The Neutral Corner

Here are the results from the Final Forum card in Huntington Tuesday night. Derrric Rossy KO 2 William Shahan, Tarvis Simms W 8 Sam Hill, Eddie Irizarry W 6 Vineash Rungea, Chris Algieri W 4 Jason Jordan, Darell Madison W 6 Jermel Barnes, Patrick Majewski TKO 5 Danny Rivera. -- CASSIDY

Former World Champion Winky Wright sustained a left hand injury during sparring and must withdraw from his December 4th bout against Michi Munoz.

"I'm very disappointed about having to pull out of this fight on December 4th, and I'd like to apologize to all my fans, Snoqualmie Casino and VERSUS," said Wright, in a statement released by Golden Boy. "I was feeling real sharp in camp and I was looking forward to a great performance before getting hurt. I promise that I'll be back and better than ever in 2009." -- CASSIDY

Every year at this time, trainer Teddy Atlas hosts the annual Dr. Theodore Atlas Foundation on the Thursday before Thanksgiving. Less than 48 hours later, on Saturday morning, he distributes 800 turkeys with all of the trimmings to make Thanksgiving a special day for hundreds of less fortunate families in New York City.

One of the many lives that Teddy has touched was 22-year-old Joe Cali, who was paralyzed from the neck down, but has been inspired by the Atlas foundation. Joe made this statement to Teddy at last year's dinner "I'm going skydiving, you can join me if you are up for it." A year later, they both met the challenge and indeed went skydiving. -- CASSIDY

In this video from the L.A. Times, Manny Pacquiao talks about his Filipino ethnicity.

This week's episode dealt a lot with family. Here's our take:

Best Oscar quote: "Don Nacho Beristain." Love the way that sounds. It's about respect.

Freddie Roach quote: "I don't like Nacho, I think he's an a--hole." Now, that's disrespect.

Angelo Dundee quote: "I think Oscar De La Hoya has all the answers for this guy."

Best supporting cast: We agreed Freddie Roach has his own category. So this week it goes to Amir Kahn, for his sparring with Pac Man, and Buboy Fernandez for his performance on the scale.

Freddie sez: His philosophy on sparring is a throwback to the old Philly gym wars. "I don't hire sparring partners, I hire real fighters. Contenders coming up... Sparring in my gym is not playing."

Walking billboards: "The Ring" magazine, which Oscar owns, has never gotten this much free advertising. Everyone in Oscar's camp is wearing something with "The Ring" logo. Even his son.

Family: The next time you think of a fighter as a ferocious beast, recall the smile on Manny Pacquiao's face when he was sitting on the couch with his pregnant wife listening to his baby's heartbeat. Also, there was an elegance, a quiet sense of self-assurance in the segment that featured Pac Man's parents.

Family, part 2: Reassuring that Oscar and his son sit on the floor and play with the Thomas the Train set, just like me and my son. I guess, the difference is, HBO's cameras aren't in our play room. And, oh yeah, I make slightly less than a kabillion dollars.

Daddy Dearest: We saw it with Roy Jones Jr. and Floyd Mayweather Jr. So, yeah, Oscar has issues with his dad too. Anyone surprised at this point?

Best workout scene: Oscar doing situps while hanging from his ankles.

Pass the Nachos: Kudos to Nacho for telling it like it is after Oscar's sparring. How many guys actually do that?

For a look at all of the Neutral Corner's coverage of the De La Hoya-Pacquiao fight, click here.

For more than 20 photos of Manny Pacquiao training and with Oscar De La Hoya, click here.

-- CASSIDY

It's part of the job to fight tough guys. But for Long Island heavyweight Derric Rossy (19-2, 11 KO), this fight on Nov. 25 is a little different. He's actually fighting a guy -- Bill Shahan -- who used to compete in Tough Man competitions.

Continue reading "Rossy to headline card in Huntington" »

Maybe the new trainer was a good fit after all. Working for the first time with trainer Floyd Mayweather Sr., Ricky Hatton cruised to an 11th-round stoppage of Brooklyn's Paulie Malignaggi in Las Vegas.

Here are some details courtesy of the AP:

Hatton dominated the junior welterweight fight from the second round on Saturday night before Malignaggi's trainer stepped into the ring 28 seconds into the 11th round to spare his fighter any further damage.

Fighting in the same ring where he suffered his only loss against Floyd Mayweather Jr. a year ago, Hatton stunned Malignaggi early and dominated him the rest of the way in a fight that was never really in doubt. In winning easily, he staked his claim once again as the best 140-pounder in the world.

Hatton had won nine out of the previous 10 rounds on all three ringside scorecards when the fight was finally stopped. Though Hatton never managed to put Malignaggi down, he hurt him several times during the fight.

Hatton earned $2.5 million for his night's work, while Malignaggi was paid $1 million, the biggest purse of his career.

