MALONEY: I'LL MATCH PRICE MY WAY
FRANK MALONEY has reacted to criticism of David Price's opponents, blasting: "I'll do it my way."
The Beijing Olympic bronze medallist took his unbeaten professional record to five last Friday when he defeated Martyn Grainer inside a round.
It led to calls for Price to be matched tougher when he returns to action at Dagenham's Goresbrook Leisure Centre on May 14.
Maloney says: "I am ignoring all the criticism and matching David the way I think best and will continue to do so.
"People are entitled to opinions, but I have a proven track record with top heavyweights Lennox Lewis and John Ruiz. Domestically, I got it right with Julius Francis and James Oyebola.
"I don't remember Lennox, Ruiz or Frank Bruno having it tough early on, but judging by the some of the comments, people would like me to match David against a Klitschko or David Haye right now.
"Judge David in two or three years, not now."
Maloney believes Price will eventually become world heavyweight champion and plans to develop his latest protégé in the gym over the next 12 months.
Maloney added: "David might have a fantastic amateur pedigree and more potential than any British heavyweight, but he had hardly been in a professional gym until little over a year ago.
"Over the next few months he will do most of his learning in the gym and travelling around the world sparring.
"I am hoping that he will help Albert Sosnowski prepare for his world title challenge against Vitali Klitschko.
"He will also be travelling down to London to spar with one of my other fighters, John McDermott.
Atlantic City, NJ—Unbeaten Mike Jones, of Philadelphia, PA, and Hector Munoz, of Albuquerque, NM, will be fighting for two championship belts when they collide in a scheduled 10-round welterweight contest on Saturday evening, April 17, at in the 10,000-seat Boardwalk Hall.
Not only will Jones’ North American Boxing Association (NABA) title be at stake, but the North American Boxing Organization (NABO) also will recognize the winner as its champion. The NABO championship currently is vacant.
In the scheduled 12-round main event, to be televised by HBO, Kelly Pavlik, of Youngstown, OH, defends his WBC/WBO middleweight titles against Sergio Martinez, of Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Jones, 26, scored the biggest win of his career Feb. 27 when he earned a unanimous 10-round decision over former world-title challenger Henry Bruseles, of Gurabo, Puerto Rico, in front of a standing-room-only crowd in the Grand Ballroom of Bally’s Atlantic City.
A pro since 2005, Jones is 20-0, 16 K0s. He is ranked No. 8 by the World Boxing Association (WBA), No. 10 by the International Boxing Federation (IBF), No. 16 by the World Boxing Organization (No. 11) and No. 17 by the World Boxing Council (WBC).
Munoz, 31, has a record of 18-2-1, 11 K0s. In his last fight Oct. 4, 2008, Munoz was stopped in the 12th round by undefeated top contender (No. 3 WBA, No. 2 WBO) Antonin Decarie, of Montreal, Canada. The loss to Decarie was for the NABO 147-pound title, then held by Decarie.
Tickets for this blockbuster card are priced at $50, $100, $200 and $350. They are on sale at the offices of Peltz Boxing Promotions (215-765-0922) and all Ticketmaster outlets (1-800-745-3000). Tickets also can be purchased online at www.peltzboxing.com and www.Ticketmaster.com .
Four-time world heavyweight champion Evander “The Real Deal” Holyfield plans to make a strong statement April 10 when challenges WBF heavyweight title-holder Frans “The White Buffalo” Botha in the 12-round main event at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.
“I’m not finished, yet,” future Hall of Famer Holyfield emphasizing the statement he plans to make against Botha. “I will be champion of the world again.”
The 47-year-old Holyfield (42-10-2, 27 KOs) is coming off of a controversial 12-round majority decision loss December 20, 2008 in Switzerland to then WBA champion Nicolai Valuev that most observers felt Holyfield did enough to win.
Holyfield hasn’t fought in Las Vegas in 11 years and he’s looking forward to returning to the city of his greatest accomplishments. “I’m honored to be fighting again in Las Vegas,” Evander said. “Realistically, everything good happened to me in Las Vegas, starting when I made the 1984 U.S. Olympic Team. I became the undisputed world cruiserweight champion there (WTKO8 vs. Carlos DeLeon in 1988). The first time I won the world heavyweight title was there (WKO3 vs. Buster Douglas in 1990). My second (WDEC12 vs. Riddick Bowe in 1993), third (TKO11 vs. Mike Tyson in 1996), and fourth (DEC12 vs. John Ruiz in 2000) heavyweight titles were all won in Las Vegas. It’s where I’ve done my greatest things and I’m really looking forward to fighting back in Las Vegas.”
WEST HAM LEGEND DICKS HELPS MITCHELL
World title challenger Kevin Mitchell has been taking tips from soccer hard-man Julian Dicks ahead of his clash with Michael Katsidis.
Mitchell takes on the Aussie powerhouse at West Ham's Boleyn Ground at Upton Park on May 15 in a challenge for the interim WBO World Lightweight title.
West Ham legend Dicks - whose nickname was The Terminator - was on hand to help launch the fight, and Mitchell says his presence was an inspiration.
"When I played football I used to model myself on Julian," said the 25-year-old, who grew up supporting The Hammers and now has the chance to fight for a world title at their home ground.
"I'd threw myself into tackles and kick everyone up in the air, even though I was the smallest player on the pitch.
"My approach to football was the same as it is to boxing - don't leave anything in the dressing room.
"Julian was in a few fair scraps during his time at Upton Park, and that's exactly the kind of spirit I'll need to show against Katsidis.
"We had a chat at Upton Park last week about the pride and the passion down here in the east end of London, and how important it is to put everything on the line, especially in sport.
"People round here are warm-hearted and generous, but we stand up for ourselves as well.
"There's no way that Katsidis is going to come to my manor and beat me in front of my own fans
"I'm going to give it to Katdisis right from the first bell. He won't have to come looking for me, and I'm sure I won't have to go looking for him either, and that's just the way I like it and just the way the fans will like it to."
'Hammer Time' is headlined by Kevin Mitchell's challenge for the WBO Interim World Lightweight Championship against Michael Katsidis. A quality packed undercard includes the British and Commonwealth Heavyweight Championship between Danny Williams and Sam Sexton; Olympic Gold medallist James DeGale challenges for the first title in his career - the WBA International Super-Middleweight Championship; unbeaten heavyweight star Derek Chisora; and Britain's hottest young prospects Frankie Gavin and Billy Joe Saunders. Plus more fights to be added.
Tickets for 'Hammer Time', priced at £30, £40, £50, £80, £150, £200 & £250, are available from:
West Ham Ticket Hotline: 0871 222 2700*
Website: www.whufc.com
See Tickets Ticket Hotline: 0871 2200 260*
Website: www.seetickets.com
Ticketmaster: 0844 847 2500*
Website: www.ticketmaster.co.uk
