There is finally "Light" at the Light Heavy Weight Division

By George Jimenez


For those of us who have been following the Light Heavyweight division in the past years we know the division has been in a coma. Although Chad Dawson was recognized as the legitimate LHW champion, he lacked the big fights to be recognized as a big name.

The biggest names in the division were Tarver, Hopkins, and Johnson; all guys close to the end of their careers. Dawson fought and beat both Tarver and underrated journeyman Glenn Johnson, in the hopes of getting a fight with the biggest name in the division, legendary Bernard Hopkins. On the other hand, Hopkins thought Dawson didn’t bring much to the table and instead opted for more lucrative fights with the likes of Calzaghe, Pavlik, Ornelas, and Roy Jones Jr.

Since Dawson’s challenge of Hopkins went unanswered, “Bad” Chad was left with few options. Enter newly crowned Light Heavyweight champion Jean Pascal from Canada. Pascal had won the WBC strap from rugged Adrian Diaconu and defended the strap a couple of times. Chad Dawson, although an excellent boxer lacks the star power that sells out arenas and in order to make money they had to travel up north where he could make a decent payday.

Fighting in Canada meant fighting in hostile territory, but he knew that winning this fight would bring more credibility to his reign as a fighter and more money in his pocket. He also hoped that winning this fight would pressure Hopkins into making a fight with him, or lead to a fight against Super Middle Weight star Lucian Bute, should he decide to move up. With no big names in the LHW division Pascal jumped at the opportunity of fighting the best fighter in the division.

On paper this fight promised to be exciting. Pascal, a brawler by nature has a huge heart, great stamina, and a good punch. Dawson is the total opposite, a technical fighter with excellent Boxing skills and ring generalship. As it often happens in Boxing no victory is guaranteed and Dawson lost the fight against Pascal.

Bad news for Dawson but he does have a rematch clause so we will see a rematch down the road. The good news for Jean Pascal is that he holds all the cards and has the option of fighting one fight before the rematch against Dawson or taking another fight before that.

A super fight against Lucian Bute who was supposed to move up to challenge Dawson was rumored and would be a huge event in Canadian soil, but is unlikely to happen. The latest buzz is that Hopkins accepted a fight against Pascal.

But the real winners are the fans because it means more competitive fights in this division. Names like Pascal, Dawson, Cloud, and Cleverly are slowly replacing the old guard and promise to ignite this division in the years to come.

Toney Vs. Couture The fight world weighs in

August 25th, 2010
Aaron Skinner


In one of the most anticipated fights in UFC history, future boxing Hall of Famer James “Lights Out” Toney will step into the Octagon with UFC legend Randy “The Natural” Couture Saturday night at UFC 118. With the fight just days away, 8 Countnews talked to members of both sports to get their opinions on this historic event.


Ultimate Fighter Season Six, UFC veteran Ben Saunders: Toney is in for a rude awakening. A lucky punch could win him the fight, but he would never get lucky that often It's a different sport and I can admit I would personally love to see a thai kick boxer vs. Toney just to prove that point even further.
I know Randy is all about game plans so we will see Toney on his back in under 30 seconds and TKO'ed or Submitted.



New York State Heavyweight Champion Darrel “King David” Madison :

I just hope James had a chance to work on his ground game. His stand up is second to none, really one of the best in the bussiness and I think he is going to end it with a big overhand right.


1976 Olympic Gold Medalist, 3 time world title challenger, current boxing coach for American Top Team MMA, Howard Davis Jr.:

It is not easy for a boxer to step into the cage, especially if he has been doing only one thing for so long. The ground work is not easy and there is no guarantee that the fight will be on the stand up 100% of the time. Couture is a very good wrestler. I do not like making predictions, but Toney had better be on his game.


Lightwelterweight prospect Joseph Elegele :

Well i think Randy will win because James Toney is not a one punch aggressive fighter and he's too slow on his feet. We know all James Toney, he has never been knocked out before and I don’t think an MMA fighter will do it but i think Couture will end up taking him to the ground and making him tap.


Season One Contender star, former USBA/NABO Welterweight champion Ishe Smith:

I am a huge fan of James Toney the boxer, I grew up idolizing Toney and how he fought. With that being said its going to be very tough for him to make this kind of transition in a short amount of time like this. If he can stay off the ground he will be ok, but thats a hard task. He has a punchers chance though, if he catches Couture it can be a short night for Randy. I am leaning towards Randy, but my heart is rooting for James, tough fight for him in the octagon.


