxers disparage mixed martial arts. Sugar Ray Leonard is not one of them.

At the ESPN headquarters in Bristol on Friday to promote The Contender, Leonard said that as the sport of mixed martial arts has evolved, his appreciation for it has grown.

"When I first saw it, many years ago, before it was regulated, I squirmed," Leonard said. "But I like the fighters now."

Leonard mentioned Quinton "Rampage" Jackson, the Ultimate Fighting Championship light heavyweight champ, as a fighter he particularly respects. (He likes the chains Rampage wears, too.) He's also a fan of B.J. Penn.

And although the shows appear on competing networks, Leonard says he likes what UFC has done with The Ultimate Fighter, a show that is basically the same as The Contender, just with mixed martial arts instead of boxing. Leonard says he believes sports need stars, and reality shows are a good way to create them.

Sugar Ray Leonard Likes Rampage Jackson originally appeared on Boxing FanHouse on Fri, 31 Aug 2007 13:54:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

George Foreman: 'I Love the UFC. I Love It'

Michael David Smith — Sat, 18 Aug 2007 08:59:00 EST

Filed under: Boxing, Fighting

Former heavyweight boxing champion George Foreman is not one of those boxing guys who attack UFC and make themselves look like horse-and-buggy manufacturers insisting that the motorcar is a passing fad. In fact, Foreman had this to say in an interview with Kevin Iole of Yahoo! Sports:

"I love the UFC. I love it," Foreman said. "If they had had that back when I was coming up, in 1966, it would have been my sport. Man, I love it. And you know what? Nobody would have pulled the rope-a-dope on me."

Foreman thinks highly of the 44-year-old UFC heavyweight champion Randy Couture, who's defending his title a week from today at UFC 74. But Couture would have to hold his belt for a couple more years to match Foreman's longevity.

Hat tip: UFC Mania.

George Foreman: 'I Love the UFC. I Love It' originally appeared on Boxing FanHouse on Sat, 18 Aug 2007 08:59:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Bob Arum: 'There's More Steroids and Drugs in the UFC Than the Tour de France'

Michael David Smith — Sat, 04 Aug 2007 09:53:00 EST

Filed under: Boxing, Fighting

Add promoter Bob Arum to the long list of people involved with boxing who have no use for the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Arum said in an interview with Mr. Sunshine that UFC is "a terrible example" to children, and he went off regarding steroids in UFC:

"I'm not a pharmacologist so I'm not qualified for the UFC. There's more steroids and drugs in the UFC than the Tour de France. They'd better clean up their act. Because I don't care if I am 110, it's disgraceful to be involved in a so-called sport where every other athlete is using prohibited drugs.
And if (UFC President Dana White doesn't like it) then let him test the guys before they go into the match, not after, where 50 to 60 percent of the guys flunk a drug test."

I'm not sure where Arum gets that 50 to 60 percent figure, but there has been a rash of positive steroid tests in mixed martial arts, and until that gets cleaned up, the sport will be hearing more of this.

Overall, though, Arum is foolish to go after UFC. There's plenty of room in the sporting landscape for both boxing and mixed martial arts, and the boxing guys who attack UFC just make themselves look like horse-and-buggy manufacturers insisting that the motorcar is a passing fad.

Bob Arum: 'There's More Steroids and Drugs in the UFC Than the Tour de France' originally appeared on Boxing FanHouse on Sat, 04 Aug 2007 09:53:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Oscar De La Hoya, Are You Worried About UFC? 'No, Not At All'

Michael David Smith — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 09:01:00 EST

Filed under: Boxing, Fighting

Oscar De La Hoya is a good boxer, but he might be a better businessman. He promotes his own fights and other fighters' fights and will continue to make a fortune in boxing after reaching an age when most retired fighters have blown their savings.

So his take on the boxing vs. mixed martial arts debate is particularly noteworthy. And in an interview on ESPN Radio this morning, De La Hoya said mixed martial arts doesn't have much of an impact on his business. Asked if he worried that the Ultimate Fighting Championship could siphon fans away from boxing, De La Hoya said:

"No, not at all. Not at all. Because, for instance, if you have Manny Pacquiao vs. Marco Antonio Barrera, you're going to do great on pay per view, you're going to fill up the arenas. It just depends on the match making. If you match up two of the best fighers in the world, people will come. So are we worried about UFC? No, not at all. Let them do their thing. We're doing our thing, and we're happy with that."

De La Hoya is right that a fight between two great boxers still generates more pay-per-view buys than a fight between two great mixed martial arts fighters, but the biggest problem with boxing is that the great fighters don't get into the ring together often enough. Let's hope that in his career as a promoter, De La Hoya can change that.

Oscar De La Hoya, Are You Worried About UFC? 'No, Not At All' originally appeared on Boxing FanHouse on Fri, 13 Jul 2007 09:01:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Kimbo Slice Beats Ray Mercer

Michael David Smith — Sun, 24 Jun 2007 06:17:00 EST

Filed under: Boxing, Fighting

Kimbo Slice is an underground fighter with no formal training in any type of martial arts, but he showed Saturday night that he can beat a legitimate (if washed up) fighter in beating former heavyweight boxer Ray Mercer, who won an Olympic gold medal in 1988.

In a fascinating profile in the Miami Herald, Dan LeBatard describes Slice's appeal:

Kimbo's fists have made him money for a long time now, near dumpsters and in boatyards and in all that violent footage you can find on shaky hand-held cameras all over the Internet. Entourages keep bringing their biggest bouncers and bodyguards and convicts to fight him, hoping to prove that their guy is the baddest man in all of Miami, but all they leave with is a more deformed friend.

Kimbo is sculpted, skilled, raw and seemingly oblivious to pain. He let one huge shirtless dude take free unprotected shots at his face with fists and elbows before turning the muscle-head's face into grotesque and bloody ground beef. It will be interesting to see what he can do against a trained professional instead of some street thug.

Slice and Mercer are an unlikely pairing, with Mercer coming up the "right" way -- amateur champion to professional boxer, and Slice coming up the "wrong" way -- a bunch of street fights. Now that he has beaten Mercer, Slice will be a hot commodity, although UFC is likely to keep its distance from him.

Kimbo Slice Beats Ray Mercer originally appeared on Boxing FanHouse on Sun, 24 Jun 2007 06:17:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Kimbo Slice to Fight Ray Mercer

Michael David Smith — Sun, 17 Jun 2007 09:45:00 EST

Filed under: Boxing, Fighting

You probably don't know who Kimbo Slice is. Heck, I really don't know who Kimbo Slice is. His Wikipedia entry refers to him as an "underground fighter," and that's probably the best way of describing him. Some of his underground brawls have become popular on YouTube, as have some of his training videos, like this one (which includes a swear word):

So that's Kimbo Slice, but this is why he's now in the news: He's about to have his first sanctioned mixed martial arts fight, against Ray Mercer, the former heavyweight boxer who won the 1988 Olympic gold medal. I had my doubts that the Slice vs. Mercer fight would ever take place, but the Philadelphia Inquirer reports that it really is going down on June 23.

What will happen? Mercer is 46 years old. Slice is more freak show than fighter. I'm picking Mercer to win, and anyone who buys tickets to this event to lose. And yet there's a part of me that wants to see this.

Kimbo Slice to Fight Ray Mercer originally appeared on Boxing FanHouse on Sun, 17 Jun 2007 09:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments