Is Floyd’s venture into WWE good for Floyd and bad for boxing? Zab promises to behave, and Ricky Hatton plots his comeback… By GEORGE WILLIS
Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer has no problems with Floyd Mayweather’s involvement in Wrestlemania 24. “There will be a lot of exposure and it’ll increase Floyd’s popularity more,” Schaefer said. “I actually applaud Floyd for making the decision. He’s the ultimate showman in boxing.”
Mayweather reportedly will earn $20 million for the one night event where he’ll take on (wink, wink) 7-foot-4, 425-pound Big Show.
As long as Big Show doesn’t get a flash back and throw Mayweather over the ropes onto the concrete floor, it should be a harmless exercise. The only problem is Mayweather is accustomed to playing the villain, which is a tough sell going against someone three times his size.
Oscar De La Hoya, meanwhile, is indifferent to Mayweather’s outside the ring activities. “Let his distractions elevate,” De La Hoya said.
**
Golden Boy Promotions has a deal to promote Ricky Hatton’s next three fights, beginning with his May return against Juan Lazcano in the UK. IBF junior welterweight champ Pauli Malignaggi is negotiating a deal to be on the undercard with a promise to meet Hatton at the Garden in September. “You only really find out about yourself as a fighter and a man when things go wrong,” Hatton said, referring to his loss last December to Mayweather. “I’ve had a setback and it’s been the worst period of my life. But I am determined to return to winning ways.”
**
Three strikes and Zab Judah gets the death penalty in Nevada. At least that’s the way it sounds. The Nevada Athletic Commission lifted Judah’s suspension after warning the Brooklyn native that one more incident would get him banned from the state permanently.
Judah is now available for a May 31 match against Sugar Shane Mosley in Las Vegas. Judah had to promise there would no reoccurrence of two other incidents that earned him fines and suspensions. In 2001 when he was beaten by Kostya Tszyu, Judah reacted by threatening referee Jay Nady. In 2006, he was involved in a melee that erupted during his fight with Mayweather.
“I embarrassed myself, I embarrassed my family and I embarrassed boxing, and for that I am truly sorry. I promise that it will not happen again,” Judah told the commission. He had to pay $100,000 in fines for his father and trainer, Yoel.
**
Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero defends his IBF featherweight title against Jason Litzau on Friday. In his last fight on Nov. 3 in Tucson, Guerrero knocked out Martin Honorio less than a minute into the proceedings.
Guerrero has won five straight fights, not including a no-contest, since his only pro defeat in 2005, and claimed his IBF belt with a victory over Erick Aiken in on September 2, 2006 in Los Angeles.
Guerrero, who brings a record of 21-1-1 with 14 knockouts to the bout, is looking for a decisive victory that will serve a springboard to greater success. “This fight right here will throw me into the mega-big fights,” Guerrero said. “Getting ready for Jason Litzau, it’s a very big fight. He’s a tall featherweight, strong, fast, great counterpuncher. He can fight.”
Litzau, like Guerrero, is 24 and owns a record of 23-1 with 19 knockouts. In his most recent outing the Florida-based fighter pounded out a decision over Mexico’s Edel Ruiz on Nov. 23 in Los Angeles. Litzau was undefeated when he decided to go toe-to-toe against Mexico’s Jose Hernandez on Dec. 16, 2006. He was stopped in the eighth round for the lone defeat of his career.
#