Boxing Chatter

Wayne McCullough training Librado Andrade and his brother
Former bantamweight champion Wayne McCullough is training Librado Andrade and his younger brother Enrique Ornelas. The brothers are training at McCullough’s new home where he set up a boxing gym.

Ornelas was set to meet Australia’s Sam Soliman at the Pechanga Resort and Casino this Friday but that fight was canceled. Andrade, the WBC number one ranked super middleweight, was paid to step aside so Germany’s Markus Beyer, the WBC titleholder, and Mikkel Kessler, the WBA titleholder, could meet in a widely anticipated unification match in Denmark.

“I got paid more money not to fight than I ever got paid to fight,” said Andrade. “I like it. If they want me to do it again I will.”

Andrade meets the winner of the bout that takes place Oct. 14 in Copenhagen, Denmark, Kessler’s home turf.

“I’ve sparred with Kessler before,” Andrade said. “He’s a pretty strong fighter.”

This week it was announced that Ornelas may still fight on the fight card at Pechanga Resort and Casino. Raul Munoz was mentioned as the possible opponent for Ornelas.

Also on the card will be Damian “Bolo” Wills meeting Cissy Salif in a heavyweight bout. Wills has yearned for a television fight and now he has one. Salif usually knocks his opponents out or he loses by decision. It’s a test for Wills who could be fighting on HBO next.

Carlos Baldomir to defend against Floyd Mayweather
Welterweight world champion Carlos Baldomir will meet Floyd Mayweather Jr. considered the best fighter pound-for-pound on the planet, according to Goossen Tutor Promotions. It had been rumored Mayweather was going to meet new IBF junior middleweight titleholder Cory Spinks who is promoted by Don King Promotions. But Don being Don, Mayweather figured he would ask for too many concessions.

Baldomir has beaten two heavy favorites in succession. Can he beat Mayweather in Las Vegas? The bout will take place on Nov. 4 at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino.
Some people are figuring this is a wipeout. Forget it folks. Boxing is not just about speed. Baldomir is a real fighter who paid his dues fighting legitimate opponents in their hometowns and beating them. Yes, Mayweather is the best boxer on the planet, but he’s out of his comfort zone now. He’s fighting a real welterweight who hasn’t lost in 10 years. Baldomir knows how to fight. Do you remember Mayweather’s first fight against Jose Luis Castillo. Well now he has a bigger version. It should be a match that goes the distance. In fact, Mayweather has to make sure he doesn’t hurt his hand on Baldomir’s hard head. The Argentine fighter can really take a punch.

Dueling mics
Iron Mike Tyson and big Lennox Lewis met at the ring once again. This time both appeared as television commentators simultaneously. Lewis did analysis for HBO’s American show while Tyson did commentary for the HBO’s international version that also features actor Mario Lopez and Allen Massengale.

“It’s a one time thing to see the response,” said one HBO executive about Tyson.

Tyson is famous for his incredible knowledge of boxing and its history.

Guzman in Las Vegas
Joan Guzman, the former WBO junior featherweight, is training in Las Vegas in a secret training camp. The Dominican Republic native will meet WBO junior lightweight titleholder Jorge Barrios of Argentina. Trainer Tony Rivera is helping with Guzman.

El Terrible and Pacman
Erik Morales has been sighted in Santa Monica, California recently. Usually it’s difficult to find Morales far from San Diego or his beloved Tijuana, Mexico. But his promoters say he is working on a special training regimen to prepare him for his Nov. 18 encounter with Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines.

“He’s at the Personal Velocity training center,” said Bob Arum, president of Top Rank that promotes Morales.

Morales said his last performance proved he has to change something.

“The last two times in the ring haven’t been real good for me,” said Morales during a press conference on Saturday at the Wynn Resort and Hotel in Las Vegas. “There have been a lot of difficult times going on. I’m doing this one more time.”

Chris Arreola
The undefeated Riverside heavyweight Chris Arreola will be fighting in Reno this Saturday, but his fight will not be televised. The fight card is promoted by Goossen-Tutor. Should Arreola win, the table is set for a match against another undefeated California heavyweight Wills. He must win too.

Oscar De La Hoya
The WBC junior middleweight titleholder has his promoter hat on now and has been drumming up support for Golden Boy Promotions’ Sept. 16 fight card in Las Vegas. The main event features Marco Antonio Barrera defending his WBC for the second time against Rocky Juarez of Texas. Another match pits WBC junior featherweight Israel Vazquez (my choice for Fighter of the Year in 2005) against WBO bantamweight titleholder Jhonny Gonzalez. A third fight involves Argentina’s crazy Jorge Barrios defending his WBO junior lightweight title against Joan Guzman of the Dominican Republic. “All three fights can hold their own,” said De La Hoya.

He’s right. It’s going to be an action-packed fight card with no clear winner.

Remember this name
In El Monte, California, a suburban town about 20 miles east of Los Angeles, a kid named John Molina has been wowing fans and others who see him. He’s tutored by Ben Lira, one of the master trainers in the country that few people know about. Molina has Top Rank eyeing him carefully. At 5-9 in height, Molina has serious firepower in both hands and a wizard in his corner. He’s learning the ropes from the master and it won’t be long before some promoter snatches him up. He only had about nine amateur fights but he’s got great balance and great size. He’s a true lightweight.

Cory Spinks
The fight against Floyd Mayweather fell through but one rumor spreading has Cory Spinks defending his IBF junior middleweight title against Rodney Jones. That’s a great fight. Jones has been avoided for years and deserves a chance. If Spinks fights Jones that’s a more than worthy opponent.