Based upon false information provided to the New Jersey State Athletic Control Board, Newark resident Earl Morton was improperly removed as referee of the Bernard Hopkins-Kelly Pavlik bout. Hopkins defeated Pavlik by unanimous decision on Oct. 18 at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City.
Two witnesses, one of them Hopkins' nephew, Demetrius Hopkins, advised Pavlik's management that Morton was a personal friend of Bernard's. Despite both Hopkins and Morton denying any personal relationship, the NJSACB took Morton off the fight.
After conducting a thorough investigation over the past month, the NJSACB found no evidence of any such relationship.
Morton is scheduled to referee the Cunningham-Adamek IBF cruiserweight title fight Dec. 11 at the Prudential Center in Newark.
Post a comment | View comments (0)Finding opponents, especially welterweights, willing to step in the ring with Paul Williams is proving to be more difficult everyday. He's too big, too strong and throws too many punches.
To stay busy, and earn a few bucks, Williams has been forced to take his skills to higher weight classes. In September, Williams ventured to the middleweight division, where he stopped Andy Kolle in one round.
That type of performance, however, hasn't made it easier for the 27-year-old Williams to land welterweight fights. Eager to get back in the ring, Williams vacated his WBO welterweight crown and agreed to face highly respected junior middleweight Verno Phillips last night in Ontario, Calif.
Fighting at 154 pounds, the 6-foot-2 Williams put on one of his most dominating performances. Using his superior height, reach and punching power, Williams dominated Phillips en route to a TKO win.
A new trainer and few new techniques were enough to bring the old Ricky Hatton back Saturday night in Las Vegas. Hatton dominated Paulie Malignaggi, during a showdown of top junior welterweights, en route to an 11th-round TKO at MGM Grand Garden Arena.
He delivered punches from various angles and most of the shots were punishing, but it was his head movement that was most impressive. Unlike in his past fights, Hatton (45-1-0, 32 knockouts) was a difficult target to hit.
"I enjoyed it this time better than I did last time -- that's for sure," Hatton said. "Nobody will beat me at junior welterweight -- nobody."
The relationship between Ultimate Fighting Championship and American Kickboxing Academy has likely deteriorated to the point of being irreparable.
UFC president Dana White released welterweight Jon Fitch and heavyweight Christian Wellisch on Wednesday. He kept Mike Swick on the payroll after the welterweight called and expressed his desire to continue fighting in UFC.
"We're looking for guys who want to work with us and not against us, and frankly I'm just so [expletive] sick of this [expletive] it's not even funny," White told Yahoo! Sports reporter Kevin Iole.
Fitch was cut after refusing to sign a lifetime exclusive rights licensing agreement with UFC. He has since changed his mind and agreed to the deal.
But the feud between UFC and AKA is far from over. Two more fighters who call the San Jose, Calif.-based gym home -- highly touted heavyweight Cain Velasquez and welterweight Josh Koscheck -- are expected to get their walking papers in the not-too-distant future.
Velasquez and Koscheck remain with UFC only because they still have fights on their contract. There is word, however, that Velasquez may have already been released.
Koscheck could have been let go considering he is coming off an Oct. 25 loss at UFC 90 to Thiago Alves. White, however, took in to consideration that Koscheck accepted the bout with Alves on short notice
It also helped that Koscheck is headlining a UFC card Dec. 10 (Spike TV at 9 p.m.) in North Carolina. He is scheduled to face Yoshiyuki Yoshida.
Franklin McNeil covers boxing and mixed martial arts for The Star-Ledger. He can be reached at fmcneil@starledger.com.
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Trainer Freddie Roach believes Manny Pacquiao will have one significant edge when he fights Oscar De La Hoya: concentration.
Roach said the 35-year-old De La Hoya has changed since his younger days as one of the most dominant fighters.
Trainer Freddie Roach holds the pads as Manny Pacquiao delivers hard punches during preparation for his Dec. 6 showdown with Oscar De La Hoya in Las Vegas. "He's not quite as active, he's a little more patient, and he tires a little bit quicker," Roach said Monday at the Hollywood gym where he trains Pacquiao. "He has had trouble focusing on the game plan. His mind wanders in there.
