Oscar De La Hoya was too embarrassed to show his face in the weeks following the stunning beating he took from Manny Pacquiao on Dec. 6 in Las Vegas. He has spent his time with his family, mostly in Puerto Rico, pondering what happened that strange night and what the future might hold.
Now, more than two months later, he is willing for the first time to talk publicly - and candidly - about his unusual weight issues leading up to the fight, the beating itself and his plans.
A bit overwhelmed by the decision he faces, he said he's leaning toward retirement but hasn't made up his mind.
De La Hoya said he knew he was in trouble from the opening bell and felt helpless in the seventh and penultimate round, when Pacquiao, too quick and too good, battered him so mercilessly that he had to grab the upper rope to remain upright.
At one point in the seventh, he said, he hoped Pacquiao would knock him out because "I felt like my hands were tied behind my back."
"That's where I thought, 'Go ahead (Manny) and land something strong and hard right on the button so you can knock me out and take me out of my misery.' That's how I felt at the moment."
Going into the fight, such a thing was unthinkable. De La Hoya, a future Hall of Famer who had never taken a bad beating in the ring, was deemed by most experts too big and strong for a fighter who started his career as a flyweight.
However, it became clear that something was amiss when he gained only two pounds between the weigh-in Friday and fight time the next night. Pacquiao at fight time actually outweighed De La Hoya, a one-time middleweight who was fighting at 147 pounds for the first time since 2001.
Most observers speculated that De La Hoya's high-protein, low-carbohydrate diet was the culprit. He was below 147 more than a month before the fight when typically a fighter weighs much more than the limit, tapers down as the fight approaches and then regains some weight after the weigh in.
De La Hoya, 36, remains baffled by the weight issues but said there were times, looking back, when he didn't eat as much as he should have and now wonders whether he consumed too much protein and not enough carbs.
He also likened himself to Roy Jones Jr. and Chris Byrd, two other aging fighters who tried to drop down in weight, were depleted come fight time and were unable to perform as they hoped they would.
"I just don't understand it," said De La Hoya, who refuses to blame fitness trainer Rob Garcia (as some have) or anyone else. "… I almost hit 141 a month before the fight. It was really mind boggling to me. Now, thinking about it, it obviously had something to do with (his performance).
"... I have to admit, I myself wanted to prove to a lot of people I could make the weight, that I could be very light and still feel good and strong. There were times obviously you don't want to eat all your food and want to make sure you come in light the next day and impress your trainer, this and that. I mean, you know, obviously there's no one to blame. I think everyone knows, if you were following this whole story they know I did come in too light. And that was a mistake on my part.
"A fighter should only make weight those five minutes when you're on the scale the night before the fight," he continued. "That's the advantage I gave away, obviously the strength and size. I should've just made the weight in those two minutes I have to be on the scale and then do my bulking up of six or seven pounds."
Still, De La Hoya said he felt fine physically when he stepped into the ring. It was after the opening bell, when the fighters started throwing punches and "I felt like I was walking in quicksand," that he knew it could be a long night.
He said he has watched a tape of the fight more than a dozen times and still can't believe he was so outclassed.
"Once the (opening) bell rang, I believe I threw a left hook to his body," he said. "He made a noise like it really hurt. After that, he was wide open, he was there for me and I didn't do anything. Right there it started feeling like, 'Wow, this doesn't feel the same. I don't feel like myself.' And obviously, when he started landing punches at will, something in my mind happened as if I said to myself, 'You know what? It's just not going to happen.' I felt as if he could just land anything and I couldn't do anything about it.
"I just didn't care. I didn't care if he was hitting me because I couldn't do anything about it. Luckily he doesn't hit hard. Obviously, if he would've hit hard, he would have knocked me out with no problem."
The seventh round was the most dramatic. Pacquiao landed at will the entire fight but raised his level of intensity that round, battering the proud six-weight-class world titleholder against the ropes as the crowd sat stunned.
That's when De La Hoya grabbed the rope and wished to himself that Pacquiao would finish the job.
