The growth of the World Boxing Federation can be seen by the forthcoming promotion to be held in Johannesburg South Africa on 19 November. Co-promoted by ShowPony and the Southern Suns Group, new kid on the block promoter Damian Michael has set up one of the most exciting extravaganza ever to be staged in Africa.
With Evander Holyfield relinquishing his title to fight Alexander Povetkin in December for the World Boxing Association (WBA) heavyweight title, and thus withdrawing from his scheduled title fight with Francois ‘White Buffalo’ Botha, promoter Michael wasted no time in putting together a thunderous bill which will be hosted by the world famous MonteCasino in Johannesburg.
Stepping in to fight Botha for the vacant title will be former world number-one Michael Grant. The American boasts a highly impressive record of 45 wins with 37 KOs against only four losses. Two times world heavyweight champion, Francois Botha himself has an outstanding record of 50 wins against only 5 defeats.
One should not forget that Botha has fought the likes of Holyfield, Lennox Lewis, Wladimir Klitschko, Mike Tyson and Michael Moorer to mention but a few.
But the Botha vs. Grant fight is just one of five WBF world championship bouts scheduled for the night. The vacant World Cruiserweight title will be contested between the vicious punching Ilunga Makabu of DRC, who has 9 wins, all by knockout, against a solitary loss against Pedro Otis from Brazil, who himself has only one loss in two dozen fights.
Throw in fighters like Ali Funeka, Zolani Marali, Malcolm Klassen, Lbubalo Msutu, Rafael Guzman and one has a magnificent event.
The relationship already forged between the World Boxing Federation and promoter Damian Michael has been excellent, and talks are already underway for a second and even bigger show in February next year. Our hats go off to Michael, MonteCasino, the Southern Suns Group and ShowPony promotions.
As the legendary Michael Buffer so eloquently puts it: ‘let’s get ready to rummmmmmmble……..’
www.worldboxingfederation.net
Debunking lies and false claims in Mayweather-Ortiz
By Reni M. Valenzuela: Ten major points to debunk ten major lies and false claims surrounding the just concluded Mayweather-Ortiz boxing farce or “sitcom.” To light up the torch, here’s the taper:
First is that the boxing rule “guard yourself at all times” should be strictly invoked under normal circumstances in all fights, but certainly not when the referee is inept officiating the bout especially if the situation is chaotic and extraordinarily tense and confusing as the fourth round during and after the head-butting incident in the Mayweather-Ortiz “Star Power” match up last September 17..
Second is Floyd Mayweather, Jr.”s sucker punch was illegal. No provision in the boxing “constitution” if applied correctly will support its “legality” to make it appear legitimate and acceptable. There is always an exception to the rule and the “sucker punch” was no exception to the exception to the rule. One just needs to open his eyes or simply take the veil off.
Third is there was no consensus among the right-thinking sports aficionados that the sucker punch was legal. History will bear its controversy to be unending if it is not resolved in the enlightened judgment. Right-thinking fans still insist it was illegal and therefore the judges’ decision to declare Mayweather the winner is null and void.
Fourth is Victor Ortiz doesn’t deserve the sucker punch he got from Mayweather as some fanatics are suggesting because he was punished already with a point deduction which was all he deserved for hitting Mayweather with the head butt. The flagrant head butt is no justification to Money Floyd’s ring tantrum. What’s the point defending the sucker punch by pointing out the head butt as a justification?
Fifth is Money Floyd could have felt the power of an Ortiz punch otherwise he would have not considered doing what he did during the break. Thus he could have been seriously threatened with the risk of losing which led him or made him decide to panic. Furthermore, some pundits saying
Mayweather need not do “it” because he could have easily won the fight by points is mere bias hypothetical jutting brought about by Mayweather image-making.
Sixth is Ortiz was very much in the fight up to the bizarre round four and it is not far-fetched that Vicious Ortiz could be on his way to knocking out Money Floyd as both of his power-laden left and quick right hands were successful penetrating the head of the shoulder-rolling defensive boxer.
Seventh is Mayweather didn’t prove to be the better boxer against Orttiz and wasn’t able to grab the Welterweight belt from the champion who ripped the cunning in a flurry of solid punches in a couple of rounds. Mayweather was simply and foolishly declared the “legal winner” and was handed the leather symbol to wrap around his waist. Hence all is meaningless about the silly outcome of that fight.