"He's weak-minded. I'm not saying nothing bad about him. But some people are very strong-minded, like Manny Pacquiao, and he can hold the game plan throughout."
Pacquiao, who faces De La Hoya on Dec. 6 in Las Vegas, said he doesn't know if his opponent is weak-minded. The 29-year-old from the Philippines also is concentrating on his preparation ahead of the bout.
"Spiritual, physical and mental. You have to focus on that," he said.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Jermain Taylor dominated Jeff Lacy to win a 12-round unanimous decision in a WBC super middleweight eliminator fight on the campus of Vanderbilt University.
Taylor (28-2-1, 17 KOs), the former undisputed middleweight champion, used strong left and right jabs to keep Lacy (23-2, 17 KOs) off balance and seemed to land punches at will throughout the Saturday night bout.
It was the first fight for Taylor since February, when he lost a second straight fight to Kelly Pavlik.
"This is my announcement," Taylor said. "This is my comeback for being on top."
LAS VEGAS (AP) -- Brock Lesnar stopped heavyweight champion Randy Couture in the second round of their fight at UFC 91 on Saturday night, earning a technical knockout when the referee stepped in as he kept punching after Couture went to the ground.
Lesnar, a former NCAA wrestling champion and WWE star, overwhelmed the 45-year-old Couture in just his fourth pro fight. Lesnar sent him to the canvas in the second round with a glancing blow that landed behind the ear and wasted no time in landing numerous hammer fists. Couture was never able to recover and the fight was stopped at 3:07.
"It sounds really good," Lesnar said after being introduced as the new heavyweight champion. "I can't believe it.
"I just believe in hard work and it pays off."
Light heavyweight champion Joe Calzaghe may have fought professionally for the last time Saturday night at Madison Square Garden. If that is the case, then he left fans with a performance many will remember for years to come.
Joe Calzaghe, right, had little difficulty Saturday night defeating Roy Jones Jr. at Madison Square Garden. Calzaghe dominated Roy Jones Jr. en route to a unanimous-decision win. His future, however, remains in limbo. He has hinted at retirement, though that stance has softened considerably in recent days.
There aren't many viable options for Calzaghe, considering he isn't interested in rematches against Bernard Hopkins or Mikkel Kessler. There is one fight that might whet the public's appetite -- a showdown with IBF 175-pound champ Chad Dawson.
For now, Calzaghe appears lukewarm to fighting Dawson. He plans to sit down with his family over the next few weeks to map out his plans.
There is a good chance we have seen the last of Calzaghe. For those who would like another look at his impressive showing against Jones, HBO will air the fight Saturday night at 10:15 ET.
A super middleweight bout between Jermain Taylor and Jeff Lacy will also air on the broadcast. Lacy is a former IBF 168-pound titleholder. Taylor was once a unified middleweight champion.
Everything inside the ring fell into place nicely Saturday night for Joe Calzaghe. The top-rated light heavyweight handled Roy Jones Jr. with ease en route to a lopsided unanimous decision before a crowd of 14,152 at Madison Square Garden.
After defeating Roy Jones Jr. on Saturday, light heavyweight champ Joe Calzaghe must now decide whether to fight again.All three judges -- Jerry Roth, Julie Lederman and Terry O'Connor -- scored it 118-109. The Star-Ledger had it 117-110 for Calzaghe.
But good times never last long for a fighter, especially one ranked 1 or 2 on most pound-for-pound lists -- The Star-Ledger has him at No. 1. So it came as no surprise that minutes after improving to 46-0-0, Calzaghe was hit with the one question he hoped to avoid: What's next?
In the months leading to Saturday night's fight, Calzaghe repeatedly said the bout with Jones would be his last. Days before the fight, however, he softened his stance. And he remained noncommittal after manhandling Jones.
