Kameda vs Jamoye Rematch Heads To Leon on Nov. 20

Source: James Blears | boxingscene.com

The WBC has announced that the rematch it’s ordered between Japan’s Tomoki Kameda and Stephane Jamoye from Belgium, will be held in the Mexican City of Leon on November 20th.

New Bantamweight Youth Champion Kameda was presented with the famous green belt in Mexico City offices of the WBC, by its President Jose Sulaiman. Kameda confirmed that he’s looking forward to this re-match and will again win.

Fight one, was in Mazatlan. The initial result was given as a draw, but a mistake was found in a scorecard and when rectified, it added up to a split decision victory for Kameda.

Don Jose, who was holding his first weekly press conference since he underwent knee surgery two months ago, stressed that the initial fight result, came about through human error, but was corrected as soon as it was discovered.

Campbell v Almeida: First Blood Rhode Island MMA

Source: fighthype.com

History will be made Friday night, Sept. 17 when "First Blood" becomes the first sanctioned, professional Mixed Martial Arts show ever held in Rhode Island.

"First Blood," presented by Jimmy Burchfield's Classic Entertainment and Sports, Inc., (CES) will be held at the Twin River Event Center in Lincoln, RI. All fights feature three, 5-minute rounds.

The main event pits arguably New England's hottest prospect, Providence lightweight Mike "The Beast" Campbell (8-2-0), against undefeated Magno Almeida (6-0), of Wakefield (MA). In an exciting match-up of contrasting styles, Campbell has five knockouts, while five of Almeida's six opponents have tapped-put.

In the co-feature, Bridgewater (MA) heavyweight Lee Beane (7-1-0) takes on Parker Porter (3-1-0), while Wakefield (MA) welterweight Rick Hawn (8-0-0) faces an opponent to be determined.

"Fighting is fighting and we know what fans want – fast action, entertainment and competitive matches," CES president Jimmy Burchfield said. "We're taking the same grassroots promoting and marketing plan we've used so successfully for many years in boxing and taking it into MMA. I've been studying MMA for nearly three years in order to learn how to build the best team possible. Boxing plays a big part in MMA. Some athletic boxers want to try MMA, some powerful-punching strikers want to box. CES is now in the unique position to offer boxers and MMA fighters opportunities to cross over.

"Our goal is to develop MMA fighters and help bring them to the top of the mountain – UFC. We have a good relationship with UFC Vice President of Regulatory Affairs, Mark Ratner, from when he was Executive Director of the Nevada State Athletic Commission. We believe our first show has the potential to be the best show ever in New England in terms of showcasing New England talent. We will have some of the best in action on 'First Blood.' We're thrilled to be having this great show at our home base in beautiful Twin River."

Also scheduled to fight on "First Blood" are Cranston's (RI) Luis "Rock Star" Felix (4-5-0) vs. Joe Dechaves (3-2-0); Woonsocket's pro-debuting lightweight Justin Switzer vs. Cranston's Eric Fams; Maine welterweight Glenn Reaves vs. pro-debuting Bill Burley; Whitman (MA) featherweight John Campbell in his pro debut vs. Kurt Calash, of Middleton (CT); and Somerville (MA) lightweight Jimmy "Jimbo Slice" Davidson in his first fight vs. John Sienna (0-1-1).

Also on the card against opponents to be determined are undefeated Framingham (MA) light heavyweight Saul "The Spider" Almeida (7-0-0), Ludlow (MA) lightweight Alexandre "Vaca" Moreno (10-2-0), East Greenwich (RI) and Rhode Island MMA pioneer Mat Santos, along with welterweights Lionel Young (2-4-0), Antwann Penn and Mark Skeltcher. All fights and fighters are subject to change.

Tickets for "First Blood," priced at $50.00, $75.00, $125.00, $150.00 and $200.00 (front row) are available to purchase by calling CES (401.724.2253/2254), going online at www.cesboxing.com or www.twinriver.com, at Twin River's Players Club booth at Twin River, or any TicketMaster location.

Contact CES (401.724.2253/2254/www.cesboxing.com) or the Twin River Event Center (877.82.RIVER/ www.twinriver.com) for more information. Doors open at 6:00PM/ET, first bout at 7:30 PM/ET.

(Twin River has waived its 18+ rule for "First Blood." Anybody under the age of 18 must be accompanied at all times by an adult and they must enter through the West entrance.)

Press Conference Quotes

Mike Campbell: "To be part of the first MMA show in Rhode Island, I'm so excited to be part of it. I have goose-bumps right now….honestly. I'm gonna bring it; I never give boring shows. I promise you're going to see fireworks. We bleed and sweat together and it's my honor to fighting on this card with these fighters. It's going to be war."

Mat Santos: "I was on the very first card in Rhode Island. They called it Vale Tudo. There wasn't a law against it but it was legal, 11 years ago. I was in the Army in 1993 when I saw my first MMA fight. It looked like fun and that's why it went from a hobby to my lifeblood. I train six days a week, every week, whether I have a fight or not. I haven't fought in four years, not necessarily because of lack of trying. This is the fifth fight set-up for me but opponents pulled out. Anybody that hits the ground against me, I'll finish them. I'm 100-percent confident that I will submit him. There's nobody out there I don't have an answer for. This isn't going to be a boring Jiu-Jitsu fight. If I can't take him down, I'll beat him on my feet. The past 11 years I've fought all over in rings, cages and even open mats, but now I'm finally fighting at home."

Parker Porter: "I'm glad to be here. It'll be my closest fight to home being from Southington, Connecticut. The last guy to beat Lee is in the UFC; the last guy to beat me is in the UFC. I'm looking forward to sizing us up. I promise you I'm going to bring it."

Saul Almeida: I haven't fought in a while. I just came back from training two months in California with some of the best MMA fighters in the world like Anderson Silva. It's going to be a really entertaining fight. You won't want to miss it."

Lionel Young: "I'm still a baby at this – I've only been doing it for a year. This is my biggest fight. I promise to go into the cage and give every ounce in my body."

Luis Felix: I'm excited to be fighting here in my backyard. It's something I've looked forward to ever since I got into MMA. September 17th I'll be here to fight. I don't go into any fight hating my opponent. This is a sport and I love to do it. After the fight we can be friends. I'm willing to put everything on the line. This is my ultimate challenge. I look forward to putting on a good show."

Joe Dechaves: "It's an awesome time – Rhode Island history – to be fighting on this card. Felix is a good fighter. I've seen some of his fights. I've been training hard and I'll be ready September 17th. It's a special fight for me. I'm dedicating it to my father who died in July, on my wedding day, so this fight means more to be than anything."

Arum Departs Pacquiao-Margarito Tour: Son Goes Missing

Source: Michael Marley | boxingscene.com

The Los Angeles kickoff presser for the Antonio Margarito-Manny Pacquiao fight Tuesday may be the only one promoter Bob Arum will attend.

Arum, age 78, abruptly left the media confab in Beverly Hills to rush for a flight to the Seattle area where his son John, 49, is reported missing on a hiking trip in some mountains.

Putting aside all boxing issues, let's pray that Arum's son is just lost and that searchers find him safe and sound.

Arum said that his son was reported missing on Sunday.

(I remember many years ago, before the first Muhammad Ali-Joe Bugner bout in Las Vegas, when John was booted out of the casino area for being underage. John is a product of the promoter's first of three marriages.)

Like his illustrious father, John B. Arum is an attorney.

A partner in the Seattle firm of Ziontz, Chestnut, Varnell, Berley and Slonim, he has a special interest and background in environmental law.

Arum is in his second term as a member of the Washington Environmental Council, where his biography notes said:

John rejoined the W.E.C board this year after a hiatus following a previous six-year term. A highly skilled environmental attorney, John is committed to working for water reforms in Washington and to helping create a state where both people and natural fish populations can coexist.

Arum also represents Indian tribes and has done so since 1990.

The New York and Arlington, Texas, press conferences will go on Wednesday and Thursday as scheduled minus the moderator.

This story was first reported, as far as I can tell, by Lance Pugmire, Los Angeles Times.

Why a Margarito win over Pacquiao is better for the sports of boxing

Source: Danny Howard | fighthype.com

I know this may sound absolutely ludicrous and it's a total 180 from the beliefs that I stand firm on, but here I go...for all that's good in the boxing world, I want Antonio Margarito, more than anything in the world, to defeat Manny Pacquiao on November 13th.

