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Quotes from the Hopkins-Dawson Press Tour

Here is a collection of quotes from Bernard Hopkins, Chad Dawson and others taking part in the Oct. 15 promotion which will unfold at the Staples Center in LA. The fighters were present at press conferences in California and New York this week.
BERNARD HOPKINS, WBC & Ring Magazine Light Heavyweight World Champion
“When you get tired of making history or tired of competing, you will get exposed.
“In basketball you can call time out. In football you can call timeout. In boxing either you fight or you quit.
“In my career I have gone 12-1 against southpaws. The only loss was to Joe Calzaghe, a fight which most people say I won. It was what it was. I love fighting southpaws because I am very unorthodox. I don’t do things regularly and I am not a regular fighter.
“When you look at my resume and then you look at Chad’s resume, it is like looking at Harvard and community college. No disrespect to community college.
“Age and wisdom cannot be compromised. I have a PhD in what I do. It says that I am 46 years old on my birth certificate. It can be argued that I m 10 years younger than I actually am.
“Me and Father Time are always debating whether it is time or not. I get cramps. I get aches. I am human and I am willing to take that chance. I am willing to walk that tight rope without a safety net. That is what fighting means to me. To be daring or to be dangerous takes courage.
“The light heavyweight division is alive right now. It isn’t because of my seven or eight pushups. It is because of the activity of my last two fights.
“I don’t want Chad to be the laid back Chad. I don’t need him laid back. To be laid back on an old man is not good; you are doing me a favor. I want you to give me something to work against so I can be better. I am a good dancer, if my partner is just okay, it makes me look bad.
[To Dawson] “Lets work together to see who whoops whose ass worse.
“Chumps do exist in boxing. This sport separates the chumps from champs.
“Chad Dawson has to prove that he belongs here and I have to prove that I’m special over and over again. I’m okay with that.
“I am looking forward to eventually breaking Archie Moore’s record of defending a title at the age of 47 or 48. I want that title. I want that record. I want that history.
“I didn’t expect Naazim to give me this money back [Richardson returned his compensation to Hopkins from the Pascal fight]. We can donate this money to a charity that Naazim feels should be supported. We can take this money and do something good. From you to me or me to you we will take this money and put it in a place where it can be productive for a worthy charity.”
“October 15 it is going down at STAPLES Center. History is going to be made again!
CHAD DAWSON, Former Light Heavyweight World Champion
“I want to thank Bernard for finally taking the fight. I want to thank Gary Shaw for believing in me even though I had a bad loss to Jean Pascal.
“I’m excited about my first pay-per-view fight. I have always wanted this fight. I have been chasing this fight for three years.
“A lot of people think I can’t punch. October 15, I am not going for a decision, I am going for a knockout.
“I don’t see any way Bernard can beat me. I have thought that for the last three years and I still think that now.
“Bernard better be on his A-game that night because I am going to be on mine.
“I am excited to be here. I feel better than ever. I’m problem free and stress free. I’m a new Chad.
“This is my ultimate dream. I’m excited.
“He can talk smack as much as he wants. Trash talking sells pay-per-view. I can trash talk, but I just don’t.
“I’m not concerned with what they say on the other side of the table. I’m concerned about them putting the belts around my waist on October 15.
“For me it’s all or nothing. I’m going to give it all or die trying.”
ANTONIO DEMARCO, WBC #1 Rated Lightweight Contender
“I want to work to be world champion. I want to be one of the best.”
JORGE LINARES, Former Two-Division World Champion & WBC #2 Rated Lightweight Contender
“It’s an honor to be fighting on a card with Bernard Hopkins. It’s going to be a great night and a great fight for me.
“It’s like a dream to be here today and have this opportunity to fight here in the U.S.”
KENDALL HOLT, Former World Champion
“I am happy to be here. Not only because I am fighting, but because I am sharing the stage with two great champions.
“I am happy Danny Garcia took this fight. In order to become the best you have to beat the best and I am one of the best.
“I looked at Garcia when he was coming up and I said this kid has a lot of potential. I can’t wait to see this kid in the future. Golden Boy Promotions has done a good job with him. They have gotten him the right fights…up until now.
