Monte Barrett Misunderstood --"Altercation' Before His Fight With Rahman Was Caused By Out of Control Baby Mother, Not His Wife By MICHAEL MARLEY - EXECUTIVE EDITOR You can spend 15 minutes with heavyweight contender Monte Barrett and see that he is not an excuse maker.
Barrett has won 31 pro bouts and lost four and he's not the kind of weakling who grabs a mental crutch when he loses a fight. But Barrett, still on his publicity tour to hype his October 7 HBO challenge against WBA champ Nickolai Valuev, wants to set the public record straight about some remarks he made that were obviously misconstrued at Wednesday's New York press conference.
The boxer, who comes from the same rough South Jamaica, Queens, streets that produced 50 Cent and other rap stars, was talking about he was mentally distracted on August 13 of last year when he dropped a 12-round decision for the WBC title to Hasim Rahman. One huge distraction which Barrett mentioned from the dais at the Firebird Russian restaurant in midtown was an altercation initiated at his hotel on fight day by an ex-girlfriend who has a child by the boxer. "It was the baby mother," Barrrett said Thursday in a phone call to boxing's hottest and fastest-growing web site, FNN. if the New York Times is "the newspaper of record," then I guess FNN is becoming the boxing news web site of record. "Please correct the record on that for me, Mike. It had nothing to do with my wife. It was the ex-girlfriend who showed up at my hotel and caused such a bad scene that security had to be called," Barrett said. Barrett was also dealing with a second personal drama on fight day. He had just learned his sister had been stabbed. "I'm not making any excuse but facts are facts," Barrett said. "I don't want anyone thinking I said my wife caused any problem because that is not true. My wife is totally supportive of me." OK Monte, consider the record set straight. Now get back to the gym to prep for climbing that 7-foot, 325-pound man mountain named Valuev.

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Boxeo TELEMUNDO Invades Colorado on Friday September 22

Miami, Florida - All Star Boxing, Inc "The New Generation", Tuto Zabala Jr, Poor Boys Pro Boxing and Deportes TELEMUNDO will join forces to bring another exciting card of the popular series of Boxeo TELEMUNDO to the Mile High Event Center (Greyhound Park) in Commerce City, Colorado on Friday September 22, 2006.

In the main event former Olympian Athens 2004 and current WBC Latin Jr. Flyweight Champion and Carlos "El Olimpico" Tamara of Sincelejo, Colombia fighting out of Miami will face former WBO Latin Champion Gerardo "El Diablito" Verde Mexico City, Mexico in a bout schedule for 12 rounds with the WBC & WBO Latin Jr. Flyweight Titles at stake.

Tamara who is now ranked #10 WBO, #10 WBA and #17 WBC, brings an unbeaten record of 12-0-9 KO's and Verde ranked #19 WBC and who on July of 2005 gave WBO Miniflyweight Champion Ivan Calderon all he could handle, losing a close decision, brings a record of 14-3-11 KO's.

Five more bouts are schedule with the pro debut of Wilfredo Vazquez, Jr. son of three times WBA World Champion Wilfrredo Vazquez of Bayamon, Puerto Rico, Frank "The Tank" Martinez of Nunn, CO, Denver Heavyweight Kenny Lemos, the pro debut of Hugo "Baby Bull" Flores of Denver and undefeated Carlos Claudio of Puerto Rico.

Doors open at 7:00 PM and first bout is at 7:30 PM. Tickets are $50.00 VIP Table seating, $35.00 Ringside, $25.00 General Admission and could be purchase by calling Jim Smith's Poor Boys Pro Boxing @ (303) 450-9763. Telemundo will televise the main event live at 11:30 PM ET. The Mile High Event Center (Greyhound Park) is located on 64th & Dhalia St. in Commerce City, Colorado.

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Johnson challenges Woods

Johnson challenges Woods to a bet of $50,000 on this weekends
IBF Title fight, Woods refuses.

Hollywood, FL, August 31 - As things heat up for the IBF Light Heavyweight Title fight between Glen Johnson and Clinton Woods, Johnson confronts Woods at today's press conference in Bolton, England regarding comments that Woods apparently made in reference to knocking Johnson out in the sixth round of their upcoming contest.

