WBC Super Middleweight king Carl Froch seems to be ruffling a few feathers as he looks to put American boxing fans on notice about his intentions to clean up the super middleweight division starting with Jermain Taylor.
A tabloid U.S. boxing website published a factually incorrect report on Saturday 10th January that the Cobra would be sidelined until June with a rib injury. Froch quickly moved to deny the story stating that he is ready, willing and able to meet mandatory challenger Jermain Taylor as soon as the fight can be signed and sealed.
Purse bids for the bout have been called for Friday week with the two to meet within 90 days of the bid. Now the same website that published the report is rowing back on their initial claims but still taking cheap shots at Froch.
“I seem to have upset this Mark Marley guy a bit,” said a bemused Froch. “He’s stuck another piece on his website calling me every name under the sun. Despite all his bluster he still hasn't managed to explain where he came up with the story that I would be out injured until June.
“I’ve never heard of this clown before but he says he once met Muhammad Ali or something. Anyway whoever he is it would appear that his website has about as much class as the guy himself. I got a headache just looking at it.
“He points to quotes I gave to Ron Lewis in the Times as proof that I was going to be out injured until June. Surely any respected journalist would do a little more research than that before writing a piece. In fact if he’d read the entire piece with Ron in the Times he’d have known that I’ve already started back training for my first defence and expect to be back in the ring in early April.
“In fact this week there was even talk of a March 28th date with Taylor and I’d have no problem with that either. I just want to get the fight on and prove to the world that I’m the best super middleweight out there.”
FRANK MALONEY has won the purse bids for Matthew Marsh's British super-bantamweight title defence against Liverpool's Mark Moran.
His bid in excess of £31,600 means Moran (11-0-1) who Maloney co-promotes with VIP Promotions will have crucial home advantage.
The eagerly awaited clash between Britain's top 8st 10lb fighters will take place at Leigh Indoor Sports Centre on Friday April 17.
Maloney said: "This is what is known in the trade as a pick 'em fight and home advantage could be crucial so it is a big bonus to win the purse bids.
"Both fighters sell a lot of tickets but Mark's fans could swing the fight in his favour.
"I think Moran will win, but the only guarantee I can make is that it'll be a candidate for domestic Fight of the Year."
Southpaw Moran turned professional in October 2003 and his finest win came last May when he stopped Danny Wallace to become English champion in front of 58,000 fans at City of Manchester Stadium.
Moran, 26, was a team-mate of Marsh (11-1) at the 2002 Commonwealth Games and won a bantamweight bronze medal.
Marsh, also 26, captured the British title last June outpointing Esham Pickering and in his only defence won a majority decision over Rocky Dean.
The cockney boxer's only professional loss came when stepped up to featherweight in October 2007 and was stopped in 11 rounds by Derry Matthews in a WBU title challenge.
Marsh didn't fare as well as Moran when then Commonwealth Games were held in Manchester getting knocked out by South African flyweight Nzimeni Msutu when he was clearly weight drained.
An action packed undercard will be revealed shortly, but will feature the best young talent from Liverpool and Manchester.
New York - Amateur sensation Sadam Ali is set to make his highly anticipated pro debut this Saturday night in Biloxi, Mississippi on the under card of the Berto-Collazo World Championship fight. Fans are in for an extra treat in Biloxi as the energetic and extremely talented fighter sets out to make his mark as a pro boxer. “We are happy to add Olympian Sadam Ali to our Saturday night show at the Beau Rivage,” said show promoter Lou DiBella of DiBella Entertainment. “It should be a great fight.”
The twenty year old featherweight from Canarsee, Brooklyn will face Ricky Thompson of Tampa, Florida in what promises to be an exciting bout. Ali’s superior hand speed and quick footwork are beautiful to watch, and his lightning fast combinations and accurate counter punching ability earned him a fan following. Ali is always an impressive crowd pleaser and puts on a good show- to the crowd’s chant of “Ali, Ali, Ali!”- perhaps a foreshadowing of a spectacular future as a professional boxer.
“I’m ready to do what I have to do,” said Ali. “To show the world I can be a successful pro like I was an amateur. I want to be the best I can be.”
Ali is a highly decorated amateur champion- a Junior National Champion, a PAL National Champion, a U-19 National Champion, and a two-time New York City Golden Gloves champion. He also took a historical role on the 2008 US Olympic team. The son of Yemeni Arab parents, he is a true trailblazer as the first Arab American fighter to ever represent the United States at the Games.
“My son made it to the Olympic Games,” said father and manager David Ali. “I am not really worried about this fight. He will do fine.”
“We have been waiting for this for some time – now we are here and ready. Its time for some havoc and we are in the hurt business,” said Ali’s trainer Andre Rozier.
Ali has been training hard to turn pro since he fought in the Olympics- anxious to make his mark as a professional fighter after fighting as an amateur for twelve years and learning the true meaning of sacrifice through boxing. Ali said his ultimate goal is to be a successful boxer and to go to college at the same time.
“Sadam Ali is an excellent prospect and I believe he will have a long and distinguished career,” said DiBella. “We look forward to his pro debut.”
Doors open at 3 p.m. and preliminary bouts begin at 4 p.m. Ticket prices are $45, $100 and $150 plus tax and service charge and can be purchased at the Beau Rivage Box Office or by calling 888.566.7469. Beau Rivage room reservations can be made by calling 888.567.6667 or visiting www.beaurivage.com . Tickets are also available by calling DiBella Entertainment at (212) 947-2577. For more information, please visit DiBella entertainment on the web at www.dbe1.com .
