More boxing news from Dan Rafael at ESPN.com keeps flowing in:
– So much for Roy Jones Jr and Showtime. A deal was nearly done but Jones has since disappeared and the fight with Anthony Hanshaw is off, as are any likely future dealings between Jones Jr and Showtime.
– The three-way madness between Oleg Maskaev, Vitali Klitschko, and Sam Peter seems to have been answered. For now, at least. Dan Rafael reports that Sam Peter will be the next in line to face Oleg Maskaev for his WBC Heavyweight Title. Peter was the #1 Contender after defeating James Toney twice but Vitali Klitschko unretired and was under the belief he could return to capture the title he never lost. Maskaev-Peter hope to fight by August with the winner defending against Vitali by the end of the year.
– The undercard for the De La Hoya-Mayweather Jr fight scheduled for May 5th has been set. Along with the main event, the $54.95 show will also feature a super bantamweight bout between Rey Bautista and Sergio Manuel Medina in a WBO Title Eliminator. The third televised bout will be Rocky Juarez in a featherweight contest against Jose Hernandez. Blah. Most people buy boxing PPVs for the main event and promoters know that. I appreciate a nice undercard and this doesn’t cut it for $54.95.
– Two boxers competing this weekend are doing so with new trainers. Peter Manfredo Jr is fighting Joe Calzaghe and with Freddie Roach, Manfredo’s last trainer, out working with De La Hoya, Manfredo Jr turned to his Contender mentor Sugar Ray Leonard. Also, Diego Corrales parted ways with Joe Goosen and will work with Dickie Wood. Corrales and Wood have worked together in the past but not seeing Goosen with Corrales will take some getting used to.
