THE MOUTHPIECE BOXING REPORT:  (Episode 8) By Stephen Jones

 

 

DANNY WILLIAMS RUMORS... LET'S GET IT STRAIGHT

Throughout the past week I have been confronted with hysterical rumors concerning the respective camps of both Mike Tyson and his supposed overmatched opponent Danny Williams one week ahead of their high profile heavyweight battle in Louisville Kentucky.  Let me personally put to rest the most common whisper that I have been hearing through the proverbial foul smelling grapevine...  Danny hasn't been knocked about in sparring!!

Danny is supposed to have been having nightmare blues at Gleason's Gym in New York  where his chief spar hands have been dishing out severe spoonfuls of corporal punishment to the Londoner. Especially and namely one Oleg Maskaev who has been in town in preparation for a date of his own (tonight in fact ) against unbeaten David Defiagbon in Atlantic City New Jersey. 

The truth is Danny was to have been working with Oleg to acquire some quality priceless sparring during last week, but fact has it that Maskaev didn't even get to the Gym entrance, he decided to train somewhere across town.  Rumor Quashed.


TYSON CAMP UNHAPPY ABOUT DANNY WILLIAMS' CAMP SPIES AT PRIVATE WORKOUTS!

Danny hasn't got an entourage and doesn't need to spy on Team Tyson's work. In fact Danny, myself and a few million very ardent boxing die-hards all really know what to expect come July 30th from Team Tyson, it really isn't top secret #1.

Mike hasn't been bothered by spies and he isn't likely to encounter any genuine spies of any kind from Danny Williams' part; what Mike is going to bring to Danny's table is very much on an open menu for all to read. Mike brings Heat. Fast and early, and if you think the Williams people are going to waste a few grand of the Englishmen's purse in traveling across the States to find out how hard Mike is slamming Freddie Roach's mitts, you must have been watching too many re-runs of Sesame Street.

Oh, look, there goes the Count, he must be refereeing; after all he is the only man alive who counts slower than Octavio Meyran. (Octavio was the man who gave Buster Douglas the notoriously slow 8 count in Tokyo Japan when Mike was beaten in similar circumstances fourteen years ago). Tyson v Douglas II?  Nah..
 

ONE TRUE RUMOR IS...

Clifford Ettiene, the last man to share a ring in professional combat with Mike will be joining Williams to aid sparring into the last week of preparations. I think it is a great move to have someone with first hand experience of Mike's current ability in training camp to bring some unique input that may fully prepare Danny as in what to expect from round 1.  

TRUE RUMOR #2

Danny has had his sparring partners come at him from round 1 with a view to KO him,  (bonus scheme style). I am unclear as to whether a price has been set on his head by the Camp Coordinator but I do know that Williams has requested that his sparring partners go for it from the off and make it as realistic as possible. 

The training that Danny is getting is the best he has had in years and trainer Jim McDonnell -a fighter who once beat Barry McGuigan and boxed the terrible warrior Azumah Nelson-  stated: "This fight is the beginning in a new chapter in Danny's career." 

Danny did in fact make it very clear that he is facing a Mike Tyson that is not the Mike Tyson we all love to remember from the late 80's; he is a totally different fighter and has demons and flaws that he is going to expose on July 30th.


JUAN CARLOS GOMEZ IS IN COURT AGAINST SUGAR RAY

A lawsuit filed by former WBC Cruiserweight champion Juan Carlos Gomez (now contending at Heavyweight) is in the works. The case being filed is based around Ray and two other defendants allegedly preventing Gomez from securing a fight.

Gomez, originally from Cuba, is looking for $2 million in damages from Ray, Team Freedom and its founder Leon Margules. The Cuban heavyweight's deal is said to have ended with his former promoters on May 18th, but according to Gomez they are keeping any other promoters from dealing with him. One supposed fight that had to be scrapped was worth at least $450.000.  J. C. Gomez is currently 37-0 and last seen in action in September of 2003 making easy work of Turkish contender Sinan Samil San in Buffallo NY.