My original stance was that it would be a big black eye for boxing if Margarito would have beaten the number one pound-for-pound fighter of our time only one fight removed from being suspended for trying to use illegal hand wraps. A Margarito victory would be a laughing stock, I thought. While the rabid Pacquiao fan base would no doubt come to their hero's rescue, even then, there wouldn't be words for how shocking of a loss this would be to Pacquiao and to boxing. However, a conversation with my editor, Ben Thompson, convinced me to wonder if a Margarito win would necessarily be so bad.

Pacquiao hasn't fought an opponent who his handlers weren't absolutely certain he'd beat since he fought Juan Manuel Marquez way back at 130 pounds. Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton, Miguel Cotto and Joshua Clottey may have been perceived as hard fights, but Top Rank and Freddie Roach knew that Pacquiao would win those fights with no problem. Should Pacquiao come up short against Margarito, yet continue to pick and choose his opponents, it'd be hard not to point the finger at his handlers for finding easy fights. Thus, a loss for Pacquiao would be a huge loss for Top Rank, seeing that they've exhausted all their options should they plan to continue to keep all the fights under their roof. Yuri Foreman was dominated by Cotto in nine rounds, Pacquiao has already fought Joshua Clottey, Cotto and Margarito, and neither Vanes Martirosian nor Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. are anywhere near a fight of that capacity yet. That would mean that if Pacquiao wanted to fight his way back into contention, he'd finally have to pick outside of the safety of the Top Rank umbrella, something that his promoter, Bob Arum, has been reluctant to do as of late.

Margarito, as a jr. middleweight champion, would lead to much more interesting fights. Particularly, rematches against Cotto, Paul Williams and Sergio Martinez would all look that much more interesting. And who wouldn't salivate at a potential fight with Alfredo Angulo? Pacquiao, on the other hand, won't take any of those fights if he were to win. They're too risky at the higher weight and, stylistically, they're a bad matchup for him. While there always is the possibility of making those fights with a catchweight clause, Martinez and Williams probably wouldn't have too much trouble making the weight in the first place, thus making a catchweight a moot point, and those bouts a much bigger risk for Pacquiao.

So what fight are we going to get next if Pacquiao is able to defeat Margarito and win the 154-pound title on November 13? I'll tell you. All we're gonna get is another round of pointless "negotiations" between he and Mayweather, but this time, Top Rank will say they're upping their purse split demands because Pacquiao has won another title in an eighth weight class and beaten a fighter that Mayweather has ducked. That, in turn, will lead to Mayweather's camp abandoning talks altogether, Pacquaio fighting Lamont Peterson or Humberto Soto at 145 pounds, and thus, wasting another three months of our lives. Thanks, but no thanks. At this point, I'd rather have Margarito save us the trouble.

In reality, Pacquiao-Margarito is probably going to follow script and it will go something like this: Pacquiao is going to be too fast for the lumbering, feather-fisted Margarito, who will take his best shots and keep coming forward, before Pacquiao eventually chops him down and wins via knockout. Following the fight, Pacquiao will thank God and his fans and won't bother talking about Mayweather. After all, that's what Freddie Roach and Bob Arum are there for.

While I'm going to skip the fight altogether, I fully expect that Pacquiao will win, but I won't be shocked or angered if Margarito can pull off the upset. Maybe rooting for the bad guy isn't always a bad thing, especially when the possibility of bettering the competition of the sport is a potential payoff.

Manny Pacquiao: 'Margarito Knew What Was in The Wraps'

Source: Ronnie Nathanielsz : boxingscene.com

MANILA, Philippines—Pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao believes Antonio Margarito is better than Joshua Clottey and sees an action-packed bout when they tangle for the World Boxing Council super welterweight crown on Nov. 13 at the Dallas Cowboys Stadium in Texas.

In an interview with BoxingScene.com and the Inquirer prior to his departure for Los Angeles Monday night, Pacquiao noted that Margarito “is a very aggressive fighter” and the Mexican’s height and reach advantage will make it “difficult for me.”

Pacquiao predicted “it’s going to be a good fight because Margarito likes to come forward all the time and throw punches and that’s what we like—plenty of action. For sure there’s going to be a lot of action in the ring and it won’t be like the Joshua Clottey fight.”

In their 147-pound showdown at the same venue last March 13, Clottey merely took the punches thrown by Pacquiao and hardly fought back.

Pacquiao compared the upcoming clash with the 5-foot-11 Margarito to his fight with the 5-10 Oscar De La Hoya, who quit at the end of the eighth round after taking a beating.

Pacquiao also said he doesn’t believe Margarito’s claim that he didn’t know about the illegal hand-wraps that were discovered prior to his fight against Shane Mosley, when Margarito suffered a ninth-round TKO and lost his WBA super world welterweight title on Jan. 24, 2009.

“I don’t believe him (Margarito),” Pacquiao said. “Of course he knows about that (illegal hand-wraps). Its his hands and he watches the taping.”

Pacquiao believes Margarito denied he knew about the hand-wraps because he was “looking for a way out so his reputation won’t be damaged among his fans.”

However, Pacquiao noted that Margarito had “paid his dues by sacrificing and not fighting for one year.

“I hope he learned his lesson and will not repeat the same mistake.”

At the same time, Pacquiao said he is not taking any chances, pointing out that “we can watch his hands being wrapped because our agreement is we will have two representatives led by my coach (Freddie Roach) to watch the taping.”

Reacting to the comments of boxing writers who wanted him to punish Margarito for what he did Pacquiao said: “No, I can’t do that. He is good fighter. He’s big and skilled and also has power. We will do what we are capable of so that we will win for our country.”

US survives test, holds on to edge Brazil 70-68

Source: Yahoo! Sports

ISTANBUL (AP)—Derrick Rose(notes) thought it was going in. So did Leandro Barbosa(notes), who shot it.

Instead, Brazil’s attempt to tie at the buzzer fell out, and the United States remained unbeaten, though no longer unchallenged.

A world championship won’t come easily for this young team—if it comes at all—so the Americans believe their 70-68 victory over Brazil on Monday will help them in the later rounds.

“Sometimes family that goes through adversity gets a little better,” center Lamar Odom(notes) said. “It’s a game we probably needed. Probably a good tuneup, especially going into the medal rounds, trying to finish up this tournament.”

Kevin Durant(notes) scored 27 points and Chauncey Billups(notes) added 15 for the Americans (3-0), who essentially clinched Group B with the victory. But they have bigger goals than a group championship, trying to end a 16-year U.S. drought in this event.

This U.S. team has to do without Kobe Bryant(notes), LeBron James(notes) and all the other players who led the Americans to the gold medal in the 2008 Olympics, and those guys never needed breaks at the buzzer.

“This game right here was an eye opener,” said Rose, the only other U.S. player in double figures with 11 points. “We know that teams are really coming in here to try to win this tournament and we’re here to do the same.”

After the Americans trailed most of the first 2 1/2 quarters, Odom’s dunk with 7:14 left put them ahead 64-62. But they couldn’t build on the lead during a tense final few minutes, and Brazil had two chances to send the game to overtime.

Following a miss by Billups, Brazil got the ball and Marcelo Huertas was fouled on a drive to the basket with 3.5 seconds remaining. He missed the first free throw and then the second intentionally, tracking it down in the corner and firing it underneath to Barbosa, who lofted a shot over Kevin Love(notes), only to have it bounce off the back and front of the rim.

“I thought it was going in, but it’s OK,” Barbosa said. “I think we did a great job, it was a great game. I don’t think the USA knew that we could cause problems for them and we did it.”

Barbosa finished with 14 points after a strong start for Brazil (2-1). Marcus Vinicius(notes) scored 16, and Tiago Splitter(notes) had 13 points and 10 rebounds while battling foul trouble in the second half.

With NBA big men Nene, Anderson Varejao(notes) and Splitter, Brazil was considered one of the teams with enough size to topple the undersized Americans. Nene had to pull out with an injury and Varejao sat out again while continuing to rest a sprained right ankle, so the Brazilians turned to a speed game to lead much of the way.

They just couldn’t finish the upset, leaving the Americans needing only a victory over Iran or Tunisia, the bottom two teams in Group B, or another Brazil loss to earn the top seed from the group and three full days off before meeting the No. 4 seed from Group A on Sept. 6.

The Americans have plenty to work on before worrying about that, after needing a huge night from Durant and 31 minutes from Billups, the old man of the team at 33 who had their only basket in the final 6:50.

“I knew that in the first half that this was going to be a fourth-quarter game, a last two- or three-minute game, and I was preparing myself to just be ready,” Billups said.

