HEADLINES - July 1-3, 2002

July 3, 2002
TRINIDAD CALLS IT QUITS......FOR NOW
* AP: Trinidad retires from professional ranks
* David Payne: Farewell Felix?
* LVRJ: Trinidad throws in the towel
* Newark Star-Ledger: Forrest eager to prove he's for real
* David Avila: Forrest fire - Viper takes aim at Mosley - again
* Ft. Worth Star-Telegram: Vernon Forrest in chat room
* BBC Online: True legend coming to Britain
* Anthony Evans: Woods vows to defeat Jones
* Halifax Herald: Johnson calm, cool, collected for Ruiz
* Steve Kim: Bowe sues Rock Newman for $55 million
* Pedro Fernandez: Meet Larry "Rodney Dangerfield" Holmes
* Thomas Gerbasi: Oscar De la Hoya - The last mile
* The Oregonian: De la Hoya, casino plan fights
* Mike Nosky: Shobox looking for promoters
* Paul Upham: Kostya Tszyu update
* Washington Post: Mitchell wins one with ease
* Washington Times: Mitchell takes apart Houghtaling
* Eddie Mustafa Muhammad: How I became a trainer - Part II
* Jason Probst: Fight tape redux - Klitschko-Byrd, Holmes-Cooney revisited
* Dean Juipe: Senators duel rather than compromise
* BoxingTalk: Wright vs. McKart set for September 7
* The Independent (UK): O'Neill resigns after furor over license
* Irish Examiner: Boxing in need of "medical summit"
* UK: Watson to be honored July 8
* Seconds Out: Montalban defends on July 27
* Bangkok Post: Boxing association lands big sponsorship deal


July 2, 2002
RJJ TO FACE NEXT "CHALLENGE"
* Seconds Out: Woods and Jones confirmed for April 7
* Thomas Hauser: The quotable Mr. King and the quotable Mr. Hopkins
* Santos Perez: Klitschko seeks marquee bout
* Eddie Goldman: Wladimir Klitschko and the gentleman heavyweights
* Rusty Rubin: Klitschko merciless in win
* Atlantic City Press: Klitschko earns significant praise
* Paul Upham: Harding-Tarver II heats up
* BoxingTalk.net: The "Legend" is trained by the legend
* Washington Post: Mitchell looks for the old Sharmba
* Washington Times: Mitchell continues return from knee injury
* Abq. Tribune: Johnny Tapia faces courtroom challenge
* MIke Nosky: Viloria injured, Navarro chance
* Pedro Fernandez: Your e-mail
* UK: Doctor quits over McCullough license
* UK: Calzaghe can be King of the Castle
* Gregory Leon: Will it be sweet revenge for "Sugar" Shane?
* RossBoxing.com: A recent boxing tragedy
* Corpus Christi Caller-Times: The face of boxing in Corpus Christi
* Grey Johnson: Looking ahead at the fights this week
* Seconds Out: Santillan defends OPBF belt in October
* Joe Queijo: Mata becomes interim world champion
* Sun Star (Phillipines): Two Davoa City boxers win bouts

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

IF WBC/IBF CHAMPION LENNOX LEWIS IS LOOKING FOR A FIGHT, HE NEED LOOK NO FURTHER THAN WBA TITLEHOLDER JOHN RUIZ

Manager Norman “Stoney” Stone Says The Quiet Man, Who Defends Heavyweight Crown Against Unbeaten, No. 1-Ranked Kirk Johnson July 27 at Mandalay Bay, Is Most Deserving


POCONOS, Penn. (July 1, 2002) – Wladimir Klitschko and his team called out Lennox Lewis immediately following the World Boxing Organization (WBO) heavyweight champion’s easy sixth-round knockout over Ray Mercer the other night in Atlantic City.

Emanuel Steward, who trains the World Boxing Council/International Boxing Federation (WBC/IBF) champion, and is part of the HBO broadcasting team that worked the one-sided Klitschko-Mercer fight, said that Klitschko had earned the right to perhaps meet Lewis next, and also mentioned Kirk Johnson as another possibility.

Norman “Stoney” Stone, the straight-shooting, fast-talking manager of World Boxing Association heavyweight champion John “The Quiet Man” Ruiz, says that if anybody should get the next shot at Lewis it is his man.

“By now, I should be used to Johnny getting slighted, but what I saw and heard the other night was so ridiculous, it was not even funny,” Stone said. “Honestly, I just don’t get it. Klitschko beat up a 41-year-old man who stood right in front of him and threw maybe one right hand, and I am supposed to be impressed by that. If it is Johnny in there, they say he beat up a washed up, old man and that is that.

“I know Lewis wants to fight an undefeated guy, but after Johnny kicks Johnson’s butt July 27 at the Mandalay Bay, he will not be undefeated any more. Emanuel says Johnny won his title in court. Well, if anybody won the title in court, it is his guy, Lewis, who did it twice.

“Wladimir Klitschko is a decent young fighter, but he quit in his one loss -- against a football player – no less. The other Klitschko brother (Vitali) quit when he lost to Chris Byrd. Once a quitter, always a quitter. Say anything you want about Johnny, but he is not a quitter. He has the biggest heart in boxing.