“When people ask me what my game plan is, I say ‘I am planning on hitting him a lot more times than he hits me.’
“Chad is one of my favorite fighters. Bernard Hopkins, you mean a lot to the sport. I have always admired you. It is going to sadden my heart a little bit to see Chad walk away with that belt.
“Danny, you will be a great champion, but it won’t be on October 15.”
DANNY GARCIA, Undefeated Top Junior Welterweight Prospect
“At 10 years old, I started boxing. I have been boxing for 13 years. This has been one of my dreams to fight at this level, to fight on pay-per-view.
“Brother Naazim Richardson told me when I was very young that everybody gets their chance to eat at the table, not everyone gets to eat at once. He told me that one day you will get that chance, and I think this is my time to eat.
“I have come too far. I sacrificed my childhood and sacrificed what I had to get to this point. After how far I have come, losing is not an option.
“October 15 is my time and I want to be seen as one of the best junior welterweights out there and do it on HBO Pay-Per-View.”
NAAZIM RICHARDSON, Hopkins’ Trainer
“Chad Dawson is a great young fighter. I watched most of the kids grow up. I watched Kendall Holt, I watched Danny Garcia.
“This undercard is going to be awesome. I can’t wait for that.
“You cannot speak about this man [Bernard Hopkins] with anything other than respect.
“To say you don’t like Bernard Hopkins means you don’t like boxing.
“These kids grew up admiring Bernard Hopkins and learning from Bernard Hopkins.
“I have known Bernard for years. It has been an honor for me and the team to work with him. Seeing him in the ring and being a part of history was an honor. Bernard handed me my payment for the Pascal fight, but he was so outstanding and that was enough for me. [Richardson returns his payment to Hopkins].
“I believe in Chad. I believe he is a young light heavyweight. He might be the one of the most technically sound fighters Bernard has fought. Pascal was definitely the most dangerous.
“You cannot underestimate this man [Hopkins]. This is a living legend. This is a great athlete.”
ALEX ARIZA, Linares Strength and Conditioning Trainer
“We’re definitely not taking DeMarco lightly. We never do, but Jorge Linares will be ready.
“We haven’t seen a fighter like Jorge Linares in a long time with that speed power and boxing technique.”
ANGEL GARCIA, Danny Garcia’s Father & Trainer
“It has been a pleasure to see Danny grow up and to be a part of his career. This is the time for Danny ‘Swift’ to make a difference.
“When Danny was born, I knew he was going to be a champion. I knew he was going to be a fighter. He is going to be one fine champion which is what he was meant to be.
“He will become one of the top junior welterweights. We are not taking Kendall Holt lightly, but I hope he isn’t going to take Danny lightly either.
“These are American fighters. These are the ones you [to media] have to make relevant. They are the ones who wear the red, white and blue and represent our country.
“Danny is going to be the junior welterweight champion of the world. As long as I am breathing, that is going to happen.”
RICHARD SCHAEFER, CEO of Golden Boy Promotions
“This is a fight that has been in the making for quite a while. We are happy for the light heavyweight division. We are happy for the sport.
“We have done many fights at Golden Boy Promotions. I think we have come up with many good fight names. There was ‘The World Awaits’ and ‘Lightweight Lightning.’ I really think we really came up with the perfect title for this fight. ‘Believe It Or Not!’??
“Ripley’s Believe It Or Not is a global organization. I encourage those of you who have not been there to visit one of their museums around the country. They are going to promote this fight in their museums and we are very happy to have a real American brand involved in this fight with real American fighters.
“Bernard made believers out of all of us when he beat Kelly Pavlik. Believe me, everyone watching the fight will be believers come October 15.
“I get chills every time I introduce Bernard Hopkins. He is truly a legend.
“Some people don’t realize they’re witnessing history until after the fact. Bernard Hopkins is making history.
“‘Believe It Or Not!’ I think Bernard Hopkins has made believers out of all of us throughout his career.”