-- CASSIDY

Just a week after we lamented the comeback of Evander Holyfield, the AP is reporting that former heavyweight champion Riddick Bowe, 41, will fight for the first time in three years on the undercard of Wladimir Klitschko-Hasim Rahman IBF title fight. It also cites a German newspaper, 'Bild,' as reporting that Lennox Lewis, 42, will come out of retirement to Vitali Klitschko. -- CASSIDY

The Ring Magazine, "The Bible of Boxing," which is now owned by Oscar De La Hoya, announced that it has launched a re-designed website http://www.thering-online.com and begun a content alliance with Yahoo! Sports. The site features the latest from "The Ring" magazine, as well as more than 75 years of the magazine's archives. Additionally, as part of the alliance, the Yahoo! Sports boxing channel will feature editorial and video content from "The Ring" online.

"I’m thrilled with our new website," said The Ring's editor-in-chief Nigel Collins. "Partnering with Yahoo means that The Ring will now reach a far larger audience than ever before in its 86-year history, and allow us to serve both fans and the boxing industry in an innovative and exciting new manner.”

Just the thought of "The Ring's" archives being made available online is fascinating news.

Continue reading "'The Ring' magazine launches new web site" »

Huntington welterweight Chris Algieri used to give karate lessons alongside Amanda Malloy at the U.S. Karate Academy. Even as Algieri migrated to kick-boxing, then boxing, Malloy remained one of his biggest supporters.

Continue reading "Huntington boxer dedicates fight to Amanda Malloy" »

Oscar De La Hoya had a conference call earlier this week to talk about his Dec. 6 fight against Manny Pacquiao on HBO PPV. One interesting item came up. Apparently Oscar, a Mexican-American, has invited a bunch of Mexican legends to the fight. Some of them, though, may not be rooting for Oscar. Here are some of the exchanges from the call's transcript:

Q: You invited roughly around 10 to 15 ex-world champions from Mexico to the fight how did that go and what fighters are confirmed?

A: I had the pleasure of going down to Mexico in my last visit about a couple of months ago before I started training camp for some business. And it so happened that there were about 20 champions, past champions, the greats from Mexico, who were there at the press conference and I invited all of them to the fight. And they all accepted and so we're very glad. I feel very fortunate to have these great legends, talking about the fight and the Chiquita Gonzalezes and Pipino Cuevases of this world, the greats from Mexico who will be supporting me 100%.

Q: You said about 20 of the Mexican champions are going to accept an invitation to the fight. Does that include Julio Cesar Chavez?

A: Well, I believe Chavez is going to be on Pacquiao's side. I heard Chavez and (Antonio) Margarito are going to be on Pacquiao's side.

Q: Does that bother you at all that Mexico's greatest champion is going to be on the other side?

A: Oh, no, not at all because the one fighter that I looked up to the most or the fighters from Mexico that I looked up to the most will be on my side, which is Ruben Olivares, Pipino Cuevas, Chiquita Gonzalez, and Finito Lopez. So those types of fighters are the fighters that I really admired growing up.

If Chavez and Margarito are rooting for Pac Man, the reasons are pretty obvious. Oscar beat Chavez twice and has refused -- along with just about everyone else -- to fight Margarito.

For a look at all of the Neutral Corner's coverage of the De La Hoya-Pacquiao fight, click here.

For more than 20 photos of Manny Pacquiao training and with Oscar De La Hoya, click here.

-- CASSIDY

By Marcus Henry

So how big is Paulie Malignaggi's bout with Ricky Hatton set for Saturday at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas? The biggest of his career. Yes, his battle with Miguel Cotto in 2006 was important, but that was before Cotto become a legitimate house hold name.

Malignaggi (25-1, 5 KOs) has a lot to prove on Saturday. Can he stand up to a veteran fighter in Hatton (44-1, 31 KOs) who has taken on the likes of Floyd Mayweather, Luis Collazo, Kostya Tszyu and Jose Luis Castillo? Can he stand up to a fighter that has sufficient enough knockout power?

How about standing up to a fighter who will have the crowd in his corner. Hatton, who will fight in the US for just the fourth time in his career, draws well. Most expect anywhere from 7,000 to 8,000 fans from the UK to make the trip.

Hatton expects a packed house to be pulling for him.

"Sure my fans are coming," Hatton said. Over 8,000 to 10,000 of them will be here even with the credit crunch we're having over in England."

Malignaggi, the IBF light welterweight champ, has been brewing with confidence lately and is not impressed with Hatton's reputation or his opponents. "Look at his resume," Malignaggi said. "Other than Mayweather and Collazo the rest of the guys he fought were at least 100 years old."

Those are strong words from a guy who has just one bout with a world class fighter (Cotto) under his belt. Those are strong words from a guy whose career has been handled with kid gloves. This isn't to say that Malignaggi is soft or ducking anyone, but his class of opponents hasn't been anything to write home to mom about.

Malignaggi has a golden opportunity to keep himself on the map.

HBO's award-winning series, 24/7, is back for the buildup to the Oscar De La Hoya-Manny Pacquiao fight on December 6, on HBO PPV. Here's our take:

Best Oscar De La Hoya quote: "This is what we go through for one night, one night of fighting," after receiving accupuncture and electric stimulation at the same time.

