Boxing News magazine 11.8.2011 Download pdf

Boxing News Magazine 2011  History

FORMER middleweight champion Kelly
Pavlik has taken a tremendous amount
of criticism from fans and writers for
unceremoniously pulling out of his fight
with Daryl Cunningham last Saturday.
While I understand why it has come his
way I also know the fighter's side of the
story is often much more complex than
simple reasons suggest.

WITHOUT question Ricky Hatton should be inducted into the
International Boxing Hall of Fame when the time comes. He is
one of the most famous British boxers, with a huge following
here and in the USA. A two-weight 'world' champion, who went
into the lion's den a number of times, he lost only to two of the
era's great champions who will be shoo-ins when their time
comes. If Barry McGuigan, with his quite limited reign as world
champion is worthy - and I believe he was - Ricky is a must.

ANTONIO MARGARITO has been
given the all-clear by doctors to take
on Miguel Cotto on December 3 in
New York City. The robust Mexican
suffered severe eye damage when
he last fought - a one-sided points
reverse to Manny Pacquiao last
November - that some believed
would end his career. The Cotto
rematch, which takes place at
Madison Square Garden, comes just
over three years after Margarito
[below] beat Cotto, and two-anda-
half after he was subsequently
caught wearing loaded gloves
before he fought Shane Mosley.
Top Rank are hopeful that the
rematch of one of the fights of
the year so far, Jorge Arce and
Wilfredo Vazquez Jnr, will take
place on the undercard. However,
Arce - currently WBO superbantamweight
champion - has
expressed a desire in dropping down
to bantamweight.

THE conveyor belt of potential
Erik Morales opponents for his
September 17 encounter continues
to roll. Original opponent for the
Las Vegas showdown, Manchester's
Anthony Crolla, was replaced by
Jorge Barrios as the WBC attached
themselves to the match-up and
declared it would be for their lightwelterweight
strap. Now it has
emerged that Barrios, who is loaded
with legal problems, has been
denied a visa and will be replaced
by Argentine countryman, Lucas
Matthysse. The organisation, who
controversially stripped Timothy
Bradley, will still sanction it as a
'world' title fight.