Boxing | Larry Brown Sports

Zab Judah Wants Mosley Drug Tested

March 25, 2008 By Larry Brown Leave a Comment

Zab Judah and Shane Mosley agreed to fight at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas on May 31st a few weeks ago. It’s an intriguing fight because both men still are big names in the sport and were amongst the most talented fighters in the world not long ago. One problem however, Zab thinks Shane might be a little too talented, or shall I say, Zab is worried Shane might still be aided by illegal substances. And to ensure Sugar Shane isn’t still using steroids “unknowingly,” he wants Mosley to take a private drug test to prove it:

In a March 13 e-mail obtained by The Times, [Judah's promoter Michael] Shinefield formally requested to Mosley’s Golden Boy Promotions that Mosley submit a blood test through a World Anti-Doping Agency-accredited laboratory.

“We would be willing to absorb all cost associated with this test for both fighters,” Shinefield wrote in the e-mail. “Please understand that this ends any and all speculation of doping by either fighter. With the fight being touted as ‘High Stakes,’ it’s only just that every step is taken to ensure a fair fight. We hope Shane agrees!”

Mosley continues to say what he did was totally innocent and believes this is a ploy by Zab to get under his skin. Probably is. What’s wrong with attracting a little extra attention to the fight, especially if you’re Zab and just returning from a one-year suspension by Nevada? Zab’s looking for any edge he can get. And I do know one thing: Zab is making Rick Reilly proud.

Filed Under: Boxing Tagged With: Shane Mosley, Zab Judah

Floyd Mayweather Thrown Out of the Ring by Big Show

March 11, 2008 By Larry Brown 2 Comments

I told you recently about Floyd Mayweather Jr. agreeing to wrestle the gargantuan Big Show for $20 million. As a boxing fan, I conceded that Mayweather can do whatever he wants because he’s earned it by beating his competition (with the exception of Cotto). Now I’m actually starting to get worried for the guy. Perhaps his safety can be jeopardized by the fight. First it was Floyd and Big Show getting into it a few weeks ago with Mayweather even landing a clean shot on Big Show. Then on Monday night in Milwaukee, this happened:

If the WWE signed Pretty Boy up in order to get mainstream media coverage, it’s worked. Those geniuses. They have me hooked on Floyd, even if I won’t be watching the match. I think it’s just Pretty Boy’s personality — you know, the fact that he enjoys counting out $1 million in cash on camera! Check out the video in case you’ve never seen a million dollars in cash before …

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Filed Under: Boxing Tagged With: Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Judges Used Open Scoring for Peter vs. Maskaev Fight

March 10, 2008 By Larry Brown 1 Comment

Heavyweights Samuel Peter and Oleg Maskaev fought Saturday night in Cancun, for all those who missed it. The fight wasn’t as much exciting as it was progressive in procedure. Michael David Smith points out at FanHouse that the judges used open scoring, meaning their scores were announced after each round. If you recall, I had an interview with renowned boxing judge, Chuck Giampa, and I asked him that very question. Giampa was against the practice, as were Jim Lampley and Max Kellerman (both were commentating for the fight). MDS points out that the fight went just fine with the procedure, and that the fighters paused to hear the score before each round. He says Peter was even the aggressor after knowing he was already winning.

Though Lampley and Kellerman didn’t give reasons why they were against the open scoring system according to MDS, I can come up with a few. For one thing, though it might not have in this case, a fighter can purposely avoid contact if he knows he’s already winning. Secondly, maybe the judges could be influenced by the scores of the other judges, perhaps beginning to second guess themselves. Remember, judges see the fights from different angles, logically resulting in varying scores. Still, I believe the open scoring would help to keep the judges in check, and it would allow a fighter the conscious opportunity to win a fight he’s losing on the cards. Say the fighter knows he’s losing on the cards though he believes he’s winning, he then can resort to head-hunting for a K.O. I really think the benefits of this system would outweigh the negatives.

Filed Under: Boxing Tagged With: Oleg Maskaev, Samuel Peter

Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield to Fight for a Third Time?

March 2, 2008 By Larry Brown 2 Comments

Evander Holyfield recently revealed that Mike Tyson’s people have approached him about fighting Iron Mike once again. Call me crazy, call me strange, call me in a Mike Tyson frame of mind, but my ears perk up to the news that Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield are considering a third fight. The details as told by Holyfield:

“Mike had Jeff Fenech, who’s been training him, call me a few months ago. Jeff says Mike wants to fight me again – but he needs to know if I would agree to it. I said, ‘It all depends on what they gonna give us – because I’m gonna catch a lot of flak if I say I’m fighting Mike Tyson again. I’ve already said I don’t want to fight Mike no more’. Jeff says, ‘What if Mike gets in proper shape?’ I told him that’s OK but I can’t be part of it if Mike’s going to pull out. Jeff said, ‘The main thing Mike wants to know is if you would be willing to fight him again?’ I said, ‘Yeah, if the price is right, I probably would’.”

