21.09.08 – Heavyweight contender Larry “The Legend” Donald has been seeing numerous fighters calling out former cruiserweight champion now heavyweight David Haye. Many names have been mentioned as opponents, fighters Hasim Rahman, James Toney, Kevin Johnson, Eddie Chambers and even fourty seven year old Ray Mercer , before any of these fighters or anyone else gets the fight Larry Donald wants to drop his name in the hat and let team Haye know that he is ready to fight..
The former 1992 Olympian and former world title challenger Donald, is 42-5 as a pro and has went the distance with the likes of Riddick Bowe, Kirk Johnson and, with wins over Tim Witherspoon, Evander Holyfield and a disputed decision loss to Nikolay Valuev, only losing once by stoppage to former heavyweight champion Vitali Klitchsko in ten rounds.
“David Haye is a good fighter at cruiserweight but let’s see how he can go up against a real heavyweight.
I have been in with some of the best true heavyweights in the world and showed many times that I am on the same level, when I fought Evander Holyfield I was the underdog and I won, when I fought Valuev I was also the underdog and I felt that I won that fight as did many people around the world.”
In his last fight, Larry went to Moscow, Russia on a one week notice and lost a decision to future title challenger and 2004 Olympic gold medalist Alexander Povetkin, since that fight Larry was actually called back by team Povetkin as a sparring partner and also has been in training camps with his former opponent Valuev and heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko.
“It has been a year since my last fight but I have been training the entire time and I am at my fighting weight already and could fight tommorow if I had to, I am prepared already for this fight, David Haye is the one that I want.”
Always a class act both inside and outside of the ring, the humble Donald had this to say about the Haye’s possible choice in Ray Mercer.
“Ray is a great fighter and person, I respect him to the fullest but I think that his straight ahead style is perfect for David Haye and my style is much more challenging and difficult for David. David Haye says that he wants a top guy and a challenge, well if you want a challenge David I am right here, I can box, I can bang and I will fight any one, any day and David Haye is the the guy that I want right now.
All of the fighters that Haye has been talking about fighting are good fighters but I think that I am the one that can challenge him the most and if he wants a fight against a real heavyweight and really wants a good challeging fight then I am here and the fight wont be hard to make, just call my manager Michael Doss and let’s get it on!”
DaVarryl “Touch of Sleep” Williamson back in the win column
September 18 – DaVarryl “Touch of Sleep” Williamson (25-5, 21) returned to the win column with a second-round TKO vs. Cerrone Fox (8-9) on Thursday night in Panama City.
Williamson battered Fox from the opening bell, wobbling him on numerous occasions and opening a cut beneath his left eye. The second round was more of the same, culminating with a big Williamson combination to close the round. Between rounds Fox and his corner decided they’d had enough and Fox quit on his stool. With the win, Williamson moves to 25-5, 21 KO’s.
“It felt good to get a win back under my belt and now I’m looking for something significant. Golota needs a dance partner in November, Valuev is looking for someone to defend against in December, I’d welcome a rematch versus Meehan, or I hear David Haye is still trying to put an opponent on lockdown Any of those guys would make me happy. I just want to fight and work my way into one last shot.”
Herman Ngoudjo Gets Second Shot at World Title
Faces Juan Urango for Vacated IBF Jr. Welterweight Crown
Montréal, CANADA – After dropping a controversial decision in his first attempt at a world title, Montreal’s Hermann Ngoudjo (17-2-0, 9 KO’s) will get a second crack at boxing glory, this time against former world champion Juan Urango (20-1-1, 16 KO’s), for the now vacant IBF Junior Welterweight (140 lbs.) championship.
In an official letter sent to Groupe Yvon Michel (GYM), and Urango’s promoter, Seminole Warriors Boxing, the IBF confirmed that Paul Malignaggi (25-1-0, 5 KO’s would not be able to grant Ngoudjo, his mandatory challenger, a rematch, and that he therefore will be vacating his belt.
The IBF has set an October 18th deadline for GYM and Seminole Warriors Boxing to reach an agreement, or it will order a purse bid to determine the details of this intriguing world title bout.
This past January, in Atlantic City, in his first world title fight, Ngoudjo gave the defending champion Malignaggi all he could handle, and then some, seemingly doing enough to bring the title to Montreal, only to be denied by the judges in a controversial unanimous decision setback.
Undeterred by the bitter defeat to Malignaggi, Ngoudjo quickly earned a second crack at the IBF crown, outpointing former WBA champion Souleymane M’Baye (36-3-1, 21 KO’s) over 12 rounds in an IBF title eliminator, on June 6, 2008, at Montreal’s Uniprix Stadium,
While Ngoudjo, a master boxer, who isn’t affraid to mix things up, had to deal with the elusive Malignaggi in January, his second title opportunity will pose a different set of challenges altogether when he faces the rock-fisted Urango, considered by many to be one of the hardest hitters in the sport.
Urango is best known for dropping his world title to the aforementioned Ricky Hatton in January of 2007, in Las Vegas, but it was the showstopping power he flashed en route to gaining the title that put Urango on the boxing map.
Like Ngoudjo, Urnago had to win his way back into title contention, and he did just that this past April, destroying veteran Carlos Wilfredo Vilches (53-8-2, 31 KO’s) in the fourth round to earn the IBF’s #2 ranking at junior welterweight.
Ngoudjo, who became a naturualized Canadian this past spring, is eagerly looking forward to another shot at the IBF belt. ”After my win over M’Baye, I knew Malignaggi would never get in the same ring as me again He’d just assume avoid me,” Ngoudjo said. “Urango is a very dangerous hitter, and it’s going to be a real challenge, but my days of being a contender are over, and it’s time for me to take the next step.”
Many feel Ngoudjo already has, with his last four fights coming against either reigning or former world champions, nothcing two wins, and two disputed loses against the likes of Jose Luis Castillo (56-9-1, 48 KO’s), Randall Bailey (37-6-0, 34 KO’s), Malignaggi, and M’Baye .
According to GYM President Yvon Michel, Ngoudjo was willing to wait to face the winner of Malignaggi-Hatton, but neither fighter would guarantee Ngoudjo a shot at the title.
”We were willing to be paitient and step asside to let Malignaggi defend his belt against Hatton, but we would have to be guaranteed an immediate fight against the winner, We never received that guarantee, so we pushed the IBF to call a purse bid, which forced Malignaggi to vacate his title,” Michel said.
”In the end though, Herman has already proven himself to be an elite fighter. His last four fights have all been against either reigning or former world champions, and he’s 2-2 with both loses coming on very controversial decisions. He’s fought the cream of the crop at junior welterweight. He has the experience, and the maturity, and he’s shown that he’s one of the best 140 lb. fighters in the world.”