Nowhere was the difference between this team and its predecessor more apparent than in the matchup with Barbosa. When the teams last met, in their 2007 Olympic qualifier, Barbosa entered as the tournament’s leading scorer before Bryant led a defensive effort that held him to four points on 1-of-7 shooting in an easy U.S. win.

There’s no defenders like Bryant here, and Barbosa took advantage in the first quarter by making two 3-pointers and scoring eight points. Brazil made 12 of its first 16 shots in the period and its first four 3-pointers, streaks that were snapped when Barbosa was just short on a half-court heave at the buzzer, leaving them with a 28-22 lead.

Brazil extended its lead to eight early in the second quarter and Splitter’s dunk sent the Brazilians to the half with a 46-43 advantage.

The Americans finally grabbed the lead midway through the third, extending it to 61-55 after consecutive baskets by Durant. Barbosa scored the final four points of the period, though, and pulled Brazil within two heading to the fourth.

The crowd grew solidly behind the underdogs, cheering for Brazil baskets and booing loudly when a small “U-S-A!” chant broke out in the fourth.

Brazil is coached by Ruben Magnano, who guided Argentina to victories over the U.S. in the 2002 worlds and 2004 Olympics, when the Argentines won gold. He nearly authored another upset, as players on both teams thought Barbosa’s shot was going in.

“I had Durant right in front of me, I couldn’t see,” Huertas said. “I was in the corner but I saw the ball tipped on both sides of the rim and went out. It was a big disappointment.”

And for the Americans, a big relief.

“I thought it was in, to tell you the truth,” Rose said. “Thank God it came out.”

Abdul-Jabbar Suing Upper-Deck For Using Basketball Legend's Image

Source: allheadlinenews.com

Los Angeles, CA, United States (AHN) - Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is outraged that a trading card company has traded on his image after he specifically shut them down ... and now Kareem is gunning for more than a million.

In a lawsuit filed today in L.A. County Superior Court and obtained by TMZ. Kareem claims The Upper Deck Company plastered 6 Kareem pics from his days as a UCLA Bruin on its "Greats of the Game" series.

Kareem, the NBA's all-time leading scorer with 38,387 points. claims Upper Deck had the audacity to market the cards after he turned them down flat.

The lawsuit, filed by legal pit bull Marty Singer, notes that when Kareem left the NBA, he blocked more shots, won more Most Valuable Player awards, played in more All-Star Games and logged more seasons than any other player.

The lawsuit seeks more than $1 million in damages.

Manny Pacquiao vs Margarito: Pacquiao’s speed worries Mexican

Source: NICK GIONGCO | mb.com.ph

Negating the speed of Filipino pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao will be the thrust of Antonio Margarito’s ten-week training camp that begins immediately after the two combatants get back from a three-city, coast-to-coast four-day press tour.

“What concerns me most about Pacquiao is his speed. We have two months (to prepare) and get the right gameplan,” trainer Robert Garcia told the Bulletin Monday from his homebase in Oxnard, California.

Garcia and Margarito, as well as Pacquiao and his team, would be making whirlwind stops in Los Angeles, New York and Dallas in the coming days to promote their Nov. 13 showdown at Cowboys Stadium.

Day One for Margarito will begin Sept. 6 – exactly two weeks ahead of Pacquiao, who shows up for training camp on Sept. 20 with top trainer Freddie Roach and conditioning coach Alex Ariza in tow.

Garcia understands why Pacquiao is the heavy favorite but is upbeat that Margarito has what it takes to turn the tables around.

“Margarito is always in shape and he doesn’t allow himself to get out of shape. He is always running, making sure his weight is in check. The last time he fought, he went to training camp weighing 157 lbs when the fight was at 154,” said Garcia, a former world super-featherweight champion back in the 1990s.

Garcia downplays Margarito’s knockout loss to Shane Mosley on that fateful night in January 2009, saying the Mexican puncher mind was not into the fight.

“I believe he was not mentally in shape when he fought Mosley. He said they played around with the scales because he only weighed in at 145 lbs. He has a hard time getting down to 147 then he weighs 145. He also mentioned about the handwraps.

Those things affected him so much and I believe that if they fight again, Margarito will beat him (Mosley).”

Being eyed to serve as Margarito’s main sparring partner is reigning world middleweight champion and Oxnard resident Sergio Martinez of Argentina, who is a lefty like Pacquiao.

Pacquiao and Margarito will vie for the vacant World Boxing Council super-welterweight crown although both have agreed on a catchweight of 150 lbs.

Meanwhile, Pacquiao was scheduled to depart for the US late Monday night to take part in the press tour and be back later in the week.

Klitschko's Plan: Revisit Valuev Talks, Not Go After Haye

Source: Ruslan Chikov | boxingscene.com

Once WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko is finished with his next title defense, on October 16 in Germany against Shannon Briggs, he won't sit at the table with WBA champion David Haye. Instead Vitali wants to revisit discussions with Nikolai Valuev for a fight. Vitali tried to make a fight with Valuev for the last few months. Valuev rejected an original offer of $2.5 million dollars. He then turned down $1.5 million dollars but later agreed to accept the amount. After the two fighters agreed to the purse, they couldn't agree on the revenue split from the German and Russian television networks.

"All of Europe has been waiting for this match to happen," Klitschko said.

Dealing with Briggs will come first. The former heavyweight champion from American has promised to knock Klitschko out in 30-seconds of the first round. Klitschko laughed at the prediction.

"The Americans will be cheering for him, because Shannon was the last world heavyweight champion from the United States. Let's see how serious his intentions are to send me into retirement, and how well he prepares for our meeting," Klitschko said.

Margarito vs Pacquaio: 'Margarito stronger, bigger for Pacman'

Soure: Abac Cordero | philstar.com

MANILA, Philippines - Antonio Margarito’s chief trainer Roberto Garcia yesterday said his ward will use his brute strength and height advantage against Filipino boxing legend Manny Pacquiao even as he expressed confidence of Margarito’s victory in their upcoming fight in November in Texas.

“Margarito has the strength, the power, he’s hungry to be the best and prove everybody wrong. He’s the bigger man. He will get hit but he will just keep coming and coming and Pacquiao will get tired of just having Margarito on him and landing good shots and eventually you start landing good shots and start breaking him down,” Garcia told Dennis Guillermo of The Examiner.

“I honestly see a very big chance of us pulling it out,” he said.

Margarito has been training in earnest for the keenly awaited Nov. 13 showdown where Pacquiao is eyeing an eighth title in the super welterweight division (154 lbs). The fight, however, is set at a catchweight of 151 lbs.

Meanwhile, Garcia said he’s not having second thoughts on joining this week’s press tour for the big fight.

Garcia, who has his hands full handling Margarito’s training, said he’d be there despite the fact that he’s now busy working on the upcoming bout.

“I’ve been watching a lot of Manny Pacquiao’s fights. I’ve been studying him everyday,” said Garcia, also the current trainer of excellent fighters like Nonito Donaire Jr., Brian Viloria, Steven Luevano and Joan Guzman.

The press tour is set this week with stops in Los Angeles, New York and Dallas. Then both fighters part ways, and head into training, just a little over two months left before the anticipated showdown.

Garcia, the former world champion, said the more he studies Pacquiao, the more he likes their chances of winning.

“Margarito never stops training. After his fights he takes a few days off, maybe a week off but then he goes back to the running and back to the gym right away. He’s not back in my gym yet. We start our press conference here on Tuesday in LA and then go to New York, finish up in Texas, but following that we will start training camp. That would be 10 weeks before the fight, I think that would be enough,” said Garcia.

Enough to put Margarito in top shape. But will it be enough to beat Pacquiao?

The Gen. Santos native and now a Saranggani representative was scheduled to leave for LA last night for the press tour, and a chance to hook up with his own trainer, Freddie Roach, to probably discuss their initial plans against the 5-foot-11 Margarito.

Pacquiao vs Margarito: Further Review, Margarito Unworthy of a Spotlight Return

Source: Lyle Fitzsimmons | boxingscene.com

Come to think of it, the wife really does know best.

Though I’d gone on record a few weeks back saying I was far more irritated that Antonio Margarito was getting a catch-weight title fight than with the idea he was fighting at all, sometimes with age comes wisdom.

Or in this case… living with a smart spouse named Danielle comes wisdom.

Driving back from a fruitless trip to a Gulf beach, a 45-minute chat with my lady of nearly five years – a sports fan with multiple fantasy football championships and one press-row fight credential to her credit, by the way – showed that when it comes to the Tijuana Tornado’s worthiness to return to the sport, one of us had it right all along.

