In the News - April 1999

Selected links and commentary on Boxing news.

Reggie Johnson skips news conference (April 29, 1999)
Reggie Johnson didn't appear at an event to publicize his upcoming light heavyweight unification bout with Roy Jones because of a scheduling conflict with his training in Houston. No disrespect to Johnson, but as long as he shows up for the fight, Jones will finally be undisputed champion of the division he's dominated since 1996. - AP from CBS SportsLine.com

Foreman testifies before grand jury (April 28, 1999)
George Foreman testified before a federal grand jury investigating whether the IBF sold rankings and arranged fights in return for kickbacks. Regardless of the outcome of the investigation, isn't the answer obvious? Foreman also said he'd like to fight Lennox Lewis. Just what the sport needs -- a beloved ex-champ, now 50, getting pummeled into submission. No thanks. - AP from ESPN.com

Michael Grant: Done at 30? (April 27, 1999)
Undefeated heavyweight Michael Grant says "I won't be fighting long . . . You'd better grab me now and take each experience because by age 30, it's over and done." Grant is currently 26 years old. Let's check in with him again once he turns 30 and see if he's still planning on walking away from the sports and its lucrative paydays. - AP from SportingNews.com

Tyson's ring return on hold (April 26, 1999)
Tyson's manager Shelley Finkel says "There is no definitive timetable for Mike to be back in the ring anytime soon. Our immediate concerns are for him to be back with his family where he belongs." Whatever. Once Tyson is released from prison - perhaps as early as June - expect him to be pushed back into action as soon as possible. - AP from SportingNews.com

Don King loves open scoring (April 25, 1999)
Never one to think before he speaks, Don King says he's convinced that boxing can't survive without open scoring. This opinion comes as no suprise as it came shortly after a King-promoted tripleheader that featured the return of open scoring. King added that "progress demands that we come into the 21st century", whatever that means. - AP from CBS SportsLine.com

Open scoring a dud (April 25, 1999)
The topic of open scoring has proven to be good for generating discussion and debate, but open scoring itself does nothing to enhance the sport of boxing. In fact, based on last night’s championship tripleheader, which experimented with two variations of the controversial method of scoring (and resulted in wins for Keith Holmes, Sharmba Mitchell and Mark Johnson), open scoring actually does more harm than good. - from About.com Boxing Guide

Tapia KOs fill-in in first round (April 25, 1999)
It took Johnny Tapia longer to enter the ring than it did to knock out Alberto Martinez. The first solid punch that Tapia landed, a right hook to the face midway through the first round, was all it took to end a mismatch which never should have taken place -- Martinez was a fill-in for a fill-in and had no business being in the ring with one of the top fighters in the world. - AP from ESPN.com

Pacquiao retains WBC flyweight title (April 24, 1999)
Manny Pacquiao (26-1, 17 KO) of the Philippines retained his WBC flyweight title with a fourth round knockout of Gabriel Mira (19-8-1) of Mexico, finishing off the top-ranked challenger with a right-left combination to the head. Mira also visited the canvas in each of the three previous rounds. - AP from CNN/SI.com

Nevada on open scoring: Just say no (April 24, 1999)
Bob Arum's entirely accurate, though self-serving, admission that he and other promoters have let the sport of boxing erode was not enough to convince Nevada boxing officials to allow open scoring on a trial basis. Arum favors open scoring for Erik Morales' upcoming WBC super bantamweight title defense because the controversy surrounding this method of scoring is likely to generate more attention for his promotion than the fight itself (Morales is expected to overwhelm fill-in opponent Juan Carlos Ramirez). - AP from SportingNews.com

Ali supports boxing reform bill (April 22, 1999)
Muhammad Ali attended a Senate hearing to lend support to Sen. John McCain's boxing reform bill. McCain's bill is designed to apply new standards to promoters, sanctioning organizations and state boxing commissions in an effort to reduce corruption and the exploitation of boxers. Long live the Greatest! - AP from CNN/SI.com

McCullough pulls out of title fight with Morales (April 22, 1999)
Erik Morales has a new opponent for his upcoming title defense after Wayne McCullough injured his back in training and pulled out of the bout. McCullough has been replaced by Mexico's Juan Carlos Ramirez (17-1, 7 KO) of Mexico. Fans hope to see Morales get a shot at Prince Naseem Hamed in the not too distant future. - AP from SportingNews.com