Best Manny Pacquiao quote: "If you train hard, the fight is easy."

Best Jinkee Pacquiao quote: "I should accept the fact that he is public property."

Best supporting cast: This is a tough one. Clearly, the best supporting cast member is Freddie Roach. But he falls somewhere slightly below headlining star and above supporting actor. So let's go with Daniel Zaragoza. It was great to see "The Mouse" in the ring working the pads with Oscar. The former two-division champion and hall-of-famer was the first champion ever trained by Oscar's current trainer, Nacho Beristain.

Contrasts: The eclectic Wild Card Gym and the spotless training camp at Big Bear. The locales are as different as the fighters.

Best workout scene: Take your pick, Manny being hit with a stick or Manny destroying the medicine ball.

People's champion: It's what they call Pac Man in the Philippines. And it's true. He's adored by his fans, from the medical clinics he provides in the Philipines, to the local fans he greets at the gym, to the 12-man entourage that follows his every move, Manny is truly a man of the people.

Freddie: Having worked with Oscar for the Mayweather fight, Freddie Roach will be a compelling storyline throughout the series. He said in this episode, "There's a reason why he [Oscar] lost control of that fight [Mayweather] and I know the reason." When referring to the fight, he did say, "We'll fight as hard as we can." Wrong. Only Manny will do the fighting. I like the sentiment though. He's there for his fighter. Here's the problem we've encountered with some trainers. They say, "We won," but when it goes bad, it's "He lost." That already seems the case with Roach and Oscar.

Pass the Nachos: A lot is being made of Roach's familiarity with Oscar by virtue of training him for the Mayweather fight. As well it should. Be don't discount the fact that Nacho trained Juan Manuel Marquez for two really close fights against Pacquiao.

This could be telling: Did you notice the shiner beneath Oscar's right eye?

The scenic view: Once again, great shots of Big Bear at dawn and the Philippines.

For a look at all of the Neutral Corner's coverage of the De La Hoya-Pacquiao fight, click here.

The next episode of 24/7 De La Hoya-Pacquiao airs Sunday at 8:30 p.m.

-- CASSIDY

We suggested earlier that a Joe Calzaghe-Oscar De La Hoya fight at a catch weight could generate millions of dollars for both parties. While that hasn't happened yet, read this story from Wales Online about Joe and Oscar working together from a promotional standpoint. The business alliance makes sense, especially if they one-day decide to co-promote their own megafight. -- CASSIDY

It's being reported that Evander Holyfield is fighting WBA heavyweight champion Nikolai Valuev on December 20 in Zurich, Switzerland.

That's really bad news. This is why.

Continue reading "Evander Holyfield should never fight again" »

It was declared at the 46th annual WBC Convention in Chengdu, China that world heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko must face mandatory challenger and Cuban national Juan Carlos Gomez in his next fight. Klitschko requested a voluntary defense, which was denied.

Gomez’ Cuban compatriot Yuriorkis Gamboa will also have the chance to win his first world title after only 12 pro-fights. “El Ciclon de Guantamo” will face Elio Rojas from Dominican Republic for the interim world featherweight championship because titleholder Oscar Larios got injured in his most recent win over Takahiro Aoh on October 16th.

“This is exactly what we wanted”, stated promoter Ahmet Öner in a press release. “This is a great day for ARENA Box-Promotion. We got Gomez vs. Vitali – now we also want the world famous green belt.”

-- CASSIDY

In a 12-round bout between former Olympic teammates, Jermain Taylor scored a lopsided unanimous decision over Jeff Lacy on Saturday night at Vanderbuilt University's Memorial Gym in Nashville, Tennessee.

The three scorecards read 119-109, 119-109, 118-110, all for Taylor. This bout was a WBC 168-pound title eliminator. But it will be interesting to see if Joe Calzaghe comes call for Jermain Taylor, as our colleague Marcus Henry suggested.

-- CASSIDY

Oscar De La Hoya's Golden Boy Promotions will promote the return of Winky Wright on Thursday, December 4, at the Snoqualmie Casino in Seattle. The fight will air live on VERSUS at 8 p.m. ET. Wright (51-4-1, 25 KOs) will meet Michi "El Matador" Munoz (21-2, 14 KOs) in a 10-round super middleweight bout.

"It's great to be back and I can't wait to hear the bell ring," said Wright, whose last bout was against Bernard Hopkins on July 21, 2007. "I had a nice break, but I've been training hard and now I feel better than ever."

-- CASSIDY

If you enjoy Mixed Martial Arts, walking into Serra's Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in Huntington is like walking into the legendary Kronk Gym. You just never know who will be training there.

Over the last month, we wandered over and caught up with former UFC welterweight champion Matt Serra and one of his UFC protege's Pete Sell. This weekend, a highly anticipated UFC showdown takes place when Randy Couture steps into the Octagon against Brock Lesnar. Whether its MMA or the Sweet Science, there's nothing like a great heavyweight fight. Which brings me to one of my favorite subjects, Mike Tyson and MMA. We once mused of a Mike Tyson-Kimbo Slice fight in this blog. The MMA folks were certain Kimbo would win. Maybe not so much any more.

