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More Training Camp Notes From Alexander, Bradley

Published

14 years ago

January 25, 2011

The Sweet Science

Devon Alexander 'The Great' Training Camp Notes

Part 3

Inspirations: “My mom has been a great inspiration to me because she raised 13 kids with practically nothing but determination and hard work. She has been one of my best role models. She always taught me to reach for what I want to achieve. I always looked up to her because she got all of us clothed and fed and kept us safe. When I look back now as a young man, it's an amazing thing to look back at what she was able to accomplish.

“I lost my dad to cancer in 2004, but he was an inspiration, too. He was the one who taught me to be humble. He always told me when I would come back from an amateur boxing tournament where I had done well that he was proud of me. But he was quick to remind me not to get a big head, to stay grounded at all times and don't ever think you are better than anyone else just because you performed well in a particular competition.

“My trainer Kevin Cunningham is someone I met when I was 7. He's been me with ever since. He has taught me many things. Here are few of them: Never give up and remember very few things in life that are good are easy to obtain. He always told me to work hard and look what it has done for me. His advice is what has helped me to get to whatever heights I have reached in boxing and life.

Boxing Inspirations: Muhammad Ali has always been one of my favorite boxers because he was so fast and cocky, but confident in a good way. 'Sweet Pea' Pernell Whitaker was a guy I loved to watch because he was a southpaw, like me, and always had the best defense. Cory Spinks let me train in his camp in St. Louis since I was very young. He was my idol, and as I grew up I realized that I could hone my skills, as he had done, and hopefully someday do it better. I don't feel like I'm a clone of Cory. I definitely took some pages out of his book. Sometimes when I watch myself on tape, I'll see myself doing something Cory did a long time ago, and it brings a smile to my face. It's just part of who I am now.

Timothy 'Desert Storm' Bradley Training Camp Notes

Part 3

“When I sit and think of my life and who have been my inspirations, heroes and motivators, I have to start by acknowledging God and my family.

The one person that I can assure you deserves to be my hero is definitely my father. My motivators in life are my family and all the people who surround me with their great support every day of my life.

The people who inspire me on my quest to be the best are my family and boxers Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao.

My family supports me unconditionally. I am the man that I am today not only because of the life experiences that I have encountered, but also my wife and her kids. Before I met my wife Monica, I was a young man living the single life. But once we were married, I knew this would have to change if I was going to be a good role model to my kids and a good enough man to stand next to this strong woman.

My relationship with my dad is so special to me because he has taught me determination, work ethic and, most of all, life is about choices. One thing that he made clear to me at a young age is that everyone has a fair shot at life. Therefore, life will be what we make of it. He also has given me my place as a man and has allowed me to make my own choices even when he knew they were wrong. But the one thing that I am most grateful that he has taught me is that the most important thing in your life as a man should be your family. Not work, money or materialistic things, but your family.

In the ring, Mayweather and Pacquiao are by far among the best fighters in the world and have been an inspiration of who I want to be in terms of athleticism – the best.

Aaron Pryor, Henry Armstrong and Meldrick Taylor are the three fighters whose fighting styles I have modeled. Both Aaron and Henry were relentless fighters with great head movement while Meldrick possessed great punching combinations, desire and determination.

Even though all the people have been important in helping define who I am, I don't believe they would be possible without the faith God has given me. For this, I am grateful.”

WBC super lightweight champion Alexander (21-0, 13 KOs), of St. Louis, and WBO junior welterweight champion Bradley (26-0, 11 KOs), of Palm Springs, collide in “The Super Fight,” Saturday, January 29, at the Silverdome in Pontiac, Mich. Their world title unification will be televised live on HBO World Championship Boxing, beginning at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT.

Remaining tickets, priced from $25-$400, can be purchased at the Silverdome box office, by calling (248) 338-2500 or online at www.silverdometickets.com. Alexander vs. Bradley is promoted by Gary Shaw Productions, Don King Productions, and Thompson Boxing Promotions.

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2015 Fight of the Year – Francisco Vargas vs Takashi Miura

Published

9 years ago

January 4, 2016

The Sweet Science

The WBC World Super Featherweight title bout between Francisco Vargas and Takashi Miura came on one of the biggest boxing stages of 2015, as the bout served as the HBO pay-per-view’s co-main event on November 21st, in support of Miguel Cotto vs Saul Alvarez.

Miura entered the fight with a (29-2-2) record and he was making the fifth defense of his world title, while Vargas entered the fight with an undefeated mark of (22-0-1) in what was his first world title fight. Both men had a reputation for all-out fighting, with Miura especially earning high praise for his title defense in Mexico where he defeated Sergio Thompson in a fiercely contested battle.

The fight started out hotly contested, and the intensity never let up. Vargas seemed to win the first two rounds, but by the fourth round, Miura seemed to pull ahead, scoring a knock-down and fighting with a lot of confidence. After brawling the first four rounds, Miura appeared to settle into a more technical approach. Rounds 5 and 6 saw the pendulum swing back towards Vargas, as he withstood Miura’s rush to open the fifth round and the sixth round saw both men exchanging hard punches.

