GBP's lightweight tournament: Fantastic idea

[C.Y.]

sounds like a great idea!!
not too sure who's going to win to me its a toss up.. i do not think valero is as good as advertised but we'll see if this tournament takes place.. if casamayor was a few years younger id favor him to win, but he is obviously past his prime so its really up in the air

[warp1432]

Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer, who unveiled plans last week for a lightweight tournament to build a challenger for the winner of the Feb. 28 Juan Manuel Marquez-Juan Diaz championship fight, or perhaps a challenger for titlist Nate Campbell, accelerated plans this week.

Schaefer told ESPN.com that because there was little interest from the networks, he's planning an April 4 pay-per-view card featuring several lightweight contenders in either Houston or San Antonio.

Topping the card, Schaefer said, will be Edwin Valero against Antonio Pitalua, who will meet for an interim title. Although Valero signed a promotional contract with Top Rank last week, Golden Boy is involved with Pitalua and Schaefer said he had made a deal with Ricardo Maldonado, the Mexican promoter who won the rights to Valero-Pitalua at a purse bid. Valero, despite difficulties obtaining a license in many jurisdictions in the United States because of a non-boxing head injury suffered years ago, is licensed in Texas.
Edwin Valero

AP Photo/Junji Kurokawa

Edwin Valero, left, will top an April 4 pay-per-view card featuring several lightweight contenders.

Schaefer said two other bouts on which he is working for the card are Michael Katsidis against Jesus Chavez and Jorge Barrios against Carlos Hernandez.

Others who could appear on the card, Schaefer said, are Breidis Prescott and lightweight prospect Adrien Broner.

"We'd also leave the door open for Joel Casamayor if he wants to fight and we can work out the money," he said.

Schaefer said if Valero wins, he probably will go in another direction, given his deal with Top Rank, but "the idea is that these are the best lightweights, and we would see if we can match the winners up with each other in a second round. We'll put these guys in tough and see who will shine."

Katsidis' appearance on the card would come despite talk of a possible ESPN2 fight in April against Julio Diaz, a bout for which Sycuan Ringside Promotions said it had a commitment from both fighters. Sycuan notified ESPN on Wednesday that Katsidis had suffered a cut and cheekbone injury in his Jan. 31 decision victory against Angel Ramirez and wouldn't be ready to fight in April. Schaefer, who promotes Katsidis, said the boxer was not injured and would fight on the PPV card in April, and that nobody had ever come to him about the ESPN fight.

Holy **** that is gay.

[warp1432]

The fact Versus doesn't want it, when it's right up their ally, is gay.

[warp1432]

The match ups are set:

A lightweight tournament involving some of the most-recognizable names in the sport has been finalized by Golden Boy Promotions.

Four bouts matching 135-pound contenders will kick off the tournament – called “Lightweight Lightning” – on April 4 in Texas (in either Austin or San Antonio) on HBO pay-per-view, Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer said.

The matches are: Edwin Valero-Antonio Pitalua (for the interim WBC lightweight title); Michael Katsidis-Jesus Chavez; Jorge Barrios-Carlos Hernandez and Joel Casamayor-Julio Diaz.

The winners then would be matched in semifinal fights, Schaefer said.

“That’s eight fights and seven world champions,” said Schaefer, who included an interim title Katsidis held. “There’s a lot at stake. These guys have a lot to say about who is truly the best lightweight out there.”

Golden Boy has promotional ties to all but one of the fighters, Valero, who is promoted by Top Rank.

However, he thinks it’s likely that Valero would remain part of the tournament. If not, Schaefer said, the winner of the Juan Manuel Marquez-Juan Diaz fight on Feb. 28 could step in.

The most intriguing matchup is Valero (24-0, 24 knockouts) and Pitalua (46-3, 40 KOs).

Valero, who has had trouble getting medical clearance in the U.S. because of a head injury suffered in a motorcycle accident, will be fighting on a major network for the first time.

Also, the Venezuelan-born resident of Las Vegas, and Pitalua, a Colombian who lives in Mexico, have combined to knock out an astounding 64 of 73 opponents. Valero has stopped all 24 of his opponents and Pitalua has KO’d his last 14.

Katsidis (24-2, 20 KOs) bounced back from consecutive losses to Casamayor and Juan Diaz by outpointing Angel Hugo Ramirez last month. Chavez (44-4, 30 KOs) is a former two-time titleholder.

Barrios (47-4-1, 34 KOs) is coming off a KO loss to Rocky Juarez in September. Hernandez (43-7-1, 24 KOs) is 3-4 in his last seven fight but four of them were split decisions – two victories, two losses.

Casamayor (36-4-1, 22 KOs), another former two-time titleholder, is coming off the first KO loss of his career, against Marquez. And Julio Diaz (36-4, 26 KOs) has won two straight since he was stopped in 2007.

Pitalua is the only fighter among the eight who has not held at least an interim major title. All but he and Katsidis have held major belts outright.

[Scott9945]

Valero has never been in the ring with anybody you could even call decent. How the hell is he going to beat Casamayor? I don't care how old or slow Casamayor has gotten the last couple years. No way a guy like Valero beats a guy like Casamayor.

This is 2009 and Casamayor is totally washed up. You can be first in line to bet me if these two end up fighting.

[warp1432]

This is 2009 and Casamayor is totally washed up. You can be first in line to bet me if these two end up fighting.

Casamayor looked pretty damn good against for Katsidis minus a couple of rounds and was competitive with Juan Manuel Marquez. I don't think he's entirely washed up and I'd pick him to beat valero.

[OnePunch]

The match ups are set:

I love this part.....

However, he thinks it’s likely that Valero would remain part of the tournament. If not, Schaefer said, the winner of the Juan Manuel Marquez-Juan Diaz fight on Feb. 28 could step in.


Already trying to find a way to keep the Diaz-Marquez winner away from Nate.

[warp1432]

I love this part.....

However, he thinks it’s likely that Valero would remain part of the tournament. If not, Schaefer said, the winner of the Juan Manuel Marquez-Juan Diaz fight on Feb. 28 could step in.


Already trying to find a way to keep the Diaz-Marquez winner away from Nate.

What you guys should do is for Campbell, or Funeka if he wins (which I think is going to happen personally), unify with Marquez and have the semi finals be on the undercard to the fight and make it a triple header.

Have the loser fill in instead is what they should do.

[-Hyperion-]

If they let valero be part of this **** completely, he is gonna take it.......in fact id say his opening fight is the hardest............if he gets past pitalua, he is gonna win this easily....