For a decade, Tyson was the undisputed baddest man on the planet. He brawled in the ring, on the streets and had most of the best fighters in the world intimidated. One of his greatest lines was, "Everyone has a plan, until they get hit."

Then Buster Douglas came along.

I've often wondered how a young Mike Tyson would have done against MMA fighters. Joe Fernandez and I used to debate it in the office all the time. Tyson certainly had the physical gifts, the mentality and if you look at his squat build, on top of tree-trunk legs, he probably wouldn't be the easiest guy to take to the ground. So, in the video below, Matt Serra and Pete Sell -- both of whom enjoy boxing -- talk about Tyson as a potential MMA fighter. Serra says if he had a year to train Tyson in BJJ, he could turn him into a freak. Watch:

-- CASSIDY

By Marcus Henry

I know everyone has said Joe Calzaghe fought his last fight. Even Calzaghe himself has stated he wants to go out on top.

But I can't shake the feeling that a Calzaghe-Taylor matchup could be right around the corner. Sure Taylor (27-2, 17 KOs) has to beat Jeff Lacy on Saturday. But if Taylor is serious about getting his career back on track, he will take care of Lacy in short order.

Taylor didn't look good in his two losses to Kelly Pavlik. In fact, some experts believed he was done. But Boxers have a way of re-inventing themselves. Even after bad losses.

Shane Mosley came back relatively strong after two losses to Vernon Forrest and two defeats to Winky Wright. Antonio Margarito didn't miss a beat after dropping a decision to Paul Williams.

"I'm looking at this fight to jump start my career and get back on top," Taylor said during his final press conference. "I'm focus, determine and motivated to come away the victory."

A Calzaghe-Taylor matchup would be great for both fighters and great for the sport. His destruction of Roy Jones Jr. would be considered an afterthought compared to a convincing win over a younger Taylor, especially considering he beat Bernard Hopkins twice.

Before anyone says it's wishful thinking, I can't recall the last time a boxer turned down a guaranteed multi-million dollar payday. And trust me when I say a Calzaghe-Taylor matchup would generate a few million for both fighters.

When an international fighter competes at the Garden, the atmosphere intensifies. The flag-waving Welsh fans began cheering for Joe Calzaghe as early as 8 p.m. when his image would appear on the video screens over the ring. Many pints and few brawls later, they were rewarded with a dominating performance by their man.

Some other thoughts from the Garden:

* The New York State Athletic Commision doctor was completely shutout by the corner of Roy Jones Jr. After Jones suffered as bad a cut as we've seen, the doctor was constantly on the outside looking in, trying to sneek a peak between the cornermen. At that point in time, it becomes his corner. But the only time he got a clear view of the cut was after it was washed out and worked on by Jones' corner. He would look at briefly before the start of each new round.

* You can give credit to Jones' corner for keeping him in the fight by shielding him from the doctor. Or, you can wonder why they didn't take it upon themselves to stop the fight. Because really, after the seventh round, it was evident he wasn't going to win. I understand letting a legend go the distance, but is that possibly worth risking permanent damage to the eye? Roy would have never quit, that's why it was up to the corner or the doctor to save him from further punishment.

Continue reading "Random Thoughts: Joe Calzaghe, Roy Jones, Manny Pacquiao, Oscar De La Hoya" »

Other than the fighters, the most important element to the Oscar De La Hoya-Manny Pacquiao fight are the trainers. They both have very accomplished men in their corners and Freddie Roach has actually worked with both combatants. While he has long be Manny's trainer, he did work with Oscar for his megafight against Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Roach, a former pro who met Bobby Chacon, Greg Haugen and Hector Camacho inside the ropes, has worked with some of the best fighters in the world as a trainer. He began learning the craft of training from his mentor, Eddie Futch. Among those he has prepared to fight are Mike Tyson, Virgil Hill, Michael Moorer, Wayne McCullough, Bernard Hopkins and Marlon Starling.

Continue reading "Spotlight turns to the trainers of Manny Pacquiao and Oscar De La Hoya" »

Manny Pacquiao is No. 1 in most of the pound-for-pound rankings and Joe Calzaghe is firmly entrenched at No 2. But did Calzaghe's performance against Roy Jones Jr. warrant a move up? If Manny loses to Oscar De Le Hoya, does Joe take over?

You can VOTE ON WHO IS THE BEST BY CLICKING HERE.

-- CASSIDY

HBO will replay the Joe Calzaghe-Roy Jones Jr. fight this Saturday at 10:15 p.m. The Calzaghe-Jones fight will be paired with the live HBO telecast of Jermain Taylor vs. Jeff Lacy, a pair of former U.S. Olympic teammates who meet in Nashville on Saturday night.

-- CASSIDY

Former 2008 New York State Heavy Weight and Golden Cloves Champion Derrick Rossy will conduct a training session with Long Island High School students on Monday, November 10th at the Brentwood Recreational Center.