The big swinging continued, and though Vargas likely edged Miura in rounds 5 and 6, Vargas’ face was cut in at least two spots and Miura started to assert himself again in rounds 7 and 8. Miura was beginning to grow in confidence while it appeared that Vargas was beginning to slow down, and Miura appeared to hurt Vargas at the end of the 8th round.

Vargas turned the tide again at the start of the ninth round, scoring a knock down with an uppercut and a straight right hand that took Miura’s legs and sent him to the canvas. Purely on instinct, Miura got back up and continued to fight, but Vargas was landing frequently and with force. Referee Tony Weeks stepped in to stop the fight at the halfway point of round 9 as Miura was sustaining a barrage of punches.

Miura still had a minute and a half to survive if he was going to get out of the round, and it was clear that he was not going to stop fighting.

A back and forth battle of wills between two world championship level fighters, Takashi Miura versus “El Bandido” Vargas wins the 2015 Fight of the Year.

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Jan 9 in Germany – Feigenbutz and De Carolis To Settle Score

Published

9 years ago

January 4, 2016

The Sweet Science

This coming Saturday, January 9th, the stage is set at the Baden Arena in Offenburg, Germany for a re-match between Vincent Feigenbutz and Giovanni De Carolis. The highly anticipated re-match is set to air on SAT.1 in Germany, and Feigenbutz will once again be defending his GBU and interim WBA World titles at Super Middleweight.

The first meeting between the two was less than three months ago, on October 17th and that meeting saw Feigenbutz controversially edge De Carolis on the judge’s cards by scores of (115-113, 114-113 and 115-113). De Carolis scored a flash knock down in the opening round, and he appeared to outbox Feigenbutz in the early going, but the 20 year old German champion came on in the later rounds.

The first bout is described as one of the most crowd-pleasing bouts of the year in Germany, and De Carolis and many observers felt that the Italian had done enough to win.

De Carolis told German language website RAN.DE that he was more prepared for the re-match, and that due to the arrogance Feigenbutz displayed in the aftermath of the first fight, he was confident that he had won over some of the audience. Though De Carolis fell short of predicting victory, he promised a re-vamped strategy tailored to what he has learned about Feigenbutz, whom he termed immature and inexperienced.

The stage is set for Feigenbutz vs De Carolis 2, this Saturday January 9th in Offenburg, Germany. If you can get to the live event do it, if not you have SAT.1 in Germany airing the fights, and The Boxing Channel right back here for full results.

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2015 Knock Out of the Year – Saul Alvarez KO’s James Kirkland

Published

9 years ago

December 29, 2015

The Sweet Science

On May 9th of 2015, Saul “Canelo” Alvarez delivered a resonant knock-out of James Kirkland on HBO that wins the 2015 KO of the Year.

The knock-out itself came in the third round, after slightly more than two minutes of action. The end came when Alvarez delivered a single, big right hand that caught Kirkland on the jaw and left him flat on his back after spinning to the canvas.Alvarez was clearly the big star heading into the fight. The fight was telecast by HBO for free just one week after the controversial and disappointing Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao fight, and Alvarez was under pressure to deliver the type of finish that people were going to talk about. Kirkland was happy to oblige Alvarez, taking it right to Alvarez from the start. Kirkland’s aggression saw him appear to land blows that troubled the young Mexican in the early going. Alvarez played good defense, and he floored Kirkland in the first round, displaying his power and his technique in knocking down an aggressive opponent.

However, Kirkland kept coming at Alvarez and the fight entered the third round with both men working hard and the feeling that the fight would not go the distance. Kirkland continued to move forward, keeping “Canelo” against the ropes and scoring points with a barrage of punches while looking for an opening.

At around the two minute mark, Alvarez landed an uppercut that sent Kirkland to the canvas again. Kirkland got up, but it was clear that he did not have his legs under him. Kirkland was going to try to survive the round, but Alvarez had an opportunity to close out the fight. The question was would he take it?

Alvarez closed in on Kirkland, putting his opponent’s back to the ropes. Kirkland was hurt, but he was still dangerous, pawing with punches and loading up for one big shot.

But it was the big shot “Canelo” threw that ended the night. Kirkland never saw it coming, as he was loading up with a huge right hand of his own. The right Alvarez threw cracked Kirkland in the jaw, and his eyes went blank. His big right hand whizzed harmlessly over the head of a ducking Alvarez, providing the momentum for the spin that left Kirkland prone on the canvas.

Saul “Canelo” Alvarez went on to defeat Miguel Cotto in his second fight of 2015 and he is clearly one of boxing’s biggest stars heading into 2016. On May 9th Alvarez added another reel to his highlight film when he knocked out James Kirkland with the 2015 “Knock Out of the Year”.

Photo by naoki fukuda

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