"I couldn't' throw (punches) back, I just couldn't throw back," he said. "In my mind I can see these openings. Manny Pacquiao is there for the taking but I just couldn't throw back. I don't know, (Pacquiao's trainer) Freddie Roach I'm sure had a crystal ball when he said Oscar can't pull the trigger any more. I guess he was right."
After the eighth round, in which De La Hoya continued to take punishment, it became obvious that he had a decision to make: Do I continue to take a beating in front of a sell-out crowd and millions of viewers on television or do what no fighter ever wants to do: quit.
De La Hoya's decision? He didn't make one.
"I was sitting in my corner," he said. "The fighter always wants to continue; that's the bottom line. A fighter is always proud. I had by brother. I could hear my wife Millie. I can see (Golden Boy Promotions CEO) Richard (Schaefer) with a white towel in my corner I guess ready to throw it in. After seeing all that, I was just irresponsive. When the referee was telling me, telling my corner, 'Can you continue? Can you continue?' I was irresponsive. I was leaving it up to the corner. I guess it was my brother's, everybody's actions, the referee said, 'OK, enough is enough.'
"So that moment I was just frozen. If they would've told me to continue, I would've continued. And I'll continue to take my beating."
De La Hoya had said repeatedly beforehand that "I HAVE to win this fight," implying that to do otherwise against such a naturally small man - even one with incredible talent - would be humiliating.
As we know, that's exactly what happened. He had withstood the strength and fury of such opponents as Ike Quartey, Shane Mosley and Fernando Vargas but was rendered helpless by a man who had fought at 130 pounds only two fights earlier.
And it happened in front of the world. After the opening bell and before the fight ended, he had no place to hide.
"It was devastating," he said. "I'm over it now, but I was devastated. I was embarrassed. The embarrassment was the worst part. It was hard for me the first couple of weeks to show my face anywhere. I just didn't know how people were going to react to me. When you start getting people, random people in the street or playing golf somewhere, and they're telling me, 'Hey champ, you're still the champ. One fight isn't going to make you or break you.' It's like, 'Wow.' It makes you feel good. It doesn't erase everything that happened that night but it gives you back your dignity somewhat.
" … I kept reminding myself how the great fighters ended up taking a beating at the end of their careers. For some reason, that kind of helped, like Sugar Ray Leonard and Muhammad Ali and even Mike Tyson. I started thinking to myself, 'Well, maybe you can squeeze yourself into a great group of fighters like that. And if they went out that way, I don't think it's that bad for you. You might as well keep your head up. And I'm sure people will remember what you accomplished and what you've done.'"
Now what?
De La Hoya said most of those closest to him are urging him to retire. Others, including his father, Joel Sr., are insisting that he wasn't himself that night and should continue fighting at a heavier weight.
He said he's leaning toward retirement but goes back and forth.
"It's been very confusing these past few weeks and these couple of months that've passed by," he said. "It's been very confusing. I haven't been able to come up with a definitive answer. I'm still not set on what I want to do. It's difficult to realize that, on one hand, my career can be over and, on the other, if I wanted to, I can still fight. It's tough. I'm not convinced yet what I want to do. … If it's not for the money, then I do understand fighters doing it for the love of the game and for the passion of it because that's what I'm feeling now. I love boxing, although I'm in a different position because I do have something to fall back on, I do have something to keep me busy and involved in boxing. I'm talking about Golden Boy Promotions. It's a relationship I've been in since I was 5 years old and it's hard to break away from. … I'm going to continue to think about it and hope that one day I'm going to wake up and have that answer. And I'm hoping it's sooner rather than later. ...
"Obviously, my last fight with Manny proved a lot and did a lot of convincing to me that maybe I turned old over night. I never would've thought something like that would've happened to me. But I think that was an indication. ... I'm leaning toward retirement because those closest to me are urging me and telling me t," he continued. "But then you have all the other questions you have to answer. I mean you get all these other responses from other people and you look at what Mosley did. And you look at what (Bernard) Hopkins has done. And you look at Pacquiao's style. And you think about, 'What if you fight a guy like Margarito, who's going to be right in front of me and easy to hit.' It's a lot to think about. And it's funny because once I think I have that final decision something else comes up. 'Well, what if this? What if that?'
