Colin Linneweber's New York Yankees fan blog

WBO junior flyweight champion Ivan “Iron Boy” Calderon dominated Jesus Iribe to earn a unanimous decision victory in the Theatre at Madison Square Garden Saturday night. 

In the second round, Calderon (34-0-1, 6 KOs) was actually floored by a solid right hand landed by Iribe (16-7-5).  

However, Calderon quickly recovered and used his movement and boxing skills to overwhelm Iribe for the final ten rounds.  

“I got hit hard and went down in the second round,” said Calderon, 35, who flourished in past sparring sessions against superstars Oscar De La Hoya (39-6, 30 KOs) and Shane Mosley (46-6, 39 KOs). “But I knew good movement would beat him.” 

This weekend marked the sixth time Calderon successfully defended his crown since he captured it from Hugo Fidel Cazares (31-6-2, 22 KOs) via split decision in August 2007. 

Continue reading "De La Hoya and Mosley Sparring Partner Ivan Calderon Dominates Again"

After conducting an exclusive interview last week with International Boxing Hall of Famer Larry Holmes, critics and, well, haters of “The Easton Assassin” emerged in droves.  

The bulk of Holmes’ detractors derived from Rocky Marciano’s hometown of Brockton, Massachusetts. 

“The Brockton Blockbuster” retired from boxing with an unblemished record after he knocked out Archie Moore (185-23-11, 131 KOs) in the ninth round of their September 1955 prizefight in the Bronx.  

Marciano (49-0, 43 KOs), who was ranked as the fifth greatest heavyweight ever by the International Boxing Research Organization in 2005, holds the record for the longest undefeated streak by a heavyweight.  

Marciano’s historical mark was threatened by Holmes (69-6, 44 KOs) in 1985 when “The Easton Assassin” improved to 48-0 and prepared to battle Michael Spinks (31-1, 21 KOs) to tie “The Rock from Brockton’s” longstanding accomplishment.  

Continue reading "Rocky Marciano versus Larry Holmes"

In a fight marred with controversy, Puerto Rican icon Miguel “Junito” Cotto defeated aspiring rabbi Yuri Foreman by a ninth-round TKO to capture the WBA super welterweight crown Saturday night at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx. 

Cotto (35-2, 28 KOs) was extremely aggressive and he dominated the lanky Foreman (28-1, 8 KOs) from the outset of the bout.  In the seventh round, Foreman slipped and badly twisted his right knee. 

“I will need surgery and I don’t know yet how big it is,” said Foreman, 29, who tore his meniscus and stretched numerous knee ligaments when he fell to the canvas. “I feel OK.” 

Despite Foreman’s severe wound, referee Arthur Mercante Jr. insisted that the fight continue and he even boldly disregarded a towel that was thrown into the ring by one of the Israeli’s cornermen to halt the bout.  

Continue reading "Valiant Jew loses crown to Puerto Rican icon in the Bronx"

A statue of boxing icon Larry Holmes will be unveiled this summer in the former heavyweight champion’s hometown of Easton, Pennsylvania.  

The 12-foot, 900-pound statue of “The Easton Assassin” will be situated in the park on Larry Holmes Drive. Holmes (69-6, 44 KOs), who was rightfully inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in June 2008, said he was honored to be recognized by the city where he was raised and still resides. 

“Most people don’t get a statue until they die,” said Holmes, 60, who remarkably won his first 48 professional bouts. “I’m alive and I get to enjoy it.” 

Unfortunately, despite Holmes’ vast boxing skills and impressive pedigree, many fans and analysts did not “enjoy” his dominant reign atop the heavyweight division.  

Continue reading "Exclusive Interview with Boxing Icon Larry “The Easton Assassin” Holmes"

WBC world heavyweight champion Vitali “Dr. Iron Fist” Klitschko defeated Albert “The Dragon” Sosnowski by a 10th-round knockout Saturday at the Veltins Arena in Gelsenkirchen, Germany.  

Klitschko (40-2, 38 KOs), a Ukrainian who has the highest knockout percentage of any heavyweight champion ever (95 percent), simply destroyed the overmatched, and undersized, native or Poland from the outset of the bout. 

“I am very happy to have defended my title. I had really good preparation and was in top-form,” said Klitschko, 38, who has never been knocked to the canvas in his professional career. “I saw that he is still young and made some mistakes and I took advantage of them.” 

Sosnowski (45-3, 27 KOs) called Klitschko “a great fighter.” 

