What took 180 Days in the past, Goossen Tutor Promotions and their fighters have established a new timetable…”Around the World in 40 Days.”
The journey started on June 7 and concludes on July 16.
The updated short story follows:
June 7, MOHEGAN SUN, UNCASVILLE, CONNECTICUT, SHOWTIME:
Paul Williams started it all in incredible fashion in recapturing his WBO Welterweight Championship with a first round knockout of then-champion Carlos Quintana. Williams was out to prove his superiority at welterweight and certainly did so with an exclamation point at the end. The “most feared man in boxing” once again demonstrated the reason why.
Williams gives boxing its youth back, to the future.
What’s Next:
Attempts to make the following fights have been met with a resounding NO! Oscar De la Hoya; NO…Shane Mosely, NO…Kelly Pavlik, NO… even though Williams has zero problem making 147 pounds, he and his trainer (George Petersen) were enthusiastic on the possibility of fighting Pavlik at 160 pounds and making a big fight for the industry. Discussions with Bob Arum were positive, except after all the substraction of dollars there was no money left for Williams. Williams gives up 13 pounds; gives up height; gives up strength; gives up power…oh and gives up money…the one thing he doesn’t give up is his heart…that’s why Pavlik/Top Rank said “No Deal”…maybe Paul should pick on someone his own size in the welterweight division…this is a classic example of why we call him the “most feared man in boxing” rather than “the most feared man in the welterweight division”…even the middleweights shy away.
What happened to the real champions like Hagler, Leonard, Hearns, and Duran? They never looked to avoid a big challenge, especially when they had real champions willing to fight right in front of them?
Maybe Bob doesn’t want Williams to clear house at Top Rank. Margarito was first; Pavlik was Williams next choice to make his second Top Rank victim; and for the Trifecta its Cotto or bust (if he beats the man that Williams already beat in Margarito). Maybe Bob isn’t so crazy after all?
June 20, GEORGE TOWN, GRAND CAYMAN, SHOWTIME:
Sole 2004 Olympic Gold Medalist Andre Ward thoroughly dominating before knocking out 2000 Dominican Olympian Jerson Ravelo for the NABO Super Middleweight Championship. This makes it 6 straight knockouts since moving up to 168 pounds. Although the world championship bout is around the corner, Ward will have at least two more bouts in 2008 looking to step up the competition in each.
Ward gives boxing its youth back, to the future.
What’s Next:
Ward will have at least two more bouts in 2008 looking to fight top 10 world contenders on his way toward a world championship in 2009. Abraham, Kessler, Calzaghe, Taylor, Pavlik are at the top of the list.
In a companion bout underneath Ward, “Fast” Eddie Chambers stopped Raphael Butler in the 6th round while defending his USBA Heavyweight Championship belt. This fight was the next step in vindication for Chambers after letting his world championship opportunity slip away in his last fight. Butler, who was holding his own until getting caught, was testament to the knockout power Chambers has when putting his punches together.
What’s Next:
Although revenge is sweet, a fight with the one man that beat him, Alexander Povetkin, is not in the immediate future. Chambers will now look for another world rated fighter in his next bout.
June 21, MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE, HBO:
Undefeated heavyweights Cristobal Arreola and Chazz Witherspoon entered the ring at the FedX Forum with Michael Buffer announcing “someone’s “O” has to go.” After Arreola scored two halacious knockdowns in the third round, the last seconds before the bell at the end of round three, Witherspoon was disqualified when his trainer entered the ring prior to the referee’s count was over. It saved Witherspoon further punishment, but “officially” deprived Arreola of his 22nd knockout in his 24 victories. Unofficially, we will continue to view this result as another knockout victory for Arreola.
Wam! Pow! Bam! Oh Sh_ _! No, this is not the cape crusader, just Cristobal Arreola describing what it takes to win. With his after fight interview with Max Kellerman, Arreola unveiled the “Oh Sh_ _ Punch” phrase. When asked about it, Arreola replied, “You pop someone in the mouth and bust their grill and they say Oh Sh_ _. Then you got to question whether to come in or not, and willing to do what it takes to win the fight?” Arreola continued, “I love giving the fans what they want to see, someone that likes to fight. Me, I actually love to fight.”
While defending his WBC Continental Americas Championship, Arreola showed power, aggressiveness and excitement not seen since the prime Mike Tyson days. Arreola wants to make history by becoming the first Mexican to ever win the heavyweight world championship.
Arreola gives boxing its youth back, to the future.
What’s Next:
Does Sam Peter (#1 on The Nightmares hit list), Ruslan Chagaev, or the Wladimir Klitschko/Tony Thompson winner have a nice ring to it? What about Alexander Povetkin when countries collide? The time is now.
Still to come…
July 12, Hamburg, Germany, HBO:
Tony Thompson vs. Wladimir Klitschko.
Triple T (Tony the “Tiger” Thompson) challenges for Wladimir Klitschko