HBO announces a 140 Pound Tournament???

[B.U.R.N.E.R]

http://boxing.fanhouse.com/2010/03/1...ion-boxing-to/

After careful lobbying, WBO junior welterweight (140 pounds) titlist, Tim Bradley (pictured above) exclusively informed FanHouse.com on Wednesday that he is announcing the accomplishment of the unthinkable:

A 26-year-old, resident of Palm Springs, Calif., with a record of 25-0, with 11 knockouts, Bradley, has secured the blessings of some of the most powerful forces in boxing to organize, seed and project his opinon on the potential outcome of the world's first-ever, HBO-Desert Storm Whirlwind 140-pound Invitational Unification Boxing Tournament to determine the sport's junior welterweight King Of The Ring.

HBO officials, starting with President of Sports, Ross Greenburg, have signed off on the 10-man tournament, which includes Bradley, WBA king Amir Khan of England, and IBF and WBC titlist, Devon Alexander.

In addition, promoters, Richard Schaefer and Oscar de la Hoya (CEO and president of Golden Boy, respectively), Bob Arum (CEO of Top Rank), Don King, Gary Shaw and Lou DiBella are all in agreement and approval of the talented field, which is comprised of the division's premiere fighters whom they all represent.

Bradley said that only the tournament's championship bout will be televised on pay per view.

"I just felt that it was a tremendous opportunity to give the fans what everybody considers to be the weight division's 10-best fighters in match ups that everyone has been asking for," said Bradley, who is coming off of December's unanimous decision victory over Lamont Peterson.

"After careful consideration, and the involvement of an unbiased seeding committee of respected experts whose names are being withheld from the public, we were able to come up with the pairings for fights that will generate interest, emotion and intensity as they happen," said Bradley.

"This is simply something that we believe that the fans truly want to see. And the best part about it is that you get to watch all of the fights on regular HBO," said Bradley.

"With the economy being what it is, I think that it's only fair that all of the fights through to the semifinals should be viewed by the public for only the price of their cable bills" said Bradley. "For that reason, everyone has agreed that only the champioship bout -- the one crowning the tournament's overall winner -- will be televised on HBO pay per view for the reasonable price of $54.99."

[B.U.R.N.E.R]

As an early appetizer, Bradley has provided to FanHouse with the results of the experts' prognostications, which the champion said were produced after careful, detailed and thorough consultation with the members of a carefully selected staff of media members and fight game insiders.


PRELIMINARY ROUND:


Lamont Peterson (27-1, 13 KOs), Washington, D.C., vs. Edwin Valero (27-0, 27 KOs), Merida, Venezuela.

Site rationale: "The tournament committee knows that we'll have to try and make this one happen in Texas, due to the fact that Valero can't fight in too many places in the states. The early indications are that we believe that we'll be successful getting this one in Texas, and we believe that we can get Valero sanctioned in Texas."

Committe skinny: "Valero and Peterson each took signing bonuses to face off in this early-rounder. Valero will be the favorite probably in the fight, by 2-1, even as he is rising from lightweight (135 pounds), having reliquished the WBC crown in that division. But the 26-year-old Peterson pretty much outboxes the 28-year-old Valero after having tightened up his defense since the loss to Bradley. Peterson reacted well after being down for the first time in his career against Bradley, so as we've seen, Peterson has a big heart even though he's not a big puncher. So there is little apprehension on the part of Peterson, who, being the bigger guy, will be able to stand in there and fight with Valero. Peterson will be able to take Valero's big punch and be able to apply pressure to him. Peterson will have the goods and make Valero fight at a pace and in a style that Valero's not accustomed to."

The pick: Peterson advances by split-decision.


"Vicious" Victor Ortiz (26-2-1, 21 KOs), Oxnard, Calif., vs. Nate Campbell (33-5-1, 25 KOs), Jacksonville, Fla.

Site rationale: "The tournament committee had a hard time with this one: Florida or California. We decided that Ortiz, being a big draw, would bring the fans out in LA. So HBO has agreed to televise it from the Nokia Center at LA Live as part of Fight Night Club. Like Valero and Peterson, the two combatants received signing bonuses to accept this matchup."

Committe skinny: "A 37-year-old, former world champion, Campbell has seen it all. And following Ortiz's knockout loss to Maidana, he learned the remedy to beating Ortiz: Apply pressure, make him fight, generally use all of his tricks of the trade. Campbell has a decent punch to hurt Ortiz and make him think about the place he's been before with Maidana. The key for Campbell is to make Ortiz feel like giving up. But Ortiz, a 23-year-old southpaw, will bring a raw intensity and desperation into the fight. Campbell needs to be aware of Ortiz's big left hand, having been stopped, himself, twice before in five, and, eight rounds, respectively, by Robbie Peden -- a relative non-puncher."

The pick: Campbell advances by controversial, split-decision

[B.U.R.N.E.R]

PRE-QUARTERFINAL ROUND:


Nate Campbell (34-5-1, 25 KOs), Jacksonville, Fla., vs. Paulie Malignaggi (27-3, five KOs), Brooklyn, N.Y.

Site rationale: "The good will among the participants is to be applauded: Malignaggi and DiBella, 'The Magic Man's' promoter, graciously accept an addtional signing bonus to allow Campbell's hometown of Florida to play host to this matchup. Campbell gets paid extra also for his preliminary round victory over Ortiz."

Committe skinny: "His confidence soaring at the opportunity to match wits with a veteran pugilist, Malignaggi has everything Campbell has in terms of skill. In addition to being eight years Campbell's junior at the age of 29, Malignaggi's solid chin will pass a mid-rounds test as he weathers the storm. Down the stretch, the division's elder statesman will fade."

The pick: Malignaggi advances by unanimous decision.


Lamont Peterson (28-1, 13 KOs), Washington, D.C., vs. Victor Cayo (24-0, 16 KOs), Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

Site rationale: "Washington, D.C.'s Verizon Center was the obvious choice for this one, given the momentum built by Peterson's preliminary-round upset of Valero. Cayo is relatively unknown, having fought only twice in America -- both times in Las Vegas. Peterson gets extra cash for his preliminary win, as does Cayo, for facing Peterson in this pre-quarterfinal."

Committe skinny: "Juiced thanks to his incentive clause, having beaten Valero, Peterson will receive extra motivation from the crowd. Peterson will be fighting with a renewed sense of accomplishment, Peterson will be properly warmed up and on fire from the first round on. Cayo won't have a friend within miles of the venue, which will be packed with partisan Peterson fans. Crowd reaction to every positive move made by Peterson could be an influence on the judges, all of whom will be from the Washington, D.C. area. The game Cayo could stage a late rally that could make it close, and possibly even wobble Peterson a couple of times. But the hometown boy and world title contender should have the strength and savvy to hold on and prevent definitive damage."

The pick: Peterson advances by majority decision.



QUARTERFINAL ROUND:


No. 1 seed Tim Bradley (25-0, 11 KOs), Palm Springs, Calif. vs. No. 8 seed Luis Carlos Abregu (29-0, 23 KOs), Salta, Salta, Argentina.

Site rationale: "Bradley's hometown venue, Agua Caliente Casino, Rancho Mirage, Calif., gets the nod as the site for this one, with Abregu making only his sixth appearance on American soil."

Committe skinny: "This over-the-140- pound division clash means that the champion will be facing the largest man he's ever fought in the rangy Abregu, a natural welterweight (147 pounds). It's going to be a tough one for the 5-foot-6 Bradley against the 5-10 Abregu, a physical fighter who is adept at stalking and cutting off the ring. At times, Abregu will try to make the bout a brawl, but Bradley will have none of that. Bradley's overall skills and in-and-out movement should be the determining factor."

The pick: Bradley by close, but unanimous decision.

[B.U.R.N.E.R]

No. 4 seed Marcos Rene Maidana (27-1, 26 KOs), Jose Leon Suarez, Buenos Aires, Argentina, vs. No. 5 seed Lamont Peterson (29-1, 13 KOs), Washington, D.C.

Site rationale: "We go to California for this one, where the hard-punching Maidana stopped Ortiz before a boisterous crowd at the Staples' Center in Los Angeles. A deep under card should go a long way toward filling up the stands, as will knowledge of Peterson's upsets of Valero and Cayo."

Committe skinny: "A bigger man than Valero, Maidana has more power than Peterson has seen throughout his career. That could mean that the chin of Peterson could be tested like never before. So although brimming with confidence, Peterson must resist the freelancing and brawling urge that overtook him in his lone loss to Bradley. Otherwise, look for Peterson to similalry taste the canvas early, if not, be stopped. Maidana is the WBA's interim titlist, has a two-fight winning streak, and is looking for his third straight knockout. But Maidana last suffered defeat following a split-decision against Germany's light-hitting, Andriy Kotelnik (31-3-1, 13 KOs), and Peterson's trainer, Barry Hunter, studied that fight thoroughly. So unlike against Bradley, Peterson will follow Hunter's advice and get on his bicycle to escape trouble -- even if it means clinching occasionally to keep Maidana off of him down the stretch."

The pick: Peterson by unpopular split-decision.


No. 3 seed Amir Khan (22-1, 16 KOs), Bolton, Lancashire, England, vs. No. 6 seed Paulie Malignaggi (28-3, five KOs), Brooklyn, N.Y.

Site rationale: "Coming off of his big win over Campbell, Malignaggi has earned some extra dough as well as the right to play host to this match up at Madison Square Garden's WaMu Theater. Khan will be making his American debut before a hostile crowd and putting his WBA crown on the line.)

Committe skinny: "It's a tough fight. You can't count out Malignaggi. He's slick, can turn the bout into a track meet, make Khan miss, and also has experience over Khan, given his battles with Ricky Hatton, Miguel Cotto, Juan Diaz and Campbell. But Khan is an excellent boxer-puncher, having knocked out Dmitriy Salita in one-round, and decisioned Kotelnik. Throw in Khan's exceptional speed and movement to at least match Malignaggi, and the Englishman may have the edge in his corner. That's where you have four-time Trainer Of The Year, Freddie Roach, coming up with the definitive game plan. Khan will likely have the overall ability to pressure Malignaggi as a counter to the New Yorker's footwork."

The pick: Khan by close, but unanimous decision.


No. 2 seed Devon Alexander (20-0, 13 KOs), St. Louis, Mo., vs. No. 7 seed Zab Judah (38-6, 26 KOs), Las Vegas.



Site rationale: "The 23-year-old Alexander (pictured at right) brings Judah to the Savvis Center in his hometown of St. Louis, where Judah once stopped and dethroned Alexander's mentor, idol and homeboy, Cory Spinks, in the ninth round for the IBF, WBC and WBA welterweight titles. The 32-year-old Judah sees this as an opportunity to inject momentum into a faltering career, having been a former world titlist in the junior welterweight and welterweight divisions. Alexander's IBF and WBC titles are on the line.)

Committe skinny: "This clash of southpaws has Alexander, who already was the WBC king, coming off of a March 6, eighth-round knockout of then-IBF titlist, Juan Urango (22-3-1, 17 KOs), who was stopped for the first time in his career. Judah recently ended a nearly 12-month layoff with November''s second-round knockout of Mexican-born, Ubaldo Hernandez -- his fourth victory in his past five fights since a June, 2007, 11th round knockout los to Miguel Cotto. Judah will have incentive, and will summon all of the tricks that he can muster. But Alexander will take the fight personally, having trained diligently. He will embrace the crowd, and cause facial damage to Judah as he looks to redeem Spink's loss with the most meaningful win of career."

The pick: Alexander by late-round TKO.

[B.U.R.N.E.R]

SEMIFINAL ROUND:

Site rationale: "Bradley's hometown venue, Agua Caliente Casino, Rancho Mirage, Calif., gets the nod for the semifinals, with the championship site to be chosen after the title-bout participants are determined. Bradley has elected to yield main-event status to Alexander-Khan, which will unify Alexander's IBF and WBC belts with Khan's WBA crown.)


No. 1 seed Tim Bradley (26-0, 11 KOs), Palm Springs, Calif., vs. No. 5 seed Lamont Peterson (30-1, 13 KOs), Washington, D.C.

Committe skinny: "After three, straight victories over heavy-hitters, it will be Peterson's turn to try to be the puncher. Although he will be more cautious of the right hand that troubled and floored him during the only loss of his career against Bradley, Peterson will, nevertheless, try to apply effective pressure on Bradley. The 5-6 Bradley, however, will be more selective and pick his shots, taking advantage of the openings that materialize against the oncoming, 5-9 Peterson. Bradley won't enjoy the long stretches of dominance that he did during their first meeting, although he will, nevertheless, be able to land effectively by moving in and out. The right hand will find its mark on occasion for Bradley, whose conditioning should be the difference over the final rounds."

The pick: Bradley by close, but unanimous decision.


No. 2 seed Devon Alexander (21-0, 14 KOs), St. Louis, Mo., vs. No. 3 seed Amir Khan (22-1, 16 KOs), Bolton, Lancashire, England.

Committe skinny: "Bradley will emerge from the locker room and watch from ringside, where he'll likely be impressed by the early pace established by Alexandeer. Alexander will be popping the jab, taking it to Khan, and making him fight. Khan will likely surge after three rounds, after which the fight's momentum swings back-and-forth, minute-to-miinute, round-to-round. The counter-punchers will maintain a high level of intensity through the middle rounds, but that's where the southpaw Alexander's pressure, head-movement, and edge in power should become manifest. For the first time, Khan's bravery and despiration will over-rule any instruction given him by trainer, Freddie Roach, as he tries to make up the perceived, lost ground against Alexander. Khan's defensive miscues could create openings for Alexander, whose sustained punching potency could find Khan's chin for a trip to the canvas."

The pick: Alexander by close, but unanimous decision.



HBO-DESERT STORM WHIRLWIND 140-POUND INVITATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP:


No. 1 seed Tim Bradley (27-0, 11 KOs) vs. No. 2 seed Devon Alexander (22-0, 14 KOs), TBA

[Evil Abed]

Is this real?

Or is fanhouse playing fantasy boxing.

[SiCaRiO13 Jr]

lol, you know you excited, posted it so quick

[Jim Jeffries]

What are they trying to do? Keep Pac at WW?

Sounds pretty good though.

[gingeralbino]

****ing hell, IF that comes of, ****ing hell!!!!!!

i want to believe its true......

[F l i c k e r]

I hope Valero fights in it.