"There's a lot to think about."
what a @*%+** !!$ BUM
Jewel Samada/AFP/Getty ImagesA rare thing: De La Hoya lands a punch against Manny Pacquiao in their recent fight.
Pardon Oscar De La Hoya if he just doesn't know what to do. The 10-time titleholder across six weight divisions is really struggling right now.
Should he stay?
Or should he go?
It has been three months since he took the beating of his life, an eighth-round TKO loss to Manny Pacquiao in which the favored De La Hoya was not at all competitive against a smaller man. After the eighth round, his face swollen and his spirit broken, De La Hoya retired on his stool, and many wondered whether it would be the last time they saw him box.
Since a postfight interview with HBO's Larry Merchant in the ring following the bout, De La Hoya has kept a low profile. He didn't attend the news conference after the fight because he was at the hospital, and he came out of his cocoon only briefly in January to help promote a mixed martial arts event with which his company, Golden Boy Promotions, was involved.
Now, De La Hoya is talking again, but he still has no good answers about what he intends to do.
"I'm just not sure if I will fight or I will retire," De La Hoya told ESPN.com in a 40-minute telephone interview. "I am still caught in that. I am still trying to answer that question. It's still confusing.
"One side of me tells me that was not me up in there in that ring when I fought Pacquiao. Another side says, 'Well, Pacquiao beat you, and it's over; you don't have it anymore.' Everywhere I go, people ask when I will fight again. Then some people say, 'Hey, Oscar, you were great, but it's time to hang 'em up. Why keep on getting hurt?' But I am not basing my decision on what people are telling me, including my family. It's going to be based on what I think, and I am still confused."
"
I felt embarrassed. We sometimes order take-out for dinner, and they would bring it to our house and I was embarrassed to answer the door and sign for the check because I didn't want to see anyone.
" -- Oscar De La Hoya on his reaction to his defeat by Manny Pacquiao
Joshua Clottey: "Miguel Cotto Won't Last Twelve Rounds"
IBF welterweight champion Joshua Clottey is planning to go war if WBO champ Miguel Cotto agrees to fight him on June 13 at New York's Madison Square Garden. Clottey, along with Kermit Cintron and WBC champ Andre Berto, are the three fighters in the running to fight Cotto in June. Speaking with Jose Aguirre, Clottey thought Cotto gave a good account of himself last Saturday when he stopped Michael Jennings in five rounds. But, Clottey says the win was easy because Jennings had no intention of fighting, and ran until Cotto caught up with him.
"He did good, but he fought a nobody. Michael Jennings is a nobody. Cotto looked good, but he's going to need a good defense if he fights with me or Shane Mosley. I have to fight with Cotto. To make a good fight, me and Cotto would be the best. Cotto and Cintron is not good. They have to try me and see what I can do. I deserve that shot because we have to unify the belts and we are under the same promotional company," Clottey said.
"There are three fighters Me, Shane Mosley and Cotto. Cotto and Mosley won't happen so I have to be next." Clottey was supposed to fight Cintron on the Cotto-Jennings undercard, but Cintron took more money to move up in weight for a fight with Sergio Martinez. Clottey doesn't believe it was money that motivated Cintron's decision.
"They are scared to fight me. They don't want to go to ring and fight me. They keep giving excuses. I'm number four in the world. I'm surprised they don't want to fight me. This is boxing and the best fight the best. Kermit Cintron is a p*ssy. He don't want to fight me. He keeps running away. I chased him out of 147 and into 154 - that's unbelievable," Clottey said.
Clottey tells BoxingScene that a fight with Cotto will not go the distance. He plans to jump on Cotto early and put him away before the final bell. "A fight with Cotto is not going to last the full twelve rounds. I promise you because I'm going to jump on him and hit him like crazy. I'm not going to stand there and do nothing. I'm not going to put on running shoes like Michael Jennings. I don't put on running shoes, I put on boxing shoes and you always have to stand and fight. I'm going to fight him and he's going to run and he's not going to beat me - no way. I will stop him if they give me the chance. I am 100% sure," Clottey said.