GARY SHAW, President & CEO of Gary Shaw Productions
“What Richard and I wanted to do more than anything was to give the fans a great pay-per-view undercard in addition to a great main event. Linares and DeMarco is a great fight. Holt vs. Garcia is a great fight and of then you have the main event.
“It is going to be one hell of a great card. For those going to STAPLES Center and for those of you who will watch it on pay-per-view, you are going to get your money’s worth. We guarantee it.
“We have been chasing Hopkins around the world for three years now. We are glad the cat caught the mouse.
“They [pointing at Golden Boy Promotions’ fighters] are the ‘believers’ and we are the ‘nots.’ This is going to be a big night for Gary Shaw Productions at STAPLES Center and you are going to find out why the believers don’t come true.
“Bernard has done a lot for this sport, but he might not get his due for all that he has done and I mean that.
“Chad is younger. Chad is faster and he is going to be working his jab. His jabs are going to be going up and down faster than Bernard can see them.
“Bernard, with all due respect, you aren’t getting in Chad’s head. It ain’t happening. When the bell rings, Chad is going to jump you’re ass right from the opening bell. You know that and your trainer knows that.”
ANDREA SILVERMAN, General Manager of Ripley’s Believe It Or Not! Hollywood Attraction
“Ripley’s is honored to be a part of Bernard’s journey as he is a true ‘Believe It Or Not!’
“Amongst Bernard’s endless list of achievements, at age 46, he is the world’s oldest champion in boxing history.
“In 1918, Robert Ripley, an illustrator for a small newspaper, published his first cartoon: Champs or Chumps? Now almost a hundred years later we’re going to find out who is the champ and who is the chump!
MICHAEL HIRSCH, General Manager of Ripley’s Believe It Or Not! Odditorium Times Square
“Bernard Hopkins’ career is a living breathing Believe It Or Not! including being the oldest person to win a world title. He fits all of the Believe It Or Not! characteristics.
“We are going to have Bernard immortalized in our museums across the world.
“We are really thrilled to be a part of this event. It is our first endeavor being a part of something like this.”
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“Believe It or Not!: Hopkins vs. Dawson” is a 12-round bout for Hopkins’ WBC and Ring Magazine Light Heavyweight World Championship Titles. The event is presented by Golden Boy Promotions and Gary Shaw Productions and sponsored by Cerveza Tecate, AT&T and Ripley’s Believe It or Not, a new sponsor to the fight game who forged a relationship with Hopkins earlier this year when they made a wax figure of the future Hall of Famer, which will be unveiled during fight week in Los Angeles and displayed at a Ripley’s Odditorium in the future. DeMarco vs. Linares is presented in association with Teiken Promotions.
Tickets for Hopkins vs. Dawson, priced at $300, $150, $75 and $25, are on sale now and are available for purchase online at www.staplescenter.com, www.ticketmaster.com or via Ticketmaster charge-by-phone lines at (800)745-3000.
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A Paean to the Great Sportswriter Jimmy Cannon Who Passed Away 50 Years Ago This Week

“Of all his assignments,” said the renowned sportswriter Dave Anderson, “[Jimmy] Cannon appeared to enjoy boxing the most.”
Cannon would have sheepishly concurred. He dated his infatuation with boxing to 1919 when he stood outside a saloon listening to a man with a megaphone relay bulletins from the Dempsey-Willard fight in faraway Toledo. His father followed boxing as did all the Irishmen in his neighborhood. For him, an interest in the sport of boxing, he once wrote, was like a family heirloom. But it became a love-hate relationship. It was Jimmy Cannon, after all, who coined the phrase “boxing is the red light district of sports.”
This week marks the 50th anniversary of Jimmy Cannon’s death. He passed away at age 63 on Dec. 5, 1973, in his room at the residential hotel in mid-Manhattan where he made his home. In the realm of American sportswriters, there has never been a voice quite like him. He was “the hardest-boiled of the hard-drinking, hard-boiled school of sports writing,” wrote Darrell Simmons of the Atlanta Journal. One finds a glint of this in his summary of Sonny Liston’s first-round demolition of Albert Westphal in 1961: “Sonny Liston hit Albert Westphal like he was a cop.”
