TALK TOUGH 8-3-04

INSIDE BOXING (August 3, 2004) - I just wanted to start off by saying, OK I was wrong about Danny Williams. He surprised a lot of people. I thought he looked very good. He was hungry and in good shape. I really don’t think Tyson’s knee was a major factor. I think he became frustrated with his limited skill and failure to intimidate. I think it will be the same outcome if they have a rematch, which might be in the works.

Lawrence Clay Bey’s co-manager, James Gogue, just informed me Clay’s bout this Friday, August 6 in Boston fell through due to problems with the sponsors. They are looking at some of the top 20 contenders such as Dominic Guinn, Calvin Brock, Samuel Peters, and Oleg Maskaev as possible future opponents. Gogue informed me that Clay recently went back to his full time job as a Connecticut State correction officer to support his family.

Don’t miss the Popo vs Chico WBO lightweight championship bout this Saturday, August 7 on Showtime. This scheduled 12 rounder is expected to be a fight of the year candidate. Acelino “ Popo” Freitas (35-0) is the reining WBO lightweight champ and Diego “Chico” Corrales (38-2) is the current WBO jr lightweight champ. The bout will be held at Foxwoods Casino and Resort in Connecticut. (I’ll be rooting for Popo but I wouldn’t bet any money on this one.)

Omar Sheika (25-6,17 KOs) and James Butler, (20-4,12KOs) the former USBA super middleweight champ, will fight in the main event for the ESPN2 “Tuesday Night Fights” on the August 10 card at the Essex Community College in Newark, New Jersey. This bout should be a hard-hitting slugfest knowing these two warriors.

Leavander Johnson (33-4, 25 KOs) has now informed me his rematch is back on against

Michael Clark (34-2, 15 KOs) August 20 on ESPN2’s Friday Night Fights at Miccosukee Resort & Casino in Miami. Clark-Johnson II will be the main event in the 12-round IBF eliminator. With the top two spots in the IBF not rated, No. 3 Johnson and No. 4 Clark are the leading lightweight challengers and the winner will be the mandatory opponent for IBF champion Julio “The Kid” Diaz (30-2, 25 KOs). In Clark-Johnson I, Clark won a technical decision (40-36, 39-37, 38-38) against Johnson for the WBC Continental Americas lightweight title June 30, 2001 in Johnson’s hometown, Atlantic City. An accidental head butt rendered Clark unable to continue after four rounds.

John Ruiz’s trainer Norman “Stoney” Stone just informed me that the bout against Andrew Golota for Ruiz’s WBA belt on either November 13 or December 6, is close to be finalized and he would keep me updated. Stoney said they were holding out for a good payday from Don King.