Tyson back in ring in August? (April 22, 1999)
Mike Tyson could be released from a Maryland jail by June on a work-release program and be ready to fight in August. Axel Schulz is likely to be Tyson's first opponent/victim, following in the grand tradition of Peter McNeeley and Frans Botha. - AP from CNN/SI.com

Open scoring to be put to the test (April 22, 1999)
In a kneejerk reaction to the Holyfield-Lewis scoring fiasco, three upcoming championship fights will employ two different systems of open scoring. Unfortunately, both versions of the suddenly fashionable scoring methodology fail to address the underlying problems of incompetence and dishonesty. - AP from SportingNews.com

Tapia to fight fill-in's fill-in (April 21, 1999)
Johnny Tapia is now scheduled to fight Alberto Martinez (35-23-2, 22 KOs). Martinez replaces Sergio Liendo (dropped because he couldn't provide Tapia with tapes of his previous fights), who replaced Marcelo Ackermann (dropped because he couldn't get the proper visa). Tapia needs to quit fooling around with meaningless bouts and fight Mark Johnson. - AP from ESPN.com

Tony Ayala released from prison (April 20, 1999)
Convicted rapist Tony Ayala was released after 16 years behind bars. An undefeated junior middleweight star on the rise at 19, Ayala, now 36, currently weighs 175 pounds. Ayala's release is obviously good for the fighter, potentially interesting for boxing, and hopefully not a mistake for society. - AP from ESPN.com

Manfredy and Mosley prevail (April 18, 1999)
On HBO’s Boxing After Dark, Angel Manfredy used effective bodypunching to score a surprisingly easy unanimous decision victory over Ivan Robinson. In the main event, Sugar Shane Mosley successfully defended his IBF lightweight title with a win over tough John Brown. - from About.com Boxing Guide

Friday night blowouts (April 17, 1999)
On the latest edition of ESPN2’s Friday Night Fights, Zab Judah, Vivian Harris and Vernon Forrest - all top prospects being groomed for future title bouts - scored such easy knockouts as to render the victories virtually meaningless. - from About.com Boxing Guide

Medina defends IBF featherweight title (April 17, 1999)
Manuel Medina successfully defended his championship by taking a nine-round technical split decision over top contender Victor Polo. An accidental head butt by Polo in the final round opened a deep gash under Medina's right eyebrow and forced the bout to go to the cards. The cut may delay a proposed bout with Prince Naseem Hamed. - AP from ESPN.com

Brian Nielsen equals Marciano's mark (April 16, 1999)
Unbeaten heavyweight Brian Nielsen of Denmark knocked out former world champion Tim Witherspoon, now 41, in four rounds to improve to 49-0 with 33 knockouts, equaling Rocky Marciano's 44-year-old record for consecutive victories at the start of a career. After breaking the now cheapened record, perhaps Nielsen, 34, will consider fighting someone good. - AP from CBS SportsLine.com

Holyfield: Punch count vs. Lewis is deceiving (April 16, 1999)
Holyfield, in a hearing before the New York State Senate Committee on Investigations, explained "it's not how many punches you throw, it's effective punches, punches that hurt" and called many of the punches Lewis landed "taps." Both are true, but it's time for the 'Real Deal' to get real. Sad to see the final stages of Holyfield's legendary career tarnished by the scandal and controversy that are the inevitable by-product of his association with Don King. - AP from CNN/SI.com

Jones, Johnson set to unify light heavyweight title (April 15, 1999)
WBC-WBA champion Roy Jones Jr. and IBF champion Reggie Johnson will square off in a 175-pound title unification bout June 5 in Biloxi, Mississippi. While Johnson may not pose a serious threat to Jones, that's more a commentary on Jones' greatness than a knock on Johnson, who's as good as the weak light heavyweight division has to offer. - AP from SportingNews.com

McCall aims to return to ring (April 12, 1999)
Former heavyweight champion Oliver McCall intends to return to boxing when he completes a one-year jail sentence for a battery and assault conviction involving a police officer. Assuming he once again refuses to throw any punches, as he did in his 1997 bout with Lennox Lewis, McCall shouldn't have any trouble lining up potential opponents. - AP from ESPN.com

Legislation could KO King in New York (April 12, 1999)
State Sen. Dean Skelos wants to stop anyone with a felony conviction - and that includes Don King - from promoting boxing matches in New York state. If a murder conviction didn't stop King, then legislation such as this certainly won't. - AP from CBS SportsLine.com

