With their album Trophies curently basking in critical acclaim, Apollo Brown and O.C. have leaked non-album bonus cut entitled “The Biggest Loser.” While somber in mood, this joint is puncuated by the blaring vocal samples that Brown weaves around O.C.’s verses. Trophies is available now via iTunes.
Showtime Sports has posted this nice synopsis of the main storyline going into Saturday’s Antonio Tarver-Lateef Kayode matchup. Even a 40 years old, there’s a big skill gap here in favor of Tarver. The question will be can Kayode’s brute strength overwhelm Tarver. A full fight preview will be availble tomorrow morning.
IBF light-heavyweight champion Tavoris Cloud will make his fifth title defense on August 11 against Jean Pascal at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Canada.
The undefeated Cloud will come into the bout on the heels of a highly unpopular and controversial decision win over Gabriel Campillo in February. While Cloud struggled with Campillo’s movement and elusive defense, he views Pascal’s slugging style as the perfect foil in a rebound fight.
“This fight with Jean Pascal is a bout I’m looking forward to,” Cloud explained. ”It’s going to be what I call a ‘Release the Kraken’ match. Everybody knows I come to fight. What I like about Pascal is that he doesn’t fool around either. When I look for him, he will be there, and the same goes for me.”
“Fans like to see leather thrown with bad intentions, and that’s what they are going to get in Montreal on August 11.”
Pascal is also seeking to overturn a misstep in his last fight. The former champion has not fought since losing his WBC title to Bernard Hopkins in May of last year.
“Our styles make for the best, most explosive and spectacular fight possible in boxing,” boasted Pascal. “Having been away from the ring for more than a year, I am hungrier and more determined than ever to get back on top. Don’t miss it August 11 in Montreal. I am going to get back on the throne for good.”
The undercard will feature undefeated super-middleweight Adonis Stevenson, who’s made it known that he hopes to earn a title shot against newly crowned IBF titlist Carl Froch.
Cloud versus Pascal will be broadcast live by Showtime Championship Boxing.
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This will be a very good fight, but one that Jean Pascal might end up regretting he didn’t take sooner. By the time this fight happens, Pascal would have been out of the ring well over a year. For a fighter who’s stamina is already very suspect, this could prove great for Cloud down the stretch. Cloud is much more consistent throughout rounds with his heavy hands but Pascal is far more explosive, making for a fight that likely won’t see the final bell no matter who comes out on top. Right now, I slightly lean to that victor being Cloud via a late TKO.
At 34, Stevenson isn’t getting any younger so it’s totally understandable he wants a big money fight with Froch. Depending on who he faces in August and how he looks, he may be able to generate some early interest in that fight. I say early because Mikkle Kessler will likely get the next crack.
Blood and revolution in the Czech streets are just a few of themes and symbolism found in this Roman Gravas-directed video for The Throne’s “No Church In the Wild.” Still hoping we get a video for “New Day.”
Reks hits the streets and spreads the good lyrical word in his current video from the Straight No Chaser LP. As usual, Statik Selektah is the man behind the boards.
Murs delivers a trippy video for his lead track off Love & Rockets Vol. 1: The Transformation. The clip is directed by HOBOSTEWD.
Former welterweight titlist Paul Williams has been paralyzed with a prognosis to never walk again after a motorcycle accident Sunday morning in Atlanta.
According to Williams’ manager George Peterson, the accident happened at 8 a.m. when Williams was thrown from his vehicle after swerving to avoid a head-on collision.
The 30-year-old Williams was wearing a helmet but had to undergo surgery to stabilize his spinal cord. At press time, Williams is conscious but expected to remain hospitalized for the next several weeks before beginning rehabilitation.
“He’s telling jokes and saying if he doesn’t box again, he’ll do stand-up comedy. He’s in good spirits but he is also in denial,” Peterson told ESPN. “But he’s coherent. I had an excellent conversation with him. When I walked in the door (on Sunday) about 5:30 in the afternoon, he said he’d be ready to go back to camp on Monday. I guess I’m in denial, too, because I have seen him overcome so much adversity before and come back. We’ll pray about the situation.”
The accident eliminates Williams from a lucrative contract to face undefeated Saul “Canelo” Alvarez in September at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand for the WBC light middleweight title. The championship would have been Williams’ first pay-per-view main event.
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This has been a horrid holiday weekend for boxing fans. Sadly, I was just pricing my trip to Vegas for this fight yesterday here in Atlanta. Williams had a very good career with his best wins over a then feared and avoided Antonio Margarito, the rematch blowout of Carlos Quintana and the first battle with Sergio Martinez. Nonetheless, it’s a cruel fate to see his biggest chance at the spotlight against Canelo being snuffed out this way.
The only bright spot is that reportedly Williams has been very smart business-wise with the money’s he’s made thus far, so hopefully he won’t struggle in making the transition. As for the Punisher never walking again, I wouldn’t bet against him based on the heart he’s shown in the ring.
Newly crowned IBF super middleweight champion Carl Froch speculates that’s his one-sided beating of Lucian Bute Saturday night (May26) might be the reason Bute announces an early retirement.
Froch scored a shocking fifth TKO before his hometown fans in Nottingham, England. From the end of the first round, Froch controlled the action with hard hooks inside that repeatedly hurt Bute. In the final three rounds, Froch would land over 75 power shots on his hapless foe to force the stoppage.
Although Bute has not made a decision on whether to invoke a contractual immediate rematch clause, Froch thinks the mental devastation of the loss will make an in-ring return doubtful.
“Personally I don’t think Bute will want the rematch because as a fighter, I looked into his eyes and after round three I saw something drain from him,” claimed Froch to the Daily Mail. “Something only a fighter can see. I don’t think he’s going to want to fight again, let alone fight me again. Honestly. He came here unbeaten and got absolutely, devastatingly beaten. That doesn’t happen often to top-level fighters.”
Froch, who’s scored 21 KOs in 29 fights over his 10 year career, cites the Bute win as the most vicious beating he’s ever inflicted on an opponent. For that reason alone, he believes the performance might be looked back on as the one that ended Lucian Bute’s career as a top fighter.
“That is a beating, the whupping of all whuppings,” he reflected. “I’ve not seen it back yet. I’m not bragging. I don’t want to hurt anybody, I’m not proud of hurting people but that’s what I’m in the ring to do. If the boot was on the other foot, you know what would happen. That was some performance by me and I think it was a career-ending performance. You never know. I don’t know know what he’s made of, so we’ll see.”
At press time, Froch is expected to rematch Mikkel Kessler should a Bute rematch not materialize.
By now, everyone has heard the unfortunate but unsurprising news of Johnny Tapia being found dead in his Albuquerque home. While details are still coming, Tapia’s history of struggles with drug addiction puts that high of the list as the likely reason for his passing at only 45 years old. Thankfully, Tapia’s life will be remembered most for all the titles and thrilling bouts he gave fans inside the ring. A full writeup is forthcoming, but for now let’s solemnly reflect on Tapia’s boxing accomplishments via the below tribute clip.
Nas’ daughter Destiny Jones gets a starring role in his anticipated video for “Daughters.” The clip takes a first-person POV of her life from birth through her teenage years. From her perspective, we see the good and the bad; birthdays, watching her Dad record music and mack women, her first drug experimentation and reprimands from her father. Nas’ Life Is Good album drops on July 17.