I would like to see Cotto fight Clottey or Berto but not Cintron.
MELLIGEN FACES MEXICAN ON MARCH 7
By Salven L. Lagumbay
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 27 Feb 2009
ALA fighter Mark Jason Melligen is set to see action for the first time in the United States as he takes on Mexican Jose Montano on March 7 in Denver, Colorado.
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Melligen, who now trains at the Roger Mayweather Gym in Las Vegas under Tony Martin, has been working extra hard at the gym in preparation for the fight, and is set to return to the country after the bout.
Melligen worked out at the gym yesterday in Las Vegas, and among those who watched him perform was former pound-for-pound king Floyd Mayweather Jr and ex-world champ Cornelius Boza Edwards.
Tony Martin, in an email to Melligen's chief handler Antonio L. Aldeguer, reported that Mayweather Jr noticed Melligen's talent, and was reportedly overheard telling people that the Filipino fighter "is good."
Martin, who has been patiently assisting and taking care of Melligen in his stay in Las Vegas for almost three months now, believes that the Filipino fighter has what it takes to win convincingly in his first fight under the Top Rank banner.
Top photo: Mark Jason Melligen (L) poses with Floyd Mayweather, Jr. at Mayweather Gym in Las Vegas Wednesday.
Melligen (2nd from left) spars at the Mayweather Gym in Las Vegas Wednesday as former world champion Cornelius Boza Edwards (R), Floyd Mayweather, Jr. (2nd from right) and Tony Martin (partly hidden) look on.
just wanted to share this.. thats my boy and former sparring partner right there next to PBFHe was suppose to fight Victor Ortiz during the Pac/DLH undercard but we allagreed he was too green. He's getting good exposure now under Roger Mayweather
[h1]Champions Marquez, John take to the road[/h1]
By Dan Rafael
ESPN.com
(Archive)
Updated: February 27, 2009, 11:02 AM ET
AP Photo/Eric Jamison
Road warriors: Chris John and Juan Manuel Marquez, left, step into enemy territory to face Rocky Juarez and Juan Diaz on Saturday.
[h3]Champions embrace road games[/h3]
HOUSTON -- Sports teams battle throughout their seasons not only to make it to the postseason, but also to secure home-field advantage. In any sport, it's viewed as a significant benefit. The fans are on your side, the setting is familiar, and sometimes a close call just might go your way.
It's no different in boxing, where champions usually dictate the site of a fight. But on Saturday night (HBO, 10 ET) a pair of them will enter the lion's den of the Toyota Center to defend their crowns against two Houston native sons, knowing how cruel the results can be when you're on enemy turf.
Although lightweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez (49-4-1, 36 KOs) will have many Mexican fans cheering him on in the highly anticipated main event, the expected sellout crowd of about 15,000 undoubtedly will be cheering louder for former titleholder Juan Diaz (34-1, 17 KOs), who has aspirations to one day be Houston's mayor.
And featherweight titleholder Chris John (42-0-1, 22 KOs), making his American debut, has made the long trip from Indonesia to defend his title for the 11th time in the hometown of challenger Rocky Juarez (28-4, 20 KOs).
Both titleholders understand the difficulties of the task at hand as much as the challengers relish the opportunity to win in front of family and friends.
Marquez claimed the title in his 135-pound debut in September by knocking out Joel Casamayor in the 11th round, but instead of a victory-lap first defense, he agreed to face Diaz, the most difficult opponent available -- and to fight in Diaz's hometown.
Courtesy HBO Sports
By fighting at home in Houston, challenger Juan Diaz will have an advantage against Juan Manuel Marquez.
An old pro at 35, Marquez, who has won titles in three divisions, said he feels comfortable fighting in Diaz's backyard.
"This is like every fight," he said. "I always prepare very well and this isn't an exception. I feel calm and have no worries whatsoever. Part of the deal is I would take the fight in Houston as long as we had neutral officials and my promoter, Golden Boy, did its job. I am satisfied with the judges as long as they score what they see in the ring."