“Lewis is just doing to us what he did before – and that is duck us. When we were No. 1 and Michael Grant was No. 2, Lewis knew he had a pork chop and went for Grant. Grant’s people knew what they had, too, and cashed in. Meantime, we fight 36 grueling rounds with Evander Holyfield, who was at his best until he fight John. Who else can say that?

“No way Lewis should fight anyone before us. Just like there is no way he should go around calling himself undisputed champion. Hey, we dispute him. Johnny is the champion of the WBA, the oldest of all the organizations. Let’s put Lewis and Johnny together and then we can see who the real champ is. There is absolutely no question in my mind that Johnny deserves to get the first shot at Lewis before anybody.’’

CONTACT: Greg Fritz, PRACO/DKP, 719-473-0704, x4116

Kelly Swanson, Swanson Communications (202) 783-5500
_______________________________

PRESS RELEASE - JOHNSON SPEAKS FROM TRAINING CAMP

Watching HBO's broadcast of the Klitchko-Mercer fight on Saturday night and upon hearing Emanuel Steward name him as a possible next up opponent for WBC/IBF heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis, Kirk Johnson, who will face John Ruiz on HBO July 27 at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, had this to say from his training camp in Dallas, Texas:

"My goal has always been to become the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world. Obviously Lennox Lewis is the man holding two/thirds of my dream. But before I can reach out and touch the bigger part of the prize I am focused on my fair share which right now happens to be the WBA belt and John Ruiz. Once I beat him I would love the opportunity to fight Lewis to complete my original goal."

CONTACT: Kelly Swanson, Swanson Communications (202) 783-5500



July 1, 2002
CHESS ANYONE?
* NY Times: After finishing off Mercer, Klitschko wants Lewis
* AP: Klitschko wants to challenge Lewis - in chess, then boxing
* NY Post: Klitschko eager to test Lennox
* NY Daily News: Klitschko issues call for Lennox
* Dan Rafael: Klitschko dominant in TKO win
* Newark Star-Ledger: Klitschko KO's all doubts
* Steve Kim: Some random thoughts and musings
* Bernard Fernandez: Captivating Klitschko
* Pedro Fernandez: Monday morning one-two
* David Mayo: Push to make weight may have killed boxer
* Narragansett Times: Will Narragansett be the home of a true world champion?
* Washington Times: Patterson regained title, respect in Johansson rematch
* Max Boxing: Gonzalez made Young's tough week even tougher
* Angel Rodriguez: Major fight weekend wrap
* The Independent (UK): Williams' title saved by draw
* The Independent (UK): Gold would be a Haye maker


Open Letter to Roy Jones Jr.

Dear Mr. Jones,

First I would just like to say I am a huge fan of both you as a boxer and you as a person, and that is why I am addressing you.

I watched you dismantle Vinny Pazienza, and then moments after the fight begin to cry out of concern for his health, and that really moved me.

I watched many of your fights at the time you and your father split ways, and after the fights were over, you would be asked about your father, and you always replied with the upmost respect for him, despite the intense way in which things developed between you both.

I have watched you go throughout your career, backing up the people around you never putting blame on them when things weren’t running smoothly.

You said it yourself, “Roy Jones is real!” And that true fact even shines more than your rapid-fire hooks.

My point to you though is this. Roy you need to fight either Hopkins, Jirov, Michalczewski or Calzaghe real quick!

I have listened to you and truly believe every single one of your points on why fighting one of these guys is fruitless.

Hopkins has everything to gain by beating you, yet you have nothing boxing-wise to gain by beating him again. Darius has done nothing in his career other than run his mouth, and the risk of fighting him on his soil doesn’t match any gain you would get from beating him.

But you see Roy it isn’t fruitless to fight one of these guys that the media and boxing fans are begging you to fight. There is one thing left for you to gain, even dare I say there is one thing left for you to accomplish by fighting one these desired guys.

You are the Michael Jordan of boxing, yet not many Americans realize it, and that is sad, because I believe you are one of the few out there in the world that can inspire people for both your physical wonders and your pristine human nature at the same time.

It is sad that Mike Tyson’s troubles are what headline the sport of boxing, can you imagine if when Jordan was at the peak of his career, all the headlines in the NBA were about a Dennis Rodman suicide caper instead?

Roy you need to be a household name while you have the opportunity. You inspire and provide a rock-solid positive attitude for young and old alike.

I was at your fight with Richard Hall at the Conseco Fieldhouse, and witnessed the electricity you alone create among people that know of you.

All of your titles, and HBO contracts are proof of your hard work and dedication , but when all is said and done those titles and pieces of paper are just things, and it won’t make a difference how many belts you can collect.

The real reward and gain in life is how you can touch others, and I believe that fighting a Hopkins, Jirov, etc.. will give you the exposure needed to reach more of the general American population as well as the huge boxing fans, therefore leading you down the path of becoming a household name, and a true positive role model.

What you have done in your sport has been phenominal, but realilistically, not appreciated, because the wrong people are enjoying and experiencing Roy's boxing success. You need to receive the attention a big fight will bring to you so you can cross the highly shallow boxing circle line and reach into the general American public just waiting to find a trusting hero to root on and believe in.

You ask very rightly so about each one of your fights, “what is in it for me.”

I give you the answer, now please make one of them fights happen.

Clint Harting

Fella27@msn.com









Copyright 2002 Total Action Inc.