"I bet you $50,000 that you don't beat me," said Johnson

Woods challenged Johnson as to where and when he saw such a statement and
refused to take the bet. The fight which is promoted by Frank Warren Sports Networks and Seminole Warriors Boxing, takes place at the Bolton Arena in Bolton, England this Saturday, September 2nd. This is the third fight between Johnson and Woods. Johnson who previously vacated the belt to step up and fight Antonio Tarver has returned to take back what is rightfully his, the IBF Light Heavyweight World Title.

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Toney vs. Peter's Final War Of Words Between Goossen And Gotzev

By Fiona Manning - West Coast Bureau Chief The final press conference for "No Risk, No Reward" heavyweights James Toney and Samuel Peter predictably devolved into a war of words today but surprisingly, not between the two fighters.
	No, it was Peter's loud-mouthed manager Ivaylo Gotzev who ignored the memo everybody else apparently got. He took the microphone and said that Saturday night's highly-anticipated fight between Peter and Toney would never have happened if promoter Dan Goossen had his way. Gotzev claims that Goossen told him that a fight with Peter would be impossible to make, that Toney wouldn't take the fight. He was whipping himself up into quite a rant when Goossen interrupted, shouting over him, "That's not true. Don't lie! I don't want a bunch of lies out there!"
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FNN Daily Cartoon

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Boxing Quotes Of The Week

King Says Richard Simmons Should "Stick To His Exercising' And Leave Governance To Bush

Q and A by NEIL CAVUTO on his program on Fox TV this week with DON KING

CAVUTO: But they say -- and the Democrats -- we're talking about John Kerry, what he said -- post-Katrina, he's got a bum rap, slow to respond -- just heard Richard Simmons saying the money's still not getting there. What do you think?

KING: Well, I think that, you know, you have to take it for what it's really worth. You know, John Kerry, you know, I love the man. He's a great American, but he's a flip-flopper. So, when you're flip-flopping all the time, you don't know what stand he's really taking. So, we can disregard that.

Now, Richard Simmons is one of the greatest exercisers in the world. I adore him, his energy, his vitality to be able to exercise. But, in running a country, and knowing all the different idiosyncrasies and appealing to all the people, such as George Bush is doing, Richard should stick with the exercising. Know what I mean?

"My choice now is Floyd. But if it gets complicated then I have Felix because really wants that fight. I saw it in his eyes. The tension was in the air.''

OSCAR DE LA HOYA, hinting broadly that if Floyd Mayweather asks to get paid properly that Oscar's May 5, 2007, Farewell Fight will pair him against Tito Trinindad.

"The most important thing to know about Don King is that he walks in with the winner and he walks out with the winner. As long as you know that, you're good to go."

DKP's heavyweight contender MONTE BARRETT

"I think a rematch with Austin is not necessary because our point was proven, but the world of boxing is so volatile in terms of change that you never know what will happen in the future. You have Briggs signing with King for a possible Lyakhovich fight, and that might be Sergei’s first serious paycheck.

BORIS GRINBERG, handler of heavyweight Sultan Ibragimov.

I'm more deserving than Shannon Briggs. I'm the highest rated contender in the world. I don't think he ran from Shannon Briggs. I think the deal just fell apart. People are more excited about me fighting Klitshcko, than they are about Shannon Briggs fighting Klitschko."

Heavyweight contender CALVIN BROCK
speaking to Rick Reeno, boxinscene.com

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See the Giant in Los Angeles


Don King, Wilfried Sauerland and Nikolai "Giant Russian" Valuev will be at the Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles on Saturday to host a press conference prior to attending the heavyweight showdown between James "Lights Out" Toney and Samuel "Nigerian Nightmare" Peter at the Staples Center. Don King introduced The Giant to the Big Apple as only he can on Wednesday. After a quick visit to the Fox and Friends morning show, King and Valuev were joined for breakfast by Russian Ambassador to the United Nations Vitaly Churkin. King then whisked The Giant to Trump Tower to introduce him to his old friend Donald Trump inside his penthouse office.
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"Dinamita" Is Now Golden