Said Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer, who also promotes Diaz and Juarez: "When we made the fight, it was important for us that there is fair and proper judging. We talked to the commission about it to make sure it was even for both guys. There are a tremendous amount of Mexican fans which I know have purchased tickets and are coming from Mexico, where Marquez is undoubtedly the No. 1 fighter."
Marquez does have a bitter experience of traveling to his opponent's hometown, one he says he's learned from.
In March 2006, when Marquez was a featherweight, he went to Indonesia to face John in a title bout and lost a decision that many viewed as a hometown gift for John.
"One of the most important things is to be strong mentally. That's what I learned from that experience. I learned a lot," said Marquez, who would like a third bout with Manny Pacquiao but could also find himself in a rematch with John. "Be strong mentally, be strong physically and win convincingly and score convincingly."
AP Photo
Juan Manuel Marquez, left, knows a thing or two about hometown decisions.
This will be the second fight in row for Diaz, 25, at home and the 13th fight of his career in Texas. So while he has often had the comforts of home when he fights, he respects Marquez for coming to his town.
"He's a man on a mission," Diaz said. "Obviously, we all know how unhappy he was from his two fights with Pacquiao [a disputed draw and split decision]. It looks like he doesn't care about where and who he fights. It shows me a lot because he's a great fighter and I respect him a lot for coming here to Houston and fighting me. Obviously, he knows he has a challenge in front of him. He knows it will be a tough fight and I respect him for coming here and fighting me."
By the same token, Diaz is the kind of fighter who embraces fighting at home rather than feeling pressure because of it.
"I definitely embrace it. Fighting here in Houston, I feel comfortable," he said. "It's where I've been training. I don't have to go anywhere. I love it because I know the fans will be behind me and pushing me. If I get into some tough rounds and the crowd starts to chant my name it will push me to go forward and not lose the fight."
Said Ronnie Shields, who trains Diaz and Juarez, "We are confident that Diaz can and will pull out the win here in Houston. Marquez has been around for a long time and fought the best. We are happy he is not ducking Diaz and he is going to come here to fight in Houston in our hometown. We realize that just because we are in our hometown, we don't get any special treatment and Juan knows he has to be prepared."
John has fought mainly in Indonesia, although has gone on the road to Australia and Japan for title defenses. He's wanted to come to America for a big fight for the past few years and when the opportunity to face Juarez presented itself, he embraced it. So excited to be in America to fight -- regardless of if it is in Juarez's hometown -- that he has been in Houston for about a month on his own dime training and getting used to his surroundings.
"I have had good preparation and I believe everything will be fair," John said. "It doesn't matter where I fight. I am pleased to be in America to show the fans here that I am a good fighter."
Juarez will be fighting for a world title for the fifth time, having previously lost a featherweight title bout to Humberto Soto and three junior lightweight title bouts [one to Marquez and two to Marco Antonio Barrera].
Juarez knows this may his last shot at a world title and, like Diaz, he is happy to be at home.
"I'm motivated because I'm fighting for a world title, but being at home is even greater motivation," said Juarez, noting that he turned down more money to challenge titleholder Steven Luevano on neutral ground in Puerto Rico in April to instead face John in Houston. "Winning a title here in Houston is always something I've dreamed of, but when we're fighting I won't be thinking about where we are fighting. I'll just be trying to win."
[h3]Rodriguez relieved[/h3]
When welterweight Oscar Diaz was released from a San Antonio hospital this week seven months after suffering a brain injury during an 11th-round TKO loss to Delvin Rodriguez in an ESPN2-televised fight, the boxing word breathed a sigh of relief. Diaz, 26, spent two months in a coma after the injury and has finally been released to a rehabilitation facility, where his doctor believes that in time Diaz will be able to walk and talk again.
Emily Harney/Fightwireimages.com
Delvin Rodriguez can breathe a sigh of relief now that Oscar Diaz is out of the hospital.
Nobody was more relieved by the news than Rodriguez, who has kept tabs on Diaz since their fight.
"There isn't a day that goes by that I don't think about Oscar," Rodriguez said. "He is a great boxer and more importantly a great human being. I will always keep Oscar and his family in my thoughts and prayers."
