Boxing Rumors (Maybe Hidden Truths) 6/5/08

1. Winky Wright was at Wednesday Night Fights last night as the Co-Promoter of the card and he stated he wants to fight again in September. However like always Winky says he wants to fight Oscar De La Hoya or Kelly Pavlik. Where as I think the Kelly Pavlik fight would be good, Bob Arum is never going to let that happen. The De La Hoya fight, Winky can forget about. De La Hoya will never step in the ring with Winky. I just hope he will find an opponent and really fight in September. It will be over a year of activity by then.

2. Owen "What The Heck" Beck has signed a promotional deal with Square Ring Inc. Square Ring is owned by Roy Jones Jr. Jones says Square Ring is dedicated to getting Beck back in the Heavyweight mix. Good luck with that, because Beck is in my opinion no better than an average fighter. He has been KOd by Monte Barret(I was at that fight) and against Nikolai Valuev.

3. Oh no could it be upset time. Some oddsmakers have it 25-1 in favor of Kelly Pavlik beating Gary Lockett this Saturday. Now I too think Lockett will lose probably by KO but when odds like that come out that sometimes brings out upset. I hope not though.

4. Oleg Maskaev, who lost the WBC Heavyweight Title to Samuel Peter, is training again. He wants to fight again in his country.

5. Clinton Woods, who for the second time came to the US to fight and fought horrible, wants to fight again in September. Woods has stated he wants to fight well enough and land a rematch with Antonio Tarver to get his IBF Light Heavyweight Title back. Good luck. There is no demand for that rematch especially after the lackluster fight Woods put up. He looked as if he did not want to be in the fight. Stay in England and just fight nobodies, because you ain't getting another title.

6. In some positive news, former Heavyweight Beltholder John Ruiz has gone to Venezuela to participate in a charity boxing event at the 18th Annual WBA KO To Drugs Festival. Ruiz will step in the ring with the WBA's Vice President Gilberto Jesus Mendoza for 3 two minute rounds. Each punch Mendoza lands on Ruiz will generate $100 to a charitable foundation.

7. Former WBO Welterweight Champion Paul Williams and Everlast Worldwide Inc have announced a long term agreement. The agreement allows Williams to exclusively wear Everlast footwear, gloves, and other apparel. Expect to see Williams in all custom Everlast attire this weekend as he steps in the ring in a rematch against Carlos Quintana.