And it sure as heck wasn’t me.

While his Nov. 13 match with Manny Pacquiao at Cowboys Stadium looks destined to end in a fashion similar to his January 2009 meeting with Shane Mosley – it now says here that the Mexican-born ex-welterweight king doesn’t even deserve the chance to get his face kicked in courtesy of the soon-to-be Filipino flyweight turned junior middleweight.

Until getting the female perspective on Monday afternoon, I’d been what amounts to a silent apologist for the man un-affectionately known as “Margacheato,” somehow allowing for a chance he might not have known what happened in the Staples Center locker room prior to the detective work of the ever-vigilant Naazim Richardson.

Now that I look back, it seems more ridiculous by the minute.

As many veteran fighters, trainers, analysts and others insisted since day one of the controversy, there’s really no way a combatant of Margarito’s skill and experience – he’d been a pro for 15 years and 10 days when he met Mosley – would not have noticed even the slightest thing was amiss with the hand wrap done that night by Javier Capetillo.

But because he’d done a good job selling the “who me?” line since being suspended and because the offense was detected before the fight and not after Mosley had been violated physically, I’d been more inclined to give Margarito the benefit of the doubt when it came to his deserved level of punishment for what nearly went on in Los Angeles.

It all changed somewhere around the Marion County line.

“It’s crazy that they’re letting him fight,” I was told by my incredulous passenger during the rare stretch of dialogue allowed by our drowsy 2-year-old, Ryan. “Just because he didn’t actually lay his hands on the guy doesn’t mean there was no intent. And it wouldn’t do a lot of good to only get it right after the fact. It should be treated as if he’d gotten to the ring and hit him.

“If they’d have found it after the fight, he’d rightfully be dragged through the streets.”

My only question after our chat… how did I not recognize it sooner?

The more I ponder what could have happened had it not been for Richardson – and ultimately Mosley – the more I’m reminded of the eerie aftermath of the Luis Resto-Billy Collins tragedy at Madison Square Garden 16 years earlier.

Like Margarito, Resto vehemently claimed to know nothing of what happened in the locker room that night on the Roberto Duran-Davey Moore undercard, when padding was removed from the gloves that beat the overmatched Collins into a medically induced retirement and indirectly led to his untimely death nine months later.

Resto eventually purged his soul in a TV documentary released last year, admitting to both Collins’ and his own family that he’d been aware of the pre-fight malfeasance but chose not to do anything to stop it… an admission that may help him sleep at night, but, were it me in the Collins’ shoes, would have warranted little more than a slammed door in the face.

Just because Margarito didn’t get away with it doesn’t mean it wasn’t a crime.

And just because Bob Arum says it’s OK doesn’t mean he’s any less loathsome for doing so.

As for me, I’m glad there’s at least one person in my house who saw through them both.

Thanks, hon… good catch.

Pacquiao vs Margarito: WBC Approves 154-Pound Title Fight

Source: boxingscene.com

The World Boxing Council received a request from Top Rank Inc. to approve the bout between Manny Pacquiao and Mexican fighter, Antonio Margarito, for the WBC Superwelterweight world title, to be held at the Dallas Cowboys Stadium this coming November 13th.

The voting in favor of the fight was unanimous by the Board of Governors, as it is considered to be one of the great bouts that can be held in these times between two great fighters.

The title was vacated when former world champion, Sergio Martinez, decided to do so, after winning the WBC Middleweight world title when he defeated Kelly Pavlik last April 17th.

This bout will take place exactly one week after the 48th WBC Annual World Convention to be held in Cancun is closed.

Pacquiao - Margarito: I Won't Quit Like De La Hoya

Source: Mark Vester | boxingscene.com

Former three division welterweight champion Antonio Margarito is livid with Golden Boy Promotions President Oscar De La Hoya. The Golden Boy President has often called for Margarito to receive a lifetime ban from the sport of boxing. De La Hoya believes Margarito knew that his handwraps were loaded for the fight with Shane Mosley in January 2009.

Hesiquio Balderas of philboxing.com quotes a Margarito interview from TV Azteca, where the Mexican fighter blames De La Hoya's West Coast influence for the California State Athletic Commission denying his application for a license two weeks ago.

"I don't know what he has against me, I really don't understand, what I do know is that he had a big influence in the California State Athletic Commission with everything he said against me, I am upset because he talked too much and said some nasty things and he has a shady past himself that most of us know about," said Margarito.

Margarito was De La Hoya's former sparring partner but the two Mexican fighters began a verbal feud when De La Hoya refused to fight Margarito in 2008. Margarito is set to face Manny Pacquiao on November 13. He predicts a knockout win.

"I hope [De La Hoya] takes off the fishnet, stops acting like a sissy and fight me, if you have something against me then get in the ring and fight I will knock Pacquiao out, and show the world that I am back, this is the fight of my life and Manny will be in for a tough night, I wont quit like De La Hoya did," Margarito said.

Fury vs Holmes Clash Set For September 10 on ShoBox

Source: By Mark Vester | boxingscene.com

According to a BBC report, unbeaten British heavyweight Tyson Fury (11-0, 9KOs) will now face Donnell "The Real Touch of Sleep" Holmes (32-1, 28KOs) on September 10 at York Hall in London. Fury's opponent Jason Gavern withdrew from the contest. Fury will face his most experienced, toughest opponent to date. Holmes' only loss was a controversial four round technical decision to Brian Minto from last August. Holmes returned in February for a two round TKO of Brian Gregory. Showtime will televise the Fury-Holmes on their ShoBox series.

Juan Manuel Lopez vs Marquez Officially Heads To 11/6, The MGM Grand

Source: Lem Satterfield | boxingscene.com

Promoter Gary Shaw has confirmed that the featherweight battle between Rafael Marquez (39-5, 35 KOs) and WBO champion Juan Manuel Lopez (29-0, 26 KOs) is heading to the MGM Grand on November 6. Showtime will televise. The fight was previously scheduled for September 18, but Marquez suffered a right thumb injury which caused a postponement.

"This is a great fight between two great champions with Lopez being from Puerto Rico, and Marquez being from Mexico," said Shaw, who promotes Marquez. "This is going to appeal to a lot of fans and it's going to be one for the ages."

Beibut Shumenov: 'I Want Pascal, Cloud or Brahmer Next!'

Source: Bob Trieger | Boxingscene.com

LAST VEGAS – WBA and IBA Light Heavyweight World Champion Beibut Shumenov took the fast track to become world champion, establishing a weight-class record along the way, and now he wants to accelerate his road to stardom.

Shumenov is set on a mission to unify the titles starting with his next bout, hopefully before the year is out.

“I want a unification fight next,” Shumenov said. “I’m ready to fight any of the other champions now. (Jean) Pascal and (Tavoris) Cloud are both good champions and I’d love to fight either one. Throw in world champion Jurgen Brahmer, too. My goal is to unify the titles. I have a lot of respect for all of the other champions but I want their titles.”

“It’s unheard of, a fighter that wants one challenge after another so early in their career,” said Dan Goossen of Goossen Tutor Promotions. “But this is what boxing needs, the most competitive and biggest fights that can be made. The networks should ONLY be looking at these young champions to be facing off with one another. Beibut wants to give the fans want they want to see.”

Shumenov (10-1, 6 KOs), born in Kazakhstan and now living in Las Vegas, wasn’t looking to pad his record from the day he turned pro 2 ½ years ago, after he represented Kazakhstan in the 2004 Olympics.

In his third pro fight, he took on 70-fight veteran Shannon Miller, who was put to sleep in the fourth round of their fight in Memphis, followed only three weeks later in Kazakhstan by a second-round knockout of former WBC Continental Americas champion Donnell Wiggins (24-10-4) for the WBC Asian Boxing Council and Interim PABA light heavyweight belts.

Next up for Shumenov were successful title defenses of the aforementioned crowns, in addition to capturing the vacant WBO Asia Pacific belt against Lavell Finger (26-2) who didn’t make it out of the opening round. Fighting at home for the third straight fight, Shumenov stepped-up to face his stiffest test, former WBC and WBA light heavyweight champion, Montell Griffin (49-7), who sported wins against world champions James Toney (twice) and Roy Jones, Jr. Shumenov pitched a complete, 12-round shutout, winning the unanimous decision by scores of 120-108, 120-108, 120-107.