Continue reading "Saturday's Vitali Klitschko Fight Emphasizes Heavyweight Boxing's a Joke"

WBA super welterweight champion Yuri Foreman and former WBO welterweight titlist Miguel Cotto will fight Saturday at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx. 

Cotto (34-2, 27 KOs) last fought on November 14 when he relinquished his belt to Manny Pacquiao (51-3-2, 38 KOs) by a brutal 12th round TKO. 

On the undercard of the Pacquiao versus Cotto contest, Foreman (28-0, 8 KOs) defeated Daniel Santos (32-4-1-1, 38 KOs) by a unanimous decision to become Israel’s first ever world boxing champion. 

Foreman, 29, an aspiring rabbi who won the New York Golden Gloves in 2001, was once considered as a potential opponent for Pacquiao after the WBO champion’s proposed matchup with Floyd Mayweather, Jr. (41-0, 25 KOs) deteriorated earlier this year. 

However, Pacquiao rejected and his trainer, Dedham’s Freddie Roach, rejected the offer mainly because Foreman, at 5’11”, is quite tall for a welterweight. 

Continue reading "Puerto Rican icon will trump Jewish champ at “The House that Derek Jeter built”"

Speculation persists that former IBF junior welterweight champion Paulie “The Magic Man” Malignaggi will retire from boxing after he was pounded by WBA world light welterweight champion Amir “King” Khan via 11th round TKO last Saturday night at The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City.  

Khan (23-1, 17 KOs) thoroughly dominated Malignaggi (27-4, 5 KOs) in his United States debut before referee Steve Smoger mercifully halted the bludgeoning. 

“I ran into a clone of myself when I was younger. But he was faster and stronger,” said Malignaggi, 29, whose only three previous losses came at the respected hands of Miguel Cotto (34-2, 27 KOs), Ricky Hatton (45-2, 32 KOs) and Juan Diaz (35-3, 17 KOs). “He’s bigger and stronger. But I gave it all I had.” 

Continue reading "Boxing Would Be a Better Sport If It Had More Paul Malignaggi's"

Venezuelan  authorities exhumed the body of former WBC lightweight champion “El Terminator” Edwin Valero last week to dispel rumors regarding the cause of his death. 

“El Terminator’s” siblings, Edward and Luis Valero, believe that the fuzz that took the murderous wife-beater into custody may have strangled their brother to death. 

So, a forensic investigation will now be conducted to officially determine the cause of his ultimate demise. 

Valero (27-0, 27 KOs) likely committed suicide in his Venezuelan prison cell on the morning of April 19 a mere day after he admitted that he mortally stabbed his wife, Jennifer Viera, in a hotel in Valencia the prior night. 

Venezuelan Federal Police Chief Wilmer Flores told reporters that Valero used his clothes to hang himself to death at a police lockup in north-central Carabobo state. 

Continue reading "Who Cares How Edwin Valero Died?"

WBA world light welterweight champion Amir “King” Khan pulverized Paul “The Magic Man” Malignaggi by an 11th round TKO Saturday night at The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City. 

Khan (23-1, 17 KOs), a British citizen of Pakistani descent who became the youngest Englishman to win an Olympic medal when he captured a silver as a lightweight at the 2004 games in Greece, thoroughly dominated Malignaggi (27-4, 5 KOs) in his United States debut before referee Steve Smoger mercifully halted the bludgeoning.  

“Me and (trainer) Freddie (Roach) stuck to the game plan. Paulie is a very awkward fighter. We had to break him down slowly,” said Khan, 23, the third youngest Brit to ever win a crown. “We had to use our brain. I knew in the last few rounds I was hurting him. All I had to do was put the pressure on him.” 

Continue reading "Khan Will Soon Be The "King" Of The Boxing World"

WBA world light welterweight champion Amir “King” Khan will fight WBO and NABO light welterweight titlist Paul “The Magic Man” Malignaggi Saturday at The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City. 

Khan (22-1, 16 KOs), a British Pakistani boxer who became the youngest Englishman to win an Olympic medal when he captured a silver as a lightweight at the 2004 games in Greece, is a prizefighter with unlimited potential and abilities.  

“I could have stayed in the UK,” said Khan, 23, the third youngest Brit in history to ever win a crown. “But I want to make a name for myself and Paulie is the guy I’m going to use to be a big star over here.” 

Malignaggi (27-3, 5 KOs), an Italian-American from Brooklyn who is the former IBF junior welterweight champ, is absolutely a polarizing prizefighter and it is understandable that many fans consider him to be a scorching hemorrhoid.  

Continue reading "Khan Will Be a “King” Versus “The Magic Man” in 24 Hours"