Former Light welterweight World Champion and IBF #1 ranked Welterweight Randall Bailey:

I really don’t have much to say about it. James Toney is going to get killed. He has no experience on the ground at all and is fighting one of the best out there. He better tap as soon as he gets taken to the ground. That is really all I got to say about that.


Former UFC Welterweight contender Din Thomas :

I think that Toney does present a legititmate problem for Couture. Toney's power will be a factor for anybody and he will go down as one of the best boxers of our time. Not that being such a great boxer is the main issue but it will give him the ability to punch from ackward angles with pinpoint accuracy. Plus Toney is a natural fighter with a fighter's heart and has been through adversity so he won't give up easy. However, the Major edge goes to Couture based on well rounded cage experience. If this was 5 years ago, Id say Couture wins easily and early. But because throughout the years Couture may have lost some of his legs and some of his chin, it levels the playing field for Toney. So Toney wont need much but one opportunity to touch Randy. Yet while Toney may not have the speed and reflexes he used to have a few years ago, he may be able make up for it in power, toughness, and his discipline to learn the game. However, at the end of the day I don't think he will be able to catch up with Couture and will be choked out. I got Randy by submission. But like I said, if Toney gets off, it wont be pretty.



Jorge De La Noval ,MMA/boxing promoter, Mixed Fighting Alliance :

I'm a big fan of both MMA and Boxing and a respect them both , but this fight is not boxing vs mma. Toney has been training mma for the past 8 month, meaning that it is very clear to him that mma is a mixed sport and that no boxer can get in the cage and just try to will a battle. This is an event of who has got the best conditioning and more tools and if Toney does not know that by now then the UFC is going to prove a point that MMA is about having more tools. Randy has more tools and better conditioning. He is going to let it go to the 2 round and then make Toney look bad so that more boxers try the cross over and show the world boxing is boxing, and MMA is an sport full of fighting tools.


Haiti National Boxing Team member and Light middleweight prospect Wilky Campfort :

If Randy take him down it’s over for Toney. But if Randy stands up with Toney like he did when he first fight Chuck [Liddell] he is going to get knocked out. Obviously as a boxer I am going for Toney, but I am a fan of Randy’s too.



Boxing/ MMA figher Eric “Butterbean” Esch (MMA 15-7-1, Boxing:77-8-4) :

I know Toney is in way over his head. The UFC in there way, is telling boxers they don’t belong in MMA. I feel Houston Alexander would have been a good fight for toney. Moosin, the company I worked with worked the fight out with Toney and he jumped ship.



Co Host of MMA Gospel Radio, Gary Friedman :

The Randy Couture - James Toney fight comes down to one simple question: can Randy take Toney down before James lands a big shot? Of course the conventional wisdom is that there is a 50/50 chance of either happening, yet in reality there is probably a 95/5 chance that Couture will take Toney down without suffering a blow. Like shooting the side of a barn versus shooting a tin can, scoring a takedown is much simpler an act then landing a punch on the chin flush.

With this in mind I see the Couture-Toney fight being a very one sided affair. I would even predict a short fight but have to believe the ground and pound specialist Couture will want to extend the fight a bit just to punish Toney for his pre fight antics. So in the first 30 seconds Couture will score his take down and the use his Olympic level wrestling skills to essentially maul Toney until he decides to end it late in round one with a rare naked choke submission.


Hall of fame kick boxer, boxing/mma promoter Jeff Gibson :


Well I have been front row at each of these fighter’s fights and they are both very tough fighters. At this point in their career’s they are both seasoned veterans. This is going to be a clear case of the boxer vs. the grappler. In no way will Randy be able to stand toe to toe and try to strike with Toney, and Toney will not be able to out grapple Randy Couture. It is going to be who is going to get to who first.


If Randy keeps it standing, then he can be in real trouble. Toney has elite power and is a future hall of famer. He is no joke. However, there is no way Toney can out grapple Randy Couture in the short amount of time he has been training in MMA. He may be able to wrestle with some guys but Randy isn’t one of them. Seasoned wrestlers who have been training in MMA for years can’t out wrestle Couture.