In his best columns, Jimmy Cannon was less a sportswriter than an urban poet. Here’s what he wrote about Archie Moore in 1955 after Moore trounced Bobo Olson to set up a match with Rocky Marciano: “Someone should write a song about Archie Moore who in the Polo Grounds knocked out Bobo Olson in three rounds…It should be a song that comes out of the backrooms of sloughed saloons on night-drowned streets in morning-worried parts of bad towns. The guy who writes this one must be a piano player who can be dignified when he picks a quarter out of the marsh of a sawdust floor.”
Prior to fighting in Madison Square Garden the previous year – his first appearance in that iconic boxing arena – Moore had roamed the globe in search of fights in a career that began in the Great Depression. Cannon was partial to boxers like Archie Moore, great ring artisans who toiled in obscurity, fighting for small purses –“moving-around money” in Cannon’s words — until the establishment could no longer ignore them.
Jimmy Cannon was born in Lower Manhattan. He left high school after one year to become a copy boy for the New York Daily News. In 1936, at age 26, the News sent him to cover the biggest news story of the day, the Lindbergh Baby kidnapping trial. While there he met Damon Runyon who would become a lifelong friend. At Runyon’s suggestion, he applied for a job as a sportswriter at the New York American, a Hearst paper, and was hired.
During World War II, he was a war correspondent in Europe embedded in Gen. George S. Patton’s Third Army. When he returned from the war, he joined the New York Post and then, in 1959, the Journal-American which made him America’s highest-paid sportswriter at a purported salary of $1000 a week. His articles were syndicated and appeared in dozens of papers.
Cannon was very close to Joe Louis. He was the only reporter that Louis allowed in his hotel room on the morning of the Brown Bomber’s rematch with Max Schmeling. Louis, he wrote, “was a credit to his race, the human race.” It was his most-frequently-quoted line.
In an early story, Cannon named Sam Langford the best pound-for-pound fighter of all time. Later he joined with his colleagues on Press Row in naming Sugar Ray Robinson the greatest of the greats. As for the fellow who anointed himself “The Greatest,” Muhammad Ali, Cannon profoundly disliked him. He persisted in calling him Cassius Clay long after Ali had adopted his Muslim name.
It troubled Cannon that Ali was afforded an opportunity to fight for the title after only 19 pro fights. Ali’s poetry, he thought, was infantile. He abhorred Ali’s political views. And, truth be told, he didn’t like Ali because certain segments of society adored him. Cannon didn’t like non-conformists – hippies and anti-war protesters and such. When queried about his boyhood in Greenwich Village, he was quick to note that he lived there “when it was a decent neighborhood, before it became freaky.”
Cannon’s animus toward Ali spilled over into his opinion of Ali’s foil, the bombastic sportscaster Howard Cosell. “If Howard Cosell were a sport,” he wrote,” it would be roller derby.”
Cannon frequently filled his column with a series of one-liners published under the heading “Nobody Asked Me, But…” His wonderfully acerbic put-down of Cosell appeared in one of these columns. But one can’t read these columns today without cringing at some of his ruminations. He once wrote, “Any man is in trouble if he falls in love with a woman he can’t knock down with one punch.” If a newspaperman wrote those words today, he would be out of a job so fast it would make his head spin.
Similarly, his famous line about Joe Louis being a credit to the human race no longer resonates in the way that it once did. There is in its benevolence an air of racial prejudice.
Jimmy Cannon was a lifelong bachelor but in his younger days before he quit drinking cold turkey in 1948, he was quite the ladies man, often seen promenading showgirls around town. Like his pal Damon Runyon, he was a night owl. As the years passed, however, he became somewhat reclusive. The world passed him by when rock n’ roll came in, pushing aside the Tin Pan Alley crooners and torch singers that had kept him company at his favorite late-night haunts.
Cannon’s end days were tough. He suffered a stroke in 1971 as he was packing to go to the Kentucky Derby and spent most of his waking hours in his last two-plus years in a wheelchair. Fortunately, he could afford to hire a full-time attendant. In 2002, he was posthumously elected to the International Boxing Hall of Fame in the Observer category.