GOLDEN BOY PROMOTIONS INKS THREE-TIME WORLD CHAMPION JUAN MANUEL MARQUEZ
LOS ANGELES, August 26 - Long regarded as one of boxing's best, pound for pound, Interim WBO featherweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez has now joined the star-studded roster of Golden Boy Promotions and will once again be able to display his explosive talent worldwide. "We are incredibly excited to work with a great fighter like Juan Manuel Marquez," said Oscar De La Hoya, President of Golden Boy Promotions.
"He is one of the most dangerous fighters in the world and a serious threat to any fighter from 126 to 130 pounds. Being able to act as his promoter is an honor, and the boxing world should gear up for some exciting things from "Dinamita."" "This is an exciting day for Juan Manuel Marquez" said manager trainer Nacho Beristain. "We have watched Juan work tirelessly to get to where he is at and we feel that with him getting the opportunity to have Golden Boy Promotions as a promoter is a natural progression for him - this union makes sense." Said Jaime Quintana, President of Romanza Boxing and Juan Manuel Marquez's co-promoter: "Golden Boy Promotions is today the Gold Standard for boxing promotions. I am looking forward to working with the Golden Boy Team and working together to bring the biggest fights to Juan Manuel Marquez." Marquez, 45-3-1 with 34 knockouts, is known for his explosive counterpunching power and his epic battle against Manny "Pac Man" Pacquiao in 2004, a Fight of The Year candidate in which he defended his IBF and WBA titles with a razor-close 12 round draw. Earlier this month, Marquez defeated Terdsak "The Pit Bull" Jandaeng by a seventh round TKO to add the WBO Title to his impressive resume. Juan Manuel Marquez will be back in the ring later this year. Information will be release as it becomes available. For more information on Golden Boy Promotions, please visit our website at www.goldenboypromotions.com

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The Giant in NYC


	Don King introduced The Giant to the Big Apple as only he can on Wednesday. After a quick visit to the Fox and Friends morning show, King and Valuev were joined for breakfast by Russian Ambassador to the United Nations Vitaly Churkin. King then whisked The Giant to Trump Tower to introduce him to his old friend Donald Trump inside his penthouse office.
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The "Russian Giant" has been landing


On Monday Nikolai Valuev arrived at New York in order to have a one-week promotion tour through the USA. From the airport Berlin-Tegel he flew directly to "Big Apple" - an easy going flight was behind the heavyweight champion who traveled together with his manager Wilfried Sauerland and his wife Jochi Sauerland.
9 hours flying time crossing the herring pond went by very quickly because Valuev visibly enjoyed the business class´ comforts. He liked being spoiled before the forthcoming strain. In keeping with his station things went on: Alan Hopper, promoter Don King's PR boss, was already waiting for the Russian guest at JFK airport with a huge black stretch limousine. But Valuev had a lot on his plate because of the first autograph hunters waiting for him at the airport. Team Sauerland moved into the famous five-star hotel "Michelangelo" situated between the 6th and the 7th street. Afterwards they visited the Rockefeller center and went on an extensive shopping spree. Finally Valuev made a strike at "Rochester Big and Tall". "Mostly it's not easy to find clothes at my size that fit", says the 2.13 meters tall giant from St. Petersburg who has been invited by Don King to eat at his favorite Italian restaurant. Relaxed lull before the storm.

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Michael Marley Column - Toro, Toro, Toro, Harder They Fall Remake

Valuev's Got 'An Iron Jaw And A Cast Iron Stomach. Not A Man Alive Can Hurt Him.'
	Eddie Willis tells Toro to throw his fight with Buddy Brannen to avoid getting hurt] Toro Moreno: I don't know, I don't know. What would people think of me? Eddie Willis: What do you care what a bunch of bloodthirsty, screaming people think of you? Did you ever get a look at their faces? They pay a few lousy bucks hoping to see a man get killed. To hell with them! Think of yourself. Get your money and get out of this rotten business. THE HARDER THEY FALL, 1956
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Site Being Sought For November 4

