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At the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, unknown middleweight contender Billy Lyell (19-7, 3 KOs) won a split decision over previously undefeated "Irish" John Duddy (26-1, 17 KOs). The scores were 96-94, 98-92 for Lyell and 97-93 for Duddy.
Undefeated super middleweight prospect Daniel Jacobs (14-0, 13KOs) could replace the removed James Kirkland on the Manny Pacquiao vs. Ricky Hatton undercard on May 2 in Las Vegas. Jacobs faces Jose Valera (23-5, 16 KOs) tonight on ESPN2, and if he wins, and has no injuries from the fight, he would face Kirkland's opponent, Michael Walker (19-1-2, 12 KOs).
During a court appearance on Friday, former WBO junior welterweight champion Kendall Holt has pleaded guilty to a money laundering charge in New Jersey. The charge is connected to his manager, Henry Cortes, who was arrested last year for his part in numerous drug deals. Cortes plead guilty to drug charges in February.
Former welterweight champion Carlos Quintana (26-2, 20KOs) returns on June 5 against veteran Danny Perez (34-5, 17KOs) in Chicago. Perez has never been stopped and went 3-0 in 2008 after returning to the ring after a three-year layoff. The fight will be Quintana's second at junior middleweight.
Promoter Frank Warren says that his former fighter Ricky Hatton is not smart enough, in the ring, to beat Manny Pacquiao on May 2 in Las Vegas. He says Pacquiao is too fast and too smart for the Manchester superstar. He gives Hatton a shot in the early rounds, but if Ricky doesn't close the show early - Warren predicts a Pacquiao win.
A rematch between Bernard Hopkins and Felix Trinidad will not come cheap. According to father/trainer Felix Trinidad Sr, promoter Don King presented Tito with an offer of $15 million dollars for a Hopkins rematch. As previously reported on BoxingScene.com, King recently came to Puerto Rico to meet with Trinidad and discuss terms for a Hopkins rematch. Although Trinidad has been chasing for a Hopkins rematch since the 2001 knockout loss, King claims that it was Hopkins who reached out to them to initiate negotiations for a November meeting.
It didn't take long for former champion Scott Harrison to get himself in another legal jam. Harrison was arrested as he arrived in Spain to face assault charges that are being alleged to have happened in 2006. Harrison, 31, was detained by officers from the country's National Police as he touched down at Malaga Airport on a flight from Glasgow. He is expected to stand trial in a Spanish court on assault and robbery charges.
According to reports overseas, the WBC has approved an eliminator between former champion Robert Guerrero (23-1, 16KOs) and Rene Gonzalez (24-1, 19KOs) of Nicaragua. The winner will become the mandatory challenger to WBC super featherweight champion Humberto Soto, who defends his title on the May 2 Pacquiao-Hatton undercard against Benoit Gaudet of Canada.
Trainers Floyd Mayweather Sr. and Freddie Roach can't seem to agree on anything. During a recent phone conference with the media, the two trainers traded insults, insults and more insults. Both of them predict a quick knockout on May 2 in Las Vegas.
Former three division champion Erik Morales, retired since 2007, is hoping to return to the ring before the end of the year and his main target is fellow Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez. Morales has been trying to get the fight with Marquez since last year. Marquez's manager/trainer, Nacho Beristain, told reporters a few days ago that he was willing to make the fight with Morales in September - if a proposed July 18 showdown with Floyd Mayweather Jr. fell apart.