Jimmy Cannon once said that he resented it when someone told him that his stuff was too good to be in a newspaper. It was demeaning to newspapers and he never wanted to be anything but a newspaperman. He didn’t always bring his “A” game and some of his stuff wouldn’t hold up well, but the man could write like blazes and the sportswriting profession lost a giant when he drew his last breath.
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Arne K. Lang is a recognized authority on the history of prizefighting and the history of American sports gambling. His latest book, titled Clash of the Little Giants: George Dixon, Terry McGovern, and the Culture of Boxing in America, 1890-1910, was released by McFarland in September, 2022.
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Ryan “KingRy” Garcia Returns With a Bang; KOs Oscar Duarte

It was a different Ryan “KingRy” Garcia the world saw in defeating Mexico’s rugged Oscar Duarte, but it was that same deadly left hook counter that got the job done by knockout on Saturday.
Only the quick survive.
Garcia (24-1, 20 KOs) used a variety of stances before luring knockout artist Duarte (26-1-1, 21 KOs) into his favorite punch before a sold-out crowd at Toyota Arena in Houston, Texas. That punch should be patented in gold.
It was somewhat advertised as knockout artist versus matinee idol, but those who know the sport knew that Garcia was a real puncher. But could he rebound from his loss earlier this year?
The answer was yes.
Garcia used a variety of styles beginning with a jab at a prescribed distance via his new trainer Derrick James. It allowed both Garcia and Duarte to gain footing and knock the cobwebs out of their reflexes. Garcia’s jab scored most of the early points during the first three rounds. He also snapped off some left hooks and rights.
“He was a strong fighter, took a strong punch,” said Garcia. “I hit him with some hard punches and he kept coming.”
Duarte, an ultra-pale Mexican from Durango, was cautious, knowing full well how many Garcia foes had underestimated the power behind his blows.
Slowly the muscular Mexican fighter began closing in with body shots and soon both fighters were locked in an inside battle. Garcia used a tucked-in shoulder style while Duarte pounded the body, back of the head and in the back causing the referee to warn for the illegal punches twice.
Still, Duarte had finally managed to punch Garcia with multiple shots for several rounds.
Around the sixth round Garcia was advised by his new trainer to begin jabbing and moving. It forced Duarte out of his rhythm as he was unable to punch without planting his feet. Suddenly, the momentum had reversed again and Duarte looked less dangerous.
“I had to slow his momentum down. That softened him up,” said Garcia about using that change in style to change Duarte’s pressure attack. “Shout out to Derrick James.”
Boos began cascading from the crowd but Garcia was on a roll and had definitely regained the advantage. A quick five-punch combination rocked Duarte though not all landed. The danger made the Mexican pause.
In the eighth round Duarte knew he had to take back the momentum and charged even harder. In one lickety-split second a near invisible counter left hook connected on Duarte’s temple and he stumbled like a drunken soldier on liberty in Honolulu. Garcia quickly followed up with rights and uppercuts as Duarte had a look of terror as his legs failed to maintain stability. Down he went for the count.
Duarte was counted out by referee James Green at 2:51 of the eighth round as Garcia watched from the other side of the ring.
“I started opening up my legs a little bit to open up the shot,” explained Garcia. “When I hurt somebody that hard, I just keep cracking them. I hurt him with a counter left hook.”
The weapon of champions.
Garcia’s victory returns him back to the forefront as one of boxing’s biggest gate attractions. A list of potential foes is his to dissect and choose.
“I’m just ready to continue to my ascent to be a champion at 140,” Garcia said.
It was a tranquil end after such a tumultuous last three days.
Other Bouts
Floyd Schofield (16-0, 12 KOs) blitzed Mexico’s Ricardo “Not Finito” Lopez (17-8-3) with a four knockdown blowout that left fans mesmerized and pleased with the fighter from Austin, Texas.
Schofield immediately shot out quick jabs and then a lightning four-punch combination that delivered Lopez to the canvas wondering what had happened. He got up. Then Scholfield moved in with a jab and crisp left hook and down went Lopez like a dunked basketball bouncing.