That’s all I need to hear — if the price is right, Oldfield would do it. There’s a shock. A dude who returns to the ring multiple times to fight nobodies when he’s over the hill telling us he’d fight for money. Mike Tyson is a trainwreck in our society whose erratic behavior is nearly unparalleled. Who wouldn’t want to watch the dude climb back in the ring again against The Real Deal. I’m totally down. Besides, not like Oldfield doesn’t have a second ear, right?

Filed Under: Boxing Tagged With: Evander Holyfield, Mike Tyson

Floyd Mayweather Jr. Getting $20 Million to Make Wrestling Debut

February 26, 2008 By Larry Brown 5 Comments

There were rumors that Pretty Boy was contemplating a future in MMA. That’s no surprise considering the relationship he struck up with Mark Cuban who owns HDNet (and a little something called the Dallas Mavericks). Anyway, the offers from MMA must not have been enticing enough for PBF who’s looking to score another big payday after raking in the dough from his fight with Oscar De La Hoya. And apparently Pretty Boy has spun the wheel of fortune and landed on wrestling.

Floyd is making his wrestling debut and will be paid $20 million for his fight against some dude named Big Show. Since I’ve never seen WWE, I had no idea who Show was. Now I understand the nickname — he’s 7′ tall and weighs 430 lbs. That’s a lotta man. While Pretty Boy is making his name as a shrewd businessman, this can’t please boxing fans. Unfortunately when promising challengers like Paul Williams lose fights in Temecula, it doesn’t really help the cause. About the only other claim boxing purists can make is that Mayweather should fight Miguel Cotto. Aside from that, there’s really no gripe boxing fans can make. Pretty Boy can pretty much do anything he wants and we can’t say anything about it. Though I do have to say, I’d much rather see the man in the boxing ring. He just doesn’t have a whole lot to gain from it.

Filed Under: Boxing Tagged With: Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Do We Really Need a Mayweather vs. De La Hoya Rematch?

January 19, 2008 By Larry Brown 3 Comments

Back when these two met up in May, I analyzed the bout so well pre-fight that I nailed the outcome. Why is that? Because a matchup between Oscar De La Hoya and Floyd Mayweather Jr. is quite predictable; Oscar is bigger and stronger while Floyd is younger and more skilled. Therefore, Mayweather will outpoint De La Hoya, though he won’t score a KO, nor be knocked out himself. Now that we know what will happen in the second fight between the two, why do we need to see this transpire on the canvas once again?

It’s being said that Mayweather and De La Hoya will fight some time in September, though the venue and exact date are not certain. It’s pretty clear to me exactly what is going on. These are two smart business men who are excellent at marketing themselves and their bouts. They plan to get around $25 million per man by fighting, so why not make it happen again? I know it’s a good payday, but come on guys, you really expect us to get all excited again to see the same thing? This is not what the boxing community wants from you, Floyd. This is just as bad of a money grab as what these two clowns are doing. Why not get with it and sign on to fight Miguel Cotto or Paul Williams? That might not get you the same type of green, but it will give you a place in the conversation as the best pound-for-pound fighter in history. So tell me, what’s the real goal at hand?

Filed Under: Boxing Tagged With: Floyd Mayweather Jr., Oscar De La Hoya

Mark Cuban Was in Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s Ring Entourage

December 9, 2007 By Larry Brown 2 Comments

You’ve already seen my break down of the actual fight, but I just couldn’t resist that screen grab of Wayne Newton. Unbeknownst to me, Mark Cuban, Helio Castroneves, and Wayne Newton, were all in attendance Saturday night to support their Dancing With Stars buddy, Floyd Mayweather Jr. Not only were they there to cheer the man on, but they also formed part of Mayweather’s entourage as he entered the ring. Can you picture a more excited man than the delighted Mark Cuban, who entered bearing a few of Floyd’s championship belts?

To think, Cubes actually abandoned his Mavs for a night to be at this fight. Judging by the smug look on his face, he couldn’t have been more proud. I do have to say, Josh Howard would not be pleased.

Filed Under: Boxing, Entertainment Tagged With: Floyd Mayweather Jr., Mark Cuban