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Pastimes : Boxing: The Sweet Science -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: LPS5 who wrote (6818)	12/28/2001 11:03:35 AM
From: Bwe	Respond to of 10489

Another bizarre twist in the Ibeabuchi saga: Judge grants delay in Ibeabuchi case By Mathis Winkler LAS VEGAS SUN Minutes before his scheduled sentencing today for sexually assaulting an outcall dancer, former heavyweight boxer Ikemefula "Ike" Ibeabuchi asked a Clark County District Court judge to withdraw his guilty plea, claiming that medication prevented him from thinking clearly when he entered his plea. District Court Judge Joseph Bonaventure made it clear that he wasn't inclined to grant Ibeabuchi's request, but nevertheless granted a delay so that defense attorneys could have time to argue their case. Prosecutors objected to delaying the sentencing, saying that Ibeabuchi's plea had been entered voluntarily. Defense attorneys now have 10 days to argue their case to the judge and prosecutors will have an equal amount of time to respond. The boxer's next court date has been set for Jan. 24, at which time the judge will either accept Ibeabuchi's request to withdraw his plea or sentence him.

To: LPS5 who wrote (6818)	12/29/2001 2:41:50 PM
From: OZ	Respond to of 10489

What no summary this year or do I have to do the math myself to get the score. <GGG> oz ========= Boxing 2001: a big year for Hopkins, Barrera, Tszyu December 28, 2001 By Pete Spadora SportsTicker Staff Writer JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY (TICKER) -- Fans were looking ahead to a dream matchup between Felix Trinidad and Roy Jones Jr., but Bernard Hopkins threw a monkey wrench into those plans as he pulled off boxing's biggest upset of 2001. Hopkins, who held the IBF 160-pound title since 1995, took steps toward unify the middleweight crown in 2001. With the help of master promoter Don King, he finally accomplished his goal. In April, Hopkins consolidated two-thirds of the title when he scored a unanimous decision over Keith Holmes to capture the WBA crown. The respect-starved Hopkins was a heavy underdog against then-undefeated Trinidad. But the 36-year-old had more than enough self-confidence as he sold adverstising space on his back to an on-line casino and bet on himself to win. Before the fight, Hopkins offended many when he crumbled a Puerto Rican flag during a news conference. He later apologized but used nationalism as motivation. In a fight that was postponed due to the September 11 terrorist attacks, Hopkins told fans he was an American and was going to win for his country. Few believed the talented and outspoken Hopkins could stop the younger Trinidad, who was at or near the top of all lists of the top pound-for-pound fighters. But Hopkins used his size advantage and controlled the tempo as he pulled off one of the biggest upsets in recent years with a 12th-round TKO. Hopkins became the first middleweight to hold the WBA, WBC and IBF belts simultaneously since Marvin Hagler in 1987. He also is the first middleweight to make 14 consecutive title defenses since Carlos Monzon. Aside from Trinidad, the biggest loser as a result of Hopkins' triumph, was Jones. The 32-year-old remains one of the best pound-for-pound boxers in the world but has little competition in the light heavyweight class. In 2001, he feasted on little-known Derrick Harmon (TKO 10) and Julio Gonzalez (W12). But the fight the boxing world wants to see is Jones against Hopkins or undefeated German-based Dariusz Michalczewski. If not for Hopkins, Marco Antonio Barrera could have grabbed the boxing spotlight in 2001. A straight-ahead Mexican brawler, Barrera shattered and exposed one of the best "packaged" fighters in the world -- Prince Naseem Hamed. Barrera dominateded the previously undefeated Hamed en route to a 12-round unanimous decision. Barrera was not nearly as big an underdog as Hopkins, but Hamed -- like Trinidad -- clearly was the bigger name. Barrera used power and an aggressive style to cut down the flamboyant Hamed. Kostya Tszyu was another fighter who had a breakout year. Along with Jones and Hopkins, Tszyu is an undisputed champion. Tszyu could be compared to Hopkins because he also posted an impressive victory over an up-and-coming opponent. While not as old as Hopkins, the 32-year-old Tszyu was viewed as a little bit past his prime. Tszyu once was considered one of boxing's top pound-for-pound fighters before he was upset by Vince Phillips in 1997. Since then, the Russian-born, Australia-based Tszyu slowly has rebuit himself into boxing's upper echelon. With two victories, he has reached the level most thought he would four years ago. Tszyu unified the WBC and WBA super lightweight titles in February when Sharmba Mitchell was unable to continue at the end of the seventh round after aggravating a knee injury. Nine months later, in a somewhat controversial fight, Tszyu posted a second-round TKO over then-undefeated Zab Judah to unify the three major welterweight belts. Tszyu's one-punch knockout -- and somewhat subsequently premature stoppage -- will best be remembered for Judah's outburst afterward. Irate over the stoppage, Judah threw his stool afterwards and later was fined and suspended. As in recent years, 2001 saw the status and credibility of the heavyweight division dip. Lennox Lewis tried to restore some normalcy in November when he avenged a stunning upset with a knockout of Hasim Rahman. Rahman shocked Lewis in April with a fifth-round knockout in their first encounter in South Africa. Adding to the circus-like atmosphere of the heavyweight class, Lewis went to the courts to force Rahman into a mandatory rematch. The division also take a hit when the opponents scuffled during a pre-fight news conference in what many believed was a staged brawl. Although the Lewis-Rahman incident was an embarrassing one, it was not as sad as Evander Holyfield. Once considered a great warrior, he was unable to defeat the very ordinary John Ruiz. In March, Ruiz became the second boxer to drop Holyfield en route to taking the lightly regarded WBA title. In their third meeting in 16 months in December, many thought Holyfield won, but the fight was ruled a draw and Ruiz said he will not put his belt up against Holyfield again. While boxing 2001 might be characterized as the year of the upset, for Hopkins, Barrera and Tszyu, it was the year of respect.