Back in the U.S., Shumenov squared-off against world title challenger Epifanio Mendoza (28-6-1), who had lost to Chad Dawson in their 2007 world title fight and a year later by a controversial decision to former world champion Jeff Lacy. Beibut defeated Mendoza in Bellevue, Washington by 10-round unanimous decision (100-90, 98-92, 97-93).

From that point on it’s been all world championship fights for Shumenov, who captured the IBA crown last year in Kazakhstan, stopping 2-time world super middleweight champion Byron Mitchell (27-4-1) in the fourth round. In his ninth pro fight, Shumenov unsuccessfully challenged WBA titlist Gabriel Campillo in Kazakhstan, losing a hotly contested, questionable 12-round majority decision.

Beibut bounced back strong in another back-and-forth rematch this past January, winning a 12-round decision against Campillo for the WBA belt in only his 10th pro fight. Shumenov shattered the previous world record for fewest professional fights to capture a major World light heavyweight title, 15, set by Jeff “Hit Man” Harding in 1989.

In his first WBA title defense (July 23) on ESPN Friday Night Fights, Shumenov showed the valuable lessons learned from the prior two Campillo bouts, to totally dominate mandatory challenger and previously unbeaten Vyacheslav Uzelkov (22-0, 13 KOs), displaying speed, aggressiveness and fearlessness right through the closing seconds en route to an overwhelming unanimous decision (118-108, 118-108, 117-109).

His impressive fight against the Ukrainian was only his second with head trainer, Kevin Barry, and first fighting for Goossen Tutor Promotions. The classy Kazakh showed tremendous ability and fought his way side-by-side with the other 175-pound champions. “I have the best trainer in the world, Kevin, and I was 100-percent dedicated to training and completely focused on Uzelkov alone because I signed with Goossen Tutor,” Beibut explained.

Shumenov joined featherweight Aratoly Alexandrov, heavyweight, Oleg “Big O’ Maskaev and cruiserweight Vassily “The Tiger” Jirov as the only Kazakh-born professional world boxing champions.

On the fast track outside of the ring, too, Beibut has a law degree, speaks five languages (Russian, Kazakh, English, Turkish and Uzbek), and along with his brother, Chingis, own a full-service boxing promotional company based in Las Vegas, NV. KZ Event Productions fighters include unbeaten, WBA #9-rated light heavyweight Gayrat Ahmedov (15-0-1, 10 KOs) and undefeated welterweight, WBA #14 Ravshan Hudaynazrov.

Manfredo vs Joppy in The Works For October 8 in CT

Source: Ryan Burton | boxingscene.com

BoxingScene.com has been advised by reliable sources that IBO middleweight champion Peter Manfredo Jr. will be defending his title on October 8th, possibly at the Mohegan Sun in Connecticut. Reportedly he will defend his title versus former world champion William Joppy. Manfredo won the title when he knocked out Angel Hernandez in May.

Maidana: If I Can't Get Amir Khan, Then I Want Bradley

Source: Jhonny Gonzalez | boxingscen.com

WBA junior welterweight interim-champion Marcos Maidana went over last Saturday's tough twelve round decision win over DeMarcus Corley. Maidana said Corley fought very dirty and said there was some pressure by fighting before a hometown crowd of nearly 15,000 fans at Luna Park in Argentina. Maidana got very tired by the end of the fight because he spent a lot of energy chasing a knockout.

"The fight was a little dirty. I got hit with his head and then my cut devolved. The truth is, it was a war. He is a good boxer who came to take the title, but he left here with empty hands," said Maidana to John Jones. "I had pressure fighting in Luna Park. Everyone was looking forward to the fight, so I wanted to go for the knockout, and he is not an easy boxer to knock out. The public came to see a knockout and did not see a knockout. But I'm happy because of the way the audience responded and I was proud to fight here."

Maidana now plans to rest for a few weeks before returning to the gym. He wants Golden Boy Promotions to finalize a deal for a fight with full WBA champion Amir Khan on December 11 in England. If Maidana can't get Khan, he wants to challenge WBO champion Timothy Bradley. If Maidana wants Bradley, he might have to wait a while to get him. Bradley is close to a deal to fight WBC/IBF champion Devon Alexander on January 29.

"I want to rest and eat a couple of barbecues and then start again with everything. I won an important fight, because if you come to fight in Luna Park, you have to do it with someone good. I want my next fight to be against the best. Therefore, I either want Bradley, Khan or whoever," Maidana said.

Caballero vs Cordoba Rematch Negotiations Heating Up

Source: Rick Reeno | boxingscene.com

BoxingScene.com was informed by a reliable source that discussions for a rematch between super bantamweights Celestino Caballero (34-2, 23KOs) and Ricardo Cordoba (37-2, 23KOs) are getting serious. Cordoba won a twelve round decision over a 19-1 Caballero in 2004. Since the loss, Caballero has won 15 in a row. If a deal can be reached, the fight could end up in the fall as a possible HBO televised opener to Andre Berto's defense of the WBC welterweight title, possibly against his mandatory Selcuk Aydin.

Finalizing a deal with Cordoba is not exactly a slam dunk for Caballero and his promoter Lou DiBella. Top Rank is actively pursuing Cordoba to become the opponent for Guillermo Rigondeaux on the Manny Pacquiao-Antonio Margarito pay-per-view undercard on November 13. At this point, the promoter with the best overall offer is going to secure Cordoba.

Emmy Award Winners: 'Mad Men' Takes Best Drama

Source: limelife.com

Kyra Sedgewick wins best actress.

The Emmy Awards are over, and this year's champions are no strangers to the stage. Mad Men won the award for best drama for the third year in a row, and Bryan Cranston of Breaking Bad also won his third consecutive Emmy for best actor in a dramatic series. So who else took home a trophy? Here's the complete list of 2010 Emmy Award winners.

Read: Kate Gosselin to Kick Off Emmys With Jimmy Fallon

Hosted by Jimmy Fallon, the show began with a huge musical number that included Jimmy, the entire cast of Glee, comedian Joel McHale, Jon Hamm from Mad Men and others singing Bruce Springsteen's Born to Run.

As the show pressed on (with some surprises, but mostly the favorites winning), winners took the stage to mumble out acceptance speeches.

Edie Falco won for lead actress in a comedy role for Nurse Jackie, an award she was most surprised at. "Oh, this is the most ridiculous thing that has ever, ever happened in the history of this lovely awards show. I'm not funny!" she said.

Read: Betty White Wins Early Emmy for SNL Gig

In his acceptance speech, Bryan Cranston reiterated this humility regarding his win for best actor in a drama series for Breaking Bad (a personal favorite).

"During the time it took me to walk up here, I venture there were 200 text messages to the other nominees saying, 'You were robbed.' I cannot argue with that," he said.

Amazingly, Jon Stewart's Daily Show won its eighth consecutive award for best variety, music or comedy series. It beat out underdog Conan O'Brien, who would have been amazing to see accepting an award for his short-lived stay at the Tonight Show.

Read: Emmy Nominations: Conan O'Brien's 'Tonight Show' Nominated

As for the rest of the winners, here's a look at all the major categories.

The 2010 Emmy Winners:

Drama Series

Mad Men

Comedy Series

Modern Family

Lead Actor in a Drama Series

Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad

Lead Actress in a Drama Series

Kyra Sedgwick, The Closer

Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

Aaron Paul, Breaking Bad

Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

Archie Panjabi, The Good Wife

Lead Actor in a Comedy Series

Jim Parsons, The Big Bang Theory

Lead Actress in a Comedy Series

Edie Falco, Nurse Jackie

Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series

Eric Stonestreet, Modern Family

Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series

Jane Lynch, Glee

Reality-Competition Program

Top Chef

Reality Host

Jeff Probst, Survivor

Variety, Music or Comedy Series

The Daily Show with Jon Stewart

Kameda vs Jamoye Rematch Ordered By The WBC

Source: boxingscene.com

On Saturday, August 28, WBC Youth bantamweight champion Stephane Jamoye, from Belgium, fought Tomoki Kameda, from Japan, in Mazatlan, Mexico.

The fight was very close and exciting. The announcement given by the ring announcer was a draw.

The supervisor appointed for the fight found his human error while making his report some time after the fight and held a meeting with ring officials Stephen Blea and Curtis Trasher from the U.S.A., where it was confirmed that the officials scorecards showed Tomoki Kameda winning by split decision.

The WBC confirms Tomoki Kameda as the new Youth world bantamweight champion.

I am hereby ordering a rematch between Tomoki Kameda and Stephane Jamoye, as this fight was very close and the former champion deserves to be given another opportunity just as he did last Saturday night.