Who I give the edge to though is up in the air. Like I said, it depends on the tempo of the fight. I am not so sure the fighter who wins this time would win next time. Both guys are in great shape. Toney has gone twelve rounds several times in boxing and Couture has gone twenty-five minutes a few times as well. But one thing is, it is entertaining and good for both sports. Many commissions would never approve of a fight like this because it is technically a pro debutant versus a former world champion, but Toney isn’t your normal pro debutant.



http://8countnews.com/news/125/ARTICLE/2...08-25.html

Margarito licensed in Texas

No hearings necessary. The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation has granted former welterweight champion Antonio Margarito a boxing license ensuring that Margarito vs Manny Pacquiao is a go for November 13 at Cowboys Stadium in Dallas. Margarito was rejected by the California Commission after a six-hour hearing last week and the Nevada Commission wouldn’t make a decision at their hearing. But, in Texas Margarito submitted his application and $20 fee and was approved several days later. The Lone Star State has a history of being lenient toward fighters, for example licensing Evander Holyfield and Edwin Valero when other commissions wouldn’t.

Executive Director William Kuntz’s Statement on Antonio Margarito’s Application:

“On Monday, August 23, the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation received a complete application for a Texas Professional Combative Sports Contestant license from Antonio Margarito. After a thorough review of his application it was determined Mr. Margarito met the requirements of the Texas Combative Sports Act and Rules.

The review of Margarito’s application included:

• Review of Margarito’s Texas Application form,

• The California Order revoking Antonio Margarito’s boxing license,

• Review of the transcript of Margarito’s license revocation hearing before the California State Athletic Commission

• Review of Margarito’s August 18th license application hearing before the California State Athletic Commission

• Association of Boxing Commission’s letter to members that they may now consider licensing Mr. Margarito

Based on the review of the above information I have authorized the issuance of a license to Mr. Margarito.”

DENNIS HASSON, TOMMIE SPELLER CLASH IN EIGHT-ROUND SEMIFINAL
SEPT. 25 AT BALLYS ATLANTIC CITY

Atlantic City, NJ--Undefeated super middleweight Dennis “The Assassin” Hasson and fellow-Philadelphian Tommie “Big Poppa” Speller meet in the scheduled eight-round semifinal on Saturday evening, Sept. 25, in the Grand Ballroom at Bally’s Atlantic City.

The scheduled 12-round main event features Teon Kennedy, of Philadelphia , against Alex Becerra, of El Paso , TX , for the vacant North American Boxing Association (NABA) super bantamweight title. First of seven bouts begins at 7.30 p.m.

The card will be televised by http://www.gofightlive.tv.

Hasson, 26, of the Kensington section of Philadelphia , is 10-0, 3 K0s, since turning pro in 2008. In his last fight July 30 at the South Philly Arena, Hasson ended an eight-month layoff by scoring a six-round decision over Alberto Mercedes, of Milwaukee , WI.

As an amateur, Hasson compiled a 94-16 record and earned a silver medal in the 2006 US National Amateur Championships.

Boxing runs in Hasson’s blood. Hall-of-Fame light-heavyweight champion Tommy Loughran, also of Philadelphia , was his maternal grand uncle. In addition, Hasson was born on Tusculum Street , where Rocky Balboa lived in the movie.

Speller, 32, of West Philadelphia, is a tough customer who just came off a hard eight-round points loss to unbeaten Dion Savage on May 1 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

The only foe common to both men is Dave Cook, of Butler , PA. Speller beat Cook by decision earlier this year while Hasson stopped Cook in four rounds in 2008.

Tickets priced at $50 and $75 are on sale at the offices of Peltz Boxing Promotions (215-765-0922) and also can be purchased online at http://www.peltzboxing.com.

Super Six Shocker: Mikkel Kessler Withdraws, Injured
Posted by: Mark Vester on 08-25-2010.



The Super Six Boxing Classic has taken yet another blow as WBC super middleweight champion Mikkel Kessler has withdrawn from his fight with Allan Green, scheduled to take place on September 25 in Denmark and televised by Showtime. Based on the reports in Denmark, Kessler is suffering from an eye injury that has affected his vision for the last few months. Kessler was advised to stay away from sparring, and fighting, for a few months. He is hoping to fight again in the early to mid part of 2011.

The injury provides a blow to the Super Six, which has seen several fights postponed and the fight between Andre Ward and Andre Dirrell, also scheduled for September 25, has yet to secure a venue and is likely being postponed.

No word at the moment if another fighter will replace Kessler or how the executives at Showtime will handle the situation.