Rossy, a 1997 Patchogue-Medford High School graduate, is a former Hansen Trophy winner who went on to play football at Boston College.

Rossy is working with the Suffolk PAL "mentoring program" and will focus on reaching kids who at risk for dropping out of school.

-- CASSIDY

Joe Calzaghe dominated Roy Jones Jr. over 12 rounds of boxing Saturday at Madison Square Garden. Here is what he had to say after the bout:

To get the British persective on the upcoming Calzaghe-Jones fight and all things boxing, visit BritishBoxing.net.

For a look at all of the Neutral Corner's coverage of the Jones-Calzaghe fight, click here.

-- CASSIDY

Brooklyn's Dmitriy Salita scored a 12-round decision over Derrick Campos on the undercard of the Roy Jones Jr.- Joe Calzaghe fight. Here is his post-fight press conference.

-- CASSIDY

The crowd at Madison Square Garden for the Roy Jones Jr.-Joe Calzaghe fight on Saturday night was decidedly in favor of Calzaghe.

Every time they showed the Welsh hero on the screens during the undercard, the crowd roared. When Jones was flashed on the big screen, the crowd booed. Yes, there was a huge Welsh contingency in the world's most famous arena.

While there were a few "U-S-A!" chants during the fight, the Calzaghe Crazies dominated the crowd noise nearly as much as Calzaghe dominated Jones. Think we're kidding? Take a look at these guys seen outside the Garden before the fight.

Seriously, did a World Cup game break out at the Garden and nobody told me?

The first round of the Joe Calzaghe fight may very well be the last good round Roy Jones Jr. ever has in a boxing ring. For the second straight time fighting on U.S. soil, Calzaghe picked himself up from the canvas and defeated a future hall-of-famer. Saturday, Calzaghe dominated Jones Jr. at Madison Square Garden. He won by a score of 118-109 on all three scorecards.

Read Wally Matthews' excellent column on the fight in Newsday.

Click here to see photos of the fight.

Read TheSweetScience.com's coverage of the fight.

No man had ever showboated in such a manner against Roy and remained vertical. The fighting was crude at times but after 12 rounds the verdict was definitive.

Both men have hinted at retirement. Calzaghe moves to 46-0 for his career. Should Jones Jr. (52-5) retire now, he will do so off a humiliating defeat. Jones Jr. dropped Calzaghe late in the first round but never really did anything beyond that moment. He was cut badly over the left eye in the seventh round and generated very little offense for the remainder of the fight.

It's the second time the Welshman came to the U.S. and defeated an American ring legend -- albeit a pair of legends beyond their peak. In April, he decisioned Bernard Hopkins in Las Vegas. He's now 24-0 in world title fights. That's a career some guys.

The most interesting quote after the fight came from Calzaghe when he said, "Everyone seems to have an off night against me."

The implication was that Jones or Hopkins suffered from bad nights, they lost the fight more than Joe had won them. Maybe it's time we in the States start acknowledging that Calzaghe had something to do with those bad nights.

For a look at all of the Neutral Corner's coverage of the Jones-Calzaghe fight, click here.

-- CASSIDY

The official weigh-in for the Joe Calzaghe-Roy Jones Jr. fight just took place at Madison Square Garden. Both fighters weighed in at 174 1/2 pounds. That's a half-pound under the light heavyweight limit.

-- CASSIDY

Here are the picks for Saturday's fight between Roy Jones Jr. and Joe Calzaghe at Madison Square Garden. The fight will be televised by HBO PPV. Also, look for video predictions at the end of this post:

Mike Rose, Newsday: "This is a big fight for both Roy Jones and Joe Calzaghe. Calzaghe wants to end his career unbeaten. A win by Jones would restore his brilliance. Those losses to Antonio Tarver and Glen Johnson are still fresh in my mind. This fight comes down to Jones bringing his best. Calzaghe suffered a first-round knockdown and won a split decision over Bernard Hopkins. I don't think Calzaghe can avoid a slow start against Jones. I see Jones coming out strong and staying on the offensive all night. If Jones brings his best, I just don't see Calzaghe winning. Jones wins by unanimous decision."

Marcus Henry, Newsday: "Roy Jones Jr. was his usual confident self at his media workout. The question is can his body match the hype? Jones hasn't beaten anyone of note since winning a major decision against Antonio Tarver in 2003. He looked great against Felix Trinidad, but Felix was a shell of his former self. Calzaghe hasn't fought a boxer the caliber of Jones. While Mikkel Kessler, Bernard Hopkins and Jeff Lacy were quality opponents, none of them has the mix of speed and power Jones has. But Calzaghe has proven he has the heart and drive to take on anyone. And he isn't the least bit intimidated by Jones. Bottom line: Jones can't play it safe and stay on the outside and pounce against Calzaghe like he did against Trinidad. Unlike Trinidad, Calzaghe will bring the fight to Jones and pepper him with punches. If Jones plays the dancing game, Calzaghe will out-point him. I like Calzaghe in a split decision."

Continue reading "Predictions on the Joe Calzaghe-Roy Jones fight" »

In the final episode, New York City and Madison Square Garden were as much the stars as Calzaghe and Jones.

