Berto vs Kotelnik: Don King HBO

Effusive King: Waiting on Boss With Hot Sauce, Mayweather; Kotelnik feens for Berto * August 13th, 2010 6:05 pm Among other things, Donald King and Floyd Joy Mayweather Jr. share a fascination with stacks of cash Photo: Getty Images Don King likes to tell people that, to have a successful restaurant, a proprietor can't just rely on servinf up mouthwatering cutrs of steak, no matter how tender or juicy. “That don't cut it,” King often barks. “You've got to serve up a sizzling, tasty steak and then you've got to pour some love on top. “You've got to put some comeback sauce on top of the steak so the customers can't help but keep coming back over and over.” Which reminds me, in speaking to King just minutes ago, he referred to promotional free agent loyd Mayweather Jr. by a nickname I had never heard applied to him. “Floyd, I call him the Boss With The Hot Sauce,” King said from his South Florida home. “I am getting ready to call Floyd right now to see what time he is coming in here.”\ King said he never asks Mayweather if he is disgruntled with adviser Al Haymon and/or promoter without a contract, Golden Boy. “I don't have to ask Floyd about that because, if everything was good, he wouldn't keep coming back to see me. I love having dinner with Floyd” Just a few weeks ago, Mayweather posted a photo of a 20 pound, $500 lobster he and King inspected at a Boca Raton restaurant. While he awaits Mayweather's return, King offered up some breaking boxing news. With his 79th birthday just a week away, King was totally charged up and enthusiastic about his last show and future cards. King said that he and Lou DiBella have made a verbal agreement for a fight between rugged Andriy Kotelnik, coming off a close but impressive defeat at the hands of Devon Alexander, and undefeated Andre Berto. “I just spoke to HBO. Kotelnik can be ready for November, no problem,” King said. “I'm keeping the kid here, keeping him at my training camp in Ohio. He trained there to fight Devon. That was a great fight last Saturday night in St. Louis but Devon won it.” I asked King if he was sure Kotelnik would be ready so soon after going 12 hard rounds with the unbeaten Alexander. “Hell, yes, we want that Berto fight,” King said. “With Gary Shaw, we're making Devon against Tim Bradley for Jan. 29 so maybe HBO will want to see the winners of Kotelnik-Berto and Bradley-Alexander fight next year.” King remains puffed up about the Missouri show which attracted nearly 10,000 fans at the Scottstrade Center. “Even the knockout of Cory Spinks (by Cornelius K9 Brundiage was a good fight,” King said. “We had four championship fights and the turnout was good. You have a good mix of white and black fans and usually it's the white fans who get the best, higher priced seats but we got the whole area behind us. “I spent a week in St. Louis and we worked hard, the oldtime promotional way. We had great support from Sen. McCaskill and from Gov. Brewer. We had community unity.” That's a bit different than the unity he seeks with Mayweather, AKA the “Boss With The Hot Sauce.” King also is greasing the HBO wheels for a possible Ricardo Mayorga-Sergiy Dziniriuk middleweight title bout. "People don't believe Mayorga will get back in the ring but I'll put him in training camp, in isolation, as well." But, make no mistake, King is cooking again, cooking with gas. Larry Holmes was right, you can't cook with cold grease, y'all. http://allboxing.ru/sites/allboxing.ru/files/images/Floyd%20and%20Kotelnik.jpg Micheal Marley

Comments (20)

Good points didn't think of that! You think so? I would think the top names at 140 would avoid guzman if possible. I see some of them having trouble finding name opponents that are willing to fight them. He could also possibly take on a fighter on one of GBP's many HBO cards. Freddie Roach wouldn't let them make the mistake, but he was mentioned as an opponent for Khan, he was about to fight Bradley and Judah. If he didn't have whatever illness he had, he would've destroyed Casa, instead of Guerrero going 12. There's a ton of possibilities at 140. Mike Jones rather than Kotelnik? Why? At least Kotelnik has fought some top fighters...who the hell has Mike Jones fought? For starters because Jones is a Welterweight, a huge one at that, Kotelnik is a regular sized Jr. Welterweight, who doesn't look like he can carry the extra pounds.

15y ago

sicko

it would be great for Kotelnik to get another big match, but that is a disappointing match up, Berto needs to fight a bigger name (no disrespect to Kotelnik) or just fight Collazo again or stay at 147 and fight Selcuk Aydin another young DANGEROUS fighter, King just signed Aydin so they should be able to do that instead, would like to see Aydin try to build a name for himself a little big in the US and get a few impressive KO's before they put him in the ring with a big name seems like Don King is building moment right now Mike Jones need a big fight to build momentum, he is not going to get a big fight right now because he is still in the middle of making a name for himself

15y ago

Mike Jones rather than Kotelnik? Why? At least Kotelnik has fought some top fighters...who the hell has Mike Jones fought?

