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WBC junior flyweight champion Edgar Sosa is no longer interested in targeting unification bouts with Ivan Calderon and Brian Viloria. Sosa made an easy ninth defense of his title last Saturday night in Mexico, stopping Carlos Melo in five one-sided rounds. He plans to make the tenth defense of his title in September, with a venue in Mexico being the likely host.
At the Amphitheater at Station Square in Pittsburgh, PA, former IBF lightweight champion Paul Spadafora (42-0-1) returned to the ring for the first time in 14 months, stopping Ivan Bustos (25-13-3) in six rounds.
Bernd Bonte, manager for WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko has denied any deal being reached, or any potential plans to fight WBA heavyweight champion Nikolai Valuev in the fall. He said the fight has potential to take place in 2010, but not at any point in 2009. The two fighters spoke on the phone and some comments from both had appeared in several international newspapers. Promoter Wilfried Sauerland, sent out a press release advising the media that Valuev was ready to move forward with the fight.
According to Russian News Agency, RIA Novosti, a deal has been reached for a unification bout between WBC champion Vitali Klitschko and WBA champion Nikolai Valuev. Valuev told RIA Novosti that he reached a deal with Klitschko and the two are looking to fight in the fall. From what I gather, the deal was reached between the two fighters. The promoters have to go over the particulars of the deal and the sanctioning bodies have to approve the fight.
WBO welterweight champion Miguel Cotto is not exactly impressed with the last couple of performances by Manny Pacquiao, regarded by many as the best fighter in the sport. The two fighters are being matched by Top Rank, with the fight taking place on November 14 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Cotto plans to return to training camp in three weeks to begin the necessary work for the fight with Pacquiao. Cotto is not concerned about the catch-weight of 145-pounds.
Malcolm "Stone" Klassen will make a voluntary defense of his IBF junior lightweight title against former champ Robert "The Ghost" Guerrero in the co-feature position on August 22 on HBO. The main event, set for the Toyota Centre in Houston, Texas, features a catch-weight bout between former champions Juan Diaz and Paulie Malignaggi.
Top Rank's Bob Arum is not paying any attention to the recent attacks by WBA welterweight champion Shane Mosley. There have been numerous press releases and dozens of interviews in the last few weeks, where Mosley blasted Arum and the proposed November bout between Manny Pacquiao and WBO 147-pound champ Miguel Cotto. Mosley is angry that Cotto is close to landing the Pacquiao fight. He also took a few shots at Arum for keeping the fight "in-house." Both Pacquiao and Cotto are under contract with Top Rank.
Freddie Roach, trainer of Manny Pacquiao, has budged on his demand of making Miguel Cotto drop down to 143-pounds for a fight with Manny Pacquiao on November 14 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Several days ago, Roach told media members that 143 was the weight he wanted the fight to take place. Cotto's nutritionist told Top Rank's Bob Arum that Miguel could only get down, in safe fashion, to a weight of 144-145 at most.
According to numerous reports over in Germany, this Saturday could be the last appearance of undefeated Arthur Abraham (29-0, 23KOs) in the middleweight division. Abraham is said to be having a tough time making weight and plans to make a move to super middleweight very soon. He defends his IBF title for the tenth time in Germany against undefeated challenger Mahir Oral (25-1, 10 KOs). The fight will be televised in America on Showtime.
Former champion Jorge Rodrigo "The Hyena" Barrios (47-4, 34KOs) returns to the ring on August 8 in Cardova, Argentina. The first ring appearance for Barrios in nearly a year. Barrios fought last September, losing by way of stoppage to Rocky Juarez. The fight was very close but Barrios suffered a very bad cut near his mouth and the ref was forced to stop the action in the eleventh.