THOMAS ULRICH GRABS VICTORY FROM THE JAWS OF DEFEAT

German light heavyweight Thomas Ulrich was being completely dominated last weekend in an attempt to take the EBU Championship from current holder Italian Silvio Branco in Zwickau Germany.

Going into the eleventh round Branco was dominating by scores of 97-93,  97-94,  96-94 and was about to complete a successful defense of his title quite handily.  But one minute into the eleventh round crafty Ulrich having been previously given the instruction in the corner of "you have to do much, much more! ,"  did exactly as instructed by countering a lazy right hand by Branco with a homerun right of his own that landed solidly on the Italians chin followed by a shaving left and yet  another crashing right that sent the coasting dominator  into the promised land.

Although Branco did get to his feet, referee Dave Parris called a halt at 0:51 of the round when he realized the Italian was in moon walking mode and in no position to defend himself.  Branco who had been in against some classy customers in the last eight years, i.e. Robin Reid, Ritchie Woodhall and Fabrice Tiozzo, was totally shutting Ulrich out of the scheduled twelve rounder and when re-instated with his senses he seemed absolutely astonished that he had lost the bout.  Branco was told between rounds by his corner to wake up and stop dozing off... But when Ulrich's right hand landed he couldn't help but doze off. Such is boxing. Ulrich is now 27-1, 19 KOs while Branco falls to 49- 8-2, 30 KOs.


RETURN OF J. T. SEPTEMBER 23rd

Heavyweight terror James Toney is to take to the ring in September against unbeaten Rydell Booker 22-0, 12 KOs for the lightly regarded IBA heavyweight title.

James Toney has not seen ring action due to injury since he headed the 2003 war on October 4 card in Las Vegas, collapsing former multi heavy champ Evander Holyfield . Booker shouldn't pose an Immediate threat but is a live opponent  who should provide interesting company for the recuperating Toney 67-4-2, 43 KOs.  Goosen Tutor will promote and Fox Sports will air the show. No site has actually been set.


LUCAS SET TO BUY HIS OWN PROMOTIONAL AGENCY

Eric Lucas, the former WBC Super Middleweight champion is currently making an offer to buy the promotional agency that he is currently under contract to. The Montreal based Interbox Promotions sought bankruptcy protection this year yet still owes Lucas $100,000 that he is due from his fight with Danny Green.

Eric is attempting to "buy back" Interbox and in doing so would be reinvesting the $100,000 and becoming his own boss as owner of the company. Lucas has stated that he has been involved in boxing for quite some time now and knows enough to be able to direct such a firm. Go Lucas, your destiny is now literally in your own hands.

THE MAN WHO BEAT THE MAN, WHO BEAT THE MAN THEORY... HOW CREDIBLE IS IT?

Go figure this one out...

***Kali Meehan , the giant Australian who is to box for the WBO heavyweight championship very soon in Las Vegas was beaten a while ago by Danny Williams (yes, the same Danny Williams who will box against Mike Tyson next weekend). Danny disposed of Kali in less than a single round...

***Danny is due to box Mike Tyson and if the form book is anything to go by, it's a very good possibility that he may be beaten and is overmatched, hypothetically of course.

***Mike Tyson's last victory was in Tennessee over a year ago against New Orleans heavyweight Clifford Ettiene , a fight once again that didn't last very long at all; in fact Iron Mike had the Black Rhino out of there with 0:49 left on the clock in the opener at the Pyramid in Memphis.

***In Pittsburgh four years ago last May Clifford Ettiene beat Lamon Brewster on points over ten quite handily; in fact it was by margins of 6, 7 and 8  points respectively on all judges scorecards.
  
***Lamon Brewster is the current WBO heavyweight champion of the world and, wait for it, he will be facing a very tough challenge for his first title defense. He will be boxing in Las Vegas, at the Mandalay Bay against none other than Kali Meehan, the same Kali Meehan who lost to Danny Williams who is in knee deep against Mike Tyson, who beat Cliff Ettiene, who beat Lamon Brewster. So does lineage really carry any weight?

Once again, you decide, I am purely playing devil's advocate, I just bring the facts.

RESULT JUST IN

WBC Featherweight champ Injin Chi of South Korea successfully defended his championship against the very hard hitting Eiichi Sugama of Japan via a 10th round stoppage in Central City ,Soeul Korea.