Haye - Harrison: Frank Warren Examines Haye's Decision To Face Harrison

Source: Frank Warren | boxinfscene.com

http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&opt=printable&id=30479

DAVID HAYE swore blind recently he would not fight Audley Harrison.

But it looks like he has changed his mind.

Word is a press conference has been arranged for early September, when it is expected the fight will be confirmed for November 13 in Manchester.

It's a showdown not many in the boxing business will like.

But it will sell well to the wider public, as they know both fighters well.

Barry Hearn's son Eddie, who promotes Harrison, claims it is a £10million fight.

That seems optimistic as, other than the gate, the only source of income will be UK PPV sales.

It will have to shift around 700,000 to generate £10m.

HBO said they would not touch an Audley fight. The truth is, on his past performances, he does not really deserve a shot at Haye's WBA heavyweight title.

He's got into this position courtesy of a lucky KO punch against Michael Sprott when he won the European title.

That should serve as a warning to Dave. On paper, he's rightly a massive favourite but he's also vulnerable.

If he gets clipped, it could be all over. For all his faults Harrison can punch.

For me, Harrison is not the best option for Dave right now.

Ex-cruiserweight king Tomasz Adamek scored a points win over former world title challenger Michael Grant at the weekend.

Adamek was been born in Poland, but he is now resident in New Jersey, and is a name in the States.

And if Haye fought him, HBO would definitely get involved.

It's the final round of the Super Six, but the tournament is coming apart at the seams.

Jermain Taylor has already exited the super-middleweight series after two bad defeats, and now Mikkel Kessler has pulled out because of an eye problem.

Kessler was in pole position to make it to the knockout stages after beating Carl Froch.

The round robin nature of the Super Six was always its weakness.

The winner might end up being the last man standing.

German promoters Sauerland are keen on doing a cruiserweight version of the Super Six.

They have approached me about Enzo Maccarinelli being involved.

CARL FROCH will fight Arthur Abraham by royal approval in October.

The Super Six clash takes place in Monaco and Prince Albert is expected to give his official blessing this week.

I have promoted a few shows in Monaco over the years and it is often a happy hunting ground for British fighters - but it looks like a tough fight for Froch.

Brazil stays unbeaten at worlds, faces US next

'

Source: Yahoo! Sports

ISTANBUL (AP)—Leandro Barbosa(notes) scored 21 points and Brazil beat Tunisia 80-65 on Sunday to set up a matchup of unbeatens with the United States at the world basketball championship.

The Brazilians and Americans will bring 2-0 records into their game Monday night, with the winner having the inside track as the top seed from Group B.

Brazil (2-0) may have been looking ahead to that game, because it kept letting winless Tunisia back in this one after building a 16-point lead in the first half.

Barbosa scored 16 points in the first quarter—as many as Tunisia’s team— after the Toronto guard got a flurry of fast-break baskets late in the period. But it was a single-digit game in the final minute of the third period before Brazil pulled away again.

Forward Anderson Varejao(notes) of the Cleveland Cavaliers rested his sprained right ankle again but is expected to play against the Americans. Varejao, who was hurt during a recent exhibition game in Spain, was in uniform and lightly shot around during pregame before taking his seat on the bench.

The Brazilians haven’t needed him, opening the tournament against Iran and Tunisia, Group B’s two winless teams.

Tiago Splitter(notes), Brazil’s other top big man, added 16 points and Marcelo Machado scored 13.

Marouan Kechrid had 15 points for Tunisia (0-2) and Radhouane Slimane added 14 on 3-of-12 shooting.

Pacquiao Must Not Avoid Discussing The Margarito Scandal

Source: Michael Marley | boxingscene.com

The heat on “convicted” handwrap cheater Antonio Margarito is not going to go away because Bob Arum and Jerry Jones have waved some magic wand.

No, the focus on Manny Pacquiao's Nov. 13 opponent is going to remain centered on how California spurned his license application and how those Lone Stars in Texas ignored what the Golden State did.

The media dog and pony show for this fight, hardly one that can be said to be “by popular demand,” begins at the scene of the Maragrito crime, Los Angeles, with a Tuesday press conference and then rolls on to New York and to venue Cowboys Stadium.

It would be a brilliant stroke if Politician Pacman, Congressmanny from Sarangani, grabbed the bull by the horns so to speak and addressed the contorversy when he takes the podium at the ultra posh everly Hills Hotel. He could do the same in Manhattan and in Arlington.

I've even come up with a little script for Megamanny which might reduce the tension and help to lift the cloud over his foe.

“As you all know, I am a politician now. But I did not come here to make a political speech. I came to speak as a devout Catholic, as a Christian, and I want to say that I have made mistakes, I have committed sins like any man and any woman.

“My religion and so many others are based on the forgiveness of sins. I don't know what Margarito knew about his handwraps. He's said he didn't know they were tampered with and I take him at his word.

“Now Margarito has publicly apologized for this conduct and both he and this then trainer have been punished. In my opinion, who are any of us to sit in judgment of another human being?

“We go to confession in my church. We ask for the forgiveness of sins, venial and mortal, and Christ absolves us of those sins in His compassionate way.

“So, as far as I am concerned and hope all you fans will feel the same way, Margarito has a fresh slate and I know he is coming to fight me, to try to beat me and he will do it fair and square.

“I don't know what mistakes he has made but I do know he is a fierce fighter and, like all the Mexican boxers, has a fierce pride. I am kind of an expert on tough Mexican opponents.

“The time to talk about handwraps is over. Let's put all that in the rear view mirror and speak on this rugged fight, a fight I know and Antonio knows won't be easy.

“Let's now focus on entertaining the fans, giving them their hard earned money's worth.”

Short and sweet, not sanctimonious or overbearing.

Pacman should not use my script, he should speak his own words.

But, as the Ultimate Man of Respect in boxing, he should not dodge the topic.

If you recall, Manny was frank enough to say that he thought Margarito knew what was in his handwraps before the Shane Mosley bout, an opinion stated by Oscar de la Hoya and other prominent fighters.

If he is half the Man-ny, I think and you think he is, Pacquiao will not avoid addressing the elephant in the room at these three press conferences.

By doing so, he shows his own compassion and does a solid for Margarito.

He also lifts the fog over this promotion and then we can get back to talking boxing.

It would be a righteous act and it would fit Pacquiao like, well, like a glove.

Durant, Love send US to 2-0 start at worlds

Source: Yahoo! Sports

ISTANBUL (AP) - An arena that was nearly covered in Slovenian green grew louder with every U.S. miss.

Playing a rare early game, the United States had stalled after a quick start, and a double-digit lead was down to five as halftime approached.

Then, every time the Americans needed them, Kevin Durant(notes) seemed to get on the scoreboard and Kevin Love(notes) was on the backboard.

Durant scored 22 points, Love added 10 points and 11 rebounds in a gritty 13 minutes off the bench, and the Americans beat Slovenia 99-77 on Sunday in an opening-round game.

“They did a great job of fighting, getting stops and making plays, and we know that we can’t go out here and blow every team out,” Durant said. “We had to make this a grind game and we did that, and a good job of keeping our composure.”

Rudy Gay(notes) finished with 16 points for the Americans (2-0), while Russell Westbrook(notes) and Andre Iguodala(notes) each had 11. Durant shot 8 of 13 before sitting out the fourth quarter and Love always seemed to be around the ball - even when a Slovenian player tried holding his arm so he couldn’t get it.

Bostjan Nachbar(notes) scored 13 points for Slovenia (1-1), which had an enormous edge in the stands but not enough to match the Americans on the court.

“I think we tried our best. We made Team USA play their best basketball, which was very important,” said Nachbar, who once played with the New Jersey Nets. “I think across 40 minutes you could see which team was better, I don’t think there was a question about it, but for us, especially for young players, it was a big confidence booster.”

Slovenian fans, many dressed in green shirts, lined the streets outside the arena some 90 minutes before tipoff. They filled large areas throughout the building, and stood and roared when the Slovenians came out for pregame warmups.

There wasn’t as much for them to cheer about once the game started.

“We’re used to that playing in Spain and Greece, so it was cool,” Durant said. “I think we had to do a better job of holding onto the game and keeping them quiet by making plays, and I think we did that.”

Durant ripped the ball away on Slovenia’s opening possession and raced in for a dunk about 20 seconds into the game. Nachbar answered with a basket, but the Americans ran off 10 straight points, with Durant nailing a 3-pointer before throwing down another dunk for a 12-2 lead.