"I am not going to announce anything right now," Calzaghe said. "I need to go away and spend some time with my family. I am happy about what I achieved this year."
NEW YORK -- Maybe if Joe Calzaghe and Roy Jones Jr. had fought six years ago, the outcome would have been different. The fight surely would have been more competitive.
Joe Calzaghe punishes a bloody Roy Jones Jr. in the 11th round during their light heavyweight bout Saturday night at Madison Square Garden.Instead, what took place at Madison Square Garden last night was a lopsided affair. Calzaghe dominated Jones to earn a unanimous decision before 14,152 screaming fans.
All three judges -- Julie Lederman, Jerry Roth and Terry O'Connor scored it 118-109 for Calzaghe. The Star-Ledger had it 117-110 for Calzaghe.
A day will come when Joe Calzaghe decides that's enough. The former undisputed super middleweight champion, who is now recognized as No. 1 at light heavyweight, has spoken often about hanging up his gloves forever.
Joe Calzaghe, left, and Roy Jones Jr. will face each other tonight at Madison Square Garden.The past several months, Calzaghe had everyone believe his days as a fighter would end tonight (HBO pay-per-view at 9 ET) after his showdown with Roy Jones Jr. But as the hours dwindle toward fight time, Calzaghe realizes saying goodbye is difficult.
Earlier this week the resident of Newbridge, Wales, softened his stance on retirement. He still feels great -- physically and mentally. And should he put on the performance many expect of him during his first appearance at Madison Square Garden, it is likely Calzaghe (45-0-0, 32 knockouts) will delay retirement.
What took place Oct. 25 at UFC 90 won't be repeated Wednesday night (Versus at 8) in Hollywood, Fla. WEC featherweight champion Urijah Faber promises to be his usual aggressive self against challenger Mike Brown.
At no time in his mixed martial arts career has Faber failed to perform aggressively. He is a highly skilled wrestler who feels at home standing up or on the ground. But regardless where the action is held, Faber refuses take it easy on an opponent.
As expected, Anderson Silva retained his UFC middleweight title Saturday night against Patrick Cote in Rosemont, Ill. The end came 39 seconds into the third round, but in a way no one could have envisioned.
Cote, who lost the first two rounds on The Star-Ledger card, injured his right knee while attempting to deliver a punch. He immediately grabbed the knee and fell to the canvas.
UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva, left, and Patrick Cote stared each other down before their fight Saturday night."I'm sorry. I was chasing Anderson and I am the only fighter to take him into the third round in UFC. I think I did okay," Cote said. "I'm sorry I didn't finish the show.
"I hurt my knee in the second round. It is an old injury. I tried coming back in the third, but my knee just popped out."
Referee Herb Dean called the fight off right away. Cote (14-5) made a half-hearted attempt to persuade Dean to let the bout continue, but his plea fell on deaf ears.
While the spotlight Nov. 8 at Madison Square Garden will focus primarily on JOE CALZAGHE and ROY JONES JR., some attention should be paid to FRANKIE "EL GATO" FIGUEROA.
Expectations are high for the junior welterweight who recently signed with Jones' Square Ring Promotions.
"I'm excited to have him on my team," Jones told The Star-Ledger last Tuesday. "He is a high-volume puncher who has the skills to fight for a title next year."
Figueroa, who hasn't lost a bout since November 2004, is 19-2-0 with 13 knockouts. The Bronx resident is scheduled to face IVAN HERNANDEZ (24-3-1, 13 KOs). Figueroa-Hernandez will air on HBO pay-per-view at 9 p.m.
These days, it is fun being around Roy Jones Jr. No longer does he arrive for meetings more than an hour late, or give one-word answers to reporters' questions. Now, Jones is often the first to appear at press conferences. And he enters with a huge smile on his face.
Jones is enjoying life. And he is first to admit it.
"I'm at a point in my life where I appreciate all the good that has happened to me. That wasn't always the case," said Jones, who will face Joe Calzaghe on Nov. 8 at Madison Square Garden. "I'm having fun now."