Another Worldwide FNN Exclusive Report Briggs To Challenge 'White Wolf' Liakhovich On Showtime For WBO Crown; Venue Needed By MICHAEL MARLEY - EXECUTIVE EDITOR
There will be two heavyweight title bouts held in the first two weeks of November. While HBO forges ahead with IBF champ Wladimir Klitschko's November 11 title defense against unbeaten but untested Calvin Brock on HBO (Madison Square Garden), cable rival Showtime has agreed to terms with promoter Don King for a November 4 title defense by WBO champion Sergei 'White Wolf' Liakhovich against hard-punching Shannon Briggs.
Showtime will begin hyping Liakhovich-Briggs on its James Toney-Samuel Peter telecast from LA Saturday night. But remember where ya heard it first, last and always, FNN! "I respect Shannon as a boxer," New Yorker Monte Barrett said today at the Midtown press conference to hype his October 7 challenge against WBA king Nickolay Valuev. "If Shannon gets in top shape, he can win this fight. Wouldn't that be something, me and Shannon both champs and then we fight in Yankee Stadium or Shea Stadium. That would break all the New York records because it would be Brooklyn (Briggs) against South Jamaica, Queens." As you soap opera lovers know, Briggs waited 10 weeks for Klitschko adviser Shelly Finkel to deliver a promised bout contract for Briggs to challenge Klitschko. When it never came and Finkel played stall ball all the while romancing Brock and Liakhovich on the side, Team Briggs bolted and shockingly inked a deal with King. In stiffing Team Briggs, Finkel really shafted his "21-year-friend" promoter Cedric Kushner, leaving Kushner high and dry. It is believed that there will be litigation between several of the parties in the Klitschko-Briggs negotiating mess. Meanwhile, Briggs hopes to dethrone Liakhovich who won the WBO version title with a stirring decision victory over Lamon Brewster. "They need a site for Liakhovich-Briggs," a source familiar with the negotiations said. "They wanted to go in New York but every suitable venue is booked up, including the Garden and the Javits Center. King still has licensing problems in Atlantic City so they will look to Foxwoods and to Mohegan Sun. If there is not enough money in Connecticut, it is possible that they will look elsewhere in the Northeast. King will find a home for the event, trust me."

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Boxing Quote of the Day - August 30th

DK, The Rackets Man, Talks about Racquets

Asked if he wields a racket once in a while, King said: "Do I play tennis?
Man, I had one of the baddest overhead rights of anyone."

Does he have any ideas for how to better promote tennis?

"I just wouldn't single out tennis," King said. "I could better promote anything."

ASSOCIATED PRESS, reporting on Don King bringing Nickolay Valuev to the US Open.

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Greenberg Signs With Warriors Boxing

'Nice Jewish Boy' Greenberg Signs Promo Deal With Warriors Boxing; Is He A Menacing Mensch?
	Leon Margules must be proud. He finally found a nice Jewish boy to fight under the Warriors Boxing banner. And he is an undefeated heavyweight no less. Not only is he a Hebrew hopeful, he comes straight from Tel Aviv by way of London. It must be bagels and cream cheese, maybe a bit lox, all around at Warriors Boxing HQs today. A Jewish heavyweight to sell tickets in South Florida? You just hope the guy's a real mensch.
Undefeated heavyweight prospect Roman Greenberg has a signed a two-year eight fight promotional deal with Florida based promoters Warriors Boxing. The 24 year-old London based Russian, who fights next in Monte Carlo, Monaco on November 4, is delighted with the deal and said: "I'm very pleased to have signed this deal with Warriors," said Greenberg. "They are up and coming promoters. “They have a strong stable of fighters and I'm very happy to be fighting under their promotional banner." Greenberg, 22-0-(15), faces an as yet unnamed opponent in Monte Carlo before making his debut for Warriors at the Hard Rock Hotel in Hollywood, Florida on December 1. Greenberg stands 6-3 and weighed 227 pounds in his last fight.

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Michael Marley Boxing Blog August 30th

Baldomir No Walk In (Central) Park HBO Sets Mayweather-Baldy PC, Tavern On The Green, September 6
Thoughts on another late August rainy afternoon in New York: If Carlos Baldomir, who upset Zab Judah and then Arturo Gatti, beats Floyd Mayweather on November 4, should we forget about "Fighter Of The Year" and just declare the Argentine strongman "Fighter Of The Decade?" Guess that would make Javier "Viva" Zapata "Manager Of The Year Or Decade." And thus it follows that octogenarian trainer Professor Amilcar Brusca should be crowned "Trainer Of The Century."
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Latest Contender Episode

Forbes Advances In Tight One,. Sends Acevedo Home

Being a former world champion, Stevie Forbes has a resume that his competitors on "The Contender" cannot match. As if to underline his experience and former IBF junior lightweight title status, Forbes won a five-round split decision over tough-as-nails New Yorker Nick Acevedo on Tuesday night's episode. Forbes has thus clinched a place in the semifinals while Acevedo literally "hangs up his gloves" and goes home.