The Americans made eight of their first 11 shots from the field and led 23-11 after one quarter, then suddenly went cold in the second.

Wright criticizes those who think Obama is Muslim

Source: ANDREW DeMILLO | Associated Press

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – The Rev. Jeremiah Wright, President Barack Obama's controversial former pastor, accused people who wrongly believe Obama is Muslim of catering to political enemies during a fiery speech Sunday in Arkansas.

In his sermon at New Millennium Church in Little Rock, Wright criticized supporters of the Iraq war and defended former state Court of Appeals Judge Wendell Griffen for speaking out against it. Griffen serves as the church's pastor.

Wright's only reference to Obama came when he compared Griffen's opponents to those who incorrectly think Obama is Muslim. The president, whose full name is Barack Hussein Obama, is Christian.

"Go after the military mindset ... and the enemy will come after you with everything," Wright told the packed church.

"He will surround you with sycophants who will criticize you and ostracize you and put you beyond the pale of hope and say 'you ain't really a Baptist' and say 'the president ain't really a Christian, he's a Muslim. There ain't no American Christian with a name like Barack Hussein,'" he added.

A poll released this month found that nearly one in five people, or 18 percent, said they thought Obama was Muslim, up from the 11 percent in March 2009. The proportion who correctly said he was Christian was 34 percent, down from 48 percent in March of last year. The poll, conducted by the nonpartisan Pew Research Center and its affiliated Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life, surveyed 3,003 people.

Obama cut ties with Wright in 2008, after Wright's more incendiary remarks hit the Internet during the presidential election. At a National Press Club appearance in April 2008, Wright claimed the U.S. government could plant AIDS in the black community, praised Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrahkan and suggested Obama was putting his pastor at arm's length for political purposes while privately agreeing with him.

Obama denounced Wright as "divisive and destructive" and left Wright's church in Chicago.

Griffen lost a re-election bid for the Arkansas Court of Appeals in 2008, after high profile battles with a state judicial panel over the rights of judges to speak out on political issues. Griffen was elected in May to a judicial post in Pulaski County, the state's most populous county that includes Little Rock.

Griffen said he invited Wright to speak at his church as part of a monthlong focus on the relationship between faith and the community.

Wright defended Griffen's outspokenness on political issues, saying it showed he was willing to speak out even if it would cost him politically.

Wright's sermon focused on the Old Testament story of the prophet Elisha thwarting an attack by the Aramean Army. Wright repeatedly made references to the war in Iraq and suggested parallels with the Biblical story.

"What was his motivation? Elisha had embarrassed him, like Saddam had embarrassed George Herbert Walker," Wright said, referring to the former president.

Wright spoke as Arkansas Republicans hope to capitalize on Obama's unpopularity in the fall election. Obama has not visited the state since 2006, and lost its six electoral votes in the 2008 election.

Report: 100 Russian skinheads attack concertgoers

Source: DAVID NOWAK | Associated Press

MOSCOW – Scores of bare-chested skinheads attacked a crowd of about 3,000 people at a rock concert in central Russia on Sunday, beating them with clubs, media reports said.

Dozens of people were left bloodied and dazed in the attack, television and news agencies reported, and state news channel Rossiya-24 said a 14-year-old girl was killed at the concert in Miass, 900 miles (1,400 kilometers) east of Moscow.

Fourteen ambulances were called to the scene, the channel said, citing witness accounts. The motive for the attack was not known, and authorities couldn't be reached for comment. The ITAR-Tass agency said local police had refused comment.

Many of Russia's top rock acts were attending the "Tornado" rock festival, the agency said.

Russia has an ingrained neo-Nazi skinhead movement. Attacks on dark-skinned foreigners in Moscow and St. Petersburg have been relatively common in recent years. The January 2009 murder of lawyer Stanislav Markelov and journalist Anastasiya Baburova prompted a Kremlin crackdown on ultranationalists, who were blamed for the killings.

In April, a Moscow court banned the far-right Slavic Union, whose Russian acronym SS intentionally mimicked that used by the Nazis' infamous paramilitary. The group was declared extremist and shut down. Then the group's leader, Dmitry Demushkin, told The Associated Press it tried to promote its far-right agenda legally and warned that the ban would enrage and embolden Russia's most radical ultranationalists.

Russia's ultranationalist movement is so deeply embedded in the country's culture that militant groups have sprouted up around Russia to fight it. Anti-racist groups regularly spearhead attacks on ultranationalists, sparking revenge assaults in an intensifying clash of ideologies.

Neo-Nazi and other ultranationalist groups mushroomed in Russia after the 1991 Soviet collapse. The influx of immigrant workers and two wars with Chechen separatists triggered xenophobia and a surge in hate crimes.

Racially motivated attacks, often targeting people from Caucasus and Central Asia, peaked in 2008, when 110 were killed and 487 wounded, an independent watchdog, Sova, said. The Moscow Bureau for Human Rights estimated that some 70,000 neo-Nazis were active in Russia — compared with a just few thousand in the early 1990s.

'Pacquiao bout a chance for Margarito to prove himself'

source: abs-cbnnews.com

Manny Pacquiao will return to the Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas in November to face Mexican Antonio Margarito, whom critics say is an unworthy opponent for the 7-division world champion.

Pacquiao addressed the criticisms hurled at Margarito in his August 29 “Kumbinasyon” column on PhilBoxing.com.

“Marami ang bumabatikos sa kanya at pati na rin ako ay nasali sa mga batikos. Sinabi ni Margarito na wala raw siyang kinalaman sa mga pangyayari at wala namang nakapagpatunay na si Margarito nga ang nag-utos sa kanyang dating trainer na ‘sementuhin’ ang kanyang kamay,” Pacquiao wrote.

Margarito was suspended by the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) last year he was found to have used a plaster-like substance in his hand wraps ahead of his bout against Shane Mosley in January 2009.

The Texas Athletic Commission granted Margarito a boxing license, paving the way for his fight with the Filipino boxing superstar.

“Dahil sa pinagsisihan ni Margarito ang kanyang nagawang kasalanan at pinagbayaran naman niya ito lalung-lalo na sa pagpaparusa niya sa kanyang trainer na kanyang tinanggal sa kanyang koponan, nakabalik ulit si Margarito mula sa pagkakalugmok,” Pacquiao continued.

The boxing champion-turned-congressman also said that the November 13 fight in Texas will allow Margarito to prove his detractors wrong.

“Para sa akin, tuloy ang laban at dapat patunayan ni Margarito na kaya niyang lumaban na walang semento ang kanyang kamay,” he declared.

“Sa aking palagay, si Margarito na lamang ang dapat managot sa Diyos, kung malinis man o madungis ang kanyang konsiyensiya,” added Pacquiao.

Hard fight vs 'The Pacman'

Margarito, for his part, was grateful to the Texas Athletic Commission for allowing him to fight again in the United States.

“I thank Texas for giving me the license, for believing in me. I am going to prove that I don’t need anything forbidden to win my battles or past fights, including Miguel Cotto. But again, I’ll tell them, that when the date arrives I’m going to show them that I have what it takes to win. It’s a hard fight but I’m going to win,” he said in a The Philippine Star report by Abac Cordero.

Margarito stressed that he can overcome the reigning World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight king: “I will beat Pacquiao.”

The Filipino and Mexican will fight for the vacant World Boxing Council (WBC) junior middleweight title.

In the meantime, the Mexican also shared what the November 13 fight means to him.

“I’m happy because I have the fight with Pacquiao in my hands and because I have the opportunity to show that I am a clean fighter,” he said.

Margarito’s compatriot, boxing legend Marco Antonio Barrera, was also happy that his fellow Mexican has the chance to face Pacquiao.

"Antonio has a peculiar style which will enable him to put on a great show. If he can catch Pacquiao with one or two shots, it will be a different story, but it will be difficult for him to catch Pacquiao,” Barrera said in an interview with ESPN’s Golpe a Golpe as quoted by Ricardo Lois of Examiner.com.

Pacquiao beat Barrera twice—by an 11th round technical knockout in 2003 and via unanimous decision in 2007. – With reports from ESPN, Examiner.com, The Philippine Star and PhilBoxing.com

Diaconu vs Sheika Lands on Bute-Brinkley Undercard

Source: Rick Reeno | boxingscene.com

BoxingScene.com was advised by boxing agent Don Majeski, who works with InterBox, that former light heavyweight champion Adrian Diaconu (26-2, 15KOs) will face Omar Sheika (30-9, 21KOs) on October 15. The fight will be part of the undercard to the super middleweight clash between IBF champion Lucian Bute and mandatory challenger Jesse Brinkley at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Diaconu's two career defeats were back to back decisions to current light heavyweight king Jean Pascal.