At this point it seemed the fight might stop. But it proceeded and Schofield unleashed another quick combo that sent Lopez down though he did try to punch back. It was getting monotonous. Lopez got up and then was met with another rapid fire five- or six-punch combination. Lopez was down for the fourth time and the referee stopped the devastation.
“I appreciate him risking his life,” said Schofield of his victim.
In a middleweight clash Shane Mosley Jr. (21-4, 12 KOs) out-worked Joshua Conley (17-6-1, 11 KOs) for five rounds before stopping the San Bernardino fighter at 1:51 of the sixth round. It was Mosley’s second consecutive knockout and fourth straight win.
Mosley continues to improve in every fight and again moves up the middleweight rankings.
Super middleweight prospect Darius Fulghum (9-0, 9 KOs) of Houston remained undefeated and kept his knockout string intact with a second round pounding and stoppage over Pachino Hill (8-5-1) in 56 seconds of that round.
Photo credit: Golden Boy Promotions
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Jordan Gill TKOs Michael Conlan Who May Have Reached the End of the Road

Fighting on his home turf, two-time Olympian Michael Conlan was an 8/1 favorite over Jordan Gill tonight in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Had he won, Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn was eyeing a rematch for Conlan with Leigh Wood. Their March 2022 rumble in Nottingham was a popular pick for the Fight of the Year. But the 29-year-old Gill, a Cambridgeshire man, rendered that discussion moot with a seventh-round stoppage. It was Conlan’s third loss inside the distance in the last 18 months and he would be wise to call it a day. His punch resistance is plainly not what it once was.
It was with considerable fanfare that Conlan cast his lot with Top Rank coming out of the amateur ranks. Tonight was his first assignment for Matchroom and his first fight at 130 pounds after coming up short in two world featherweight title fights. And he almost didn’t make it past the second round. Gill had him on the canvas in the opening minute of round two compliments of a left hook and stunned him late in the round with a right hand that left him on unsteady legs.
He survived the round and for a fleeting moment in the sixth frame it appeared that he had reversed Gill’s momentum. But Gill took charge again in the next stanza, trapping Conlan in the corner and unloading a fusillade of punches that forced referee Howard Foster to waive it off, much to the great dismay of the crowd. The official time was 1:09 of round seven.
Released by Top Rank, Conlan trained for this fight in Miami, Florida, under Pedro Diaz, best known for rejuvenating the career of Miguel Cotto. But the switch in trainer and in promoter made no difference as Conlan, who won his first amateur title at age 11, was damaged goods before he entered the ring. It was a career-defining victory for Jordan Gill (28-2-1, 9 KOs) who was not known as a big puncher and was returning to the ring after being stopped by Kiko Martinez 13 months ago in his previous start.
Semi-wind-up
In the “Battle of Belfast,” undefeated welterweight Lewis Crocker seized control in the opening round and went on to win a lopsided decision over intra-city rival Tyrone McKenna (23-4-1). Two of the judges gave Crocker every round and the other had it 98-92, but yet this was entertaining fight in spurts. McKenna had more fans in the building, but Crocker, seven years younger at age 26, went to post a 7/2 favorite and youth was served.
Other Bouts of Note
Belfast super welterweight Caoimhin Agyarko, who overcame a near-fatal mugging at age 20, advanced to 14-0 (7) with a 10-round split decision over Troy Williamson (20-2-1). The judges had it 98-92 and 97-93 for Agyarko with a dissenter submitting a curious 96-94 score for the 31-year-old Williamson who wasn’t able to exploit his advantages in height and reach.
Sean McComb, a 31-year-old Belfast southpaw, scored what was arguably the best win of his career with a 10-round beat-down of longtime sparring partner Sam Maxwell. Two of the judges gave McComb every round and the other had it 99-88. McComb, who has an interesting nickname, “The Public Nuisance, successfully defended his WBO European super welterweight strap while elevating his record to 18-1 (6). The fading, 35-year-old Maxwell, a former BBBofC British title-holder, lost for third time in his last four starts after winning his first 16 pro fights.
Photo credit: Mark Robinson / Matchroom
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