Eighth is referee Joe Cortez was a huge blunder. He failed to give a signal understandable enough for both fighters to resume the fight during the head-butting incident in the fourth round. Note that Cortez was talking to some ring officials (which added to the confusion) when the sucker punch took place and it’s ridiculous that the “referee” didn’t even see the initial “knockout blow” coming.
It was either due to unclear or mixed signals from Cortez (unless the whole show was scripted to “sucker” the fight fans further in another drama of “rematch” in the future) . Hence it took awhile for Mayweather to unleash his “illegal” punches to the head of Ortiz. And the reason being is that Mayweather appeared to be in doubt if the fight was already “called in” and that Mayweather himself, along with Ortiz was also waiting for further words from the referee.
Ninth is what Mayweather did in any case hitting Ortiz during the “break” or break violates all codes of ethics, decency, propriety and sportsmanship there is in every sports book. Hence they were lucidly malicious and intentional sucker punches of Mayweather that shocked Ortiz. But what is even more shocking and “sucking” is that certain self-blind-folded eyes argued they were not.
Call the sucker punch “legal” a million times, but I will call it only once, it was wrong.
Tenth is much of the boxing world is in darkness nowadays. Notably the part where Floyd Mayweather, Jr. is involved as he leaves many people “groping” again. And the recently concluded teeth-gnashing, comedy-drama is just another ugly attestation to the sad plight of the sport wherein the innocent fight fans have always been at the “receiving end.”
We thus far have come to three of other important “life-saving” decisions boxing needs to make as a result of Mayweather-Ortiz:
Decision 1 – Larry Merchant wins while Cortez loses when he badly lost control of the “fight” or was perfectly in command of the drama, and therefore should retire.
Decision 2 – It should be a resounding NO to the Mayweather-Ortiz rematch just in case some wily enigmatic personalities will hatch the moronic idea.
Decision 3 – No Mayweather fight would (and should) make sense to sensible fight fans except the fight of all fights – the Pacquiao-Mayweather.
You are cornered Money Floyd, no way to run, hide and dodge.
renimvalenzuela@yahoo.com
>Victor Ortiz: Floyd Mayweather Ain’t All That
Victor Ortiz doesn’t believe Floyd Mayweather deserves the welterweight title after a brutal sucker punch last Saturday — telling TMZ, Money May isn’t as good as he thinks he is.
Victor came out swinging on TMZ Live today — lambasting Floyd for for his unsportsmanlike knockout … claiming, “If he’s really as great as he thinks he is, take a step back. We can settle it as professional athletes.”
Ortiz adds, “This isn’t the way something like this is supposed to end.”
REPLAY CANELO ALVAREZ VS. ALFONSO GOMEZ AND ERIK MORALES VS. PABLO CESAR CANO SATURDAY, SEPT. 24
It’s a special edition of HBO LATINO BOXING when HBO Sports presents CANELO ALVAREZ VS. ALFONSO GOMEZ AND ERIK MORALES VS. PABLO CESAR CANO, this SATURDAY, SEPT. 24 at 11:15 p.m. (ET/PT), exclusively on HBO Latino. The Spanish language broadcast team will call all the action.
On a night filled with boxing action, popular boxing sensation Canelo Alvarez (37-0-1, 27 KOs) from Juanacatlan, Mexico went up against Alfonso Gomez (23-4-2, 12 KOs) from Guadalajara, Mexico to defend his super welterweight title. Also, legendary ring veteran Erik Morales (51-7, 35 KOs), originally from Tijuana, Mexico, now living in San Ysidro, CA, and looking for his fifth title belt, went up against Pablo Cesar Cano (22-0-1, 17 KOs) of Tlalnepantla, Mexico in a super lightweight showdown.
The exclusive doubleheader replay will be presented on HBO Latino on Saturday, Sept. 24, immediately following the HBO replay of the Mayweather-Ortiz pay-per-view showdown that begins at 9:45 p.m. ET/PT.
Other HBO Latino playdates: Sept. 25 (10:30 a.m.) and 26 (12:45 a.m.)
HBO On Demand availability: Sept. 26