15y ago

LIGHTYEAR

don king, if this fight happens will already have put kotelnik in with 2 of the most recognised young fighters already. hell he just signed kotelnik and is getting him top fights

15y ago

Iceta_Lives

The hell with Guzman. What did he do besides beat up on a guy who went life and death with Nate Campell?

15y ago

Heru

Most definitely he belongs at 140 and he knows that but sometimes when opportunities come knocking you take it. Same goes for Kotelnik he doesn't belong at 147 but who's going to fight him now? Alexander/Bradley/Khan/Maidina are off the list. I doubt Judah. Ortiz probably not. Kotelnik can work his way into a mandatory. Don King is in tight with Sosa... I mean the sanctioning bodies... Watch, he'll be ranked pretty high in every belts ratings. He should stay away from Khan and Bradley, they would still steamroll him. Guzman will get a shot at someone, he's undefeated, got a recognizable name, and 140 is thick with talent. I thought he'd be all, but blackballed, but people seem to think he's a safe opponent or something.

15y ago

Iceta_Lives

This is a fuckin travesty is all I got to say. I feel like I can't stop complaining about it it's so riduculous. Make Berto sit out like they did to Angulo if he doesn't want to fight a top guy or better yet, why doesn't Berto answer Angulo's challenge even though Angulo is kind of assuming the role of a bully to Berto like Berto has to all these 140 lbers he's fought. But for Angulo it would be a one time thing since he's always fought guys his size. Berto on the other hand fights smaller guys on a regular basis, so is it too much to ask for him to take a chance against a bigger guy for once?

15y ago

Bushbaby

I could see Berto pulling a ho move like that!!

15y ago

Iceta_Lives

***** move by Berto. He's the most protected fighter I can think of right now that has a major TV network behind him. His fight with Quintana did **** at the gate. And his stock isn't gonna raise unless he steps up his comp. Why not Mike Jones or hell even Angulo?

15y ago

boxasmash

Kotelnik will expose this *****, even if he's much smaller. Berto is a pansy for only fighting crap fighters or midgets, I hope Kotelnik can overcome the size and kill him.

15y ago

Heru

LOL Kotelnik just gave ALexander the fight of his life,the same Alexander who id pick to beat Berto,and Berto hasnt been lookign too special lately,its a fight Kotelnik could actually win,id rather see Berto fighting Mike Jones tho See post #17.

15y ago

Heru

Soft touch? Kotelnik just easily outboxed Alexander. I know hes not a 147lber but I think he could give Berto trouble. Could be worse. Yes, look at Kotelnik's frame at 140... He is not a welterweight and wouldn't be as effective. Kotelnik relies on being able to walk down his opponents, which means he has to be able to at least be on par strength-wise. Berto rehydrates up to 160. We have to stop thinking that jumping weight classes is for everyone. I could be wrong because Kotelnik has a good style for someone who gasses as easily as Berto, but how is he going to peel Berto off when he decides he wants to hold? Why not face someone his size similar to Kotelnik... how about J. Clottey. it was either him or Guzman. Berto doesn't want any 147 pounders. Guzman needs to get his ass down to 140. P4P he's better than Berto, but at 147 he might be asking for too much from his hands. His lack of pop will do him in, everything else will be on point.

15y ago

Evil_Abed

Someone explain to me what's so special about Mike Jones? I don't see any striking names on his resume... Talented prospect with a lot of tools. Good speed 6ft plus. That's about it

15y ago

Someone explain to me what's so special about Mike Jones? I don't see any striking names on his resume...

15y ago

bishop2006

Man, if this is true, I'm emailing HBO and telling them I will boycott (networks/companies hate that and actually listen sometimes) if they make the fight. Enough soft touches for Berto on HBO. Jones, Williams, Mosley, Cotto, or Angulo or fukc off. LOL Kotelnik just gave ALexander the fight of his life,the same Alexander who id pick to beat Berto,and Berto hasnt been lookign too special lately,its a fight Kotelnik could actually win,id rather see Berto fighting Mike Jones tho

15y ago

Carpe_Diem

I hope he outbox Berto.

15y ago

Smh if Berto makes this move... Plenty of names at 147...or 154

15y ago

IMDAZED

Berto might as well move down in weight.

15y ago

Dirk_Diggler_UK

Man, if this is true, I'm emailing HBO and telling them I will boycott (networks/companies hate that and actually listen sometimes) if they make the fight. Enough soft touches for Berto on HBO. Jones, Williams, Mosley, Cotto, or Angulo or fukc off. Soft touch? Kotelnik just easily outboxed Alexander. I know hes not a 147lber but I think he could give Berto trouble. Could be worse.

15y ago

onechance87

15y ago