Virgil Hill looking for an opponent (April 12, 1999)
Less than a month from his next scheduled fight, former light heavyweight champion Virgil Hill still doesn't have an opponent. Nevertheless, his manager said the fight is still on. Guess he's confident he still has time to import a glass-chinned cruiserweight so Hill can chalk up an easy victory. - AP from ESPN.com

Prince keeps his crown (April 11, 1999)
Prince Naseem Hamed knocked out Paul Ingle in the 11th round to retain his WBO featherweight title for the 12th time. On the undercard, 40-year-old Thomas "Hit Man" Hearns won the IBO cruiserweight title with a unanimous decision over fellow American Nate Miller. Also, former world champion Junior Jones avoided an upset by knocking out Britain's Richard Evatt in the 11th round to win the vacant IBO featherweight title. - from About.com Boxing Guide

November likely for Holyfield-Lewis II (April 8, 1999)
The Nevada State Athletic Commission received a letter from boxing promoter Don King asking for Nov. 6 and Nov. 13 as possible dates to stage a rematch between Lennox Lewis and Evander Holyfield. Going to be a much tougher sell the second time around. - from ESPN.com

Eugenia Williams testifies that she was not bribed (April 8, 1999)
The boxing judge criticized for her scoring in the Evander Holyfield-Lennox Lewis heavyweight title fight told a federal grand jury no one attempted to sway her decision. Looks like incompetence gets the nod. - AP from SportingNews.com

WBC proposes new scoring system (April 8, 1999)
The WBC proposed a new system to announce judges' points after the fourth and eighth rounds of title fights to avoid controversies like the one that marred the Holyfield-Lewis bout. Nice try, but this is not the answer. - AP from CBS SportsLine.com

Steward in Hamed's corner (April 8, 1999)
Emanuel Steward, one of boxing's most respected trainers, has been hired as a corner coach by Prince Naseem Hamed for his fight Saturday. Mr. Magoo could be in Hamed's corner and he'd still beat Paul Ingle. - AP from ESPN.com

Tyson enters the music business (April 7, 1999)
Tyson, still serving a prison sentence for assaulting two motorists, has signed a deal with DefJam records to create his own label, Tyson Records. Apparently the ears of Evander Holyfield were just an appetizer. - AP from CBS SportsLine.com

Foreman: Boxing full of fools (April 4, 1999)
Big George, subpoenaed to appear before a federal grand jury investigating charges of corruption in boxing's sanctioning organizations, is certain to provide some entertaining testimony. - AP from CNN/SI.com

Friday night knockouts (April 3, 1999)
The latest edition of ESPN2’s Friday Night Fights turned out to be nothing more than an opportunity for Butterbean, Bronco McKart and Diego Corrales to add easy KO victories - over inferior opposition - to their respective ledgers. - from About.com Boxing Guide

Michalczewski retains WBO title (April 3, 1999)
Dariusz Michalczewski (40-0, 33 KO) KO'd Muslim Biarslanov in the seventh round to defend his WBO light heavyweight title for the 15th time. Now when is he going to fight Roy Jones Jr.? - AP from SportingNews.com

Report: Foreman to testify on IBF ranking scams (April 3, 1999)
A sanctioning organization sold rankings and arranged fights in return for kickbacks? Corruption in boxing? Say it isn't so! - AP from CBS SportsLine.com

Morrison pleads guilty to DUI (April 2, 1999)
In his latest run-in with the law, Tommy Morrison now awaits sentencing on his July 16 arrest for driving under the influence of alcohol, driving while his license was revoked and failing to stop at a red light. - AP from CBS SportsLine.com

Chavez keeps on fighting (April 1, 1999)
Fading former champ Julio Cesar Chavez (102-3-2) scored a fourth-round TKO of challenger Verdell Smith (40-25-1), keeping alive whatever hopes he has at another title shot. - AP from ESPN.com

Tapia dumps King, signs with Top Rank (April 1, 1999)
WBA bantamweight Johhny Tapia leaves promoter Don King, citing breach of contract. Does King failing to honor a contract even qualify as news? - AP from ESPN.com

FBI: Skeleton is that of ex-Russian boxer (April 1, 1999)
Dental records confirmed that the human skeleton found buried in the backyard of a home in Livingston, N.J. is that of former USBA cruiserweight champ Sergei Kobozev, missing since Nov. 8, 1995. - from ESPN.com

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