UFC 121 Brock Lesnar vs Cain Velasquez Set For October 23

Source: boxingscene.com

Las Vegas, NV (USA) – The baddest man on the planet, UFC® heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar, is back in the main event for UFC 121, and unbeaten Cain Velasquez is looking to take his belt and become the first man to knock him out. Lesnar proved he had beaten the severe illness that kept him sidelined for a year by withstanding the onslaught by Shane Carwin at UFC 116 and defending his heavyweight title with a slick submission in the second round. His opponent at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California, on October 23, 2010, Cain Velasquez, has already made short work out of the heavyweight division and he promises to make the most of his first shot at the title.

Also on this star-studded UFC 121 card, which is presented by Boost mobile, welterweight star Jake Shields makes his long-awaited UFC debut against perennial contender Martin “The Hitman” Kampmann. Also featured is an exciting welterweight matchup as Diego Sanchez battles Paulo Thiago, while it is teacher vs. student as Matt “The Hammer” Hamill takes on his coach from The Ultimate Fighter®, former UFC light heavyweight champion Tito Ortiz. Rounding out the main card is a bout pitting rising heavyweight star Brendan Schaub against veteran contender Gabriel Gonzaga.

“Throughout fighting history, there has never been a Mexican heavyweight champion, but at UFC 121, Cain Velasquez will try to make history and become the first,” UFC President Dana White said. “To do that though, he must defeat the baddest man on the planet, UFC heavyweight Champion Brock Lesnar. Also, fresh off his destruction of Dan Henderson, Jake Shields enters the UFC, and he’s got his sights set on the welterweight title, but he’s got to get by Martin “The Hitman” Kampmann first.”

“Having hosted the first-ever UFC event in the state of California, we’re thrilled to partner with Dana and the entire organization once again,” said Honda Center President/CEO Tim Ryan. “If the buzz already surrounding this fight card is any indication, October 23 should be one of the sport’s biggest spectacles of all time.”

Tickets for UFC 121 will go on sale Saturday, August 21 at noon PT and will be priced at $500, $400, $300, $200, $125 and $75. Tickets are available at HondaCenter.com, Ticketmaster.com, charge-by-phone (800.745.3000) and all Ticketmaster retail locations. In addition, any remaining tickets will be available at the Honda Center Box Office beginning Monday, August 23 at 10:00 AM.

UFC® Fight Club™ members will have the opportunity to purchase tickets to this event Thursday, August 19 starting at 10am PT via UFCFightClub.com. A special internet ticket pre-sale will be available to UFC newsletter subscribers on Friday, August 20 starting at 10am PT. To access this presale, users must register for the UFC newsletter through UFC.com.

UFC 121 will be available live on Pay-Per-View on iN DEMAND, DIRECTV, DISH Network, TVN, BellTV, Shaw Communications, Sasktel, and Viewer’s Choice Canada for a suggested retail price of $44.99 US/$49.99 CAN for standard definition or high-definition broadcasts (where available). UFC 121 will also be available on Pay-Per-View in Spanish in the United States.

At UFC 121, Brock Lesnar (fighting out of Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn./5-1) will be making his third title defense and, if successful, will tie Tim Sylvia for the most heavyweight title defenses. Lesnar will also set the record for most consecutive successful title defenses in the division. The four-time All-American wrestler at the University of Minnesota also won two Big Ten championships, as well as a National championship in the heavyweight division. The native of South Dakota showed his evolution as a fighter during UFC 116, as he was able to submit Shane Carwin with an arm triangle choke. A polarizing figure, Lesnar perhaps gained a stronger following from the courage and drive he displayed to overcome his bout with diverticulitis in 2009, and the best heavyweight on the planet has used his new lease on life to motivate him even further.

“I’m looking forward to getting right back in the Octagon,” Lesnar said. “After the long layoff, my last fight was just an appetizer, I’m still hungry. I’m in great condition and the timing couldn’t be better. Cain Velasquez is undefeated and he’s the legitimate No. 1 contender, but he’s not the guy that is going to take my UFC heavyweight title. It’s not his time; it’s my time. I’m coming to California to defend my crown, and on October 23rd, I’ll be walking out of the Octagon with my hand raised and the belt around my waist. Cain will be leaving with his first loss. It’s as simple as that.”

At 8-0 as a pro, Cain Velasquez (fighting out of San Jose, Calif./8-0) is the 20th fighter to fight for a UFC title with less than 10 professional fights. Of the 19 previous fighters, only four were successful in winning the title and interestingly, all were heavyweight fighters. Much like Lesnar, Velasquez was an outstanding collegiate wrestler, as he was a two-time All-American at Arizona State University. His speed and power may be the keys to a victory over Lesnar, as Velasquez has been very successful in using his athleticism to beat bigger foes throughout his career.

“I feel honored to be fighting for the heavyweight title against Brock,” Velasquez said. “He is a great fighter with a lot of size and is super athletic. This will be a great fight with a lot of action and it means a lot to me to be fighting for the title in L.A., close to my hometown. I will have a lot of people behind me cheering me on."

After establishing an impressive international reputation, Jake Shields (fighting out of San Francisco, Calif./25-4-1) has made the transition to the Octagon to test his skills against the best fighters in the world. Shields’ resume is an impressive one, as he has been successful in defeating Carlos Condit, Mike Pyle, Robbie Lawler and former PRIDE champion and UFC veteran Dan Henderson. Shields’ signing has been highly anticipated by the MMA community and his first fight will be a true test to where he stands in the welterweight division.

An established fighter with the UFC, Martin Kampmann (fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev./17-3) is riding a two fight win streak, and has also won four of his last five. Overall in the UFC, “The Hitman” has compiled a record of 8-2, dating back to August of 2006. The Denmark native has tremendous knockout power and an underrated ground game, which could prove to be a tough combination for Shields.

Diego Sanchez (fighting out of Albuquerque, N.M./23-4) made his UFC debut on the first season of The Ultimate Fighter, defeating Kenny Florian to win a contract with the organization. The “Nightmare” was successful in the welterweight division, but chose to move to lightweight where he fought for the championship against BJ Penn. Sanchez has since moved back to the welterweight division, as well as back to Greg Jackson’s camp, where he hasn’t trained since he fought Josh Koscheck in 2007.

Special ops police officer Paulo Thiago (fighting out of Brasilia, Brazil/13-2) made a splash in the welterweight division in 2009 when he defeated Josh Koscheck via first round knockout. Thiago has only five UFC fights in his career, however he has proved to be a tough opponent with an iron chin. The submission specialist will be a formidable opponent for Sanchez, in a matchup that will help two fighters realize their position within the welterweight division.

One of the most recognizable figures in the MMA community, Tito Ortiz (fighting out of Huntington Beach, Calif./16-7-1) is at an interesting place in his storied career. The “Huntington Beach Bad Boy” will be taking on his pupil from the third season of The Ultimate Fighter, Matt Hamill, and while Ortiz has dealt with some recent adversity due to injuries, the former world champion is healthy and firing on all cylinders in his quest to beat “The Hammer” and get his title back.

Matt Hamill (fighting out of Utica, N.Y. by way of Loveland, Ohio/10-2) has been flying under the radar recently, quietly putting together a four fight win streak. Impressive victories over Mark Munoz and Keith Jardine, coupled with a DQ victory over Jon Jones, have elevated Hamill to the upper echelon of the light heavyweight division. His status as a three-time Division III NCAA wrestling champion, as well as a two time world champion in freestyle wrestling, has helped “The Hammer” avoid 90% of total takedowns, as he continues to develop his standup technique.

Making his debut at The Ultimate Fighter 10 finale, Brendan Schaub (fighting out of Denver, Colo./7-1) has been victorious in his last two fights, most recently at UFC 116 when he defeated Chris Tuchscherer via first round knockout. A former Golden Gloves champion, “The Hybrid” has obtained a purple belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, which will help elevate his status in the heavyweight division.

Another fighter who is at a crossroads in his career is Gabriel Gonzaga (fighting out of Ludlow, Mass./11-5). Coming off tough battles with two of the division’s best in Junior Dos Santos and Shane Carwin, Gonzaga has seven wins in the UFC and has not been shy to fight top competition, as he has also fought Mirko Cro Cop, Fabricio Werdum and Randy Couture.