Best Roy Jones Jr. quote: "You come to New York, you better be right."

Best Joe Calzaghe quote: "It's always been an ambition, a wish of mine, to fight in New York."

Best supporting cast: The street musician outside of Central Park. "Tell him to be smart. I used to fight," was the guitar player's advice to Enzo Calzaghe. Only in America, to quote another boxing figure, can a superstar fighter cross paths with a pan-handling musician outside of a public park and find something in common with him. It was a great scene.

Channeling Daddy Dearest, part 2: Enzo's call home to his wife was as endearing as it was bizarre.

Emotion: We've never seen Roy Jones open up like this. Whether it was talking about his dad, going home to see his family one last time before the fight, or speaking of President-elect Barack Obama, it was refreshing to see and made for good television.

Basketball Jones: HBO devoted some time to Roy's visit to the Garden to watch the Knicks. Roy is an avid hoopster and played professionally in the USBL. Here's my question. In that segment, it was noted that Roy has five previous wins at the Garden. How long will it take the Knicks to post five wins at the Garden this season?

This could be telling: Two Joe Calzaghe quotes: "I haven't met anyone quicker than me yet." That may change on Saturday. And, "Roy's yesterday, I'm today. Roy had his time, this is my time." If the first is true, than surely the second one will be true as well. But if Roy is quicker ....

The scenic view: Great opening shots of the limo driver. I had no idea where they were going with that.

For a look at all of the Neutral Corner's coverage of the Jones-Calzaghe fight, click here.

-- CASSIDY

The press folks working the Joe Calzaghe-Roy Jones Jr. fight have outdone themselves with this one. It was noted that the last Welshman to play Madison Square Garden was the singer Tom Jones ("She's a lady. Whoa, whoa, whoa.")

But that was 40 years ago.

When Joe Calzaghe steps into the Madison Square Garden ring Saturday night to face Roy Jones Jr. on HBO PPV, it will have been 69 years since a top Welsh fighter fought at Madison Square Garden. That was when heavyweight contender Tommy Farr lost to Red Burman in 1939.

A few weeks ago we asked if Manny Pacquiao was the greatest fighter ever from the Philippines. If you thought that was like asking if Marlon Anderson is the best lefthanded pinch-hitter in Major League Baseball named Marlon, think again. The talent pool is the Philippines is deeper than you think. And it's the same with Wales.

So, is Joe Calzaghe the greatest Welsh fighter who ever lived?

Here is the competition:

Jimmy Wilde: He had an unbeaten streak of 103 bouts. He won the world flyweight title in 1916. In his last major bout, defending his flyweight crown, he was knocked out by Pancho Villa (a Filipino) at the Polo Grounds in 1923. Wilde is in the boxing Hall of Fame.

Freddie Welsh: He won the world lightweight title in 1914 in London and lost it to Benny Leonard three years later. He also beat Jim Driscoll and Johnny Dundee. A defensive specialist, Welsh is also in the Hall of Fame.

Jim Driscoll: He boxed from 1901-1919 and had a 63-4 record. Driscoll won British, European and world (British version) featherweight titles and was one of the first British boxers to have success in the United States. He is also a Hall-of-Famer.

Tommy Farr: He challenged Joe Louis for the heavyweight title at Yankee Stadium in 1937. He went the distance, but lost. He beat Max Baer and Tommy Loughlin and lost to James J. Braddock.

Here is what two expert had to say:

Steve Farhood, boxing analyst, Showtime: "Calzaghe the best ever from Wales? A definite yes. It's so tough to rank Wilde. Driscoll might be second. Is he the greatest ever from the UK? Ted Lewis has more of a resume. Benny Lynch is underrated. I'll put it this way: He can't hurt his argument with a convincing win over Jones."

Brian Doogan, writer, London Sunday Times: "Joe Calzaghe has to be right up there with Jimmy Wilde in terms of achievement, longevity and craft. Over a period of more than a decade he was unquestionably the best super middleweight boxer in the world. He jumped up to light heavyweight and in his first bout in America he defeated the 175-pound champion, Bernard Hopkins, who at 43 years old was still good enough to take Kelly Pavlik, the world middleweight champion to school. Only the ignorant could possibly deny Calzaghe his place in boxing history."

-- CASSIDY

HBO has announced the launch of a new digital series called, "Ring Life."

The series will orignally be available online or through mobile devices and will chronicle, according to a press release -- "the gripping stories of aspiring contenders." (They will be offered on HBO On Demand in December.)

The episodes will be presented on HBO.com, HBO Mobile, HBO’s YouTube Channel and as free pdocasts via Apple’s iTunes.

HBO is calling the episodes short films and they will roll out beginning November 10, 2008.

The release announcing "Ring Life," reads:

Inspired by the real lives of eight hopeful boxers with dreams of becoming champions, each of the promising contenders will have their stories told in three, 4 to 6 minute segments which will play in weekly installments through April 2009.

