Vitali Klitschko didn’t knock Cris Arreola down. Or out. But he did pound him into submission after ten rounds of a heavyweight title fight last night at Staples Center in Los Angeles. With the win, Vitali kept his spot alongside brother Wladimir atop the heavyweight category and only further fuled the fire for a Klitschko vs. Klitschko fight that will probably never happen. It was the third win for Vitali since he returned last year from a four-year retirement.
Vitali looked strong and athletic. Cris looked fat and overmatched—so much so that I had a hard time believing he was undefeated …read more

The wooing is over, the coy glances have stopped, the contractual bickering has been worked out and the most anticipated fight since Larry Merchant suggested it to ESPN.com’s Dan Rafael in October 2007 is on!
That same Dan Rafael reports that at a 2:00 p.m. press conference today Oscar De La Hoya will his December 6, 2008 opponent in what he claims will be his last fight. That adversary is expected to be the popular pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao.
There are so many stories, plots, and intrigues with this super fight. Most pressing to me is: will Larry Merchant get …read more

Image details: Oscar De La Hoya v Steve Forbes served by picapp.com
Outside of the ring and in the business world Oscar De La Hoya is obnoxiously confident, he revels in the vicious venture capitalist role, he’s gleeful in his greed, and delighted by the power his money brings. While I’m watching HBO’s wonderful one-off documentary Countdown to Oscar De La Hoya/Steve Forbes and a pre-fight Oscar interview with boxing poet Larry Merchant I see a forthright De La Hoya who is proud of his conscienceless business kingpin role and enjoys its prominent display.
He giggles when he says “greed …read more