California commission judges Marty Denkin and Max DeLuca saw it the same, 48-47 for Forbes while the minority view was held by judge Lou Moret who had Acevedo nipping it by 48-47.

This year's champ, who will be crowned before a huge crowd at the Staples Center in LA on September 26, will take a prize of $500,000.

Last year's champion, Sergio "Latin Snake" Mora, earned $1 million when the show was televised on NBC.

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Commander 'Vander Got No Time For Chumps

Yet Another FNN Intergalactic Exclusive: DiBella Hopes That His Man, Fast Fres Oquendo Will Get The Nod As Holyfield's Next Opponent
	Promoter Lou DiBella is getting busy in the big boys division. As reported exclusively on FNN tonight, DiBella has just inked heavyweight puncher Eric "Stone Kold" Kirkland to an exclusive promotional contract. Now DiBella is on the verge of landing a major fight for his Puerto Rican veteran and two-time world title challenger "Fast Fres" Oquendo.
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Live Wire Impresario DiBella Inks 'Stone Kold" Kirkland

Yet Another FightNightNews Exclusive

By MICHAEL MARLEY - EXECUTIVE EDITOR

REMEMBER WHERE YA HEARD IT FIRST! 12:32 AM

Live wire promoter Lou DiBella is bubbling over with excitement about his signing of heavyweight prospect Eric "Stone Kold" Kirkland to an exclusive promotional contract.

"I am excited and delighted," DiBella told FNN late Tuesday night in Manhattan. "This is a real prospect, 18-2 with 14 KOs whose only losses were in the 10th round to top-flight heavyweights Monte Barrett and Robert Wiggins.

This 28-year-old southpaw from Selden, Long Island, can make some big noise and can, in fact, become a heavyweight champion. He is a real banger, an exciting fighter to watch. The sky is the limit now for Eric."

Kirkland, who has a 76 1/2 reach, will now get the DiBella "treatment," which means the right dates, the right opponents and the right venues in which to display his talents.

"I really believe that Eric is a boxing diamond," DiBella said. "He's got to go in the ring and deliver and let his ability shine. But there is no doubt that Eric Kirkland is a diamond in the rough. And I am the diamond polisher."

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Stick and Move - The Legend of the Venezuelan Little Big Man

By RICARDO LOIS - FightNightNews Staff Writer
Do you remember the world before you subscribed to cable television and the internet? I sure do. Growing up in Los Angeles during the mid 1980's, while cable television did exist, it did not exist in the mind, or pocket books, or my mother and father. I was a devoted sports fan, but had no idea what many athletes looked like, unless they graced the free television networks - A.B.C., N.BC. C.B.S. - or if they graced the L.A. Times Sports page.
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Manager Gittelsohn Fires Back At Fiona

Boxer Earned $250,000 Purse In Germany Manager Gittelsohn Fires Back At Fiona; Says Writer Got Facts Wrong Re Ikeke
	(EDITOR'S NOTE: Although he now lives on the Left Coast, I still consider Gary Gittelsohn a friend and a New Yorker. He is a man of great integrity whose handling of various boxers, including world champion Junior Jones, has been nothing short of brilliant. Never, ever have I heard any allegation that Gittelsohn ever took a nickel more than his share from any boxer. In fact, I know specifics of his going above and beyond the norm to financially help boxers.
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Boxing Quote Of The Week

Brock's M.O. Simple: Avoid Danger, Pad Record, Fight Champ

From sports columnist Tom Sorenson, Charlotte.com

"Brock is 29-0 with 22 knockouts. He has told me several times he is the best heavyweight in the world, but there is no way to know, because in his six-year pro career, he has yet to fight anybody.

I know this is the point in the story in which the local writer is supposed to back the local fighter, so I'll try. Brock's strategy -- avoid danger, pad record, fight champ -- has been effective."

Classic Boxing Quotes

Coach John Johnson Predicts Buster Will Be Judged The Greatest Ever

"James Douglas is going to beat Evander Holyfield and then he's going to some other people and, before it's over, you're going to say he's the best ever."

BUSTER DOUGLAS' MANAGER COACH JOHN JOHNSON, 1990, before Holyfield trampled Douglas.

"On November 18, Manny Pacquiao will have Erik Morales eating his heart out. And by the looks of Erik at the recent press conference, that seems to be the ONLY thing Erik HASN'T eaten!"

Freddie Roach, Trainer for Manny Pacquiao