The second Ring Life fighter to be showcased is rising heavyweight contender Chris “The Nightmare” Arreola, a 2001 Golden Gloves champion who is fighting on the November 29th Boxing After Dark telecast. The son of an East L.A. boxer, Arreola carries a considerable load – a dream of becoming the first heavyweight world champion of Mexican descent. Arreola’s video segments will premiere November 24th, and December 1st and 8th respectively, followed by new fighters stories released every Monday across HBO digital platforms.

-- CASSIDY

Sean Sullivan, editor-in-chief, invites you to Boxing Digest's 50th anniversary celebration on Friday. The magazine's anniversary issue is available now and is a very nice edition. It features archival material from writers who have contributed to the mag throughout its existence.

The event takes place on the Friday, Nov. 7, the eve of Joe Calzaghe-Roy Jones Jr. fight.

It will be at the Times Square Arts Center at 669 8th Avenue (between 42nd and 43rd Streets) from 7 PM to Midnight. No RSVP necessary. Guests are welcome.

-- CASSIDY

By Marcus Henry

Roy Jones Jr. has always had a lot to say. It’s been no different in the days and weeks leading up to his fight with Joe Calzaghe.

But this time his words don’t seem to have the same sting they once had. Jones was about as respectful as you can be to an opposing fighter. Could doubt be creeping into his mind?

The last few years haven’t been kind to Jones, who took it on the chin in two fights against Antonio Tarver and got knocked out by Glen Johnson. He recovered with wins over Anthony Hanshaw and Felix Trinidad. But neither of them is anything to write home about at this point.

With few options available after his tilt with Calzaghe (assuming he doesn’t fight Bernard Hopkins), Saturday could represent Jones’ last chance to enhance his legacy. No one wants to see him fight Tarver again and a match with Kelly Pavlik wouldn’t generate any buzz.

This could be it for Jones.

“I am still the man and I will bring it Saturday night,” he said during the final press conference on Wednesday. That doesn’t sound like the ultra-confident Jones who dominated the sport for over a decade.

That doesn’t sound like the fighter who dissected James Toney, the man who took it to Virgil Hill or the man who knocked out Montell Griffin in the first round.

Jones just kept pouring on his respect for Calzaghe. "I know Joe is punching already. I've been ducking and dodging in my sleep,” he added.

How about this comment about Calzaghe. "Joe is a man of his word. We made this fight together. I feel proud to face someone with dignity and pride in himself,” Jones gushed.

Of course this could all just be a little bit of misdirection on the part of Jones, hoping to catch Calzaghe with his guard down. But if Jones is resorting to that type of trickery, maybe he’s a lot closer to the end than we all think.

To get the British persective on the upcoming Calzaghe-Jones fight and all things boxing, visit BritishBoxing.net.

For a look at all of the Neutral Corner's coverage of the Calzaghe-Jones fight, click here.

By Marcus Henry

When Joe Calzaghe and Roy Jones Jr. hook up at Madison Square Garden on Saturday, the legacy of two fighters will be on the line.

That’s not entirely accurate. Jones is already destined for the hall of fame. But putting an “L” on Calzaghe’s record will make him even that much more of a legend, especially considering the way the last few years have gone for him.

Two losses to Antonio Tarver and a knockout at the hands of Glen Johnson put a little bit of a damper on his legacy. A win over Calzaghe would certainly boost his profile again.

For Calzaghe (45-0, 32 KOs), this fight has broader implications. Ending his career undefeated means a lot to him. Shortly after his thrilling win over Mikkel Kessler, Calzaghe said he would like to end his career with fights against the likes of Bernard Hopkins and Jones.

He got his wish, at least in part, by beating Hopkins. Now he has the ultimate test in Jones (52-4, 38 KOs).

“My last two fights have been the greatest wins of my career,” Calzaghe said of beating Kessler and Hopkins. “Roy Jones on top of that…It doesn’t get much bigger than that.”

A win on Saturday would undoubtedly validate his career. A loss wouldn’t destroy everything’s he’s built, but boxing experts, at least in the U.S., would question where he ranks amongst the sports greatest.

“I’m definitely more up for this fight and I’m a lot more focused,” Calzaghe said. Beating Jones at Madison Square Garden would be a “great way” to highlight his career. And end it, too.

“I feel like this could be my last fight,” he said. “I want to finish ahead of the sport and on top.”

To get the British persective on the upcoming Calzaghe-Jones fight and all things boxing, visit BritishBoxing.net.

For a look at all of the Neutral Corner's coverage of the Jones-Calzaghe fight, click here.

Brian Doogan is one of the most accomplished sports journalists we know. That's right, not just boxing, but all sports. Fortunately for us, boxing is his passion. Doogan writes for the London Sunday Times and his coverage of the sport also appears on ESPN.com and in The Ring. He's penned the definitive book on Joe Calzaghe, "No Ordinary Joe."