Rodriguez, who fought to a draw with Isaac Hlatshwayo in South Africa in a welterweight title eliminator in November, will have his second fight since Diaz's injury on March 6. Rodriguez headlines on ESPN2's "Friday Night Fights" against Shamone Alvarez in a title eliminator at the Mohegan Sun resort in Connecticut.
Dan Rafael is the boxing writer for ESPN.com.
52 comments on "Champions Marquez, John take to the road"
[h4]QUICK HITS[/h4]
Dawson
• The Chad Dawson-Antonio Tarver light heavyweight title rematch has been rescheduled for May 9 (HBO) at the Hard Rock resort in Las Vegas, promoter Gary Shaw told ESPN.com. They were supposed to meet March 14, but Dawson, who outpointed Tarver in October, injured his right hand training Feb. 17. "Chad's hand is progressing as the doctor thought it would and he will be begin training again next week. It's very good news," Shaw said.
Arreola
• Heavyweight contender Cris Arreola (26-0, 23 KOs) will open the April 11 Paul Williams-Winky Wright HBO card at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, promoter Dan Goossen told ESPN.com. Arreola had been a possible opponent for heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko in June, but Goossen said talks with the Klitschko camp have ended. While Klitschko continues to iron out a deal with his first choice, David Haye, Arreola likely will face Jameel McCline, who has challenged for versions of the title four times. Goossen wouldn't confirm McCline (39-9-3, 23 KOs) as the opponent, but McCline has accepted the fight and been approved by HBO, a McCline camp member told ESPN.com. HBO previously rejected Hasim Rahman and Donnell Holmes and would have accepted Michael Grant, but he passed on the fight.
Cotto
• Miguel Cotto's first defense of the vacant welterweight title he won last week will be June 13 at New York's Madison Square Garden, Top Rank's Bob Arum told ESPN.com.
Cotto stopped Michael Jennings in five lopsided rounds to win a belt in his first bout since suffering his only loss last summer to Antonio Margarito. After the Jennings fight, Arum said Cotto gave him the thumbs up to book the arena for June 13, the eve of the annual Puerto Rican Day parade in New York. Arum said he and Garden executive Joel Fisher agreed on the date even though Cotto doesn't have an opponent yet. Arum has presented HBO and Showtime a list of opponents and asked for their bids. Cotto's opponent will likely be Joshua Clottey, Andre Berto or Kermit Cintron. Beyond June, Arum still has designs on a Margarito-Cotto rematch, even though Margarito's license was revoked in California for trying to use loaded hand wraps in his fight with Shane Mosley in January. "If Margarito's attorneys are successful in overturning it, I would want to do a Cotto-Margarito rematch in the fall. If not, maybe we'll do a Cotto-Mosley rematch. Mosley said he doesn't want to fight Cotto in New York in June and I respect that. So we could do it in the fall if there's no Margarito rematch. And then there's the Ricky Hatton-Manny Pacquiao winner."
Peterson
• It's not a done deal yet, but when Tim Bradley and Kendall Holt meet to unify junior welterweight belts April 4 (Showtime) in Montreal, the televised undercard fight likely will match Lamont Peterson (26-0, 12 KOs) and France's Willy Blain (20-0, 3 KOs) for a vacant interim junior welterweight belt, Arum told ESPN.com. Arum said Showtime has signed off on the fight and he was finalizing details with Blain's handlers.
Miranda
• Edison Miranda (31-3, 27 KOs), the brash talking, power puncher from Colombia, continues his comeback in the wake of last summer's fourth-round knockout loss to Arthur Abraham in a super middleweight bout. Miranda, who won his comeback fight Jan. 14 by stopping Manuel Esparza in three rounds, is headed for London to face Joey Vargas March 20, hoping and impressive performance will help him land a shot at super middleweight titlist Carl Froch of England. "I have seen him fight. He is a good fighter, but he hasn't faced anyone who can hit like I can," Miranda said. "I wish him luck against Jermain Taylor, but win or lose, I want to get him in the ring. It would be an entertaining fight, and that is what I want to give my fans. Everybody knows when Edison Miranda fights someone is getting knocked out. This time it would be Carl Froch that would end up hanging in the ropes. … Someone tell Carl Froch to bring a net to the fight. I will need him to catch my opponent before he crashes into the ringside seats."
