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According to Primera Hora, two of the best amateur boxers in Puerto Rico, McWilliams and McJoe Arroyo, have signed with Puerto Rico Best Boxing to start their pro careers. The Arroyo brothers are only the second set of twin brothers in the history of boxing to qualify for the Olympics.
Former champion Jorge Arce (52-6, 40KOs) is training for what may be the last fight of his career. He takes on Angky Angkota (23-4, 14KOs) of Indonesia on January 30 for the vacant WBO super flyweight title in Toluca, Mexico. Arce lost two of his three fights last year and admits that he isn't the same fighter that he used to be a few years ago
As a Ricky Hatton ring return continues to build steam, there are several names being mentioned for to train the Manchester star for his comeback. One of the names floating about is Freddie Roach, trainer for Amir Khan, Manny Pacquiao and several others. Speaking with Gareth Davies of The Telegraph, Roach doesn't appear to be thrilled about possibly being approached for the job. He doesn't see what he can do for Hatton to make him better at this point, but he could have helped him if they started working together several years ago.
Former three-time welterweight champion Antonio Margarito is already training for a ring return. Top Rank wants to place him on the undercard to Manny Pacquiao-Joshua Clottey on March 13 in Texas. Margarito is nearly done with his one-year punishment for a plaster-like substance being discovered in his handwraps prior to the fight with Shane Mosley last January 24. The California State Athletic Commission revoked his license for a year last February.
Featherweight Rafael Marquez has hired retired former world champion Daniel Zaragoza will be his new trainer. After spending a career under the guidance of manager/trainer Nacho Beristain, Marquez broke away last week. Marquez claimed Nacho was ignoring him in the gym and spending all of his time training older brother Juan Manuel. Zaragoza, a hall of famer, will be training Marquez for the fourth fight with Israel Vazquez on May 22.
WBA heavyweight champion David Haye continues to promise unification clashes with both Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko. Mandatory challenger John Ruiz is the first one up, in April, but after that the Klitschko brothers are the prime targets for the talkative Brit. Haye would like to fight at least three times in 2010. Wladimir will defend his title against Eddie Chambers on March 20 and Vitali's next move is still up in the air.
It's not a joke. WBO interim-lightweight champion Michael Katsidis has called out Anthony Mundine, the IBO middleweight champion. Katsidis is willing to move up by several weight divisions to meet Mundine in a huge all-Australian showdown. Katsidis would like set a weight of 154. Mundine was scheduled to fight Robert Medley at 154 on Monday. The fight was changed to a middleweight contest a few days ago. Mundine blames a rift with the IBO for the weight switch but insiders believe there were serious weight struggles that forced that decision.
Unbeaten Wilfredo Vazquez Jr. is ready for the fight of his life when he faces Marvin Sonsona of the Philippines, also unbeaten, on February 27 for the vacant WBO super bantamweight title. Vazquez will have the home crowd behind him at the Rubén Rodriguez theater in Bayamón, Puerto Rico. Vazquez is really pushing himself in camp to pull off the big win. He wants to get some revenge for countryman Jose Lopez, who Sonsona beat last year to capture the WBO super flyweight title.
Trainer/manager Nacho Beristain was shocked to find out from reporters that former champion Rafael Marquez had broken away from him. Beristain had been with Marquez for his entire career. Nacho doesn't have a problem with the split but says there is an existing contract between them.
Over the years, British promoter Frank Warren has built some of the biggest names in the UK. Some of those names broke away in nasty fashion; including Joe Calzaghe, Naseem Hamed and Ricky Hatton. Amir Khan is the latest British fighter to establish his own promotional company and there are rumors that he leave Warren to sign a promotional deal in America. Sources in the United Staes have reported for weeks that Khan has been shopping around for a promotional deal with either Top Rank or Golden Boy Promotions.