We caught up with Brian at the Kingsway Gym during Joe's public workout on Monday. On Saturday, Calzaghe meets Roy Jones Jr. at Madison Square Garden in a bout televised by HBO PPV. While the boxing fan has been familiar with Calzaghe for years, we asked Brian to introduce Joe to New York's casual sports fan. Here's the video:

Don "Only in America" King is in China promoting the first-ever world-championship boxing card in Chengdu. He apparently has a lot of time on his hands. He wrote roughly four pages of copy on each candidate and asked his chief PR man, Alan Hopper, to transcribe those pages and send them out to the media.

King, who campaigned for Bush four years ago, is backing Obama in this election. Here are the main points of King's political sermon for this election.

First, King sent a tribute to George W. Bush:

Continue reading "Don King endorses Barack Obama, all the way from China" »

Today we share with you Roy Jones Jr.'s portion of the open workouts at the Kingsway Gym. If Joe Calzaghe was dazzling on the focus mitts, check out Roy work the speed bag.

To get the British persective on the upcoming Calzaghe-Jones fight and all things boxing, visit BritishBoxing.net.

For a look at all of the Neutral Corner's coverage of the Calzaghe-Jones fight, click here.

-- CASSIDY

Brian Doogan, Enzo Calzaghe, Steve Guppy

Our good friend Brian Doogan, of the Sunday Times of London, put the Neutral Corner in touch with Steve Guppy. His soccer resume is stellar. A winger, Guppy played for England's national team, played for the Premiere League club Leicester City and was an MLS teammate of Freddy Adu's on D.C. United. He was once listed second behind David Beckham as best crosser in Europe. Last season, he was a player-coach for the Rochester Rhinos in the USL.

And, he's a Joe Calzaghe fan. Here's what Steve had to say about boxing and soccer, er, football:

Neutral Corner: What do you think of the Calzaghe-Jones fight?

Steve Guppy: I’m really excited and looking forward to it. Obviously I believe Joe will win the fight. I recognize that Roy Jones Jr. has been a great fighter, but I just think, with my very limited experience in boxing, that Joe wins.

NC: Are you coming in for the fight?

SG: Yeah, absolutely. I'm flying over on Wednesday.

NC: Did you watch fights when you were growing up?

SG: When I was growing up it was the Nigel Benn, Chris Eubank era. Obviously, Frank Bruno was someone we all hoped would beat Mike Tyson. But it never worked out that way. Then Joe came in and took over. Eubank lived in my neck of the woods, down on the south coast, so I was always in the Chris Eubank camp I guess.

NC: Who in soccer would have made a good boxer?

SG: That’s a good question. I guess it would have to be Mick Harford. Now he's the manager of Luton Town. He was hard as nails. He would have been a really good fighter.

NC: What has to happen for soccer to become more popular in the United States? Do we need more stars like David Beckham?

SG: I think there are a number of reasons it's not popular. I think David Bechkam has been great, the exposure is great. But I think where it will really grow is in developmental leagues. Rather than bringing in senior players from Europe we need to develop superstars and I think that is starting now. I don't want to be controversial, but one thing I've seen that I don't like, I’ve seen youth coaches doing drills and drills and it looks boring. I would love to go watch kids play and just let them play. There are a helluva of a lot of drills going on and it doesn't look like a lot of fun. A lot of kids play soccer at a very young age, but then when they are 14 or 15, they go off and play other sports. But at that point soccer should be in their blood.

NC: What's the best live fight you've ever seen?

SG: In the last few years, I've gotten into watching Joe fight and I've been to a lot of his fights. The most amazing fight that I’ve been to was the Kessler fight. To see how Joe just found a way to win that fight, well it was one of the best sporting events that I’ve ever been to. I’m a bit in awe of those guys.

NC: Can you elaborate on that? You are in awe of those guys?

SG: I couldn’t do it. These are fabulously talented guys but there are so many different things in their makeup that have to be right for them to be at the top of what they do. That Joe has managed to stay at the top for some many years, that shows that his hunger has not diminished. I would guess as a boxer, when your hunger diminishes, you get found out very fast.

NC: I read that you are one of just two players to play at the old and new Wembley Stadium. What is that like?

SG: It was a boyhood dream to walk out at Wembley, I was very lucky that I managed to do that. The atmosphere, the history, it was everything and more that I hoped it would be. I guess you could say that Madison Square Garden is a venue that most boxers would love to have fought there at least once. There is a certain sadnesss to see the old stadium go but the new stadiums are the way to go. The new stadium is beautiful. From a spectator's point of view, the views are much better. It certainly is marvelous and I feel fortunate to have played there. As a player, I loved playing at the old Wembley, there is nothing quite like the old Wembley for me.

For a look at all of the Neutral Corner's coverage of the Jones-Calzaghe fight, click here.

-- CASSIDY

Joe Calzaghe put in a brief workout session today at the Kingsway Gym in Manhattan. He spoke with the assembled media and then put on a dazzling focus-mitt display with his dad-trainer, Enzo.

If you've only seen it on HBO's 24/7, check it our here as well:

Tomorrow, we'll post Roy Jones Jr.'s workout session.

For a look at all of the Neutral Corner's coverage of the Jones-Calzaghe fight, click here.

-- CASSIDY