Chi is now 29-2-1, 18 KOs,  yet struggled to make the weight and did make heavy work of things during the middle rounds of a fight he had complete control of from the off.  Chi took seventy minutes of exercise to shake the extra poundage that he brought with him to the scales on his first visit .  Chi was unofficially knocked over in round seven, he in fact was caught napping and touched down with a glove, only to have the referee call it a slip midway through the round that he was dominating. The Korean native made his die hard fans sweat for a round or two before a massive uppercut put paid to the brave Japanese Challenger at 1:03 of the tenth . Sugama falls to 26-4-1, 19 KOs.
 
The fight was extremely entertaining. Injin Chi is worth every penny every time he fights, his style is relentless and aggressive and extremely watchable. He definitely deserves higher scale pay days against bigger names in the future. One name I suggest should be pondered over is that of Phillipino tough guy Manny Pacquiao. It's a mouth watering thought....


DAVID DEFIAGBON... FIRST LOSS

One of my final thoughts goes out to a good friend of mine that suffered his first loss as a professional in Atlantic City NJ.  David Defiagbon lost a decision to rugged Oleg Maskaev over 12.
 
David, warriors overcome adversity and I am sure that you will bounce back very soon and get back in the hunt . Many great champions lose and come back to become better fighters, Lennox Lewis did it twice and he wasn't  a man to be taken lightly. Good luck David , keep the dream alive...


QUOTE FOR THE DAY

This quote is from the Late great trainer of champions Eddie Futch. The subject is fighters that attempt comebacks...

"One minute the ability is there, the next it is gone... Once it is gone though, it's gone for good. Like the elastic in your socks, you can't get it back!"

You certainly can't Eddie...   


BIRTHDAY SHOUT...

On the 4th of August Michael Grant will turn 32 years young. Mike has had a very hard last four years since losing in a bid to challenge Lennox Lewis in a triple belt showdown in New York.

Mike changed trainers to Teddy Atlas from Don Turner in an attempt to recapture his hunger for the chase only to face a freak loss once more when breaking his ankle in his very next fight against Jameel McCline. Mike did put together a win or two since that loss but it never did help him regain his championship mentality when last year he was knocked out and suffered a very heavy loss to young up and comer Dominick Guinn.

Mike has held the NABF Heavyweight Championship and has also held the IBC Heavyweight title and not too long ago had the tools and guts to challenge the dominant Heavyweight Champion of the World Lennox Lewis, and that is a feat that you can indeed be very proud of Michael.

Michael has faced the likes of Alfred Cole, Andrew Golota, David Izon, Lionel Butler, Lou Savarese, the list continues. He currently has a respectable record of 39-3, 30 KOs.

As stated earlier a Champion never lets defeat get him down and Mike will once again slip on the leather in Oakland in a couple of days to box the hard punching Terrence Lewis. Just for the record Grant is a classical standard pianist and capable singer. Sports-wise he has had professional try outs for baseball and basketball teams before witnessing the 1991 heavyweight bout between Evander Holyfield and Riddick Bowe in Las Vegas where he fell in love with the sport he now embraces and partakes at a very high level.

A devout Christian, and when married he had two very special friends at his side, at the altar besides his lovely wife, Evander Holyfield and Henry Akinwande, his closest friends in boxing.

Many happy returns Michael and the very best of luck against Terrence Lewis. God bless big guy...
 

LAST BUT NOT LEAST... WHO IS THIS MAN?

Last week's answer to the 'Who Is This Man' was legendary Heavyweight Larry Holmes.

Thank you all once again for taking the time to read my article. You are what makes our sport the great sport that it is and I hope there is nothing in The Mouthpiece this week that is offensive to anyone out there. I assure you it isn't intended in the least.

All of your comments are very welcome, and answers to the 'Who Is This Man' to:  themouthpiece1@aol.com

Until the next Episode...

Good luck, good health, God bless.
Stephen Jones, AKA The Mouthpiece

Photo Credit: Stephen Jones

7-26-2004

Brought to you by Saratogamist copyright 2001-2004