Soto
• Top Rank tinkered with its schedule this week, shifting the rematch between interim junior flyweight titleholder Cesar Canchila and Giovani Segura to the main event of a March 14 Azteca America card in Mexicali, Mexico. The bout was originally slated for Top Rank's "Tijuana Thunder" pay-per-view card March 28, but a fifth fight would not fit on the televised part of the show, so the fight was moved. The announced lineup for the pay-per-view looks like this: junior middleweight Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.-Luciano Cuello in the main event; junior lightweight titlist Humberto Soto defending against Antonio Davis; Fernando Montiel, a junior bantamweight titlist moving up in weight, facing Diego Silva for a vacant interim bantamweight title; and former lightweight champ Jose Luis Castillo facing Antonio Diaz in a welterweight fight.
Lopez
• Top Rank also officially announced that Juan Manuel Lopez's April 25 fight in Bayamon, Puerto Rico, which will headline HBO's "Boxing After Dark," was set. Lopez (24-0, 22 KOs) will defend his junior featherweight title against bantamweight titlist Gerry Penalosa (54-6-2, 36 KOs) of the Philippines. The fight has been in the works for more than a month. "It's a great opportunity for me fighting a great champion like Gerry Penalosa here in Puerto Rico in what should be a great fight," Lopez said. "I know Penalosa is a good fighter and has plenty of experience, but I know that I'm ready for this type of challenge. I know what is at stake for my career. It's a big fight in front of my fans and on HBO. I want to be the first to knock him out. I know people are still not sure about me, but a win against Penalosa will go a long way to showing them how good I can be."
Dirrell
• Super middleweight contender Andre Dirrell (17-0, 12 KOs), who returns to headline Showtime's "ShoBox" on March 28, will face David Banks (18-4-1, 3 KOs) of "The Contender" fame, Dirrell promoter Gary Shaw told ESPN.com. Banks has won three in a row since Edison Miranda smashed him in the third round in January 2008 for the ESPN.com knockout of the year. Junior middleweight Ronald Hearns (21-0, 17 KOs) opens the show against Harry Joe Yorgey (21-0-1, 9 KOs).
Povetkin
• Heavyweight Alexander Povetkin's April 4 fight in Germany against 2004 U.S. Olympian Jason Estrada (15-1, 3 KOs) was made official. Povetkin (16-0, 12 KOs) is the mandatory challenger for unified heavyweight titleholder Wladimir Klitschko, so he must win to preserve his expected fall shot at the title. Povetkin was supposed to face Klitschko in December, but an injury forced him to withdraw. The Estrada fight is supposed to be a stay busy fight for the 2004 Russian Olympic gold medalist. "This time frame allows us to give Alexander a tough fight so that he can keep his rhythm," Sauerland Event's Chris Meyer said. "By picking Jason Estrada we have chosen a strong opponent. But that is exactly what Alexander had asked us to do because easy fights do not help him at all."
[h4]QUOTABLE[/h4]
Bradley
"He is talking so much trash and he has never faced a guy like me. He lost twice and he's been down eight times. In his [second] fight with [Ricardo] Torres he went down twice before he knocked Torres out with a head butt. He has a suspect chin and I will take it to him. Holt is lucky Torres did not make weight [for their planned third fight in December] because I think he would have gotten knocked out." -- Junior welterweight titlist Tim Bradley, at the recent news conference to announce his unification bout with Kendall Holt, which takes place April 4 (Showtime) in Montreal
[h4]QUOTABLE[/h4]
Holt
"Bradley is a nice fighter but has no experience, not enough to beat me. He better hope and pray that he will win this fight. He said I have been down, but you can't measure a fighter by his undefeated record. Champions are the ones that find a way to get off the canvas, fight and win. His '0' has got to go." -- Holt, responding to Bradley's comments at the news conference announcing their unification fight
